Sydney - Covid Time

Well, it has been almost 1 month since I arrived in Sydney. The lifestyle here is so much different from what I was used to in Hanoi and Singapore. People tend to have more interaction than anywhere else I've lived. For example, agents whom I requested to have an inspection during house hunting usually called me first to set up a viewing schedule. Sometimes I was afraid and didn't pick up the phone because of strange numbers. They only sent a message if I didn't pick up the calls. This is so different from when I was looking for an apartment with agents in Singapore, where we rarely made a call and only discussed things through WhatsApp text.

Unfortunately, I am a close contact because one of the agents was negative after 7 days of our inspection. I was required to self-isolate until July 17th. This means that I have to stay at home and order food groceries online. I am only allowed to go out for a COVID test, which I did this morning. Hopefully, the result is negative, and I will have another test on July 15th. But there is a silver lining in that I found a suitable unit and rented it. My husband placed a deposit one day before we were informed to self-isolate. However, the unit is unfurnished, so I need to order everything, which really takes time. I have to check the description and reviews, and even imagine the dimensions because I am buying things online. Furthermore, every order takes at least 1 week for delivery, especially the IKEA order, which will be delivered in 3 weeks. I was almost crying because, in Singapore, I could just walk 10 minutes from my house to IKEA Alexandra.

One of the good things is that the food in Sydney is fresh, including meat, seafood, and cooked food ordered through Uber Eats. The taste is also better than in Singapore, and because the portions are more significant, the price is higher. I often order for a whole day, so I just need to add more rice or vegetables to have both lunch and dinner. Living in Sydney, I know one thing: there is no perfect place to live. I'm also trying to adapt to the culture, make new friends, and start running again, which I will definitely have to do after we settle into our place.

My hubby and I were walking in a quiet street during Covid near the city