I'm Here!!

I finally made it to Australia!

My first flight to LA was short. I got lost trying to find the International Airport because the security guards pointed me in the wrong direction, but my 4 hour layover was more than enough time to find where I was going, grab something to eat and get through security again.

There was a group of People to People students in the airport and they ended up being on my flight to Sydney! For those of you who remember or know, this is the same group I traveled with to Australia and Europe. I ended up sitting next to two boys, Tom and Sam, who were with them and they had so much energy and so many questions for me about what they were doing and what I did with the group. One of the leaders even spent some time talking to me about my experience and what I was doing this time in Australia. They really kept my mind off the fact that I was flying over water. :)

The flight to Sydney was about 15.5 hours and went by fast once I fell asleep. I woke up with 4 hours of the flight left. They served us a good dinner of salmon and rice and a breakfast of ham, sausage, quiche and hash browns.

Once we landed I headed through to get my passport stamped, picked up my bags and went through customs, declaring I had medicine and pencils, since you have to declare both medicine and wood. I made it through customs and hopped on a taxi to get the keys to my new place. The taxi driver was very friendly and made me feel welcomed. He got lost for a short time, but didn't charge me for his mistake. I got my keys and caught another taxi to the place where I am staying.

The first room I was put in, was not what I expected. I had a hard time thinking that it was where I was going to stay. It was really dirty and my bed was up a ladder, on a loft with a railing that would of broke if I touched it. The site manager told me he was upset that I had been placed in that room and let me look at two others rooms. I chose a new room and I am much happier with it and feel more at home. The pictures to follow show the first room and second room.

This picture shows the one window and t.v. and closet I had. The bathroom is the door you see.

As soon as you walked in, to your left was this small hallway which led to the kitchen. There was a backdoor that went out to an alley way.

This was the kitchen, an oven, fridge, sink and full supply of silverware, dishes and cooking items.

This was the ladder I had to climb up to get to my bed. Not only was it straight up, but you could barely even sit up in the bed.

This is the loft, showing the railing that I was talking about.

This was the bed in my first room. Two twin mattresses put together.

This is just another look at the couch and bathroom of the first room I was in.


WELCOME TO MY NEW HOME!

This is my new room! This shows the door I come in, the closet and set of dressers, tv and table in my room.


As you walk in the door, this is what you see. My bed, two twin beds put together, but very comfortable. The doors you see lead to my small kitchen and bathroom.


This is my lovely little kitchen. I have a refrigerator, oven, hot plates, sink, water jug and microwave. I also was furnished with lots of plates, bowls, cups and cooking pots and utensils. To the right is the bathroom door.

This is my bathroom, it has the toilet you see, shower and a small little sink. And no, the toilet does not flush backwards. It flushes straight down, there swirling. :)
On the top you may see a little button. Australia is and has been on water restriction for quite some time. This button allows you to flush two different ways. I'll let you figure that one out.

Now you have seen where I am staying. It is a nice little place that feels like home.

Last night I met up with two girls who have already been here, Lydia and Heather. They took me out to a pub to get a meal and drink. I had a cheeseburger that included lettuce, tomato, cucumber, beets and those green leafy things restaurants put on your plate to make it look nice. I also discovered Australian Tomato Sauce (Ketchup) and it tastes SO much better than our ketchup. Lydia and Heather took me to get a bus pass and explained transportation to me some. Heather took me back to my place so that I wouldn't get lost.

It gets dark here around 5pm-6pm, but there is plenty to do even late at night. I haven't branched out too far yet. Another girl named Heather, will be arriving today (Saturday) and is staying at the same place as me. It will be nice to know someone where I am staying to hang out with.

That's it for now. I will do my best to keep pictures coming of everything I am doing and keep everyone updated!