Cool Food #1

So I went to bake Chocolate Chunk Cookies in Lorne the other week, and I discovered Self-Raising Flour! Nifty! Who knew!
Do we have that in Canada?

Photos Up!

Check out the photos in last week's post, Reflections on My First Week at the VCA!

My VCA Schedule

Monday and Friday: Rehearsal Days (10 – 6)
Tuesday, Wednesday: Text Analysis and Rehearsal Labs (10 – 5)
Thursday: Seminars on Performance Theory, Composition Workshops (9 - 6)
My plans to substitute teach on my “days off” seem a bit unrealistic now. I’ll still go ahead with my application to teach here. …. You never know!

What does not change is my commitment to have fun surfing on the weekends! I’ll do that as often as I can before rehearsals and assignments start to monopolize that time as well.

The New Couch

It’s a white leather sectional chaise lounge! I arrived home from a weekend on the beach to discover this new addition to the flat. My metrosexual roommate appreciates fine things. It goes without saying he has flair! While the sectional seems out of place in the space here, he assures me that it will really "work" in the new flat in Elwood. I believe him.

Hard Yakka

Definition: Hard work or labour; also a brand of workwear in Australia worn by tradies and weekend warriors.

I was lucky enough to spend last weekend surfing in Lorne. In two gorgeous sunny days, I had 5 surf sessions! Every time I got in the water, I had a better surf. I can complain about nothing!
On Sunday, in between our surf sessions, I helped Matt and Jasmina with some painting up at the farm they are renovating. This is Jas and me in our hard yakka workwear.



















Related Hard Yakka terms:

Tradies: People working in the trades.
Chippies: Carpenters
Sparkies: Electricians

Flouro: Flourescent. Tradies wear flouro shirts while on the job.

Bluey: Large blue jacket worn by tradies in winter
Ciggy Break: Cigarette and/or coffee break

Reflections on My First Week at the VCA

The VCA is located in Southbank in the Arts Precinct. The main building, known as “the Hub”, houses Student Services, the Fine Arts Library, the café, computer labs and the VCA Student Union.

Creepy detail: the Drama Building smells the same as the Phoenix Theatre Building at UVic!
Intense acting students clad in black leggings and t-shirts charge up and down the staircase to movement and voice classes.
The Post Grads have our own lounge and kitchen area.
There are 6 directors, and we will be working with each other every day! 7 Performance Artists join us in one seminar and one design class each week.

They don’t muck about with creative challenges here. My first directing assignment is a small One Act (2 pages) by Howard Barker, a British playwright. It’s called The Necessity for Prostitution in Advanced Societies. One of the directorial decisions I will have to make: Nudity…how much is enough?

Toto, we’re not in Kansas anymore!!

Note to Self #8

The water drains in the opposite direction here, AND the door locks operate in the opposite direction too! I always thought “Righty-Tighty, Lefty-Loosey” was a universal rule. Well, apparently NOT in my apartment building!
The rule for now is “Lefty-Lockey, Righty….untighty.” Lame.

(Saving Grace: Once I get in the flat, I can enjoy a latte or an espresso from the Gaggia. Given that I'm not yet used to my school schedule...I need the extra help a little caffeine can provide!)

I guess 6 months is long enough for a holiday...

....and now I am back to school! It will be a bit bizarre to be a student again.
The front doors of the VCA.

The past two days have been Orientation days on campus, with information lectures, meet and greets, tours and free lunches. I've met 3 other Postgrad students who will be in the some of the same classes. Nice people; and like me, very excited to get the ball rolling on classes and projects.

The VCA School of Drama, also known as "The Licorice Allsort". The construction site beside it is the new home of the Melbourne Theatre Company (MTC)
Show Bag: an Australian term meaning gift bag; swag; free stuff in a bag. In this context: an enviro- bag filled with all sorts of literature to help us transition into Uni Life.

Top 5 Fave Reads

I’ve been reading during my recuperation. Well, to be honest…I’ve been reading throughout my trip. I’ve sampled the work of some Australian authors, and I thought I’d give you my Top 5 (So Far).

Dressmaker by Rosalie Ham

High Surf: The World’s Most Inspiring Surfers by Tim Baker

It’s Not My Fault They Print Them by Catherine Deveny

The Sound of One Hand Clapping by Richard Flannagan

The Real History of the Ned Kelly Gang by Peter Carey

Intensely nerdy statement: You feel like you belong when you have a library card.

Shopping List for Market Day

The first Saturday of the month is Market day in St. Kilda. Organic Farmers set up their kiosks on the Peanut Reserve in between the Football Oval and the Community gardens, and the locals flock to stock up on fresh fruit and veggies in season.Don’t forget Environment-Friendly Shopping Bag!
Bring Friends!
Enjoy Chai Tea, and Chorizos with Leeks and Apple Cinnamon Tomato Sauce for brunch before shopping.

StrawberriesCapsicums (aka Peppers)BasilLemonsFlowers