A proper blog post

Ok,  I'm feeling more stable now that I have secured a place to live.  I also am realizing that life is going to implode again when classes start, because grad school in Australia is vastly different than undergrad in the US.  So I should give you all a proper update now, while I have the time and sanity :)

During my 26 hours of traveling from Chicago to Sydney:

• It FINALLY felt real, like it was actually happening to me when my lovely sister Jessica dropped me at the train station to get back to Wonder Lake after partying in Chicago all weekend.  And in classic Kassi-Jessica-style we almost missed the train and did not even get the luxury of a proper goodbye.  Which was probably for the best because I was blubbering like a baby and trying not to worry the other passengers.
• I'm sick to my stomach with worry, anxiety, sadness, excitement, every other possible emotion until the moment I get through security at O'Hare, then it all dissipates away.  I'm ready for my adventure.
• I spent almost the entire 4 hour layover in LA on the phone with friends for one last time getting in every minute I can until I board for New Zealand and won't be able to freely talk to them for some time.
• Waiting to take off to NZ, all the worry and anxiety come flooding back, and I find myself crying but trying not to sob on the airplane.  All because I had to turn my phone off.  It seemed very final.
• Sleepaides apparently have NO effect on me, though they do make my eyelids soo heavy I can't open my eyes, even though Im awake.  I doze, but never really sleep on the 12hr leg to Auckland. 
• Probably tmi, but the undergarments I chose to wear that day were a very bad choice for being stuck sitting down for 26 hours...note to self, lol.

I finally arrive in Sydney 8am local time.  The airport is chaotic, customs lets me through without even checking my checked baggage...sweeet!  And I was able to buy a phone straight away at the airport, saving me some hassle later on, I think.

My hostel was ready early, thankfully.  But I forced myself awake until 7pm to stave off jet lag.  I've never been so tired...my eye sockets hurt.  The heat is unbearable as well and I walked around thinking "Who the hell did I think I was?  Why in the world did I think I could move to Australia?"  I'm validated later on when talking to other travellers who had the same thoughts.  Its not regret, its worry.

It took me a few days to acclimate to the heat.  The first day was more hot than most days here.  It rains more than I expected, about the whole first week, buts its been gorgeous since.  Pictures to come, I promise. I just haven't taken them yet, lol.

Hostel life is interesting. I both love it and hate it at the same time.  I love that everyone is in the same boat, no one knows anyone and everyone wants to make friends.  Everyone is friendly, everyone.  They usually want to go out or hang out, or drink Goon in the room together.  (Goon is Australian box wine.  It is the definition of awful.  Literally on the box says it contains fish, milk, and eggs.)  I hate that theres no privacy and when I want to waste a day or night away doing nothing and taking a "mental health day" theres always someone there to judge and say that I should go out.  I hate that I can't sleep in cuz inevitably theres someone leaving at 6am to catch a bus to go up the east coast.  And I dont like that all the friends Ive made have all now left.  I'm thankful that I only have two days left in the hostel. 

Then I get to move into my awesome new apartment with an awesome new flatmate.  I. am. so. excited.  I'm moving in Friday. I won't have internet there yet.  I have to buy a usb internet thing...the internet is very strange here, they have limits.  You get like 6GB a day. I dont even know what that means, lol. But I can't get the usb thing until I have a proof of address, so I have to mail myself something first.  Though Im not exactly sure about my mailing address.  Im pretty sure Im in the city limits of Sydney, but anything here that asks for address asks for what 'suburb' Im in.  Which is Annandale.  So I dont know if I should list Sydney or Annandale as my address...and I dont want to pester my new roommate before I even move in, lol.

Once again, my blog is cut short by running out of internet time.  I may get anoter one in tonight...we'll see.

Hope everyone is well....leave me comments!! :)