Hello out there! So we made it to Australia… a month ago that is. After a few crazy weeks of banking mishaps, flat-hunting, and internet installation delays, we’re finally settling in and back online! It’s a whole new world down here, and we hope that we can share some pieces of it with you.
So, first things, first. I know that everyone’s been dying to know the answer to one simple little question. Which way do the toilets flush down here anyway? I started off our Aussie journey with such high hopes of answering this confounding question once and for all, and I even had Mike set up a separate blog for me (corioliseffect.muniak.com… don’t visit, it’s empty) so that I could fill it with the results of my little survey. Well, I’m disappointed to tell you that I’ve discontinued said survey after discovering that every toilet I met flushed Straight Down. Yes folks, there may be a little swirl in one direction or another, but the force of the flush makes it impossible to tell, and ultimately, it just goes down. Some photographic evidence:
And yes, it’s true. My first photo on our new Aussie blog is indeed of a toilet. And yes, I clandestinely took photos of toilets in public restrooms. I did it all for you people. (One noteworthy thing with the toilets: they offer half and full flush options. Every single one of them. That’s some water consciousness right there for you!)
So, where were we? Oh right, really far away….
We’ve been spending a lot of our free time exploring, and in a city of 5-mil, there’s a lot to see! Time Out Sydney has been a great guide to what’s happening around town, from film fests to spring fests to an upcoming Lantern Parade in Manly. We’re also super lucky to have come down here with David and Karen Ryugo (Mike’s mentor from Hopkins + his wife), Cat Connelly and Tan (from the JHU lab) and to have met Alison, Ryan and Henry along the way. Having a few friends makes this whole adventure way more fun.
Three simple words I’d use to describe our new town are Vibrant, Beautiful, and Safe. I love Baltimore and all of our friends there with all my heart, but I must say, I do not miss the violence! Here in Syd, we take public transit and walk everywhere, and I have yet to feel unsafe even at night. That self guarding that is ever present living in Baltimore is finally tuning itself down… and my nervous system seems to be returning to a normal level of functioning along with it. With hope and some time, perhaps all the stress-induced health issues I’ve experienced the past few years will make themselves scarce as well! It remains a bit of a mixed bag to have left the States though, as new babes are born, new marriages begun, amazing projects unfurled, and we may only witness from afar. I hope you all know that our hearts are with you!
Now for some images from our first week…
Sydney Harbour + Sydney Harbour Bridge, as seen on the ferry from Circular Quay to Cremorne Point (North Sydney).
First visit to Bondi Beach, 2 days after arriving in Sydney. Stunned to find people swimming and sun bathing in the middle of winter…. granted, it was 73 degrees.
Giant fruit bats at the Royal Botanical Gardens.
Royal Botanical Gardens, looking towards the Harbour.
Sydney Central Business District (CBD) from the Botanical Gardens.
Walked through the Botanical Gardens and got caught in a downpour! Took refuge under the Opera House… made for some great photo ops afterward!
Gorgeous view of Darlinghurst from the roof of our hotel, Morgans, on Victoria Street.
Our flat (pre-move-in) and views from our back windows (post-move-in). Our view is north-east facing and the clouds are coming in off the Tasman Sea. Beautiful in any weather!
Images from Jurassic Lounge, the after-hours party at the Australian Museum. Free drink at the door and free reign of the museum, along with incredible burlesque, silent disco, films, a game room and more.
Maroubra Beach, with our friends Alison & Ryan and their son, Henry.
Alison and I actually met at the Mount Washington Whole Foods in Baltimore, where she overheard me talking about moving to Sydney and came over to inform me that she was, in fact, moving to Sydney, too! A stroke of luck, or a gift from the Universe? Whatever the case, these guys are awesome and we’re lucky to have met them.
So, first week down, there will be more to come soon.
Ed and Diane Claypoole said:
Great job! Looking forward to more!
Donna Magee said:
Awesome photos and news!! We missed you at Lauren and Brian’s Wedding. The distance is felt more at certain times. When your Uncle Tim was in Africa I would take comfort in knowing that we could both look at the same moon. Another strategy that helped me cope with the distance of my loved ones I read about in a Corrie ten Boom book. She would ask God to send her love for people to them when she wasn’t able to be near them.
It’s so cool that you already have friends in Australia especially ones that know Baltimore too. That is very precious. And before I run out of space Happy Birthday, Andrea! How did you get to be 30? We miss you, and at the same time rejoice in all the adventures you’re experiencing. That mixture of emotions always proves to be tricky. Much love to you and Mike, Your Fairy Godmother, Aunt Donna