Where do I begin. I am about to complete my 2nd week of work. I finally for the most part know what I am doing without asking a million questions every day. For the most part have been in a routine—wake up , go to work, workout, bed and then start over again! Wednesday after work April and I met up for after work drinks at the Sydney Tower overlooking the city. Her co worker gave us the cheap method of going up in the tower—you can either pay like a normal person (around $50) or go up to the restaurant for after work cocktails about $15. As you can imagine we chose the free trip up in the tower with a drink. After that we walked around Hyde Park at the Noodle Market. This was basically ton of vendors from food all over… mostly Asian food. Friday night I met up with some friends that I had not seen in about 3 weeks that I met in Mission beach. They were in town so went to hang out with them for a bit. I suppose that brings us to Saturday—one of my most fun days!!! We went to the races. I went with my friend Cassie from Philly to Bell a girl from around here’s birthday. Cassie’s sister studied a semester of college in Australia and Bell was one of her best friends and therefore that is the connection. The horse racing day is very similar to a grove day. We woke up at about 9 and got the train out to Bell’s house. She lives in a very cute part of town in North Sydney. They had breakfast finger foods, mimosas music and picnic blankets out on the lawn. Everyone was dressed up in their dresses with hair pieces. We stayed around there visiting until about 12 then took the train outside of town to the races. The races lasted until about 6 o clock then we went to dinner. After that we hit up a great karaoke bar in Chinatown. Ding Dang Dong Karaoke. They have rooms that you can rent out by the hour. Since there were about 15-20 of us we got a room for an hour—very entertaining! These were the nicest, most welcoming group of girls ever! I told them they would have to come to an Ole Miss football game and I am not kidding when I think there is a good chance a couple may come! Talked to one of the girls this morning and she invited me to a day party they are having at their house in a few weekends. Hmmmm… let’s see what else is new….. April and I joined a trail period for a hot yoga place. For all the times I said yoga was not a work out I lied… I have been SO SORE. I have decided after about 3 times of doing it however I am just a person who enjoys going for a run much more! April and I booked our surf lessons today. In two weekends we will be attempting to surf…. Can’t wait to see how this goes. I think we are going to try to talk Courtney into coming down to the beach to take videos and pictures… we are pretty sure it will be a pretty good laugh. I cannot believe how fast time has gone by! It seems as though we just got here and we have almost been here for 3 months, it’s crazy!!! Well I suppose that is all for now. I figured I had not written in a while so I would write down what has been going on!

Sydney----

Hello. I just completed day number two of work. I forgot how exhausting working all day can be!!! The good news is that I really like work. I am working at reception in the architecture building in the program development support office. Basically I do odd jobs. Day one was quite interesting. I sat in an education board meeting for 3 hours taking minutes. Yes, that was me attempting to understand all of the different accents in the room and type as quickly as possible! Everyone is VERY nice there though. I have actually gotten 3 calls for other employment since I started there; I guess it is a good thing that I like the job!! I am a bit depressed however. The other day when I was on campus in regular clothes several people came up and talked to me. Apparently if you put business clothes on and go on a uni campus you might as well write on your forhead with a sharpe marker "don't be my friend". I was talking to the guy who was getting me coffee and I suppose the person behind me in line overheard and was like "oh wait you aren't a teacher here." Since when did I look old enough to be a college professor!? I would assume I just looked like a kid dressed up for a presentation-- apparently not! This weekend was BEAUTIFUL. I stayed in western Sydney to house sit one of my roomates friends house because they went to Byron Bay. I have never understood how people couldn't like animals until this weekend. I was looking after DEMON cat. It is the neediest, touchiest, cat I have ever seen in my life. I was held hostage in the back small room all weekend while the cat enjoyed the big screen tv, nice bedroom, kitchen and bathroom. These are the rooms that it had its fur COVERING and could some how get in the rooms even if the doors were shut. The weekend consisted of me yelling at the cat and fighting it away from touching me with a remote control. Friday went out to dinner. First time I have been out to a nice dinner in FOREVER. Cassie (friend from Philly) had off work for once so we went downtown and had dinner. I had the best, biggest burger ever! It was AMAZING! Sunday went to Coogee beach for the day to hang out with some friends that live out there and then over to a friend's house that night. That's about all that has been going on though!

Yay for employment.

Hello. I decided I would put some pictures up since it has been a while. The pictures are as follows... Bondi Beach (about 5 min walk from the apt), another pic taken while laying on the beach, Sydney Harbour, picture of April and myself, and picture with the roomies-- April and Courtney. The other good news is that I have received my first paycheck since I have been here from my temp work the other week. WOOO. The last couple weeks have been filled with constant interviews. I now have a job that will last until the first of December. I will be employed at the University of New South Wales in the office of the architecture department. It is a short bus ride from my house in the mornings and I just bought a little backpack to run home from work. It is perfect because it is Monday-Thursday from 9-5 with good pay. Now I can enjoy all of the great SHOPPING! I actually just took the first paycheck paid for 2 more weeks rent and splurged (at Chinatown) on a mini backpack to take workout clothes to work, new socks, and conditioner. It's pretty sad that these are the things I splurge on now..... also, I asked for a new business suit for my birthday for interviews... I think that is when you know you are getting old and you want a suit for your birthday.

So not to much has been going on therefore have not updated the blog any! Today is my last day at my current 4 day temp job. The good news is I get the first paycheck I have had in a LONG time! Next Tuesday I have an interview for another temporary position that will be longer term until my scheduled departure date. I'll keep my fingers crossed for that. Besides that not all that much has been going on. Just been hanging out with roomates and a few other people around town. Starting to have some friends who will be around here for a while so that is nice! Its the weekend so I am off to meet up with some friends in the city. Just was going to update and say I'm alive, well, and still LOVING it!

Bondi Beach House

I haven't written in a while mainly because not to much interesting has been going on and I have been busy. This week has been dedicated mainly to interviews/applying for jobs! I am now settled in my house and could not have been luckier with good roomates. I live about a 5 minute walk from Bondi Beach and 15 minute walk from the Junction which is a main train hub. There is a bus that runs from 1/2 a block from our house too so it is easy to get around. I have gotten rejected from about a million jobs, but am happy to say that I have a temp role starting next week. It is only 1 full day and 2 half days, but apparently once you get added onto the "active temp list" you get contacted more often and for longer roles. I have actually received 2 more calls this afternoon as well so I suppose this is true! The good news is with the cost of living so high the pay is also high. Tonight (Friday night) we are having a small party/get together at our house. It is with about 8 of Silvia and Youdi's classmates. They are the Slovakian couple that occupy the other room. Yesterday, Youdi came to ask permission if they invite friends since this is the first time they have not had to study since they have been here. They are studying English here. Another reason I love these roomates-- soo considerate. Even if they are listening to music they ask permission. They asked permission from all the other people in the building and told their friends that they must be out of the apartment or somewhere else after 10:00pm. The two girls that I am sharing a room with is April (from New Mexico) and Courtney (from Canada). Last night April and I took the train into the city and went for a walk around the Opera house and over the Sydney Harbour Bridge. We also made a list of all the different places that we want to go to. We decided 2 nights a week we are going to meet up after work and split an "entree" (which is an appetizer) and get a glass of wine. This way we can try out all the different places we want to go in the city and suburbs. Tomorrow is the AFL finals (Aussie Football (Rugby) League. I think we are going to go up to the Australian Hotel. Apparently they have really good Kangaroo pizza and will have the game playing. Monday is Labor Day here so national holiday! I think I may take the train out to the Blue Mountains for a quick day trip. Well that is all for now. Off to eat some dinner! (And in the picture the room is a disaster because it was the day I moved in and my junk was everywhere!)