Hi! My name is Collin :) (PwC IAS Houston inside joke). You my boy blue!!! (Ok, another PwC IAS Houston inside joke). :)
Well, it has been another week that I have been here but it feels like three! It's been a good one though. I'm progressing at work, working on Australian Tax Returns as well as US ones. I started reviewing AU Tax Returns on Friday and clearing points on them as I review. It's pretty scary to review already, especially when I don't think I'm ready but then again, you never are. Nonetheless, they are easy ones and mainly Nonresidents or Residents with only a PAYG (Pay As You Go) statement (similar to a US W-2). I'm grateful for the managers and Sr. Consultants for being diligent and easing me into the world of AU taxes. I've also prepared a couple of AU tax returns with average difficulty to get me familiar with the software and other tax line items, so that has worked well for me.
As far as other activities are concerned, I've been hanging with Ash and a young Baha'í couple going to the movies and devotions. Tuesday nights at the Melbourne cinemas are called "Tight Ass Tuesdays" because the tickets are discounted to attract audiences. We watched "Nacho Libre" and it was hilarious! On Friday, we went to a devotional gathering at another Baha'í couple's home, in which the topic was "Reality". My reality is that 2 weeks ago, I got on 2 planes and 20 hours in the air later, I'm in a whole different continent on the other side of the equator. Now, that's reality! We then just chilled for the rest of the evening eating cookies, drinking lots of tea, and other desserts. During the week, I work out pretty intensively and hopefully by the time I get back, I can be ripped like my boy Sammy Miller. What up Sammy?
On Saturday night, Matt invited me to come play Texas Hold'em (Poker for those who don't know what it is) with his cousins and some of his mates. Well, guess what? It was Texas Hold'em alright. Damn straight: Your boy Collin represented in the 1st Round and won it! No doubt playa :) But guess what happened in the 2nd Round? Your boy went out in the 2nd game...hehehe...it was madness and a dumb move. One dude went all in with a Flush and I had a high pair, so I thought I got him. Nope, the dude got me! Oh well, it's all good because "Training Day" was on TV (pronounced Tey Vey here :)) and "King Kong ain't go jack on me!" Anyway, one of Matt's friends used to be a twig and after 5 years of working, provided some great tips on workout technics and I applied them directly the following day. Huge difference when you mix in various workouts and a day of maximum weights, which allows your body to not depend on the same exercises and causes your muscles to grow. Yo Sammy, if you're reading this, I wish you were here to help me train. Hehe!
I slept a lot on Saturday after touring the city and on Sunday after freezing my butt off in the cold. One of our managers had their championship Field Hockey game, so I went to check it out. Three other colleagues were there as well (JB, Joanne, and Scarffy). There were supposed to be a few more; however, it rained and hailed in some areas that it was not safe to be driving. I almost didn't go because of the cold. Ya'll know that your boy from Texas and Africa can't handle the cold! No doubt. I took the tram after Charlotte at the office printed the map and tram times for me and provided excellent instructions. I didn't know when to get off but when I saw stadium lights, I knew that that was the stop. Anyway, after getting in, I walked around looking for my mates from PwC but couldn't find them. I was on my way back in and then JB found me before making it to the entrance. The match started and the rain continued along with a really cold win. But it's all good: We were there to support Greg (mgr.)! Greg's team dominated the 1st half and Greg actually scored a goal after coming in to the match. However, it was disallowed by the referee / umpire after discussing it. Not sure why but it could have been a foul. The rain then picked up even more and then stopped. I started to see daylight and the sun but nope...it went back in hiding and the rain and wind continued. We endured and cheered on. The opposing team scored first and it was a momentum shift. Nonetheless, Greg's team pushed and was able to get a penalty shot after a brutal foul (OK, I'm exaggerating on the brutal foul but it sounds good :)). The 1-on-1 penalty shot between the Goalie and the Striker was good and now had a tie game. Greg's team (the Yarras, named after the Yarra River that runs along the City of Melbourne city and our PwC offices) took the momentum. In the last 8th minute of the match, the Goalie and the Defender miscommunicated about clearing the ball from inside the goal area, and the striker of the opposing team took the easy shot and made it 2-1. It was definitely a heartbreaker. The Yarras mantled several last minute runs, alas to no avail, time ran out and the game stood at 2-1 in favor of the opposing team. It was really devastating because I concluded that they were the better side and played better. But you know what they say about sports: "There's always next season, or else there wouldn't be sports at all"! Leaving the stadium, one idiot parked their car in front of Joanne's, so she couldn't get out. After a bit of great maneuvering by JB, he backed it out between a tree pole and a car. JB, you should drive F1 cars! Ok, don't believe the hype mate! Another of the mates from work, The Great Scarffy, was kind to give me a lift back into town.
Oh, JB at work is the one that assigns nicknames to people. I've been give two: "Tex" and "NASA". Some prefer "Tex" and others prefer "NASA". As for me, I prefer "NASA" but I get both, so it's all good. Well, JB, I think I found one for Scarffy eventhough you've added the "Y" to his last name. I think Scarffy is now "The Great Scarffy" after a famous American writer, F. Scott Fitzgerald, of the 1920's that wrote "The Great Gatsby". Let me know what you think.
I just went to the sports bar that shows Sunday NFL games on Monday nights here; however, I'm beat up and it's time to call it the night. It was nice to see the Broncos play the Patriots. When I left, the Broncos were up 10 - 0 at the half, and thanks to the internet and checking the score at work before leaving, I knew that the Broncos won the game 17 - 7 :). Thus, there wasn't a point of staying when I kew they have already one. On a final note, two days ago, it was my brother's 30th Birthday. I would like to wish my older bro, Quddus, a Happy 30th B-Day and to welcome him in the 30 Club now. The family will see you when you return from Haifa, Israel in late December and I'll see you when I return on Jan. 19th! Cheers!
With Melbourne love,
Collin #11
P.S. I promise to put pics but I'm always out and about and forget to bring my USB Memory Key. Next time this week for sure! Cheers mates.
