4 Day Catch Up

Saturday 15th (Friday USA time)- Traveling the past two days were crazy. I got through customs pretty easily, although saying goodbye to your best friend is never easy. We left from York, around 9:30am and headed to Allentown to get my glasses adjusted and to eat a Sal's hoagie (Shalena I know you are jealous). We headed onto the road to JFK. Loads of traffic through the city to Long Island. It was nice to pass through Bryant Park on my way out of the city....it was sort of bittersweet. Once I got to the airport, I had the chance to talk to my love L.A. She made me laugh, and just cracking up on dumb YouTube videos which we love to watch. Arrived at the airport and checked in. Dad waited in line with me, but as soon as I got up to the front I told him not to make me cry. Well as we all know, I did, and Dad started shaking. It's never easy to let go and do something so grand and not have your family to enjoy the ride. Anyways, Tom took the intiative to walk away as he stated, "I don't want the secruity guards to see your eyes red, and think you were smoking the doobs" lol. Only Tom! After getting through security, I had to wait for about 3 hours for the flight, as well as a little delay because of wind patterns. My flight to LAX was great, and easy. I sat in a four seater row which was all mine to take over. Huge plane that was brand new...thank goodness for not being crowded. I got to sprawl out on the four seats and make a bed. During that time I knew I should lay out, because I had a really bad feeling I wouldn't have this luxury from LAX to Sydney. We landed in LAX and took a shuttle over to the other terminal, in which we got dropped off in the opposite side of the terminal. It was annoying, but probably the best when I had to walk to miles to get to my gate. When I arrived at the gate there were numerous amounts of people, in which I knew this plane ride was going to be packed. So I was right once I boarded the plane and realized I was in the last row, in the middle section of a four seater row. Luckily, the two men sitting next to me as well as the girl that was around my age got along great. We all bared the terrible turbulence and cramping. I did a lot of sleeping, walking around, stretching, drinking water, and watching movies over my 16 hour plane trip.

Finally arrival in Sydney. Too exciting. I walked to immigration to be asked numerous questions I could not answer. I guess that is one fail of the Global Experience, to which I did not have any information leading up to my arrival. The man in immigration must have thought I was crazy, because I'm in a foreign country and unable to tell him where I am staying, and who will be in charge of the program. Lol. Well he certified me on the basis that they did not have my middle name...so I had to wait 10 minutes to get cleared. My baggage came out fairly quickly and then I had to wait through customs to get cleared one more time. I came out of customs thinking I would see my name on a board to be picked up, but NOTHING!I didn't freak out, because I knew things would be okay. I searched around, but still did not see anyone. I went to the pay phones to call the Global Experience head offices. In the meantime, my phone now is completely cut off so I had to call collect. They would not take my collect call, and kept asking the asian operator to answer my questions. When I was waiting, I finally found my host Margeux with the Global Experience sign. She apologized, because she had walked off due to the other girl Danielle (from England) was arriving at the same time. Once, Margeux saw me waving she scurried over and took me to the meeting sight in the airport. We hung out at the airport to wait for one other girl, Rebecca from Chicago to arrive. Once she got in we headed to the bus that would take us and our things to our flat. We are staying at the 361 Oaks Flat on Kent. St, between King St. We are five minutes from a lovely harbour called Darling. It is competent to Inner Harbor in Baltimore (almost exactly the same set-up).

We all get set-up in the hotel, and found out our roommates. My roommate is from Cyprus, but now resides in London too. Her name is Melanie and she is great. A very dry sense of humur, but great to be around. She definitely loves to go out and party, as I met her when she was struggling severely with a hangover...lol. The four of us girls had the rest of the day to ourselves, so we decided to walk down to the Harbour and get a late lunch at Helm Bar & Restuarant. It was great atmoshpere with everyone betting on horse races, and slowing betting eachother on who horsewould win, to which wesaw some friends coming out in women's clothing for losing against their friends. It was pretty funny. I had a squid salad, which was delicious:). After lunch, Melanie couldn't stay awake any logner so she went back, andthe three of us girls continued to walkover the bridge and go into the shopping mall. A lot of cute things, and you can pick out the Australian style almost instantly. We walked back to the hotel, because we all wanted to unpack and get situated with our stuff in our flats. Although, since we did not have wifi in the buildings, and I was in dire need to get in contact with the parentals I left the flat and wondered up King Street to the main area of shopping to buy a USB wireless card. As I searched, all the shops were closing so I did not make it in time to buy one. I headed back, and then decided to work out in the gym/pool downstairs. After I finished my work-out, I was extremely tired. I got back upstairs and watched some TV on the couch until I knew the rest of the girls were ready for dinner. Well, I didn't quite make it to dinner. I passed out on the sofa, in which Melanie called me out for falling asleep. I woke up, but I was so exhausted. I couldn't move, so Melanie and went out and bought me food and brought it back for me. I woke up to eat, and passed right back out.

Sunday 16th-I woke up pretty early (6am maybe), andhad nothing to do so I watched a cooking show. I fell back asleep until 11:45 because we were meeting everyone up in the agency to go for a boat tour. We met at Darling Harbour, which we added to more girls to the agency. Jen from Vancouver is working for fashion designer Camilla and Monica who is from Columbia is working for a finance firm. Great girls. We had an orientation meeting at the harbour which we found out everyone's purpose for choosing to do the internship, and what we were doing. We grabbed quick coffee's and headed for the boat tour. Starting in Darling, we traveled all the way up to Manly (45min.away). The sights were incredible, as I got goose bumps leading up to the sights of the opera house. When you see historical monuments in books, you never picture yourself seeing them up close and personal. It was amazing to be witnessing such beauty, and realizing I would be seeing this for the next 4 months. I can't even begin to talk about how blessed I feel for this opportunity--Thank you Mom and Dad:). After the boat trip, and all getting burned--we all wanted to find our way to work to get acculmated to the area. I have the best way to work, in which I walk 15minutes to Circular Quay and catch the ferry to Manly. We shopped our way along everyone's way to work (Got to new pair of shoes that are so cute). We walked everywhere. We stopped and lounged in Circular Quay right in front of the Opera house. I can't believe that is going to be a normal thing--sitting on the lawn of the Opera house area. CRAZY!

It was getting late, so we headed back to the flat so everyone could relax a bit. Melanie went out, and I helped Danielle dress for her first day of work. She is too cute, and I love her to death. We didn't realize that it was now 10:30, so we could hurried down to Darling to pick up food. Everything was closed, so we got the last sub at Subway before the closed at 11. We sat at the harbour and ate our food. After a quick dinner, we went to this really cute bar overlooking the harbour to have drink, and get to know one another better. We had a great night. Melanie gave me her number to meet up with her friends that live in the area, but the connection could not go through on the pay phones. Once I got back, I set-up my wireless card, which I got today!

Monday 18th- First day of work. I got up super early to get ready, and have enough time to prepare my bag. I walked out of my apartment and took on my commute. It is crazy how weird the dynamics change in the city on weekdays. Everyone is hustling and bustling to work, when you're so used to everyone wearing jean shorts and loose shirts. It was a bit refreshing and cute to see the surfer guys all dressed up for work. Once I got to Circular Quay, I was immediately helped by one of the info boys for the Manly FastFerry. Greeted me and wished agreat day with nothing but big smiling white teeth:). Once I boarded the boat the staff was even nicer, as I stick out like a sore thumb because of my states accent. They helped me out, and told me all about the specials on Thursday and Fridays for drink specials. Australian's are huge on drinking and happy hours. I got to Manly, and was greeted by my boss, Meegan, who is absolutely lovely and as I describe her as an old hollywood betty. She made me put down my stuff, and go on a walk with her to show me the lay of the town, as well as introduce me to the town. She took me for a coffee, and meet some of the cutest boys who run a really cute hole in the wall cafe. She told me how friendly and warm Manly is, and how everyone is a tight family/community. Met lots of the shop owners who I will be dealing with for thenext 4 months. Overall the day was great and already learned so much. At the end of the day, my boss took me for a drink on the wharf to celebrate my first day, and addition to the staff. It was great getting to know her on a personal level, as we have much in common. I headed home on the 6 o'clock ferry. I got back, and walked home and noticed how all the bars were packed with people from work on a Monday. I was told this is very common thing...I was stunned. I got back to the room, and since I missed lunch I told Melanie I had to eat right away. We headed to Darling to eat at Waggamama's (Thai Rest.) and ate some of the best Thai. Melanie and I bonded, and got to know eachother on a closer personal level. We came back and we hung out with the girls and got our PHONES:). The girls hung around, as we all wanted to hear about eachother's first day. I felt bad for the girls, because the majority of everyone had a really bad first day. Australians are known to not be very good with interns, and everyone must of had that bad employer. Everyone vented, and when it got to me, I didn't want to boast how great my day and how lovely my boss was, but everyone was really happy for me. Danielle was not going into work the next day because her internship was so bad, that shewanted to come to work with me/ spend the day in Manly. Passed out and went to bed.

Tuesday (Today)-Got up and met Danielle in the lobby. We took the ferry over and she thought it was so cool that my commute consisted of the Sydney Harbour. She loved it. I took her into meet my boss, and my boss let me go out and show her around. I left her at a cafe, while I went back to work. Today I worked on a grant proposal which will take some time. I was stopped to go walk around the town to work on the Queensland Relief Fund Event that we are hosting in the town for the next 5 days to raise money for the victims. I got to meet a lot of the shop owners, and hand out fliers. Majority of my job will be doing, and going out to help struggling shop owners, or the ones that want to bitch about the town:). After running around I met up with Danielle for lunc, and then came back to do work. So here I am writing in the office on and off. Melanie is coming over to meet me and Danielle for dinner on The Corso of Manly. I'm excited. Manly is a great town, and I wish everyone could enjoy this opportunity like I am. Aright. It's 5:46 pm, and I'm done.finish up tomorrow:)