25 days to go...
Oye…so it’s been a week since I’ve updated, but life really isn’t that busy during the week - my entries would be pretty boring if I discussed work every day. Not that I don’t enjoy work - because I do, in fact I enjoy going to work more than I like hanging out with the members of our group (which may just be motivated right now by the fact that everyone is driving me nuts) - but not too much goes on. On Friday (my birthday!) I finished the newsletter and we put it up on the Intranet. It feels good to have it done, and I think it turned out nice, I hope everyone likes it!
Lets see…this week…I guess the highlight would be that Wednesday night we went to a bar called Friend in Hand where they had balloon blowing contests, hula hoping contest and hermit crab races. I bet on two crabs but neither did very well! I just wanted to win a shirt that said “My Crabs won first place.” It was a really good time and I truly enjoyed myself.
Friday was my birthday which was really nice. At work, Rebecca got me a cake and everyone got together and sang and ate. Then a whole bunch of people went out to lunch at this pub called Shakespeare’s Hotel. I had Chicken Schnitzel, which was really good. After lunch I got absolutely nothing done - I just sat and chatted with Lucas, whose my new friend at work - and Rebecca let me leave early. Friday night Kelly and Jessica nicely planned a fun evening - we went to this place called The Otto Café for dinner and then afterwards we went to this bar called The Retro. We were probably the youngest people there (they made some announcement about it also being someone’s birthday but she was turning 36!!) but I still had a good time! After that we stopped for a little bit at a place called Star Bar, which would have been cool had my feet and my knees (since I fell at The Retro) be killing me. I would have liked to stay there longer, but I ended up coming home with Kelly.
This entire weekend I really haven’t had much energy, so yesterday (Saturday) I didn’t really do much. I feel kind of bad I missed out on going to the Museum of Sydney - I took a three hour nap instead. Last night we had a good time, we just sat around and drank and watched the Wedding Singer in Nate’s room. It was nice to actually sit and talk and learn more about each other - something that we really haven’t done (or maybe just haven’t had the chance).
Today I really enjoyed myself despite feeling a little off after drinking too much last night. Kelly, Jess, Allison and I went on a harbor cruise which was absolutely lovely. It was a beautiful day and it was really relaxing to be out on the water. We got some spectacular views and took some really good pictures. Afterwards we did some shopping around Circular Quay and then wandered over to The Rocks. The Rocks is a really cute area and it was fun to explore all the little shops and restaurants. Kelly and I registered to do the bridge climb next weekend, which I’m looking forward too because I think it will be an amazing experience. We ate at this REALLY cute café where they had live jazz music - it was definitely a dining experience you can’t get back home. The meal was good, but later made me sick. I came back and took a nap and felt a little bit better. We then cooked some steak and lamb and then went to café otto for hot chocolate and dessert.
On the way home I had a few tense words with Jessica and it really made me feel like I’m ready to go home and just enjoy being alone for awhile. It’s weird because I came here to prove to myself that I can do things on my own, but I never actually get to BE on my own. Maybe I’ll run some errands tomorrow and Tuesday by myself and that will make me feel better. Up until now Jess hasn’t gotten on my nerves, but tonight it just got to me that it always seems like she’s laughing in peoples’ faces (along with Kelly which makes it even worse). I’m certain there are things about me that other people don’t like, but I try to be at least civil to everyone (which may not always work out) but I definitely don’t laugh in people’s faces. Jess can be very demanding and bratty too - something I try to avoid being that I know I usually get what I want. I’m just yearning to be alone - like really alone - and not have to worry about what other people are thinking about me. Not that I’m REALLY that concerned, considering I really can’t see any of us being close friends when we get back, but it’s just frustrating knowing that everyone is judgemental of everyone else. I’ll admit to being judgmental too, but (and maybe I’m just avoiding cognitive dissonance) I try not to be short with people and understand where they are coming from.
Oh, and one other note - no one here has MANNERS! It’s driving me nuts!!! Dan shovels his food, Kelly always asks how much stuff costs, and hardly anyone says please or thank you. Maybe it’s just the Minnesota nice in me, but I feel like some people just bark demands at the people they encounter. I’ve been trying to be even more cordial to people here because I realize that I’m representing the US and Americans, and I want to reflect well on the country.
Lets see…this week…I guess the highlight would be that Wednesday night we went to a bar called Friend in Hand where they had balloon blowing contests, hula hoping contest and hermit crab races. I bet on two crabs but neither did very well! I just wanted to win a shirt that said “My Crabs won first place.” It was a really good time and I truly enjoyed myself.
Friday was my birthday which was really nice. At work, Rebecca got me a cake and everyone got together and sang and ate. Then a whole bunch of people went out to lunch at this pub called Shakespeare’s Hotel. I had Chicken Schnitzel, which was really good. After lunch I got absolutely nothing done - I just sat and chatted with Lucas, whose my new friend at work - and Rebecca let me leave early. Friday night Kelly and Jessica nicely planned a fun evening - we went to this place called The Otto Café for dinner and then afterwards we went to this bar called The Retro. We were probably the youngest people there (they made some announcement about it also being someone’s birthday but she was turning 36!!) but I still had a good time! After that we stopped for a little bit at a place called Star Bar, which would have been cool had my feet and my knees (since I fell at The Retro) be killing me. I would have liked to stay there longer, but I ended up coming home with Kelly.
This entire weekend I really haven’t had much energy, so yesterday (Saturday) I didn’t really do much. I feel kind of bad I missed out on going to the Museum of Sydney - I took a three hour nap instead. Last night we had a good time, we just sat around and drank and watched the Wedding Singer in Nate’s room. It was nice to actually sit and talk and learn more about each other - something that we really haven’t done (or maybe just haven’t had the chance).
Today I really enjoyed myself despite feeling a little off after drinking too much last night. Kelly, Jess, Allison and I went on a harbor cruise which was absolutely lovely. It was a beautiful day and it was really relaxing to be out on the water. We got some spectacular views and took some really good pictures. Afterwards we did some shopping around Circular Quay and then wandered over to The Rocks. The Rocks is a really cute area and it was fun to explore all the little shops and restaurants. Kelly and I registered to do the bridge climb next weekend, which I’m looking forward too because I think it will be an amazing experience. We ate at this REALLY cute café where they had live jazz music - it was definitely a dining experience you can’t get back home. The meal was good, but later made me sick. I came back and took a nap and felt a little bit better. We then cooked some steak and lamb and then went to café otto for hot chocolate and dessert.
On the way home I had a few tense words with Jessica and it really made me feel like I’m ready to go home and just enjoy being alone for awhile. It’s weird because I came here to prove to myself that I can do things on my own, but I never actually get to BE on my own. Maybe I’ll run some errands tomorrow and Tuesday by myself and that will make me feel better. Up until now Jess hasn’t gotten on my nerves, but tonight it just got to me that it always seems like she’s laughing in peoples’ faces (along with Kelly which makes it even worse). I’m certain there are things about me that other people don’t like, but I try to be at least civil to everyone (which may not always work out) but I definitely don’t laugh in people’s faces. Jess can be very demanding and bratty too - something I try to avoid being that I know I usually get what I want. I’m just yearning to be alone - like really alone - and not have to worry about what other people are thinking about me. Not that I’m REALLY that concerned, considering I really can’t see any of us being close friends when we get back, but it’s just frustrating knowing that everyone is judgemental of everyone else. I’ll admit to being judgmental too, but (and maybe I’m just avoiding cognitive dissonance) I try not to be short with people and understand where they are coming from.
Oh, and one other note - no one here has MANNERS! It’s driving me nuts!!! Dan shovels his food, Kelly always asks how much stuff costs, and hardly anyone says please or thank you. Maybe it’s just the Minnesota nice in me, but I feel like some people just bark demands at the people they encounter. I’ve been trying to be even more cordial to people here because I realize that I’m representing the US and Americans, and I want to reflect well on the country.