Finally connected with your blog as I've wondered if (and when) you finally made it to your mission!
We lived in Auckland for about a month in June of 2009 (Jim was looking at a possible job there, which didn't pan out) and then visited Sydney and Brisbane for a couple of weeks before heading home so some of what you are seeing is familiar. (Really familiar was how long it took to get over the jet lag. I was falling asleep at 5:00 p.m. for a week!)
I'm amazed at how few people are attending the Temple in Sydney as it's not that hard to get to from the city -- we took the train and then got a cab the rest of the way from the closest train stop. I would love to be in a mission where I could attend the Temple on a weekly basis as we've been Temple Officiators for the past 5 years at Winter Quarters and in Columbus, Ohio, and have had to drive about three hours each way to go twice a month. Those Temple sessions were usually pretty full, so I think it's too bad that the Sydney Temple isn't well used!
We just initiated papers for our mission, so it will be interesting to see where we end up. Had we gone a little earlier, I would have liked to have gone back to Auckland as my cousin, F. Michael Watson, was in the Area Presidency there. He is now home, which is why you have a new Elder in that Presidency.
It has really been fun reading about your adventures, and comparing your first month to our month in Auckland -- especially things like the fact that you can't use too much electricity at a time or you blow a circuit. (I did that a few times in our apartment there!)
Be sure and tour NZ before you come home. It is the most beautiful place Jim and I have ever been -- especially the South Island.
Finally connected with your blog as I've wondered if (and when) you finally made it to your mission!
ReplyDeleteWe lived in Auckland for about a month in June of 2009 (Jim was looking at a possible job there, which didn't pan out) and then visited Sydney and Brisbane for a couple of weeks before heading home so some of what you are seeing is familiar. (Really familiar was how long it took to get over the jet lag. I was falling asleep at 5:00 p.m. for a week!)
I'm amazed at how few people are attending the Temple in Sydney as it's not that hard to get to from the city -- we took the train and then got a cab the rest of the way from the closest train stop. I would love to be in a mission where I could attend the Temple on a weekly basis as we've been Temple Officiators for the past 5 years at Winter Quarters and in Columbus, Ohio, and have had to drive about three hours each way to go twice a month. Those Temple sessions were usually pretty full, so I think it's too bad that the Sydney Temple isn't well used!
We just initiated papers for our mission, so it will be interesting to see where we end up. Had we gone a little earlier, I would have liked to have gone back to Auckland as my cousin, F. Michael Watson, was in the Area Presidency there. He is now home, which is why you have a new Elder in that Presidency.
It has really been fun reading about your adventures, and comparing your first month to our month in Auckland -- especially things like the fact that you can't use too much electricity at a time or you blow a circuit. (I did that a few times in our apartment there!)
Be sure and tour NZ before you come home. It is the most beautiful place Jim and I have ever been -- especially the South Island.