flowers from the botanical gardens

royal botanical gardens

We went to the Royal Botanical Gardens! We will have to go back and see it in the summer, walk around more a bit more and of course see what is inside of the pyramid. 

look right

We are still not used to everything being the opposite. Walking on the left side of the street, using the stairs, escalators, and of course walking across the street. 

parrots

I finally snapped a few photos of the parrots that live in our neighborhood. 

Day 20

I will tell you one thing. I love Tim-Tams and Nutella!

Day19

What a beautiful and relaxing day at the beach! 

Day 18

We had a good weekend. I took Tyler to see all the new shops I found. We went to church. We discovered that there is a group of small parrots living across the street in a fruit tree. We went into the city. We made Thai food that smelled like stinky feet. I cut Tyler's hair. Tomorrow I think I might try and go to the beach. 

Day 17

you can see the ocean behind the church

I went for a walk to find a Coles in our neighborhood and I found this church, and a Coles, and another shopping center!!! It was a good day... I did get rained on... but it was worth it! 

Day 16

This is our park! I can see myself drinking coffee while reading a book, sunbathing on a blanket, and watching kids play in this park. THIS is what I love about our neighborhood. It is very quiet and peaceful, full of families and old people. 

Day 15

our walkway 

our entry

our apartment

our street 

This is where we live! It has been really rainy the last few days. I love the rain, but hate my hair. Give me a few more weeks and I will figure it out. I am getting better at taking a shower. We got a mini heater. The toilet is still atrocious!!! 

more apartment pictures

views from the "big hill"

I will take a few more of the building, park and neighborhood, within the next few days. Miss you and Love you all! 

more apartment pictures

more apartment pictures

Day 13-14

I finally made to an internet cafe! Here are pictures of our new place! 

Happy Birthday Kathryn !!!

Kathryn is the best because:

• she has beautiful freckles
• she is always up for playing the Wii (and great at taking turns)
• she is uber intelligent 
• she is MY niece 
• she is like the little sister I never had
• she is the best hula hooper I have ever known
• she can TAP DANCE!!!
• she has great taste in music
• and she is the coolest 10 year old I know! 

We love you! Your birthday present is on its way!!!

Day 11-12

cooking our first meal!

the mess

walking up the big hill

at a bus stop in the rain 

The last few days have been really difficult. We were so excited to move into our apartment and start living life! We did not expect for things to be so difficult. Our apartment is not heated... so when it is 55 or 45 degrees outside it is the same on the inside. Our water is only scorching hot or freezing cold. Showering is frustrating and nearly impossible. It takes twice as long, because you have to choreograph a dance in and out of the water, switching between hot and cold for the 30 seconds of warm water before it switches again to hot or cold.  And don't even think that going to the bathroom is easy. The toilet flushes with such power that the water jumps out of the bowl. You have to flush and run, literally. I have a toilet rag to wipe the seat before I sit as to avoid a wet toilet water bottom. And we have nothing. So we try and find a store near by. We spent hours walking and found nothing. Yes, there could have been a store very close, but the frustration of not finding anything got to us. SO, we made the long walk up and down an enormous hill to the bus stop (about a mile walk). Got on the bus. Road to the CBD (the city) and went to Coles. 4 times we made the trip with what we could carry. We got a grocery caddy. It is foolish of me to have thought that life in Australia was going to be a day at the beach. I am not complaining (and i really debated if i should or not) to get sympathy. I do not need anyone to feel sorry about our situation. I am writing so that, at the end of the year, I can look back and see how far I have come from the beginning. Tyler and I decided to go on this adventure so that we could learn, grow, and become grownups; the child that I am was simply naive enough to think I would not struggle. 

Day 10

I gave up on free internet at McDonalds... It was too slow and would never let me upload pictures or post on my blog. It was very fancy though! 

Although most of the TV shows are American (even american idol) the commercials are all Australian. They have an anti smoking add campaign that is very similar to our anti meth commercials. They are great! I only wish that more people would listen to them. I can not wait to move into our new apartment and out of the inner city. You can not walk anywhere without people blowing smoke in your face. I think smoking is the most disgusting and selfish habit a person can have. Even the slightest smell of smoke and I get a splitting headache. I love many people that are smokers.... I love you all enough to say that I don't want you to die a horrible and disgusting death that could have been prevented. Go to (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzoagsjlUv4 ) to view the add! 

Day 9

Today was very busy. We got up early and went to the uni bank to update our information and get a bank cheque as well, for our apartment rent and bond. After that we went back to the hotel and made a plan for walking to the agency in order to sign the rental agreement. We were hoping that they would give us the keys... they did not. Our move in date is still on Saturday. 

Day 8

While Tyler is at work I try and pass the time... I have fairly good city skills, but I do get turned around when the same store is on every other street corner. I spent the majority of the day at the park and looking in shops. I am not sure what kind of birds these are, but they are everywhere and are not afraid of people. They are about the size of a large goose... 

Day 7

Today was Tyler's first day at work. He had trouble with his ID again... they said it will take another day. Tyler learned that his funding is labeled as a scholarship so it will be tax free and Lucy found an extra 3 thousand dollars to help with us getting settled the first month! Everyone in his office teased him for sporting thongs in such cold temperatures (65) ... he quickly figured out they were talking about his flip-flops! He made friends with an old woman who works in the same room with him. She was very curious about me and kept asking questions... old ladies always love Tyler. They got talking and she said that her daughter was recently diagnosed with auditory and visual processing delay and wrote down tons of information about learning centers and schools in our area. Tyler said she was very enthusiastic to hear about my story and wants to help find me a job and/or work with her daughter. Hopefully I will be blessed with a wonderful opportunity!