-Why are you having a blog?
-Well, a lot of people I know use them to keep people up to date with their adventures when they don't have time to email or call. Just thought it'd be kind of cool to do. And it beats Facebook.
-Ok. But why the name?
-Seemed like a funny name at two in the morning.
-Ok... And why is the web address skinnbroka.blogspot.com? Another really bad 2-in-the-morning attempt at being funny?
-Not really.... Maybe..... All the good ones were already taken.
-But what is "skinnbroka"?
-A mountain in Norway. Completely random really. But it means "leather pants". Not that this blog's got anything to do with leather pants. Just a name.
-Whatever

Mid-December

Looks like Susie's leaving for Philly the first week of January. May be going to India too at some point. I've been sending emails and making phonecalls to potential internship places. So far, no good. But this place in Delaware sounds pretty promising. Only 25 minutes on the train from Philadelphia. $5 one-way. Can handle that.

Susie has to go to Perth for her visa interview. Lots of forms to fill out. Yet visa interview doesn't take that long. Most of the time is spent listening to inappropriate jokes about inflatable dolls and gays. But the visa arrived in the mail the next morning.

Intenrship. Third night of staying up late to call. Right person not there. "Try again Friday morning". Call again. Finally. "Will send you an email in an hours time. Been on
vacation." Check email five hours later. Email sent an hour ago. Offer of internship with World Trade Cente Delaware from February till end of June. Great! No idea what I'll do, but should be fun. Just need to sort out the visa part. More application forms, visa forms, letter, references to organize. Christmas and New Year's in a couple of days. Call dad, gave forms faxed through. No point in doing them until after Christmas. But must speed up process then. Cannot wait the normal six to eight weeks. Want visa in four weeks or less. Hmmm...

Thursday, Mid-November

Phone's ringing. Theme from Lord of the Rings. Must run to find the phone. Probably nothing important, but hey... you're expected to answer you mobile.

-Hello!
-Do you want to go to Philadelphia?
-ehhhh... well.... eehhhh
-Just got asked today if I wanted to go do some work there for 6 months
-ehhhhh... ok.... do what?
-Not sure. Outsourcing. Big pharmaceutical company.

Going to meet Susie in Brisbane on the weekend. Should probably talk about this kind of stuff face to face.

-ehhh... can we talk about this tomorrow?
-yes

Fly to Brisbane. Stay in fancy hotel. Susie's working in Brisbane for a few weeks. Work's paying for it. Pretty good!

-So what's the deal with Philly?
-Oh... this guy from work wants me to go. Outsourcing of some corporate services. Says it will be good for me. But I've pretty much decided not to go.
-You've decided what?????
-I thought it would be unfair on you to drag you to some other country now, since you're looking for jobs in Adelaide and all that.
-Don't worry about that. Tell me more about Philadelphia. I'll find something to do.

It's sounds great. Work's paying fr Susie to go: accommodation, flights. Me. That's the condition. I have to be able to come with her. Write email to boss. List a few conditions. Start thinking about what the currently unemployed Norwegian can do. Will find something. Really would like to go to Philly. Even if the NFL season will be almost over. Arrive in January. Leave end of June. See New York, Washington DC. America again. Cool. Let's go. Both very excited. Lot's of paperwork to do though.

Check visa options. Hmmm. Not easy. May take some time. Must find internships somewhere. Not easy. Oh well. Will try hard. Must go to America.