It's 9 am, and I just arrived at Queensland Cement Limited (QCL)! I basically slept around 12 hours last night in addition to the 4 hour nap I took during the day. My head still feels heavy, and I feel a bit sick this morning.
Now I am back at the Backpackers (where I'm staying for the initial few days) after my meeting at work. This morning I had gotten up at 7 and got to the Brisbane Transit Center by 8. I have no sense of direction yet, so I thought I'd ask them how to get to work. I work in Milton, and it is one train stop away so I bought a ticket for $1.80. My train came at 8:38 on Platform 8. The people here are so friendly. The train reminded me of the metro in DC, but it was in better condition. Surely, my stop was one stop away. I got off at Milton and followed the map to 40 McDougall Street. I walked up a hill and the homes reminded me of a cold winter in MD. I was a little worried b/c what if QCL was a shack full of workers who were all old men? The lady at the transit center had not heard of QCL and told me that it was probably a small place. All I could see while walking were these tiny homes... eeeeeeek! At last I came across QCL and contrary to my expectations it was a large white building... quite beautiful if I may add! From the inside the building looked very organized and neat - perhaps too neat. I felt as if I was in a foreign country... like I couldn't touch anything... like if I did, it would break or fall apart. I can't quite explain my feelings. I just know it didn't feel like home even though it 'looked' much better than home. I waited in the lounge while the two bosses came.
The two gentlemen were so sweet! They asked me what I preferred to do, and they seemed flexible. They told me to report back in a few days, and to take the first few days to get accustomed. I was a happy camper, as I was moving again in a few days anyways... I would need the extra time to get settled in.
It gets dark so early! It's only 5 pm, and it's getting dark outside =( I just returned from a day in the city at the mall. I enjoyed my 20-minute walk to the mall.
I am staying at the City Backpackers - how do I describe it? It's sorta like a student lodging place, kinda like a dorm.... all young ppl. Upstairs we have a swimming pool, sitting area with TV, internet cafe, kitchen, and a balcony overlooking the buildings and river. It's goregous up there!
Two things I learned today:
1) Lemonade does not equal traditional U.S. lemonade
Lemonade = U.S. Sprite or 7UP
2) Trash cans say "rubbish" on them (cute, huh?)