So far so great!

Hello Mates!

Per my post below, I am now a blogger! (we'll see how long this lasts) The title of the blog mostly speaks for itself, but I found that I was laughing to myself when I was filling out my customs form upon arrival in Sydney. Never have I ever marked down "Reason for visit: Business." How silly! I am here to live in Sydney to work?! Funny thought, I know...

Let's go over a quick update on my first two days in this lovely city:

-after a 15-hour flight from Los Angeles, I landed in Sydney to warm weather and even warmer people at 9am on Friday. Everyone is so nice and helpful! Yes, you will run into a few jerks along the way but the overall demeanor here is so kind.

-I took a cab straight from the airport to my cousins house in the suburb of Drummoyne (google map it, people). They have a scrumptious 9-month old Benjamin, see pic!

-By 11am, my cousin taught me how to order a coffee (long black is a tall coffee...don't ask!) The coffee here is SUPER strong! I need to be cautious and not drink it too often or else my double tall skinny vanilla lattes at you-know-where won't be strong enough!

-By 11:30am I figured out the bus system and caught a bus into the city. $3.50 later (no joke) I was exploring downtown and trying to knock a few errands off my list.

-Downtown Sydney reminds me of Montreal while the eastern suburbs SCREAM Beverly Hills. It is also a very international city. On the bus I heard Spanish, Russian, and Thai.

-LOTS of Thai people...which means LOTS of Thai food! I am in gastro-heaven! They have all my favorites here! (sour candy, gorgonzola cheese, balsamic vinegar and avocados...no I swear I'm not pregnant!)

-By the end of yesterday I was exhausted. I ate dinner with my family and then promptly passed out at 10pm.

This morning was great!

-woke up at 9am and ran 5k around the bay the house is situated on

-we grabbed an early lunch on Watson's Bay in the Eastern Suburbs and were able to eat fish and chips in the park by the water

-we took a mini-hike around the Sydney National Harbour and they showed me Rose Bay, Vaucluse, and Double Bay. Quite impressive homes!

A few Aussie "isms:"

-mate

-cheers

-no worries (like you're welcome or no problem)

-everything has an "o" at the end: avocado = avo, brunch = bruncho, Aviva = Avivo (just kidding)

Tomorrow should be a packed day:

-unlocking my iphone

-"investigating" (as they say) some flats for rental

-hopefully meeting Mikey Berlin on the beach for some surfing tournament!

Maybe one day I'll fit in some work...?