logging in with facebook doesn't count.

this is the best take ever tbh.

also: welcome to melbourne! i hope i see you around, would love to catch a drink sometime. i know a few good places. 😁

please feel free to hit me up for anything! if i can't help i'll know someone who can, or someone who knows someone who can.

i honestly thought ruxmon died shortly after ruxcon did. is that not the case?

on conferences, though i imagine they would be a touch further down the list of priorities: bsides canberra, bsides melbourne, kiwicon/purplecon/chcon (nz! just across the pond 🙂).

"character refs" are generally enough along with proof of sustained income, "no i don't have pets" (even if you're going to), and the advance rent. iirc they called my boss.

i'm sure there's plenty of people you know better than me that are willing to be one, but i'm more than happy to as well. 🙂

15. big box electrical: avoid h*rvey norm*n. the good guys / jb hifi will get you the vast majority of the way there.

14. if you're living in the outer suburbs and/or beyond, try and get a place close-ish to a train line. the main arterials into/out of melbourne are … worth skipping. if you ever have to use the monash you will very rapidly understand why.

13. almost the only thing most australians know about the usa is the current political climate and the second amendment. unless you want to repeatedly discuss these things specifically i honestly recommend pretending you're canadian to non-friends/acquaintances who ask.

12. "melbourne: four seasons, one day" is often repeated and often true. just try and aim to dress for the median weather, honestly.

11. use sunscreen. you would not believe how easy it is to get sunburned here. people never believe it until they feel it.

10. groceries etc.: there's a few really good markets in melbourne and surrounding suburbs: qv market, prahan market, south melb market. worth a trip if you can spare the spoons. otherwise, aldi is really good here, but rare. iga are the "independents" if you want to support them specifically.

9. furniture: ikea for flat-pack, amart furniture for assembled and decent (with some pretty good sales), freedom furniture for expensive cushions. some of the product lines here end up on factorybuys, which is basically a catch-all outlet store.

8. i saw centrecom mentioned for tech; they are good. other good: msy, ple, pccasegear (online only, but very fast).

7. the housing market in australia is … grim. be actively prepared to pony up 3-6mo rent in advance to get a place. idk if they do reference checks in the usa, but they do here. legally speaking, the owner cannot prevent you owning pets. they can choose a different tenant though.

6. when i moved to australia on a visa my family stayed in a long-stay hotel for about 3 months while we found a place. it took the heat off the housing situation. i can't say how expensive it was because i was nine and i'm pretty sure it was sponsored.