Luke, I am alive. I have not even seen a shark...you know they sell shark repellent here though don't you? I will get you some if you can sneak on the airplane with dad next month.
Alright soo all is good down under I would say I am adjusting quite well to life here. Like I said in my last post there are some details I should share with you before going full throttle into my life as a Bondi girl.
1. When I was at the airport about to leave BKK they told me TO mUCH luggage. Maybe I was tired from not going to bed the night before or I was just being sensitive. There I was, poor little Rachy, sprawled out in the middle of the airport for all to see the water works show. Making piles..keep.... toss...go try to put on in the bathroom and just deal with it. At first the check in people were not kind, understanding or helpful. Long story short, the tears and the 10 times I went to go re-weigh my 2 bags and the pile growing in the middle of the airport and the cleaning crews starting to gather around and swoop in on my belongings...got to the girls. I got half my pile back, packed in 2 separate boxes and then was informed, "You might not get to send them on with you once in China, but good luck. We will send them from here but it is out if our hands once you get there."
2. From BKK to China I was coming up with a game plan. Get a snack and stake out in a dark corner with my money strapped to me and my pink blanket as a pillow. I met a man, his name will remain anonymous, because I forgot it. He was a real treat, not only did he make sure I always had a glass of red wine but he kept offering his apt to me to spend the night. I kept telling him all about Brad and how I would be just fine in the airport. After lots of convincing he said ok but he was determined to help me with my luggage issue and talked to the international travel desk when we landed. Thank goodness for him. He was fluent in the native language and without him I would have been locked out of the airport. NO I DID NOT GO HOME WITH HIM. However, because he did talk to the travel peeps I found out that I got a free hotel room! The airlines paid for transportation there, the room and transportation to the airport in the morning! Thanks buddy!
3. 6AM and 4 hours of sleep in a hotel/hotel room that could have been the setting for The Shinning Two I was back to making piles in front of the check in. No tears...just a lot of sweating. This time around they sent the 2 boxes, said carry on as much as you want, but I had to get my checked bag, and only one this time down 8 Kilos. No more then 20 Kilos. Needless to say I did it. I carried on 1 backpack, 1 giant carry on, plus 2 more bags....I called myself the bag lady..not the most pleasant 24 hours, but it could have be worse.
Alright, so that is what happened before Brad gave me the royal treatment. Real meals, beach walks, an empty dresser/closet to fill, new running shoes wrapped with a bow(welcome to Bondi present), a neighborhood show around....he is fantastic. The transition has been pretty smooth...Thank you Brad!! I promise I will be a good housemate and running partner, that is if I can keep up with you!
After a day hanging out and inquiring about jobs I met Brad downtown for an after work beer. This city so so cool. I am in love with it! The bus took me though all these great little neighborhoods filled with all sorts of goodies!
I got starbucks and wondered around by the Opera House and the Sydney Harbor Bridge while wating for Brad to finish up at work. Pictures to come tomorrow, well maybe even your evening since I am now 13 hours ahead of the kids stateside. We each had a Beez Neez, a honey wheat beer, then bused it back to our hood. It is about a 45 Min bus ride...there is so much to see and look at it seems much shorter! Game plan tomorrow apply, apply, apply to jobs and make my way back downtown to meet Brad at one of his favorite lunch places.
I heart Australia!!
Alright soo all is good down under I would say I am adjusting quite well to life here. Like I said in my last post there are some details I should share with you before going full throttle into my life as a Bondi girl.
1. When I was at the airport about to leave BKK they told me TO mUCH luggage. Maybe I was tired from not going to bed the night before or I was just being sensitive. There I was, poor little Rachy, sprawled out in the middle of the airport for all to see the water works show. Making piles..keep.... toss...go try to put on in the bathroom and just deal with it. At first the check in people were not kind, understanding or helpful. Long story short, the tears and the 10 times I went to go re-weigh my 2 bags and the pile growing in the middle of the airport and the cleaning crews starting to gather around and swoop in on my belongings...got to the girls. I got half my pile back, packed in 2 separate boxes and then was informed, "You might not get to send them on with you once in China, but good luck. We will send them from here but it is out if our hands once you get there."
2. From BKK to China I was coming up with a game plan. Get a snack and stake out in a dark corner with my money strapped to me and my pink blanket as a pillow. I met a man, his name will remain anonymous, because I forgot it. He was a real treat, not only did he make sure I always had a glass of red wine but he kept offering his apt to me to spend the night. I kept telling him all about Brad and how I would be just fine in the airport. After lots of convincing he said ok but he was determined to help me with my luggage issue and talked to the international travel desk when we landed. Thank goodness for him. He was fluent in the native language and without him I would have been locked out of the airport. NO I DID NOT GO HOME WITH HIM. However, because he did talk to the travel peeps I found out that I got a free hotel room! The airlines paid for transportation there, the room and transportation to the airport in the morning! Thanks buddy!
3. 6AM and 4 hours of sleep in a hotel/hotel room that could have been the setting for The Shinning Two I was back to making piles in front of the check in. No tears...just a lot of sweating. This time around they sent the 2 boxes, said carry on as much as you want, but I had to get my checked bag, and only one this time down 8 Kilos. No more then 20 Kilos. Needless to say I did it. I carried on 1 backpack, 1 giant carry on, plus 2 more bags....I called myself the bag lady..not the most pleasant 24 hours, but it could have be worse.
Alright, so that is what happened before Brad gave me the royal treatment. Real meals, beach walks, an empty dresser/closet to fill, new running shoes wrapped with a bow(welcome to Bondi present), a neighborhood show around....he is fantastic. The transition has been pretty smooth...Thank you Brad!! I promise I will be a good housemate and running partner, that is if I can keep up with you!
After a day hanging out and inquiring about jobs I met Brad downtown for an after work beer. This city so so cool. I am in love with it! The bus took me though all these great little neighborhoods filled with all sorts of goodies!
I got starbucks and wondered around by the Opera House and the Sydney Harbor Bridge while wating for Brad to finish up at work. Pictures to come tomorrow, well maybe even your evening since I am now 13 hours ahead of the kids stateside. We each had a Beez Neez, a honey wheat beer, then bused it back to our hood. It is about a 45 Min bus ride...there is so much to see and look at it seems much shorter! Game plan tomorrow apply, apply, apply to jobs and make my way back downtown to meet Brad at one of his favorite lunch places.
I heart Australia!!
What an experience--just like you find a friend that was willing to go the extra mile. Thank your nice personality for that. Glad you made it safely and are adjusting to your new hemisphere. Looking forward to my Marktoberfest trip down under. See you soon--James Bondi.
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