This is Sydney?

So far I'm not so sure about Sydney. Maybe it's the jet lag talking-- or the hunger-- or the general anxiety that comes from being in a strange place.

Our hostel is right smack dab in the middle of everything. It's just 10-30 minutes of walking time to lots of what Sydney's known for. And because of jet lag I can't remember anything.. The Olympics in 2000 right?

Today after a Chinese brunch (which we ate at the food court in a mall somewhere-- and then got stuck in because it started pouring rain) and short rest in our hostel we decided to keep the jet lag train moving and walking down to Darling Harbor. Huge Harbor, lots of places to look out and enjoy the view-- the Australian Maritime Museum with its battle ships and submarines-- a pirate ship even.

So I'm soaking in the view and I look over and BOOM, there's a Hard Rock Cafe and a Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville (Steve Irvan, if you're reading this, as I walked by the Eagles were playing over the sound system there--- and so yeah-- go Steve). IT WAS SO AMERICAN and it made me so mad. STOP IT SYDNEY. I just left the states

Also, I was told that there was a big Asian population in Sydney. If by big that person meant 'every person I've seen in this city so far is Asian' -- then yes.

LP and I coined the term 'Austra-Asian' . I don't know if that's a real thing or wildly inappropriate to say out loud.. But it's happened and it's happening. So many Asians, so little contact with Australians.

Wait this is Sydney, right? We didn't actually land on the Asian continent right?

Looking forward to what else the next few days brings us. More exposure to Sydney tomorrow. For now me and LP are barely staying awake. It's close to 7:15pm here--- we haven't really slept in over 48 hours.

So maybe if this post doesn't make sense, just blame it on the jet lag.

Picture(s) attached are of Darling Harbor.




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Why packing makes me lose sleep and the words I need to follow.

In 6 hours, I'm one week away from hopping in the car, driving to Cincinnati, getting on a plane, then getting on another plane, then another and then another until--- 2 days later I will be in Sydney, Australia, bright and early at 8:30AM local time.

So, last night I had... I don't think it was an anxiety attack-- but I had a lot of anxiety and stress about this packing for this trip. We are going to be living out of backpacks for 6 weeks. That's not the part I'm stressed about, I'm more worried about WHAT exactly to pack. How many shirts? How many pants? Socks? The biggest kicker...? Underwear and what books I want to bring and what hell kinda music I wanted to listen too. And if you know anything about me, I'm hella good at packing, but it's a damn process.

I was having all these stress-thoughts about underwear, books and music, and wracking my brain thinking about all the last minute things I needed to get-- toiletries, memory card and new battery for my camera-- just a lot. Blah.

I was able to cross a lot of that stress off today, with a little shopping excursion to Target.

On top of that, LP has 'practice' packed her bag to see what fits, what doesn't-- and I was able to see and get feedback on what's she's bringing.

I have a general idea-- but then I remember I'm living out of a back pack and packing 4 pairs of pants ain't gonna cut it. The best advice I've gotten on any my trips abroad would be from Dad ( who definitely knows about packing).

He says, 'Now Katie, take half as much stuff and twice the amount of money and you will be completely set.'

Those words seem so simple! I'm not the kind of girl who needs 3 rolling suitcases an a carry-on bag for my chihuahua. It's just thinking about what I think I want, what I think I need and cutting that in half. Or something.

Okay. Jeez.

I'm sure there will be pictures posted to illustrate the struggle.

Until then.