The Other Girls Blog Addresses

So maybe if I leave you wanting more after reading this or you want to see our adventures through someone else's eyes or because I am horrible at updating this....you might want to check out Shayna and Noreen's blogs as well....here are their addresses:

Shayna:  http://shayna.travellerspoint.com

Noreen: http://noreenaroundtheworld.travellerspoint.com

:)

One more thing:  

Does anyone know how to add pictures on this website?  I was trying to upload a lot on a different website but the connection was too slow so I figured I could just upload a few on here for now but cant figure it out.  Fill me in if you know.

Ok thats all.

:) 

So it’s a fact- I am horrible at keeping up my blog.  This may be due to the fact that we aren’t sitting around all day, every day on our computers longing for home, because I don’t really have internet access or maybe because I just always kind of forget.  I promise I will be better.  I suppose it is better for me to be having fun, going out and forgetting to update it verses being in our place sad and homesick, right? 

We have officially been here for two weeks now; two crazy, fast-paced, fun-filled, hedonistic weeks.  Since moving into our townhouse, we have filled our days with exploring, indulging ourselves at various cafes, sending too much money, going out at night, drinking too much of their infamous coffee (which is COMPLETELY different than at home) and enjoying ourselves to the fullest.  Lauren and Kelley find out today about a place they applied to right down the street from us so send them some good karma thoughts that they get approved.  Besides for Noreen, none of us have made any real attempts to find jobs or check back into reality.  It has just been too much fun ignoring our depleting bank accounts and eating more calories in one meal than the average man should consume in a full day.  I have a feeling that we are going to be getting a vicious wake up call soon…

  This past week started off with some more unpacking and getting settled.  We walked around Chapel street, explored the back alleys and markets of Prahan, window shopped at all the designer stores, and enjoyed having a place to call home...a place where we could take showers without flip-flops on, sleep in sheets and not a cocoon, and hear ourselves think.  Don’t get me wrong, staying in hostels is fun, but not when you have 15 bags and a smelly German boy in your room.  Noreen has coined the term “bratpackers” for us….although I would have to say we pretty flexible for 5 girls who like nice things.  J

  After many days of not leaving South Yarra (the suburb we live in), Noreen and I decided it was time to get out so we trammed it down to Carlton- where the University is and all those young, immature college students live. J  In addition to being the center of University life, Carlton is also known as the Italian district and more famously as the place where Brad romped around when he spent his time here.  Upon a life altering suggestion from my Lonely Planet: Melbourne book, which I then stupidly forgot on the tram, Noreen and I decided to grab lunch at a quaint cafe called Tiamo-- as a celebration for joining a gym (we are huge).  It was hands down, the best decision we had made since our arrival.  The food and wine was absolutely divine…..everything was perfect and I could have sat there and ate all day long.  To top it all off, we ended up making friends with everyone who works there and have since been back twice with the rest of the girls…one time as their treat (which is nice since it is not cheap)! 

  The next day we went and walked around Saint Kilda, the beachy area of Melbourne.  It is quite different from South Yarra which is pretty yuppy…it has much more of a counter-culture feel to it.  Think Venice Beach with a little more bohemian grunge.  It, like the rest of the city, is cluttered with cafes, pastry shops, bars and stores.  In addition to the usual findings, there is also an amusement park on the beach with a huge creepy clown face as the entrance.  I definitely wouldn’t want to be around there at night-- not only because of the creepy clown but also because apparently it’s a hang out for all the local prostitutes and drug dealers.  Sounds like a good place, eh?  We were actually thinking of living down there before we left but upon arriving in Australia and talking to the locals we decided against it and thank God we did.

  On Friday, we were invited to “an American keg party” by one of our friends, Nelson.  Seeing as though we are American, they thought we would feel right at home…and they were right.  Flip cup, beer pong, and all…I thought I was back in San Luis.  The Aussies were amazed when we told them that back in the states, you can get a keg for $49….they paid $250.  Suckers.  We met a lot of really fun Australians that night in addition to a few Canadians and Americans.  Slowly but surely we are getting out there and making friends. 

  Saturday was race day.  A friend from home got Shayna in touch with her boyfriend’s best friend, Sam, who lives in Melbourne, before we left.  After chatting it up on Facebook, Shayna made friends with him and Sam and the boys have really taken us under their wings and befriended us.  They are a group of 27-29 year old professionals…most of which work at accounting firms in the city (and all of whom dress impeccably!).  If you think American boys are immature, come to Australia…I swear these guys don’t act any older than we do.  Anyways, a long story short, Sam was able to get us complimentary “members only” tickets for the horse races at Flemington.  I have never been to horse races before but it was similar to what I would imagine the Kentucky Derby would be like.  Women in big hats, incredible fashion everywhere, people flaunting their money and lots of champagne.  We entertained the thought of betting $0.50 on a horse but since we had no idea what was going on, we saved our pennies….you never know when that might come in handy.  After a long day at the races, we retreated to that amazing (free) dinner at Tiamo I briefly mentioned before and then came home….too much champagne to go out.                                  

  On a different note, they say that when in Melbourne, you need to be prepared for 4 seasons in one day.  They weren’t lying.  I don’t know what it was before we left, but we didn’t really believe anything anyone told us (for example that it’s cold and rainy here right now, how expensive everything is, and how horrible vegemite really tastes).  Needless to say, it’s a weird day here when it isn’t sunny one moment and pouring the next.  The weather is finicky and unpredictable although it never lasts long enough to get annoying…if you’re all about constant change, Melbourne is the place for you.  As we are coming out of their winter, people have been telling us that the nicer summer weather is just around the corner with temperatures very similar to what we experience back in California.  I am definitely looking forward to putting my umbrella away and enjoying my second summer this year!

 I hope from this you can all tell what an amazing and wonderful experience we have been having so far.  Although it is quite different from my experience in Europe, Australia is an amazing place and the people here are all so kind.  I am so excited to get out of Melbourne and see more of this massive country.  We all feel blessed to have this opportunity and I can’t wait to see what it brings to all of us.  I hope you are all doing well and enjoying life!  Keep my updated!!

Oh yeah!  I got an Australian cell phone….you should call me…or text me.  To do so you would dial:

0011 61 4 347 79 137

I know it’s a mouthful, but try it out.  I also heard about some communication company you can go through by using land lines and its like $0.01/minute…I will get more information and then post it.

 

Ciao!

April

 

Ps…I also still love getting letters and postcards and packages

Pss….GO ANGELS!