Life's Betta Down Unda

A couple people and myself went to the Royal National Park, a little over an hour drive from Sydney.  We drove to a place called Wattamolla, a little beach tucked away but beautiful.  There was a cliff/wall some of the guys jumped off of but no way was I going to.  It looked painfully high, emphasis on the painful. We played some frisbee in the freezing water and I made some good progress on my tan.  

When we were walking back in the trail, one of the guys stopped and said that someone in our group was still behind us.  I took a couple steps back in the direction we came from and then decided to continue back to the car anyway as I thought we were the last ones.  When I turned around again to continue on, a snake was right there, slithering across the path, inches away from me stepping on it.. Still researching into the type of snake. 

Finally, I got to go to my country music concert in Sydney. But 6 days before that, I went to see “G-Eazy” at the Metro Theater.  Back to the important bit.  Florida Georgia Line and Jason Aldean came to Sydney!!! It was awesome and I got a good spot to stand! I went with a German Au Pair friend that lives close by and an American I randomly met through Facebook as well.  We made lots of friends.  Country music... it brings people together!

I got to spend Valentine’s Day with a really great guy at a really special place!  We went to Cremorne Point Pool or MacCallum Pool, had a picnic and a little swim.  

So, I got to spend the last week with one of my best friends.  T and I met at the airport in Latrobe, PA on the first Saturday of Spring Break 2015.  Of course, if you know my family, you know my dad talks to EVERYONE.  While waiting to board the plane, my dad was chatting up T and her mom.  Later, he saw them line up to get on the same plane.  We had them cut the line to be with us and we asked them where they were headed.  They were going on a cruise, too.  Funny we thought.  We were flying into Ft. Lauderdale and heading to Miami in the morning for the cruise.  No way were in they also not flying into Miami the day previous to the cruise or boarding the same one of 8 ships to leave Miami that day, but they were.  We instantly became besties and partied at the ship’s night club every night.  Once returning to PA we spent most weekends at each others universities.  I already committed to my family in Australia and T had already submitted paperwork to study abroad in New Zealand for the months to follow.  

Fast forward to now, T is on her way to study in New Zealand but first stopped in Melbourne for the Australian Open and now in Sydney to visit me.  The day she after she arrived, I took her and her daddy-o to Opera Bar - my favorite bar in Sydney.

On Saturday, I played tour guide around the city and then T and her dad came to our house to meet my host family.  On Sunday, we took a day tour through the Hunter Valley - Wine Country, New South Wales.  

On Monday, I attended a Super Bowl party, which of course I wore my Steelers T-shirt.  On Tuesday, they went to the Blue Mountains and later we met for dinner.  We went to dinner in Darling Harbor and of course, took the ferry there. 

On Wednesday, T’s last day in Sydney, we took a surf lesson at Manly Beach! I stood up on my first try before getting completely crushed by a wave a couple attempts later.  But at least I can say “I WENT SURFING IN AUSTRALIA!!”

Everyone is off work again, for yet another public holiday.  Highly controversial holiday, also known as Invasion Day -  a sad holiday for the Aboriginals.  But party day for modern, working Australians and Australian workers.  Tradition calls for a BBQ and Triple J’s Hottest 100 Countdown of the year prior’s music.  I completely forgot to vote, but once I got a look at the list I only knew maybe 10 songs.  I had plans to attend St. George’s Open Air Cinema at the Botanical Gardens to see the Australian film “The Dressmaker” with Kate Winslet, however, beer and the sun got the best of me and my New Yorker Friend and we called it off.  The party was such fun with quality humans.  Even some F-18s flew overhead in celebration.  

I just got back from an amazing weekend in Bowral, NSW.  Bowral is a “retirement community” of people who lived and worked in Sydney but are now a bit older and want to get away from the constant busy city life, only about an hour and a half from the city.  We had a real Aussie BBQ and played the American version of Cards Against Humanity with a mix of Aussies, English and Kiwis.  I didn’t win, but it truly is the fun in playing the game and as I didn’t know anyone, a great way to really get to know people. ;)  Just while we were hanging out on the back patio, a King Parrot flys in.. It was so beautiful, just like the Southern Highlands. 

Before heading back to the city, we went to Fitzroy Falls and did a bit of exploring. Here are some breath taking views. 

Most of the school holiday days haven’t been full of activities.  So far, it rained quite a bit but finally, it was sunny and in the 90s.  The girls didn’t want to go to the beach so I decided on an out door pool.  We took a bus to the city and then a ferry (the girls love the ferry) to Cremorne Point.. Just a short walk to an outdoor pool - MacCallums.  After the hour long journey, we got to the pool and there wasn’t any water in it.  Here is the view though!

The girls and I were starting to get cranky and sunburnt in the short time we were in the heat but walked the short walk back to the ferry terminal to get back to the city.  Two train rides later, we finally got to Milson’s Point Station.  We walked a bit down to North Sydney Olympic Pool.  There is a large saltwater pool outside and a chlorine pool at the top of the grandstand that is inside.  We opted for the indoor pool to be protected from the sun.  It was fun for a quick dip and then we went home to get some things done before swimming lessons and I had to waitress. 

The last few days have been spent working and at the beach.  I spent New Year’s Eve day celebrating the way it should be celebrated - on the beach!!

Followed by a nap.. and then Thai for dinner, my favorite, with Scotland and my Indonesian-New Yorker. 

And a very, very big thank you to my New Yorker for being the lovely friend/Mama Bear that she is and hooking us up with the best seats in Sydney for the NYE 12 minute firework show.  Seeing the fireworks at the bridge and Opera house was so important to me.  Until last year (2014-2015 nye) when I had to work in Pittsburgh, I spent every year at the lake house with my parents and brother for NYE.  Each year, we would wait for and watch the ball drop in Times Square in NYC.  During the couple hours before the ball would drop, there would be lots of musicians and entertainment, they would also always show all the NYE midnight celebrations that had already happened, first of which was always Sydney.  Having been to Sydney before, I always wanted to be there for NYE and finally, I got to be! 

I heard the girls awake at 5:30am excited to see what Santa had left them but I couldn't force myself out of bed to join them until 10am.  We opened some presents together and then had a Christmas lunch with the family and my au pair papa’s parents.  Our lunch was like Thanksgiving: turkey, green veg, cranberry sauce, mash potatoes and gravy, and stuffing.  Of course the amount of stuffing we had would really just have been only my portion at Thanksgiving.  Anyways, here, when my family opens presents, we open them one at a time and everyone watches so it becomes an all day kind of thing.  I think my family really appreciated my gifts.  We ate lunch and then opened some more presents.  Then, of course, I took a nap.  I woke up just moments before dinner. I am really enjoying all of this eating!!  We had bruschetta and salad and soup for dinner.  We talked a long while and then everyone started turning it.  It was nice to spend today with my host family.  

In the morning, I FaceTimed home.  My 11am in Sydney was Pittsburgh’s 7pm on Christmas Eve.  Because my family celebrates Christmas on Christmas Eve, everyone was at my parents house and I got to be passed around on the phone to “see” everyone.  Yes, of course, its nice to be with family on special holidays but I know they love me so much that blowing a kiss through the phone will be enough for a couple of months while I get to have this incredible experience.  Just because you aren’t with family on the holiday doesn't mean you are alone! Also, holidays are what you make them to be, so when I go back to Pittsburgh, I’ll make up my own holiday to get everyone together again!

My first Christmas in Australia.. and I say first because I hope there are more!  Scotland and I woke up, went to patisseries and headed to Balmoral Beach.  We drank champagne and ate croissants and loved being in the sun.  Well, I did, Scotland was much more burnt than I!  

We came home, got ready and headed to our lunch and drinks spot: Waston’s Bay Boutique Hotel!  The view was perfect and I had grilled octopus.  Seafood is a pretty typical Aussie Christmas.  Oh, and I had a drink meant for 4 people just to myself. 

After we ate, Scotland went to her boyfriends and I was left to entertain myself.  I am part of a Facebook community of Au Pairs in Sydney and saw some other individuals who had no one to celebrate with.  I met up with a girl at an Irish Pub called Scruffy Murphys - yes, it was as dodgey and disgusting as it sounds.  But I had a good time, made friends and got to see the glorious moon after taking an uber home (and yes, meeting up with strangers from the Facebook page on a whim happens pretty regularly).

We had to return home.  The last two days of holidays it rained.  We stayed in and watched the entire Bourne series and a couple Harry Potters in the insanely cool home theater at the AirBnb we stayed in - by the way, the airbnb was a great experience and I will definitely stay in another.  But it was nice to sleep on a queen sized bed and not have to be somewhere!  On the way home we stopped at 7 Mile Beach,

and Shellharbour Beach.

Even though it was raining, it was still holidays and we were still in Jervis Bay!  We decided to venture through Booderee National Park!  We saw some impressive cliffs and I finally got my kangaroo selfie.. one with a joey in the pouch none the less!! :D 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUM!

Its been quite a while since I’ve written anything, but to be honest, I have mostly just worked and worked and worked and a little bit of beach and worked and napped and netflixed.  But my first day off in 13, I had holidays!! Scotland and I headed to Hyams Beach. On the way down to Hyams, we stopped at small cafe for a quick coffee and meal, here was our view:  

Also on the way, we drove over the Sea Cliff Bridge.  My personal pictures don’t do it justice, so you need to do your own googling!  Hyams Beach is in Jervis Bay, NSW.  In 2006, Hyams Beach had the world record for whitest sand in the world.  I am unaware if the beach still holds the title but it was pretty amazing!! The sand squeaked under your feet as you walked.  We laid out for a bit and then I actually got in the water!  We spent nearly 2 hours in the water and then I remembered I needed a handstand picture.. my justification for bad form.  It was really, really amazing!!

After a lovely day on the beach, we went to the next town to have dinner, Huskisson.  We had an amazing view there, too!

On Tuesday, I went paddle boarding again, this time I got a little more adventurous though!

Thursday was Thanksgiving.  I went out with Scotland, a coworker and the American guy I showed around Sydney a couple weekends ago.  We went to a place called Surly’s in Surrey Hills that I had really been wanting to try for their BBQ!  But in honor of Thanksgiving, they were having Thanksgiving dinner: a 1kg turkey leg, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, corn bread and pumpkin pie.  The food wasn't terrific and it came with BBQ sauce but I was happy to have celebrated.

Well, I just got home from a crazy massage experience.. Thai.  I laid on the table and the girl actually stood on me to massage me, bend me in weird ways and it was painful.  But I will probably go again. :D 

Early today, a boy taught me how to kick an AFL ball (Australian Football League) and I surprisingly didn’t suck at it.. He said he was impressed and I don’t think he was just trying to be nice! It was pretty fun and in exchange, I taught him how to do a proper cartwheel! We laid in the grass a bit and played with his adorable dog who loves me.  

But lets back up further.  

Wednesday was my first hot day in Sydney, reaching 91 degrees.  I went paddle boarding for the first time in the morning and it was pretty good fun, definitely a good core work out, going to try and go frequently for exercise!

Thursday, the girls (Baerchen 6.5 and Pickles 8) had an art show after school, which we attended and I was quite impressed.  

Friday reached 108 degrees.  It was so hot and I really sped up the tanning process -  don’t worry mum, I used SPF 50!  Of course, in the evening, I went to Opera Bar.

There is heaps to catch up on, I had a great week!!

Tuesday was the Melbourne Cup - the Race that Stops the Nation.  I had sent a list of horses to my parents, as they love horse racing and horse racing has made a lot of history in the States this year.  My mom sent back two trifectas.  I ran around a lot of the day to find a place to bet and ultimately, ended up betting online.  I also spent about $15 on my own bets.  I loved the horse Criterion, just because I had a good feeling about him.  I bet on another horse because it was the only American horse.  I also bet on Prince of Penzance purely because he had a female jockey.  I went to pick the girls up from school (they are done at 3:15) and found a close by bar to watch the race at 3:00. Unlike the Kentucky Derby, post time is actually as close to 3 as possible.  I ordered a beer, despite knowing I was going to be picking up the children from school and waited for the race.  I messaged the guy I know who works in horse racing and asked him how to bet the day before.  Thirty minutes before the race, I messaged him again telling him about my faith in Criterion but failing to mention my other bets.  The whole race I was watching the horses my mom had in her trifectas, as those would be the big bucks.  Only 1 horse of the 5 she had in her trifectas finished in the top three.  Prince of Penzance was victorious and Michelle Payne became the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup, ever.  I remembered I had Prince of Penzance in a duet - duet, when you pick two horses and if they both place in any order, you win.  I thought “oh bummer - I should have just bet on Prince of Penzance by himself because he paid $100 to win!!!” I looked back to my bets and saw that I picked Prince of Penzance to duet with Criterion, who came in third.  My heart started racing.. I looked at the stranger next to me and said “oh my God, I think I won”.  I texted the guy saying the same thing and he said “you did if you bet on Criterion”.  Then I told him about the duet and he said “you won $300″.  I thought he was lying but I said “on no, I only bet $2,” and then he said “then you won $600″.  Turns out, I really did. It was so exciting!!

On Saturday, Scotland and I dressed up a bit and went on a high tea cruise in Sydney Harbor.  It was absolutely lovely.  My flavor of tea was Blue Mountain and we had the most amazing sparkling wine, ever - Brown Brothers Zibibbo Rosa. 

Sunday - Vino Paradiso