Going back in time: January 6 2009

I had to go back quite a ways to find the fifth post I ever made in this blog - back to the beginning of 2009.  This post was written on the 6th of January 2009, which was the first full day that we spent in Australia.  We had been picked up by Jim at the airport and taken to Jim and Wendy's in Indooroopilly, where I marveled at the lushness of everything, their tropical looking backyard, the 'chooks', the steamy weather, the structure of their house.  

I had absolutely no idea what to expect.  This city would be my home for the next four years. 

I fluctuated between feeling excited about the new adventure and wondering what the hell I was doing there.  I was extremely appreciative that we had a beautiful place to stay with lovely hosts (and a plunge pool!), but I wanted to find a place of our own ASAP so we could really start settling in.  I remember that it was extremely hot and humid, and Jim and Wendy live at the top of a VERY large hill - which of course the bus drops you off at the bottom of.  Since Jeremy would be starting med school in the next week, I wondered what sort of things I would find to keep myself busy.  I had my first glimpse of the University of Queensland and met some of Jeremy's future classmates - we still keep in touch with a couple of the people we met at that first BBQ. 

We were thrown into Aussie culture right away, with our first dinner being kangaroo kebabs.  I've since learned that Australians don't really eat that much kangaroo!  We've had kangaroo a few times over the years, and I don't mind it, but it's not something that I get super excited about eating.  Besides kangaroo kebabs, we've had kangaroo cannelloni, kangaroo vindaloo, kangaroo spaghetti, and (the most delicious one) kangaroo lasagna.  I also remember Wendy offering me cordial when we arrived at the house, which is something that we don't really drink at home (although I'm quite used to it now!)

I have included the post below - clearly my mind was blown by kangaroo kebabs :P

Kangaroo kebabs

Our first dinner in Australia was a real Australian experience - at first we thought our hosts, Wendy and Jim, were kidding when they said kangaroo steaks but nope! They were pretty good! Kinda like beef. We had watermelon with feta cheese for dessert. Who would have thought?

I'm a tiny bit sunburned (whoops, I promise to be more careful!) Actually, it was on the way to buy sunscreen that I got my sunburn. Oh, the irony...or something...

Jeremy had an info session at UQ today. I walked around the campus and a bit off campus, went down to Brisbane river (where apparently there are MUD SHARKS????) and then met up with him for the Ozztrek BBQ. Met some of his future classmates (D'Arcy wouldn't approve as 98% of them were Canadian) but they seemed pretty fun and we were shown around a couple of malls later on by two Torontonians who've been here since December 5th and have settled in.

Tomorrow - big focus on finding our own place - I WANT TO UNPACK MY HUGE BAGS!!!! For now, just waiting to eat the yummy dinner that Jeremy is whipping up. Mmmmm. We totally deserve it, as today has been filled with hiking around EVERYWHERE, including home from the mall when we missed the last bus!