It's been a week

Monday evening and my one week anniversary of arriving in Sydney.  Cliches like drinking through a fire hose come to mind as I think back on the week.  As a fairly seasoned traveler, I always thought jet lag was for wimps and that with my efficient system of little sleep on a normal day and resolve I wouldn't fall prey to this wimpy condition.  True confessions now as it took me about four days to emerge from a fog.  Tuesday I booked tickets for my first trip to the Sydney opera and told the office I was seeing Carmen.    When the ticket booth gave me tickets to Madame Butterfly, it was my first clue that perhaps my mind was a little foggy.

I'm carless and after walking the hills and seeing the local aggressive drivers decided against buying a bike for transport.     I am getting the hang of the transportation system here in Sydney.  I've  taken buses, city rail, ferries, taxis and cars.  Haven't take a train yet but will do for a day trip to the Blue Mountains.  

Wednesday was Australia Day and the head of Risk Management/Business Development of Unimutual (a group similar to UE but for Australian Universities) and his wife opened their home and adventures to me.   Check out the pictures Harry took of me snorkeling and kayaking.  A wonderful day.   Bay water was a bit chilly  but the day warmed up.    Since almost every Australian lives within a short drive of some beach, Australian Day is beach day, although I'm sure there were folks in downtown Sydney, the vast majority head to the beach or at least it seemed that way.   The police seemed to enforce the no alcohol on the beaches but there was plenty of drinking going on elsewhere and the uniform of most young men was a bathing suit, Australian flag worn as a cape and a beer.  A woman in the office explained that there was an event at Bondi Beach to set the world record for most people floating on a thong.  The image is beyond disgusting until I realized thongs are flip flops and they floated this huge one in the ocean with a gazillion people hanging on.   Not sure if they broke the record.

Friday I went to Chinatown for the kick off of the year of the Rabbit.  (see photos).  Saturday I joined a walking tour of downtown Sydney, bought some hibiscus flowers in rose water (an Australian speciality) to add to champagne when my sweetie joins me  and later in the evening Opera in the Domain.   Finally got to see Carmen with thousands of other opera fans at the Sydney version of Opera in Central Park.

Sunday I took City Rail and a bus to Bondi Beach.  (again see photos).   Took the stunning and long, about  90 minutes each way, Coastal Trail hike.  Amazing views past coves and individual beaches,  Bondi, Tamarama, Bronte, Clovelly and  Coogee with lunch and a mango/lychee ice cream.    Life guards here are a different breed.   A volunteer force that guards against rip tides, jelly fish, shark and every other scary force out there.   Flags are posted to direct where folks should swim and the guards try their best to corral folks to a narrow band.  The beaches were packed on this sunny, hot Sunday.   Lots of surfers.   The sun is really intense here.  Someone said that there is a hole in the ozone above Australia which makes the sun's rays even more intense.   If anyone can confirm that let me know.  It's a good story though.  I slathered on the sun screen, wore a hat and sunglasses and the only parts that are lobster like today are the spots I missed.

In the evening I met one of the young LeapFrog Fellows for an outdoor movie.   One of my favorite summer activities is watching movies outside but nothing has ever compared to this setting.   Photo is posted.  We had dinner at the cafe and with about 200 other Sydnesiders we watched Hedgehog.  I missed it in DC and highly recommend the movie.

Starting to find my feet at the office.  The people are smart and incredibly hardworking.  Three Fellows are each serving a year with LeapFrog doing important work in due diligence, developing  insurance for the underserved.   They are professionals, lawyers, bankers and management consultants, taking a year off from the corporate career ladder to explore something different and make a difference.  Sort of like the Peace Corp for financial geeks?   Don't tell them I called them that, they really are incredible.

I'm spending most of my time thinking about measurements for micro-insurance.  What should be measured, how should we collect the data, how should it be shared, what does it mean.   UE is so data driven that it feels natural to think this way but I sure wish I had a Bob or Brian here to help!

Weather is very hot,  32-36  (90-97) but there is a breeze in my apartment and the ceiling fans are working well.   Very few apartments have a/c but the offices all have it.

Going to try and slow down a bit and move away from this frenetic tourist mode, trying to see everything and go everywhere.  I'll let you know how that works out.

Cheers

Happy Australia Day

Wednesday morning, January 26.   A foggy start to Australia Day.  Ferry horns on the bay but if today is like yesterday, it will be sunny, hot and steamy.  Check out my photos from my first day at work and the evening ferry trip to the Opera House.  I over did it with photos from the harbor but the iconic building  dulled my  editing skills.    Madama Butterfly was the performance.  The performance space is smaller than the Met so a more intimate place to see an opera.   Dinner on the terrace before the performance and my first Australian Beer,  Jack Squire.  Not a bad place to have my second night down under. 

Australia Day 2011 is a bit somber this year because of the floods but I've been warned  about the fierce partying that takes place.   The beaches are all alcohol free and there are an additional 2000 police on duty for New South Wales so I'll report later on the results.   The reputation of Australians is they love to gamble and Simon, the am DJ  (Breakfast with Simon) on the local ABC station reports that they had to cut off betting early on who would win Australian of the Year.  Betting on which able citizen would be honored on Australian I have a lot to learn about Australians.  Simon Mckeon won the honor this year.    Lots of buzz about the Australians nominated for an Academy awards.  I'll check in on the odds as we get closer to the date.  

News is also full of the  way the insurance companies are behaving  on flood claims.  I've been warned by one person living in Brisbane not to tell anyone I work in insurance.  Seems as though the definition of flood is as muddy here as in the US after Katrina.  

It has been 13 years since I had a first day in an office so it felt a bit strange entering the small office of LeapFrog Investments.  I bring the Sydney office to 8.  The current group is all young, all smart, hardworking and very dedicated to changing the world by helping people move out of the cycle of poverty.   We have lunch on a little deck, a big umbrella to shield the sun.   Collected ideas on how to best see Sydney.

LeapFrog is a global group, folks in South Africa, Scotland and Australia (and one ernest attorney in DC), at the very early stages of micro insurance, insurance for the masses.   Will be thinking of the metrics to measure social progress, bringing operational experience to the group.  

I'm heading to the beach to snorkel, go to a barbie and perhaps try another Jack Squire.  

The begining

Monday afternoon in Sydney.  Still Sunday back home.  I know this because I checked in on the Steeler game.  Friday was finishing odds and ends.  A nice lunch and a very sweet send off orchestrated by J.  Fosters to celebrate my new digs (hope no one noticed) final words with R and putting voicemails and out of office on.  Took the bus home, finished packing and made the official Abraham send off meal of pasta carbonara.  Used whole wheat pasta which didn't go over too well with K.  

Incredibly long flight.  Had forgotten to replenish my supply of Tylenol and had to beg some off a nice couple behind me.  Although I worried whether I had the right visa, and would customs and quarantine give me a hard time about my Calcium pills and prescriptions,  I sailed through.   Australia is fanatical about keeping fruit, seeds, animal skins just about everything out of the country.  

Apartment has a beautiful view over looking harbor.  Watching sailboats and ferries as I write.  Cloudy but warm.  After freezing DC, I have all the windows open and ceiling fans going.  Actually hooked up wireless by myself.   Didn't have to call W, K or A!!!!  

Walked to the market, bought some healthy but heavy groceries so taxied back.  Australian butter, yogurt, olive oil, fruit and veggies.  I passed on the oranges from USA but picked up some lychees.   Ordered a pound of ground coffee and left with 200 g.  Gotta work on the temps and weights.

Although I slept for a few hours on the flight, I'll try and stay awake until later tonight and get on Sydney time.