Life Down Under Part 1
Hello from Australia!
After a fun time in NZ, I'm now in Sydney. Things haven't gone according to plan, but for once that's actually a good thing. Here's what happened:
-Thursday Jan 4th- I got into Sydney after an amazing flight on Emirates Air. If anyone ever doubts the achievements of people from the Middle East, they should go on Emirates Air (or go to Dubai). At least from a material persecpetive, the United Arab Emirates are as flashy, hi-tech, and rich as any first world country (if not more). My flight was like a flight on AirFrance (which is my highest possible praise). Each seat had its own video consul with tons of movies, TV Shows, etc. The food was amazing. (Probably the best food I'll have all vacation). Anyway, after a fabuolous flight I got into my very underwhelming hostel. The air conditioning was cranked way up, so it was intensely cool, loud radio music was playing in the lobby that I could hear from my room all the time. After a fab hostel in Auckland, this one was unimpressive.
-Friday Jan 5th- I met up with one of the girls I had served with in Samoa, Boshra at a mall in the Sydney suburbs. My reaction to the mall was one of wonder and amazement. After being in Samoa, the idea of a mall was just mind-boggling. I had a happy-fit when I saw a Baskin Robbins! In addition to having Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, I bought a bunch of stuff that I can't get in Samoa like Garnier Fructus Shampoo and Cetaphil Facewash. Boshra and her mom offered to let me stay at their place. After much "Are you sure it's Ok?" I decided to stay with her family in the suburbs of Sydney. After the mall, we went back to Boshra's house. She has such a nice house. It's like a West-Windsor/Princeton type of house, for those from NJ. As I walked in I stared at the gold French-imperial style chairs, the marble floors, the leather coaches, the Cottonelle toilet paper. It's so odd to think that no less then 10 days before I had been in a village in Savaii with pigs and chickens roaming the front yard. It's hard to imagine the two places are on the same planet.
-Sat Jan 6th- I went back to my hostel, checked out, and got most of my money back. I also went to a dinner party at Boshra's aunt's house. Her big Persian family reminded me of my Mom's big Italian/German/Irish family. I watched My Big Fat Persian Wedding, a Iranian movie which is pretty much the same as the Greek one except Persian.
-Sun Jan 7th- Boshra's family took me to the House of Worship outside Sydney for the Sunday Devotional Gathering. The House of Worship was very interesting, very different than the others. I noticed lots of differences in the way this temple is run vs. the House of Worship in Samoa. It's very interesting to compare the two. While at the temple I saw Jian Smith, a girl from my home community in NJ. It was very nice to see her. I saw the place where the House of Worship volunteers stay. Geez, it makes my apt look bad. It's got leather sofas, TV, DVD player. Anyway, Samoa really is an adventure is many ways. After talking to Jian for a while, Boshra's family took me to Manly Beach, one of the famous Sydney beaches. After beaches in Samoa, the idea of an urban beach just seems wrong, but it was still pretty with shops and cafes on a boardwalk-like street. We sat on the beach and watched surfers since the water was realllllllllly cold. (Nothing like Samoa's bath water temp ocean waters). Between going to the temple and the beach, it was a very nice day.
It's so nice staying here with her family. In addition to saving lots of money for food and accommodation, after being in Auckland I was starting to get a bit overwhelmed being in a city, and hostels are not great places to chill out. Her family is very nice and they've really made me feel like a part of the family. It's so nice being with a family again, something I miss in Samoa. Where I'm staying in the suburbs outside of Sydney reminds me so much of my suburb in Jersey. It's like being home a little. :) It's so nice to do the little suburban things I can't do in Samoa like go to a mall, watch TV, go to movies, use a dryer (my clothes are finally fluffy!!). I might not actually end up seeing as much tourist-y stuff as if I were staying in a hostels but for me after being in Samoa, a relaxing trip to the burbs can be a great vacation.
Having a great time!
Love,
Meg
After a fun time in NZ, I'm now in Sydney. Things haven't gone according to plan, but for once that's actually a good thing. Here's what happened:
-Thursday Jan 4th- I got into Sydney after an amazing flight on Emirates Air. If anyone ever doubts the achievements of people from the Middle East, they should go on Emirates Air (or go to Dubai). At least from a material persecpetive, the United Arab Emirates are as flashy, hi-tech, and rich as any first world country (if not more). My flight was like a flight on AirFrance (which is my highest possible praise). Each seat had its own video consul with tons of movies, TV Shows, etc. The food was amazing. (Probably the best food I'll have all vacation). Anyway, after a fabuolous flight I got into my very underwhelming hostel. The air conditioning was cranked way up, so it was intensely cool, loud radio music was playing in the lobby that I could hear from my room all the time. After a fab hostel in Auckland, this one was unimpressive.
-Friday Jan 5th- I met up with one of the girls I had served with in Samoa, Boshra at a mall in the Sydney suburbs. My reaction to the mall was one of wonder and amazement. After being in Samoa, the idea of a mall was just mind-boggling. I had a happy-fit when I saw a Baskin Robbins! In addition to having Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, I bought a bunch of stuff that I can't get in Samoa like Garnier Fructus Shampoo and Cetaphil Facewash. Boshra and her mom offered to let me stay at their place. After much "Are you sure it's Ok?" I decided to stay with her family in the suburbs of Sydney. After the mall, we went back to Boshra's house. She has such a nice house. It's like a West-Windsor/Princeton type of house, for those from NJ. As I walked in I stared at the gold French-imperial style chairs, the marble floors, the leather coaches, the Cottonelle toilet paper. It's so odd to think that no less then 10 days before I had been in a village in Savaii with pigs and chickens roaming the front yard. It's hard to imagine the two places are on the same planet.
-Sat Jan 6th- I went back to my hostel, checked out, and got most of my money back. I also went to a dinner party at Boshra's aunt's house. Her big Persian family reminded me of my Mom's big Italian/German/Irish family. I watched My Big Fat Persian Wedding, a Iranian movie which is pretty much the same as the Greek one except Persian.
-Sun Jan 7th- Boshra's family took me to the House of Worship outside Sydney for the Sunday Devotional Gathering. The House of Worship was very interesting, very different than the others. I noticed lots of differences in the way this temple is run vs. the House of Worship in Samoa. It's very interesting to compare the two. While at the temple I saw Jian Smith, a girl from my home community in NJ. It was very nice to see her. I saw the place where the House of Worship volunteers stay. Geez, it makes my apt look bad. It's got leather sofas, TV, DVD player. Anyway, Samoa really is an adventure is many ways. After talking to Jian for a while, Boshra's family took me to Manly Beach, one of the famous Sydney beaches. After beaches in Samoa, the idea of an urban beach just seems wrong, but it was still pretty with shops and cafes on a boardwalk-like street. We sat on the beach and watched surfers since the water was realllllllllly cold. (Nothing like Samoa's bath water temp ocean waters). Between going to the temple and the beach, it was a very nice day.
It's so nice staying here with her family. In addition to saving lots of money for food and accommodation, after being in Auckland I was starting to get a bit overwhelmed being in a city, and hostels are not great places to chill out. Her family is very nice and they've really made me feel like a part of the family. It's so nice being with a family again, something I miss in Samoa. Where I'm staying in the suburbs outside of Sydney reminds me so much of my suburb in Jersey. It's like being home a little. :) It's so nice to do the little suburban things I can't do in Samoa like go to a mall, watch TV, go to movies, use a dryer (my clothes are finally fluffy!!). I might not actually end up seeing as much tourist-y stuff as if I were staying in a hostels but for me after being in Samoa, a relaxing trip to the burbs can be a great vacation.
Having a great time!
Love,
Meg