My weekend in Sydney

While I was in Sydney, I wrote my journal posts on a little note pad so I think it's time I typed them up. I do love having a journal. Sometimes I go back through them, not very often, but it's great having it there to look back upon. It's also my therapy. So here is my weekend in Sydney:

* Just a note. I keep changing tense throughout so please ignore that.

Day 1. Friday 27th August.

I had an early start this morning. Dad drove me to the airport in horrid weather but it was lovely seeing the snow down so far on Mt Wellington. Once at the airport I checked in and made my way through to the lounge to wait for my slightly delayed flight. I saw Scottie Brown from work and we had a bit of a chat, but it's one of those relationships that you wouldn't feel comfortable sitting next to the person while waiting for a plane. We wouldn't have had much to talk about so I went off by myself and listened to my MP3 player, something I hadn't done in a while because my car player is out of action [that's the time I listen to my music]. The flight eventually came and we got on board and started the trip to Sydney. The flight was quicker than I thought. I imagined it taking 2 hours when it only took around 1.5 hours. I had a nice chat to a lady next to me in the aisle and watched a cute family with kids running up and down, imagining my life like that one day. Once we landed, I found my way through the airport and got directions to the shuttle bus service to my back packer's. The drive was crazy! He sped up through orange lights and went too fast; everyone was talking about it on the bus. I chatted to some nice ladies on the bus and once I was alone, the last passenger to be dropped off, I had a call from the Federal Group representative and we talked about my wanting to stay in Hobart and that she would give my application to the Hobart rep. By the time the call was finished I was at Base, and after I settled in and figured out my plans I hit the streets. I started at King's Comics on Pitt Street in the opposite direction of the city. It was great! So much stock. The manga wall at the back was amazing. I saw some titles I knew and some I wanted to get. I buy my manga online though as they always have what I want. I'm not a fan of ordering books in. I like dealing with it all online. After King's Comics I walked all the way up Pitt Street towards the Bridge and Opera House and looked in some shops on the way. There was a dress I had a look at in this cute store, but it wasn't right. I got some postcards and lollies and a V, then went back to Base for a rest. I was feeling a bit lonely at that stage. It was a trip I felt would have been better done with a friend or a boyfriend. Mum called and we had a bit chat about it. She said to take note of how I'm feeling as it might be an indicator of whether or not Sydney is right for me. It's not a quick trip home and I don't know many people but it all depends on how I feel for the rest of the trip. At that stage I thought it might be better to go to Melbourne, but then again they don't have the Masters and the Uni is ugly. I shouldn't let being scared turn me away from the better Uni. It would be different from when living in Sydney and going to Uni. If I lived in Manly with George's cousins I would have the security of people living close by. After the chat with mum and once I had settled myself, I went for a walk to Darling Harbour and got some Maccas for dinner as I couldn't find anything else. I looked in on the IMAX theater but it was all a bit expensive. I asked the receptionist at Base if there was a normal cinema around and she directed me to the Event complex, which had many movie cinemas, an area for buying popcorn, a restaurant, a gaming area, a sushi train, and other shops. I went and had a look but the times and movies didn't suit so I planned to go the next evening. Back at Base I met my room mate: 2 nice Korean girls. I jumped into bed and listened to my music and thought. I think that once I'm studying I'll be okay. I'm already getting to know the city and once I have a home and some of my belongings it will be better. The course is superior. It's the reason I chose Sydney to begin with. I need to be stronger. I'm too timid. Tomorrow will be better.

Day 2. Saturday 28th August.

Last night's sleep was horrible. At midnight, 5 more Asians arrived at the room and the light was on and they were making noise and I couldn't sleep. It was horrid. Horrid horrid horrid. I tried to get a bit more rest before the Open Day once they left for the day but it didn't work. I looked so haggard thanks to them and my 3 or 4 hours sleep. I had a shower and felt better. The shower was nice. Those places always need more hanging room though. After I was ready I went to George Street for a croissant and a hot chocolate at a coffee shop. I used my phone's map and "Places" app to find it. It was a lifesaver. After breakfast I caught the bus to Uni. The campus was amazing, so old and huge, very historic and beautiful. The Open Day was great. So many people and balloons. I got a goodie bag with lots of information and talked to some people about museum studies but didn't get all of the information I needed as the day was more for undergraduates when I'm a postgraduate. I had a look in the Nicholson Museum and it was great. I didn't go on a tour or look at the residential colleges as the campus is too huge so instead I went for a walk towards Victoria Park and got stopped by an Australian Conservation Foundation worker, Pete, who signed me up for $30 a month to help their cause. He said I should go to Glebe for the markets and the park, really close by, so I did, and it was wonderful. Glebe is great. It reminded me much of South and North Hobart with the main street with everything happening. Apparently it has a large student population as it is so close to the Uni and not far from the city either. I got some Thai for lunch at Thai Space on the main road and I ate in the open window [those huge door windows] and looked out on to the street. I realised that it would be a fantastic suburb to live in and I could really picture it. After lunch I caught the bus back into the city [$2 each way not on a return city] and got off early to go to Paddy's Markets. It was in a huge warehouse and it reminded me of the Hobart Show with the setup. I bought some patterned stockings then went back to the city via Chinatown. I had a brief rest at Base then headed out for more shopping. I bought some crazy bright shoes at Footlocker and a skirt at Supre, but I didn't feel successful. I went back to Base again after that and talked to one of the Chinese ladies in my room. At first I assumed they were all Korean as the original 2 were but it shows how much I can't differentiate between the different Asian countries. After the chat I went to the bar next door, Scary Canairy, for a $5 meal of fish and chips and a $3.50 glass of Trevi champagne before heading to Event for the 640pm showing of Toy Story 3 3D. I felt smart wearing the glasses. Then it was back to Base again and I got into bed. I looked up rental properties in Glebe and found it was affordable but it would depend on the house and whether or not it had a laundry or shared bathroom. It will turn out well.

Day 3. Sunday 29th August.

I had a much better sleep today. I was late to get up and I needed to stay in bed that little bit longer. I went to Zibar, a cafe, on the way to Darling Harbour for breakfast. I ate in and had raisin toast and a hot chocolate [not a good one as it was yucky syrup and not powder] then headed towards the attractions. In Darling Harbour I got money out and walked around the area past the "Urban Street Stream" to the Chinese Garden of Friendship. The garden was lovely, and had wonderful ponds and huge half-meter fish [Carp, perhaps?] that looked like huge goldfish. It reminded me of my holiday with Yorick in Vanuatu. It got me thinking and made me a bit sad, as that was something I would share with him and it was depressing doing it alone. I missed having him there all the time, and that he always knew what was happening with me. Then again, someone is more worthy than him. Love will find me when I'm ready for it. I need to strengthen myself first so I don't lose myself when I'm in the forever relationship. I want the security of knowing I won't have to go looking for Mr. Right again once I've found him and have gotten married. That will be great. I know it's not the right time but walking around the garden made me miss Yorick and the holidays we shared. I miss having my boyfriend to travel with. It's the only way I really love it. Sigh. That's why the trip had been hard. After I had finished in the gardens I bought a necklace on the way out. I sat outside in the shade for a little while before heading to the Powerhouse Museum. I found it too huge! I did remember it from when I went with my parents and brother and sister when we were younger. After I was done I slowly walked back to Base, eating some chips on the way and feeling horrible about my body. After a nap at Base, I booked the next morning's shuttle bus to the airport for 610am. I then walked up to Circular Quay with the intention of getting a ferry but it was going to cost too much so I didn't do it. On the way there I bought the dress I looked at on the first day there and got it in the size smaller. It's really cute. Back at Base I wanted sushi for dinner. I looked at the movies options and realised I wanted to see Step Up 3D so I ran to Event, paid for my ticket, watched the movie, and found the sushi train on the way out. I got a roll each of avocado, cucumber and tuna. They were so yum. Step Up 3D made me want to enroll in a dance class to get fit and flexible so it's something I will look into in Hobart. Then it was bedtime. I found it hard to sleep as I had to get up at 515am to prepare for leaving. Knowing you have to get up early makes it hard to sleep.

Day 4. Monday 30th August.

After an early start, making a bit of noise in the back packer's on the way out, I waited outside for the shuttle bus and was getting anxious as it was late. Another crazy ride to the airport and I got a berry smoothie and some Maccas [egg muffin and a hash brown for $4] for breakfast before waiting in the gate lounge for the plane to arrive. Once we boarded, we had to wait a little while for the plane rush. We were waiting in line behind a few planes for them to leave the airport. Peak hour at the airport. Airports always remind me of where I've been and usually remind me of times spent with Yorick as he's the only one as an adult I have gone place with. Sad. The trip back was good. Was a bit late to Hobart but Sarah was there to meet me. We went to the Raincheck Lounge in North Hobart for some breakfast and had a great time. We eventually went to Margate and I was finally home.

I had a good time on the trip but didn't really find out all the information for the course I was hoping to get. I might only have do to 1 year there as I might be able to go straight into the Masters. However, there is a different HECS scheme I need to look into as I might have to pay up front but who has that kind of money!? I'll find it all out on the Graduate Options day later this month. It was fun though, and I loved seeing Glebe. All in all it was worthwhile.

Sydney tomorrow

I'm going to Sydney tomorrow! It has come around so fast. I have been packing today, not as in focusing on that task only, but I'm slowly getting there. There are some things I can't pack until tomorrow morning, which is a bit annoying but necessary, so I won't feel completely ready until then. I might go by Big W and get some snacks for the plane, like 72c lollies, and any other last minute necessity. Today before meeting Emma I have to go and get some printed maps from my sister's house as she did them on her school's good printer. They're of the campus and of the layout for the Open Day. I'll probably look like a tourist around the city too with my maps and list of places to see. I don't mind though. I'd rather that than get lost. I hope I get into the course and I really hope that I'll be able to live in Manly.

Manly, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

I would love to live in Manly in a bungalow close to the beach so I could run on it and get super fit, study in a great location, and catch the ferry to Uni. I think it would be fabulous. I just hope Georgie's cousins [I think that's their relation] let me rent there. How perfect would that be! Fingers crossed that this works out for me. It will be wonderful.

I hope I find some great things to buy over there, clothes and shoes wise. I need a new wear-everyday skirt and some new shoes, or boots. Last night while I was trying to get to sleep all I could think about in terms of shoes was high-top sneaker shoes, like the kind my friend Amy and her friend Rosie wear. They're very stylish apparently but I don't think it's my style. I love wearing my uggs but they're not practical shoes. I need something that doesn't wear as much as these has, something with grip and something that is a real shoe, not something you're supposed to wear as a slipper. I'll find something. Mostly I want a new skirt, or skirts. Something I'll wear all the time instead of my black one. I need to add more colour to my style, especially on the bottom half. I hope Sydney has something great in store for me.

Museum studies is right for me

I am tired but I want to write. Mum and I went to visit the curator at the Maritime Museum today, Rona, and it was great talking to her. I realised fairly soon into the tour that this is the job for me. It's what I want to do and although the coursework and what I end up doing might be a little different I am fairly certain of this. I am looking forward to my trip to Sydney to find out more and to start planning for next year. I have also started thinking about art history and doing the graduate certificates in art curatorship. This would be extremely relevant to museum studies, with some units overlapping, and as some of the units I am interested in are in different semesters I might take a year to do the 6 months course [4 units] and work and settle into Sydney. Otherwise I might just start straight away with museum studies, the diploma, as the certificate isn't a prerequisite for the diploma. I'll find all this out when I go to the Open Day. That's just about all I wanted to say.

James, George and Etta came over tonight for dinner in partial celebration for my recent graduation. I snapped a few photos on my phone of my sister and Etta and me and Etta [taken by Sarah] and I think they're pretty great. I have gotten a few phone applications to do with cameras and these photos were taken as Polaroids so I will post them now. I think they are great. I need to do more experimenting in the daytime to compare all of the different types of cameras I now have thanks for the applications. I love my new phone.

Sarah and Etta.

Me and Etta.

More Sydney planning

I've been doing more planning for Sydney this morning. The backpacker's I'm staying at is so close to the city and to Darling Harbour [a 2 minute walk] so I won't have to take much public transport apart from a bus to the Uni. I have the routes figured out for that and where to catch the bus so it is all sorted. I've never been this organised for a trip before. When going to NZ and Vanuatu with Yorick, he did most of the planning. He suggested places to go and I would have agreed or disagreed but this trip is all me. I'm never this organised in my own life. At work I'm organised but not personally. I like it. I need to be more organised and I know that once I have my own house, whether it's renting in Sydney or even if/when I'm in the dorms I'll be more organised and neat. I want to be.

My long list of activities will cover 2 days. There are city area activities and Darling Harbour activities but I still haven't decided on what day to cover which area, especially since I have just found out that the back packers is only a 2 minute walk to Darling Harbour. I thought I'd have to make a special trip out there but it looks like I won't. It's not too far. On my walk with mum yesterday we mentioned walking boots and sales in stores at this time of year. When I go to town today I might check it out so I can take my new hiking/walking boots to Sydney with me. I'll be doing a lot of walking around the city and Darling Harbour and ugg boots probably won't cut it.

I found an online website that sells tickets for a combined Sydney Aquarium and Sydney Wildlife World pass for $48.95. I might leave booking that for when I'm there, just in case I don't get enough time to cover everything. Those two places would take at least an hour each and I already have many activities planned. I get there at lunch time on the Friday so I will have half a day for activities. Saturday is reserved for the Uni Open Day [plus there are some markets near that I might be able to go to] until 4pm and Sunday is wide open. I'll have to get up really early on Sunday to fit everything in. I'll have to take a book or two to read while I'm over there for evenings. I won't be staying up too late. I might fit in a movie or something to pass the evening time.

I love that I've been planning this so well. It's one of those things I say I'll do but won't really do it and for this trip it's the opposite. I'm so happy about it and proud of my efforts. There is so much to do it needed to be done. I'm still working on it and might even go as far as to plan the order of the activities I do relating to where they are on the map instead of walking back and forwards. I must get those boots.

Planning for Sydney

As I said I would, I have been planning the activities I want to do and places I want to see while I'm in Sydney. I have a fairly big list and am wondering if I'll fit it all in. There are two areas I want to visit, being the city and Darling Harbour, so if I go by location I might be able to get things done. I want to do some shopping, see some parks and gardens, take in some of the local attraction activities [Sydney Wildlife World, Sydney Aquarium and the Sydney Observatory] and see some of the museums. 3 of the 5 museums I want to visit have a $10 entry fee for adults, and the Chinese Garden of Friendship park has a $6 admission so I'll spend a little bit of money that way. The attraction activities listed above will have a larger fee but you can get a combined ticket which will take $10 off the price. I will have enough money. Will I have enough time is another question. More for next time if/when I go over for the Graduate Options Expo.

Today I feel updateable

I have to organise my trip to Sydney soon. I might do it tonight by starting with all the activities I want to do on the Saturday at the Uni Open Day including all the times I can see the accommodation. There will be activities I won't know about until I'm there but I can plan for some things. I also want to write a list of all the places I want to see while I'm in the city, like the malls and museums and parks. I think Sunday might be museums and parks day. I have Friday from lunch time to get to my backpackers and maybe I can go shopping then and find some places to eat. I will probably get yogurt for breakfast on the Saturday while waiting for a bus to the Uni, which reminds me that on Friday I will have to go in search of the bus stop I'm to take. I can even grab some bus timetables and things like that. There is a lot to plan so that is my mission tonight.

I've been reading a book for the last few days since Sunday and I'm really proud of myself for sticking with it and not watching as much TV. It's one that blogger Danielle from Sometimes Sweet recommended and I bought off the Book Depository. It's called "The Opposite of Me" by Sarah Pekkanen and has been a great read so far. I've almost finished it and am excited to move onto the next book, one I bought for $5 a month ago. It's about philosophy. It's nice that I'm getting myself out of the TV series habit/crutch and doing something more worthwhile. Reading is good and I need to keep it up. I feel guilty when I watch too many episodes and I'm glad this week I have stopped. I watched a movie last night, "Porco Rosso" by Hayao Miayazaki, and it was nice. I really liked it and it's different to an episode. I want to stop wasting my time so much. It's my challenge. I also want to stop being lazy and organise my room and life more. I hope I get the Coles Bay job but if I don't I'll apply at the bookstores again. Working a lot will help with the laziness and help me prepare for Sydney next year.

I also have to get back into the swing of fitness. I went for a walk with the dog yesterday and am about to go with mum. I hate my lower half figure. My tummy is also included in this. My top third is fine, nice and slim, but it's the bottom thirds that suck. Arr. I want to lose 10 kilograms but I don't know how. I have to eat less. Being sick hasn't helped. I have to start going back to the gym. I'll talk to Emma about it tomorrow at Onba and maybe organise to meet her there for some sessions after she's done with work. More fun that way.

My graduation is coming up on the weekend. I have to collect my gown and hat and hood that day [Saturday], then get my sister to do something with my hair, then get back to the Uni and stay there for an hour or so before the ceremony starts. I don't know what I'll wear underneath. I assume the gown will be fairly long but will show shoes. I might have to get some nice flats or just wear my Volleys or Converse shoes. I'll wear stockings and a skirt underneath as usual but it's the shoes I'm wondering about. I'll get it sorted.

I'm going into town today to get an x-ray for my wisdom teeth for my dentist. I went there last Friday and have to have 6 cavities filled in 2 sittings. I'm going this Friday at 2pm and the Friday in a fortnight after as the one in between is when I'll be heading to Sydney. They will have to stick needles in me to numb me which I'm not looking forward to. I don't like going there and having things in my mouth only because my gag reflex is sensitive. I don't mind the pain as such but I'll be happy for it to be over and done with. It'll cost over $800 for all 6 cavities, which mum and dad will front the money for, and I also have to pay for my car's service. It's been making funny noises lately and has to have some work done on it. It's there today so hopefully the bill isn't too high. I worked for 4 days last week so I'll be getting a big pay as I did some long hours so hopefully that will be enough to cover the car service as well as having some left for Sydney. We will see.

Off for that walk now! Prepared to be worn out and puffing.

Open Day

I have just my flights to Sydney for the Uni Open Day on the 28th of August. I am strapped for cash but I'll survive. On the way over to visit George and Etta, mum was talking to me about accommodation while I'm over there and to really check it all out. I would like to stay in a dorm there, on campus that is, but it's $450 a week for most. That is a lot of money. She said I'd have to be on Centrelink and I suppose I will. I didn't want to go on it ever again but it beats being poor.

I could stay over there for the semesters and come back over the summer holidays but the problem with that is that it doesn't mean I have really moved over there. What if a job comes up with one of the museums I do my internship with? I don't know what to do regarding moving completely or staying over for the semesters. I guess I'll check it all out on the Open Day and have a bit of a think about it. I was thinking I'd move over there a month or two before classes started to find a house and stuff, but if I'm in the dorms I wouldn't have to do that. I don't quite know what to do. I have to "cost it all up" as mum said. Oh I will have to.