Wednesday, January 26, 2011

The End has Come

Today I leave Sydney for my last flight home. When I think about my trip I do feel like I have been gone for a while, yet at the same time it has flown by. I just can’t believe that I am going home. I can’t believe that my trip is over, all that planning and saving. I never thought about after my trip, about how I will feel or what I will do. I have actually mentioned it before that I just figured things would fall into place once I returned.

I am so excited to see my family and hug them all. I am excited to see friends and all the small things, but I have to say that if I had another month or two I would take it. I am finally relaxed, I don’t feel like I am in a rush, like I have a million things to do or need to always be somewhere. I feel very calm, very sure and I don’t know if that comes from a 5 month trip or from seeing and experiencing different things on this trip.

It will be interesting to get home and see how I feel. To see how I like it there and what I decide to do. Either way as much as I could vacation for another month I am excited for whatever the future holds, especially this next year ;)

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Can one Weekend be any Better?

My weekend has been great, not that I would expect anything less with my amazing hosts. I have to say my month in Sydney has been wonderful and mainly due to the fact that my aunt and cousins have done a great job showing me around and keeping me busy. I have had great food, spent days at all the beaches and drank lots of yummy wine.


On Friday my cousins and I decided to make it a girls night, we started at the Ivy, which is a hip area in the city, it is basically a multi level lounge/club. There is a rooftop pool, cabanas and delicious drinks. After a drink there we headed to The Rocks Markets, which is an outdoor markets they set up close to the Harbour Bridge. We chowed down on some Italian food and then walked the markets. Our night was topped off with drinks over looking the city. I think we got the best seats in the house and a full moon lighting up the entire city. What a view; looking over the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House with the moon lighting everything up! I know seeing this is something that will stay with me forever.


Yesterday Samira, Frank, Jonah and I went to the wildlife center, after all I had to see some Kangaroos and Koalas before I go home. Our morning was spent there seeing all the insects, animals and reptiles of Australia. We grabbed a delicious lunch by the water and headed home. In the evening it was time for me and Sara to have our big night out! We had some drinks and headed out to see Roger Sanchez! It was a good night ;) You know you had fun when you go out in heals and come home in flip flops!


Today I had to face the truth and start packing. Yes I am finally coming home and boy do I have a load to pack. I shipped my summer clothes here and was thinking to take them back with me, but between that and the shopping I have done here I don’t know if I can get through the airport with all my luggage! Anyway, with my aunt’s help we managed to pack 2 suitcases and I am praying they are the correct weight.


In the evening, Samira and Frank invited us over for my final dinner at their house. If you knew what great cooks they are you would have been as excited as I was. They have truly treated me while I have been here, I have had some amazing food and tonight topped it off! I think we had about a 7 or 8 course meal...I lost track after number 4. It was a seafood extravaganza. We had grilled scallops, grilled Haloomi Cheese, raw oysters, grilled prawns, corn, salad and just in case that was not enough, we had lobster topped with yumminess. It was amazing...oh wait we also had dessert, which I dont’ remember what it was, by that point I was in a food coma!

It was a great night and Frank and Samira out did themselves. I told them now I will definitely come back :) Tomorrow is my last day, I am sure there are last minute things to get done. In the evening we are all getting together for one more feast here at my aunt’s house and then I will be leaving the following morning!

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Family


My cousin asked me today what the highlight of Sydney was. My response started with a few tourist things and then the more I thought about it the I realize, the highlight of Sydney has been being with my family. This trip has been amazing and one of the main reasons is because I have spent quality time with family members that I never thought I would. I never imagined the opportunity to be with my uncle in Iran for one month, just as I never thought I would be with my aunt in Iran for two weeks, just the 2 of us.

Now here I am in Sydney with my other Aunt and cousins and I just can’t help but be so happy that this time has come for me to be with them.


This is the time that I have spent with every member one on one and really enjoyed them. Tonight my aunt and I sat down after dinner and made CD’s, we laughed, sang and looked at old photos. We ended up filling each other glasses until we were laughing in our seats wondering where the time went. All I can think is this is a blessing, tonight will never happen again and I am so happy we had this. Just as I am so happy to have had these times with family throughout my trip. I keep quoting my uncle and remembering him here, we laughed so much together and I just can’t ask for anything more.

I took this trip to be me, to relax and enjoy life, to learn what I like and don’t. I have now walked out a better person for having this time with the people I love. I never realized the value of this...not until now. Now I am beyond thankful for all the time and joy I have had with my family. These moments are irreplaceable. This was a once in a lifetime trip. I see what my parents were saying now, I see why they pushed me to be with my family. I see so much of my life in the people I love and this has been amazing.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

A Celebration of Life

This week my family and I lost an amazing family member. Words can’t describe our shock and grief. I haven’t written much but a few notes to my family, especially to my cousins:


Consistently throughout my life my father has told me “the beauty of life is that it changes, nothing good or bad ever lasts.”

It has mainly been in the tough times that he has told me this, the times when I see no end, when I want to give up or I just don’t know why. Now I repeat it again but not only for me but for those I love, nothing bad ever lasts and times will change, I promise.

There is no way to know why some things happen and why they happen a certain way but we have to have faith that this was the way it was supposed to be. Right now you see no end to the pain but over time you will see brighter days and you will smile again.

Never are you alone, we are all here and we all love you. Hard times only make us stronger and appreciate the goods time more, and although we all know this, you never know what you have until it’s gone; now is the time to be thankful.

To my amazing cousins and family, I love you. You are stronger than you know and you will survive this. Not only will you survive but you will come out stronger than ever. From across the world we are constantly thinking of you all, sharing wonderful and funny memories and we are celebrating Amoo Ardeshir’s life!

Monday, January 10, 2011

It's Snowing in my City!

I can't believe that it is finally snowing in Atlanta and I am missing it! I can't complain and don't get me wrong I love where I am, but I can't help but admit that a part of me wishes I was in Atlanta.
I love cold weather and just love snuggling up to a good book on a snowy day and relaxing. I am sure everyone back home is loving their day off and hoping tomorrow will be the same. Take lots of pictures everyone and who knows maybe Atlanta will see more snow at the end of the month...it doesn't hurt to wish!

A Wonderful Weekend!

I had a wonderful weekend followed by a nice relaxing Monday. On Friday my cousin, Sara, and I went to the city to check out some sights and walk around. Sydney has a very nice downtown, it’s small compared to large cities but so inviting. You get the feel of large city with all the perks of small one. It is easy to walk everywhere without getting tiered and in every direction you look there is something to see. It is quite different coming from Atlanta where you have to drive everywhere you want to go and nothing is close together. In Sydney you can be in the Botanical Gardens and in a 5 minute walk you are standing next to the Opera House!

We saw the major sights and finished our day in downtown at a historic pub. It was nice, we sat outside close to the Harbour Bridge, had a few beers and ate. In the evening we went to my other cousins house for an amazing dinner and game night. Sadly my team lost in Taboo but in my defense it was the Australian version ;)

On Saturday we started our day early and headed out to Hunter Valley...my heaven...the land of wine! It was about a two hour drive and we spent the day at different vineyards sampling all of Australia’s greatest wines. The day was beautiful and we were all together. Our weekend was topped off with a nice relaxing Sunday. Sara and I went for yoga in the morning and then we met Sami, Frank and Jonah at the beach. It was supposed to be a cloudy day but the forecasters couldn’t have been more wrong. It was an amazing day, blue skies, a nice breeze and the water was so refreshing. If you just dip your feet in you will think it’s far to cold but once you dive in you come out feeling invigorated.

After the beach we all went out for happy hour and pizza’s. A few Mojito’s later, Sara and I were ready to go out. We went to a local lounge for a drink and ended our night at a cute evening lounge. We found some friends along the way and had a pretty good night. Today on the other hand I was not feeling quite so happy. The older I get the more I realize I can’t drink whatever I want and get away with it. I should know better than to mix my liquor, but again I learned my lesson. Anyway it was a quiet day at home with my family!

Thursday, January 6, 2011

5 Months felt like 5 Weeks!

I can’t believe that I only have 3 weeks left of my trip. I knew it would end, but I never thought it would be so soon. The past 5 months have flown by and as much as I enjoyed every minute I still can’t believe that it is over. I know 3 weeks is still a good while and I am sure the next 3 weeks will be amazing but in comparison to 5 months 3 weeks is so short.

I miss my family and friends and when I think about coming home I am excited but when I really think about being home for longer than a week I start feeling uncertain. I just don’t think I am ready to come back, I wish I had another month or two. I still don’t know where I want to go. I am now in a hunt for jobs anywhere but Atlanta. I am actually starting to look in Sydney...just for the hell of it. I mean why not, what do I have waiting for me in Atlanta? I wish I had a clear answer of where I should go, it’s hard trying to figure it out. I have lived in Atlanta my entire life and to move, well it’s a big deal!

I want to be sure of what I am doing and make the right choices. I keep thinking about home, my life there, my friends. You see, being away makes you realize so many things like: who your true friends are, what you really like and who you really like, what you want to do and how much your family plays a role in your life.

I have realized the lack of effort of some friends to keep in touch, friends that I thought would be better friends! Especially knowing some of the difficulties of my trip, not that I wanted anything from them but just something to show they cared. At the same time there were people that I didn’t expect any contact from that have kept in touch.

I see now how much I rely on my parents but even more how much they also rely on me. I miss them so much and there isn’t anything I need from them other than just having them in my life on a regular basis.

I know I am rambling but there is so much that one thinks about when they are away from their own environment. I am certain that the first few days of my arrival will be great and after that I will begin to think about getting away again. I am happy that my Motto is getting married and her bachelorette trip will be only a few weeks after I arrive. We will reunite in Vegas in early March and I am sure it will be a great time! At least it will be a great way to see all the girls and catch up. In the mean time if I can land some interviews out in California then that will be a great time to find a job...probably before the debauchery. I hope things work out and just fall into place. I hope I know what and where I want to go.

Monday, January 3, 2011

Welcome 2011!

I have been a bit lazy the past week with blogging. To be honest I haven’t had that much time and whenever I have had time I just wasn’t in the mood. Anyhow, I had a great 1st week in Sydney. My cousins and I have been busy going all over. We have spent a few days at the beach, which I love, but it is also what you do here. There are so many different beaches and all are great to see and go for a swim. It is very different for me coming from Atlanta, a city with no water around. Here you go to the beach for an hour or two and then get on with the rest of your day, whereas I am used to going on vacation to the beach and spending the entire day there. I love just going for a swim and some sun and then getting on with the rest of your day. Life is more relaxed here, well life is more relaxed everywhere but America.

On New Year's Eve my cousins and I went to a near by park and picnicked. Fireworks are the thing to do here and that is what everyone gathers to see when the clock strikes 12! In the States we get dresses up, go out and count down when the apple drops. It was different to be sitting in casual clothes, relaxed and without all the hype. the countdown was short and didn’t seem to even be the highlight of the night, it was the fireworks that people were waiting for. They were amazing to say the least. It wasn’t really that long but seeing them choreographed to music and shooting off the Harbour Bridge was stunning! No other fireworks will ever match up to watching them over the Sydney Harbour.

I really enjoyed having a casual and easy New Year’s Eve, it made me happy and I am excited about 2011. I feel as though it’s gonna be a great year! I have my list of resolutions and to my pleasant surprise I realized that all the resolutions I made last year, I achieved! Let’s see if I can say the same about this year.