It's going to get ugly before it gets beautiful...

So as it turns out... I am living in America. 
Somehow I got here....  (I guess it was on a plane and lots of paperwork and time) but now I'm here and I made it... I made it without jumping back on that plane. Huh.... fancy that.

Because when I first got here... I thought I knew what I was doing but really... I was just like this bear (below). Lets call him Stan. I was just like Stan.

I am now heading into my third month. THIRD MONTH? WHAT?! 
It'll go fast they said, embrace every minute they said. Well what they said was riiiiight!! 
That happened so fast. Or did it happen slow? IS it happening fast? Or IS it happening slow? I'm not sure. Driving around Sydney and sleeping in my own bed seems like a hell of a long time ago. 

But right now... I feel a little like Mr Dog (above). Lets call him Sparky. I feel like Sparky. Laying down, taking it all in, the sky, the clouds, the sun and all that is around me. I feel like I've entered a new phase. Is there phases in this journey? I don't know if there is but I'm making some, but lets call them chapters yeah? Ok so I've entered a new chapter. It's called "I kinda like this place" chapter. 

I feel like I am now entering the point where if I got on a plane back to Sydney I would be starting to miss New York. I now know the buzz, the lights, the chaos, the difference, the change, the bright lights, the new faces, the different food.... I expect it now, all those things that once scared the c**p out of me in the beginning. But now all those things make up this great big thing, called my life. It's got to get ugly before it gets beautiful... Right? 

I know the streets when I'm driving, I know the bus times, the train times, the subway lines.... I know east side from west side, I know uptown, midtown and downtown (if in doubt use the Empire State Building). I have friends (yippee), I have my favourite cupcake shop (Little Daisy's), I have my gym and I have my routine... 

What a crazy whirlwind. At first , when I arrived here... I stood in the open paddock ready for whatever was coming my way, having no idea that what would actually come to greet me would be a world rocking tornado. Up it took me, ripped me straight off the ground before I had a chance to grasp anything that would hold me safely to the ground. Straight up. I got completely freaked out, I was not expecting this! What the heck happened to my sweet shiny transition into my new adventure!? Ah! Ruuuuun Rachel!!

Me in duckling form- running from my adventure!

No such luck! I was up high, I could see things around me but it was all spinning way too fast to actually focus on what my new surroundings really were, I just wanted out! Nowwww! Tears, tantrums, headaches, you name it, I got it!


And then.... just when I thought I was stuck in this tornado forever... it spat me straight out. I stood up, dusted myself off and recognised this place. I know where I am, and I feel good! I'm standing straight and this.... this is actually pretty bloody amazing. 

The other day, whilst driving and watching the NYC skyline pass by in front I was once again taking photos and then I decided... to put the bloody camera down and just look... with my real eyes. What a city. What a life. And now while I write this I'm sitting on the bus... And it keeps bumping along whilst it travels through potholes, howwww annoying (first world problems). Keep it in perspective Rachel.