Happenings

I love Australia!! Sometimes it feels really surreal that I'm here.  Sometimes I have to look at a map to put in perceptive where I am.  I think I have settled in pretty well, but I am still working on my internal clock.  I think the first week I was just so excited to be here that I was just running on adrenaline.  I'm feeling the effects now of the time change.  I swear I could go to bed and sleep for 3 days before feeling well rested. Hopefully that gets better soon.  I think I am adjusting more and more to the climate change.  It's definitely hot (though Matt claims it has been pretty mild, and that we should consider ourselves lucky), and I have my sweaty, yucky moments, but it isn't so bad anymore. 

This last week was fun!  Last Saturday we went bowling with Matt's cousin Craige and his wife, Kalli.  They have an adorable 5-month-old little boy named Caiden.  Craige's brother Aaron and his wife Kerryn also came as well.  We played two games.  Let's just say, I did not represent the ol' US of A very well in my first game, and came in dead last.  I stepped it up in the second game and at least kept pace with the other ladies.  Afterwards we all went over to Craige and Kalli's house for a BBQ.  It was so fun hanging out with them.  We spent a lot of time making USA vs. Australia comparisons.  Craige seemed to particularly enjoy that and has claimed he'll have a new question for me every time we see each other. 

Tuesday was Valentine's Day, which I was happy to spend with Matt, but it was also Matt's birthday!! We made a stop at his mother's house so I could meet her, and then enjoyed a yummy feast on Chinese food.  Their Chinese food here is WAY better than at home....I'm just going to say it's cause we are so much closer to China.  I think our Mexican food at home wins. 

Yesterday I took my first drive behind the wheel of a car here in Australia.  We were just running to a store a few blocks away, which was fine by me.  It was a little unnerving having to be on the other side of the car AND the other side of the road.  The weirdest part was having so much of the car to my left...I came very close to the curb quite a few times.  Turning was weird as well, since it goes against all my instinct to be turning into a lane where at home, a certain head-on collision would be waiting for me!  But we both survived, and I'll have another go at it soon.

This week was also our trip to Aqwa, the aquarium here in Perth.  You can go have a look at the pictures, since this outing got its very own post.

I hope everyone at home is doing well! Love and miss you all!!

Love, Kelsey