But to get you up-to-speed - the last post spoke of quitting on my 2nd day of which I have definitely come to realise that i have made the right decision. Hurrah!
I now hold the eagerly awaited 'Manager' status for community fundraising and events at a non-profit organisation that operates direct services to those seeking asylum in Australia. A hot topic indeed.
It is astounding actually how much of an issue this is over here. With the minimal amount of people trying to claim asylum in comparison to the rest of the world - it is a joke. But one with a punch-line that can kill people if they are deported back to their home country. Or die trying to get here.
It's funny because when I sit in our large lunch room downstairs amongst all the staff, volunteers and asylum seeker members it doesn't feel like anyone is a threat to me, my way of life, my beliefs or the country that I now live in. But yet this is a view that is so often taken over here.
The view of many is the same view of the sensationalist mass-media which reflects the view of the current Government. The same view that Today Tonight and A Current Affair are keen to portray to keep their ratings (tabliod-esque sensationalist 'news' programs). I have hope in the fact that if more of the public had access to more information and less opinion, then they might actually be able to form one on their own.
Australia really is a country that often struggles to keep up with the rest of the Western world - gay marriage anyone?
An amazing piece of work that has been recently released by my organisation is this incredible documentary below - it is not a piece of propaganda - but a very fair, funny and heart-warming account of how real people are trying to educate, challenge and change negative perceptions on those seeking asylum.
(And it also features Imogen Bailey, Goyte and Hunters & Collectors!)
This is The Hot Potato: A Road To Transformation (Trailer)
See the full video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zixigIrO23A&feature=share&list=PLIyLjb7qxaQWqnCF_C2N4bFwsHcE_AKew
Anyway, enough of my political opinions for now. Back to being 27.
So this is a big year for me as I shall be married by the time I turn 28. I can't help but feel that this is a big turning year - not only for myself, but for a lot of people.
It is getting to that time where things start to become serious - friends getting engaged, people having babies - all the stuff you know is going to happen at some point, but you still kinda feel too young for it to be happening.
I have found out very recently that an very old friend of mine (who lives in a totally different part of the world) has just given birth to a baby girl. I remember the days we used to bake cakes and sell them to the neighbours and wash people's cars to make a bit of money. Before the days when even our siblings weren't babies as they hadn't been born yet.
And I found out that another close friend of mine is expecting next year - so by the time I come home, they will already have a 5 month old baby. Crazy!
All of this I guess is escalated by the fact that we are trying to plan the wedding from afar away from family and friends in the UK and away from family in Oz. To be honest, it kind of makes me homesick to think about home and try to plan the most wonderful day when we can't event pop into the venue to ask them a question - or we have to wait up at night for the UK opening hours to give anyone a call.
I can't help but feel that the experience of getting married is completely different to how I thought it would be - not that I ever really thought about weddings - just that I didn't realise it would be so emotionally draining.
The hardest part is feeling like I am missing out on sharing the experience with my nearest and dearest. The best part is now we are working in Melbourne, we can actually afford the wedding!
So I guess this is 27. The turning point in realising real-life, making commitments, understanding what you want and accepting what you can't have. I guess they also call this "being a grown-up".
Much loves to all - I miss you all greatly xxxxx
