Basic Calendar question

[mfaustus]

So, just got the Z2. Not a lot of experience with Android products.

My basic question is "Is it easily possible to sync the standard calendar app with Google Calendar?" I have worked through the settings and added my Google Account and it claims it was syncing the calendar, but nothing shows up when I go into the Calendar app itself. Am I doing something wrong, or am I going to have to sideload the Google Play and then get a different calendar app to sync? I am sure that I will have to get Google Play soon enough, but baby steps here.