Landing in Australia

Eagle, we have landed!

After being trolleyed to the customs area, I collected the pram that we gate checked while Jeremy dealt with our missing baggage. Qantas was so wonderful, they gave us $300 to make up for American Airlines losing our bags. After getting through customs via the Express Lane (yea Harper), we were greeted by Prem, Jeremy’s new boss and his dear high school friend Tommy Dean at the airport. Tommy was on his way to catch a flight to do a TV. show so we only had a moment to say hello. Prem wanted to make sure that the driver was there to take us to our new home and welcome us to UNSW. How many new bosses do this?! She is just wonderful and I was very glad to finally meet her.

After going to baggage services and filing our claim for our lost baggage our driver loaded us up and drove us to 34 High Street, our temporary home. It was bit strange and little “sea-sick” to drive on the “other” side of the road. We were reminded several times that it wasn’t the “wrong” side; it was the “other” side. It was just really weird turning and the road lines are very different than the states (a zigzag indicates a pedestrian crossing ahead). One interesting thing, the street signs are green, nice to see something familiar. Sydney so far looks like a mix of Miami and San Diego with the weather and palm trees.

Morgan and Harper on the car ride to 34 High Street

We arrived at our new flat and were greeted by a member of Prem’s staff to let us in and it was not as bad as I was expecting, a lot like college. It was not as clean as I would have preferred, but it was bigger than I thought. After taking the tour Jeremy and I, along with Harper, went to go purchase cleaning supplies and I spent the next few hours fighting jet lag and scouring the apartment. The cleaning supplies here smell different here. In fact it just smells a little different here in general. I am sure that it will go away in a few weeks. We really wanted to go see the beach today but we will do that later this week. I wish they had a better vacuum here. I miss my Dyson!

Harper enjoying a little no clothes time at the new flat

Harper learning what a drawer is, she learned quickly that it can smash your fingers!

We were able to have a little USA normalization by watching M.A.S.H. on television and by listening to American music on the radio. Pretty much all the music we have heard here is from America. When shopping at the grocery store Jeremy I were amazed by how much everything costs here. We were just going down each aisle with our mouths open, we must have looked really out of place. For example, Suave shampoo, which in the States is only $1-2, is over $6AU here. I purchased Pantene because it was cheaper!

Jeremy on the "sweets" aisle, the carts here are four wheel drive and you pass on the left

Yes Mum, there are ceiling fans here :) Jet-lag didn't really get to me, but Jeremy and Harper did take a long nap today. I am trying to think that it is mind over matter.