Learning How to Surf

If signing a four-month lease on an apartment in the eastern suburbs when I didn't have a job wasn't stupid impulsive enough, immediately afterwards, I registered for a week-long surfing camp. I've always wanted to know how to surf, and I knew it was something I had to do when I came to Australia. By learning at the beginning of my trip, I would never have to turn down an opportunity to catch some waves. I also realized that once I started working as a casual employee, it would be virtually impossible to ask off for five days in a row. So for the week, I cast aside my troubles about job hunting and money, and lived the Aussie saying of "no worries."

Surf Camp was everything that I imagined life in Australia would be like. I lived in a cabin at a campsite in a tiny village called Gerroa, several hours south of Sydney. In my room were three bunk beds that were shared between me and five other guys (two from Sweden, two from Germany, and one from England). The campsite was only a short walk away from Seven Mile Beach, which offers the perfect conditions for beginning surfers--small waves, sandy ocean floors, and minimal wind. For five days I lived on the beach. I didn't wear makeup, fix my hair, or have to worry about what I was going to wear, because we were all there for one purpose-- to learn how to surf.

I would love to say that Surf Camp was the perfect relaxing holiday, but that would be a far cry from the truth. Our daily schedule was as follows:

Breakfast 8:00-9:00

Wetsuits on by 9:00

1st lesson 9:30-11:30

Lunch 12:30-1:30

Wetsuits on by 2:30

2nd lesson 3:00-5:00

Dinner 6:30-7:30

As it turns out, surfing is really difficult. I naively believed that by being a decent swimmer and spending years of summer vacations in the ocean, I would inherently be good at it. I couldn't have  been more wrong. Surfing is definitely an extreme sport, and I'm no extreme athlete. Each two hour lesson began with a run along the beach and a series of stretches. I struggled to carry my heavy, nine-foot surf board the quarter-mile stretch from the main road to the beach. By the end of the day, I was exhausted and curled up in my bed by 10:00 pm.

Winter was still ending in NSW so the water was anything but warm. I'm convinced my wetsuit (which was tight, uncomfortable & made me look like a seal) had a hole in it, because no matter what I did, it always seemed to let the cold water inside. It usually took me about ten minutes to adjust to the water temperature at the beginning of each lesson. I remember one morning in particular when the sun was masked by thick layers of clouds, and I couldn't manage to get warm. I spent half the lesson lying helplessly on my board, too frozen to move, wondering if this is how Rose felt at the end of The Titantic. 

Surf Camp is good for serving your ego a healthy dose of humility. Not only were my small group members and instructors able to watch the glory of me falling off the board and nosediving repetitively, there was also a photographer on site to capture the moments on film so that all 70 campers could see at our daily slideshows after lunch & dinner. On multiple occasions the slideshow was paused so that I could be made an example of "what not to do" or just so everyone could laugh which was actually less painful than the prior. My favorite day was our last lesson during which we were divided into teams for a relay competition. Each team member had to run into the cold surf, ride a wave, standing for more than three seconds, pick up the heavy board and run back to the beach and tag the next in line. Our team came in last place. It brought back haunting P.E. memories of elementary school.

{all images via Surf Camp Australia}

Despite being the worst wannabe surfer that ever lived, I'm really glad I attended Surf Camp. I learned a lot about the types of waves, currents, winds and tides, and I actually stood up on my board multiple times.  I crossed an item off my bucket list and came back to Sydney with new friends, new knowledge, sand on everything I own, and a lovely wetsuit tan line. 

The Little Black Jacket

Chanel came to town with The Little Black Jacket exhibition featuring photography by Karl Lagerfeld. The exhibition, which showcases well-known figures wearing the classic tweed jacket, arrived in Sydney on October 27th and it ended today. The photographs were displayed on large canvases in a dark and quiet warehouse building, located on the water at Walsh Bay. If you're in Paris, Berlin, or Seoul during the next two months, I highly recommend checking out this exhibit. The photos are incredible and capture the personality and style of each of the celebrities wearing the little black jacket. Even if you don't own a Chanel jacket of your own, you will be amazed at how one little jacket can be worn a hundred different ways. Admission is free and you get to take home a complimentary set of poster prints.

The Race That Stops a Nation

No, I'm not talking about the US presidential election. Today is the biggest race in Australia--the day that everyone gets off work early and heads to their favorite restaurant, pub, or local racetrack. It's bigger than the Superbowl and twice as glamorous. Today is the Melbourne Cup. While Derby Day is all about classic elegance in black & white, the Melbourne Cup is a chance to flaunt bold trends, colors and patterns. So fasten your fascinator and place your bets, because today's horse races are about to begin.

Here's what I'm wearing on my first Melbourne Cup Day:

{peplum dress: sportsgirl, wedges: ralph lauren, jewelry: forever 21 & sportsgirl, 

flower: myer, purse: sportsgirl, scarf: target}

Derby Day

Where else in the world do you come across a series of events that mixes sport with high fashion, gambling, and drinking? The Aussies love their horse races & today is Derby Day. So whether you're watching the races on the telly or you're lucky enough to be at the racetrack in Victoria, be sure to dress in black & white and remember these few dos and don'ts: 

• Don't wear a strapless dress.
• Do drink water (between your glasses of champers) to stay hydrated.
• Don't forget to wear sunscreen.
• Do wear sensible shoes that won't have you sinking into the field or walking home barefoot at the end of the day.
• Don't let your hat & dress compete against one another. Allow one to take the spotlight.
• Do take a small handbag. Nobody wants to carry around a heavy purse all day.
• Don't pull an Eliza Doolittle:

• Do get inspired by these derby day hats, dresses, shoes, & bags.

{Click on the picture to shop for these items}

Springtime in Sydney

The weather is warming in New South Wales, and as the temperature continues to climb and the days pass by, I find myself even more in love with Sydney. This may be my second spring season this year, but it's shaping up to be my favorite. The streets are covered in purple blossoms, sprinkled by the trees above, almost intentionally, as if they were decorating for a wedding. Shop windows showcase their best racing attire--dresses, hats, fascinators, and suits for watching the horse races in this season. And the harbour is especially glittery under the spring sun.

I've been enjoying my evening jogs in Centennial Park, watching people ride horses, fly kites with their children, or play fetch with their dogs. As I walk home, I pass the duck pond where the black swans do their haunting dance on the water. I smell the honeysuckle growing along the fence line. I get chased by a bee. Work keeps me busy, but I love spending my free time outdoors, and there's so many places to do that here in Sydney. It may be a big city, but it's also blessed with gorgeous beaches, parks, and nearby mountain escapes. I can't think of anywhere I'd rather be right now.