HOSTEL!

So I've finally done it, I took a train into the city and checked into a youth hostel downtown. As a member of the YHA, i'm staying at the Railroad Square YHA right next to central station. When I went to find my room (it's a 8 bed co-ed), I found it to be in an actual train car, positioned on the platform of central station. So when I look out one of the windows, I'm looking straight out onto the other platforms of one of the busiest stations in the city. Anyways, I just got a kick out of that...

http://studenttravel.about.com/od/sydneyhostels/ig/YHA-Railway-Square-Sydney/YHA-Railway-Square-Dorms.htm

I've always prided myself in growing the list of cities that I had personally explored, having wondered up and down the streets. D.C., New York, Sydney, Baltimore, London, Chicago all on it. However it soon became clear to me that there's a big difference between roaming a city by yourself for an afternoon, and actually trying to settle into the social scene. Staying out it in the suburbs was great as I got to spend a lot of time with my Nan who I never get to see, seeing as she lives half way across the world from Texas and all... but today marks my introduction into the actual backpacker culture that I flew all the way over here to find :)

This past week has been very productive, as I've broken through pretty much all the red tape that I needed to get past before being able to truly be a 'permenant resident' of Australia. My bank accounts, insurance, and citizenship documents are finally up to date, and I even have a job interview to work as an attendant for the 2 week Royal Easter Show coming up here in Sydney! (wish me luck). It's held at the Olympic Park area and is supposed to be a big deal... kinda like a state fair for the country. Forgive me if the whole documents and resident stuff seems a bit boring, but getting that all taken care of consumed much of my energy and travels over the past week. The rest of my energy went into trying desperatly to learn all the bloody lingo here in australia... anybody who thinks they speak english here are sadly mistaken...