Australian Food

So here is my best interpretation of Australian food thus far and my experience in purchasing food in the expensive city of Sydney.

Because Australia is so diverse, their food follows suit. Also, because the food is so expensive, I attempt to eat out as little as possible. However, there are some days that Becca and I feel the need to "forget" to pack our lunch and grab food near campus. Most days I pack a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (sometimes we are lucky enough to find lunch meat in the fridge). If we don't eat Marina's dinner the night before, we take it with us to school the next day. Next, I will show you our most memorable packed lunch. This was the result of not eating leftovers for several days in a row:



Marina is a hoot, she doesn't care how old the stuffed pepper or instant mashed potatoes are, if they are left over, they are officially our dinner. We don't get the fresh cooked dinner if we still have leftovers with our name on them (literal sticky notes with our names on them). Dinners have the potential to be great some nights, but not always :)

When we don't eat at home, we go to either the Thai restaurant close to school or Lashings, a great burger joint. In Australia, $10 is quite typical for a lunch. I don't think I have paid any cheaper than that since I have been here....except for at McDonalds. Oh goodness, I thought I would never eat a meal there again, but there is just something glorious about paying $5 for a meal, no matter how unhealthy is is for me (definitely did not have this mindset a month ago). There is one item at McDonalds that is cheaper in Australia than it is in the states and that is their ice cream cones- only 50 cents here!

There aren't many sweets at home, thus my new addiction to Nutella. There is also a delicious pastry shop we like to go to in Burwood called Bread Top. They have a huge assortment of the freshest baked breads, all loaded with sugar and calories. My favorites are the ham and cheese danish and the pineapple coconut pastry.

So I was pretty excited when told Australia has great coffee. The things is, drip coffee is nonexistent- and coffee shop coffee is unflavored, strangely named, and costs $4 for a small. I drink instant coffee in the morning, and am purchasing a french press very soon- for I do miss my classic coffee. Oh! couldn't forget to inform you that coffee creamer doesn't exist here either...such a bummer.

Well I am a wee bit late to updating here. Sincere apologies for my failure to update all three of you on my life in Australia.

I have been keeping extremely busy with classes all while trying to recollect funny and memorable experiences. Hopefully is blog of photos can fill you in with a better understanding of all that I am getting to live through in Sydney.

With dancing 9 hours a week, I find little time to do extra activities. I am really enjoying dance classes though and already feel I have learned so much. I thought ballet would be the most difficult class for me, but contemporary has presented a few challenges as well... mostly massive bruises on my hips, knees, and shoulders (photos to come).

I recently added a photography class as well, should be quite a challenge with my point and shoot camera- should have taken yours, dad!

My two cultural classes have been more interesting than I expected. We mostly visit museums on Friday outings, but we also have had some interesting readings and discussions in class. Australia seems very westernized on the outside, but it is full of narratives and varying ways of life that no one on the exterior even thinks about. Yesterday we had a panel of teachers at Wesley tell us about their country. It was really interesting to hear about the irony of a country being so insecure, yet so tough- all while maintaining the sarcastic demeanor they are so well known for.

While dancing here at Wesley,I met a great new friend, Jessica. We stayed at her house this weekend near Cronulla beach. It was nice to be in more of a place that felt like home- Jess has a great family and they were so generous to let us stay at their house and even invited us back :)

Aubrey, me, Jessica, Becca

Jess also won us free tickets to the Australia's Got Talent auditions in Sydney! We somehow managed second row seats and sat right beside the judges.

so close! This was the first act, a choir full of people from all over. They practice on their own, then basically wing it when they got to Sydney. They still blew away the judges.

This was such an awesome experience, not only because we got to see some fantastic Aussie talent but also because we were able to see how these shows are run behind the scenes. I am pretty sure I saw the winner of Australia's Got Talent for the year, he was a 14 year-old vocalist who completely belted out and nailed a Whitney Houston song. We also saw a male pole dancer, and as a result of uncontrolled laughter in the second row, received a solid 60 seconds of camera time.

On Sunday, Becca and I hit Bondi Beach- where we saw a surfing competition and received lobster-like sunburns on our backs... still feeling the pain. Then, I went to Hillsong church in the city on Sunday night. It's kind of strange how Hillsong turns into more of an experience while here because its music is talked so highly of in the states. Hillsong is also a pretty charismatic church, which was a fun mix-up ; ) We have to attend 5 different denominational churches in the next 4 weeks- on to visit our Catholic friends this coming weekend!

Bondi Beach (*should be about a 45 minute trip from home)

I am hoping to update here again soon, for I have a lovely post in mind.... all about the wonderful (and not so wonderful) food in Australia!

I would also like to give a special thanks to everyone back home for all of your prayers and support during this time of transition and change. You all are great, and your love is known and felt, even if I am thousands of miles away. I am truly experiencing a peace that surpasses an understanding that is in my comprehension- and I am so thankful to God for this strange feeling of solitude and contentment. I continue to pray and ask for prayer for Grandma Lois- here is what has been on my heart lately (and always quite frequently when someone is in the realms of pain and suffering):

"Do not look forward to what might happen tomorrow; the same everlasting. Father who cares for you today, will take care of you tomorrow and every day. Either He will shield you from suffering or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it."
St. Francis de Sales

I love you all,
Hannah