I arrived in Sydney on Saturday, June, 13th 2009 with Jolyon, Elliott and Quinn. The plane to Australia was very long. We flew from WashingtonDC to San Francisco, which took five hours, waited in San Francisco’s airport for three hours, then flew fifteen hours from San Francisco to Sydney. When we arrived in Sydney we were all tired, because the flight was so long and we weren’t able to get enough sleep as we had to take care of the two kids… I looked like a 93 year old lady coming off the plane.
The music guy try to make a living in Sydney 2009.
After a cup of tea we went directly to the hotel and arrived there at noon. I was very excited because the place that we are staying is around Bondi Junction and it is very beautiful. The view from my room is wonderful, I can see the Opera House and HarborBridge (the river it really beautiful). Under the hotel is a train station and there also the bus stops that I can take to city or the beaches or to the city. Everything is close by so it is easy for me to travel around the city or get to the suburbs.
Sydney building 2009.
I’m not very stable because of the long flight, jet lag and not getting enough rest. I feel everything around me moving and I’m tired all the time. I feel time here running slower than I used to feel in America. At 8pm I already want to go to bed which is so different from DC. In DC the earliest I go to bed is between 12 and 2am. However it’s just the jet lag that makes me feel this way. I hope I can feel normal soon.
Since I arrived I have been quite a few places in Sydney and have taken the children around with me. The first place that I took the them to was Sydney’s park and children playground. The playground here is beautiful and there are more fun things for the children to play. Also the park is greener than ones I seen in America, in the park here have a lot of big tree and people can ride their bike for fun or go for jogging around the park. I took lot pictures of the children, they seemed to be having so much fun. I have been to visit the Opera House, the Sydney Aquarium, a shopping mall and China town. I’ve just walked around the city looking at the buildings. I took the kids to have lunch at a Japanese restaurant in China town and they had some fun, and I was stressed because they both had jet lag and I tried to keep them awake and make them get used to the time here so. They were not very happy and look tired all the time so do I.
The weather here is a little bit cool and rainy, because it is winter, but at least it is not as cool as DC.
Oprah's House and Harbour bridge. 2009
I find everything in Sydney seems to be better than DC, the food is healthier, the country looks more beautiful, people are friendlier and helpful, etc. Everything in Sydney seems to be positive to me.
With children take the tourist car. Sydney 2009
The Oprah's House 2009.
I met my friend Virginia and we had a lovely dinner at BondiJunctionBeach. We talked about in the past and we worked together for ChildSafe. We talked a lot about our former colleagues. I really had a great time with her. I will leave for Canberra on Sunday for two weeks and will be back in Sydney for another two weeks, but between those times I will go to Melbourne for five days. I would love to spend more time with Virginia and we are looking forward to that.
Elizabeth and Jessie volunteered at Spelling Bees. DC 2009.
After one week in Sydney we drove to Canberra. On the way there Quinn got sick in his stomach and threw up in the car so Jolyon had to pull the car off the road and clean up everything. I just sat in the car listening to my music and didn’t help them, because before we left Sydney, I was in a bad moon and got annoyed with everyone that kept changing the plans, I was running out of patience so I just sat in the car quietly and didn’t talk much, trying to get back my patience while moving on with this trip.
Oprah house on special night 2009.
Water Fire celebration in Sydney 2009
After listening to one hundred and twenty-five songs on my Ipod I fell asleep.
Jolyon woke me up because we had arrived in Canberra and he thought I might want to see what it looked like. When I saw Canberra all I could say was “ ho… it’s ugly, quiet and seems like a boring city” and they laughed.
Caroline and me tried to get photo together. Sydney 2009
I started making more jokes in the car after I woke up because I felt much better after being quiet and having some time alone. I have been trying to think what is the best way to handle being in a bad mood. I’ve always thought that if I am angry or in a bad mood being quiet is best way to be. I find that whatever I say when I’m angry is wrong. People often say the truth when they are angry and it is fine to speak the truth, but often it’s said inappropriately, and often hurts other people’s feeling.
So a small problem becomes a larger problem. Sometimes the way to solve the problem is to drop it and move on to different topic. Another way is to end it with a word or a sentence. As long as one keeps thinking about positive ways of solving the problem everything will be ok, because whatever happens it is not the end of the world.
Funny guy trying to make a living. Sydney 2009
Box light on Water Fire night. Sydney 2009
I have many of problems in life, and I can see that problems are a part of life and happen to everyone. If one lives with friends there will be problems with the friends. If one works there will be problems with works. If one lives alone there will still be problem with things around. It is just the way life is, it can never be perfect for one can’t be perfect for others. As long as one learns know how to manage one’s problems it will be fine in the end.
Happy Quinn in Sydney play ground 2009
Happy Elliott in Sydney play ground 2009
The best thing I can do when I have a problem is to be aware of it and keep an eye on it, try not to allow it go into my heart or my head, because I can always close my eye to things I don’t want to see, but I can’t close my heart to thing I don’t want to feel.
With children take the tourist car. Sydney 2009
The Oprah's House 2009.
Elizabeth and Jessie volunteered at Spelling Bees. DC 2009.
