I am now pleased to announce that we officially have an Australian identity. That may not sound like that big a deal, but after being in the country for several days without a proper checking account, an ability to communicate, and a place to live without intruding on the abundant generosity of a family we met three days ago, it feels like a big deal to us. Not to belabor the point, but the events of the first 48 hours had us feeling slightly transient.
First of all, it appears that we have finally found a place to live. After flailing about on various real estate websites, inspecting various rental properties, and being generally disappointed by the notion of "furnished" accommodations- not to mention the weekly price- it appears that we are in line to rent a nicely-sized, clean, first floor apartment with white goods (see lexicon) on Pittwater Road. To provide a brief apartment history: our initial efforts to secure livable space were foiled by grimy carpet, dilapidated shutters, old-person smell, and dimwitted leasing agents. We quickly realized that renting a good apartment in Sydney is about as competitive as an Alabama-Auburn national championship gridiron game (again, see lexicon) and that we would have to come by an incredible stroke of luck to find a place in a convenient location. While we certainly don't want to push our recent good fortune, we have just now faxed our application for the aforementioned apartment in the Gladesville area that would be perfect for us. Your prayers are welcome at this point.
With regards to other identity issues, we now both have cell phones and we have a joint bank account, which should render our lives more established. We have perused the grocery store to compare relative goods and prices; we have examined the circumstances of public transportation, and we have been exercising with general regularity. And at the end of the day (which is still ending around 8:00 P.M. at the latest), we are beginning to feel like we are now supposed to be here. Without the assistance of the Blahuts we would be completely befuddled and overwhelmed, and we can't thank them enough for their support. While it may be some time before we are completely comfortable in this new, yet strangely familiar, place, we are pleased that we seem to be moving in the right direction.
4 comments:
I'm glad you all are settling in. How's the Australian cuisine? (Come to think of it, is food much different in Sydney than the US?)
Hey how's it going? It was great to talk to you guys on skype last night. I'm glad that you guys have found a good home in Sydney. What is the terrain like in Sydney because I have always thought that it would be like San Francisco in that it would be a big city with lots of hills. Wish me luck with my appointment with Mykale. Best of luck to you both
Dixon
The food is very comparable to the U.S.- although there seems to be less prepared and packaged food. Lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, and the seafood is quite good.
With regards to the landscape, it is is similar to San Francisco. Rolling, wooded hills punctuated by beautiful inlets and headlands- it's quite an attractive place.
Glad to know that you're finally settling in. I'll pray that the apartment of your choice goes through! :-)
And, I'm also glad that you have a little while before classes begin for both of you.
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