Featherdale Park- Continued Week One

Australian Adventures!

In order to distract me from my crying and to introduce me to iconic Australian animals, my new family took me Featherdale Park to meet some Koalas and Kangaroos.

We had a great time feeding the kangaroos, petting the koalas, and seeing all of Australia's wildlife!

Week One

I am here, in Sydney Australia!

Can you believe it, I am standing in Sydney Harbour. In this picture located right behind me is the Sydney Opera House and to my right not in the picture is the Sydney Harbour Bridge. After my new family picked me up from the airport we did a little tour of the Sydney. I saw where Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman live in their apartment down under. As well as great views of Sydney Harbour!

At first if was really hard to be away from everyone at home. All I wanted was to turn around and go home! I cried when I thought about everyone at home and cried when I talked to them on FaceTime or Skype. Thank goodness everyone here was very patient with me! It has really turned out well, I am really enjoying everyone here. 

Flying to Sydney!

On my way!

As you can tell I put a lot of effort into my airport look...not!

Well I cried all the way from home to Dad's, got ahold of myself a little bit but then a few minutes after the above picture was taken I was in tears again. My sincere apologies to the people sitting next to me while we travelled from Toronto to San Francisco, I was a complete mess. I was crying, blowing my nose and got up way too many times to use the bathroom. My recommendations when leaving home for a year is to take the aisle seat, everyone will be better off!

Suitcases were another big issue! Always check with the airline and weigh your bags before leaving home. I had 2 too many suitcases apparently and one was overweight! If I wanted to check all my suitcases it would have cost me over 300 dollars, so that wasn't happening. I proceeded to go over to the side of the airport and start going through my bags to decide what I really needed and what I didn't. Trust you will want to have already done the bag check at home! I managed to come up with 2 underweight bags and sent my smallest bag home to wait for my return in a year. 

Sadly when I landed in San Francisco it was too dark to see anything and after I called home to tell Mom that I made it. I was crying again....I was the worst traveller! I boarded the plane to Sydney and made myself right at home with my pillow and blanket. I was asleep before the plane even took off! The ride to Sydney was spent sleeping, and I woke up with only 4 hours left until I landed. 

It was exciting to be landing in Sydney and after cleaning up a little bit and buying some duty free I was ready to meet my new family! 

Just A Few More Days

I have begun my goodbyes, its hard and excited all at the same time. My emotions are up and down, sometimes I am upset about leaving family and friends but other times I am widely excited.

I can't wait to start a whole new life in Australia, with a new job and hopefully some new friends too!

I am all packed and will just be putting the final touches onto my suitcase. I have put my cute yorkie tags on and am excited to head to the airport on Thursday!

3 Weeks

I can't believe that there is only three weeks left! Time has just gone so quickly, I am in the midst of packing and visiting, visiting and packing.

It is starting to seem so scary but at the same time very exciting. I realize how much I will miss such as weddings, and babies, first AA hockey games, high school experiences and first apartments. I know that I will be able to keep in touch through Facebook and Skype but sometimes it doesn't seem enough. I can't wait to begin my own adventures though to share!

I booked my seats on the airplanes today, 6hrs to San Francisco and then 14hrs to Sydney. I booked window seats on both flights, therefore my apologies in advance to those who sit with me when I get up multiple time to use the bathroom.

I packed my first suitcase this week, full of toiletries. I am a little fussy about hair and face care so I only hope that an entire suitcase full should be enough! I have also started packing my clothes, it is hard to know what I will want and what I can pack away until I come home again. I only hope that I will be able to pack it all into 3 suitcases!

Sydney here I come!

Beginning the Final Countdown

It seems like yesterday that I announced that I wanted to go to Australia. Really it was about a year and a half ago, I'm pretty sure you all thought I was crazy! I have about one month left to visit as many people as possible.

I am now officially beginning my Just Journey: Sydney, Australia blog. I hope that this is just the start of my adventures. I will be sure to update with pictures and stories quite regularly to keep everyone in the loop. Of course for close and personal friends, I will also be on Facebook.

~ Because I know the road I leave on it will always bring me back~

I have packed all my junk aka my life away into boxes in Dad's basement, I am currently buying makeup and body stuff to bring with me. I hear that it is expensive there, so don't be surprised if I request care packages during the year. The only logistical things I still need to do are sort out my banking, my bank statement, my phone, and my insurance while I am away. Otherwise I am ready to pack!

Cheers Mate!

Leaving on a Jet Plane

I BOOKED MY FLIGHTS, IT IS OFFICIAL!

I have finally booked my flights and will be leaving home for a whole year on June 6th, 2013. I am feeling excited and a bit nervous. I will be on my very first big adventure!

My flight leaves at 6:50pm and makes a quick stop in the States before heading to Sydney with an arrival time of 6:25am. 

All I have left to do is my health insurance and I will be all set, Sydney Here I Come!