I am in Australia, although I have to say it doesn't really feel like it. Here in Tasmania, there is not much to resemble the rest of Australia's climate. It has been cold, windy and rainy since I got here a week and a half ago. The temperature is around 13 degrees, and it has rained almost every day. So, I will admit I am kinda disappointed!! My tan is fading, and I am wearing my few warm clothes day in and day out, so much for bringing lots of summer dresses, shorts, and singlets! Though, my first plan was not to get here until a week from now, and it might be warmer then, I hope!

I had never been in Tasmania before, and it is a pretty island, the nature reminds me somewhat of Norway. Somehow it all reminds a bit of Britain as well actually. We are staying with Bobby's parents, they are really nice and friendly.Staying here for another month, we booked our tickets to fly out of here on January 6th, then I'll go visit Kristine in Sydney for about a week.

These first days in Tasmania, Bobby has taken me to see some of the sights around here. We went to Mount Wellington, Clifton beach, Cadbury's chocolate factory (mmm..lots of chocolate!). This weekend we went on a cabin trip with some of Bobby's friends. Had a good time, drove around to some places and tourist sights on Sunday, and even went sand boarding, that was fun and very fast!

For the next week or so, Bobby and I are going on a road trip of Tasmania. Just to have a look around, and we'll camp in different places that we find. I think it will be good, and I am hoping for some sun and summer to make it even better!

The whole visa thing for me is proving to be a whole lot more difficult than we thought it would be. Obviously, you'd think that me being here in Australia in person would make things easier. From what I had read on the internet, and heard from other people, it seemed like the best thing was to come here, and apply for this visa in Australia, and wait around till I got it. Which seemed like it would take around 3 months. Reality is that it is much more difficult than that. We called the immigration office, and they will not let us come and talk to them in person unless we are applying for the visa there and then, and pay them 2000 dollars (10 000 kroner). Then they told us it will take up to 6-8 months for the visa to go through. Now, that is way too long for me to sit around and wait. How can they expect someone to sit around and do nothing for that long? If only I could work in the meantime, but that is not a possibility. From what they could tell us on the phone, it seems like it would be cheaper and take less time to apply from outside Australia.

This means that the brand new plan is actually to come back to Norway, and apply from there. That will probably take about 6 months, hopefully, and then I will be able to come back to Australia and work! At least, if we apply from Norway, we can both work and earn money, instead of me sitting around, waiting. It all sounds complicated, and yes, why didn't we find this out before I came here?We tried, and didn't get the impression at all that it would be easier from the other side of the world. And anyways, no harm done, I've travelled with Maiken and had many good experiences, and we will travel a little bit on the way back to Norway, and that means even more travel experiences!

We still haven't booked any tickets yet, but it seems like the only sane option right now, so I will probably see all of you again sooner than I thought! J