Lost In Translation

March 3, 2011

I feel like I don’t know where to begin this one. This is such a weird time in my life and there have been a few times recently when I’ve really wished I had someone here who spoke my language. Everyone speaks English (for the most part) because it’s Australia (duh) but no one speaks American. Especially in the group of people I hang out with who are all from the UK. I never realized how something so small could make me feel so homesick. I tried to explain to them what a biddie was the other day and really struggled- especially without one nearby to point out as an example.

Also, and I don’t mean to offend any of my new friends incase they are reading this because I do love them and have so much fun when we’re together, but I need to meet new people. As most of you know, I am a social butterfly. When I go out to parties with friends, I’m the one that immediately disappears and goes off on my own adventure making friends with anyone who is willing. As comforting as it is to have a group that I belong to and people that I can call up everyday when I’m bored to just sit with and find something to do, I want to go out and meet new people. I know, I can take the initiative here and just go out and on my own, but it’s easier to do these things in a group. It’s extremely intimidating (and not necessarily socially acceptable) to go to the bar alone and just approach random strangers. Doing this in a hostel is one thing- which I loved about the traveling I did. I suppose this is one of the drawbacks to starting to settle down in one place.

On a very different note, I’ve been doing an excessive amount of reading. After finishing Eat, Pray, Love (which I have lent to my new friend Emma) I started the first in the Millennium series, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, and everything people have said about these books is true. I finished the 500 or so page book in about 4 days (in typical Leah fashion- I could probably read all 7 Harry Potter books in less than a week if I tried- oh wait, I have) and bought the second today. I also picked up a copy of The Great Gatsby which I LOVED reading back in Shuman’s class and perhaps it’s my nostalgia for America, but I want to give it a second go.

Emma, our other friend Holly, and myself are going to the Hunter Valley this weekend (I’ll either be there or back by the time I get around to actually posting this though I guess) and I am so excited to do a mini road trip and get out of the city. It’s only about 2 hours away from the Sydney but it’s a completely different world. I’ll be surrounded by some of the finest wine in Australia and I can’t wait to taste it all! We get back on Sunday sometime in the late afternoon where I go to the YHA again for a couple nights before I move into my new home in Glebe for the month. I’ve spent the past week next to the YHA at a different cheaper hostel and I can’t wait to get the fuck out of here and back to the 5 star hostel. I’d rather not dwell on the negatives and re-live how shitty this place was now that I’m leaving tomorrow morning, so I won’t go into it, but just know it was dirty and gross and there were rude Danish boys in my room who I wanted to punch in the face everyday.

I suppose that’s it for now. This was another doosie (how do you spell that??) but I’ve had a lot on my mind and keep forgetting to share it here. Also, just a reminder that I know it’s not as exciting that I’m in Australia anymore since I’ve been here just over a month now, but that doesn’t mean I still don’t want to hear from you! I got so many emails from people back home my first two weeks here and now when I check it’s mostly Ruelala which just depresses me because they don’t ship internationally. Even if you think you’re life is so boring there couldn’t possibly be anything to share, I still want to hear form you! Just say hi- it doesn’t have to be anything too epic. I miss you guys and America more than you know…