UK Sam

I'm so excited to see how many people have been posting comments...it really makes my day to see messages from you guys and I promise to keep the site updated as often as possible. It's been kind of hard these past few days since it's been so hectic, but after we get settled it will be on a much more regular basis. Also, don't worry about the multiple posts, I did that quite a few times when I began posting comments on people's blogs, just post it once and it almost always goes through even if you don't see if right away.

There is so much to say about Sydney. It is absolutely beautiful here. Jeff and I estimate that we have walked 10-20 miles all over the city in the past 2 days. The weather is absolutely amazing and the Harbour is breathtaking. I am so blessed to have the opportunity to call this my home for the next few months.

Yesterday we walked all around looking for places to live. Jeff also took me to Sydney University, to show me where he used to go to school when he was here last. After touring the campus we were sitting under a tree and resting our legs for a bit. I was leaning back against him, listening to a mix that Jeff Grand had made me (Trouble is my new favorite song!) and looking up into the brilliant blue cloudless sky and my eyes started to tear up. I haven't felt that at peace in a very long time.

It's all, of course, a bit overwhelming but I'd like to thank Beth for some of the best advice I could have received. She told us not to jump at places to live and jobs just because we were eager to get it all taken care of. It'll all come with time she said, relax, this is going to be your home for the next few months, make sure you create the exact environment that you want.

I take deep breaths when I start to get too overwhelmed and remind myself that it will all come in time, that we cannot force anything. That I'm here in this amazing place with an amazing man and if we work hard and are patient everything will fall into place. One day I'll wake up and this will be my home.

Last night I could feel the sun and the miles of walking wearing on me. We were at a diner catching a bite and I could start to feel the homesickness and the anxiety setting in. Jeff went to go pay the bill and I sat there spacing out. I could feel someone looking at me and I glanced over to meet the eyes of a guy our age the next table over. Hello's and names were exchanged and I moved over to sit with him at his table. His name was Sam and he was from the UK. He'd been traveling around Australia for the past few months and he was trying to get a flight out to Melbourne later that night. Sam had been traveling around Australia by himself in a wheelchair. He loved Australia and was already planning ways to get back after his return to the UK. As I left we both wished each other luck in our coming travels and Sam's welcoming spirit and warm smile stuck with me the entire walk back to the hostel. Thank you Sam for reminding me not only what this trip is about, but what it's all about. I believe that Sam crossed my path at that exact time for a reason, and I am blessed for having met him.

Today we're off to move into our place. We're going to be living in a flat with 10-12 other housemates from all over the world. The rental company is called Sleeping With The Enemy, which cracked me up. I am so excited to meet so many new and interesting people. After that it's spruce up the resumes and pound the pavement for a job. The woman in charge of jobs at the IEP office told us something that really hit home to me. She said to try a job that you would never do at home, something interesting that's outside your level of comfort. She said to make sure your emails home are WORTH READING. So don't be surprised if I post in a few days saying my job is something other than office work...who knows.

Ok, gotta go. Keep commenting everyone and when I get more time I'll definitely respond to people individually.

PS- I had lunch for the first time at the kabob shops they have here- so delicious. Why the hell don't they have them in the states...you didn't think I'd go an entire post without mentioning the food here did you?

-Mary