Sydney, first and second day

Dear friends,

A wonderful greeting to you all from Sydney!!!

Sydney Opera House

Yesterday, I finally arrived in Sydney, quite tired after two very long flights (over Seoul, South Korea). More than one hour later I finally got out of the airport (due to very strict quarantine controls) and was immediately enthused about the great weather, already at 8 o'clock in the morning! I got picked up by Steve, a very friendly Australian who is researching in the lab where I will study. But first, we had a hefty English/Australian breakfast (for over 11 Aussie bucks - somewhat expensive here…). Then he offered to lend me his bicycle which he does not need anymore.

Later he brought me to Billabong Gardens, to the backpacker's hostel in which I wanted to stay for the first couple of days here. I just wanted to take a nap there, when Nina from Berlin, who arrived one day before, and two other students from Cologne told me the situation was serious: There were nearly not any vacant flats left, so we should hurry up and go to search for one as soon as possible. Well, their panic turned out to be appropriate: Right now, a great amount of students arrive in Sydney who all look for flats, and in addition the flats got even more expensive than I assumed before, at least something around 150 Aussie Dollars per week. And if one does not decide very fast, others snatch the flat away from under one's nose.

But nevertheless I just found a flat/room!!! I'm very happy. The flat is somewhat run-down though, but it costs only about 110 AU$ per week. There are two terrace houses which are divided between 17 tenants, everyone has a room and every two share a kitchen. I think there are at least four bathrooms - that will be fun! ;) I still have to meet my neighbour with whom I will share the kitchen. He's said to be very nice and a non-smoker, thus it sounds well. Unfortunately, Nina and the other two are still searching, the place was too dirty for them to take. Hopefully they find something soon.

My room - small, but mine	The kitchen

Unfortunately, I do not have internet connection at home yet (I'm in uni right now) and no landline telephone. But my mobile phone number here is: +61420417248. My address, if you want to look for it on Google maps or something similar: Unit 5, 270 Enmore Road, Enmore, NSW 2042, Australia.

Now I am again somewhat mobile here, thanks to Steve who lends his bicycle to me. During rush hour one is much faster than cars, nevertheless only very few ride bikes. It's good that I brought my helmet with me, because it's obligatory to wear helmets here. Busses are slow and expensive, and I do not know enough about their routes yet.