Wednesday brought tax time! Yes June 30th was the
end of the financial year here. I wasn’t going to do my taxes but in the end I
changed my mind mainly because Angela called her accountant and he thought I
would be eligible for my tax back. Mind you I have paid $5,900 in taxes. That
is a lot of money! Do you realize how much Vera Bradley that can fund? Anyway
when it comes down to it if the Australian Tax Office (like our IRS) decides
that I am a resident for tax purposes then I get $5,500 back and if not I owe
an additional $500. I don’t think I should really get the tax money back but I
also don’t think that I should have to pay more. The accountant seemed pretty
sure that I would be considered a tax resident because I started work three
days after I got here and maintained that job fulltime as well as the same
permanent residence. Time will tell…fingers crossed.
On Thursday July 2nd, my workmates had a
morning tea for me at work. That was really really nice. I have said it before
and I will say it again, this time around friends were harder to come by. I
mean they were already established and had lives here. Exchange students are
for the most part equally desperate. But at any rate I did it, I made friends.
These people welcomed me into their lives and for that I will be forever
grateful. They opened my small mind to the world around me and showed me that friendship
doesn’t have to fit into the black and white box I have always put it in. The
morning tea was special because there were so many treats on the table and
people had brought them for me, just me. That was a really big deal.
I have to take a moment to reflect on my work experience.
Well, first of all it was great that I was given a chance that I would have
never gotten in my own country. Secondly, I can’t believe I made it. I remember
being terrified out of my mind on my second day of work and looking at Wendy
with panic in my eyes while I hissed “what happens if I don’t get it”. She
smiled warmly and said “don’t worry you will”. Then the embarrassment I felt
when Rachel took me into the conference room so she could explain how to read
timetables. When I again asked her the same question she said “You can do it”.
For these people to believe in me was amazing. Then I met Azeez who I named “Mr
High Five”, my mentor. I could not have been
assigned a better mentor. He encouraged dumb questions and was always available
for help. Plus, he too believed in me. Then there was Rebecca my first friend
at work. She included me in lunches, gossip, and smoke breaks. Without that
socialization factor I might have still failed. Actually I don’t think “might”
but rather that I would have failed. I never before realized how important that
socialization factor is at work.
Little by little the work became easier. I think the real
turning point was when I was assigned medicals. It made me feel like I really
could contribute something. The work was challenging I felt and never before
had I thought that I would have liked to be constantly challenged but I really
did. When we split off for the audit, the three people in my cubicle area
elected me team leader. This was a new challenge because they actually looked
to me for guidance. At times it was difficult because of the age and culture
differences between all of us and of course the fact that we were all female.
It was a tremendous learning experience. I wouldn’t trade the experience for
anything and I respect each person that was part of my team. We all had
something to contribute and areas where we needed help. I think the highest
point was probably when Glenn (Wendy’s boss) told me that arrangements could be
made with immigration to make it so I could stay on past the 6 month mark. I proved myself and that showed it.
April, Rani, and Neha gave me a going away gift when we went
to the markets on Friday. The gift was very nice – all Australian things BUT
the card was even better. Just to know that I made a difference in their lives
however small or big. After that I said goodbye to my workmates which was
harder than I expected, isn’t it always though?
What did I learn from working for Transport for New South
Wales and my time in Australia? So many things. I learned that friendships can
be forged in the most unlikely pairings. I learned to accept myself and open my
mind more. No one is perfect and the people who care the most about perfection
are the least perfect of all. Above all I learned that I can do anything (except perhaps throw a
boomerang and sing). I have NEVER been proud of anything I have accomplished in
my entire life and for once I can say I am proud of me. It was a great experience
that I will never forget.
On Saturday I went to the Botanical Gardens with Rani and
her daughter Mya. It was a beautiful day and those gardens were amazing. In
Australia, Botanical Gardens are a really big deal. Anyway we took the cheesy
tourist train (loved it) around the gardens as they encompass like 75 acres. I
know I have written about the gardens before but I hadn’t really gotten very
far in exploring them. There are a lot of different parts to it. There is a
Chinese Garden, monuments, rose garden, herb garden, greenhouse, sensory
fountain, Government House, café, fernery, etc. By far my favorite part was the
cockatoos!! I hadn’t been so close to so many wild Cockatoos. I am not a big
bird lover but those are beautiful birds. Oh and just an update on the
Government House-I give up! This time I had my passport and they closed the
tour 1 hour early! I posted some pictures here of the garden.
