Spanish speakers in Melbourne, travel tips, and a lot of words

[tmrei]

Hi everyone. While my on-line googling has given me more information than I could ever want, I have been unsuccessful finding Mexicans in Melbourne maybe one or two college students ( I looked in Spanish as well as English). My husband found some people from Argentina and Colombia. I imagine there are people from Spain. But now I'm just curious if anyone has friends who speak Spanish, not young travelers but professionals who have emigrated.

I myself am three weeks out. I'm finally feeling sad. I'm saying goodbye to friends and my husband and I are preparing for the separation. I'm still anxious about all sorts of thing. One thing is I'm nervous about dealing with my luggage and all my important paperwork when I'm scattered and exhausted after the flight. I know I'm lucky it's just me and no children, now that must be stressful, and I'm sure there are tips in another thread, but any suggestions for successful /restful travel (I have a pillow) on Qantas (I am assuming they will be vigilant). I've spoken to travelers who said it took them two days to recoup at the end. I'd really like to reconstitute quickly because I need to be looking for an apartment when I get there and I start work on Monday (I get in on Wed) I've sent probably a dozen e-mails to apartment people from here talking about my great track record -same apartment since 1995, letter from my landlord-but nada. I think Dolly wrote about the fierce competition for rentals in one of her "before or after you arrive threads" so I guess no one wants to worry about a woman whose not even in Australia yet. If anyone knows of someone who rents in the Fitzroy area that I can contact when I get in I'd be grateful.

Another weird question--does anyone have magic jack? it's a gadget a friend recommended that connects to your computer and gives you a phone number for your home country that people can call and not pay an international price. People say it's either the best thing since chopped liver or a total waste of money. I'm on a mac and it's gotten mixed review. I'm just curious if anyone has any Australian experience with the thing.

As always thank you. Much obliged. I appreciate you are all out there and are willing to share your experience.

tiffany

[kaz101]

Hi Tiffany,

I just got back from the USA on Sunday afternoon and I wasn't feeling able to drive until Wednesday since I felt jet lagged. A friend of mine mentioned standing on grass for 15 minutes helps get rid of the jet lag but the grass was too damp here for me to try that one.

I was scared of flying from Oz to Las Vegas (and back again) on my own but I met some nice people on the flights (sometimes I didn't even have anyone sitting next to me!) and it all went smoothly.

Just allow yourself a little time to get over the jet lag. I found coming back to Oz was worse for the jet lag than going to the USA by about a day.

Good luck.

Karen

[tmrei]

Hey Karen, Welcome back (or welcome there, hm interesting how that works since you're going where I am not quite yet, and you were here...) Anyway the point being it's nice to hear from you. How did Las Vegas go? Was it what you hoped it would be? I've heard all sorts of things about the jet lag on the way over. I was just hoping to avoid some of it if I could considering I have so so much to do before I start working. there's a homeopathic product I've used called I think originally enough "jet lag". I've heard people take Melatonin, ambien (which is sounding pretty good). I just thought I'd pick a few more brains here. I'll look for grass when I land. That might be a nice introduction to Australia (if there are no unmentionables crawling around in there and I don't worry about what it looks like that I'm just standing for fifteen minutes in the grass).

Best,

Tiffany

anyway

[Tiffani]

Hi Tiffany

First, I haven't heard of the gadget you're talking about, but Skype is pretty good.

As for the jetlag and the trip. You're looking at minimum 15 hours on a plane between LA and Melbourne. It will not be fun and you should accept (as I'm sure you have) that it's just going to suck. BUT, it's not as bad as you think it will be... eventually your body just gives up and you sleep. Qantas has the best customer service of any airline I've ever flown on, for what it's worth, and they are very well-equipped to deal with these kinds of super long-haul flights. I am a terrible flyer but I ended up sleeping --like REM sleep -- for about 6 hours, dozing for another 7 or so, and the rest of the time I was awake playing Tetris or watching TV on my little screen. Our flight ended up being longer because we had to stop for a re-fuel in Sydney, so we were on the plane for about 18 hours.

For some reason, I didn't have a big jet lag problem. When I travel from NC to San Francisco, I have jet lag for a week. From NC to Melbourne I had it for a day. At about 6pm on the day we arrived, we just collapsed because we could barely stand any more. I remember telling Edo "we're going to regret this" and then we were both out like lights! We woke up at 5am -- really early for us -- but we felt great. We stayed awake until around 10 or 11pm that night, and every night for the few days or so we slept really well and woke up a little bit later. We also had plenty of energy during the day. Edo did take melatonin which he swears by. I already take a very low dose of Klonopin medication so didn't bother with the melatonin.

The flight is going to suck but you will sleep and you will get through immigration without any trouble.. it's amazing how you can perk up when you have to!

[tmrei]

Thanks Tiffani,

Actually it is nice to hear your experience. I will just assume it's going to be mine, what do I have to lose?

[Tiffani]

Hi Tiffany, the only real difference between you and me is that I was travelling from the East Coast, so by the time I got to LA I was already exhausted, and the midnight departure was 3am "my time" so I was really really past my bedtime LOL but you'll end up falling asleep too because eventually you'll hit 3am your time and you won't be able to stay awake forever.

Definitely just go to bed when you can't take it any more once you are here. If you can make it till the late afternoon or early evening, I'd say you're doing well. You may wake up very very early, but at least you'll be on the right track.

I just looked at the calendar and you're arriving in 3 weeks!!! OMG!!! You must be so nervous/excited/panicked/overjoyed and every other contradicting emotion you can think of

[tmrei]

My husband just said to you "give me five" to you...I opened your message and read it to him, after we were talking about this. He was saying I shouldn't be feeling sad, because its a "new beginning" for us. You're exactly right I feel "nervous/excited/panicked/overjoyed +++". And it is happening. I'm going to cleveland for a week after all which brings up its own set of stuff. I don't want to leave my guy, but I'm so so so ready to begin this part of our new adventure. and I will, if it fits in your schedule, likely take you for coffee (or tea or some such beverage) very soon, maybe even within a month from now. won't that be weird.

[Tiffani]

HI Tiffany,

I think these feelings are really normal, and especially since you're leaving behind a family that's not happy about you leaving and a husband who can't come with you until a bit later.

But your husband is right of course; it is the start of a new life for both of you. There will be things that you'll love and things that will drive you nuts, but once the dust settles you'll probably be thrilled that you made the move.

And remember, it sounds like this huge risk, but you can always go home. LA is only a (highly expensive and very long) plane flight away so it's not like you can never change your mind!

I'll PM you my details and if you have skype, let me know and we'll plan to skype sometime before you leave so that a. we'll know what each other looks like, and b. I can talk to you about specific questions or worries that you have.