compromise is key

current location: Calypso Hostel in Cairns Australia...
Flight time: 3.5 hours

It is sometimes really hard to make sense of certain life lessons. These past few days have consisted of a lot of planning and I've been having a hard time coming to terms with some of the outcomes...

I'm really trying to grasp that fact that it is impossible to do do everything. I wish there were more hours in a day, more dollars in my wallet, and less places I really wanted to see (well not really the last one but it would make my life much easier...)

So since I have been in Sydney, I have met numerous new family members and I am trying to cater to all of them...I have these relatives who want to take me here, show me this, take me to this restaurant, etc. but how am I supposed to fit everything in to make everyone happy?

Prior to leaving the states, a wise friend wrote to me and told me that many people are going to try and make this trip theirs...and I'm coming to find this out. People are telling me I should do this, that, and everything in between and it's becoming quite stressful. "This trip is your own" were the exact words that were written to me and I am really starting to read into this a little more. I came into this experience with no expectations and like she said, I will have the rest of my life to digest it all so it is not necessary to do so right now. It is odd though, because as I am writing this I am feeling like this past week has been a slight disconnect from my "own" trip. 

I initially planned on hopping over to New Zealand for a week during my 3 weeks below the equator. Well, things just didn't work out...there is no way financially (thank you boulder at owl's peak) and time wise, I was going to be able to swing a trip to NZ. Upon arriving in Sydney I realized that family has to be more a priority...meeting everyone, let alone dining and such with all of them, there was just not enough time to do the trip.

This was a tough conclusion to come to. I have to constantly tell myself that it is ok to not do it all...and it is virtually impossible to do everything that I want to do...I am justifying cutting NZ out of my itinerary by telling myself that when I have more money and more friends to travel with, I will make it there. Maybe a future adventure after grad school...honeymoon??

But yes. Instead of someone else telling me "no," I had to tell myself this time. I had to come to the conclusion and be the bearer of bad news to myself. It's easy to talk and blab on about all of these things, but it really took me a while to realize this. Specific points in my life stick out and I believe this one will be added to the list...really understanding the concept of not being able to do it all. I am always going going and trying to manage to fit everything in to a tightly organized schedule to please everyone including myself. But this time, compromise is necessary and the justification to visiting NZ in the future made it ok.

So since my post I have been moving around quite a lot-ahhh what's new...I'm going to provide a quick recap of the past week...

Josh and Mina were my tour guides for a day and took me to Bondi Beach where we sat and people watched for about an hour. It reminded me of California...Laguna beach especially...There was a cute little town with beautiful sandy beaches lined with a boardwalk and plenty of surfers and people to watch. We continued our day and went to The Gap, the Sydney Tower, and then finished our day at Darling Harbor.

Next day. I went to the ZOO!!! I first went to a yoga class in the morning to talk to the manager at the studio and practice-then started my day...I walked to Circular Quay, hopped on a ferry to the zoo-which was absolutely incredible! I will upload photos when I actually am using my own computer. I saw giraffes, zebras, elephants, crocodiles, monkeys, chipanzees, koalas, kangaroos, etc. You name it I saw it. Then I returned to Darling Harbor for a relaxing evening.

Next day. I woke up and taught a yoga class! Raised close to $200!! 
https://www.z2systems.com/np/clients/ayoga/campaign.jsp?campaign=7
Help it you can!! :) then Aunty Junghee picked me up and I started a new family adventure.

We went for a quick lunch at a nearby beach which was beautiful-then she took me to their house-greeted by Boo (the mini-poodle/bichon) who is adorable! Hung out at the house all day-she made lamb shank curry (YUM!). After dinner we watched The Hangover while she showed me family photos.

Next day. I woke up pretty early and went to Sydney University with Sam (my cousin). She showed me around the campus (very Hogwart's like) and then we went home. Went to dinner on the North Shore-cute little Thai place...then to Firehouse for her friend's bday drinks. I met some of her law school friends-we mingled then went home.

Next day. Woke up early-went to the fish market (indulged in lobster, calamari, sush/sashimi, octopus, soup) returned home to attempt a cheese cake-failed horribly. We ate some freshly steamed scallops, went to dinner at my mom's other cousins house where I got to see a lot of my grandfather's side of my family-we went home and passed out.

Next day. Woke up early-headed down to the harbor for "island hopping." Turns ous they're filming "My Kitchen Rules" on Goat Island (some sort of reality cooking show) so we sat and waited to get free food. I got roasted chicken, potato salad and greens-Izzy got Thai spring rolls, chicken and an Asian coleslaw-Emo got a salmon patty with a salad-Olivia got squid with risottoe...YUM...we voted and rushed out to catch a ferry which we ended up missing-next island was Shark Island-absolutely beautiful...I touched a crocodile and there were beautiful views of the harbor. Next was Clark island where we were greeted by aboriginal people...they gave us a welcoming ceremony consisting of "smoking' us and talking to us about their culture. This was followed by a dance by the children. We walked around and wound up back at the dock and I tried kangaroo!! (weirdly delicious!)

We returned home, rested for a while, then I was off again. Thank goodness Sam and I wear the same size because I borrowed a dress from her and shoes from emo...and we were off to Bernard's house. His house in immaculate-everything is placed so neatly and arranged strategically...the artwork splayed across the walls and the furniture perfectly places in each room exuberated elegance. It is a beautiful home...after meeting his parents, we headed out-there was a band and ton of people...the night was good, met a lot of their friends, strolled home-stayed in his guest house...

I have found that the night life in Sydney is quite similar to that in the US. There are girls who are over dressed and trying way too hard, guys who are super macho and into themselves, and a ton of people who are entirely too drunk. It was quite entertaining to people watch and even observe Sam and B's friends. I liked them-they all seemed very relaxed and pretty down to Earth.

Blah lots more to write but must head out...I just planned a ridiculous week and will be moving nonstop...
tomorrow is sky diving, tuesday is rainforest/waterfall hopping, wednesday is scuba diving/snorkling on the great barrier reef, thursday is bunjy jumping, and friday back to sydney!


Hopefully I'll find time to post-and promises of photos next time!!!! xx