Our first planned long-term stop we determined would be Australia. After months of traveling in dozens of countries, some of which were as far as you could get from the western world, we thought it would be a good idea to take a break in an English speaking nation.

We were quick to find that renting an apartment in Sydney was a formidable task. We had been dreaming of an apartment with a kitchen in central Sydney at a reasonable price and found quickly, that was easier said than done. If we found an apartment with a full kitchen it was miles away from anywhere we would want to be and would warrant a cab or train ride into the city every day we wanted to explore. And in the city we were shocked to find that one-bedroom prices were comparable to those in NYC.

We moved in right away and I did something that I never in my life have done in so much haste...I unpacked. Usually my suitcase will slowly lose contents over a week or two after being home from a trip, as if I want to hang on to the idea that I am still somewhat not back to the real world. But not this time. Every item was put in a drawer or on a hanger, I filled the cabinets and even organized our nightstands. It is amazing how quickly someplace can feel like home depending on how much you want it to.

Ofer and I spent about a month and a half in that apartment. We got a gym membership, found a few favorite restaurants in the area and even got addicted to some Australian television (Junior Master Chef). Ofer signed up with a Spanish tutor for biweekly lessons and I began a 3 week photography program.

We also began taking salsa lessons at a studio just a few blocks from our apartment. We had decided that we wanted to work on a salsa dance to perform at the wedding. The plan was to do our normal ‘first dance’ as bride and groom but later in the night to come out and surprise the guests with a dance we had choreographed. We had a fantastic teacher and he helped us to choreograph an entire 3 minute routine complete with dips and lifts. For those of you who were at the wedding you know how that dance actually went but check out the link below to see what it was supposed to look like.

We didn’t do too much site seeing while we were in Sydney since we wanted to avoid being tourists for a bit. However we did manage to visit the aquarium and zoo in Darling Harbor. We also discovered Sydney though our favorite medium: food. Some of our favorite dishes were Bugs (crawdad like crustaceans...yumm), steaks at a steakhouse I wish I remembered the name of, arugula, beets and goat cheese salad and yogurt with fruit and granola, something never had really tried but now can’t imagine living without.

After less than a week in Sydney we agreed that it was time we started seeing other people. Ofer joined a online network called A Small World. Once a member of the network you can arrange get-togethers in the place that you live or while you are abroad. It is a way to meet other professionals who happen to be in the same area. We hit the jackpot on our first Small World night out. The night was arranged by a man named Derrick and we were lucky enough to meet him amongst the crowd at his party. I don’t know if I should call Derrick a doctor who surfs or a surfer who happens to be a doctor.

For the first week or so of knowing him Ofer and I had no idea he was a doctor we just thought he spent all of his time on surf excursions around the world. But soon we discovered that he is an ER doctor with some of the most horrific stories we had ever heard. Through Derrick we had the absolute pleasure of meeting Laura, Moreno and Kate and a few other of his friends.

Ofer also experimented with a site called Meetup.com that has a similar concept. Once again Ofer and I met some fantastic people like Kim, Michelle, Matt and Sue-Ellen. We spent our first Thanksgiving abroad with Kim, Michelle and some of their friends, most of whom were also expats living in Australia. Ofer and I had some of our best nights and conversations with the people we met in Australia. It was a fantastic experience to see that no matter where we are in the world that we really can create friendships that prove to be incredibly fulfilling.

After a good amount of time in Australia here are some of the things we have learned. Australians have a deep need to shorten every word they can....breakfast: brekky, university: uni, present: prezzie, barbecue: barbie, and vegatable: veg...and this was not just in oral speech it was written on signs everywhere. Seagulls are the most aggressive free-roaming animal I have ever seen, they have no class and get right up in your face and squawk and nip at you until you leave their spot. And the Melbourne cup is my kinda sport: 3 and a half minute race that warrants time off work, organizing a beautiful outfit and massive amounts of drinking.

Ofer and I loved our time in Australia and will always see it as our home away from home and the first place we ever lived together!