First Week in Oz!

So I’ve been here for a week now! It’s pretty surreal and while I’m in an Airbnb it kind of still feels like a vacation. 

Quick stats:

• 36 miles walked (58 km)
• 3 books read
• 6 coffees enjoyed (every one!)
• 3 movies watched
• 2 meat pies eaten (don’t worry this stat will go up!)
• 6 children met & hi-five-ed

Made some progress on a few smaller things like getting a library card and my appt for a local drivers license is next week. 

Bigger things like a place to stay are getting sorted too! Moving into a rental apartment of my cousin’s that’s just coming available (some opportune timing for me). I’ll have a proper address soon! Excited to be able to properly unpack and start my new life here.

I’m learning summer here is a wild mix of searing over 100F heat that can switch to 54F and raining in just a few hours. I didn’t quite prepare for this but I’m ready for that challenge. Calls for some epic sunsets though (sets around 9p). 

Had my first class and it was so fun. Mandarin will be tough but it’s great to learn something again. It’s a small class of just eight of us but I think we’ll have a good time. Everyone’s been friendly so far.

I’ve spied out two good swimming pools so far: one at the Uni and a salt water one by my future apartment. Can’t wait to start swimming again!

Fav things I see out and about:

• Utes are so funny. They’re what tradies (tradesmen) drive. It’s half a sedan and half a truck. It’s simple but just so funny to get used to seeing on the road.
• Love love love the cast iron lacework on the houses. So iconic here. It’s like brownstones in NY.
• “Hook” turns are evidently only a Melbourne thing: to turn right, you hover on the left side, wait until the through traffic passes then you can make your right turn. Nuts!
• To catch the trams, you hop on/off right in the middle of the street! Sometimes there’s no platform but just a short metal fence. Love the trust in my own sense of safety. 

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Pixar Putt launched here, right near the Australian Open area, and that was rather fun. Nice and inventive holes. 

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Miss you all!