9/25/2015
Sydney, Australia
The remainder of the day when I last signed off was spent
indoors packing, cooking, and playing around the house. Madeline’s little
sister and I danced around with tap shoes on, learned some ballet moves, and
practiced our gymnastics. I got to try Madeline’s mom’s Texas chili for dinner
(it was delicious), and then we said our temporary goodbyes as we left for the
train station in Newcastle to head towards Sydney.
The train was, as most transportation on this trip has been,
uneventful. I read and listened to music, and after about 2 ¼ hours we arrived
at Central Station. The weather was brutally cold, and we had our full luggage,
so Madeline and I opted to catch an uber to her friend Ella’s home instead of
continuing our journey through public transport. While we were waiting for the
car to arrive, we both ducked into the restroom to stay warm underneath the
hand dryers (good survival tip for anyone stuck out camping in the cold). The
uber ride was very exciting, as we drove through the downtown area of Sydney
and past many extremely beautiful buildings. Ella lives in the part of town
called Petersham, and we arrived at her house not too much later. The evening
was nice and full of tea, but we all hit the hay after catching up enough to
tide us over until the morning. The conversation was extremely interesting though,
and I learned a lot about the differences in Australian and American university
structures, as well as the intricacies of the Australian government structure
and the prime minister election. One thing that I found fascinating is the fact
that there is not a set election date in Australia, and the ruling party can
call an election anytime within a 3 year period as long as they give one month
notice. It’s very different from the US, and helps to limit the length of the
campaign period.
When we woke up the next morning we had a hard time figuring
out what to do since the weather was so bad. We ended up deciding that we would
head towards Bondi beach and hope to get a bit of a walk in before the ran
started. We took 2 trains and a bus to get there, and the beach was absolutely
beautiful. Because of the winds from the rain, the waves were massive, and
looked like they were a surfer’s paradise. The beaches in Australia truly are
some of the most beautiful in the world. There is a path along the coast that
connects all of the different beaches in the area. We started walking down it,
and made it about half a mile before the rain started to pick up. At one turn
of the path the wind was so strong that I was able to lean my entire body
weight forward and could be supported enough by the wind not to fall. I was entertained
by the phenomena, but we couldn’t stay long because the rain was pelting down
and we needed to seek shelter quickly. Luckily Ella’s parents lived really
close by, so we ducked into their home to wait out the storm, and then took a
bus back towards the train station to grab lunch before departing ways.
Lunch was at a great restaurant called Bondi Harvest. It was extremely fresh food. I ordered a quinoa salad, tabbouleh and grilled chicken, and felt like a rock star for eating so healthily. After lunch Madeline and I picked up our bags from Ella’s house, and then ubered over to the intercontinental, where we will be staying until we leave on Monday. The hotel is SO nice, and the location is unbelievable. We are right by the harbor, and can see the bridge and opera house from the rooms. The Botanical Gardens are just across the street as well.
We got to the hotel just in time to get ready for the rehearsal
and rehearsal dinner. The dinner was fantastic, and its location was just
superb. It was at a restaurant called Italian Village which was just on the
waterfront in the harbor. The décor was charming, and the room was buzzing with
energy and excitement for the couple. Dinner was a well-planned three course
meal, accompanied by an open bar. Madeline’s mom, brother, and brother’s fiancé
Penny all gave speeches. We ended the night by walking by the harbor back to
the hotel.
Today has been a great day. We woke up and had breakfast
with the full family up in the club on the top floor of the hotel. The food was
great (especially the local Greek yogurt!), but the view was even better. It
was to die for. I felt unbelievably grateful to the Keulen’s for being so
welcoming and gracious hosts. Much of this trip has been composed of experiences
that I wouldn’t be able to have on my own for many more years. After breakfast
Madeline went to the OW office, so I walked around the downtown area, and saw
beautiful sites like the Queen Victoria Building and some new parts of the
harbor. Afterwards we continued to explore the area (and were rained on,
again). We walked back to the hotel around 12:30, and on stopped on the way for
a quick bite. I had chicken schnitzel sushi (I just had to try it, I would
never see such a thing in the states). It was OK, but not something I would try
and have again.
At 2:45 we left the hotel again, but this time to go see my
work! The Bain Sydney office is just down the street from where we’re staying.
I e-mailed an AC asking to be shown around the office, and she graciously did
just that. The office is brand new, and it is absolutely awesome. They have
views of the Opera house and bridge, and can see across all of Sydney from the
45th floor. The office is equipped with interesting features too,
like standing desks and themed bays. It was a great space, and I hope that I
will have the opportunity to work there in the future. Afterwards Madeline had
some wedding things to do, so I set off on foot to explore more. I passed the
Opera House, strolled through the breathtaking Botanical Gardens (a must-see!),
walked through the Queen’s Square, saw St. Mary’s Cathedral, the Sydney
Hospital, passed the Hyde Park Barracks, and passed many more beautiful
buildings. I walked for about 2 hours straight, but I really got to feel the
beat of the city and witness some of the more beautiful amenities it has to
offer.
I’m back at the room now and enjoying a nice night in. The
wedding is tomorrow, so I’m hoping to get some good sleep and save my energy
for all of the festivities. I can’t wait!
