Where was I... oh yeah kerja giler datang negara orang takde kerja and takde rumah. So what we did was go all out with the settling down thing and we were very lucky/thankful that we had superb helpful friends = farah, Idwal, Jel & Sheri. From borrowing cars, teaching how to move around publicly to tumpang address untuk register semua... they helped out as in the best of their abilities. Thanks guys from the bottom of our hearts.
A little bit more on Malaysian Hall before moving to other things. Once we got to know a little more about the people they kinda warmed up tapi still kinda reserved jenis takut orang mintak tolong lebih2 kinda thing. So a few days later we found out yang sebenarnya ada internet kat hall (after trying to join the permanent residence network - they gave me "ask the ustad cause ni untuk permanent je") I asked the ustad about being online. Dia kata ada tapi kat depan ni je (patutlah takde signal dalam bilik and of course we didnt try in the freezing living room) and the password dia bagi dalam bentuk teka-teki which was "password dia adalah rukun negara ke empat... haa jawablah". Either he was being a smart-alec or testing my nationality but it really rubbed me the wrong way. Anyways after finally being online baru senang sikit nak buat benda lain especially cari rumah which was our main priority mau2 tahu nak kena halau very soon. Soon we were spending a lot of time in the living room which was next to the dining area and where the permanents normally had their dinner. Which looked awesome and stuff. Really wished we could join them not having a car and trouble finding food and stuff.
A few days passed and being friendly paid off especially masa I ikut sekali tahlil. Terus senang sikit mintak info and stuff. That is when I asked nicely the ustad and he said he can extend our stay to another week and we should join the dinner plan. The first best thing that happened to us in Oz. We only paid $7 per head for dinner and the food is absolutly fantastic. Masakan malaysia and pelbagai. Me being not so worried after the extension stay ate like a cow. Sedap gilerrr!! terliur pikir balik. The students at hall gets a really good deal. Another interesting part the hall had just recently been extended. Although kitorang dicampakkan kat tempat lama (horror and senang hilang) the new wing is really nice and modern. Siap lampu pakai sensor kalau nak on and the built in sink drinkable hot water. Magic kata zareef. Punyalah modern the TV automatically turns on every early morning. I realize the chinese news channel every morning masa nak amik air sembahyang.
We had a lottt of things to be done. Macam2 peraturan lah kat sini and extra complicated cause its a whole new system. Example ehh.. kalau kita nak top up prepaid kita register and top-up and straight away guna. Sini kena pilih package from like 10 choices and nama2 pelik and charges giler beza mauttt!! I think we choose wrongly cause less than 2 days our $30 credit habis and paling shocking the standard rates from mobil to mobil is like 90cents a minute siap connection fee semua. Giler mahal and saja nak complexkan benda yg tak complex. Tu baru phone not medicare, family assistance, tax, centrelink but we had to learn it fast. Still learning but once you see the procedures its really good and stuff. The only thing is that when you figure out what to do, doing it is easy. Just a call or apply online and stuff but like what Idwal said when you get started its like the chicken and egg thing. Example to rent a house you should have a good testimony from your previous landlord/agent. How can you that if your new. Not only that you should have referees. Kinda hard if you dont know anybody and to apply for a post paid phone you should have a permanent address and all that. Its actually good but very tedious but once your all settle down its real easy.
Aaahh.. another little shock we had was comparing things to the states. We always kinda ass-u-me it would be like the states but not really. Things are more expensive here. You dont have fast food everywhere for starters. The system is also different. Like I said I am pro american system and i believe its a lot easier in the states. Example in the states you can buy calling cards at every corner to call Mesia but here I have yet to find any instead they have service providers (Lebara macam digi) that has great rates 1cent per minute to Mesian fix lines.
Enough of the compare and learn thing. Knowingly it was a near impossible task to find houses without a car, Jel was real nice to lend his car a few days to us. A nice sporty car one which can only fit 2 people. MR2 i think. Ohhh driving in Melbourne is weird. Hook turn = you have to keep left to turn right. Dont believe me look it up. The trams in the middle of the roads are also tricky. Sometimes we share roads, sometimes we dont. It goes with the bicycles as well. They have trafic lights for trams, cars and bicycle. They split roads and to turn left you would have to choose the right lane 1km back and certain lanes go different directions based on the rush hour. Sounds daunting. It is but it works and makes everything convenient, reliable, efficient and safe.
Oh no.. the batteries are running out. Will write more tomorrow. Till then come on socerroos and les blues. Keep an eye on Benzema
