Settled.

Wow, I'm almost as bad at this as I am at my diary!! (which, btw is actually a calendar out here...) Anyways, where to start... Jen and I are totally settled in our quaint 2 bedder in Lizzie Bay. I even got her to go for a jog with me yesterday after work...we ventured through Rushcutters Bay over to the edge of Double Bay and spotted jellyfish and the Harbour Bridge, which I didn't think you could see from our place so that was a nice surprise! We made sure to make it back home to catch the premiere of Gossip Girl (which I'd already seen months ago in the states) only to find out that you have to have cable tv to even get the station. What a let down.

I'm absolutely loving the city. Australia will have to kick me out or deport me to get me to leave. I honestly couldn't imagine having to pack up our place to move back. Although, Jen and I think sometimes about how it would be nice to be able to go back to our place for say, a week to see everyone and make dinners etc. I guess it doesn't work that way though. I'm struggling to find health insurance but until then I've held off on the cliff jumping and what not. Probably wasn't the best idea to do that in Jamaica come to think of it! Yikes.

I work for a company called Unique Daylighting in Chatswood, which is in North Sydney. Every day I walk to Kings Cross station to hop on the train to Town Hall Station, then again to Chatswood, and then catch the 136 bus. Interesting! But I get to really see the city life. I wear suits with Nike's and a backpack, and stare at the ground listening to my iPod like a real Sydneysider...and I pass the Opera House and Harbour Bridge twice daily. Beautiful.

Last weekend was interesting! Carly (Katies friend from Adelaide and my new fave!) was in Sydney for a class and her, her friend Cody (FUPA) and I caught the bus from my place to the Opera Bar to meet Edward and some of his mates. I think I offended them by being an obnoxious American but he swears I was fine. I definitely poured Edward and Codys drinks all over them. Classic. I don't remember what happened next but I'm pretty sure it involved me forcing everyone to go to a strip club in the Cross, walking home barefoot, and screaming at an Irish guy for not being Australian. So things for me are starting to feel more like home. I miss having close friends though, its like you feel like you need to prove to people that you are 'cool' and/or 'worth it' as they already have their core group and aren't necessarily looking to expand. With time I suppose...I like me!!

Anywho, Its now December and all the swimsuit and flip flop ads are christmas themed which is really odd. I also have almost 2 weeks off for the holidays which is UNHEARD OF RIGHT?! this time last year i was AT WORK xmas day from like 9am to 9pm!!! They say some things happen for a reason right....and I'm much happier. Now, if I could only convince my friends to move out here on a whim like I did... OR AT LEAST VISIT!! ta for now...

2 weeks in

Sorry its been so long since I've written! Since the last I had talked to you, I had taken off to Australia with Jen, Gary, and Ruby. The past two weeks has been quite the adventure to say the least! Our east coast tour of Australia will forever be in my mind as one of the most fascinating experiences I've ever had in my life. Now as I'm writing this, the boys have gone and Jen and I are sitting in our hostel soaking up the internet we haven't had and trying to piece together some kind of life here down under for the next 12 or so months. As soon as the boys started packing this morning in our hotel room it became all too real that now it was time to grow up and face reality. However, in the middle of my search for jobs and apartments my mind randomly reverts back to all the memories we made since arriving here that Tuesday, August 28th...

First we arrived in Sydney and coerced Dora at the Europcar International Terminal to upgrade us from our Hyundai Getz into something that would actually fit all 6 of our suitcases. I don't know what we were thinking, driving on the left is hard enough without having to fiddle with the stick shift on the wrong side!!! Ruby drove first and after making Dora take 27 shots of us all piled in we were off, on the left, into downtown Sydney. (Sydney CBD, as the locals call it) We spent the day walking around The Rocks, soaking up all the surroundings from the opera house to the harbour bridge and finishing it off with a nice meal of Kangaroo and Crocodile at Wolfies. It was a good day. The next day we took a cab over to Bondi, one of the worlds most famous beaches. From there we walked at least 5 miles to the Westfield shopping center, enjoyed a VB and Tooheys new, then proceeded to get into the most dangerous cab in the entire world. We almost ran over at least 7 pedestrians, hopped a few curbs, and went the wrong way over the Harbour bridge. Twice. All the while the cabbie was saying 'shit shit shit' under his breath. Let me out here, its fine.

The next week or so was a compilation of hotels, hostels, and hours and hours in the car. We visited Surfers Paradise (Ripleys, and the ultimate perfection of Phase 10 - which I won both times), Brisbane ('thats a completely different bridge' and nutella calzones) then eventually up to Airlie Beach - the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands. It was there we realized that Americans simply do not travel enough. The term 'on holiday' in the states means a 3 day weekend, christmas break, etc. The thought that the rest of the world takes months and weeks off at a time to experience other countries, cultures, languages....is baffling. Who are we to think that we don't need to experience these things?? I learned about 6 years ago that these such things are vital to our well being and growth, and I hope that now Ruby understands the same thing. Talking to people from Ireland, Scotland, Holland, etc....hearing them shout the words to all your favorite songs, teaching you new words (slap the goon!) watching them try to learn your card game and letting them teach you theirs...all very important activities!! Now I understand the importance of saving and preparing for your family etc, but to me experiencing these things is just as important. Maybe I just started a little bit late...but I recommend it to anyone. In just about 2 weeks the four of us have seen and grown so much and its memories that we will never forget and some people may never get to have. I'm so glad that, as scary as this journey is, I get to embark on it and experience it with such good friends - and I look forward to making many more!!! (please refer to my fbook page for photos of our 2 week tour!)

Is this really happening??

Ok so its kinda hit me this past week. I've been attempting to catch up with as many people as I can, while running errands to tie up things here in the States before I jump the pond. BTW, did anyone know I was a member of 24 fitness?? Hmmmm.... Monday I went to dinner with Truly and friends at the Strip Club (not what you're thinking...grill your own steaks!!), Tuesday we had a big Thanksgiving dinner complete with turkey, cranberry, sweet potato casserole, ambrosia, green bean casserole, creamed corn, etc etc... I saw all my besties!! Rachel, Ralph, Tynisha, Amy, Lisa, Ruby, Gary, Emelyn, etc etc!!! Em showed up with a pumpkin pie that said "happy thanksgiving, farewell teri" -- apparently VONs just happened to have it in stock bc she certainly didn't even know we were having dinner until about an hour before she showed. Impressed!! Also, equally impressed with Ralphs sweet potatoes with some kind of cognac cinnamon apple blend and marshmallow topping!! OH! and Amy's australian flag underwear, which she had no problem showing off after losing a few rounds of beer pong on the infamous table!! lol. Wednesday, reunion with all my old faves at Aussie pub. We used to ALWAYS go there EVERY wednesday for the 1/2 priced wings...mainly the spicy garlic and teriyaki. I'm hungry!!! I love my old peeps so much, and wish we could have continued the tradition this whole time! Either way, Dee, Ans, Sam, Mike, Alexis, Kadin, Ralph, Em, Kyle, Jessie, Jwright, Zak... Last night, Thursday, I went and met up at my favorite sushi place with Ash for 'rolls and reggae' -- 30% off all rolls before 7 and $.25 saki with the purchase of a large beer!!! Boo. The only thing I have missed is one more go-round at pbsc, steak ums after 4pm at bubs, noodle house....i'm sure there's more. I wonder if I will be posting this same thing about different places/people in a year?? "oooh how I'll miss the kangaroo steak with crocidile kabobs!!" lol. Either way, it really hit me saying goodbye to everyone. I'm really going to miss y'all and hope at least a few of you keep your promises and come out to visit me in koala land!!! mwah!!

10 days!

Ok so I'm officially packed and homeless at this point. Actually, for two days now. Two days and two different beds. Its really odd not having a home to go to.. you forget all the things that you TOTALLY take for granted...like, laundry..shower..your favorite dvr recordings... And living out of a suitcase that you know you will just have to repack is a pain in the ass too. I can't find anything. And honestly I don't know if its just hiding somewhere or if I've sold it. Regardless, I just stop looking and live in the same outfit. Then I start thinking, how is this going to work when we're down under? How will we do laundry? Will I have to live out of the suitcase, or will I have a place to keep my toothbrush etc in the bathroom?? And where are we going to keep all of our stuff?? I mean, Jen and I are both coming with two suitcases...and Mike and Gary will have one each... We booked an economy 2 door car for our 2 week excursion and there's just no way that 6 suitcases will fit in that thing. I think that as the time closes in its all starting to get more and more real!!!! Yikes!!

3 weeks till take off

So in getting more and more excited about our move (and trying to find things to do OTHER than pack and clean this house!!) I ran across an old friend that already lives in Australia. Here is a list of all the words they use that we won't understand unless we get some studying in...

Australian - American

Bonnet/Boot Hood - Trunk
No Worries - No Problem
Cheers - Thanks
Brekky - Breakfast
Stuffed - Tired
Arvo - Afternoon
Bikkie - Cookie
Chips - Fries
Trackies - Track pants
Sunnies - Sunglasses
Boardies - Board shorts
Bevo - Beverage
Tea - Dinner
Cuppa - Cup of tea
Hen/Buck - Bachelor/Bachelorette
Mate - Friend/Buddy
Good onya - Good for you/ Well done
G’day - Hello
Bloke - Man
Bloody - Very
Oi - Hey
Barbie - Barbeque
Esky - Cooler
Bush - Outback
Bottle shop - Liquor store
Pressies - Presents
Chrisse - Christmas
Winge - Complain
Footy - Australian Rules football
Heaps - A lot
Hotel - Pub
Lollies - Sweets
Middy - Normal size beer
Tinny - Small beer
Shout - Your turn (to buy)
Pash - Kiss
Piss - Beer (Been on the piss)
Skull/Skol - Pound your drink
Pokies - Gambiling/Poker Machines
Perroed - Drunk
Pissed - Drunk
Wasted - On drugs
Lift - Elevator
Bench - Counter top
Lounge - Living room
Ripper - Great
Rubbish - Garbage
Bin - Trash
Salvos/Op shop - Good will
Sickie - Sick
Sulky - Pouting
Spewin - Very angry
Very dear - Very expensive
Reckon - Think

Almost September

So its almost September and everything is becoming more and more real. Jen's last day at Enterprise is tomorrow and I'm stoked to have a buddy to hang out with me during the day!! Been quite lonely...and house arrest is no fun!! Jen sold her car so now we only have one to use...and that one isn't even mine its being borrowed from our buddy Mike. (thanks mike!!) I'm getting overwhelmed with all the stuff we still have to do, like sell EVERYTHING!! Most of the big stuff we are selling to our friends and they aren't getting until the day we move which just makes me nervous cause its still all here!! And things like shoes, dishes, etc...what the heck do you do with all that?? ahhh!! Anyways we officially have 15 days to get out of this apartment, good news is the new tenants love the color we painted the walls so at least we don't have to repaint!!!! ;)

officially one month

try to keep up. actually i lied, only 29 days left till departure. as silly as this sounds, i'm actually looking forward to the 20 hour flight!! we have a ton of things planned for the 2 weeks that the boys will be in tow. in fact, jen and i haven't even thought of what to do when they leave - we don't even know what city we want to live in. here's the itinerary:

sun, sept 26th - depart for sydney (w/stops in san fran and new z)

tues, sept 28th - yep, we don't arrive till 2 days later...7:28am sydney time

wed, sept 29th - play in sydney...i'm thinking bondi beach day

thurs, sept 30th - ugh. drive day in our hyundai getz. 13 hours to surfers paradise!

fri, oct 1 - frolic on the gold coast all day long

sat, oct 2 - drive to brisbane (called brissy) and KOALA SANCTUARY

sun, oct 3 - drive to fraser island, worlds largest all sand island

mon, oct 4 - another drive day (on the left hand side btw!!) 14 hours to airlie beach

tues, oct 5 - board 'clipper' at noon for a 3 day cruise around great barrier reef

thurs, oct 7 - come back to shore at airlie/whitsunday islands

sat, oct 9 - one way back to sydney, bye bye car!

sun, oct 10 - boys fly back to reality, jen and i.....? no idea

needless to say the first 2 week adventure is so friggin fun that i haven't even bothered myself with the things i should actually be concerned with like, where to live..how to get around..where to work? ahhh!! it just can't come soon enough!