Four things

I received this meme by email, but thought that it would more fun to respond here - so that I could tag some bloggy people at the end.

Four jobs I have had in my life:
1. Tutor at ANU - I have discovered that I really enjoy teaching and am now rethinking some of my career objectives.
2. Social researcher for NSW government - I discovered that working for a committee can be quite frustrating, particularly when they all try to edit your work at the same time and do not agree with each other. Working within community centres and communities groups, and mixing with people that I don't normally encounter was, however, a great experience.
3. Solicitor in a corporate law firm - I worked in the Environment and Planning section and did a fair bit of litigation and advice work. The team that I worked with were really lovely, but corporate law and I were fundamentally incompatible.
4. Child care worker - I worked in after school hours care and holiday programs. I loved working with kids, even if it is utterly exhausting and not particularly well paid. It was a great balance to studying while I did my undergraduate degrees.

Four movies I would watch over and over:
(I have to say that these a somewhat different from my 'favourites')
1. The Princess Bride - I dearly wanted to be Buttercup when I was young.
2. Pride and Prejudice - the BBC version. I realise that this is highly unoriginal.
3. Manon Des Sources - I always cry at the end.
4. In the Mood for Love - beautiful cinematography, beautiful music, excellent acting, heartbreaking...

Four places you have lived:
1. Ban Hongke, Vientiane, Laos
2. Surry Hills, Sydney, Australia
3. UBC, Vancouver, Canada
4. Maclean Gardens, Washington DC, USA

Four TV shows I love to watch:
1. West Wing - we recently acquired the DVDs and have developed a sad addiction.
2. Sex and the City - I have great memories of watching them regularly with 'the girls'
3. Dateline
4. 7:30 Report - OK, I just ran out of ideas.

Four places you have been on vacation:
1. Tahiti – My grandparents took me to Tahiti when I was 9 or 10 because they are angels. Randomly I ended up going back there a year later on a three-week school excursion. We were billeted out to families and the most significant thing about mine was their cupboard full of chocolate biscuits. I felt that I was in heaven.
2. Italy – I went there with my Dad after finishing high school and it was fantastic. I loved soaking up the history, drinking the coffee, and seeing the incredible pleasure that Italians take in everyday activities.
3. Nepal – I went trekking in the Khombu region for 20 days by myself (although I did have a guide). It was incredibly challenging, but the scenery and the Sherpa made every step worth it.
4. China – P and I went here for our first trip together. The history, the food and the culture were amazing, but it was also hard work and often quite freezing (we were in the North in January).

Four websites I visit daily:
1. Guardian Unlimited
2. Bloglines
3. Larvatus Prodeo
4. Gmail

Four of my favourite foods:
1. Tomatoes - I am not sure that I could live without these.
2. Chocolate - dark, organic, and fair-trade if possible.
3. Soy products - tofu, soy milk, soy cheese, soy yoghurt... mmm
4. Good bread - I love a good sour dough, like the ones at Bourke Street Bakery or Silo
[Oh, and coffee, of course - espresso with warm frothy soy milk]

Four places I would rather be right now:
1. Swimming at the beach (preferably in summer)
2. Hiking in the mountains (with comfortable shoes and warm clothing)
3. Browsing in a good bookshop (with lots of money and new bookshelves at home)
4. Having brunch at Tilleys, Bodhi or Cafe Mint with friends

Four Friends that have been tagged that I think (might) will respond:
1. Kate
2. Sal
3. Brooke
4. Kristy