here safe & sound
welcome to my introductory post of a livejournal. don't worry - i'm not keeping it once i get back to Canada.
on that note...on with the journaling.
well, it only took me 44 hours (30 hours if you don't include the time change) to get here, and it involved a tour of 30 grade 12s on their way to study grade 12 biology & geography, a bunch of cranky airline staff, and really not-veggie friendly airline food. That all being said...I am here. and it is quite lovely.
It was cold this morning when i got here (around 12c) and i could see my breath. the grass is really dead as oz is in a draught. john & his mum came to pick me up at the train. they have a really amazing public transit system that is sorta like TTC & go trains and ferries all mixed in one. his family's house is perfectly lovely and in a sydney suburb called Oatley. we walked around - their house backs onto a lovely river - and saw the suburb as well as watched finding nemo (which i of course slept through..) ate ice cream, and had lovely dinner. oh yes - and of course i got fooled into rock climbing again under the guises of "brief step up" and "slight incline". is there a sign on my forehead saying "i love climbing on rocks?" : P
i've learned so much aussie slang already, and am learning a lot about the local history & environment as i go. my australian slang book has indeed already proved it's worthlessness - as well as the "when in sydney" guidebook u of t gave me. looks like jordan was right -- i have learned more in the first day of being here than that book could provide me.
i have yet to see proof that the toilet swirls backwards, but i'm still investigating that situation & will update with any further discoveries.
the driving on the other side of the road thing is way more trippy than i had anticipated...i mean, it happened when i was in england, but then i was only in cabs and talking to people so i wasn't really paying attention. it's rather bizarre to be sitting on the right in the back seat and having a car zoom by in the other direction. even turns feel different.
i saw a beautiful sunset & sunrise today. i've already taken a zillion pictures, and will choose some to put up on my fotolog if i can actually figure out why it's not working.
as it happens, i am staying a block a way from john's. i went and checked out campus, and the unilodge where i'll be staying. it's perfectly lovely!
everyone seems to be very laid back and friendly, people are very willing to help out ie) with my heavy suitcase & a set of stairs.
the city seems to have a really similar vibe to toronto - granted i was only outside in it for 15 mins. but so far very similar ;)
there's a seat sale to cairns going on - (the place where you go if you want to snorkel @ the great barrier reef) only $300AUS (which is almost the same as CDN) which is like..TO to Vancouver...amazing so I think I will head up there and splurge for a weekend or whatever. as if i'm going to be in australia and not snorkel somewhere perfectly lovely!
well, i think it's bedtime now for john & bella. good night from sydney!
feel free to respond with questions/comments! :)
on that note...on with the journaling.
well, it only took me 44 hours (30 hours if you don't include the time change) to get here, and it involved a tour of 30 grade 12s on their way to study grade 12 biology & geography, a bunch of cranky airline staff, and really not-veggie friendly airline food. That all being said...I am here. and it is quite lovely.
It was cold this morning when i got here (around 12c) and i could see my breath. the grass is really dead as oz is in a draught. john & his mum came to pick me up at the train. they have a really amazing public transit system that is sorta like TTC & go trains and ferries all mixed in one. his family's house is perfectly lovely and in a sydney suburb called Oatley. we walked around - their house backs onto a lovely river - and saw the suburb as well as watched finding nemo (which i of course slept through..) ate ice cream, and had lovely dinner. oh yes - and of course i got fooled into rock climbing again under the guises of "brief step up" and "slight incline". is there a sign on my forehead saying "i love climbing on rocks?" : P
i've learned so much aussie slang already, and am learning a lot about the local history & environment as i go. my australian slang book has indeed already proved it's worthlessness - as well as the "when in sydney" guidebook u of t gave me. looks like jordan was right -- i have learned more in the first day of being here than that book could provide me.
i have yet to see proof that the toilet swirls backwards, but i'm still investigating that situation & will update with any further discoveries.
the driving on the other side of the road thing is way more trippy than i had anticipated...i mean, it happened when i was in england, but then i was only in cabs and talking to people so i wasn't really paying attention. it's rather bizarre to be sitting on the right in the back seat and having a car zoom by in the other direction. even turns feel different.
i saw a beautiful sunset & sunrise today. i've already taken a zillion pictures, and will choose some to put up on my fotolog if i can actually figure out why it's not working.
as it happens, i am staying a block a way from john's. i went and checked out campus, and the unilodge where i'll be staying. it's perfectly lovely!
everyone seems to be very laid back and friendly, people are very willing to help out ie) with my heavy suitcase & a set of stairs.
the city seems to have a really similar vibe to toronto - granted i was only outside in it for 15 mins. but so far very similar ;)
there's a seat sale to cairns going on - (the place where you go if you want to snorkel @ the great barrier reef) only $300AUS (which is almost the same as CDN) which is like..TO to Vancouver...amazing so I think I will head up there and splurge for a weekend or whatever. as if i'm going to be in australia and not snorkel somewhere perfectly lovely!
well, i think it's bedtime now for john & bella. good night from sydney!
feel free to respond with questions/comments! :)