SYD -> LA -> NJ: Home, Sweet Home.

Before coming to Australia, people said this experience would change me for sure. I didn't believe them - how can a place change you? Well I've only recently come to realize that it has. I can't put my finger on what it is, but I feel changed for the better. Sounds cliche, but throughout this experience, i've lost myself and found myself countless times.

I'll admit - I wasn't always happy in Sydney. I missed home. America. Everytime the crappy wifi would disconnect in the middle of a conversation with a friend or family member, i'd feel furious. The internet was my connection to the rest of the world and losing it made me feel trapped in a matter of seconds. But leaving my comfort zone actually ended up being a good thing after all.

I didn't think my dream to go to Australia would ever come true, but it has, and it was wonderful while it lasted. I'm so grateful to have seen what I've seen and have countless memories to look back on. A great lesson I learned was that there is always more to explore. After living in a different part of the world for a while, I developed a new appreciation for America (ex: Dunkin Donuts on every corner....just kidding). Now that i'm back, I feel like i'm seeing my town with new eyes. It's exciting to be here again, to have the motivation to discover new places I have never been, and to explore the crap out of everywhere I go. Study abroad didn't just quench my thirst for travel and exploration - it kindled it too.

I hope to remain passionately curious. And at the end of my days, I hope that there is a piece of me left in every corner of this beautiful earth.

"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

A Night At The Opera & Clean Up Australia Day

My boss at my internship was nice enough to reward me with tickets to the Sydney Opera House for my work the past couple of months. On Friday night, my friends and I got dressed up and headed to Circular Quay. It was a rainy night, unfortunately, but the harbour was stunning as usual. 

                                  

Now, i've seen Pirates of the Caribbean what seems like a hundred times (can you believe it came out 10 years ago?), but experiencing it on a big screen...with a live orchestra...in one of the most iconic buildings of the world...was a lot to take in. I sat alone because I snagged a ticket later than the others, but i'm glad that I did. I was able to fully take it all in and it was a somewhat majestic experience. It was truly unforgettable and i'm so glad to have seen a show there. 

Sunday, small group from our program headed over to Bondi Beach to clean up the area for Clean Up Australia Day. As it turns out, Australia is pretty freaking clean already. We spent about 45 minutes surveying the beach area and surrounding streets, picked up a few cigarette butts, and called it a day. Lucky for us, we got to spend the rest of the day at the Bondi Markets. 

Life's A Beach

On Sunday morning, Cara, Nina, Jeanine and I took the bus over to Coogee Beach where we completed a cliff-top coastal walk that extends 6 km through Sydney's hilly eastern suburbs. We traveled up the coast where we encountered the most beautiful, serene views of the ocean and beaches, as well as happy little dogs trotting along the pathway with their owners.

The walk took around three hours to complete and was definitely on my top favorite activities thus far. We grabbed lunch on the boardwalk and napped on the beach for a while. The weather was perfect and breezy. I think I enjoy Sydney autumn even more than Sydney summer. 

Easter Weekend Extravaganza

Since we're too broke to go on an Easter Weekend getaway, my friends and I decided to pretend we were on vacation here in Sydney. It ended up being one of the best weekends yet.

Friday, March 29th
Palm Beach: 
- This is a northern beachside suburb of Sydney, about two hours away from me by bus. It took several windy, cliff-side roads to reach the beach peninsula, but it was worth it for the gorgeous views.

 


Saturday, March 30th
Blue Mountains
- This is a gorgeous mountainous region outside of Sydney consisting of several hilly trails and breathtaking scenery.
- The most famous attraction of the Blue Mountains is (for some reason) the Three Sisters, which is essentially three big rock formations lined up next to each other. I didn't really get what was so exciting about it, but the view of the mountains was pretty spectacular.
- We had perfect weather all day and hiked around a bit, then headed home.

Kings Cross
- That night, we ventured into Sydney's red-light district known for its bars, nightclubs, and...strip clubs. Everyone i've spoken to says to go to Kings Cross if I "feel like having a ridiculous night." I'd say that was pretty accurate.
- We went to a club called No Vacancy and had a fantastic time dancing.
- After a guy tried to pick a fight with one of my friends, we left and walked home through a sea of mini-skirt-clad trannies and inebriated high schoolers and made it back to civilization.

 


Sunday, March 31st
Darling Harbour Hoopla Festival
- This was a weekend-long event on the Harbour featuring acrobats performing in circus acts. We check out a few that were pretty impressive!
- We grabbed dinner on the water and caught the sunset.

Monday, April 1st
- We unfortunately all had essays to write which kept us tied up for most of the day, but I did squeeze in a nice long run through Alexandria, a pretty neighborhood past Chippendale.
- We rounded out Easter Weekend with a nice big family dinner. Here's an overview of the menu:
Bruschetta, Apple Bacon and Cashew Salad, Homemade meatballs with rigatoni, and Tim Tams Brownies.
- A great ending to a fabulous weekend!

How To Pull Yourself Together & Be An Adult At Your First Real Work Meeting

This morning, I was given an unexpected, but rewarding opportunity. My boss called from Carlon Leong, the creative agency i've been interning for, and suggested I join the Account Director and Art Director downtown to attend a workshop. There, I would meet the PR agency, media agency, and client group that are in collaboration with our agency. I was grateful, of course, but sort of stunned seeing as the meeting was half an hour away when I received the call and was unsure of how to prepare. I've put together a list of tips and do's and don'ts based on my experience today:

1. Don't panic - you used to roll out of bed and make it to homeroom in 15 minutes flat during high school.
2. Change out of your casual pants and pull on an appropriate pencil skirt.
3. Ask your roommate to assess if the amount of wrinkles on your shirt can be condoned for today.
4. Be punctual - speed-walk down Pitt Street but stroll in calmly.
5. Viciously tuck in your shirt and flatten your skirt on the 20 second elevator ride up to the 13th floor.
6. Turn off all of your electronics - especially your ipod, so that Lil Wayne's "Right Above It" doesn't start playing from your bag in the middle of the meeting.
7. Pick your jaw up off the ground after walking into the agency lobby and seeing the view from the window.
8. Smile when you reach the boardroom, shake hands, and introduce yourself, expressing how thrilled you are to be there.
9. Stop drooling over the Ryan Phillippe look-alike sitting across from you.
10. Don't be offended when they shove you in a corner seat in the back of the room; be happy to be merely a fly on the wall.
11. Let the aggressive PR girl nudge you even further into the corner - smile and look happy about it.
12. Listen to your mom's voice in your head that says, "Julia, stop slouching!" Sit up straight.
13. Act interested in what the presenters are saying, even though they use terms you've never heard of.
14. Nod your head and pretend you know the difference between "resi" and "CNI" (make sure to ask your boss at the end of the meeting).
15. Don't eat all the brownies on the table. They're not for you.
16. Stop staring at the brownies.
17. Don't give death glares to anyone who take brownies.
18. Laugh like you get all of their jokes, even though you totally don't understand Australian humor.
19. Take mental notes of the meeting structure, people's presenting skills, and use of PowerPoint to display ideas. Remember these for the future.
20. Act the most mature even though you're the youngest in the room.
21. Linger for 5-10 minutes after the meeting to thank the hosts for having you and compliment them on their work.
22. Call your dad and gush to him about your first real client meeting.
23. Leave the building and enjoy the rest of the beautiful autumn day sitting in Hyde Park, thinking about how lucky you are for all the opportunities coming your way.

Spring Break: Cairns!

I figured watching a video would be a bit more interesting than reading about my experiences over Spring Break. This is my first shot at putting together a video, so bear with me:

Special thanks to Jeanine Ilacqua for lending some clips, great video-teaching skills, and patience. Thanks also to everyone featured in this vid for making my spring break so exciting!

Here is a brief list of things we did:

- White water rafting in the Tully River
- Fed wallabies and kangaroos (and cried)
- Explored several tropical rainforests, including the Tablelands
- Swam in a waterfall
- Went crocodile hunting

- Witnessed a jello wrestling competition (no, I did no participate)

- Snorkeled in the Great Barrier Reef
- Almost drowned in the Great Barrier Reef

I was able to check a few things off my bucket list after this trip. I wouldn't have wanted to spend my break any other way!

 

How I Became a Typical Broke College Student

My parents brought me up to have pretty decent money-saving skills. Yeah, I like to shop, but I do have a bit of self-control and always look for sales everywhere I go. It wasn't until I came to Sydney, the 3rd most expensive city in the world, that I encountered a financial crisis.

Australian dollars look like Monopoly money...so could you blame me for spending it? They're colorful (and waterproof!) Much more fun than plain American dollars.

This was obviously before I left for Sydney.
An updated pic would be me with a $1 coin  in my hand.

I arrived in Sydney with some savings, but evidently not enough. After shelling out cash for wifi (yup - BU made us pay for wifi), a crappy Vodofone and plan, food to stock the fridge, $6 for laundry, and a couple meals out, panic set in. I was barely a month into my trip and my bank account was frightening to look at. 

I've now been living here for almost two months and have figured out some loopholes and learned to live on the bare-minimum. Here are a few things i've come to appreciate (in order):

1. 30 cent ice cream at McDonalds 

...only before midnight. This has become a weekly habit among me and my friends. That's a lie, it's daily.

2. 3 for $5 sushi on George Street

I'm not sure that I should trust sushi this cheap, but I will continue to as long as I can eat it and still be alive afterwards. So far, so good.

3. Free bus

There is a free bus that runs through the CBD (Central Business District) on off-peak hours. Great for exploring during the day. 

4. 4 for $1 cream puffs

This is a more recent discovery (in Chinatown), but there is always a line down the street for these. They have a pancake-like consistency with vanilla pudding in the middle. So no, they're not really cream puffs at all, but the Chinese really know what they're doing. 

5. Paddy's Market

From Wednesday-Sunday, fruit and vegetable vendors set up in the sketchy basement of Market City, where you can get really cheap food. I briefly considered a fruits-and-veggies-only diet when I bought 9 nectarines for $1.50. 

6. Freelance

This is a shoe store my friends and I discovered at the mall. They have weekly sales where you can find cute heels for $10. 

7. $1 bags of pasta

Coles brand products are always really reasonably priced. Carbs, carbs, carbs! 

8. The Reject Shop

Not sure why it's called that, but you can get 18 rolls of toilet paper for $4. 

9. $1 Hot Dogs 

There is a really hipster bar called The Soda Factory where they serve $1 gourmet hotdogs (normally $10) on Tuesdays. This is a godsend after a long day of internships and class. 

10. $3 tacos

My favorite spot - The Abercrombie - is conveniently right down the street from where I live. We'll meet up here almost every Wednesday to take advantage of the amazing taco deal.

11. $3.50 Meat Pies in Glebe

After paying more than double this price for a mediocre meat pie from Pie Face, this was a delightful discovery. The pies from this cute deli will be enough for a whole meal!

I'm practically become a vegetarian again because meat is so overpriced in supermarkets. I help my boss from a previous internship with social media tasks for extra cash. I sometimes eat 6 rice cakes in place of a real meal. But I couldn't be happier to be here and have the opportunity to see everything there is to see in this beautiful country - even if I have to make a few sacrifices. 

Melbourne Continued

We had the day to ourselves on Tuesday but, as luck would have it, the weather was pretty awful. We tried to stick it out and explore a bit in the rain. We ended up at Crowne Casino (my very first casino!) and checked out the scene. 

I was shocked to find that there were no old sugar daddies and young hoochie women walking around. I pictured casinos to be what i've seen in Sex and the City and The Hangover, but maybe we just arrived too early. I wasted a dollar on a slot machine, lost it, and decided casinos were overrated. 

We walked around for an hour afterwards looking for a place to eat that wasn't overpriced. It was surprisingly difficult, but we finally settled on a place in Federation Square where most of us ate dessert for dinner. 

After the sun went down, we ventured back to the harbour and reached Eureka Skydeck 88. The elevator propelled us 88 floors in under 40 seconds. We stepped out to the viewing platform, where we saw all of Melbourne from the highest most viewing point in the Southern Hemisphere. 

It was an unreal experience to see the city from that high up and it made me love it even more. It was extremely peaceful. We ended the night at the Rooftop Bar where I felt like I was on the set of Girls HBO in Brooklyn. It was a really charming and perfect place to spend our last night in Melbourne. 

Cara and I at Rooftop Bar

We snuggle at bars.

On Wednesday, I went on my last academic tour to the Australian Arts Centre to get a tour of their incredible theater venues - one being Hamer Hall, which was designed to look like it was carved out of a cave. 

We grabbed lunch at Mamasitas, a reputable Mexican restaurant we had been hearing all about. The quesadillas were pretty amazing. At 4:30, we said goodbye to Melbourne and caught a flight back to Sydney. In comparing the two cities, I decided to make a chart:

                                  Melbourne                                    Sydney

Architecture:            mix of old and new                       new and modern

Streets:                      very clean; green                           few trees; more urban 

Inhabitants:              more adult                                     more young people

Nightlife:                   present, but much quieter              present and bustling 

Food:                         variety!                                         not as much variety (Asian/American)

Transport:                easier to navigate                          confusing

Cityscape:                 grid layout                                    unorganized jumble of streets

Beaches:                    not as many                                  several & beautiful

There are obviously perks of each city and I appreciate both, but definitely connected with Melbourne more than I expected. I'd love to go back someday and spend more time exploring. Something about that city just sticks.

Garden State Takes Garden City: Melbourne!

There are a few things you should know about Melbourne before I get started...

- It's pronounced "Melbin"
- It has been deemed the world's most liveable city
- It is the hometown of many Australian celebs (Michael Hutchence, Kylie Minogue, Cate Blanchett, members of Temper Trap...to name a few)
- It is known for it's impressive street art and cultural diversity

Flinders Station in Federation Square

View from the balcony in the boys' room

Federation Square

Our entire abroad program flew down on Sunday morning and we were given most of the day to explore the new city. I loved Melbourne almost instantly. Lush trees lined wide, steeps streets while narrow laneways were confined off main streets, almost out of sight. The laneways are a huge part of the city and are often missed by wanderers. Essentially, they house Melbourne's secret treasures: unique galleries, modest boutiques, and humble bars. Discovering different laneways made me feel a connection with the city - as if we shared a secret.

On our first night, we ventured to Melbourne's "Little Italy" located in Carlton. Restaurant owners stood on the sidewalks and tried to entice us to come in. We finally settled on one place, though I don't remember how because they all looked the same and offered the same things. We had a nice family dinner (I finally got pumpkin pizza) and then traveled down the street further towards one of their famous bakeries: Brunetti's! I ended up getting gelato, of course.

Brunetti's

As part of the academic trip, we were required to attend a couple tours. My first was on Monday, where we visited the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI). We were able to view some exhibits that highlighted Australia's finest moments in film and TV history. Cool stuff. Afterwards, we grabbed lunch at Grill'd where I had an incredible lunch, followed by swimming in the hotel pool! For dinner, we found a hole-in-the-wall restaurant called Shanghai Dumplings. Probably shouldn't have trusted the dirty water cups and food that everyone felt was questionable, but I preferred not to question and just eat as I was starving. At the end of our meal, we received our "check," which was a small scrap of paper with a few numbers and chinese characters scribbled onto it. The total per person was about $5 or less per meal, which was a thrill compared to what the going rate seems to be ($16+), but at the same time it should've been a red flag from the start. We paid and got the hell out, agreeing that it would be better not to speak of the whole experience again.

Our next stop was Pony Fish Island, a "floating bar" located at the base of a bridge in Melbourne Harbour. We had a great night there, and I think it is because the conversation centered around New Jersey and home. Always a favorite conversation topic :)

Pony Fish Island

Coogee Coogee Coo!

We spent our Saturday at the glorious Coogee Beach. The beach itself was a lot smaller than Manly but was just as awesome:

At the end of the beach, we discovered a natural ocean pool - definitely my favorite part:

After climbing up the rocks, we got a fantastic view of the entire beach and ocean:

The Gang

                                       The Girls!

                                                        I returned home with no sunburn - success! 
                                          Beach days are my favorite days :)

It's A Small World After All

I found out a short time before coming to Australia that I have a distant relative living in Sydney. Her name is Barbara and she is my grandfather's cousin. I got together with her on Thursday and she happens to be one of the most interesting and adventurous people i've ever met. She has traveled to every continent except for Antarctica (let's be honest - what's there anyway?) and enjoys the occasional skydive.

She picked me up from my apartment around 12:30 and we began her "famous tour." Here's a list of places she showed me:

- Bondi Beach
- Bronte Beach
- Coogee Beach
- Rose Bay
- Watson's Bay
- Woollahra
- Robertson Park

It's funny how much the scenery resembles California as you move further away from the city. Lots of hilly streets, palm trees, and modern houses. We stopped for lunch at Doyles on Watson's Bay where Barbara treated me to lunch. I got a lobster roll and so did she.

We enjoyed a gorgeous view of the city from our table.

At the end of lunch, Barbara searched her bag and pulled out a package of Tim Tams - chocolate cookies found in 50% of Australian households and a personal favorite. She handed them to me saying, "Don't eat the whole sleeve in one day!" She clearly knows me well already. 

We drove through Bondi and I made sure to capture the picturesque view. 

Barbara brought up my grandfather, who passed away this fall, and we laughed about some of the memories we had of him. It made me happy to remember him and learn new stories from her that I hadn't heard before. She dropped me off at my apartment later that day and concluded the tour. It's comforting to know I have someone close by. Though she's technically a distant relative, I don't feel much of a gap between us at all. 

I enjoyed today more than ever because the more I see of Australia, the deeper I fall in love with it. And i'm falling hard.