Beaches, Bugs and Bah! Humbug!

This is a defficult time of year for me, I'm not gonna lie. X-Mas in general when you are parent-less is hard enough when I am at home, with all my friends and my Brother. But being on the other side of the world and adding to that the fact that I am suddenly no longer in contact with the person whom I was closest to here (long story) has made it even harder. Thankfully technology allows me to instantly talk or text message with the people who love me the most and usually within a few hours I am feeling much better. Luckily I got 5 hours of work on X-Mas day and since it's a holiday it pays a ridiculous amount of money (like $50/hr), which is good because I haven't worked since last Friday. I have been working as a server for an events company. The jobs vary a lot depending on where I am sent. I have done some bartending, some serving, some helping out in the kitchen. The pay is good and the hours are flexible but the shifts are not consistent so I haven't been working as much as I woould have liked. In fact, I feel like I am ready to move on from Sydney. I haven't made any really close friends here and it has been hard to get work. Plus, it's too expensive and too much like Toronto. Everyone keeps telling me how great Melbourne is so I have booked a plane ticket to move there on the 5th of January when my sublet here runs out.



So yesterday I went to the beach with my friend Henna (see below) isn't she just so cute? She's from Finland and her accent makes her voice go up and down when she talks (hard to explain).

So when we were at the beach we saw these 2 lovely ladies wearing santa hats with their bikinis. How weird is that?




Then we saw this awesome dude who was searching for who the heck knows what. Treasure? Loose change? A secret passage to Canada?

I have recently become aware of the fact that I am getting very used to seeing large insects and not feeling freaked out about it. For instance, when I went to get my laundry that was hanging out on the line when I got home last night this dude was chilling just a few feet away. By the morning he had totally vanished though, web and all. At home I would have just left my laundry outside all night but I just went about my business and so did he (or she!?)

Then when I came inside I found this half-dead cockroach in the bathtub (sorry for the gross pic but I wanted you to see how big they are here). At night it's very common to see them on the sidewalk and just step over them. They even fly (although thankfully I haven't encountered that yet) and my friend Chanelle even told me that she ate a deep fried cockroach! Not sure I could get that used to them but I was easily able to just scoop this guy up on a dust pan and flush him down the toilet. Bugs at home just seem to wimpy now.

Other things I am saying like a true Aussie include:

I have updated "Wah-ta" to "Wahda", said very quickly (I have become very aware that Aussie's drop their "R"s off most words.

"Ring me" instead of "Call me"

"Heaps" (They just use this to descibe "A lot". )

Merry X-Mas everyone!!!

X-Mas in August!?

Since my last post I have moved into the place I am subletting until January 5th and let me tell you...it is a dream come true having my own space again. I actually felt kind of lonely the first week because my 2 flatmates work during the day and so I had the whole place to myself. The apartment is in Newtown which is a really funky, queer, hippie area. When you get on he train downtown Sydney, it's easy to spot who is most likely headed to Newtown. Usually anyone with brightly coloured hair, tats or dreads is a safe bet. The neighbourhoood is full of used bookstores, coffee shops and used clothing stores. I feel pretty at home here.

Here is a pic of the place standing from the hallway looking into the living room. The truck on the right is a fish tank! Eric the goldfish lives there. He's a pretty chill flatmate.

Here is the kitchen, looking out into the magical courtyard...

and here is the view from the magical courtyard looking into the living room. I would show you my room but it's kind of messy right now.

On Sunday night Tom, our friend from Finland named Henna and myself went to Darling Harbour to sing X-Mas carols and it was a very surreal experience. I can't really describe how much it DOESN'T feel like Christmas here. It's as if they've made a huge mistake and are celebrating X-Mas in August. For instance, while we were singing carols, THIS is what was going on just to the left of us...

Here is a pic of the people who were leading the carols...

Here is the tree that we were gathered around. It looked quite beautiful once it was dark out and you could see all the lights...

and here is Tom and Henna, trying to grasp the fact that it is indeed December, even though it's 30 degrees outside. What???

Random facts:

I have started using Aussie lingo and pronouncing things differently so that people can understand me. i.e...

Melbourne = Melbin'

Butter (we pronounce with d's instead of t's like "budder") = Butta

Water (wader) = Wah-ta

Roommate = Flatmate

I have started saying "reckon" as in "what do you reckon?" and "bothered" as in "are you bothered" (meaning do you care) Although these last 2 probably come more from hannging out with Tom who is English more than from Australian lingo.

Also, I have a job. Well, kind of. They aren't giving me enough hours right now. More on that in my next update.

Things to do before I die: Camel Racing: Check!

Last night Tom and I went to see camel races. Camel racing in Australia is not a serious sport. You can't bet on it (we tried!) and so you can put your name into a draw to actually race on a camel and we both got picked! I have never riden a camel before (barely even a horse) and certainly have never raced on one. Those suckers can really run! I have some sports related injuries today as a result (bruises). My camel came in 4th and Tom's came in dead last.

Here I am on the camel trying not to fall off...

Here I am just after the race...

and here is the other people I raced against...

Here's Tom on his camel...

and here's him looking annoyed that his camel came in last (did I mention he's a bit competitive?)

and here is a video that Tom took of me on my camel just before the race started. My camel is the one with the green on.

When my camel was being led to the starting line it suddely took off running towards the finish line for no apparent reason. I just assumed that the race had started but as you can see in this blurry video, the guy who was leading my camel came running down the raceway to get me and bring me back to the starting line. I'm pretty excited that I can cross off "camel racing" on my "to do before I die list".

P.S. If anyone wants to send me mail or presents or yourself in a suitcase over X-Mas, I will be at 6 Prospect Street, Newtown, NSW, Australia, 2042 until January 12th or so.

xox