marianne's musings

Sunday, January 28, 2007

i'm here

yes, that's right i am here in australia. it has been a long time in coming, but finally i am here. i arrived friday the 19th. my first week was quite the wirlwind, but this past weekend i had a chance to catch my breath. today begins my second week on the job, and my first day in my new place. i am sharing a house with a woman named lisa and her cat oscar. the house is just three blocks from wesley (the school we are located at). drummoyne, where i live and work, is a suburb of sydney (about a 20 minute bus ride into the city centre).

there's a lot to do before the students arrive in about three weeks. but i am confident that kimberly, myself, and melanie (the new intern) will accomplish all that we need to do.

so far i am enjoying life here. i do not know a lot of people yet, and am beginning my search for a church...but all those things will come with time.

in the meantime, here are some of the things i have done...jumped right into my new job, found a place to live, gone to a great concert at the opera house, watched fireworks just after that concert, learned how to play settlers of katan (sp?), eaten kanagroo (yes, it is actually eaten here in australia...kind of like steak, only a bit gamey), celebrated australia day by going to see the whitlams play (band), experienced eating my first austalian hotdog (they are a bit strange...like in northern ireland), and went bowling. those are just some of the highlights.

of course there have been moments of frustration and those times when i ask myself what have i gotten myself into. but those are natural, and come with every new adventure.

that's it for now. lunch break is over. have a great day!