I have been in Melbourne for a month and will be here at least another 2 months until January. My significant other is here (I am from the U.S.) and my dilemma is what to do during the day while he is at work. He sometimes works long hours and I am getting bored, which is a shame saying where I am! <BR><BR>Does anyone have any advice about what to do alone in Melbourne or know of any groups I could get involved with or anyone I could DO anything with? It seems that everyone we know works during the day. I wish I could work, but that is a hard thing to accomplish being a foreigner here.<BR><BR>Any advice will be greatly appreciated.<BR><BR>Thank you,<BR>Jennifer

Jennifer:<BR>Have you given some thought to volunteer work? I'm sure there are hospitals in Melbourne that would be delighted to put you to work at the Information Desk or helping to admit or discharge patients. <BR>I do volunteer work here in the states and find it most fullfilling.<BR>John

Hi Jennifer<BR>I have been in the same situation as you are now so I know how miserable one can get. <BR>If you like animals you may be able to get into a volunteer job with them at say the Healsville ( is that how you spell it?) animal sanctuary. <BR>Look up the Yellow Pages for Clubs, Organizations - social and otherwise and I am sure that you will find so many to choose from that you will have no time for yourself. There will be an Australian/American club I am sure as there is one everywhere else and you can get to chat with other people from the USA and see what they do with their time. There will be many art and craft groups you could join too - go to the nearest art and craft shop and ask about craft lessons and groups. If that is not for you then perhaps a Bridge group/ Church group/ etc etc. <BR>Good luck and let us know how you get on.<BR>Liz<BR>

Jennifer,<BR>I sympathise, it's not much fun doing things on your own. You could try the Melbourne Bushwalking Club, they do day walks you could join in.<BR>Also try the CAE (Council for Adult Education) they are in the city near Flinders St Station and have a huge amount of classes - everything from learning to cook to learning Italian etc etc. We've done classes with them and always enjoyed them.<BR>I don't know what age group you are in, but if you are older, Young at Heart Holidays have daytrips to all sorts of places. They have a website.<BR>Maybe ring the Red Cross or Salvation Army and offer your services as a volunteer? <BR>Hope this helps a bit.<BR>Kay

It isn't much fun being in a strange city and having to spend a lot of time by yourself. The problem with a lot of voluntary work is that there is a certain amount of training before you can become useful. Two suggestions (both a bit vague I'm afraid) - last week I saw an advertisement asking for volunteers to man present-wrapping booths at Chadstone and some of the other shopping centres. I think the charity concerned was World Vision but you could always ring up Chadstone Shopping Centre and ask them for info. The other suggestion is that there is a charity shop that sells christmas cards etc between now and Christmas. They are usually located in an office at St Paul's Cathedral in Flinders Street. (Actually I think the office opened onto Flinders Lane.) <BR>You could also ask the Children's Hospital if they need volunteers to read and play with the children.

Thanks all of you for your advice. I am checking around at some different places. <BR><BR>Regards,<BR>Jennifer