Wednesday, Sept. 30

I had work in the morning, which consisted of making pizza for lunch. Came out good considering it was homemade, I was just impressed that it was edible.
Following lunch I was so excited to receive my tax file number because that meant I could get a cell phone…not the case. I went over to 3 to set everything up and it failed miserably. Apparently I am not a good candidate for them, even with 3 forms of I.D. I was told that opening a new bank account would solve the problem because somehow that shows that I am “financially stable”. Let’s see how much longer I can go without a phone.
I tried meat pie. Same idea as chicken potpie except it is beef. They eat it with tomato sauce on it. It tasted good without the tomato sauce.

Tuesday, Sept. 29

I had Tuesday off, so I walked to the beach with a good book and sat down on the rocks to read. That was my view...just breath taking. The water would spit up and the breeze would carry it. The sprinkle of salt across my face was so refreshing. This was at Coogee Beach.

Monday, Sept. 28

I worked for the better part of the morning…in the kitchen again:-/ After lunch I went to set up my bank account…it only took an hour and half. I kept getting told I needed one thing and not the other, would come back to with it and then be told I needed something else. I didn’t expect it to be so complicated. Getting a cell phone was even worse. I need three forms of Australian I.D., my passport, bank statement and something else. First I was told that I could use my travels insurance as a third form of I.D.…when I showed up that was not the case. I am currently waiting on a residence letter stating that I am residing in Australia. Who needs a phone anyways?
Following dinner I wowed the Aussies with my Cotton Eyed Joe dance moves. I decided it is a must that I attend a Bush dance while down under. It is the same as a barn dance just much cooler…or so I have been told.

Sunday, Sept. 27

Everyone either had to work or study so Jenna and I were all on our own. Up the street there was the Ecoliving fair, which we decided to attend. It would have been a lot more fun had it been warmer and not so windy. We did get freebies which is always a plus.
Somehow we forgot how windy it was and decided that a picnic would be a great idea. So we headed to the Gap. The Gap is an ocean cliff at Watsons Bay, near South Head, Sydney. Having a picnic in a wind storm is a great experience and one that only needs to be done once before realizing that it is a terrible idea. Actually it doesn’t even need to happen that many times, it is a terrible idea. Excluding lunch our trip to the Gap was well worth it. The wind was pushing us around the entire time. Jenna said it felt just like home (home being New Zealand). The view was breath taking and could not be captured on film, though I did try.
Among our site seeing experiences we decided to take in some history and go to the Vaucluse House, “home of William Charles Wentworth (explorer, barrister, patriot and agitator for self-government”. We were too cheap to pay for a tour but not ashamed enough to peek inside every open window. The estate reminded me of where the Von Trapp family would have lived and the gardens were straight out of a picture book.
For Jenna’s last night we did karaoke…it turned out to be a memorable night!

FYI

Some people have been asking what the Unibar is...it is just that, the bar at the university. The atmosphere is really relaxed here in Sydney and shoes are hardly worn. At the Unibar people were all dressed up but had no shoes on. Weird I know! You see it quite often around Sydney.

Saturday, Sept. 26

Today was more shopping:-/ Paddy’s Market, which is just your basic flee market except everything is Australian. There were some nice back scratchers made of kangaroo paws:-/…I would have gotten pictures but they weren’t allowed, odd I know. Then it was to Bondi Junction for more shopping…if nothing else I am understanding how the bus system works. You have to flag down the bus as it is coming up otherwise it doesn’t stop. To get off you must request the stop. It all makes sense because why waste time stopping if no one is getting on or off.

Friday, Sept. 25

Friday was my first day at work. I have to work 15hrs to pay off room and board, which includes 3 meals a day. I worked in the kitchen preparing lunch for us and the boys who live in the residence next door. It was a short shift yet I was still counting the minutes, I was so out of my element in the kitchen. After work I was determined to go and set up my bank account but threw that to the wind when an offer to go to the beach came along. Every time I see the water my heart starts skipping beats and my feet pick up speed fast. I jumped in this time, the waves were HUGE and the water COLD. I can’t wait for summer to officially arrive.
That evening we walked the night markets which was in China Town. It wasn’t very exciting; it felt like I was in Boston. After that I wasn’t ready to go home and either was Jenna, Jenna is visiting from New Zealand so everything is new to her as well, so a few of us walked the city. It was a beautiful skyline.

Thursday, Sept. 24

I finally made it to some sites. Maria took me out to see the Sydney Opera House, where we ate lunch on the steps. It was way bigger than I was imaging it. Not going to lie, the entire time we were there I was replaying Finding Nemo in my head. After lunch we walked through the botanical gardens which was beautiful. The scenic made the time pass fast and soon we found ourselves at St. Mary's Cathedral. St. Mary's Catherdral polished up for world youth day last year. The trip into the city was good experience because I am finding it hard to cross the street on my own. Not a simple as you think, first right then left then right again.
Shortly after we arrived home I met up with Darren, Josh's buddy, at the Unibar. Casey wasn't able to make it because he was picking up the car for their road trip this weekend. Darren gave me a lot of good advice and we decided to keep in touch for the reminder of their stay.

Fun Fact #2: The moon is all wrong here. It goes bottom to top instead of left to right.

Wednesday, Sept. 23

I woke up to a red sky. Apparently we are in the middle of a dust storm. Everything is covered in red sand. It is beautiful.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/plasticbag/galleries/72157622310168099/

Fun Fact #1. Vegemite...not so yummy. I tasted it at lunch. The Aussies eat it on toast with butter. It is black and tastes like a bullion cube all mashed up. Not my kind of thing!

Tuesday, Sept 22

The flight from L.A. to Auckland was unbelievable long! I was able to watch 3 movies, 2 tv shows, listen to an entire album, sleep, read, and got not 1 but 2 meals on the plane. The layover was short in Auckland and soon I was right back on a plane.
When I arrived in Sydney, Alison was right there to pick me up. On our drive to the college (dorms), I thought we were going to die, the concept of driving on the wrong side of the drove keeps messing me up. I was able to shower and unpack before lunch. The girls were all very nice and welcoming. After lunch I walked to the beach, which was about a half hour, with two of the girls. The waves were big and the water blue. We made it back just in time for dinner at 6. I didn’t last long after dinner; I went straight up to bed.

Monday, Sept. 21

Monday just didn’t exist for me.

Sunday, Sept. 20

I left Boston with such love and support, all five siblings, Mami and Papi sent me off. As a surprise Fran showed up with Chris, Tori and Danny, all bright faces considering the early morning hour in which I left. From Boston I headed to L.A., where I was greeted my Dana and his buddy Brysan, I couldn’t have been in better hands. The guys took me to Vince Beach where both Dana and I decided to go swimming in our clothes (good thing I packed extra clothes in my carry-on). After that we went to Santa Monica and walked around. For dinner Dana treated us to Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, which was delicious! Following dinner it was back to the airport for my connection to Auckland, New Zealand.