Last days of 2006
2006 has been super eventful, and while I usually am nostalgic about years just flying by, I can say that I'm glad to see 2006 go.
It's been a good year as Jackson graduated with his MBA, we travelled through Turkey, the Greek Islands, Japan, Singapore, and finally settled in Sydney. We bought a car, rented an apartment, and then switched apartments. We played field hockey, squash, and golf. Jackson started working, while I continue to look for a the perfect job. And my life can easily be simplified as a schedule that revolves around the television shows we look forward to, the golf games we go play, the dinners that fill our social calendar.
It's been tough as I've been wondering more about the life that we're creating here and if I really want to put down roots. I'm still struggling with the distance from my family and friends. I'm still struggling to find a job because at this point, I don't even know what my dream job is. Even though the day is not filled, I am still tired.
I am relieved that this year is over, because it was a tough one - I'm optimistic though... cause 2007 has to be better.
We're In!!!
I just heard the great news that the owners have accepted our application and we're all set to go!! Our travel plans will continue as planned and it looks like the packing will have to go full steam. I've taken care of all the utilities and with much coaxing we won't have to pay for reinstalling our services! Who knew that people were really nice if you just asked?! :) So while my beloved hubby sits in front of the TV playing playstation, I'm jumping around him packing our things - fair? I think not, but I'm so happy at this point, I
don't really mind. When we come back to Sydney in a little less than a month, we'll have a new apartment!
I just realised that I never showed our current living abode - oh yes, and these wicker-like chairs that you see, shhh don't tell the landlord, but while Jackson was practicing his golf swing, he punched right through it! We'll see if we get charged. =P
Anyway, so long Milsons Point! Hello Sydney!
Home Sweet Home?
Four and a half months ago, we went through the stressful process of looking for an apartment, going through the rental process, waiting for the fridge, cable, telephone, and internet to get hooked up. It feels like it was just yesterday when I was waiting for the rental company to call me to tell me that they didn't know how I was going to get a second key.
We got used to being in Milsons Point where there are so many great cafes, a quick walk to Lavender Bay where there are even more great restaurants, a quick walk across the bridge to the Rocks where old Sydney began, and easy views of the harbour.
But now here we are again. With less than 1.5 weeks left before we travel for the holidays, we're again racing against time and struggling to negotiate with another rental agency to move into another apartment across the harbor and in the city. The apartment is bigger (so we expect more guests!) and we'll finally get reunited with all our stuff that we sent from Boston.
We're excited for the new change, We'll be coming back in 2007 to a bigger, better apartment, where we can finally "settle" and unpack.
Of course this all depends on whether or not the owner accepts our application.
Haul out the Holly...
I love the holidays. In the U.S. Thanksgiving marked the start of the holidays. The weather was getting crisper, the leaves had all fallen from their trees, we would have started seeing the first flurries of snow. On Black Friday, the shops would be FILLED with shoppers taking advantage of the sales and to begin on their Christmas shopping. The christmas lights would be out in full force with every tree in NYC covered as if they were lined with snow made out of lights. Rockefeller Center was decorated in all its glory, and the department stores would have their Christmas displays out with christmas carol songs singing out from the windows. That was Christmas, that was the holiday spirit. As a kid, I loved seeing the colours, Red, Green, White, Silver, Gold just taking over. My sister and I would decorate our little 3 foot christmas tree and begin putting our presents underneath. Most of the times we already knew what they were, but the act of wrapping presents and then opening them was a once a year event. Growing up in Great Neck, we never embraced putting up the lights outside, as we would have been the ONLY family to have them, but once my parents moved, the lights have been increasing in number - sometimes to the point of tackiness, but it's the holidays! The more lights the better. 
In Sydney, the Christmas feeling has changed quite a bit. We're in the middle of summer. The temperatures are beginning to soar into the 80s, and instead of bundling up to go outside, you end up taking things off. Our version of the Rockefeller tree is the big one in Martin Place which is in the business district of the city, but also a HUGE tree that they've put inside the Queen Victoria Building - affectionately known as the QVB. It spans several stories within the mall and is decorated with beautiful Swarovski crystals. You can see in the picture of Martin place that the trees still have all their leaves, the skies are blue, and even the flag on top of the building isn't moving, so it's a still day.
So Christmas this year won't be warming up by the family fireplace, or getting red faces from braving the cold, but instead throwing on the AC and getting red faces from sweating to death. From those here, it sounds like Christmas is a day that you have friends/family around all get together for a BBQ or a day at the beach. Apparently all the guys in the group will be attached to the TV as they watch the Ashes Cricket match, and the women complaining that the series are too long (btw, they've already started and it's the beginning of December). I know that this will be the face of Christmas for a while, but I still miss what Christmas is supposed to be like. I guess the most important thing though is not necessarily what the thermometer says but rather who you're with - because it's still a holiday where one enjoys the company of their friends and family no matter where you are.
Australianisms:
Chrissy = Christmas
Happy Christmas = Merry Christmas
