July
2008
Visa Success!!0
Hi Everyone!
Since our last post a lot has changed – We’re both working, and Jackie now has a visa to stay in Australia (I’ll let her tell you about that 
)!
I’ve now been working for a month at BCG which is going really well. My first week was local training in the Sydney office with the 6 other starters from ANZ (4 from Sydney). The following week however was regional training in Bangkok with the 37 other starters from Asia Pacific. I had so much fun! We worked hard during the day but were always done by 6, so that we could go out and enjoy Bangkok. We were staying at an amazing hotel called the Banyan Tree (check out their photo gallery) which has a rooftop bar on level 61 with incredible views. Two friends of mine from Sydney were in Bangkok too so I met up with them one night and went out which was great. It really is a nice city and brought back memories of mine and Jackie’s round the world trip.
Since then work has been going well – I’m not yet staffed on a particular case, but am just doing little tasks which means that I don’t yet have really long hours and am having the chance to settle in and get to know the office. I’ve been doing lunches with friends as well as Friday after work drinks 
Before I started work, Jackie and I had a wonderful 5 days relaxing up in the Gold Coast with James and Millie. We had a great apartment in Surfer’s Paradise, and went to DreamWorld and WhiteWater World (see the photos!), as well as going down to Byron Bay for the day where we met up with some other friends of ours and had a delicious dinner.
After getting back from the Gold Coast, Jackie headed off to the US (which she’ll tell you all about in a minute!), and I spent my last weekend in Sydney before starting work. My cousins from Melbourne, Pasquale and Wendy, were visiting so we had a great weekend exploring Sydney.
That about covers my news, but Jackie has a lot to share, so over to her!
As Ben mentioned, I’ve been accepted as a temporary permanent resident (I know say it a few times and maybe it’ll make more sense!) Basically, Ben is sponsoring me to stay in Australia as his defacto partner. The visa gives me full work rights and access to Medicare. In two years they’ll reassess the application and I’ll (hopefully) be approved for permanent residency! It was quite the process but well worth it. We had to prove to the government that we’d lived together for 12 months and were in a ‘loving and financially committed relationship.’ We provided evidence of our joint bank account, credit card, the lease, email correspondence while we were away, statements from parents and friends, mail we’ve received addressed to both of us at our home, and much much much more! Many thanks to Siena and Ian as well as my parents who supported the application .
In other good news I’ve successfully complete my Masters with a High Distinction average and will graduate in October with Merit. I also have been hired by Ogilvy as an Account Coordinator for Howorth. I’ll be doing some very interesting work in the business to business practice and IT. Some of our clients include: Microsoft, Intel, Warner Brothers, Alcatel-Lucent, Telstra, BlueScope, Toshiba, Motorola and a number of others. I’m very excited and thoroughly enjoyed my first week. Everyone in the office is really nice and I’ve already gone out with a few of the other account coordinators. Ben and I have been hitting the gym in the mornings before work and cooking dinners together at night…so we’re managing our time quite well.
As soon as I handed in my last assessment at the beginning of June, I headed home to LA for three weeks to catch up with friends and enjoy some quality time with my family. It was an incredible few weeks and I miss them more than ever now. We hit the hot rod show for Father’s Day, went up to San Francisco with Dad to visit Grandpa and Grandma, went on a motorcycle adventure with Dad, went to Disneyland with Mom and the girls, headed out with my girlfriends a bunch, caught up with some old triathlon friends, went to my five year high school reunion, my little cousin’s graduation, down to Newport to spend time with Vik and Bub on the beach, hung out with Al at the club and anywhere else the sun was shining, and just generally took advantage of the time with my family. It was incredibly difficult to leave and I honestly cried for hours on the plane – but equally was excited to get back to Sydney and start working. Thanks again to everyone who made my visit home so much fun. I love you guys and really miss you!! xxxx
It’s been quite an eventful month for both Ben and I. We’d love to hear from all of you so write whenever you get a chance.
Love to you all,
Jackie and Ben