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Published: March 13th 2008
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13 March 2008
So I quickly skimmed a travel journal/blog thing online of a friend of mine and hers was much better, more detailed and what not so I felt I needed at least one good entry written when I haven’t been deprived of internet for 10 days and have more than 10 minutes to write something. I have now been here for a month and since I last wrote I have moved and settled into my apartment (which is completely furnished by IKEA so it looks like home, I have the exact same desk, lamp, and bed here as I do back home) and I’m slowly getting used to living here and the daily routine of things. I have also started classes at uni. “School” is only used to refer to grade school like K-12 and a “college” is like a mixed gender frat house so I am getting the lingo down. Elevators are lifts and if you ask where a bathroom or restroom is the person looks at you very confused…just ask for what you really need, a toilet. There are some other translations but tomato sauce tastes nothing like ketchup sadly. Also, my other favorite foods… almonds and
Seal Rocks
Seal Rocks Beach... I think about 3 hours north of Sydney Mexican food are hard to come by in the grocery store and bananas are expensive, but there are other things that are very inexpensive so it all works out in the end.
Everyone uses those trader joes/whole foods/ every store has them now bags. They use them for everything, groceries, clothes, gym bag, lunch bag, general tote, and even purse. Many stores don’t have plastic bags and expect you to bring your own bags. I think the in the first orientation week at uni I got 5 free shopping bags and could have picked up more but really didn’t need them. There is a water shortage in Australia and all over the public bathrooms and the ones at hostels were signs to please conserve water and what not. I have been having trouble this week trying to explain to my roommate that she doesn’t need to shower two or even three times in a day. The toilets have half and full flushes to help with the water conservation but sadly they don’t flush the same way the ones in the US do so I can’t see if the water really does go the other way.
Physically I
Seal Shop
one philosophy down here... this was in a very laid back little community at seal rocks, not the rush of the CBD. am feeling and looking much better. By the time I got to Manly, about 2 weeks into my trip I had 30 mozie bites all over my legs, face, neck and arms, a swollen foot from walking too many miles… or I guess that would be kilometers, in flip flops, a sunburned scalp that was peeling, and two big scabs on my knees. My knees look 200 times better and my bites just little scars now, and I just have some nice bruises on my shins that I see ever day wearing shorts cause the weather is so nice compared to Seattle. There has only been one day of bad rain and but other than that the rain here is not as bad as a scattered shower in Seattle. There were some thunder and lightning storms last week and I could see the dark clouds and walls of rain approach from my bedroom window.
I had heard before that Sydney is very much like Seattle… and in many ways it is but when I look out from my apartment the land is so flat. I am very used to knowing my sense of direction by the mountains and water
back home but im learning my way around here quickly.
I’ve had classes for 2 weeks now and they are going alright. I am taking marine biology, Australian plant conservation and ecology, Australian literature and an economics class where some students know more details about the US economy and how and why its suffering now than I do. When I tell people I am from Seattle most only know of “sleepless in Seattle”. I also get asked if colleges in the US are like they are portrayed in the movies… not really.
On the weekends I have been going around Sydney, I have been to the opera house 2 times, once for a skateboarding competition. Right near the opera house is the Royal Botanical Gardens which are really pretty, I have run thru the park and visited it a few times now. Also I went to Coogee beach last Sunday which was nice and relaxing, more bbq/picnic table places as well as a huge sandy beach and rock pools on the sides. This Saturday I am going to a concert at Centennial park. I am really enjoying my time in Sydney and hope to see more of Australia soon,
Rock Pools
Rock pools at Coogee Beach, Manly also had little pools like these too. it seems surreal at times that I am actually here given that I have been wanting to see Australia for such a long time. I have 10 days off from classes from Easter so I will write again sometime after my trip… where ever I end up going for that week.
I hope everyone is doing well and staying healthy!
-megan
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Pattie Jim Oona Tuula
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Great to read your blog o'adventures
It is great to read your blog-- it sounds just like you speak and it makes us smile... Enjoy your time there and take it all in!! Say hello to my cousins in Perth -- a bit of a trek from where you are!! love and hugs...