A Long Way To Go For An Exam and A Nigerian Musician

On Ethihad Airlines yesterday was an Egyptian guy who had come all the way from Egypt to Sydney for 3 days just to do an IT networking exam for Cisco Systems. He had previously come in January for the same exam and failed then but this time he was confident that he had passed. Apparently there are only a few places in the world where this exam can be done and Sydney is one of them. I came across another fellow a few months back who had come for the same exam so it seems like it is a regular occurrence.

Also on Ethihad was a British Airways cabin crew menber who had been here for a few months travelling around the country and also in Bali. She spoke very highly of Ethihad and their cabin service and, in fact, was considering a transfer to work for them instead. Ethihad is expanding rapidly and employing many new staff.

On a Qantas flight to London was a French guy who had come for a couple of weeks to visit his girlfriend in Cairns. She is Japanese and works in the tourism industry in Cairns. They had met in Melbourne during his previous visit to Australia. He is planning to come back in August for a longer stay with her and a working holiday.

I chatted to an English guy going home on BA who was here to work in oil refineries. His job entailed making sure that the oil storage tanks were cleared of any impurities such as sand.

Other travellers included a Welsh guy on a family visit to Melbourne and an older delightful English lady who visited her daughter in Canberra. Her last full day in Canberra was the coldest day there for 43 years - a maximum of only 4 degreees C.

My last interview was with a Nigerian musician who was part of a musical group which had just performed at the Opera House. They were only here for 4 days so he didn't get to see much of Sydney. Most of his time was taken up rehearsing and performing. They had performed in Australia a couple of times before. I forgot to ask him the name of the performing group.

Till next time.

Peter

Souvenirs Australia Warehouse

Thai Honeymooners, a Russian in Bangkok and a very young Italian backpacker

Came across plenty of the regular NZ businessmen heading home for the weekend but also some other friendly people such as a young Vietnamese lady visiting her cousin who lives in New Zealand. She had a good few hours in transit in Sydney so went into the city and fulfilled her main desire of seeing the Opera House close up (and of course the Bridge and our great harbour). I also met a New Zealander of Chinese origin who is currently working in Hong Kong. She chose to spend her day in transit with some friends here.

On a Thai flight I met a Thai honeymooning couple who had spent 10 days in Melbourne and Sydney and the husband had listed virtually all expenses by listing them on a sheet of paper. This careful accounting even included items of less than $5. Maybe the Thai tax office allows deductions for honeymoon expenses????

Another Thai flight included a Russian who was currently living in Thailand. She works for an online hotel reservation businesss and was here to try and sign up some hotels for their web sites.

Yet another passenger flying Thai was a very young Italian backpacker travelling on her own. She was only 17 and was as confident as an experienced traveller many years older. She had spent 3 months in Australia, then off to Fiji to get another Aussie visa for her second stay here. And of course she had a great time down under!!!

Leaving on SQ was an Aussie who had been living in China for 9 years and came back to spend a week with the family and to literally just 'hang out on the back verandah' of the family home.

Other visitors heading out included Indians studying and working in Oz, a Japanese businessman here for a few days and a Thai who attended a conference in Cairns.

Till next week.

Peter

Souvenirs Australia Warehouse