So Long Sydney!

So here we are again. Leaving yet another city that has captured a piece of my heart. It's always so bittersweet leaving cities when you travel. You leave for a new adventure but in the back of your head you always think "will I be here again?" I can't stay put for long as it is, so more often that not I assume I'll never see these streets again. But, here's hoping that's not true.

For the past two months, Sydney has been my home. I have gotten to know the streets, picked out my favorite hangouts, joined in the festivities, made amazing friends, got to ring in the New Year, and just lived life. It is hard to look out the window at this magical place unsure whether or not i'll see it again. But, a new adventure awaits! First to Melbourne, the Great Ocean Road and then to the Outback!! But, before I get ahead of myself here's a recap of the past month.

New Years

New Years was AMAZING. I got to join in with a bunch of friends I met through the lovely Shani for an awesome day of shenanigans. We spent the day in Kiribilli almost right underneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Got there around noon-ish with some sport balls, snacks, and whatever drinks we could get in. It was a beautiful, albeit a bit cloudy of a day, and so the volleyball, football (soccer), and nerf ball all got an insane amount of use. There were also a few things put on mbefore the fireworks---plane show, people riding around on the water, a random pirate ship went around (that one may have not been part of the show hah). When the fireworks did start we seriously had the most incredible view. We got to see everything at the bridge up close, and then the Opera House was right across the way. In fact the only thign even remotely annoying were the bathroom lines. When we got there they were like oh 5-10 minutes. By the time it ws 10pm you seriously stood in line for like 45 minutes to get there. It was the perfect way to get to know someone hahah. Wanna go to the bathroom? haha anyways, eventuaally we all made our way home down the eerily empty streets of sydney. Although everything I just said does not nearly do it justice, know that it is something I will remember for the rest of my life.

 

                                               

Beaches

There are plenty of beaches around Sydney and I got to experience the top three. Bondi, Coogee and Manly. I do regret that I never got to do any of the beach walks which are supposed to be beautiful. But, i loved living somewhere that allowed me to get to the beach in 30 minutess or less. Manly was probably my favorite beach even though I didn't get there until the day before I left. In order to get there you have to take a 30 minute ferry ride across the harbour. It's so beautiful and I just loved it. Also, some things I should mention about beaches in Australia. Unlike in the US, there are flags on the beach thhat you have to swim between. If you're surfing it's a bit different, but swimmers are to stay between the flags for safety reasons. It was strange to have so many restrictions at beaches when I'm used to the silly East Coast beaches that go on for miles and allow you to swim wherever. Also, Bondi is way smaller than you think it is. Weird.

Blue Mountains

I spent an incredible day wandering around the blue mountains. I started off by heading to this gorgeous waterfall that runs down the side of a cliff, then headed over to the Three Sisters. The Three Sisters are a rock formation that in Aboriginal stories were three sisters (shocking!) who after falling in love with three boys from a competing tribe were turned into stone by an elder tribe member in order to "protect" them. Unfortunately, that dude died and no one was ever able to turn them back. So, lesson learned. Make sure if you have a spell cast on you, make sure someone else knows the reversal...just in case. After hitting up the Three Sisters, I headed out to see the Cascades which is a beautiful giant waterfall that starts on the very top of the mountain and then reaches a cliff overhang and just glides down the rest of it pocohantas-style. Although, much smaller.

                                     

                            

                                      

Goodbyes

Sydney was a city of hellos and goodbyes. It is where I made real friends for the first time in Oz, but it is also where I had to watch them leave. Sydney gave me an apt full of awesome girls and a workplace filled with the coolest people. But, slowly but surely I had to say goodbyes as people left for farmwork, new cities or just to new jobs. It was sad, but you sort of become immune togoodbyes after   a while I guess. Plus more often than not goodbyes turned into an awesome night out with people I loved. So there's always that.

Australia Day

This past Sunday was 'STRAYA DAY! It celebrates the landing of the British in Australia. I was blessed enough to have an apartment about 5 minutes walk from Darling Harbour where some of the biggest festivities were going on. So while I didn't spend the day drinking as is the norm---I did get to see one of THE BEST fireworks displays i've ever seen. And i'll have you know that includes New Year's Eve. The two German girls who moved into the apt went with me and we had a great time listening to the live music, watching kids wave flags, and generally enjoyng the excitement that goes along with national pride.

                                    

                                   

 

Random

Some other things I did before I left are:

1. Hit up the Australian Museum

2. Went to the Museum of Modern art

3. Try Harry's Cafe d'Wheels---which is a famous pie shop in Sydney

4. Met a bouncer who had family in Woodbridge. Real life. That happened.

5. Walked the Sydney Harbour Bridge

6. Enjoyed a drink at the Opera Bar

7. Strolled through the Royal Botanic gardens

8. Went to Hillsong for church! WOO! actually though. Super fun.

9. Saw a Doctor Who exhibit....WITH THE TENTH DOCTOR'S SUIT. OMG.

10. Got insanely burnt after spending an entire day at the beach

11. Went bowling! 

12. Had my haircut by a friend---looks SO good.

13. Saw 5 different movies. Two of these were in the worlds biggest IMAX and one of them was at an outdoor cinema FOR FREE courtesy of my girl Shani.

14. Roadtripped to the edge of NSW with work.

15. Went to the ZOO!

Back to Basics

I haven't written in years it seems like. Sorry about that. Sort of. Okay I'll be honest. Doing a blog while travelling always seems like a great idea until I'm actually there and have to maintain it. Obnoxious. But, I have the world's worst memory so not keeping some sort of written recollection seems like a terrible idea, so here we are again.

WORK

Work is really wonderful. I'm currently working at a sales and marketing company that raises funds for charities across Australia. In many ways it is exactly what I was attempting to AVOID throughout my job search. I have always disliked sales jobs, and this one takes me door to door---basically my worst nightmare. But, as always, God is good and knew exactly where I needed to be. This will be 4th week coming up, and I am so happy to be with this company. The fact that we're helping out charities definitely helps me get over any dislike I have of sales jobs, as well as the fact that they hate pushy sales people here--aka, if a person says no, LEAVE. Do not just wait for the to say no 5 times after giving them a myriad of excuses.  

However, beyond the surface info of the job I'm able to see God's lovely sense of humor. Yes, I am in a sales job. No, that is not where I wanted to be at all. But, God made sure I realized why he put me here. Reasons such as 

1. Learning to take criticism.

     When you're going door to door you need to know why your pitch is or isn't working with people. I have to learn to be okay with people telling me I could do specific things better or differently without taking it personally. And let's be real that's never been something I've been great at.

2. The people are AWESOME.

     I could not have asked for a more fun and wonderful group of people to work with. We went on road trip this week and I definitely laughed harder and more frequently than I have since coming to Aussie-land.

3. The Lean Factor

     My job is hard. People slam doors in your faces, tell you that what you're fundraising for doesn't make sense, yell at you for no apparent reason and so on. But, at the end of the day that forces me to lean on God and others way more than I normally have to. Literally everyday I go out I have to do a nice quiet time with the J-man to get ready for the day. I try and think less about what i'm trying to do and more about being a blessing to every single person I meet. If I can make someone smile or laugh while chatting with them on their doorstep, regardless of whether or not they sign up, I feel as though I have accomplished something.

4. Workouts

   Well, also it's a good workout, which is a major plus since I can't afford a gym membership.

HOUSE

My apartment is awesome and I'm so thankful I ended up here. I live with 4 other girls from all over the place (British, German, Finnish and South Korean at the moment) and they are wonderful!=] We have gone to the movies, laughed about the most ridiculous things, had fantastic wine nights and just generally had an awesome time living together. 

                                

BIRTHDAY

Keeping on the my house is awesome thread...for my birthday we made an amazing Thanksgiving feast which was so wonderful. Turkey Day is my favorite holiday, and I hate missing it, so it was so wonderful to come hoe late from work and have the turkey ready and make some fun side dishes with my girls. Honestly, so wonderful. Could not have asked for a better birthday=]

 

CHURCH

 I started at church called c3 balmain, which was lovely, but didn't have many younger people so I've now headed to Hillsong in the city for church the past few weeks which has been really great. I've unfortunately yet to find a bible study but, am trying to keep that up on my own as much as possible, and will hopefully find something eventually!

CHRISTMAS

Okay, we all know I don't love Christmas, but Darling Harbour (which is right around the corner from where I live) is doing a santa fest. Check the photos. Real Life. Darling Harbour getting crazy. Keep it together people. I think we've gone overboard with this.

                                       

                             

                                                      

This one isn't Darling Harbour. This is Sydney's Town hall. It lights up differently every 15-20 minutes.

                                      

                                                        

OTHER THINGS:

1. I have officially had 2 people think I was Irish. WHAT?!

2. Went to the 50th Anniversary of Doctor Who in theatres AMAZINGGG. and YES. I wore my awesome Doctor Who shirt that Hildawg bought me=]

3. Just got contact info for a woman who may be able to help me with job search stuff later this year. SO cool.

4. Finally got christmas and New Year's pegged down. Super pumped for both.

5. Miss you all a ton! Although 'i'm not normally a huge Christmas person, being away from home is definitely making it hard. Especially since all the Christmas songs are about snow and home. haha BUT, luckily, it's been super hot, so it's pretty easy to forget it's Christmas which means also forgetting how much it sucks not being home. (it'll be 100 tomorrow. GROSS)

Sydney Starters

At the beginning of the week it rained, and I thought to myself this is good. Rain is the start of an adventure. Always the start of an adventure.But, the week went on and the adventure didn't seem to come. Things happened. I met people. I went out. I had fun. But, in all of it there was an underlying loneliness. My adventure felt meaningless and boring because I had no one to really share it with. And, I reminded myself that was just rain. Rain doesn't start adventures, it takes storms for real change to happen. So, I prayed over and over that God would help my adventure to start, or at least make a bit more sense. 

Today, something changed:

1. I signed for an apartment

2. I got a call back for a job interview

3. I skyped my sister (who witnessed the second one happen)

4. I got to ride a vespa around the city with this kid
5. I went out to a concert with people and made plans for tomorrow

Tonight, it rained again. But this time, it stormed. And somehow I feel settled again. I haven't moved into my apartment yet, and I don't actually have a job, but tonight it stormed. And really that was all needed as a reminder. God's little push that he's watching and the adventure is still yet to come.

Psalms 25:16-17

Turn to me and be gracious to me,

for I am lonely and afflicted.

 Relieve the troubles of my heart

and free me from my anguish.

Matthew 8:24-26

Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.