Boat Show at the Harbour this weekend

Hi all! So I have been in Australia for about a month now-that went by pretty fast actually! I had my first week of school last week...now I remember why school isn't fun (each of my 3 classes i have 2 HUGE papers and that is my entire grade!). Last time I was here things were quite a bit different because I was surrounded my American kids so we didn't really have to sumerse ourselfs into the true australian culture--this time that is not the case. Since I don't know any Americans all I have are the "locals" here in Sydney and things are quite different then they are in America. Not that we are right and they are wrong (in some cases i'm sure we are right though! :0) .) they are just different. For example people here go to the grocery every 2 days and never buy more then what they are going to eat for the following 2 days-maybe because they have to carry it home?! And everyone eats out for lunch -- and I suspect makes dinner. The fashion is also quite different very trendy I guess I'm not real sure on that though it's like you can wear anything you want and you will fit in-again 2 days ago I didn't really feel like getting dressed so I wore black wkout leggings a large gold belt and a long tunic and I reckon I was more in fashion then most; and I didn't even bother getting dressed! I guess it works out to your own advantage...

Here are pictures of my apartment..It's really dark since I look at a parking structure out back but you get the idea...I guess I'm high maintenance since I choose heat and air over a view of the city-ahh who cares. Anyway hope you like them....oh and I have another # it's my home # 61 02 9571 1327 there is an answering machine there too as well as my mobile 61 04 1587 7949!

park near my apt 

harbour 

my side of the harbour 

my bedroom 

darling harbour 

kitchen 

living room 

My bathroom 

last night was lots of FUN! I went to the "american" night at the Palace in Coogee and met lots of Australians (bet you were thinking Americans...). I went with one of the guys I had met last time I was in Oz and met up with all of their friends and so on and so on....good times though. I went looking today for casual work--applied at the Cargo Bar/Lounge/Resturant on the Wharf; they weren't actually hiring but the guy said he would see what he could do and I could have a test run or something...cross your fingers becuase that would be really good + I'd meet lots of people too! Today is Thursday so all the shopping stays open until 9pm so I am going to get some hangers and such for the apt. so I can finally put away all my clothes! I think I have walked more this week then in my entire live combined-wow. I'm so tired at night that I haven't really wanted to go to the gym at my apt. -- I have gone in the morning once so I need to work on that. I'm at Uni right now and am about to sign up for Golf, i'll play every Friday at 3pm for and hour on course lesson and they supply the clubs/balls etc. something to do and then maybe I may get better too! COME ON GUYS WHERE ARE ALL YOUR CARDS AND LETTERS?! BOYS TOO...I KNOW YOU ALL KNOW HOW TO WRITE! no im kidding but really don't forget :0)

I got another bummer today...it's going to cost 500+ to send my computer from home so obivsouly that won't be happening. Now I am going to look around here for cheap used ones otherwise I will be spending a lot of time at UNSW writing papers and emails an such. I have that party tonight so I'm looking forward to that-Palace WHAT?! Other than that I'd love mail SO SEND ME SOME!! :0)

I MOVED IN YESTERDAY!!!
yea! im excited -- I can now put stuff away and start to get things done. The only bad thing about the apt. Is that a grocery store is about 1/2-3/4 a mile up this big hill so carrying food back sucks--I have to take the monorail back but it does drop me off right at my doorstep! I am going to the palace tomorrow to meet up with all the American kids who just got in for study abroad/international studies so hopefully I will be able to meet some people. It has been a bit harder then I thought it was going to be but I guess I just need to give it time--I mean it took a little while last summer in Colorado too. I have however found some nice places to go and meet people so that will be happening soon. I have decided that the only people who take the bus are crazy people but I have no choice therefore I will sit in the front and be a dork (kids tend to sit in the back). I can get my work permit on 1 august so after that I will find someplace for casual work--most likely at one of the really nice restaurants or bars on the harbour unless I am able to find a job at a gym or something that works with my degree. Its warmer today near 50!! But at night it is still very cold (last night 2 degrees Celsius) and there is a month left of winter...Can't wait for September to get here!

hi all...Its Saturday and im not in my apartment (boo!!) when it all came down with the time difference between here and the states and the time it takes for money to de deposited and wired I won't be able to move in until Wednesday at the earliest-so that sucks but I was able to move my luggage in so when I am able to move in I won't have to have someone take me I will be able to take the monorail right there. Luckily I am able to stay with Sarah until then--don't move to a foreign country if you don't know anyone and don't have living arrangements and money there already...Bad news-- but I knew her so it works okay for me plus her boyfriend has been great and has helped move my stuff around too. I only have a week before school starts so im getting excited for that....Going to a rugby game tonight and a rugby thing tomorrow as well. I just want to move in and put my stuff away but soon I guess talk to you all later!

hey hey!! I have almost been here a week now so IM getting a bit more comfortable with things again and the driving has improved!!...But I had to take the car back last night so IM using public transport again. Its really not that bad I just have to remember which bus I need to take to get me places again and ill be fine. If everything works out I get to move in sat morning maybe even Friday night!! So excited about that and then only more week and I start school again-wow! I went to the Palace last night for rocks-paper-scissors night, sorta strange being there for it without my usual palace buddies (um lets think ... I think it was Susan, jess, Maggie, matt, and I EVERY Wednesday?!) and they kept playing songs that were big when I studied abroad here last time (shut up, superstar, my milkshake brings...) so I was a little sad but there was a whole new crop of US under age kids there to make fun of. It's really true how easily you can pick out first timers plus I had the help of local Australians this time around too. IM going into the city tonight for dinner at the establishment (upstairs was the luna lounge...Stop 1 on the pub crawl) with Sarah and her girls-should be fun!!

so...after 4 days of driving i am getting better. although, i did hit a big red cone when i was parking at the supacentre that left a nice big red spot on the white boat. good thing i took out that extra insurance i guess!

BIG NEWS
I have a phone and address!!
mobile: (to dial from USA) 61 04 158 77949
61 (country code) 04 (australian mobile) 158 (vodafone company) 77949 (my number) but they ALL have to be dialed
address: Kimberly Kelsey
232/243 Pyrmont St.
Pyrmont NSW Australia 2009
so i expect mail and packages to be arriving daily :0) you can look at pictures of the building here i hope..its also run as a hotel (very expensive$$)
http://www.theoaksgroup.com.au/Site.asp?SiteID=1&SiteMenuID=5

i get to move in on saturday if my funds transfer by then--lets hope so!! the building is called the Goldsbrough and is located IN darling harbour (really its IN the harbour). my apartment doesnt look over the harbour (i could have but then i would have no heat or a/c....so i guess the view goes) but it DOES have a LIME GREEN wall and is udated well. I also have a back patio and a front patio area inside the building (ill post pics when i figure out how to do that here!!) i guess that makes things a bit better now -- i still dont know anyone but maybe when i move in i will be able to go out and meet people and find a J-O-B (what?! kim working?!) yea this apt is expensive so i WILL be working ... i mean come on its winter and i go to class mon, tue, thurs from 5-7 pm--what else am i going to do?

okay im done...more updates to come

YEA!! I'm in Australia as of last night...Kind of excited to find the apartment and move in and get things settled. As nice as hotels can be they aren't home and they don't have my pictures of all of you up so I am looking forward to doing that. It's weird not knowing anyone this time around and having to do everything by myself but I am making it okay. I drove around to the Supacentere and downtown but no mobile phone places were open today so I will have to go tomorrow. Also, since I was here during the summer last time everything looks a bit different since it is the dead of winter and so SO much cooler than Michigan or Vegas since I just got back from there too... Look for pictures soon as well as more updates about the apartment!!

UNSW

YEA!! 2 days and I will be in Sydney. I can't make up my mind on which website I like better this or the old one but I found this is easier to put pictures on so I have changed yet again--that's normal for me though right?! Look for updates next week on how the flights and apartment hunting went. Miss you already!