first impressions

after 5 lovely days on the central (east) coast of australia visiting jason's family, we finally made it home to perth on sunday night. i already can tell i am going to love the lifestyle and pace of life here. i only had one day with jason before he left on a quick 3-day work trip to bangkok, so we took a spin around campus which is across the street from our place, and then i got a tour of all the neighborhood basics - the grocery store, the bank, how the bus system works, etc. it's strange to be in a country so far from the u.s. where so many things seem so familiar - from food, tv shows (all the favorites are about a half-season behind, but at least i can still catch 24 and grey's!), stores (they have target here - yay!), gas stations (bp, shell, mobil, etc) and fast-food restaurants - plenty of subway, kfc, mcdonalds, pizza hut, dominos, and their version of burger king called hungry jacks (i don't get it, its the exact same logo and menu with whoppers and everything!). i have to admit though, crossing the street is still a bit scary (look right, left, right, left, right.. then cross) and driving will take some time to get used to as well, but having no language barrier makes such a difference when i think back to other experiences abroad that i've had. somehow, it hasn't been too hard switching from winter to summer here. maybe going the other way would be more traumatic! last night before sunset, i took a long walk along the swan river that leads from downtown perth to the ocean and enjoyed just watching all the various things going on - families having picnics and bbq's together, people playing with their dogs, a rugby match, kids learning to kayak, people windsurfing, parasurfing? (or whatever it's called when you're attached to a parachute and riding a surfboard). my first impressions of perth have been on the whole very positive so far even while being on my own these first few days. i somehow imagined it might be a little bit harder without jason as my guide, but with all the similarities and the countless things to do and see, i can't say it's been too bad.