Work hard, Play hard!

Monday (2/15) was great! Got to spend time with Melissa Yates in Sutherland. It’s about 40 minutes south of where I live. Her town is adorable and we went to the beach, which was comical on lots of levels.

We started out going snorkeling. There is a reef not too far from shore (not THE reef but A reef). When we started out the waves were insane so we decided that instead of dying, we would change out the snorkel gear for boards and ride the waves. When we got to the other side of the beach (away from the reef and near death) the beach was closed because of the colossal waves. Only the brave surfers were out in the water. We instead went to the inlet, where the boats are and we floated for ages in perfect water between the boats. Paradise. After eating a burger as big as my head and chatting about a bazillion things, I headed back home. Great day off, great time with a friend!

The rest of the week flew by. I worked on camera operation, film editing, did some camera and graphics work and snuck in a little pool time. The weather cooled down to the 80’s but it’s back to steamy hot again. I am writing this in the common park area of my subdivision, as it’s heaps cooler than my house at the mo.

Getting to know my roommates really well and having a great time with them. Big difference from having my own home, but my housemate plays Mozart on her violin and all is right with the world!

Weekend was at Hillsong, great times. Friday night we celebrated Amy's birthday with friends. Americans were in the minority, I love it!

Went to Outback Steakhouse on Saturday night, great time but hilarious eating at an American restaurant that came to Australia. There are only 3 in Sydney and I am lucky to be near one…I guess. :) Because of the drought in Australia, my bloomin onion was just onion rings But huge bonus, they had FREE refills on drinks. Here is normally $4.50 for a can of coke, each can. So I splurged and got Diet Coke then was up the rest of the night with hiccups. Totally worth it.

Pictures are from my trip to see Melissa (waves, inlet), Amy's birthday and also of my housemate and I at Outback with some new friends we made.

Familia, I love you so much. Thanks for all your great skypes this week. I love to see you all and my nieces/nephews. Speak soon, XX!

One month in Oz!

So this week it's been a month since I arrived. It feels like a week and a year at the same time. This week was full of things going on. Felt like I was missing out by sleeping!

Hillsong did an acoustic recording that I got to be part of (picture with a few friends before it started). It was fantastic. The lights were sick and the songs are all the classics done in a smaller format. Super cool! My friend's bday choice was to go to Bondi so we went to the beach and I met Cisco Adler. I have no idea how or why I recognized him on the beach but I did and got a pic, major street cred! :)

Found a great breakfast place with my housemate Court. It's better than IHOP and more modern inside than any place I've been. Not expensive either, a rare find! Pancakes on the Rocks, I will take you when you come visit! Had to run almost 5 miles so I could eat whatever I wanted, but it was totally worth it.

Learning basic camera operation and working in the control room doing various things. I worked my first night in the control room on Saturday night doing CCU (controlling the iris and black/white balance) for the cameras. Never done it before but willing to learn, it went pretty well (nothing broke and I didn't get yelled at). Going to get my fieldwork next week and really hoping to get communications so I can work with them on their printed materials...we'll see!

My iphone is still broken b/c Apple did a new software update so you can't use American iphones out of the country. Hoping someone can fix it for me soon. It kinda breaks my heart using a regular phone. It just isn't as good of a life w/o my maps and apps on the phone!! :(

Valentines was FANTASTIC even though I am beyond single. Sunday night they played a medley of songs before service: Single Ladies, Love is in the Air, I Will Always Love You..it was hilarious. Did coffee with some friends after then came home to a house FULL of latinos. My housemate is the connect leader for all the latins so amazing food and salsa dancing lessons are free at my house!! Good times.

Hanging out with the Yates on Monday (2/15) so should be fun, going snorkelling.

Love you dear family. I hope you give each other lots of hugs from me and talk about how adorable I am! :) XX

Little bits-n-bobs

The past week and a half has been a bit of a blur. I'm full speed with classes three days a week. They are all day intensives with tons of information and few breaks. Lots of events at night as well.

The music, oh the music. It's just life changing. It isn't a giant production, but it's spectacular b/c what they do has such excellence.

Roaming the halls in the Hub (main office complex and where lots of instensive stuff is) you can see all the major people from Hillsong. But the ones you've never heard of, they are my favorites. Sanga, Lee Burns, Robert Furgeson, Brendan Brown, Joel A'bell. They are at no loss for amazing people with hilarious and genius perspectives here.

The weather has been, in a word, WET. Raining all amounts, all the time. I have gone on 4 runs that have ended with me completely soaked. But I've learned to love it b/c the humidity makes it so hot that the rain is more than welcome!

First Superbowl I've watched at 10am, which was live for us with the time difference. It was great to watch it with people from all over the world. The commercials weren't American, so let me know the good ones so I can you-tube them! This blog has a pic of Amy and I at the Superbowl party.

I hit a milestone over the weekend. I am now, an American12! I tried on a dress at David Jones (Dillards-ish) for kicks and when it fit, I about lost it! Thanks to Ames, who took a pic after I stopped jumping up and down. Dress wasn't perfect but it was good enough to include a pic. :)

Still learning to drive on the left. Have finally mastered how to park in a lot on either side. Driving on the left side of the road, in the right side of a car...then parking on the left side in a lot. Just had to work at it to figure out spacing, etc. Not sure why the right side was so much easier, but now I am officially NOT ridiculous.

I have my last Friday off this week so either going to the mountains (2 hours from me) or the beach (billions of ones near me, just have to decide which to go to). This will be the last weekend before I get assigned to camera work/control room so going to get out and see as much as I can.

Just want to encourage you with the biggest lesson for me this week... Think big, huge, ridiculous. Not scary or unsafe, but have faith in yourself and God to do the most amazingly huge things. (wowza)

I love love LOVE you familia. You have been so good to kick me in the pants when I need it or cheer me on. And I miss you and think about you often. XX