ok, ok, so you all told me so!

Well I'm finally here, safe and sound. Some of you would know that I was quite hesitant and ... ok, v v scared about the trip. No, not the actual flying bit, just the leaving, and general fear of the unknown. But you won't be surprised to hear, that it was all in my head and nothing 'bad' happened and it was fine.
All of my flights were generally quite uneventful. On the major flight (Sydney to LA, about 13 hours) I was squeezed between two very nice other passengers. Maarr-vaann (or Marvin) was around 60 yo and on his way back home to Pennsylvania after an 11-day holiday in central NSW on a cattle staayy-shuun (station). I think he thought I was English or something as he remarked that I didn't sound very Australian, tho I think its because I didn't come out with any 'Crikey!'s or 'You little bewdy!' during the flight, despite the consistent turbulence which was apparently the worst he had ever experienced. I didn't really have anything to compare it to, but since it was 'night-time' for most of the flight, the slidey-shady things were down, so I kept trying to think that I was in a bus rather an 34,000 feet in the air!
The stewardesses were all quite rude, but quickly made me realise that I'll have to be much more assertive to get what I want here. I did feel a little sorry for them tho, as it was a long flight and the plane was full and they also had to contend with this really annoying woman one row in front of me.
My fear of LA airport was also completely unfounded as I found myself having a good 30 minutes to wait for boarding, and there was no Amazing Race style running thru the airport to make it to the plane in time.
Not sure what all the complaints about airline food are about tho! I thought it was great! Mind you, it was all gluten, gluten, gluten! And I think my stomach's only just returning to normal this morning.
My Aunt and cousin (Zandra) met me at the airport in NY and after 20-something hours of travelling, I felt awful, like I'ld been run over by a truck! It was night-time when I got in (again) so quickly drove to their place, which is SO not where I thought it was! I thought Rye was about 1.5 hours South of the city, turns out its about half an hour North! I woke up at 5am yesterday morning (its already light at this time) looked out the window, and felt like I was on a television set! Its bizarre! This street is like Wisteria Lane (Desperate Housewives) its Spring, so all the gardens and trees are flowering and green, its so beautiful! And all the houses and cars and everything is so big! I seriously feel like I am the new neighbour or something ... The only thing really different between the TV show and this actual street are the American flags which are up outside almost every single house (not ours!) I don't know if I'm just unaware of the presence of the Australian flag back home, but I have just seen the American one so many times here already (oh, and at Immigration in LA, we were greeting by a scary huge photograph of a smiling George Dubya Bush! Welcome to America!)
Not too much to report so far. I spent yesterday talking, sleeping and eating, with a little walk around the neighbourhood. There is a small beach, amusement park and nature reserve nearby. It seems strange that we are still so close to NYC! I've had my first American-style BBQ and tried (and failed) to explain the state of the Australian economy, employment, education system (faired slightly better here) and politics. I need you here Yasmine!
Today will be another fairly quiet day in Rye, while I adjust and we'll be making plans for my time here over the next few weeks. We will travel into the City in the next few days tho. I can't wait!
Also, Zandra has a digital camera, so I'll take some photos soon and post them up. Hope everyone's well. My thanks to everyone who came out on Saturday night (and put up with my mood! Sorry, just nerves, but all fine now!) And those who called and visited on Sunday. Take care and I'll write more soon. Love Erica x