first visitor from Home

I was so excited when i knew one of my good friend was coming. last time i saw him was almost 5 years ago. we have been friend for 15 years or so. Since Sydney is too expensive for Indo, i had this less hope to have any visitors except from USA. my friend Ion is an Indonesian Diplomat who studies his Master Degree in Canberra, the capital city which is 3 hours away from Sydney by bus. once i tried the multiply test to become a diplomat but unfortunately i was in the second top. They only need the first one, i was very disappointed since i wanted the job so bad. i wanted to be a diplomat so i can travel around the world for free but i believed God had different plan for me.. yes He did... travel around the world i did, saw many things, met beautiful people. just like on ad. said the more you travel the richest you will be... i have seen the world and i want to see more:)

Anyway, back to Ion... his my first Indo visitor ever who made it to Sydney... i met him in circular Quey, had hot chocolate in front of Opera house while enjoying the beautiful view of harbour and the bridge... i was then realise how amazing and beautiful Sydney is, i'm glad i live here...
Sydney is pretty much like any other big city i have seen but the harbour, beaches and the ocean makes it different.. this is the only city where you can enjoy the big city life, beach and harbour at the same time without the snow. no wonder this city is so expensive. Manly where we live is one of the most wanted place to live n the world...and also known as the posh part of Sydney. when i told them i live in Manly, their (my friends' friends who i just met) first response was "wow" i asked why, they said "Posh of Sydney". i dont care what i care is the living cost... that's explain why everything cost double in Manly. Just like the ad. i saw on TV about the best future retire place.. which they show a beautiful beach... i said i dont need to be retire to be able to live near the beach... i can see the beach and hear the sound of the wave from where we live...
But again!!! random feeling; one day i wake up with this nightmare where i miss my home so much, the day when i hate everything about manly...  dunno why... but other time i wake up with feeling bless to be be here enjoy the beautiful beach, ocean, relax beachy life where i can see sunrise or sunset almost everyday.
i have made few friends along the way, i know how to go around, i have been driving around, im feeling secure about my visa status as in process of Permanent Resident... i adjust the food and weather well, even i cook most of the time, im getting there... but still feeling like in the middle.. im not western but live in western country, im Asian but not in Asia... i adjust the culture but cant give up my culture... i feel like trap in the middle... confuse... sometimes i act to polite and doesnt speak my mind like we Asian does but then when i try to speak up and say what i mean to say then i feel like against my culture, impolite etc.... it makes me adjust how to act what to say to certain people. which is suck.
by the way, my first visitor i met was only for couple hours... nice to see a familiar face in unfamiliar land... so i was so happy to see him. we had long story to tell.. talking about those fulfilled dream, future, country to live etc etc... we went to darling harbour to see his Diplomat friends and dinner... i had this $50 ribs... it worth the price was so damn good. had chit chat in my language and it was so good to be able to talk freely... i had a good time
i went back to Manly by 11 pm ferry, the weather was cool... last week was like winter 4 degrees, but last couple days was nice and sunny... im looking forward for the cool season, so i can go home:)