November 24th – 30th: Stressed but trying not to be

November 24^th: Black Friday on a Saturday
Today I rested and tried to clean up from  the holiday and just took it easy.

November 25^th: Grammie’s Birthday

When I woke up today I video called home. Everyone on the Rogers side of the family was there celebrating Grammie’s 80^th birthday. It was so nice to talk to my cousins and Aunt and Uncle and Grandparents. We talked for a while and it was so nice to hear their voices and see them all on my screen. After I left that conversation I went to Anthony’s house to a BBQ and hung out there for a while. It was a super hot day outside but it was nice.

One thing that did make me super aware I was in Australia was when we were eating our dinner Anthony told me not to look up (which of course I did) and I saw 3-4 red back (black widow) spiders just chilling on the top of the canopy on their patio…. EW! Something that really made my day was Anthony’s family’s reaction when I was talking about buying gas here versus at home. I said “gas is cheaper at home” and their mouths dropped…. They say petrol here so it was a nice culture shock for them to hear something Anthony says “they hear in the movies”

Hahah good day full of family and sun.

November 26^th: Day in the City

Today I took the day and went into the city. I explored around the shops at QVB and Westfield mall and walked to the harbor. I bought a really nice panoramic shot of the harbor and the bridge behind it on sale at a local artist’s shop. Thinking I should start a collection of them from famous cities I visit. I sat and had some lunch and looked out at the ferries coming in. I had asked a couple to take a picture of me and when I go to talking to them I knew they were from the states: Alabama. They said they were on their honeymoon and that they had just arrived by flight that morning. They were super jet lagged but wanted to explore all they could. I told them good places to go here and up north where they were heading next. They were super grateful because it didn’t really appear that they did much of their research before coming to Australia. I then went and explored the Museum of Contemporary Art for a few hours and then tried to do some other museums but they were closed. I started walking back toward the city center and it started to rain. I went into a shopping center with really expensive desirer outlets and then decided I wouldn’t be spending any money and I should just go home because it was down pouring. It was still a really nice day to be out in the city.  

November 28^th: NSW Garden Center

Today I walked to the Garden Center that the bus passes on the way to the city. It was a super  hot day out but it was nice to walk and enjoy the sun. Once I arrived it was a lot different than I thought based off the view from the road. I was inside there for way over an hour and explored different plants and bushes. I wish I had a garden I could plant all these plants in! they had tropical trees like a passion fruit tree and lots of pretty Australian flowers that wouldn’t really survive anywhere in New England. I had a really good time exploring around in there. I walked back to meet Anthony at the train station…. I’m done walking on my feet for a bit.

November 29^th: Comedy night

Tonight we went to the Ranch where we were able to watch a comedy night. It was funny but we didn’t stay for the whole thing. We left and went to McDonald’s (the food they served us at the Ranch was in way too tiny of proportions to feel full after). It was fun and a good reason to go out for a bit.

I've been packing up my room because I was told by my program that I would have to leave this room by the 1st of Dec or I would have to pay extra to live here. I was planning on couch surfing and I have packed up all my pictures and sheets and clothes that I don't need till I return home. I ran into my friend Sam from my program and he decided to do the same thing as me: stay longer in Australia. And he told me that there was no additional cost to stay longer and that we have paid for the room through our program through till New Years Eve. So on the plus side: I'm all packed up with things I don't need any longer and I don't have to pay any extra money to stay anywhere else. On the downside: my program gave me poor communication and I almost lost a bunch of money because of it.... 

November 30^th: Manly Ferry

Today Anthony was working at the store in Manly so I decided to head out to the beach today. I had a volunteer thing to participate in for a psych research study but then after I left on a train for Circular Quay and boarded the ferry. This ferry that goes to Manly beach is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Sydney, I thought it’d be a good idea to say I went on it. It takes a half an hour to get from the quay (pronounced: key) to the warf. Once there I laid on the beach for hours and tried to reapply sunblock and not get burnt. I arrived there around 2 and the sun was still really strong. I watched the kids playing on the beach (loved their little Aussie accents!) and then hung out with Anthony for a bit once he got off work and came to the beach. It was lightening in the distance so we left shortly after. On the way back to the car we spotted a “baby” huntsman on someone’s car….. not cool. Way too big for me.