First week!

So I have officially been here a week now, and it is just amazing! We have been doing a lot of exploring and walking around trying to grab our bearings. My friend Rachel and I walked to the Chinese Gardens on Friday which was just gorgeous, very relaxing and beautiful. We got jasmine tea and had scones with jam and whipped cream, so it was quite a great day! 

Friday night we went to a rugby game! We were cheering on the Waratahs and it was great, we didn't know what was going on, but such an exciting atmosphere and we will definitely be going back!

We are trying to plan a trip up North for this week, maybe Brisbane or Cairns so hopefully that will work out! We just need to actually book it, so tonight we are going to look for flights!!We still have another week before classes start, and then the first week of classes is just sitting in lectures and then the following week is when school ACTUALLY starts, so still lots of time!

The weather is supposed to get better so I am sure we will be heading to the beach if we aren't in Brisbane! I will try and post pictures soon...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUMMY!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUMMY FROM SYDNEY!! Hope you have an amazing day; we toasted in your honor tonight! Love you xoxo

Sydney Harbour and the Opera House!

Today was the first sunny day, thank goodness it stopped raining!! We knew we had to take advantage of it and decided to walk to Darling Harbour and then to Sydney Harbour and the Opera House. It was a really nice walk, absolutely beautiful and we walked a long way and had a great time. When we turned the corner and saw the Opera House and Sydney Bridge, it was real that we were actually in Sydney. They are as stunning in real life as they are in pictures, but it was just amazing to see! We saw people walking up the bridge, and we are definitely going to do that soon. We walked up the 100 steps to the Opera House and the view was incredible. We were all looking in the water to see sharks, but didn't spot any! We took a bus back and then UniLodge (the apartment building that we are staying at) had a welcome BBQ and live band on the rooftop deck so we went to that, got food and it was BYOB as all places are here so had some wine too which was great. 

We went to dinner after because one sausage did not fill us up. We found this great new Italian restaurant near to where we live, and the owners and cooks were actually Italian, and not Asian, so that was a good sign that the Italian food would be legit! They were so nice, there were 5 of us and we sat outside in the back surrounded by trees it was really nice. Will ate with us too, he lives here but did a year at Miami. They gave us free wine and it was a great meal so we will definitely be back!

Last night Andrew, another guy that went to Miami last semester, but lives in Sydney, picked us up and we went to Coogee for dinner. He just got back from his world travels 2 days ago so it was great to see him and catch up! We went to a really good Thai restaurant, again BYOB and a liquor store right across the road so very convenient! We then went to a bar in Coogee and were outside on the back deck, but then it started pouring! 

We are so happy the rain has stopped, it is very uncharacteristic of a Sydney Summer we have been told so we are going to the beach tomorrow, to finally get a tan and enjoy the beautiful Sydney beaches! I am just really loving everything about Sydney, and can't wait to keep exploring!

Darling Harbour and Orientation Day 1

Last night, us Miami girls decided to go to Darling Harbour for dinner on the water. It was absolutely breathtaking! So beautiful with restaurants lining the water, and so much to choose from! We finally picked a cute Italian place, and realized you order at the bar, pay when you order and then find a seat and they bring you your food. Certainly a new way to get food at a restaurant but we sat at a table right on the water. We will definitely be going there a lot more, and there are supposed to be great bars and happy hour places, so I am sure we will be back! 

Today we had Orientation Day 1 and it started at 9am so we all met downstairs in the lobby and walked over together and I can't believe how gorgeous the University of Sydney is. Beautiful old buildings and gorgeous courtyards, it is a scene from a movie. It started out in the Great Hall  which looked like the inside of a church, stained glass windows and high ceilings. There are 580 or so international students, and I would take a guess that 90% are from the United States! This is definitely a hot spot for study abroad. We met a lot of people, and got some good information. There are 2 more days of orientation still.

The weather was nicer today but then suddenly turned dark and it started pouring again. Thursday is supposed to be 80 degrees and from then on it will feel like a Sydney summer! We are all ready for the beach! We are going to plan lots of trips before school starts on March 2nd; we are thinking a wine tour this weekend, perhaps a trip to Melbourne too, whatever we can do! 

I was able to get my Aussie cell phone today so feel more connected. I feel so comfortable here, I haven't had any culture shocks or jet lag really, and I am just trying to enjoy every second I have here! I joined a great gym yesterday and a few of us are going to a guts and butts class soon then have dinner then go out! 

I will post some pictures soon!

Welcome to Sydney!

Today is my first full day in Sydney. I arrived yesterday morning after 22 hours of flying. It was actually a great flight. I had season 2 of Dexter which definitely kept me entertained and I managed to sleep a lot. Before I knew it we were landing in Sydney! I flew with Justin who is also from Miami and living in Uni Lodge so it was nice arriving with someone. At the airport, Alice and Kirsty met me and drove Justin and I (in a car filled to the brim with all our luggage!) to our new home for the next 5 months. Alice and Kirsty were so nice, got me all set up in my new room and even made my bed for me! I cannot thank them enough. 

So far, everything I have experienced about Sydney I love, and it hasn't stopped raining since I got here, but it doesn't even matter. It feels a lot like England, and everyone is so nice. I am living right across from another girl, Lauren, who also goes to Miami, which couldn't be better! Very convenient. There are 5 of us in total from Miami and everyone is so nice and we get along great! 

I was able to set up my room and get comfortable yesterday, and today will get things I forgot and an Aussie mobile too. Orientation for the University of Sydney starts tomorrow, so I get to see the campus which I have heard nothing but great things about. I am very excited and just so happy to be here!