Independence at its finest.

Happy Tuesday from Sydney!  Today was a great day, as they all have been.  It was my first day completely solo.  Holli decided to go on a day trip with the school so I was adventuring on my own.  I woke up at 7am with no plan and no agenda… such freedom.  I decided that I would first write in my blog and upload some pictures from the day before, as I didn’t have the energy for that last night.  Around 9am, I got on the train downtown, still not knowing what I wanted to do.  I ended up riding to the Central station and walking a ways to the Sydney Football and Cricket stadium.  Please don’t be confused – their football is VERY different from ours.  It’s closer to rugby.  I took a guided tour around the complex and had a great time!  Our tour guide was funny and the group was even funnier!  There were two couples from England (both older) and a group of four from India.  The Brits and the tour guide were both impressed that I came, first of all, by myself, and second of all, to tour a stadium of a game that I don’t know or understand.  It was funny.  They all tried to make analogies about the significance of certain things.  I saw the building named after their cricket’s Babe Ruth.  And we walked on the pitch, which is similar to a hard-core Yankee fan walking onto the field of the old Yankee Stadium.  That’s one of my goals while I’m here… learn how cricket works.  It’s going to be a challenge – it’s a crazy game!  Here’s one thing I learned… it can go on for 5 days and then be a draw.  I don’t think I have that kind of attention span, but I’d watch the first few “overs” (I think that’s what they call them… I really have no idea stillJ).  I do know there is a FIERCE rivalry between the Brits and Aussies.  That came across strongly during the tour… SO funny.  After that, I walked back to the train and took it downtown.  I got some lunch and boarded a harbor cruise around Sydney Harbor.  It was at just this moment that the sun came out!!!  It was SO beautiful.  I couldn’t believe it.  It has rained every day I’ve been here and although that is by no means a bad thing, it was so nice to see sunshineJ.  I soaked up every ray I could.  I met a guy from Toronto who was just touring around… he had been to the Gifford Pinchot National Forest close to home (Idaho) just a while before he came to Australia.  That was cool.  After disembarking the cruise, I walked to the Royal Botanical Gardens.  I just walked around for a few minutes in the trees and walked back along the water.  It was beautiful and by then it was super sunny and hot!  SO nice.  I got back on the train and rode back to campus.  It takes about an hour and I wanted to make sure I got back in enough time to eat in the dining hall.  They served teriyaki chicken, rice and delicious vegetables tonight.  Also, there was some delicious dessert!  I have no idea what it was, but it was good.  There was a vanilla sauce, bread thing, apple filling, and other goodness I couldn’t tell.  After dinner I went to meet Holli and we debriefed our days and got caught up.  It was a really good day.  I liked just wandering and having absolutely no plan.  It was so freeing, especially for me, who ALWAYS has a planJ.  I’m getting used to walking on a different side of the sidewalk and I am listening hard and learning the Australian accent.  I think I’ve almost got it figured outJ.  That’s another thing that I really want to learn this semester.  Cricket, the metric system, an Australian accent… and maybe school work if I have timeJ.  Can’t wait for another great day tomorrow!