This is the first day of the rest of my life (yeah, d’uhh!). At my aunt’s flat in Zaandam, The Netherlands.
I have just started a new flickr 365 project, taking a photo of something every day.
I start with a boring photo of where I’ve been sitting for most of the last week. But big things have been happening. Firstly I’ve been working hard on EnjoyPerth! Added a lot of new content, talked to people about all sorts of things, and have been liaising with the designer about the new design coming soon.
I’ve been following Australian politics. Frustrating to see what Labor and Liberal are focussing on, but awesome to see The Greens get a bigger following because of it. Much more to say about this, but not in this post.
And then a few days ago: I was all set to get a (part-time) job here in The Netherlands with the biggest retail corporation in The Netherlands (and one of the biggest on the east coast of the US), when my dad offered me a job. In Meekatharra, 750kms north of Perth (500kms east of Geraldton).
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He (with mum) has recently moved to Meekatharra to start there as CDEP Coordinator (Community Development Employment Projects) with an indigenous corporation that runs a number of shops and businesses there.
They need someone there to manage facilities (buildings, vehicles) and the office, and I happen to have a degree in Facilities Management and experience in office management.
I said no. Then I changed my mind 12hrs later, while sitting here chatting to my brother on msn. It’s a fixed term contract, but it’s in a field that I have interest in, in a location that I’m keen to explore and see if I could live there for a longer period in the future (or an area like it, ie outback WA). I have lived in remote communities before, but I was a child (we lived in Bidyadanga near Broome in 1991 and Nullagine near Marble Bar in 1992). I hope to continue my travelling next year!
So the last few days have been very busy organising flights and my last few weeks in Europe. I’d already bought tickets for a big music festival in Belgium on 19/20/21 August, so I’m not leaving till after that. And I’ve just booked flights to Austria and back from Switzerland for this week. I’ll be couchsurfing! And seeing the alps for the first time!
It’s been great spending more time than ever in Zaandam, where I was born and where all my relatives live. I hadn’t lived here since I was 5. Have been able to spend time with family, and visit some old friends, but not all unfortunately! I’ll be back!
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Hi Simone, i browse internet to find info about meekatharra. My husband get a job in meekatharra wa, and i want to know if we could be able to have internet connection there. what provider we can use there? Is it cost a lot? please i need your info. Thank in advance
Hi Mariana!
Yes, you can get ADSL. ADSL2 even! And so with most (all maybe) providers. So iinet(my recommendation usually), or Bigpond(Telstra), Internode. Etc etc.
I’m quite sure it costs the same as in the cities. We pay about $40 a month for our ‘normal’ ADLS connection, but we don’t download much. Check the websites of the providers I said.
Good luck :)
What work will he do? We will probably meet anyway :D
Simone, thank so much for the fast update. My husband either be transfered to kununurra or meetakharra. But your info really help us so much. Hope to see you sometime, have a nice day.