Cheers to Sydney

This will probably be my last blog until I get to China...

After Raychel left last week, it has just been Sam R and I left here. She went up to the Gold Coast and Surfer's Paradise for a few days and then I flew up to Byron Bay to meet her last Saturday. We checked into the hostel that night and just chilled out by the campfire in the back yard with some other backpackers. Unfortunately didn't get much sleep that night due to the jack hammer-like sound coming from our English roommate! It was actually so loud I had to laugh! Sam and I woke up the next morning and went for a morning beach walk, then she went on a whale watching tour while I laid on the beach and roamed the little surfing town. That night we sat by the fire again and got into conversation with some Germans and a Canadian. They were working at the hostel so they could get free accommodation- I was beginning to wonder how all these backpackers managed to pay for 3 months of travel!

The next morning (Monday) we went for another long beach walk and hopped into a tour bus to check out a few surrounding small towns and the countryside. One of the stops was at this guy Paul's house. He grows everything himself on 80 hectares of land and has not left his house for 10 years! His appearance is pretty funny, my face in the picture is after seeing the spider that seemed to live in his hair... but nonetheless his hippie home was pretty cool.

Tuesday Sam and I went for a last beach walk all the way up this cliff to a lookout spot where we actually saw whales and dolphins in the distance. You could see the whales because they were blowing air out of their blow holes and one did the big breach out of the water! Byron Bay is the most Eastern tip of Australia and all the whales have to swim by there each year in order to mate. They go all the way from Antarctica to Indonesia to do this- about 10,000 pods of them! After getting some lunch we checked out of the hostel and went to the airport.

Wednesday and Thursday I went to my final working days at DesignStreet. I was pretty touched when they bought cake and made a going away card for me. Graham made a pretty good speach thanking me for my time there. I will actually miss that place a lot. Thursday night Sam and I went to a Symphony at the Opera House. It was a bit heavy for my taste, not a lot of upbeat pieces for a concert that was supposed to be themed around love and life. We guessed he must have gotten his heart broken or something... The picture is of the inside of the Opera House (you are not allowed to take pictures in there, so hopefully I don't get in trouble!). The organ has over 10,000 pipes that can make every sound the human hear can hear, pretty amazing!

Yesterday Jonty and I went for one last surf in Manly. The waves were just my size so was a good way to end my surfing. I'll be returning my board on Monday or Tuesday. :( Last night I went over to Jonty's for a traditional South African brie. They moved here from S. Africa about 7 years ago, if I hadn't mentioned that. It was basically a barbeque, but the fire burned for about an hour before the mean was put on, which gave it a really nice smokey flavor. I brought over my American brownie mix to bake, but they already had dessert made. They are missing out, I said! Probably make them on Monday...

Today I'm just doing a few last minute things around here and heading up to a friend's beach house to celebrate his birthday. Sam and Jonty are going up with me, and we'll probably check out a bit of the Central coast tomorrow during the day.

Only 4 days left... if I don't write again, watch for my blog when I reach CHINA!!!

Cheers!

The first goodbye

Well... it's been pretty quiet around here so far this week. My roomie Sam left us early Sunday morning. I refuse to accept it though. I keep telling myself her door is closed because she is taking a loooong nap. On Saturday night before her departure, the four girls plus Alec and Kevin went on a one hour long Harbor Cruise and then to dinner. Was kinda funny because we were the only non-Asians on the boat... The night was crappy, rainy and windy, but we didn't care. On the boat we recapped all the most embarrassing, funny, awkward, exciting etc. moments of the trip.

Last week I finished my final paper and exam! Now I am just working at DesignStreet and getting ready for China. Sam R left for the Gold Coast today, and I'll meet her on Saturday night in Byron Bay for 4 days... I'm sure I'll have more to report on after that. I plan on taking my surf board for one last hurrah, but the waves have been massive lately. Since I won't have any one to surf with, I may or may not go out, depending on the wave size.

I can't believe it's almost over!

A little work, a little Sex, a little birthday cake

After applying for the working visa, my tax file number, and a bank account, I've started working as a paid employee at DesignStreet! Next week I will happily welcome my first income in 4 months! Much needed! They've had me helping Brooke with her jobs since she's so busy, so I really feel like I'm helpful now.

Last week was also my final week of classes. I'm sad to say my grades haven't been to the par I'm used to, but fortunately they only transfer as pass/fail. I completed my intern 3000 word paper and gave my presentation on Friday. It went really well, I didn't realize how much I had learned and how proud I was to be working on all those projects! I took in the Sony Vaio computers catalogue we finished recently to show... I'm so proud to say I had a part in that! I had so much to say about DesignStreet during my presentation that I actually went over my time limit. They didn't stop me, so hopefully that meant that it was interesting. I had to improvise a little because I made my powerpoint on a Mac and they only had PCs, so none of my images, including the client logo list, showed up. I still think it was one of the best presentations I've given though.

Friday the girls and I went to Sex and the City!!! We had talked it up for so long and I am happy to say it was EVERYTHING it was cracked up to be! All the loose ends were tied (I won't give details in case some of you haven't seen it) and the world is at peace. It was just one of those nights when you are so thankful for your girlfriends... all you girls from Sigtown and Mizzou- you are the BEST!

Today is my roomie's (Sam A) 21st birthday so last night we went to a club in Sydney called 'Tank.' This place was NUTS! Really a lot of fun. We all dressed up, and I was finally able to wear my blue dress I bought at fashion week! We felt like a million bucks. Sam and I were like machines on the dance floor, we danced 20 billion songs in a row, just one of those nights that we had SO much energy! So funny- she woke up this morning and was like 'Kristine my legs are actually sore!' hahahaha! For her actual birthday this morning, we went to Pancakes on the Rocks for some appetizers and chocolate pancakes... We all literally rolled out of the restaurant.

Now I have to study for two final exams... one is on friday and the other on... drumroll... gasp.... Saturday! Can you believe it?! An exam on a Saturday! I know, I was floored! But at least I'll be done with school. Then off to Byron Bay for 4 days. Jonty and I went surfing yesterday and I was pounded by the waves. It was really windy and choppy and the waves were big. I almost caught a couple and then bailed at the last minute out of absolute fear. I've just started thinking too much and when you hesitate for one minute in surfing you get blasted. I need to go back to the basics on some smaller ones again to get my confidence back. I'll take the board to Byron, maybe a couple more times before I leave with Jonty, and then I have to sell it back. They told me I get half back, some welcomed cash for China!

I'm starting to realize that I'm leaving soon... I'm not too sad about the girls, because they'll all be back at Mizzou. But there are a few other people who will be VERY missed.

The pics are of the girls out on the town for Sam's Bday, and the inside of DesignStreet. The desk on the far right behind Tracy is mine!