Paper and other lessons

So I am full steam ahead into settling into my life in Australia.

Here are a few lessons I've learned during my first week here:

1. Contrary to the suggestions on many expat blogs, Westpac does not require a letter from your US bank in order to open an account. All you need is a passport and $500 min. deposit (although the min amount requirement may vary at different branches).

2. In order to sign up for a mobile phone plan in addition to a proof of residency (welcome letter from a bank) you need a work telephone number--because they need to run a credit check. The best option for those just arriving is the pay-as-you-go option.

3. Australia uses a different paper size--well one that is used by most of the world except for America--A4. This can present a re-formatting nightmare. BE PREPARED.

4. Australia is not an "instant" country. When hooking up internet you have to wait 3-4 days from activation. (hence the all quiet on the blog front for the past few days).

5. Contrary to my belief that Australia is warm year round--it can get chilly. Sweaters are necessary accessories.

AND...

In the spring and summer months you can frequently catch a .... show during dinner :-) AMAZING. We had a delicious dinner at the Manta Restaurant in Woolloomooloo Wharf a caught a brilliant fireworks display over Sydney Opera house from our dinner table. It was breathtaking...

More brilliant moments to come....

and....we've moved into our new place! Photos to be posted shortly (once we get our courtyard set up...)

Arrival in Sydney

Steph and Benny met me at the airport and immediately put me into tourist gear :-)

Of course the adventure started immediately with locking the keys in the trunk...luckily Ben managed to macgyver us out of the situation...

The last few days have been filled with beaches......

Welcome parties......

Boat trips out in Sydney Harbour....

Crab feasts.....

Charity cocktails at the Museum of Contemporary Art...

AND

Making new friends...

Now full steam ahead on settling in and finding a job...stay tuned for tips and finds!

Farewell weekend in SaN FrAnSiScO

Here are some of the highlights from the weekend with Alice, Roxy and Meggie.

Friday night drinks at the Cigar bar--great life Latin music and mojitos...Meggie arrived straight from the airport with her suitcase (and she brought her camera in its box!)

Saturday morning walk around the Marina after a delicious breakfast of fresh squeezed apple juice and fresh mozzarella and tomato sandwich.

Afternoon at the Japan Pop festival...curious trinkets and people in anime costumes

Mid-afternoon cheese/naps in Golden Gate park...(Roxy's flower pictured above)

Scrumptious dinner at Cafe Claude--Creamy tomato soup "to-die-for"

After dinner drinks with a view of SF...followed by a limo ride


Dancing in the San Fransisco fog :-)

(Best times to visit to avoid fog...September/October/January..or you might just catch fog dancing)

Sunday morning omlettes courtesy of Roxy

Aternoon/evening rooftop BBQ and dancing at The Endup to music by Alice's DJ friend

Monday: Walk across Golden Gate bridge and afternoon coffee in Sausalito

Ferry ride back to SF from Sausalito with spectacular views of the Golden Gate bridge and Alcatraz

Yummy Thai dinner with AJ, Karen and Alice

Farewell Tuesday morning breakfast with AJ before Taxi to airport....

"Throw your dreams into space like a kite, and you do not know what it will bring back, a new life, a new friend, a new love, a new country" - -Anais Nin

At LAX...boarding flight to Sydney in 3 hours...Good-bye America.....

Office good-byes

My co-workers decorated my desk :-)

It was a lovely day of celebrating my departure. I will miss everyone so much!

See you DOWN UNDER....

Boxes, suitcases and the most amazing friends in the world

Not really sure how I got so lucky...but I have been blessed with the most incredible people. My horoscope from September sums it up best:

All month, your friends will surround you like twinkling fireflies in the night, always there to remind you that you're not alone. This month, after September 14, your friends will be calling, with plenty of ideas of things to do and places to go. You will feel loved, for sure, and your pals will have your best interests in mind. Bless their hearts!

The last three weeks have been a whirlwind...parties, packing, polo...Thank you to everyone who was able to make it to the Biergarten Haus. I know it was quite a trek, but I think you will admit the Deutsch Bier was well worth it :-) I will carry your well wishes in my heart and look forward to all of your visits!

At the Biergarten Haus

And...thank you girls for a wonderful champagne surprise!! I could not have imagined a better way to spend my last evening in Washington :-)

My life is now neatly packed up into 6 boxes and 3 suitcases. I'm ready and excited to embark on my adventure...but leaving DC with all of its incredible inhabitants is near to impossible. I am comforted mostly by the thought that so many of you DC friends will soon be scattered accross the globe (and perhaps find yourself in my hemisphere!)

Now the adventure begins...stay tuned for travel updates!

First stop...SAN FRANSISCO