My first time in Sydney

Book signing in Spelling Bees. DC 2009

I arrived in Sydney on Saturday, June, 13th 2009 with Jolyon, Elliott and Quinn. The plane to Australia was very long. We flew from Washington DC 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 Harbor Bridge (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 Bondi Junction Beach. 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.