First Post from Australia!

Ok, so I'm finally able to update my blog. Its been a long 2 (3?) days to say the least.

I started out leaving for the airport in Indy at 10am, and arrived at the airport in brisbane at about 4:30pm the next day. Sort of weird that I flew out of one airport in Indianapolis and I'll fly back into the shiny new one.

I flew through Denver to get to LAX, where I had about a 7 hour layover. So after lugging my bags to check in for my Qantas flight, I took a free shuttle to the Crowne Plaza, right next to 24hr Fitness to work out. Then I walked to the ATM to deposit some money, and on the way back I had to stop at In n' Out Burger, due to its reference in the Big Lebowski, and praise from anyone who has lived in California. It was good, I must say, but not the best burger I've ever had. I saw a British Airways 747 land overhead when I was walking back, and it was so close I could see the vortices coming off of the wings.

I got back to LAX, which was a complete zoo at this point in the International Terminal because of all the departures to Pacific destinations at night. Plus the gate was packed with a bunch of groups. World Youth Day is in Sydney this year, and half a million people are going to see the Pope. I think flights were so hard to come by many people were flying through Brisbane. Adding the basketball teams into the fold, I think my other DU traveling companions and I were the only travelers not on a team or in a prayer group.

The flight was shorter (13 hours) and much less stressful than I was expecting. They served supper right after we got on (I had Seared Salmon with caper butter and green beans), and sort of left you alone until breakfast time. The pillows and blankets were freshly cleaned and plastic wrapped, and the biggest and best I've ever had on an airplane. I slept, not always deeply, but slept nonetheless for a solid 9 hours of the flight, which made it really tolerable.

After clearing immigration and customs (very friendly but very serious about their restrictions), we met our driver and went to our apartments. It was so weird being on the left side of the road, even though I had done it before. Upon arrival they hadn't had time to move out the people in the apartment I'm moving into, so for the night I'm on a rollaway in the living room of someone I know.

We then walked around downtown, in the rain at first but it cleared later. I think we were ok with the rain cause it kept temperatures down. The driver remarked that we'd miss the summer because we're leaving in November, as if we would be sorry to miss the 40 degree (thats 100's in Fahrenheit) humid weather. This is a very clean, sleek, beautiful city. I purchased a cell phone and calling card, and walked around so we could gain our bearings.

Its really weird not to be constantly connected like I am in the states- I'm used to having my phone, and getting my email and checking facebook, and never losing touch with the world. Its pretty different here. No internet in the apartments (I don't feel like paying 60 bucks a month for only 5GB of transfer), and my cell phone is very spartan.

As I said before, I'm having some issues dealing with everything defaulting to the left. Its not just driving, its walking, crossing streets, and I even absent mindedly tried to go down the up escalator before seeing the people coming towards me. Its sort of odd.

But so far everyone we've met has been very friendly, so what they say about Australians being laid back and friendly is true. Despite everything being expensive and level 6 water restrictions (Queensland is in its worst dry spell in over a century. 4 minute showers are suggested), this seems like a pretty happy city and an interesting place to spend the next few months.