Two Weeks Notice

I've never been a fan of mass e-mails or mass texts. It always feels so impersonal and sort of like you're being spammed by your own friends. It's ironic, then, that I've finally caved in and decided to jump into the blogosphere to communicate with friends and family.

Up until this point, I've kept in touch with a few of you via simple Facebook comments or one-liners via e-mail, which usually read something like, "Sydney is awesome! Everything is going great! Miss you!" So, in lieu of generic updates, this space will serve as a more detailed recap of life Down Under...in case anyone cares.

For now, I can only promise two things: 1) That I will attempt to feed this on a somewhat regular basis. 2) I will refrain from updating with mundane daily activities like what I ate for breakfast or my current flavor of chewing gum. Unless, of course, I eat something really cool.

The blog is called "Sydney Sighter," although I'm open to suggestions. It's a play on words and the term "Sydneysider," which refers to the locals here. I'm still a newbie, so I'm not about to classify myself as a true Sydneysider.

So, here goes...

It's been just over two weeks since touchdown at my new home and Sydney has not disappointed. Week 1 was filled with house hunting, which I've more aptly referred to as a "Sydney apartment crawl." After some pretty dodgy accommodations (read: shit holes) and even dodgy-er potential roommates, I've settled on a fantastic place in Sydney's inner west, which I share with two guys, an Aussie and a Finnish.

I've been at my new digs for about a week, and it seems each day brings a new discovery. Like stumbling upon a yummy Thai take-out joint just down the street or realizing that a running path along Sydney Harbour is a literally around the corner. I haven't decided whether this is a good or bad thing, but I've counted 1 gelateria, 1 frozen yogurt shop and 1 churro place that lines my walking route to the university.

Speaking of school (after all, that's my supposed excuse for being here, right?), classes don't start for another week, but I've already become proficient in navigating my way around the massive campus thanks to hours of orientation, registrations, enrollment, etc. More of the same tomorrow, with another round of international student orientation sessions. What that really means, is that it'll be a bunch of Asians all swarming around, standing way too close for comfort, flashing the peace sign and snapping pictures. No offense, but it's true.