Me and Marcella at the end of the night
Last night, after the reveal of the Top 16 candidates for the Best Job in the World, I headed over to Marcella’s office party to celebrate. Sure, we might not have gotten into the Top 16, but we had a good run! Like Linda Hoang from Alberta and Steven Rogers in Texas, I too believe that “everything happens for a reason.” I also like to think that in the end, things always work out for the best. 
On my way to the party, I got a call from Steven in Texas (which by the way I thought was super cool! I’ve never gotten a phone call from Texas before). We didn’t talk too long though since neither of us knew what the long distance charges were — just long enough to congratulate each other and share a few bits of “insider information.” 
Marcella had recently just redesigned Biro Creative’s new office in Gastown, Vancouver, and the place looks great! This was just one of the reasons we were celebrating last night. I got to meet some of her friends who are all very artistic, chill, and really friendly! Being around such supportive, positive and wordly people was exactly what I needed.
Towards the end of the night, Marcella and I figured Erik would be finished his interviews for the day and have time to receive some loud congratulatory messages from us. But alas, his phone was off. He was probably way too tired anyways and needed to get some beauty rest for his early Canada AM interview today. Congratulations Erik!
After cleaning up and bagging at least 50 bottles of wine and beer, the Moser clan and I had a late night dinner at La Casita in Gastown. Mama and Papa Moser are very well travelled and have many interesting stories to share about their experiences. They had driven five hours just to be there for Marcella’s party, which they had also expected would be a ‘Congrats for Making Top 16′ party. I’m pretty sure everyone was expecting it to be a Top 16 congraulatory party. I know I was!
Marcella and I both received a phone call that night from a girl in Human Resources at Tourism Queensland. She reeaaally didn’t wanted to talk to me. I was confused at how obviously she wanted to hang up the phone because I was super happy at the time and kept thanking her and asking her to pass on Thanks to everyone at Tourism Queensland for the opportunity. People don’t normally want to hang up on you when you’re thanking them…
Later on I found out from a fellow candidate that the poor girl is an intern at the office. Isn’t that awful?? They made this poor intern phone people around the world to deliver bad news. It’s no wonder she didn’t want to talk to me. She had phoned several people already that were less than happy about the Top 16 reveal and probably just wanted to get it all over and done with.
Well, it’s over and done with (if you’re reading this poor intern girl, I hope the rest of your day was better)! Here are some pictures of the Moser clan and myself celebrating having come this far:
Watch, you will probably meet the love of your life in the time span that you would have been down under.
Don’t wanna MISS THAT!
I say you start planning a trip down to Australia anyway — I lived there for a while and it spiffy.
Flying rates right now are AMAZING and you should take advantage of it.
Example: what would normally be a 2k ticket to Australia is about 700 right now.
and yes the whole thing is a big marketing tool for QLD more than it is about any “someone” or a winner.
The top 16 videos are not even that great (I AM SHOCKED the canadian with the musical did not get in, and I feel really let down by the gal chosen to represent the USA. There are SUCH characters in the US and they chose a dime a dozen girl) — The choices seem to be just for country representation so that the media follows them. I think the more people realize this, the more tired it gets, and the less interested we become in following it.
Australia has a completely different perspective of what is “entertaining“
Seriously — have you SEEN AUSTRALIAN TV?! OMGOSH…it sucks. I wanted to throw the tv when I lived there.
Maybe that is why they were impressed with their lame american choice. Haha I sound critical but I am just expressing my opinion.
Cheers Anny — I enjoyed following you through the process.
I actually laughed out loud when I read “Seriously — have you SEEN AUSTRALIAN TV?! OMGOSH…it sucks.” I can’t say that I have watched Australian TV!
And gee whiz, I hope I don’t miss out on meeting the love of my life because I didn’t get to the Top 16! I like to think that being in the Top 50 increases my odds since now more people around the world know who I am and can pass on the message that I’m out there for the one that might be looking for me
I can sort of understand why they chose Cali from the US. She has a very large fan base with GeekBrief tv so she’s already got exposure. I am a little surprised at the choice as well though because although she’s a sweetheart, her target market doesn’t exactly match up with the target market for Queensland’s tourist destinations.
And in regards to a trip to Australia: I am tossing the idea around
The only thing I have to work around is how to get the money to get down there. I know it’s cheaper right now, but $700 is still $700 too much for someone who’s already got a loan to repay. 
I went down there when I was still paying school loans. I just took out another loan to cover the mean time.
I figure I will always be paying a loan for something for the rest of my life, so in a sense, someone will always be taking money from me. It’s hard to ever get a head of that, after school loans it will be house loans or who knows what else.
They can take my money, but they can never take the experiences I have or had for using that one loan to get me through such and futch trip. Some day Anny, Some day.
You are nice to Cali. You are a nice person.
as in. I couldn’t get through her whole video without clicking on the next applicant before it even finished. I follow a lot of web personalities and She is NOT fun.com
I. The not as nice person say: Cali is boring.
I hope you continue this blog and start posting youtube videos and such — I would like to continue to tune in.
Face it girl, you’re fresh.
Australian Tv Example: My first week there, I watched QLD news. What is on the news in AU you ask? An old woman being held hostage in her house by a pig. NOT a wild boar mind you, just. A pig.
They interviewed her weeping, terrified face.
“The pig just wouldn’t let me out the door. He would bite at me and wouldn’t let me pass”
Now if THAT is news. Wow. hahahah. At least THAT one was entertaining. Only because they thought it was very serious and news worthy.
Hahahaha The pig story is definitely newsworthy in my books
I plan on continuing this blog. We’ll see what comes next!
Holy cow that looks like fun, Anny! Wish I could have been there to celebrate with you all!
Ditto! When are you going to visit Vancouver?
Haha, would love to! Actually trying to figure out my next travels. As all of this TQ stuff dies down, I’ll be left interested to do some serious traveling. Maybe all of the rejects can go play on an island…in the Caribbean. Haha. But seriously, I’m curious to see what comes of it. And I’ve heard good things about Vancouver.
I think that even if I had the opportunity to travel throughout the entire world, I’d still come home to Vancouver at the end of it all. It’s a great city with incredible diversity, amazing food, and one of the only places in the world where you have the ocean on the one side, great mountains on the other, and you’re only a couple hours away from visiting another country.
I think they should name you Caretaker of Vancouver!
If only! lol
Hi, Annie, sorry to hear that u didn’t be in 16 lists. i always keep my eyes to you. you did the best but it was just too high competition. I think you gain a lot of experiences from this and some other chances will come to you for sure. Keep charming.… cheers!
Thanks Kate! I guess you won’t be visiting after all
.…a girl in Human Resources at Tourism Queensland. She reeaaally didn’t wanted to talk to me.
Uh-oh…TQ drops the ball in the contest “after market”. Doesnt bode too well as to how they will treat actual paying customers to the islands…which may include rejected contest participents and their friends and relatives. Looks like TQ has ignored a crutial law of advertising: Word Of Mouth…See ya TQ…Until I hear the front office is made aware of what it takes to attract customers…
Interesting thoughts, William. I’ve had some similar, and I’m curious to see how the situation plays out.
I’d like to see their tourism sales figures at the end of the 2010 fiscal year and compare it to their figures from last year.
I know a lot of people who didn’t get through to the Top 50 were pretty peeved at their standard responses from TQ. I even got a few e-mails asking me to forward messages to them! At the end of the day though, regardless of the thousands of people they ticked off, millions more now know that the GBR is a hot spot for tourism.
You’re going places, Ms. Anny! Let me know when you’re planning your next trip… I might be up for it
I’m about to announce my next trip