Hello Everyone-

This blog has taken a while to get set up for several reasons. One being that I feel overwhelmed, where do I begin? Well nothing like the present right? So, Australia...Let's get a few of the basics covered:

I live in Enmore, about 20 min walk from work. This is in the outskirts of the city, think South Broadway in Denver.I live with Tara who is 24, a copy writer, and the most sarcastic person I have ever met. She is great, and I actualy look forward to seeing her when I get home from work.How do I say this without being too sappy-she is always quick to tease me when I say something dumb, which seems to be a lot lately?? I am an easy target these days. Yet, she is so caring, and really has taken me on. We have a great time together, and she is my guide around town. I also live with Shaun. He is 25, musician, and works at a pub. That is about all I know about him (he just moved in this week and we have completly opposite schedules).

Work: I work on King street in Newtown. It is considered the "bohemian" part of the city, but I think mellow on the freak scale as far as I am concerned. There is a restaurant, coffee shop, clothing store, and convienience store every other foot. You can get anything your little heart desires, which has made eating well a feat. But, very fun! The best Thai and Indian I have had in a long while-their version of Mexican is as expected-a total joke. I am
responsible for teaching my friends the amazing experience that is...green chile. BTW-I FOUND GREEN CHILIES!!!!!!! Now, I need to take out a loan to afford them and learn how to roast them and we are in business:) It is so wonderful to be able to go to a bakery and get fresh pastries, or a buther, or a deli.

I work with Bill-he is an ex tour leader in India for Intrepid. He is engaged and living the married life. He is very sweet and suffers from technology aggro. He always has a huge smile for me.

Danny is also an ex tour leader and has been to something like 48 countries-and you all think I travel a lot. He has been my saving grace. He is from the UK, and has relocated also for the job. So, we have created a close friendship already. Leave it to me to make best friends with my boss, what else is new? My favorite is Tuesday night movies at the Dendy. This is the independant theatre on King street, and they have cheap movies on Tuesday nights. They have great popcorn, and so far we are 3-0 on great movies.

I am currently learning the hell that is flights. A totally different language, but I am getting it slowly but surely-I will be a master soon!! Muagh ha ha! I am learning SO much right now, which is great for the career.

Friends: Not many-I know...pause for dramatic reaction. This has been the hardest part of the experience for me. There is so much to see and do, but at this point not a ton of people to do them with. As mentioned above, I hang out with Danny, Tara, and Trish. Trish is best friends with Dyan-my boss in Boulder (see a theme??) She also works in travel. She is who I stayed with the first 2 weeks I was here-no hostel for me! We bonded immediatly, and she is now my closest friend here in Sydney. She has been in LA for 2 weeks where her brother and his family live, but is back now (thank god-I really missed her). She lives on the beach in North Bondi-one of the most popular beaches in Australia. We spent a couple of amazing weekends there. All the speedos and bare boobies you could handle-oh and gay guys. That leads us into the "love life"

So far-it does not exsist. You will all find this pure hilarity! So, I guess Sydney has one of the largest Gay populations in the world. And Newtown, has one of the largest Lesbian populations in Sydney, so there you go. All of you that said I would fall in love here...who wants to make bets???? I know where my odds lie-and it is not with the lesbians (you jerks thinking that know who you are)!

Weather: Apparently "winter" is starting?? Let's just say, when summer comes I will be a sweaty yank! It is so humid here. When it rains, it down pours all day! I woke up one of the first night here thinking...OMG that is rushing water, get to high ground! No big deal here? Everything is celsius here, so it has been between 23-28C here (about 70-80F) give or take, plus humidity-and this is fall?????????????????????????????????????

I live in the flight path on Sydney Intl Airport which makes for interesting plane crash dreams (mom)-I will be talking to my roomates, and all of a sudden you will stop talking because you can't here each other?? In the Ghetto...

Things that are interesting to us but not them:
1) you have to turn the electrical socket on with a switch or it won't work
2) crossing the street-health insurance a must
3) vegimite-not bad in small doses
4) the beer is about twice as strong as in the states, but the hangover is about half as bad
5) aussies love to make fun of you, even more if you are from the US-all in good fun!
6) it is still common to use a cloths line to dry your wash-remember what I said about the rain??
7) the efpos machine-everything is in cash here, ATM's everywhere!
8) they eat a LOT of chicken, it is the meat of choice
9) they really do say "good ay!" I laugh every time and want to say "this is a knife!"
10) all the dogs here are little bulldog/terrier looking things here and they poop on the side walk because I have not seen grass in 4 weeks!

Emotional State: Week 1-excited and jet lagged Week 2- Disoriented but learning the ropes Week 3-Lonely and homesick
Week 4-on the rebound and ready to kick some butt (kind of, but feeling tuffer)
Week 5-sick in bed, this is fun right??

Phisical State: Still in my skinny jeans after the diet, but fighting the booze and sausage roll breakfast with my new morning workout routine:) Hair getting long, skin loving the humidity, and kankles in control!

Highlights:

-Having drinks while looking at the Harbor and Opera House lit up at night
-Laying on the beach while everyone was shoveling snow
-conquering the Sydney train and bus sytem
-sticking it out when the homesick got hard despite the tears
-having my dad, laurie and chris buy tickets to AUSTRALIA!!!!!!!!!! You have no idea how proud of themI am that they are comingall this way. xxoo
-crossing the street and not fearing for my life
-taking a real roll in my job, not just coming to work
-being in Australia.

This past month has been a rollercoaster. I didn't expect it to be this hard to be away from home. As I have said to a few of you it is hard at times to be here and not at home-but I know in my heart that here is where I am supposed to be right now. I am so grateful that I can be here-there are so many people in my life that will never see the things that I have and will see,
so to have the chance to, is more than I could ever imagine. I know that there will always be good and bad times, but there would be no matter where I lived.

I know already that this experience will change me forever, who knows what will happen next!

Thank you for being a part of this with me, I love you all...