Happy Holidays!

A very (belated) Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone! On Christmas Eve, Rachel and I went to Kat and Tamsin’s for dinner. It was very similar to our Thanksgiving feast (chicken, mashed potatoes, stuffing) with a few English touches such as Yorkshire pudding… which in my opinion tasted like a bland pancake. Dinner ended on a bit of a sad note because it was Rachel’s last meal with all of us, the next day she flew home to Maryland. She’ll be living at home and working before heading off to college next fall—although she hasn’t decided where she’ll be attending just yet. I can’t say that I was particularly looking forward to my first Christmas away from home, but I found solace in the fact that I would be lying out in 80° weather while my family would be bundled up in bulky sweaters. No such luck, it rained all day long. Needless to say, I will be home for Christmas next year.

Kat and Tamsin had Christmas Crackers waiting for us at our seats, an English tradition. Each person crosses their arms and pulls on the ends of two different crackers. Inside are a few treats and the paper crowns, which the girls insisted we wear the rest of the night.

Our last picture together as roommates.

New Year’s Eve was much more successful. I joined Tamsin, Kat, and her boyfriend Adam at their friend’s house in Double Bay, which is located between the city and Bondi beach. Not only was the apartment amazing, but we were right on the water and met some very nice people that night. I can't believe that it's 2010 already. I have so much to look forward to this year, starting with my parent's upcoming visit on January 27th. We'll be going on a road trip around the south island of New Zealand for a week, flying up to Cairns to snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef and then heading back down to Sydney for a show at the Opera House. I can hardly wait, I'm so exited!

The private beach where we spent New Year's Eve.

We had the beach all to ourselves; it really beat the crowds at the Opera House!

Adam put a whole new meaning to "ringing in the new year" that night... At midnight during the fireworks show he proposed to Kat. She said yes!

There were fireworks at 9pm and then again at midnight. The city actually put on three sets of identical fireworks at the same time in different locations. From where we stood, we could see all of them. It was incredible.

Cheers to 2010!