Office with a view

Well, I went to work today. I got up really early around 4am. I was going to straighten my hair so I plugged in my new power transformer that converts 220v to 110v. I plugged in the straightening iron and within two minutes it was ruined. I knew that was going to happen. I soooo should have known better. I had a similar incident in France. NOTE: IF YOU ARE EVER TRAVELING IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY THAT HAS 220V POWER - DO NOT TRY TO USE YOUR AMERICAN STRAIGHTING IRON!!!! JUST BUY ONE FROM THAT COUNTRY IF STRAIGHT HAIR IS IMPORTANT TO YOU. I hope I didn't ruin my iron, it was really expensive.

I went into work a little later than I like, but I guess the people that had to get me my pass and everything don't come in until about 8 so I didn't feel too bad about it. I'll be going in earlier tomorrow. I went around and met everyone in the office, trying really really hard to remember every one's name and what they do. We don't have a huge operation in Australia, so I think we only have 3 floors in the building. My boss and most of the people I will be working with are on the top floor (Floor #37). You wouldn't believe the view from up there!!! There is also a lawyer's firm up there and its flipping amazing! So, I spent the day doing the "first day" stuff. I was filling out forms, getting my server transferred to Australia, taking orientations and training courses. In fact, I have a IIF training course in the morning. I hardly saw my boss all day. I think he was in meetings cuz when I left at work he said he had to stay late because he hadn't gotten any work done. I feel bad for him. I wish I could have done something productive today to help him out. I skipped lunch today because I didn't feel like leaving and then we had a meeting at 1:30pm. Its amazing how many meetings they have during a single day.
It was hard to concentrate when I could look out the window into the Swan River Harbor and watch the boats going up and down the river and dolphins splashing around. This city is beautiful.

After work, I hauled ass to Target to buy an Australian hair straightener. (Surprisingly it was only $42. It was hard not to buy the $90 with diamonds on it, but I think I made a good choice.) Next, I stopped by Woolworth's to get some groceries. Can you freaking believe it?? WOOLWORTH'S!!!!!! I remember the Woolworth in the Butte Plaza Mall. That was probably 25 years ago. Woolworth's is going strong in Australia!!! (But its mostly a grocery store here)
So, let me talk about Woolworth's for just a little bit longer. Perth is really strange. Just about everything down here in the city closes at 5pm. Target stayed open until 6pm Thank God! But seriously, there's a ton of shops and restaurants and they are all closed at 5! Even the grocery stores around town close no later then 7pm. On Thursdays they stay open until 9pm. It really blows my mind because the people are around and they would eat and shop if they stores stayed open. There's one or two pubs that are open and they are ususally packed. So, as I go to Woolworth's this evening around 6pm, it was a freaking MAD HOUSE!!! Talk about grocery extravaganza! There had to be 500 people in there trying to buy groceries. Everyone only buys a little hand basket of just whatever they're going to eat for that night. I don't know how they do it. If I had to go through that every day I would kill someone. The lines to check out were super long, but they were surprisingly efficient. You zipped right through pretty quick. Most of the things in the stores are pretty much the same as in the states, but not as much of a selection. I got some more of those wonderful milk mocha drinks but in "Light". I'm super stoked about that. I also bought some grapes, apples, and oranges. I just had an orange and some grapes for dinner and they were delish!!! The grapes freakin cost me $10 though. I also snagged one of the last loaves of bread. Seriously! All the bread was gone! Grocery shopping is CRAZY.