Already 2 weeks in Townsville...

I've been in Townsville for 2 weeks now. How time flies! There's a lot to do. On one hand, administrative tasks for health insurance, applying for a driver's license in Australia, buying a car, arranging insurance, setting up a pension fund, registering with the Swiss embassy, registering to participate in national referendums - all of this online! Yes, the list goes on, but I don't want to bore you :-)

At the moment, I'm sleeping very well and deeply. In addition, I have started working. It's going very well, it's like I'm sitting in Switzerland. I'm happy about that and having fun. Since our house is not yet finished, we are currently staying with my in-laws and commuting between their house, which is outside the city center (about 50 km), and my brother-in-law and sister-in-law's house. In the morning, we go to the city center, take Ella to school, and then work in my sister-in-law's home office or take care of administrative tasks. School starts at 8:45 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m. from Monday to Friday. It's working well, but it will certainly be a relief when we can finally settle into our own house.

Otherwise, it's just wonderful here. It's still warm and autumn hasn't started yet. Climate change doesn't stop here either. The birds are my favorites here. The tropical singing is just wonderful and it feels like lying in the rainforest. The people here are very open and helpful. We have already received many great tips and are getting to know the city. Shopping takes a little longer as everything is new and you have to look around first. If I like something, I always take a photo of it, so I get to know the different products. It's also exciting! Everything I used to buy quickly in Switzerland doesn't work here. But as I said, it's also interesting and you discover many new opportunities, products, and flavors. Lindt chocolate is available in every supermarket!

Currently, weekends are divided between working on the house for half a day and then usually ending up in the pool and going to the beach for a drink. On Sundays, we go out to eat with the family or do something else. In the evenings, we often take walks along the beach. We take my in-laws' dogs with us. They also enjoy the walks. Ella often has a program with her friends on one evening or half a day. Ice skating (no joke - but it's that plastic ice like at Christmas markets) or they meet up with one of the girls. She settled in quickly, enjoys going to school. What a blessing. That was also my biggest fear, that she might not like it and want to go back to Switzerland. So far, this is not the case. She wants to join the school's netball team and is fully integrated. Her friends are learning German expressions so they have a secret language. Ella's French teacher is from Germany. Heike. They have to be careful, she would understand everything :-) So far so good. I will keep you in the loop! See ya!