the Weis of Shanghai: Sydney

When Matt and I originally discussed living abroad, one of our goals was to not only experience that place, but also enjoy exploring other cities/countries nearby that would otherwise be harder to travel to from the states. So far, although Matt has travelled quite a bit for his job, I haven't really followed through on that plan. We joined him in Beijing for a work trip, and as a family we vacationed in Hainan and enjoyed a weekend getaway in the Moganshan mountains. But besides that, we've stayed put in Shanghai.

Well, at the beginning of August, Matt mentioned that he might travel to Sydney for a client pitch. It was a long shot if he would even go, but we tossed around the idea of TJ and I going with him. Really, Sydney isn't very close to China (it was still a 10+ hour flight). But the minimal time difference means no jetlag, which is a HUGE advantage, especially when travelling with a young kid. And since Matt's flight and hotel were paid by work, the cost of our trip down under would really never be cheaper. It's the tail end of winter in Australia right now, which means a pleasant break from the oppressive heat in Shanghai (not to mention we could avoid the incoming typhoon). This opportunity would be Val's first trip to the southern hemisphere, and TJ's first foreign adventure (not counting the two countries where she has lived). We might just have to do this!

As it turned out, Matt didn't find out he would make the trip until Tuesday after lunch. In order to make the meeting in Sydney, he had to catch a flight Tuesday night. And in order for us to join him, we had to go a little crazy. In just a couple of hours, we managed to buy plane tickets, book a hotel reservation, get entry visas, pack, and make it to the airport in time to grab dinner before boarding our flight. Whew!

Notice the one thing I did NOT do is actually research anything about Sydney. This is where I relied on one of the best benefits of being an expat: my wonderful network of international friends. I am lucky to be friends with Jane, who is not only an awesome person but also called Sydney home prior to moving to China. She sent me a fantastic email of touristy things to do and insider tips for navigating Sydney. Armed with her advice, we were ready to explore.

Unfortunately, Matt had to work some of the time (this was funding the trip, after all). So TJ and I walked around the nearby area, including a neat neighborhood called the Rocks, botanic gardens that were lush and serene even in winter, the Circular Quay ferry station, and of course the Opera House. We spent a whole day at the Taronga Zoo, known as one of the world's best. We all took a ferry out to Watson's Bay, at the mouth of the massive harbor, and hiked around before tucking into famously delicious fish'n'chips. We walked across the Harbor Bridge, enjoying the fantastic views along the way. Matt and TJ cheered on live Olympic coverage while I toured the Opera House. And as a bonus -- especially considering how hastily our trip was planned -- Matt's friend from high school and his girlfriend drove up from Canberra to join us on Sunday. As we all remarked, spending a day with friends from "home" when you live abroad is a treat. It's refreshing to talk about all of those mundane topics that feel so normal and familiar, yet are conversation non-starters in our expat worlds (the recent Nuggets trade, for example).

All in all, we had a fabulous time down under, even if it was a hastily-planned, quickly-executed trip. Our time in Sydney has rekindled our original intentions to explore this side of the globe while living here. I can't wait to plan our next adventure!