So this is life: May 2009

So... I'm just coming upon my second month here in Sydney. I cannot believe how fast this month has flown by. I move into my new place in two days; I can't wait. When I lived in SF I avoided downtown and the Financial District at all costs when possible. Where my house is now, is smack in the heart of Darling Harbor/Fisherman's Warf and CBD/Financial District. I get tense walking through the streets rushing by people all day just to get anywhere. My body relaxes and my mind is less stressed just thinking of where my new home will be. There's a jogging path right out my front door that stretches the entire length of the beach and around Manly head. Currently I run around a large city block park with gnarly traffic on all sides and a greyhound racing track in the center... I'd never seen one of those before. Any time I have free time (which has been overly abundant lately without a job), will now be spent out my front door on the beach. I feel very lucky to be here.

And now onto the less fun part: employment. Before arriving, I assumed with my work experience and superior references, that I would have no trouble finding a little gig in a bookstore or boutique... I have been proven wrong. Every resume I've submitted online or in person has not contacted me, every one I've followed up on does not hire those on work/holiday visas... AWESOME! But alas! I remembered I was a client of Office Team in SF and they have a branch here in Sydney. WooHoo! My interview is tomorrow, so hopefully I'll have some potential jobs by next week. I'll keep you updated. At this point, I have no problem dressing up in the chicken suit and dancing for 8 hours outside KFC. I just want to work, I'm bored, and anxious because my mind is not being occupied. I've read through The Fountainhead in two weeks, it's pretty good, but not as appealing or inspiring as Atlas Shrugged. Nevertheless Any Rand is an incredible author and I recommend her. Check her out. Anyone have suggestions for my next book?

For most of you that know me quite well, you know I'm quite particular about the music I listen to. I have my genres thatI live my life by; and then, there are those that I don't listen to... period. For instance, house music. I have no animosity towards those who love this music, I personally just can't dance to it, and as all of you know I love to dance. Perhaps this is where I tangle with this type of music. My very first day here, I stopped and asked at least 3 people where the hiphop clubs of Sydney were... time and again and ever since there has been one response, "They're aren't any..." This my friends, is not OK! I've only been here one month and have already contemplated how long I would actually last without dancing to hiphop and reggae on a weekly basis. I'm fairly certain I've been going through withdrawls. Hopefully once I begin surfing everyday this will release some of the tension. Until then... well, I don't exactly know quite what I'll do except the continuous downloading of music to keep me satisfied on the Ipod!

After an introduction to the music scene such as that, I'm sure you're all very curious what I've been exposed to since my arrival. My friends... there are few words to convey the environment of a "hip" Sydney club. In all fairness, I have only been out twice, since I don't have a job yet, but I have walked by many clubs and bars and stopped to listen to the music and check out the clientele. The people are gorgeous, well dressed, and just absolutely beautiful. The music... not so much. Imagine if your will, the final dance in that movie Napoleon Dynamite, or Super Star... I swear to Buddha I danced with that guy! It was awesome, he was so into it, and so very serious in his awesome dance moves. Loved it!

On a good note, I was finally saved from the sea of Electro when my roommates and other housemates through me a "moving out party" and we went to La Cita for latin dancing. All i have to say is "live Columbian 6 member band!!!" I had the most fun I have had in long time... well, since my last delirium trip anyway :) Some pictures to follow.

... I have now moved into my new place. I took pictures of my partly cloudy first sunrise, gorgeous nonetheless. I have worked one day for the temp agency, hopefully more to follow soon. My roommates are awesome, very sweet guys. The ladies and I came in 2nd place for trivia night and took home a $20 bar tab! Woohoo. Thank goodness I knew the only bird capable of flying backwards, and Anna knew the name of the Paris Hilton box office distaster last year. I was responsible for all western hemisphere geography and current event questions, Anna was responsible for all tabloid and random "Im embarrased I know this" categories, and Anja was responsible for all European questions... because she's German :)

As always, I'm running around crackin jokes and smilin. I ran my beach run yesterday, and of course, am in love. Most importantly, I miss you all, I miss the Sco, and I miss Chimay...

Sun rise in front of my house

This huge guy is what we call a Pelican...

Coogee Scenic Walkway

Gnarly sets rollin in at Tamarama

Trivia Night: Name this face

This was my lovely Irish rommate Siobhan who works at the pub

Anja and I

Our Trivia host

This guy is who scored us 2nd place...

And this guy...

Anna and Anja, my two beautiful roommates

Yup

Welcome all, to my very first entry:

I welcome you to my new home, my new lifestyle, my new friends, my new adventure, my new life here in Sydney. As most of you know, I haven't been able to deliver updates since I arrived almost three weeks ago. This was due to the fact that I have not had internet in my house. I assure you however, that the past three weeks have been more than I could have anticipated.

Since my arrival, I've stepped into the warmest ocean my skin has ever felt. I've been caught in a tropical rainstorm while waiting for the bus in a northern beach town, raindrops the size of almonds, warm as forgotten bathwater. I've seen the most enormous rainbow reach from the horizon in the sea and arch all the way across Manly bay to a pot of gold on Manly Head Point. I sailed in a yacht race around the harbor on my third day here; we came in 3rd place for our division. I've walked almost every inch of the city and surrounding suburbs. My roommate Anna and I walked from our home district of Ultimo to the city of Manly; 20 miles on a lovely day. We carried no map, only asked passersby for general directions, everyone looked at us as though we were crazy when we told them where we were walking to, we hadn't even told them how far we had already come. I surfed for my first time in ages, and found myself disgusted by how warm I was in my new wetsuit. It appears as though a 4-3 wetsuit doesn't "really exist" in these parts of Australia. It was the most fun I've ever had surfing. Johannes, my German roommate, came with me to surf Freshwater Cove, he was practically dragging me out of the water after the sun had gone down.
"Just one more wave!" I kept repeating. "No Marnie, we must go home now..." was his response.
As I mentioned, I live in the suburb of Ultimo, which is only a block away from Darling Harbor. It's hard to believe I actually live here. The architecture of the buildings in this area is jaw dropping. Pictures cannot convey the actual essence of how beautiful all the buildings are; the panoramic view that encompasses the 180 degree area at night time will numb your body and look surreal to the touch. This has led to the title of my post, I can think of no other name for this place except The City of Unrelenting Beauty.

I have acquired more friends in my first four days here than I could have thought possible. I went sailing with Dan and Locky (two friends from couchsurfing.com) on my first Sunday here. Locky's brother Hamish, Jade (Hamish's girlfriend) and Nick all came sailing with us. I'll be moving in with Hamish and Andrew on June 1st to there house in Manly, one of the best surfing beaches in Sydney. Oh, and of course I must mention, my bedroom window is 50 feet from the beach. When I wake up in the morning, all I have to do is roll over to check out the surf (which by the way is always good). I promise to take a photo of the sun rising on the water my first morning there. I know... I can't believe it either!!!

If there has ever been a time in my life where everything has seemed to fold into place so neatly and wonderfully, this is it. I cannot wait for what the rest of my days here will unfold to, the people I will get to meet, and the things I'm about the learn.

I miss you all already, very much. I will update and post pics as often as I'm able. Thanks for reading.