July 11, 2005

Ok so what’s happened-we arrived in Sydney Sunday at 6:45 AM. We cleared immigrations and customs and around 10 AM we had checked our bags in so we didn’t have to carry them around. Somehow we organized about 28 of us to take a bus into the city. We took one big bus and one little one. When we got there we split p. Some of s walked through a market and then went and ate at a pub. After the pub we walked up the bridge to look out over the city and opera house. We saw a rainbow. Oh my goodness, it was cold in Sydney. After we walked across the bridge we headed towards the water and got ice cream. We then walked up to the opera house. We met the bus at 3:15 because we had to get back to the airport to get checked in. It was wonderful that we got to do so much in the brief time we were in Sydney. At the airport I called Mom-she was at JJ and Bills. 

We were all delirious and I hardly remember the flight to Darwin. We got into Darwin around midnight. Went straight to the room, I showered-Erin was my roommate and I went to bed. I slept well. In the morning me Erin, Dylan, and Joe walked down to the wharf. They ate kangaroo and crocodile. We walked back through down town and then headed back to the hotel. At 1:45 PM we left for the airport. Now I am on the plane to DILI!!!!!!

I am finally nervous and I can’t believe it is actually happening. The plane we are on seats only 28 people. It is so small. I really can’t believe I am actually going. No way to describe it. In about 40 minutes reality is going to hit me like a ton of bricks. This dream will finally be a reality. The next chapter of my life will have begun. Since that night in Tanzania (over 2 years ago), I knew I had to do something and now I am doing it!

I am in Dili!!! Oh my god. Seriously, this is unbelievable. It is beautiful and surreal. I don’t have words really to describe it except unbelievable. I am in awe that I am finally here. When landing we could see little villages and the coast line. When we actually landed it was all palm trees and SO green. We got off our tiny plane and were greeted by 2 Peace Corps staff and then they cleared us through customs, we got our bags and then we were greeted by other volunteers. We then squished into a Land Rover and drove through Dili. How do I describe it? Beautiful. The ocean is right there on one side and then the rest is houses and small shops. It is very run down but still beautiful. All the embassies stick out a lot. We drove through town to a hotel where we were greeted by the CD and more staff. We got to watch the sunset and it as just unbelievable. One of the most majestic sites I have ever seen and to think I am going to live here for 2 years-I am lucky!

Then we went inside and Bill (the medical guy) gave us some warnings. We also filled out a bunch of papers. We got to eat dinner and then just talked to current volunteers. I am so excited to get started. Oh BUGS already-It is a roach or something0in the bathroom, good thing I’m not Lindsay!