Australia

Hello from the land of Oz. Corny I know...but it had to be said. Here I am...an hour in to my stay in Newcastle..a place that I didn't even know existed (I thought I was staying in Sydney?) but it is pretty cool. It is surrounded by beautiful sandy beaches and coal ships (it is the coal capital of Australia). The house that I am living in is pretty nice and big! There are five of us right now...four girls and one guy...all who are from Europe (the Netherlands and Sweeden) but speak perfect English.

Yesterday was a near disaster. I left my NZ apartment with my huge suitcase and laptop ready to just go into the Post Shop and ship my stuff, but no, I had to spend an hour and a half in there fussing with different packaging, and shifting 4 kg of clothing from the suitcase to a box. I was sweating by the time I left the store, and hungry for a New York bagel. So, I did what any other sensible New Jersian would do...went to Wholly Bagels, the only NY-style bagel shop in the country! I was let down and realized that the $4.50 for 4 bagels that I normally purchase at New World, the supermarket, are so much better then the $7.50 bagel from Wholly Bagles! After, I went to Te Papa to see an awesome photography exhibition by Brian (I forget his last name), the best NZ photographer of all time..litterally. It was amazing how he captured peoples expressions and used the natural lighting to his benefit. Then I went to New World to get my toilet-trees for the trip.

I was lucky enough to be picked up by the Airport Super Shuttle at 3:40 A.M. I was so tired because I had only slept an hour..I figured it would be better to not sleep at all. I woke up at 3 to shower and make sure everything was packed and ready to go. Of course, I slept the whole plane ride. I also managed to screw up in the airport. I was so hungry and the only thing open was the Duty Free shop with $11 M&M's...so I bought them...five seconds later...the Hudson News esq. store opened and I bought Pringles. Well, at least I have some M&M's as a midnight snack for later!

After a long $40 taxi ride to the Conservation Volunteers Australia office in Sydney, I had finally made it. I spoke way too soon though. I was directed to a Cafe in the park near by, and found it without a problem. Of course, I was speaking to my parents on the phone and wasn't paying attention to where I was going..and managed to get lost on the walk back. I walked the entire perimiter of the park...and it was huge! After asking about ten different people and contimplating asking an American woman in a Bently for a ride back (don't worry I didn't), I finally found my way back after passing the house, and realizing that it was the house I wanted to be at!

Tom, the guy from the Netherlands, and I were then escorted to the train station to take a three hour train ride to Newcastle...the place that I didn't know existed until I arrived. I learned that on Monday, we will begin our work for the week doing wetlands conservation which should be pretty cool! We will also be coming back to the Newcastle house at night which will be nice and help me get adjusted.

I have always wanted to come to Australia, and I hope that I can make the most of it, depsite my two "sicknesses"... New Zealand/Kiwi-sick...and homesick. I'm sure that my time here will be amazing and I cannot wait to explore Newcastle tomorrow!

Some Ozzie adventures to come!