February 4, 2005

G' Day Mates!

I have finally set foot in what can now be considered my seventh and final continent of the world! As the plane touched down on the runaway in Sydney last week at about this time I had tears in my eyes knowing that, not only had I finally made it here, but also knowing that I have accomplished so much by the age of 22.

Sydney has been very different compared to every other place I have been so far on this trip. It's almost like a clean and well kept version of New York City. It's absolutely gorgeous and has so much to offer. Beaches, harbors, downtown atmosphere, and good food are only some of the things I have been discovering over the past week.

I was living in Bondi Beach for the first week here. I was staying with a friend, Kamala, that I met through Fiona from Toronto-the barer of the blame for this year long adventure I have taken on (THANK YOU FIONA!)-when she was visiting NYC this past summer. Kamala has been so incredibly helpful and so sweet for allowing me to stay there rent free while I got my feet on the ground.

In the past week I have really been trying to get around Sydney, seeing the sights, learning the bus and train systems and whatnot, as well as trying to figure out what I am going to be doing while I am here in Australia for the next 4.5 months. I went to the Ironman competition at Coogee Beach which was crazy! There were so many people there and we had front row seats! These men and women push themselves to limits I never knew existed! I walked home to Bondi along the seawall and passed several beaches along the way, all of which were better than the next. I also, obviously, went to see the Opera House and the bridge on the harbor. As I turned the corner and spotted it out of the corner of my eye, things began to move in slow motion while I moved closer. There it was, one of the most famous images in all of your school books and advertisements, in front of me, in living color. That's when i realized I was really here...in Sydney...in Australia!

I began job searching on the fourth day of my stay here and ended up scoring a job that night! I had an interview with a bar manager about working for him as a cocktail waitress and after about five minutes of talking to me he hired me under the conditions that I would start that night. I caught a cab home about ten hours later at 6am when my shift was over. Things stay open really late here since it's such a big city. I am going to have to re-accustom myself to becoming a creature of the night like the good old college days! I walked out of there with about 200 buck-er-oonies in my pocket on the first night, all cash in hand under the table. Talk about a good way to start out! I'll stay there for about a month or a month and a half and then take off and explore the rest of the continent with my riches.

As far as my living situation goes, I have moved out of Bondi and into the city center. I am currently at a hostel waiting for about a week until the place I want to live opens up. It's a great way to meet people and it's only a 3 minute walk to and from work, which is key after a long night. The real estate agent I am using said there is an opening at the end of next week in the room I want so i hopefully will score that and be able to move out and be on my own in about a week. Everything is really falling into place after only being here for a week which is great.

I also got a cell phone hooked up here since I am going to be here for so long. Should any of you feel inclined or want/need to get in touch with me for some reason my number is (dial exactly as shown from the US) 011-61-416-428-956. How pathetic is it that I can't live for a few months without something that I have lived without for more than half of my life?! Incoming calls and texts for me are free so call and or text away. Outgoing isn't too bad either. It's all pretty reasonable and it does make it easier in the end.

I hope all is well on the home front and that all of your Northeasterners are staying warm. Not to make you jealous or anything, but the sun just doesn't stop shining and the temperatures are extremely high. Beauty!

Ciao.

Lauren P Coker