I miss him desperately.

I had no idea how much I would miss this little guy. It breaks my heart to think of him and I cant wait to see him. I cant imagine how having children feels. 

Still getting adjusted.

I am finding myself getting more and more used to the ways of life here. Which is great! I am staying up later... going to bed around 9pm or 10pm Aussie time (5am or 6am SLC)... I am experiencing better food too. 

There are however things that are taking a bit more time. Laundry is one of them. There is not a Dryer where I live. Do you know what that means? EVERYTHING must be hung to dry. I am used to hanging up my jeans as I have always had long legs and been in fear of my pants shrinking. However it is a totally different story to hang dry socks, under ware and towels. I wont ever get that fresh out of the dryer feeling from a towel while I am here. 

If ever there was a time (Casey will tell you there absolutely was) where I was negligent with my clothing or unaware of how much I would wash things, You better believe that those days are gone. 

I am not complaining, just more so explaining. I will get used to it, I am sure.

Aussie phrases vs. American slang.... to be continued.  

It has been a few days.

Please do not get discouraged if I go a few days with out posting. Sometimes I can not come up with anything creative or I forgot to take pictures. But I promise, I will always keep you updated :) 

First, Happy Birthday Grandma Prestwich (sorry about being a day late)- I love you very much. 

Second, I had a very eventful weekend. Saturday I followed along with Mel and Christabelle as they went to get their dresses sized for the wedding. Mel and Mat, my two roommates, are getting married in July. There is tons of wedding excitement in the air around my home. After we went to do that, Christabelle dropped me off at the Westfeild shopping mall. This mall is huge and has so many stores that I have never heard of before. I spent a good 3 hours there just walking around shopping and looking at things. It is so interesting to be in a place that is so unfamiliar. Sunday I mustered up the courage to venture down town for the first time by myself. I was a bit panicked as I am aware that the buses are even more unreliable on the weekends. Casey helped me sort out my transportation plan and before I knew it, I was headed for downtown. It takes about 45 minutes to an hour to get down town on the bus, which seems forever to me. I got down town and headed straight for the Queen Victoria Market. The biggest market of its sort in the world! Its aslo the 3rd rated attraction in Australia. It was so fun and so huge! I couldn't even get through the whole thing and I was there a good two hours. Clothes, souvenirs and nic nacks as far as the eye could see. There is an adjacent market all for food and I have been told that it has the best produce in town. I had a falafel sandwich and baklava for lunch, it was yummy. Hardly as good as Mazza though. (I miss Mazza's food very much... yum). I had a great time at the market and even found my way back home (Thanks to constant coaching from Casey... I love you). It was very eventful and I am relieved to have my first trip down town out of the way so it wont seem so intimidating. 

Kate arrives tomorrow and I am go glad to have someone to explore with. Next weekend is a holiday so I am thinking of taking a train to somewhere exciting. Details to come. 

I am headed down to Parliament tomorrow to get my Parliamentary pass. I will accompany Mary downtown this week as there will 3 days of government sitting. I am really looking forward to that!

.Office time.

I am feeling so much better. My terrible cough is mostly gone and I am relieved of my chest pains. I am so grateful for that. I had a great day yesterday. I went to work and then after I accompanied Christabelle to dinner with some of her friends from University. It was a great time. We went to a lovely Italian restaurant and I had my first really great meal here in Melbourne. I had a yummy cesear salad. I am posting a picture of me at my office... getting ready to eat a delicious pear and also a picture of my personal workspace. I should be posting lots of lovely pictures over the weekend because it is my first day off that I will be feeling well enough to go explore. Stay tuned. xo

Australian Currency

Australian currency is so much more attractive than American money. Well at least to me. I didn't really leave the house today so I have no new pictures of trees so I thought I would write about the money. The first thing that I love about the money here is that there are many women featured. There has only been one woman pictured on American Currency and that was well over a hundred years ago. Any ways, I am posting pictures that show paper currency as well as their coins. Interesting fact, Australians do not use pennies. Everything is rounded up and down. The coins are arranged in most valuable to least- pictured is a $50, $10 and $5 bill as well as a $2 coin, $1 coin, .50cents, .20cents, .10cents and .05cents coins. The thing that was interesting to me was the fact that the $2 coin is one of the smallest yet it is worth the most. It has been a bit weird getting used to their money and it still feels a bit fake to me. It sure does not go far though. Things here are quite pricey, more so than I would have thought. So even though the exchange rate is higher, it really doesn't matter because money all spends the same. I went to the store and spent $30 on a 2 liter of water, box of granola bars, yogurt, and 2 lean cuisines. ooouch! 

Also, in the corner of all of their currency is a little clear box. I think that is the neatest part of their money. I continuously put it up to my eye and stare threw. I am pretty sure my flat mates think I am a nut job! Most of you would agree :) xo

Tree of the day: Part two

I left the house just briefly today to go to the store and buy some soup. I have to say that not only are Australians incredibly more environmentally conscious (there will be a blog coming soon about this) But they are also very health conscious. All of the food seems to be much better for you and there seems to be much more variety in the way of good healthy food. 

Any ways, that is not the intention for this blog. Tree's are :) I found some lovely things on the way to the store and I also took a snap shot of the park that is right next to my house. It is called Donvale reserve. It looks lovely. If I am feeling better during the day tomorrow, I am going to pack my lunch and go eat it there. We will see. 

Here are a few random pictures:

1. beautiful flowers on a bush, I just loved them.

2. The skyline by donvale reserve.

3. A cool tree with the sun shining threw.

4. More pretty flowers.

5. Last but not least, this amazing tree with the bark falling off. My first day here I was reading a book about Australia. This specific chapter was about understanding Australia's environment and why it is the way it is. It explains why Australia is so different and one of my favorite quotes is " The first naturalist were astonished by what they found... it truly was an upside down world, where many of the large animals hopped, where each year the trees shed their bark rather than their leaves...." I think think this picture should be right next to that paragraph in the book. 

Sick girl.

I was not feeling very sick when I went to work, but apparently my cough was scary enough for my co-workers to not want me around. Linda suggested that I leave about 5 minutes after I arrived. Sad. I was disappointed to go but it was for the best because now I am feeling quite terrible. I think I was pushing myself too hard. I have a fierce pain in my chest and I started taking antibiotics today. Hopefully they will kick in soon and I will be able to be invited back to work :) I am staying home tomorrow as well and I plan on watching movies all day and resting. Just like I did today. The Royal Tenenbaums is possibly the best movie ever. With out a doubt. 

I got to talk to loads of family today via skype, phone and gmail chat. I think I am staying in better contact now that I am away. Which is so funny to me. It is lovely to talk to you all and keep up, I am just so thankful for all of the wonderful people in my life. xo 

Tree of the Day: Part one

I have no idea what this is called but I keep seeing it around. I love it. It thought it would it be a perfect way to start off the series. 

.Monday. First real work day.

I arrived to work today on time and in one piece. I should have arrived a bit early, however the public transit here is totally unpredictable and I waited for thirty minutes for a bus. I really should walk to work and I am going to make a goal to walk to or from work every day. If nothing more than to save money because the public transit here is crazy expensive ($3 each way). I only live .8 miles away from my office. 

I had a nice day today. I got introductions to the office and the procedures from the lovely ladies that I work with, and I was able to sit down with Mary and talk about the projects I will be working on during the next few months. I am feeling a bit overwhelmed and my mind is having a hard time concentrating, but that normally happens to me when I am getting adjusted. Casey tells me to drink some tea, he is normally right on with predicting what helps me. 

It is raining something fierce outside right now. It was raining terribly hard before I left work, cleared up for about 30 minutes as I was making my way home and literally started puring the minute I walked inside my house. I normally tell Dave thanks when things work out like that, because there is no way that is just coincidence. I give Dave thanks for alot of the amazing things that happen to me. I know he is possibly responsible and continuously looking after me. 

I am super tired and hope that I get better adjusted soon. I am also feeling really sick. I have a bad cough and an awful stomach ache and head ache. I anticipate that these are all symptoms of jet lag. 

Keep watching this blog because I am going to start something really fun, Its going to be called the tree of the day. I LOVE all the different trees that they have here and all of the different bushes. So I decided that I am going to photograph one favorite tree every day and post it. I absolutely love trees and birds so forgive me if it is boring to you, because I cant get enough. 

Well I am going to get to bed. I should sleep well, I've got my window open and the sound of the rain is very soothing.

Sunday

I did not post for yesterday, primarily because I was extremely exhausted when I got home. I have been going to bed at about 6pm or 7pm local time here in Australia (which is 2am or 3am Utah time). I really need to start stretching it to 8pm or 9pm, so that I don't wake up at 4am wondering why it is not light outside. Yesterday I went down to the convention with Christabelle again. It was so nice to drive down town two days in a row and see the city. I was able to get a better grip of the city, and I am almost sure which way is North now. The two pictures I am posting are from right in front of the convention center. The trolley cart is amazing because it is not your average trolley. It is a restaurant inside the trolley cart!!!! I am going to make Casey go and eat inside it when he arrives into town, just so we can patrol the city while fine dining. The second picture is just of me and the city. 

Soy Sauce

You know how it sucks when you get soy sauce packets and you rip the corner open and it all leaks. Well I once heard a comedy sketch about it and how we Americans are too dumb to find a more proper way to store out individual packets of soy sauce. Well good thing the Australians are way smarter :) Here is a little soy sauce container that I found so entertaining. Hey, I didn't say this blog would be incredibly intelligent, however, you just might find it entertaining. 

First day at work.

Well Kind of.... today was the first day of the Liberal Party of Victoria's state convention. I didn't really have to work, but I am very happy I went. It was boring, as most political conventions are. However it was so nice to go with Christabelle and get to know people here in Melbourne. Christabelle is in charge of Mary's policy and has worked for Mary since she was elected. Mary is the Member of Parliament that I am working for. Christabelle is so very sweet. She took me around all day and even gave me a ride to Target so that I could buy a few things that I did not have. I am really looking forward to spending more time with her. 

I am going to go to the convention tomorrow as well and Mary will be speaking. That should be a good time. 

I took a walk this evening around my neighborhood and wow, Melbourne is so Beautiful. There are loads of Magpies and Gumtrees all around which I find so magnificent. Its a bit lonely right now but the last few days have already flown by so I am assuming the feeling will wear off.  I am totally looking forward to Casey coming out. He is going to absolutely love it here. Everything in life is better when Casey is around. 

I took a few pictures today but not as many as I intended. We were mostly driving and in the convention hall, which neither are adequate for picture taking. 

I have really lost my appetite for both food and sleep. I am not sure what that's about, but I sure hope that it comes back. I am assuming that it comes along with travel and when my internal clock its adjusted I bet I will get it back. 

Spiders.... ewwww... I have not seen any yet, knock on wood, but the woman I am living with says that there are no big ones in the house, just deadly ones. Um, excuse me? Did you say deadly? sure enough. Now, all I can feel is little tiny legs crawling over my body all of the time. great. Thank God for Ambian. 

Very random and there will be more to follow tomorrow.

I love you all. I miss you all. 

What I am missing right now, Ole. I miss his sloppy kisses that always made me want to come home. I miss his puppy dog eyes and his happy yelp at the door when ever he saw me. I hope dogs are not smart enough to know distance in time or else that poor little gut is going to think that I have abandoned him. 

Sooooo Tired

Well I arrived in Melboure at 10am (local time)( 16 hours aheaD Of SLC). I got all of my luggage back to my new apartement and I am already unpacked. I am so tired. I have been awake for almost 44 hours, of course with a little bit of shut eye on the plane, but I assure you, not much. I have heard the best thing to do is to stay awake as long as possible so that one can go to bed at the regular time. I have watched the sun set, and rise and set agian. It is currently six pm here in Melbourne. I will be going to bed at eight. Oh sleep, how I have missed you so. I am going to take a shower and then head to bed. I start work tomorrow, even though it is Saturday. I guess there is some sort of convention down town and my boss offered so I accepted. I will take lots of pictures and repost tomorrow. 

Well Im Packing It Up

I am packing right now. Getting ready to leave. Stay tuned I hear Australia is awesome.