My mom drove me to the airport for my 2:49 pm flight to Chicago. Once I was on board, I noticed it was a small plane. It probably sat about twenty people. I sat in a sit alone, by a window. The flight took about one and a half hours and the air pressure didn’t hurt my ears much. Kansas is indeed all patchwork from above. When I arrived and got my carry on I proceeded to fall down, in front of everyone and receive a huge scrape on my knee. Walking through the Chicago terminal was amazing. The lights on the ceiling were lovely. They were strung up and flashed different colors. Loved it. I then boarded my flight to L.A. at 5:30pm. I was still by the window but I sat next to some people this time. I sat next to a small boy and his father, Kevin. Who was really friendly and nice. He had been to Australia and told me about his trip. I arrived in L.A. at 8:30, 10:30 central time. Got on my plane at 10:15 for Sydney. While walking to my seat a woman asked me if I was wearing a KU shirt, I was. She happened to be from Hays, Kansas. Small world. This plane was much bigger, and completely booked. I say by a window again (yay!) next to an older Australian couple. Nice enough people, although I think they had a touch of the flu. This flight lasted 14.5 hours. Enough to drive a person INSANE. However, I managed to sleep for most of it, so I kept my sanity. I did find out however, that airplane food…isn’t so great. Also, during the whole flight I only used the restroom once. Because I’m awesome.
Once I arrived in Sydney, things took a turn for the worse. My planned shuttle bus was nowhere to be found. So I found a local free bus to take me to a train station. A nice man helped me with my bags after the bus and showed me where to go. After the bus, I had to find a train that could take me a ways down. Bulli, the town in which I’m staying, it about a little longer than hour from Sydney. So, I swapped trains about three times until I arrived in Bulli. Then I found a taxi and got home. People were very friendly and helpful, but with a backpack, a rolling carryon and a 40lb and 30lb set of bags, it was a difficult journey.
Once home I was greeted by my host parents, Glen and Louise Clapham. They are so wonderful. They have a 13-year-old daughter Tayla and a 9-year-old boy Riley. They are all so wonderful and welcoming. There is NO air conditioning here, and its about 80 degrees, with the about the same humidity as Kansas. EXCEPT, it does not cool down after dark. AT ALL. Good thing I love the heat. I have a lovely room, with a door to the back, which lets in a nice breeze and my own bathroom. I will take lots of pictures. They also have a great pool in the back. Downside, water is rationed. So my showers have to be around 5 minutes. Anyway. Took a walk with Tayla and some of her kid friends to the local supermarket. You can’t even imagine how expensive things are here. It’s about tripled. 1 small box of macaroni costs $5. And a bottle of shampoo, where is usually costs $6 in America is about $12 here. I tried a cherry ripe. Delicious. It’s a small chocolate bar with cherry and coconut filling. All my favorite things in the world put in one bar. I am still frightened by the cars being on the other side of the road though. And I still try to get in the right side as a passenger. After hanging with the kids a bit and after dinner, I went with Glen and Louise to a friend’s house for a party. Had a few shots of, something, I think Bourbon and went home, changed and passed out!
