Back to Reality….

Spring Break has come and gone and the second half of our program has begun. I am working Tuesday-Friday at SMART (an advertising agency with amazing people and amazing clients). I work 9-5 doing interny thing (getting coffee so often that the guy lets me come behind the counter now and ordering couriers to the point that the man knows where I’m from on the phone and asks me a new question every time – borderline scary) and important things too (powerpoints of client presentations, editing press releases, planning corporate events, etc.). I really do love coming to work everyday! I especially love my lunch breaks in the local park where I read, write in my journal or nap. The weather has been incredible making those breaks the best!
Everyone also takes one class during this part. Sophie, Marisa, Ted and I are in Australian Literature with Sharon (the woman in charge of the summer travel writing program). We have this class twice a week. So far, we have read one book called My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin. I really liked it because it was a Victoria novel, Jane Austin-esque. The main character was enough to make you want to scream but that’s why I loved it I think. The tension of the novel has got to be intentional in order to provoke the lovers in the story. But this isn’t a term paper about it so I won’t bore you…
Other than that, life has been GREAT! It was very strange adjusting to the city life and the flow of things again after such a freeing break, but I think most of us have succeeded in doing so.
Dad and Tori got here last Friday and I have been spending lots of time with them ever since. We (Marisa, Ted, Dad, Tor, and I) walked the whole city and saw the Botanical Gardens, the Opera House, Sydney Harbor at Circular Quay and the Domain. We went to an Easter Vigil service on Saturday night at St. Mary’s Cathedral by Hyde Park (where the Pope is coming for World Youth Day this summer). It was sooo moving (but a little long at the end of that day!). The service started out pitch black and the priests, etc. came from the back of the church and forward lighting everyone’s hand-held candles along the way. Once everyone was holding a light, the choir sang giving me chills all over. Incredible.
The next morning, EASTER, we went to the Darling Harbor Convention Center for Easter service by Hillsong Church. They were definitely excited about the day and a little intense for me. But hey – HE HAS RISEN! We danced a lot and then made our way to a sidewalk café in the harbor for breakfast. We toasted the day with Mimosas and I sat in appreciation that I was with a group of people that means the world to me (Ted, Marisa, Dad and Tori).
That day, Dad moved into his apartment in Coogee (a beach suburb). We set up the house, walked down to the beach, met up with Soph/ Seph/ Jen so they could meet Dad and Tori and then went home to rest. OH and we got ice cream from a south American place Marisa and I LOVE. BEST EVER! That night, Ted came and met us and we all went out to dinner at a Thai Eatery by the beach. It was AMAZING – sooo gooood. Dad is keeping us healthy while he is here…I normally can’t afford so many food groups on one plate! After dinner, we all hung out at home and then went to sleep.
The next day, we went grocery shopping for our ‘family’ of five and then hung out at the beach all day. Afterwards, we went home and I got to COOK! We made fig and balsamic glazed albacore tuna steaks, pasta with sun-dried tomatoes and basil sauce and salad with gab’s dressing (a favorite of Dad’s and Ted’s). Later on, Marisa made us brownies. We were each in our own little cooking heavens! After, we finished an excellent day by watching High School Musical One and Two. YESSSSSSSS. Trey would have been proud!
Unfortunately, the four day Easter weekend came to an end and I am now at work. Whenever there is a lull I get to blog. Haha.
Tuesday was just another day at work and then class and working on a project; no fun. I ate a $2 dollar sushi roll for dinner; just a little taste of what life will be like again once dad leaves...bummer! Wednesday, though, was FUN FUN FUN. I went to work knowing that I was going to get to model for an 'Impulse' ad (Unilever product). When I arrived, I was asked to call Tori and invite her to be another model for the shoot. The pictures are a replica of an ad that ran already and will be used for inter-industry publications and communications as well as for award ceremonies and accreditation. We dressed up as different girl personalities (I was the flirty/girly one, Tori was the rebellious, clubbing one and another girl, Cynthia, was the fancy, pretty one). We sat in various street locations as beggars, "begging for romance." The pictures are adorable to say the least! We kept getting thanks and praise for filling in but I saw it as something I should be grateful for. It was SO much fun; how many people can say they modeled in Australia!? Tori and dad went to the beach, I worked, then we all met up near my home for dinner. Dad took Marisa, Ted, Steph, Tori and I out for Spanish tapas on Glebe Street. It was INCREDIBLE!!! We had sangria, paella, fried zucchini, tuna croquettes, avocado salad and lamb skewers. YUM. Atfer, we went to an art exhibit that closed ten minutes after we got there...I'm going back! We, then, got dessert at our favorite place, Badde Mannors, and Marisa, Ted, and I went back with the fam to the beach house. There was an incredible lightning storm after we were all settled in that lit up the sky with such elegance. It was breathtaking. We stayed up late watching Marisa make muffins for the morning and then slept only to wake up to a beautiful, sun-sparkling ocean view.
On Friday, Tori moved into the Unilodge for the night and got to go out with the 'Big Kids'. We eneded up going dancing at a place in the Rocks with a bunch of BU kids. That was a blast as Tori got to meet the people I'm surrounded with and talk to some actual Australians. The next day, Dad came and checked out BUSC (our school building), walked through Sydney University (witnessed the Harry Potter-like place with his own eyes), and then we walked to Newtown. Dad and Tori thought the walk was pretty long (I had never noticed since this is the first week I've had a car here). We got to a GREAT cafe and enjoyed a YUMMY and filling lunch in a beer garden/patio. Afterwards, we looked in some shops (of course) and a cool used bookshop. When we were all done, we went back and collected Marisa and Ted and headed to Coogee. By the time we made it back, there was only time for an hour at the beach before it go really cold. Ted and I enjoyed the sun, Dad went on a run along the cliffs, and Tori and Marisa relaxed in their favorite spot: in front of the TV. haha. That night, Tori and dad went to the Opera and saw an Italian Comedy about royalty, Marisa baked and took a bath in our spa tub and ted and I went out to dinner on Coogee Bay Road and watched the waves roll in in the dark (my favorite!).
The next day, we woke up bright and early and went to Hunter Valley (the Napa of Australia). It was incredible!!! So pretty. After driving two hours to get there, we followed a great itinerary created by Ted's boss and had a ton of fun. We sampled champagne, chocolate (best 'caramel kiss' everrrr) and great wines. I learned so much about them and came to an important life conclusion. I HATE red wine (too bad for red meat pairing) and love dry, oaky whites like the bottle of Verdehlo that I bought. The wineries were all so unique and welcoming. My favorite one looked like an old mission with white washed walls, high ceilings and open verandas with a calming breeze. Towards the end of the day, we went to lunch at Cafe Enzo and enjoyed the most refreshing food in a piazza-type garden. It was so relaxing! At the end of the day, we headed back and all plopped in front of the TV for the rest of the night.
On Monday, dad and tori enjoyed the beach while the three of us had to go to a cemetery for literature class. NOT FUN and therefore will not be retold here but merely stated for a record of where I was. That night, we celebrated dad's birthday. Ted came up with the BEST idea ever for dad and the second he suggested it, I started planning because I knew it would be the greatest plan. We took dad, without him knowing, to a cliff rock in Vaucluse in a national park and watched the sunset with wine and cheese. Tori and I bought a bottle at the winery (sneaky sneaky) and Ted and Marisa bought wine from the one winery that was closed back in Sydney. Dad LOVED it to say the least. We talked, laughed and took amazing pictures. It was a golden memory that will never be forgotten.
Tuesday reality struck and I had to go to work...bummer! I was so sleepy the whole day and had a LOT to do (I need sleep!) That night, Ted and Marisa came to Coogee and we cooked dinner- chicken with fig, fresh tortellini, broccoli and salad. YUM! After getting gelato and watching the nighttime waves, we went to sleep. On Wednesday, I didn't go to work and instead visited the Hyde Park Barracks with dad and tori and then went to Darling Harbor for lunch. We ate at a sea food place in the harbor where dad got kangaroo that we all got to try! It was SOOO yummy...like steak but without the same taste. So juicy! YUM. After all that, dad and tori brought me back to the lodge (in time to do an assignment due that night) and left for the airport. Having them here was incredible but it still doesn't feel like they have left...since I didn't stay with them the whole time I feel like they are just around the corner!
This week is almost over and then I will be off to the Blue Mountains...the adventures keep on coming :)
That's all for the Schaefer adventures (plus Ted and Marisa)...until our next trip around the world!
xoxo