Let's start at the beginning, shall we?
Not this past weekend, but the weekend before (18th-20th) Sara and I traveled into the city for the weekend. We booked a hostel and a really cheesy touristy bus that would take us around to all the major sights of the city. The bus was great; we could hop on and hop off the bus and spend as much time at the sites as we pleased; very nice. We saw the Opera House, Town Hall, the Queen Victoria building (which is this really giant, really beautiful, really expensive shopping center), Darling Harbour, The Hardrock Cafe of Sydney.
When we were having lunch at the hardrock Sara noticed they were having fireworks that evening in the Harbour so we decided to find a way to spend our time until it was dark. That is how we came across Wildlife World and The Sydney Aquarium... We got a package deal and got to go to both places for a reasonable cost and we finally were able to see all of the great animals of Australia up close. (This is the most exciting part...) At Wildlife World I even got to PET A KOALA!! :) This was the best part of my weekend, by far. I was like a small child at Christmas.... So. Pumped.
Although the sightseeing and outings of the weekend, the hostel that Sara and I stayed at left MUCH to be desired. We stayed in a 32bed room. Yep, you heard it right- there were 16 bunk beds. Occupying most of those 16 bunk beds were unfriendly, stinky, and drunken guys from England. They were so rude, so stinky, and all they were looking for was a girl to fawn over them. Since neither Sara or I fit that picture we were not welcomed very kindly. Also- when we arrived it smelled slightly like death in the room. Come to find out, on of the guests had a package of unopened, and uncooked chicken breast in the basket underneath their bed. SO GROSS.
After coming it out of the hostel alive I realize that it was very cheap for our stay, and we weren't there for very much time at all. If anything, we came out of it with many stories. So- I suppose we got what we paid for...
Something else I got from the Hostel was a nasty cold/flu type illness. I spent all day Tuesday in bed with a fever. Although I didn't enjoy being sick, I didn't mind the day asleep in bed... Last week in Australia there was also a monsoon. I swear it rained nonstop from Tuesday through Saturday. On Wednesday when I had to walk/bus to school I was nearly the victim of a classic Hollywood side-of-the-road soaking. It was so great for overcoming my illness... (Sense my sarcasm? Yeah, I thought so...) ALSO- not knowing how to drive in the rain is not confined to Columbus, despite what I used to think. Picture the terrifying Sydney driving made 10 times worse because of the rain. Scary.
Despite the rain and feeling like my head was going to explode, the week wasn't a complete bust. Last Thursday was America's Thanksgiving. Although I didn't get the day off from school or get to be home with my family, the friends Sara and I have made at BUC allowed us to have an Aussie Thanksgiving of our own :) I tried my hand at making pumpkin pie (From a REAL pumpkin, not one you get from a can!) and making corn casserole without a box of Jiffy cornbread to aide me! Both dishes turned out very successful and all of our Aussie friends loved them! I was quite proud, if I do say so myself :) I felt so blessed and loved.
On Saturday night, my host mum took me to the New South Wales school spectacular. It was PHENOMENAL. There were roughly 3000 students, ages 5 through seniors in high school putting on professional grade performances. I was so blown away. And, naturally, I loved every minute of it!
Those are just small snip-its of the amazing show.
On Sunday Sara and I spent the day at the beach :) Something I am definitely going to miss when I go home... I'm pumped to go back to snowy Ohio with a really great tan ;)
Whew, that was a doozy! Alright, I'm done. I won't torture you anymore. I think this is the longest post in the history of posts. Sorry for that...
Love,
Katey
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