Safe and SOUNDS

Hello family and friends!  I am safe in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
My journey began with a flight to LA (with some security breach that left us at the gate for forty minutes--a woman was escorted off; not sure what that was all about) and a little reunion with my wonderful friend, Ryan.  He took excellent care of me as we meandered through the streets of LA, into a wonderful deli, coffeeshop and then onto a gorgeous foot path off of Mulholland Dr which overlooks Hollywood, Old Hollywood and Freeze-Dried Hollywood.  We then went to an outdoor market and finally to the LAX airport.

It was there that I had my first encounter with a speedy-talking Aussie that asked me "Sydney or Melbourne?"  This seems easy enough to understand, right?  No.  I said, "excuse me?"  He repeated and after three seconds, my brain was able to comprehend what the hell he said.  I responded "neither.  Brisbane."  He told me I was in the wrong terminal.  Thank goodness that it was only the next one over and thank goodness that the generous Ryan Kriz insisted to park and walk in the airport with me so as to help me with my two bags.  I got checked in and went to the gate: 49.

I could have directed a short film about the seat "59C" on my Qantas flight 16.  59C seemed harmless enough when it was written on my ticket to my new life in Australia.  But in actuality, it wasn't.  The seat was directly across from one of those little, noisy areas where the flight attendants prepare everything for the hundreds of people on the plane.  Also, there was a large, metal box bolted into the ground of where my feet were supposed to go (most of you certainly know that weird box i'm talking about...the one that is put randomly on the floor, confiscating the little foot room allotted to an unlucky passenger.  what is in that box anyway?!)  I laughed as I tried to situate myself and thought "maybe the flight won't be full and I will have some wiggle room in the row".  Then, two people joined me in the row and a few minutes later, a tall man sat right in front of me.  His weight alone pushed the seat back a good five inches.  "Okay, Benjie...let's just read a magazine to get over the claustrophia that is bound to set in," I thought.  Picked up the Qantas Inflight glossy and found a huge piece of sticky and smelly gum in the middle.  Laughing aloud to myself, I caught the attention of the woman who was siting next to me.  We spoke for a bit and then she leaned over on her husband's shoulder, with both of her legs fitting nicely under the seat in front of her and immediately fell sleep.  Me?  I put in ear plugs and calculated math equations in my head to think of the best angles that my legs should be in to provide the most comfort.  After we were in the air for thirty minutes, a flight attendant came to me and asked if I was interested in moving to a different seat. I literally jumped at the offer, grabbed my things and was seated in a window seat in a row with an empty middle-seat and a kind, 19-year old from Rochester, NY (which--ironically-- is where Ryan went to university) seated on the aisle.  The flight was excellent and indeed went by much quicker than I had expected.

The customs agent stamped my passport with more speed and friendliness than I am accustomed to. Grabbed my bags and was told to queue in a very short line.  Sweet!-I thought.  But then, another agent who was letting people through the exit told me that I had to queue in the longer line to the left.  "Longer" doesn't really explain what the difference was.  Think of twelve people versus 500.  Seriously. My dear sisters and mother had given me a card the day before, expressing the things they will miss about me.  One of those was 'patience'.  I thought to myself as I walked to the end of that long-ass line: "okay, Benj.  patience. patience.  f------ patience!"

Making it through the line took right under an hour and I was in my honey's arms just after.  What a wonderful feeling to see him in the airport of our new home!

My next entry will be about my first two days here.  I will go ahead and tell you that our apartment is just perfect!  We have a little private porch which looks at this:

Can you imagine?  I am physically here and find it still astonishing.  Through this lush forest is a small creek and is home to--from what I hear--at least 52 different types of insects, lizards, frogs and birds.  The sounds are absolutely incredible.  I must say that it is a blessing that mosquitoes have never liked me that much.  Anne-Marie, if you were here outside...you might not be having as peaceful of a time :)

I know all of you are tired of hearing about health care since you are inundated with news about its reform everyday.  But!...I must express the ease and speed with which a lovely woman named Venus helped me secure coverage for the next year.  It makes our process there seem like a complete joke.

G'day and take care until next time.