Update

Lately I’ve been getting anxious because it seems like the year has gone by MUCH quicker than I thought it would. In a couple of days, it will have been 8 months that I’ve been in Australia, and for the most part it’s been really great. The thing that sucks is that it feels like I haven’t even gotten around to doing what I wanted. I originally came to do some volunteering with the symphony, but mostly to do a bunch of travelling throughout Australia and New Zealand. When I initially got here, the cost of living was an enormous shock, and I went through my (pathetic) savings quickly, so I’ve been working nonstop to get to the point where I have a little more disposable income. Also, while I do like my job, it’s the kind of thing I actually have to take seriously, which limits the amount of free time I have.

I recently asked my employer to sponsor me on a 457 temporary visa, which would allow me to stay up to four years. I’m not sure I would want to stay that long, but I do feel like I could use another year to get some more experience at my job and of course to have a chance for more of the fun stuff! She agreed, so now I’m in the process of applying for it. There’s no guarantee I’ll get one; 457 visas are often used to exploit overseas workers, so I’m a little nervous that the Department of Immigration is being extra picky about granting them. I’m already looking at plane fares back home on August 25^th-hopefully it will be for a fun trip to Seattle and not a permanent move back.