Pancakes, Not Crepes

I feel quite terrible today. Perhaps I am coming down with something? Due to my current condition, I would like to rewind a bit and be reminded of my fabulous weekend by sharing it with you all. After working a sixteen hour day on Thursday, Conor was definitely ready for a restful weekend. Together we traveled to Three Monkeys and enjoyed a couple cups of coffee on Friday evening. We sat outside under a large tree and observed the neighborhood shops and restaurants prepare for a busy Friday night. The weather was absolutely fabulous. Although it is humid and overcast today (with some thunder and lightning), the weekend weather was just amazing - temperatures in the mid-eighties, sun, and a cool breeze.

After coffee, we walked home and Conor cooked Barramundi for dinner. Yum. Come to think of it, Conor has been cooking dinner quite a bit lately. He made a mushroom cream sauce and served it over pasta last week, and just last night he made a tika marsala with peppers, onions, potatoes, and squash over rice with nan. Tonight is my night to cook, I suppose.

On Saturday we had brunch with Adam Vest, a fellow expatriate. After relaxing for a while, we wandered home and enjoyed the sun and a long walk. After heading into the office for just a bit, Conor and I set back out in search of a quiet place to read and sip more coffee. After hours of reading and writing, we decided to go for a run, but first, the skinless wine shop! I had never been to a skinless (or label-less) wine store before. Apparently Brisbane is home to a few shops that sell award-winning Australian wine for a great price! Due to over production and lack of a label, these bottles can be purchased for 6-7 American dollars. What a steal for good wine! (Do we have these shops in the States?)

After our jog (and a much needed shower), we trotted back out to meet Adam at a jazz bar. Man, what a trip! We managed to find ourselves amidst a wedding party in a tiny restaurant located in the middle of a parking lot (behind a local grocery store). Weird. The wine was tasty and the food was decent. The music, although short-lived (because the bar closed at 10!), was also fairly good. I'm not sure if we will stumble back that way any time soon, but for a last minute thought, it wasn't too shabby.

On Sunday we spent our day at the Queensland Library. The centre hosted a number of free lectures and activities on climate change, sustainable living, alternative transport, etc. Although overall, I would give the lectures 3 out of 5 stars, the concept of the "Ideas" convention was fabulous. What a great resource and location to meet and share ideas with other community members. Conor and I were inspired by the lectures and this morning he composed a letter to the Brisbane City Council in regard to the pedestrian and bicycle footpaths and lanes (or lack thereof) surrounding our apartment building. Man, living in Portland definitely spoiled this pedestrian...but then again, if they can do it, why can't other cities? (The same goes for producing good beer!)

After the lectures we went to the Pancake Manor to cheer on a Canadian friend who was competing in the Pancake Manor's 30th Birthday Pancake Challenge! Mike came in third out of approximately 30 participants. He managed to choke down 12 pancakes, while the second and first place winners ate 13 and 14. The winner, an incredibly thin (and sickly looking) gal, frequents the Pancake Manor, sometimes being seen up to five times a week! Madness. 12 giant pancakes in one hour...gross. I hope Mike's doing okay today.

Today's forecast: Showers and a good chance of migraine - ick

Bread

I started work. I have already gained a kilogram or two. The food at French Twist is absolutely delicious. Over the past few days I have engaged in product training. Yes, I got paid to eat for six hours. My "homework" was to take home a variety of breads and pastries and sample them while going over a description sheet. I don't remember homework being so rough. In only two days I have sampled friand, chocolate eclair, divorce, le diplomat, ganache gateau, macaroons, brioche, cheese twist, palmier, jalousi, jesuite, feta and spinach croissant, ciabatta, pain de campagne, pain au noix, pain de Provence, and rye sourdough. Yeah, at least a kilogram or two.

The bad news, aside from the kilograms I need to burn off, is that the store I will be helping open, will not open for another three weeks. In the meantime, I will continue to train and work part-time. I hope Kittelson is in need of my services over the next few weeks. I might die of boredom if I continue to hang around the apartment.

Tomorrow is Friday though and that means only one more day home alone. Although we have decided to lay low this weekend, it will be nice to spend some time with Conor. He has been working quite a bit this week - we haven't even had time to watch Flight of the Conchords together!

We found out just over a week or so ago that Jamie and Annie will be coming to visit us in June. I am incredibly excited to have visitors from the States (although we will have a few other Kittelson employees crashing with us before then). While the two of them are here, we are hoping to head north to the Great Barrier Reef. Conor and I are also planning some travel for the next few months. We hope to not only see a large amount of Australia while we are living in Brisbane, such as Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Canberra, but also plan to travel outside of the country. New Zealand and Tasmania (even though it is technically Australia) are definitely on our list, as well as Thailand and Laos on our return trip to the States. We have heard Fiji is a bit of a hole, but might make the trip anyway. Vanuatu seems to receive better reviews.

We both encourage visitors. Come to Australia! Currently, Qantas offers non-stop flights from LAX for approximately $900 roundtrip. Not too shabby. In June or July, Virgin and Delta will also begin offering non-stop service from LAX. The competition should help reduce the price of flights to Brisbane. Think about it. Fly for fairly cheap. Stay with friends for free. Visit a foreign country. Think about it.

This post's recommendation:
Food: French, duh.

Exercise

Since arriving in Brisbane, I have been pretty good about exercising on a (nearly) daily basis. If I do not get up and spend time in the cardio room downstairs, I probably spend an hour or two traipsing around the city, kilometer after kilometer, sweating my butt off in the 85-90 degree weather. I actually prefer exercising in the air-conditioning and then relaxing outdoors in the sun, rather than running around while my pony tail turns into a mini Afro-puff.

Where am I going with all of this, you ask? Well, I cut my workout a bit short this morning. After only half an hour I was having trouble breathing. Now you might be thinking to yourself, what good is all of this exercising if she can't even last thirty minutes on a stationary bike? Well, I was feeling fine. In fact, I felt great! Until my gym partner showed up, that is.

After about fifteen minutes of alone time (I even took my headphones off this morning and pedaled in silence, enjoying the quiet rhythm of the bike), a gentleman in long black basketball shorts, a teal ribbed tank top, a few tribal tattoos, and mesh baseball cap strolled in. I think he was wearing dog tags too, but that might be beside the point. This young guy was wearing more cologne than a thirteen year old boy at his first school dance.

Anyway, when he strolled past me, I think I gasped. Luckily he had his headphones on. After only a short while, I decided to call it a day and head back outdoors, into the fresh air. Before I did though, I stared at the nut running on the treadmill for a bit. He probably thought I was interested in him. Maybe he was thinking, "I'm busy after this, but how about we meet up tomorrow?" Yeah, right. (Who takes themselves seriously in a mesh baseball cap? Nevermind a mesh baseball cap at the gym?) Good grief.

While this whole experience was rather annoying, it is not nearly as weird as the Asian twins who run together around 10am each day. I have only shared the cardio room with them twice, but they are definitely a sight to see. They usually come and go in the time I spend biking. I don't know what they would do if they arrived and found me jogging on one of the two treadmills. It would throw off their entire routine, I am sure of it. I have considered warming up on the bike a little before 10 and then jumping on a treadmill when I see them coming. I bet they would turn around and return later. I don't think I would get any joy out of that. I am still a bit curious though.

Since I didn't last too long on the bike this morning, I decided to meet Conor downtown for lunch and wander around in search of a pair of black shoes (required of my new job). Enter frizzy hair. God bless Conor for taking an hour and a half to visit four different shoe stores with me. He must have been terribly bored at work. I did treat him to a frosty beverage once I had a new pair of Keens in hand. Dansko does not exist in Australia, or at least not more than two boring varieties priced at $150 each - don't bother to search. My new black Mary Janes will work just fine though and I am sure they will keep me from slip-sliding around. They also somehow seem appropriate for my new somber French attire.

Yes, I know the sunglasses in these photos are ridiculous. I wish I had a shot of Conor wearing his new shades. Unfortunately, we were both without sunglasses this past weekend at the beach and needed a pair desperately. After searching the boutiques for about 20 minutes we found a sale rack with shades for $6. Bingo! Yes, they are HUGE. Conor's are sleek and very Matrix. But $6? What a steal.

Surfer's Paradise

I spent Friday helping Conor and his supervisor, Miranda, out in the KAI office. I busied myself with fairly basic administrative work for the majority of the day. It felt good to (somewhat) get back to work. It will also be nice to have a little extra cash in my pocket, since I do not start my new gig until Wednesday afternoon, and even then, it's only part-time and training.

I am looking forward to learning more about the French Twist culture on Wednesday. The first two hour session consists of product training. I am sure there will be some tasting of coffee and pastries involved - yum! On Thursday afternoon I will be learning the POS system - blah, but necessary. I am excited to meet my fellow co-workers and hopefully make a few more friends in Brisbane.

After spending the day in the air-conditioned office on Friday, Conor, Miranda and I walked across the street to a sushi restaurant and grabbed a quick bit. I am not one for sushi, and am also nearing my one month anniversary of becoming a vegetarian, so my options were quite limited. After dinner, I called it an early night. I think Conor was a tad upset, as it was his Friday. We did squeeze in a few new episodes of Flight of the Conchords though. If you still haven't seen it, Netflix it now!

We spent Saturday wandering about the city, stopping for the occasional snack and beer. Conor got a haircut (finally) and I ate gelato. It was very lovely. Sunday morning we got up fairly early, grabbed a Flat White and jumped on the train. We decided on Saturday evening that we should leave the city on Sunday, and although the weather forecast wasn't great, we decided to check out the Gold Coast, more specifically, Surfer's Paradise.

Man, what a fabulous day! I love the beach and the ocean, especially the salt water. It only cost us $12 each (Australian - which is $8.25 in U.S. dollars) to take the train and bus round trip to the coast. What a deal! We brought our books and enjoyed the scenery, as we cruised past the traffic.

We spent the entire day lying on the beach, thrashing in the gigantic waves, eating ice cream and drinking tropical beverages, and wandering around the beach town. The weather was perfect - hot, but not humid, with a lovely breeze. I look forward to taking our guests to the beach when they come to visit us. Hell, we might even go again next weekend!

Interview

I have yet to perfect the art of the job search. In the last 11 years I have held...one, two, three, four...12 jobs. Although this number includes full-time and part-time positions, it's still rather high for a just barely 26 year old who spent 11 semesters (5.5 years) earning her BA and MS. What does all this mean? Am I poor employee? Do I accept job offers too quickly - do I settle for less?

Since arriving in Brisbane, I have applied for four jobs. Yes, only four. While the job market is only now beginning to suffer, there are still very few jobs available for which I qualify. Last week I watched my first "Hire Australian" advertisement on television. Great. 

The Australian government is not about to hire me during "these economic times", so I have set my sights on private organisations. Knowing very few people in Brisbane, it has been incredibly difficult to network. On my way home on Monday evening, I walked past an advertisement for "Servers, Baristas, and Managers". While I have jumped in and out of the service industry over the past 11 years (and 12 jobs), it is most definitely where I am happiest. I figured working as a barista again isn't the most glamorous position, but hell, why not for a little while? 

I emailed the contact on the advertisement and she invited me to "have a chat" this afternoon. I was under the impression this meet and greet was rather informal and informational. I was wrong. While it was somewhat informal, and very informational, it was definitely an interview. Apparently, I did okay. I begin my probationary training next week.

The organisation is called French Twist. They are a family-owned French bakery with several retail spots in the city and one cafe. In mid-April French Twist is opening their second cafe location, hence the need for additional servers, baristas, and managers. The bread and wet and dry pastries are all made in-house daily. (I ordered a few items for take-away after my interview - delicious.)

The best part about this whole situation is that I will be training to be a manager. The pay is decent and the location is unbeatable. It will take me five minutes to walk to work (if I get offered a permanent position). The location is also between our apartment and Conor's office.

Maybe French Twist will be lucky 13?

This post's recommendation:

Food: Khachapuri

ARG

This post is a bit of a shout out to Conor (and his Mom, Mary). As many of you know, Conor headed to Brisbane early last December, returning to Portland in February to help me tie up loose ends before we jumped the pond together. Conor works for Kittelson & Associates as a Transportation Analyst. While the Australian economy is crumbling, life Down Under is not so rough in comparison to the States. We are both very lucky to be on this adventure together - not a bad time to be expatriates.

If you are not a follower of "Tomorrow: Mostly Sunny", you should be. Conor's Mom was one of my first followers and also only one of four people to leave a comment on my blog. I had no idea who Edith Piaf was until Mary left a clever note. Mary is a better blogger than most. Thanks, Mary. 

I have not sipped an "Edith Piaf" from Three Monkeys since learning of the real Ms. Piaf. I have returned to the cafe and ordered other delicious treats though. Before meeting Adam Vest for dinner on Saturday evening, Conor and I dropped by Three Monkeys for a quick cup of coffee. We spent about an hour reading the Courier-Mail. As Bill Bryson notes in his book, In a Sunburned Country, it is quite interesting to read local newspapers while visiting/living in a foreign country. Perhaps you are already aware of recent activity in the Southern Hemisphere, but if not, here is a brief summary:

1. Tropical Cyclone Hamish closed all Sunshine and Gold Coast beaches last week, with waves reaching over 19 feet

2. Swire Shipping's cargo ship, the Pacific Adventurer, leaked over 100,000 litres of oil along 500 metres of the Sunshine Coast, causing one of Brisbane's greatest environmental disasters

3. The Brisbane Broncos won their first match of the season against their Queensland rival, The Cowboys, 19-18

4. Pauline Hansen also caused waves, as nude photos of the far-right politician surface in the media

It is time for me now to prepare for my first Australian bowling night. For those of you who do not know me well, and those of you who do not know me as well as you thought you did, I am one hell of a bowler. 

This post's recommendation:

Song: Apartment Story, The National

(The title of this post refers to the three letters on Conor's shirt in the above photo. ARG for Argentina.)

Fleas

First of all, I need to clarify something...for Conor's sake. The bridge pictured below (and again above) is not a suburban bridge, but is located in downtown Brisbane. Please do not let the title of my post, "The 'burbs" fool you any longer. The Story Bridge was named for John Douglas Story and spans the Brisbane River, connecting Kangaroo Point and Brisbane's Fortitude Valley. This bridge is very urban, indeed. The Story Bridge is the largest steel bridge constructed in Australia by Australians. For a mere $79 the crew at Story Bridge Adventure Climb will strap you into a harness and encourage you to climb the 74 metres (22 stories) to the top!

I realize it has been a week since my last post. My parents were kind enough to bring this fact to my attention when I spoke with them on the telephone this morning. Sorry, Mom and Dad. I would like to take a moment to thank them for adopting our dog, Bella. For those of you who do not know Bella, she is the world's greatest dog. If you live in the area, please stop by 9 High Street and meet her. (I have included a photo of her tailgating at the Oregon Beaver's homecoming game last fall - she is a very fun dog.) Thanks, guys.

Bella is not the reason why this particular post is titled "Fleas", however. Over the weekend Conor and I traveled to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. I believe it was while I was hopping around with the kangaroos that these pesky tenants planted themselves on my ankles. I am covered from head to toe with small bites. I first blamed the itching on Conor, followed by the incredibly fragrant laundry detergent he purchased before I moved to Brisbane. Now, as much as I love them, I blame the kangaroos. Sorry, Conor.

Aside from the fleas, I had a fabulous time at the sanctuary and the day following my visit threatened to return in search of a permanent position. Not only did I get to romp with the kangaroos, but I was able to hold a male koala for two minutes! I did not catch his name, but I am pretty sure it was something like Oscar, as he was very surly. To view photos of this trip, please visit: http://picasaweb.google.com.au/jennie.macpherson/AustraliaPhotos#

I have decided to add a lil' something extra to my posts. Each post I will include a random recommendation for my readers. 

This post's recommendation: 

Television: Flight of the Conchords (go out and rent it now!)

Oh, that's right, the koala's name was Dylan.

World Pond Hockey

I realize the World Pond Hockey Championship held in Plaster Rock, New Brunswick has absolutely nothing to do with my Australian adventures, but recent conversation and Canadian publications, have inspired me to post at least a little information on our trip north for some pond hockey fun. http://www.worldpondhockey.com/

Only two weeks prior to our big move, Conor, his two brothers, David and Dylan, a friend from Cornell, Adam, and I headed to Plaster Rock, NB to compete (and coach) in the World Pond Hockey Championship. Yes, that's correct, pond hockey. Four-on-four, no goalie, no pads, no helmets, good ol' fashioned pond hockey. The ride from Boston to Plaster Rock was filled with NHL talk, pond hockey documentaries and films, including Mystery Alaska and Slap Shot, delicious food (Maine's famous Big G's), and loads of "That's what she said." Thanks, Duchesneau.

May Day was one of 120 teams to compete on 20 sheets of ice on Roulston Lake. Four days of below freezing temperatures, emergency room visits, copious amounts of beer, Newfies, and more "That's what she said" might drive any hockey-hater crazy, but our trip to Plaster Rock was the most fun I've had in a long time. 

Yes, that's correct, emergency room visits. After spending only a few hours on the ice, Dylan took a puck to the face and broke his left cheek bone. This sloppy (and illegal) pass granted May Day one penalty goal and fame for the remainder of the tournament. Just a few days ago the Victoria Star published yet another article on Dylan and Canadian health care. http://victoriastar.canadaeast.com/front/article/591147

Although May Day went 0-5 in the tournament (and finished dead last), the free goodies and recognition that came with Dylan's accident made the trip worthwhile. Well, and let's not forget about Milt Steagle. He helped too.

Coffee Talk

If you hate coffee and espresso this may not be the post for you. Please feel free to investigate my new lizard photo though.

As Anna stated in her comment of my last post, it is incredibly difficult to order coffee/espresso in Australia. Personally, I enjoy a cappuccino or latte on a daily basis. Often times I order an iced latte - when it is warm outside, I need a cool coffee drink. 

Similar to most European countries, drip coffee is non-existent in Australia. Typically an Australian iced coffee consists of ice, espresso, cold milk, ice cream, and whipped cream. If you drink your drip coffee black, this is not the treat for you (or maybe it is?). Cappuccino is simple. Although the Italian espresso drink is served in a cup a tad bit larger than I am accustomed to, it is delicious just the same. Most places top their cappuccino with grated nutmeg and chocolate. Mmm.

The latte is tough. And don't even get me started on the iced latte! A "Flat White" seems to be the Australian equivalent to a latte. This drink is served with espresso, steamed milk, and foam. A "Latte", however, is similar, but contains a much greater ratio of steamed milk and foam to espresso. When one orders an iced latte or an iced flat white, they might end up drinking ice, espresso, cold milk, liquid sugar, and whipped cream. Good grief.

I have been lucky enough to find a coffee shop, The Chelsea Cafe, relatively close to our home that serves my iced latte just the way I like it. Of course it took a few tries and a detailed description, but I am currently sipping espresso and iced milk in a tall pint glass. Yum. Liza, my favorite barista at The Chelsea Cafe, knows exactly what I want when I arrive each day. She actually drinks the very same espresso drink on a daily basis. My iced latte is now referred to as "The Liza".

Today: Mostly Rain - perhaps the aftermath of Cyclone Hamish.

The 'burbs

I spent yesterday completing an application for a Queensland Government position. 

I Australianised" my resume and spent a few hours answering essay questions and completing an online profile. Conor poured Australian Tempranillo down my throat as I scrambled to finish my essay questions before midnight last night. I received an email response to my application this morning. Apparently non-citizens are not eligible to work in permanent government positions in Australia. (Where is the tempranillo now?) 

Over the weekend we spent quite a bit of time out in the sun. Yes, I already have my first sunburn. Oddly enough, I did not get the sunburn from the afternoon I spent in Miranda's, Conor's supervisor, pool. Conor and I woke early (as usual, it seems) Saturday morning and headed to my new favorite coffee spot before hitting up the grocery store. We purchased supplies for a Greek pasta salad, went home and tossed the ingredients together, and then headed to the suburbs!

Miranda lives with her husband, Chente, in a gorgeous home about 15 minutes outside of the city. A large fence, strategically placed palms and flowers, and a stone patio create a secluded and tropical hideaway. I felt as though I was in paradise. We ate, drank, and swam all afternoon. I was introduced to several Brisbane natives and Australian beer. Beer is incredibly pricey (and not so good) in Australia. The equivalent of a six pack of Miller or Bud costs approximately $15. After spending a year and a half in Portland, home to more breweries per square mile than any other U.S. city, I can honestly say I will NOT be drinking beer in Australia. Vino, it is.

Conor and I spent Sunday playing in the sun as well. We had brunch in Brisbane's West End (similar to Portland's SE neighborhoods) and walked around the city for about six hours. We visited the Botanical Gardens and took a ride on the City Cat water ferry. (I am pretty sure that's when the sunburn happened.) 

I spotted my first lizard. Yes, that's right, a lizard. As I was creeping up on the little bugger, I turned slowly to my right and spotted an even larger critter staring right at me! He was huge! Conor claims he has not seen a lizard that large since arriving in Australia. He was amazing (and terrifying)!

More news later on Flat Whites and Long Blacks. 

Tomorrow: Mostly Cyclone (apparently)

Barramundi

Okay, it's been a few days, and honestly, I am tired. This may not be the best post ever, but after a good night's sleep, I promise new and exciting information for tomorrow! 

On Thursday evening Conor and I went with Lee, a Kittelson employee, to Gambaro for a seafood dinner. Lee, who has visited Australia numerous times, recommended the Barramundi, a fresh-water, white fish. Barramundi is found in Northern Australia. It is similiar to cod and can be prepared multiple ways, baked, grilled, battered and fried, etc. Conor opted for the parmesan encrusted Barramundi, while I ordered mine grilled with wilted spinach and garlic. It was delicious. My dinner at Gambaro was the first real meal I had in Brisbane. By real I mean, there was a protein, vegetable, starch and glass of wine. The bottle of white from New Zealand paired quite nicely with our fish.

I spent Friday working on my resume and searching for jobs. It was a little cooler and overcast, and therefore, I spent the majority of my day indoors, typing away! I have a few job applications in the works. Hopefully something will come my way within the next week or two.

Stay tuned for Australian BBQ's, lizard-sightings, and City Cat rides!

Edith Piaf

Two days in a row now I woke up at 6am full of energy. Similar to yesterday, I felt amazing, dressed quickly, walked Conor to work (only a ten minute walk from our apartment), and then headed to the treadmill. Why run indoors? As much as I would like to think that I could jog in this humid weather, I am sure some Aussie would find me on the side of the road only a few minutes into my run. To avoid more awkward Aussie/American conversation, I will stick to the cardio room until Brisbane cools down a bit. Also, I would be lying if said I wasn't nervous about crossing the road. When walking, I am incredibly cautious and slow when approaching an intersection. I say to myself, "Look RIGHT and then left before crossing. Right and then left." Maybe I will do laps around the block tomorrow.

I am currently sitting in a cafe in Brisbane's West End called Three Monkeys. Conor demanded I order an "Edith Piaf" upon my arrival. For some reason, a mutual friend (and Brisbane native) informed Conor that this beverage was the best in the house. Let me tell you about my new friend Edith. When the waitress carried her over to my table, I very calmly informed her that the soup bowl and spoon she was carrying was not my order. When she confirmed the name of the beverage, I winced. Edith is a very large latte, disguised as a creamy chowder. The waitress brought me a place setting and saucer along with my espresso beverage. After walking for 25 minutes in 90 degree weather, I do not recommend the Edith Piaf. On a cooler day, however, I will be sure to look her up.

I was able to finish setting up our bank accounts this morning. Also, I made a lovely (and quick) visit to the immigration office. I now have my visa stamp - next step, find a job. My teller at the bank this morning actually tried to convince me to fill out an application. I think he enjoyed my accent. Funny, because I enjoyed his.

While running errands, I explored the downtown area. I ducked into a few shops and stopped to have a cup of coffee. I even took a few photos of the city and Brisbane River (I will be sure to post these once I am back in the apartment. Minus Edith.) Unfortunately, still no lizard-sightings.

Conor and I are currently sharing our two bedroom, two bath apartment with another Kittelson employee. Zach informed us just last night that he will be moving next week. I am sure Zach will never find his way to my blog, but I will keep my description of him to a minimum just the same: I am very excited for next week. (This may or may not have anything to do with the soaking tub off of the master bedroom.)

Unfortunately, I do not have much to report in regard to food, beer, or wine (I know some of you are curious to hear of my dining adventures, JR). I will be heading to a well-known seafood restaurant in a few hours. I will be sure to mention my meal tomorrow.

As the bottom of my soup bowl is in sight, I will sign off.

Here's to you Edith Piaf.

Sleep

After staying awake until 9pm yesterday evening, Conor and I both crashed within seconds of hitting the pillow. I woke up bright and early this morning, enjoyed a glass of passion fruit juice, and made my way to the cardio room and pool. Surprisingly, I felt amazing.

Kilometers. And all other metric measurement for that matter. I need a tutorial on converting pounds to kilograms, miles to kilometers, and even fahrenheit to celsius. I ended up running 5.5 kilometers before lying on the floor in front of the air conditioning unit. My body definitely felt 5.5 (not 3.3 miles). I was tempted to hop in the pool on my way back upstairs, but there's a sign posted advising dirty bodies to steer clear of the water.

I spent the remainder of my day job hunting, cleaning/unpacking, searching for lizards, and sleeping. A pretty uneventful day. I tried to stay awake. I really did. One minute I was wide awake and the next, passed out on the couch. Conor arrived home at 8pm to find me enjoying nap #2 of the day.

Off to the bank tomorrow to finish setting up our bank accounts, then to the office of immigration to have my visa stamped into my passport. Now, off to sleep, I hope. Maybe tomorrow I will find my lizard.

I Have Arrived

Two weeks ago I spent three nights in New Brunswick, Canada with Conor, his two brothers, and a friend from graduate school. The boys competed in the World Pond Hockey Championship in the small town of Plaster Rock. I cheered them on from the opposite side of the snow wall - layered in warmth, beer in hand. Only fifteen days later, I sit in heat and humidity, slurping down glass after glass of cold water, wondering when the ninety degree weather will come to an end. What happened to temperatures below freezing and Canadian hockey stars?

After months of debating and only a few weeks of planning, I have finally arrived in Brisbane, QLD Australia. While it may be Monday where you are, it is Tuesday here - mostly sunny, with a chance of clouds.

Conor and I arrived in Brisbane this morning, March 3, 2009, 7:36am. After surviving the 14 hour plane ride from LAX, security and customs, and taxi ride from the airport to the apartment, I am ready to collapse, but first I must reapply my SPF 50.

It is sunny and warm. Birds of Paradise and palms line the walkways of our apartment complex. The view of downtown and the Brisbane River from our balcony is spectacular. The air-conditioned apartment feels amazing. Two weeks, four states, and three countries later, I have arrived.

I plan to jot notes daily over the course of the next 12-18 months, sharing my Australian adventures with anyone who might just take interest.

Thank you for reading. Stay tuned. Tomorrow's forecast up next.