Thursday, August 30, 2007

Thirteen Months Later

So...I realised just the other day that it's been over a year since I've been in Australia. Can you believe it, a year! And what have I accomplished since then?

Well, I was just looking at the beginning of my blog, the beginning of life in Sydney as I knew it and boy have things changed.

It's been 13 months. In these 13 months, Jackson and I have already moved twice in the same city, I now can drive in Sydney city and can get to 6 locations by myself, go grocery shopping, pull money out without having to actually look at the numerical value on it, and start understanding the lingo. I no longer cock my head in confusion when I hear things like, She's alright (when not referring to a girl) Or Ta. I've learned not to use words such as "Fanny-pack" "flip-flops" "root" "fall" or "cell phone" (see translation below) I have a job that I love, and find myself busy with meeting up with friends.

I don't feel like a local, and not sure if I ever will. But in the year so far, I've done okay. There have been some ups and some downs and some in betweens. Wow...13 months have already passed - it certainly doesn't feel like it.

Translations:

She's alright = Everything is fine
Ta = Thank you
Fannypack = bum bag - do NOT say fanny, for a man does not have a fanny.
Flip-flops = thongs (for your feet yes)
Fall = Autumn
Cell phone = mobile

Daffodil Day

Happy Daffodil day to all!

Friday, we took to the streets and sold daffodil day merchandise (bears, pins, pens, balls, magnets, you name it...) to anyone who wanted to support our fight against cancer. It was remarkable. The whole city was littered in yellow and the daffodil farmers made pretty much they're annual sellings on this day. Daffodils are symbols of the Cancer Council and people think we're doing a great job.

This year, my first ever daffodil day, I was team leader at 2 locations. I could barely sleep the night before cause I was so nervous! But when we started at 7am in the morning and then ended at 7pm at another location, I was absolutely exhausted. I couldn't stand on my feet any more, and I just crashed when I got home. Last year, the Cancer Council in NSW raised 2.8 million dollars, that's right 2.8 million in one day! Who knows what we have raised this year. :)