Leap

Today is February 29th, a day that only comes once every 4 years, in a 'leap' year. 
Having an extra day in February is great in Australia - it's summer. Not so good in Canada.
In stepping off the edge I am taking a leap, a huge leap, out of my comfort zone.
I am taking "a leap of faith",   I have an abundance of faith and so far it is paying off.   
I like this quote:
"I advise you to say your dream is possible then overcome all inconveniences, ignore all the hassles and take a running leap through the hoop, even if it is in flames."  Les Brown
No flames yet.

Shopping in Adelaide

So here I am with time on my hands and a need to shop for groceries and necessities.
I usually come home from school around 6 and my bus stops at a large 3 story shopping centre.
Great, time to kill, wander around and browse - not!
All the stores close at 5 every day except Thursdays. That's right, they're not even open Friday night!
Grocery stores, Woolworths (yes, you read it right) and KMart are open until 9 most evenings but nothing else. Oh and yes they do have Target here but not with the same American products.
I don't know what teenagers here do for part-time jobs.  Perhaps their need to shop is less than Canadians as they all wear school uniforms. 
The other night I was walking through the empty mall and there were two gaming stores full of young men playing games at tables?!

 Here is a photo of something I found amusing. I don't think this name would go over well in America! 

On the move again

 
Those of you who know me know that I had lived in the same house in Edmonton for 25 years! 
Well now I have moved three times in 10 days! 
Today I moved into a home that is much less expensive, in the same convenient neighbourhood, the only other person living here is the owner, a woman my age, and it is cooler - I have air conditioning (it hit 41^oC on the weekend) and heating for the cold winters I have been warned about.
The neighbourhood is called Seacombe Gardens. I like the name.  It is 3 blocks to the University bus and a large shopping mall that has everything I need. 
The house has a beautiful garden with a lavender hedge out the front and pink oleander, geranium, hibiscus, other flowering shrubs and palms in the backyard.  Like many homes in Australia the attached garage opens to the backyard and there is a covered outdoor eating area off the kitchen.
And it is quiet!
I hope to be here for awhile.  Moving is stressful, I am tired, good night.

What a difference a week makes

I have:

some new friends;
a nice place to live;
a cell phone number;
spent a week at school;
a space to work on campus;
an idea for my dissertation topic;
a student card;
made my way around the city on the bus; and
applied for an Australian bank account. 

Today I went downtown for the first time on the tram. I poked around some of the Adelaide Fringe Festival, the third largest in the world after Edmonton. Here is a photo of a pedestrian mall in the downtown.

 And I am feeling better after Skyping with Keith and Stef!

My Friends

It's so nice to receive comments on my blog. Thanks to those of you who have responded.

I appreciate my friends and miss you too.

I mentioned earlier that at my farewell party I was given a whole stash of turquoise envelopes and each one had a different message about when to open it. I found one yesterday that said “Open when you’re homesick”. It helped.

In the last week I have made many new friends.  I now have 15 classmates I am getting to know.   I have met some of the faculty in the school and they’re welcoming, helpful and make time for me.  

My landlord Karen has become a friend and took me for a swim at Kingston Park beach (above) today followed by the obligatory drink at the local surf club. It is 39^o C!

Sad

Today Keith went home. I am now all alone. I miss him and my daughters.

*With credit to Allie Brosch, Hyperbole and a Half and my daughter Stef's Blog.