The feelings of fear soon disappeared when I got on the plane to Sydney, that’s probably because I was asleep for a majority of the flight.
Before take off, I was speaking to a man named Abdul, he gave me a few unrelated to Oz tips which were:
- Don’t sleep around.
- Find a nice guy but don’t bonk.
- Get married after 4-5months.
- Move out of your family home and live with him.
- Have children.
And that was basically it. He then started showing me pictures of his children and their wives/husbands who were of a similar age to me.
It got weird, real quick. So I thanked Abdul for his ‘words of wisdom’ and avoided any more conversation for the rest of the journey.
When I arrived in Sydney, I was picked up by my cousin, Michael, who I had just discovered about 2 weeks prior to coming.
Fortunately, Michael actually knows a thing or two about Sydney and offered me useful tips (unlike Abdul). If it wasn’t for him, I’d be staying in the hostel which I had originally booked which was located in Kings Cross.
I haven’t visited that area yet as I’ve been warned not to but from what I hear, it is very much like Lozells in Birmingham (minus the black people, as there doesn’t seem to be many here).
So I am staying in Bondi, and I am glad. I get to wake up every morning to a beautiful view of the sea which just reminds me of how lucky I am to be here.
Breakfast with a view.
What I love most, is the fact there is always something to do during the day so by night, I am exhausted and in bed by 10pm. I’ve not had chance to properly party, probably for the best as the price of drink costs an arm and a leg, not to mention there’s rules. After midnight you can’t have shots or doubles!
Instead of partying, I have been very productive by waking up early and site seeing or simply just getting lost. I’ve even had chance to catch up with an old friend who I lived with during my first year abroad in 2014.
Sydney bridge and the Opera house were first on the to-do list.
Being cute in the 200 year old garden.
Lucyann Norarantonio 