A month of change

So much has happened in the last thirty days! I apologize for not blogging more, but the upheaval has not been conducive to establishing any kind of schedule for writing-something I hope to change, now that I'm largely settled in. I can't believe I have been here for a whole month already! Time has flown-like I knew it would.

If you've been on my Facebook page, you've seen the photo uploads I've been dumping there-again, sorry things aren't labeled-same excuse. No more excuses! Here's a description of things so far-starting with the physical environment:

Australia that I have seen looks a lot like home-well, not MY home, but someone's--probably in L.A. or San Diego. Actually, my neighborhood looks a LOT like the neighborhood I've just left in Rancho Santa Margarita, where my friend Christine lives. The climate is temperate-almost daily rain, but loads of sunshine, too-with temperatures in the 60s, for the most part. I love it, but if this is winter-the dead of winter-I'm sort of dreading what summer will bring. Maybe it will be an UNSEASONABLY COOL summer?? Please, Lord? The houses in this suburb are large with somewhat Spanish hacienda-style influenced exteriors, creme stucco walls and terracotta roof tiles, and all kinds of tropical palms and huge ferns, Bird-of-Paradise plants bigger than my car (which I miss desperately!), and roses still straggling out winter blooms. The streets are wide and comfortable, and everyone seems to drive at maniacal speeds. Crossing the main road (Norwest Blvd) from my neighborhood to church/school is like playing a daily dose of Frogger-only it's much more fun on the computer than in real life!

Sydney is lovely-kind of like New York meets San Diego meets the Outer Banks, with a gorgeous Harbour thrown in, and about a third of the people that are walking the streets of NYC. Everything is ridiculously expensive, but SO much fun. I know why I'm at the Hills campus and not City-I'd run out of my savings in about a week, with all the great stuff to see & do. :( The Hills area is about 35 km northwest of the CBD (Central Business District) of Sydney-so just a little closer than Leesburg is to DC-like, maybe Reston to DC? There's lots of shopping, suburbia-style, but not much culture going on, as far as I can tell. Unless you are at Hillsong, or live in my HOUSE. There's culture out the wazoo around here...

A little snapshot of my roommates for you, starting with a non-roommate, who's pretty significant.

Tiph-is a second year pastoral studies student from Brisbane, in Queensland. She no longer lives in my house, because she gave her room up for me to live in. Literally, the Lord said go, find this American woman here, gave her directions, and she contacted me. It's the most expensive room in the house, but it's still cheaper than any college housing would've been, AND I get my own bedroom and bathroom. Pretty sweet deal-thank you, Jesus-and Tiph. She's built my faith in a way I hadn't known it needed building, especially after this last year. The first thing she said to me when I met her and thanked her for the room was, "Well, God says jump, and you say how high, right?" Wow...just, wow.

Sara is the "other" American in the house-from Buffalo, NY. She's 21, did two years of pastoral studies, and now has a lovely Aussie boyfriend (he works in a bakery and brings us treats), and a job at a local restaurant waiting tables. She plays the cello (I love it when she practices), has the same musical taste as me, loves her youth group girls that she leads, and has a new car (well, old/new) that was an anniversary gift from the boyfriend. She is immensely generous about sharing the car by running errands for us, and she's a total foodie. I love her. :) She's also got a nutty sense of humor and a funnnnky sense of style.

Jillayna is Canadian, and the next one closest from home-she's from Ontario. She studies worship leadership, and has just decided to finish her second year in December and go home after that. She's hilarious and sweet as can be, and resembles a lovable Barbie doll. Jillayna loves to work with kids, and she wants to do something with kids worship and curriculum writing.

Felicia is the other Canadian-from Winnipeg, Manitoba--just north of where hell freezes over in Minnesota, or something. (Brr!) Felicia has one more semester after this to finish her bachelor degree in Contemporary Ministry (apparently it was Theology when she started, and they switched it on her in the middle of the program. She is NOT happy about this.) Felicia is one of those wonderful people who knows how everything is run, and who gets called upon to do everything no one else either can do or wants to do because she does it right. She's also pretty feisty, and won't hesitate to tell you what's on her mind. She's smart and funny, and loves British comedy. I think she's a trip.

Elisabet is the Norwegian of the house. She did worship studies last year, and is doing pastoral studies this year. She's also a sweetie, fairly strongly opinioned (I think it's a Norwegian trait), and I don't see a lot of her. I like her, though-as I do all the girls.

Christine is the last of the housemates-for now. She just moved in last week, and she is Sri Lankan by race, and Swedish by nationality. She's a third year worship leadership student, and very sweet and fun. She loves fashion and wants to open her own design shop when she goes back to Sweden. I'm hoping that she'll cook a bit of Sri Lankan food for me before she goes!

My room in the house is the largest-the bed is a fairly uncomfortable twin, but there is a huge window, and hardwood floors and a huge closet with mirrored doors. I have a small bookshelf beside my bed, and a larger one against the wall. I bought a cheap/small Ikea-style desk, lamp and chair, and a wonderful red velvet corduroy lounge chair off the local version of Craigslist, and an art print from a Sydney gallery that completes the look. :) Very fun. I wish the bed was comfier, though-but it was free, and we all have our crosses to bear. :) Oh-I also bought an adorable knit covered water bottle that keeps me cosy warm at night. WHY do we not do water bottles at home? I am SO taking it home with me...

Speaking of the hot water bottle...I have resolved to get to bed at a decent hour this week, so I'm off. To be continued in the morning...

Traveling-Cliff's Notes update

Sorry about the non-posting. I get overwhelmed if I let it go too long, so here's the Cliff's Notes version, just to catch everyone up to speed. More detail forthcoming, I promise!

June 18--last day of school. Stayed at school to finish grades & packing till 8:30 pm.

June 19--packed and jammed my car till &:30 pm; drove home from Virginia for the last time. Arrived 2:30 am.

June 21--Bon Voyage party at mom & dad's with some amazing friends and family.

June 27--Cleveland to Chicago-delayed 2 hours due to lightning storm. Chicago to LA.

June 27-30--three wonderful days with a wonderful high school friend and her family, and a surprise visit with the Feldmans. I love Germans and South Africans. :D

June 30--LAX to Auckland, NZ--had to repack and rearrange my luggage because it was too heavy. Checked an extra bag and didn't get charged for it-praise Jesus!

July 2--Land in Auckland for a four hour layover; love this place-at least from the air-it's SO gorgeous, and apparently Auckland is on the "ugly" island! Sat next to a guy on the flight who was 6'5"-got an extra seat between us to stretch out in. Hooray for Qantas! Had my first "flat white" at the coffee shop. Yum.

July 2--Auckland to Melbourne--again, with an extra seat between. Alice in Wonderland on the flight and some turbulence in the air. Melbourne airport is nice-the Aussies are lovely. Walked right through customs without any difficulty at all. Had my first Gloria Jean's...I'm going to like it here!

July 2--Melbourne to Sydney. Sat next to the nicest lady from Melbourne who chatted the entire 50 minute flight. She offered to take me around if I come to visit Melbourne. Woohoo for locals!

Diane and her husband picked me up from the airport with no difficulty at all. I was SO tired-and felt SO grungy after all that time with no bath. Slept like a baby after a shower.

July 3--went to a friend's birthday party with Diane-so nice to meet some local people. Had an amazing steak dinner for $10 at the Bull and Bush (that's really the name, not kidding).

July 4--took the Parramatta catamaran to Darling Harbour and had my first views of the Harbour bridge and the Opera House. After lunch at the Rocks and a stroll through the Sunday markets, came back and moved into my new place and met the other girls. Diane was SUCH a blessing-took me grocery shopping before dropping me at the house.

July 5-9--HILLSONG CONFERENCE. Incredible. Amazing. SO glad to be here, so SO glad I came to the conference to start m time here. People are lovely, God is good. The rest of that for another post.

July 10-18--a week OFF. Church four times last weekend. Twice this weekend. The Harbour/Opera House and the Featherdale Zoo during the week. Lots of sleep. A bit of shopping.

July 19--ready to start school!! Here we go...

Counting down

Ohio on Saturday...California the following Sunday...Sydney TWO WEEKS from tomorrow! The time has just flown. It seems like just yesterday it was a year ago and I was thinking about Australia. I still have to pinch myself to see if it's a reality...but it is!

The last few weeks I have been so blessed by my friends in Virginia. It has been a blur of sending-offs, parties, tea luncheons, and one-on-one dinners. (This won't surprise those who know me well, but) I won't much miss Northern Virginia, but I will miss my friends! Thank God for Facebook...

This week is just nuts-trying to fit in all the "last times" with friends and coworkers, finishing my grades, packing up my classroom, packing up my clothes and books, dissecting squid. That's right-squid. I always save them for the last week of school-the kids LOVE it, and it creates a great memory-albeit a horrifying smell. It's satisfyingly disgusting for seventh graders. :)

A few goodbyes I just can't say. I think it's hardest to leave the folks I know are going to grow and change the most. These are bittersweet days-this is going to be an amazing ride, but tinged with sadness, too. Life will go on, in Virginia, Ohio, and Sydney...as it should. But things will never be the same. As they shouldn't.

It's really happening!

Dearest Friends,

I can't believe I'm doing this, but I'm really going to Australia! This year has been amazing-just the highlights for now-

I've been granted free housing this year-which has been an amazing blessing that has allowed me to save for my tuition, pay for unexpected car repairs, pay for a RIDICULOUSLY long illness, and take a few short trips home through the year.

My dear, sweet, wonderful friend has blessed me with a free ticket to Sydney-one way (yikes!).

I've been connected with several wonderful Aussies and friends who've visited and/or lived in Oz. They assure me I will love Sydney!

I've got the wholehearted, albeit somewhat tearful, support of my entire family as I head out.

I've had so many confirmations along the way on this journey, I can hardly express how incredibly affirming it has been...

God is SO good, and SO faithful!

Along the way, a few people have asked if they can help contribute to covering the costs of my studies for ministry at Hillsong. I have had such a hard time considering this-I loathe the idea of soliciting money. However, I'm humbled by the support of my friends, and the work I will be doing is for a greater cause than just myself.

Since I will be going as a student, and unemployed for an indefinite period, it would be a tremendous blessing to me if you would consider a contribution. (The cost of studying at Hillsong will be not less than $30-40 000 for the two years I'm there.) I have been saving for a year, and hope to find employment as soon as possible, but the expenses are still pretty high. Please message me if you are interested in helping me cover my expenses .

It's not been easy for me to come to a place where I can ask this, and if you don't care to contribute,*please* don't feel pressured! I've prayerfully considered this request, and appreciate all your prayers as I go.

It's getting late, and I'm still packing, so...

Love to you all-this has been, and promises to continue to be a great adventure! <3 <3 <3