Well it's one month and one day since I left Calgary, sniffling along with my Dad as we drove east, with the city lights fading behind us. Not going to lie - it seems like much longer. I woke up today with the sun streaming in at 6AM, the temperature outside already over 20 degrees Celsius. I can barely remember the freezing wind stinging my face as I waited for the bus in the morning darkness, mountains looming far off in the distance.
I miss home and I don't. I miss my friends, knowing my way around, and feeling like I have a purpose (though going to work had become a rather pathetic purpose). But I love the sun. I love the way people talk here, even when I have no idea what they're saying. I love being able to wake up and do whatever I want. Whatever I want seems to be a lot of nothing, and I feel lazy and useless, but my friends who have travelled before tell me that's ok.
It's hard to pick things to write about. Everything seems at the same time amazing and mundane. I found a new favourite ice cream treat called a Golden Gaytime, the name is hilarious to me and the treat is delicious! People are obsessed with meat pies and chip dip here. They seem to allow breasts to be shown on TV. There are bugs everywhere but not in a gross way. Last night I witnessed a small army of tiny ants transporting the carcass of a fly along my windowsill. I watched for a while but then decided to kill them, which I felt a bit bad about afterwards. I think I need to find a job soon, 1) because I am running out of money 2) because I need more human interaction.
Last time I wrote I was in Sydney, trying to acclimate myself after the fiasco of New Years. Well it was amazing, aside from my sandmite suffering (I still have a few bumps on my legs/feet. I am a leper) and that one day it was 45 degrees outside. Denton was a wonderful host, and I think we were both very pleased that we still get along very well. Bonding over dancing and drinking and certain other substances probably helped, and I am definitely wishing Sydney were closer to Perth. I'm looking forward to when I can go back.
Brisbane was next, to see my friend Bondy. I was only there for four days but it was a nice visit. Brisbane is a very quiet city compared to Sydney. We went to an amusement park one day and I ended up getting my picture taken with a koala, which I had at first thought was stupid but then realised was very cool and I'm happy I did it. I'm cautious of looking like a lame tourist, but since that is exactly what I am, I should probably just embrace it.
And now here I am in P-town. Meeting Jo and Kelsie at the airport was wonderful, a flurry of hugs and girlish cries of 'eeeeek!' and 'oh my god!' An hour later we were camped out at Jo's house, in a suburb with some ridiculous-sounding name, having a snack (meat pies) and chatting like we had never been apart. That night she had a bunch of girls over for wine and snacks and, well, girl time. It was refreshing, especially after my three week long exposure to all things male. Last night we went to Jo's parent's house for a BBQ and they were absolutely kind and welcoming, her nephews running around being adorable and dogs dashing around underfoot. I realised how long it's been since I lived even remotely close to 'family', and I think it's something I've been missing.
I also haven't lived this far out of the downtown area of a city since...well probably since I lived on the farm. It's weird, especially since I don't have a car. Even if I did have a car I would most likely get into an accident immediately after pulling out of the driveway, as everything is still backwards to me here. I've only kind of gotten the hang of crossing the street without almost getting run down. Well, car-less and directionally challenged though I may be, I'm going to venture out today and find a mall so I can pick up some necessities (mostly things I need for my Big Day Out music festival costume and some kind of Australia Day paraphernalia). Perth not be the most easily accessible place to be, but I think I will enjoy it immensely. Either way I need to figure out my way around since I've barely left the house or put on clothes since Saturday and my growing interest in ants is troubling. Wish me luck.
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