Getting Back Into It

Well hello again to the blog world. I've been gone for a really long time from my blog and you'll have to forgive me for I have had so many things going on. It's been a really hectic couple years since I've last written anything on here.

I moved from Sydney to Brisbane. I've been working and going to school all at the same time, let alone got married and a baby underway. I know crazy right, I was the one asking "why I should get married?" and "what's so cute about babies?". Well I'll soon get to experience it on my own.

Life in Brisbane is such a blur. It's not the same experience as it was when I was living in Sydney. It's a different kind of atmosphere. Sydney has the culture, the attractions and the vast majority of people. Brisbane on the other hand has culture but its more of a laid back kinda atmosphere. Attractions here are far and wide, you have to travel to the Gold Coast or the Sunshine Coast to basically see anything that is remotely amusing. But I have to give it to living here in Brisbane though, the weather is great year round. It's warm even in the winter, and during the summer you get a massive tan (I've gone black and had this tan for over a year now).

I've found my husband here. Family I never knew I had is here. It's been a whirl wind of a year, I'm still trying to wrap my head around everything. Brisbane has been good to me in ways that I never knew and yet in a way it has been cruel to me as well. When I'm in Brisbane I think of the days of being in Sydney...basically my single life. Sydney was the last stop in my single life and boy what a fun ride that was. I partied til the wee hours, I didn't have to think of anyone but myself, I had fun meeting new people and exploring the city...most of all I was carefree.

My experience in Queensland had me go up the Queensland coast and seen some amazing things. I experienced all this with my husband, the person who took me out to see these amazing places. There has been a year and a half of me discovering Queensland and along the way I kind of discovered myself.

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What are you?

As an American living in Australia is a little different. Let me explain...My looks are distinctly of Asian features. My speech is American as well as my mannerisms and such. You can say I'm more Westernized but can speak fluently my native language as well as other languages. Here in Sydney it's a diverse place where there's definitely different cultures mixing but one thing that still gets on my nerves. Why do people think I can't speak English???

I've had this happen to me a couple of times by some locals and some foreigners as well. My school is mainly of International students coming from China, India, Malaysia, etc. as well as Aussie students but seems like I'm the only American. With my looks people categorize me as Chinese automatically of course and think my English is either poor to none. Ah still getting on my nerves!!!

I have this one Indian guy come up to me and ask a question about directions. Well since I'm not a local the look on my face is a little confused because 1.) I'm not great with directions 2.) I don't really know where everything is at and 3.) I had a hard time trying to interpret what he was saying with his heavy accent. Well I guess the confused look on my face said it all because he just turned to his friend and said "Oh she's Chinese she doesn't understand what I'm saying".

Ha!...to their surprise this "Chinese girl" speaks and understands perfect English. I tell them "Excuse me but I'm American and I understand English just not with the accent that you have so it's not like you're easy to understand thanks."

Wow the "Chinese girl" has an American accent and isn't completely dumb. Gosh these people just assume one thing and are in for a heavy surprise. Has this happened to anyone else or is it just me?? Or are these type of people just plain old ignorant??

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Great Shop Name

I was walking down Oxford St. today and found the best shop name so far. It is quite unique and funny also. What's it called? Well...drumroll please...LICK-HER SHOP.

Do you get it?? It's quite an eye catching name since I had to do a double take lol.

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Life in Sydney

Alright so I've been in Sydney on and off for a little bit and I haven't said a thing about being in Sydney so let me say something now.

To start Sydney is such a metro place. It seems like it's such a big city from what others say like East Sydney, Paddington, Surry Hills, Darling Harbour and so on. Well let me tell you it is a big enough city that you can get lost in. You'll turn the corner and BAM!!!...you're like where the hell am I??? Yeah so as you can see I've done this a couple of times in the beginning, I know blonde moments right lol.

I swear everyone is like basically here in Sydney. If you want to see the Chinese, Japanese, Germans, Thais, Laotians, and so forth it's no problem. Walk down any street in Sydney and you'll see like 5 different nationalities within a 2 minute walk.

If you're ever in Sydney you'll have to walk down Oxford Ave., Elizabeth St. and Pitt St. Those are where the shopping is at. Elizabeth St. is more of the posh boutiques with all the higher end qualities. Pitt St. is a variety of different stores. You can find basically anything on Pitt St. Oh let me tell you about Oxford Ave...this has to be one of the most eccentric streeets yet. They have gay pride flags hanging everywhere and it's quite awesome. People here are more open to being out and about with their partners without being persecuted.

It's just as busy or maybe even busier than everyone thinks it is. When people think of Sydney what do they think of? Beaches right? Well there's much more to Sydney than the beaches. They have some clubs that are open 24 hrs a day...I haven't ventured out to see those quite yet but maybe one of these days I'll have to give it a go.

I think for us Americans we should have like a Aussie slang book. We Americans do not talk the way people on this side of the world talk at all. I find myself having to really pay attention and sometimes having to ask the person to repeat themselves. Can someone come up with an American to Aussie language book???

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