Australia

I have arrived in Melbourne! yay! Had a good flight and got through all the airport admin quickly to find Alex standing there waiting for me :) Great to see her again, feels like we haven't been apart! Stuck around for a bit to say hi to Andy and meet Chris...funny to see Andy in real life after 2 years of a virtual friendship!

Alex showed me her awesome little flat (which she shares with Hannah- a British girl that moved here after meeting her boyfriend in England 2 years ago, she started here on the same visa I'm on) where we picked out some party dresses from her massive collection. We then went to her parents house where I found a whole room all made up for me :) We had a good dinner and got dressed up ready to catch a taxi to The Bay- a club about two suburbs away- Alex's Tiger/Tin Roof combo. Was cool to see where Ally hangs out and to judge all the Aussie girls in their verrrry short dresses or maxi-dresses (in a club?! strange). The boys all looked about twelve to me and seem super fashion concsious- most of them a lot prettier than me (i hate that..). We danced and drank yummy vodka, orange and rasberry drinks until I realised that for my body clock it was like 3am and got super tired.

Woke up today round 9 and it was already very hot outside. Ally took me to get a sim card so I have an Aussie number (+61406862922). I met Hannah - really cool girl and we all hung out in the pool for the afternoon- definately the best place to be when its 40 degrees outside!

Some of Alex's parents friends came over and we had a BBQ (nothing like our good old South African braai's...) The family friends moved out here from SA 2years ago and had nothing good to say about SA- makes me feel all patriotic when people talk badly of home...! At least we know how to have a good braai :) Anyway, I will probably have to get used to ex-South Africans speaking like that and just ignore it. I learnt a lot about the people in Melbourne and all the odd people (lots of crazy people around cos they don't have the facilities (I find this funny) to lock them away so there are psycho's wandering the streets...cool....) that you can find on the train (apparently) and got told how to be street wise- quite frankly they made Melbourne sound terrifying and I kept thinking I'd rather be home catching our train down to Kalk Bay!!! Anyway, Tony (Alex's step-dad) reassured me that I would be fine- and I know I will be.

So tomorrow I will brave the train into the big city and meet up with Andy and Chris to explore and find a house :) I have applied for my tax file number and am in the process of booking to do my RSA (responsible service of alcohol) course so I can work in a bar maybe. I have found heaps of job ad's for cafe's and restuarants in the city- which I have emailed and will call tomorrow, so hold thumbs!!

Yup, thats about it for now...

an outrageously naaawty 2 days!

So I know these two sexy kiwi girls- Amy and Mel...they're pretty awesome. I spent wednesday and thursday with them and we had too much fun!

Started off at Mels massive house on the North Shore with the most amazing view of the city. Then we went to Muriwai beach- stunning beach with black sand and these awesome cliffs. We just sort of arbed around,  walked to the tops of the cliffs and marvelled at the view. New Zealand is so beautiful. We then braved the water (which was so nice and warm) and had a good swim, trying hard to keep our bikini's on. The lifegaurd got all concerned about our safety (strong tides or something- we were like knee deep. paranoid kiwi). So we left Muriwai and luckily made it up out of the valley despite having NO petrol whatsoever.

Next we headed to this really quaint little suburb called Devonport- nice little shops and a small beach. The navy base is there and you can get a ferry across to the city. We wandered around and got some ice-cream, tried out hokey pokey which is NZ's best ice-cream...deeeeeeeee..wait for it...vine :) We met up with Amy's uncle (who is in the navy) for a drink then headed back to Mel's for a swim in her infinity pool and a barbie (haha thats a braai).

Next we headed to the bottle store- King Dicks- where we found some cider called 'sweet as'- pretty cool. I got rejected when trying to pay tho- massive lol. Apparently a South African ID means I'm not 18....lessoned learnt, I shall now carry my passport with me. Anyway, we had enough ciders to get happy while watching "love and other drugs" (don't bother). Mels sister then drove us into the city where we found some more wine and popped into Burger King for a pee- Mel decided to be a boy and I nearly knocked this girl out (totally not my fault!). We then went tranny and prossi hunting, very amusing although Amy was convinced we were all going to die. Fun times.

Woke up the next day feeling goooooooooood.ha. Drove to Waiwere- stunning little town with amazing views. Spent the day in the hot pools, chilling, going down the most epic water slides and perving over THE hot dad.

Awesome times with two awesome girls :) thanks ladies!

Skiing in summer!

After a chilled day at home with my cousins and a wander round the shops with Gran, we decided that the next day we would go skiing.


Off we went to SnowPlanet- an indoor ski slope with man-made snow. very cool (and freeeezing!). Was a lot of fun and I picked up skiing again pretty fast. Even tried a jump- went way to fast and got far too much air so when I landed I lent back and went skidding down the slope getting icy snow up my top-not ideal. Rosie had a good laugh. Tried it again after lunch and landed it like a pro- go me :)

                                                                   Me and Gabriel :)

                                                                          cute kid

                                                                      Rosie (soz for bad focus..her camera was not behaving)

Waking up in New Zealand

I slept in the lounge at my aunt and uncle's house. Their very very cute little puppy- Gucci- woke me up by pouncing on my face and licking my nose, oh the horror! Was awesome to see Richard and Katherine (who then went to church) and of course my cute little cousin and godson, Gabriel and gorgeous cousin, Rosie. We all went out for some breakfast (yay! my favourite!) then went off to visit Gran and Grandad.
Was so lovely to see Gran and really great to see Grandad again- was kind of hard to see him like that but I expected him to be in a worse state so I was pleasantly suprised. Not too sure if he knew who I was though.

Gran and I gave Grandad some lunch and then went and had some of our own together- had a great catch-up. We hung out with Grandad for a bit until Amy and Mel came over to visit :) we had an epic catch-up/gossip session, was so so awesome to see them again! third summer running seeing Amy- each time in a different country so far! what a cool friendship :)

I ended my first day with the family at their favourite restuarant, Goode Brothers.

Leaving...

So I left Cape Town on the 21st of January 2011- a whole month later than I'd planned but I guess life doesn't always go according to the plans we make. I really don't think it had hit me yet that I was leaving everything I knew so well and everyone who means to much to me for an entire year. I'm not sure its sunk in even now.
So much of emotion. Too much. I spent most the day trying to remind myself (or convince myself!) that I am in fact excited about this year and that all my hard work to get myself going will be worth it.
Saying goodbye was the worst thing. Mom cried (obv), I did too. I know I'll miss everyone a ridiculous amount- thank goodness for skype :)


The flight...
Very uneventful flight, kind of boring. Lame romantic comedies (why did I do that to myself?!) and average food. The usual for a 20 hour flight I guess. I did spend a whole lot of time reading all the letters from my amazing friends and mum- thanks guys. I wonder what everyone else was thinking about the lonely girl on the plane sobbing her heart out. Landed in rainy Auckland at 11:40pm and only left the airport round 1:00am- what a lus.