deodorant

It is funny how sometimes the smallest things seem like the biggest things. They do not sell stick deodorant for men. They only sell the spray kind. Who wants their pits to be feel wet and sticky... Thank You Kathy and Ben for sending Tyler his favorite kind of deodorant and for slipping me a special little treat as well (a pop-tart)!!!

i went on a walk...

I went on a walk... I was lucky because when it started raining I had my umbrella. I was unlucky because when I slipped my shoe broke and I was still a long way from home.

Keep the questions coming about Australia. I will be answering all of them shortly.

i love packages!

My mom and papa sent me a package full of American goodies. The best part is, this time, we knew just where to go pick it up. They don't deliver the packages to our apartment, we do not know why... Thanks mom and papa!

it must be rubbish week

Last week, it was big news that in New Zealand someone sent out emails and posted posters all over the cities declaring RUBBISH WEEK. So everyone put all their rubbish in piles on the streets to be picked up. The only problem was, it was not rubbish week, it was a hoax. This week in Sydney, all sorts of people have been putting their rubbish on the curb. I don't know if it is a hoax or if it really is rubbish week.

we got a vacuum!!!

Last weekend we marched out to the good old Randwick Royal Shopping Centre and purchased a vacuum. I originally wanted a Dust Buster to suck up the large amounts of dust bunnies that attack our apartment everyday. I don't know where they come from, but I have never seen so much dust. Long story short, they did not have Dust Busters but they had this vacuum. So we bought it. It is awesome!

life in Sydney

Things are slowing down quite a bit, now that we are simply living in Sydney... so I am opening up the floor for any post suggestions. What would you like to know about Sydney and/or Australia? Post a comment or send me an email with your suggestions.

hard worker

Tyler went to work 26 days in a row! He is doing such a great job of balancing everything that comes his way. Right now he is finishing revising a paper that will be published from his master's research, working on writing a paper for his PhD that he started when we were still in MT, working on several new projects in Sydney, he gave his first lecture on hydrologic modeling, he is helping his office mates with bits of their projects, and he still does the dishes.

Happy Birthday Papa!!!

My Papa is the best because...

he has a super sweet airplane

he loves history

he gets really tan in the summers without even trying

he can really pull off the beard (I think he should grow it back)

he makes the best party mix (peanuts and M&Ms)

his favorite place in the world is the same as mine (the cabin)

he is always so proud of whatever I do

when I was a kid, he used to hide his sweets behind the lima beans in the freezer

he is a Hibernian and proud of it

when I was a kid, he always told me "NO" to having animals... but whenever I brought one home, he never made me take it back (not even the chicken I hid in my closet for a month)!!!

a cold winter's day in Sydney

just kidding, we got some westerly winds that brought warm 25 degree weather (77 F)! It was predicted to be as hot as 28 degrees.... So we decided to make a trip to the beach! We walked along the water (one time a big wave came and soaked us up to our waists... well my waist, Tyler's knees). I was treated to a strawberry milk shake (which apparently means strawberry milk). We dug a big hole and then put our feet inside, and we watched lots of people play in the freezing cold waters. All in all, it was a wonderful day!

Sydney Fashion

Trends must be huge here... Everyone wears the same thing. The girls all wear leggings, flats, and harem pants. The boys all wear skinny jeans and pointed toe shoes. I can buy into the leggings and flats... but thats it!

Food

The food here is not the best. Cheese for instance does not really have a taste (and yellow cheese does not exist). Everything tastes either really bland or really spicy. We have both lost a bit of weight since arriving on this continent. But, I have a feeling that when we get home we may be gluttonous for the first few months. Here is a list we have compiled of things or places we would like to eat when we get home: (the list is in no particular order)

Macaroni and Cheese from a box

Mackenzie River Pizza 

Little Caesars Pizza 

Marshmallows 

Santa Fe Reds

La Parrilla 

Macaroni Grill

Tillamook Sharp Cheddar 

The Garage 

Taco Bell, Taco Treat, Taco Time....

Montana Ale Works

Ted's Montana Grill

Verde enchilada sauce from a can

beef jerky 

Best Wok

Bay Burgers 

homesick

I am finding myself homesick for the first time in my life. Yes, I have missed people before, but I have never experienced homesickness. Although (other than the time I spent with Mel in New York) I have never lived outside of Montana. I miss Montana. I miss the mountains, I miss the fresh air, I miss the slow pace, I miss being able to drive to the store whenever. I miss talking on the phone, I miss my family and friends a lot...I miss everything. The thought that I am so far away from home is unsettling. I really thought that I would love living in a big city. In retrospect, I don't know why I thought that. I don't like big crowds of people, I don't like feeling rushed, I don't enjoy public transportation, and I don't like loudness. 

Well, the good news is that now I know. It turns out that Tyler is much more adaptable than me. And for those of you who thought that we would stay here forever, don't worry. And for those of you worried that we would live far away from home.... you don't need to be afraid any longer. 

The Australian National Museum

Tyler in an typical jail cell

We ventured to the city for some shopping and decided to check out this museum. Inside we learned all about the complete history of Aborigines, the dinosaurs found in Australia, the evolution of the animals found in Australia, plants and insects, all the birds found in Australia, minerals and rocks, endangered and extinct species of Australia, and the effects of mankind (pollution) on the environment and animal life. It was a really Wiz-Bang (australian slang for cool) museum! We were glad that we took the detour. 

oh, I almost forgot

So when we went to the airport to head off to Cairns, we had our passports out, our toiletries neatly tucked in a ziplock, and our american ways strictly intact. To our surprise, no one ever checked our tickets, our ID's or our luggage (yes we stuck it though an X-ray... but it was so fast and we did not have to separate anything). When we got to the airport we simply went up to a machine and typed in Smith, then we had a list of first names to choose from in order to select our tickets. So we thought when we went though security someone would verify our ID's and match our tickets... but no. Not to mention, that anyone can go inside to the departure gates. Families can wait for loved ones right inside the gate. What?! We were so surprised. 

Apparently the motto in Australia is that "if you act afraid and vulnerable, then the terrorists win". Last week a terrorist plot was uncovered and stopped! They have a lot of people working undercover investigating. A group of reporters walked right onto a military base in Sydney and took pictures for an hour before anyone stopped them. They wanted to see how secure the area really was. The spokesperson announced on the news that "if they put walls and fortresses around every possible terrorist site, everything in the city would be surrounded, and what good would that do?" I think a secure wall around a military base, would be a good idea. 

Australia, you are a little too laid back for my liking. 

sorry about that

I am so sorry that I have not posted anything this week... I have had a bit of a stomach bug that has left me in bed since last saturday. I am going to continue to take it easy for a while... but I should be back to posting next week! Thanks for all the support, I am blessed to have so many people checking in with me daily! 

SAGE!!! I miss you! Work hard for me during session three! Make me proud! 

Happy Birthday Dan!!!

Dan is the best because: 

he has the best smile

he has always looked out for me

he is an amazing father

he loves to sing

he is a role-model 

he supports his family

when he plays the wii, he puts so much effort into it, you would think he was playing the real thing

he is great at home improvement projects 

he is passionate about so many things

he is the best big brother a girl could ask for