Well, well, well. A lot has happened in the last few weeks, including a trip to Sydney and another trip to Noosa. Highlights of Sydney: the aquarium (dugongs are perhaps the cutest animals in the world); Opera House; shopping; home-cooked meals courtesy of our lovely host; quality time with J-Rod. Highlights of Noosa: beach; home-cooked meals courtesy of the more domestic of my friends; making new friends; watching the meteor shower on the beach; sleeping on the beach. Although of them were a lot of fun & I could say a lot more about them, I really am consumed with the next trip looming in my future: the trip home.
As I write this, I have less than 8 hours until I go to the airport, where a series of 4 flights will take me back to Kansas over a span of about 24 hours. Not only will it be stressful, boring, and exhausting, but I will be incredibly sad for the duration of the trip. Of course, I am SO excited to see my family, drive my car, watch New Moon with my friends, hang out with Eric, go to Sonic, etc. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and I would be devastated if I missed it. But at the same time, I have never felt so bummed about something ending.
The friends I've made here are seriously some of the most hilarious, loving, carefree people I've ever met. I could go on and on about why I love the team, but suffice it to say they are the sole reason I have been crying on and off for the past 24 hours. Don't get me wrong: I love the beach and the sun and the fact that I have been mainly directionless for the last 5 months. I will miss having the opportunity to go snorkeling and skydiving. But in the end, what really breaks my heart is saying goodbye to these people. The saddest part is that, with the exception of Treibs and Biagio, the friends I've made here go to WashU (if only we could convince them to transfer). I really shouldn't be complaining. I am so so thankful that I will have them around next semester. It's just that things will be different. We won't eat every meal together. We won't hang out every single night. It won't just be the 7 of us wandering around in Australia. We are all going back to our normal lives. This is really the end.
Ultimately I am happy that I am so sad. It means this experience has been meaningful. I've had so much fun, done so many cool things, and I like to think I've grown up a little bit. I am so much more carefree and spontaneous than I was before. Although I wouldn't go as far as saying I can take care of myself (let's be real, they cooked me every meal, took out my trash, and even did my laundry), I am definitely more independent.
I am so incredibly grateful to my family for not only allowing me to go halfway across the world, but for encouraging me to make the most of my time here. I have appreciated every card, every care package, every skype chat, and every email. It's so good to know that even though I am leaving people I love, I am coming home to people I love even more.
I'm a pathetic mess right now. I think I'm one of maybe two or three people left in my college, so it's eerily quiet. I have had to say too many emotional goodbyes. Those of you who know me well know that I DO NOT cry, so the fact that I have broken down at least 7 times since last night may come as quite a shock. But this has been the best semester of my life and it's just really, really, really hard to say goodbye to my friends, my lifestyle, my home for the past 5 months. Australia is so amazingly awesome and I cannot wait for our reunion here in 2011 (it's happening).
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
adventure mode
It's been awhile since I've shared any of the fun/unusual/weird stuff that I'm doing here. It almost seems like I am just a regular student going to class and writing papers. I can't have you thinking that because this is Australia and let's face it, things are just better here. With that, a quick recap of some recent highlights.
Friends visiting: Emily's friend Diss came to Brisbane. It's always a good time when we add people to the team. With a majority of Long Islanders in the room, I felt like I needed to be a part of the team. I fit right in, yes?
Beach: We went to the real beach this past weekend at Byron Bay. It was an intense weekend. We climbed up to this lighthouse. It was the most strenuous exercise I've had in months.
The ocean never gets old.
Kayaking: I have no pictures from this because my camera cannot afford to be anywhere near water. Kayaking was really intense. I was not good at it. Poor J-Rod had to do all the work and tell me what to do and we still ended up always floating in the wrong direction. Highlight: seeing dolphins 30 feet from us. Lowlight: getting hit in the back with the kayak after we fell out trying to ride a wave. Note to all: kayaking is not as calm and relaxing as it appears (unless you have upper body strength, then it may be okay).
Story time: After Halloween, I had a pseudo phone-breaking incident (because I really cannot keep a phone intact for more than two months at a time). Long story short, I thought my phone was broken and thus couldn't set an alarm (turns out I had put the battery in the wrong way... genius). I was planning on waking up at 6 am to go skydiving. Guess who can't wake up at 6 am without an alarm!? I woke up at 6:45, devastated that I had missed my one chance to go skydiving. I sulked in bed for a few minutes until Christine pops in saying that it had been raining all morning and skydiving had been postponed. I like to think God was so sad I had overslept, he had to shed a few tears for things to work out. Because of the rain, they hadn't left yet so I ran around trying to get ready in 5 minutes. It was stressful and hectic and suddenly I was in a van signing a document that read, "Serious accidents can and often do happen. Don't blame us if you die." Maybe in slightly different words but you get the point.
Skydiving: Fortunately, this story has a happy ending. We got to the skydiving place, got into our harnesses and learned what was going to happen. Of course all the training in the world can't prepare you for the actual jump. We flew up to 14,000 in a tiny, rickety old plane while I was strapped to my tandem master, a small intense woman who does this 12 times a day. It was terrifying and I repeatedly asked myself why in the world I decided to do this when I get scared even jumping off a bunk bed. However there's really not much you can do once you're 14,000 feet in the air. I was second in line so I had the pleasure of watching the first person fly out. They literally push you to the edge of the plane for you to get into position. Position: stick your legs out of plane and bend them back so they're wrapped along the bottom of the plane. Arms are holding the straps of the harness. Head is tilted back. I was expecting some sort of calming statement or at least a countdown but nope, I was sitting there for approximately two seconds when I feel myself FALLING OUT OF AN AIRPLANE.
The initial drop was by far the scariest moment of my life. I have nightmares about falling from heights and here it was actually happening to me. We fell out upside down and I had a moment where I wondered if I was going to die. After about five seconds we had leveled out and from then on I was absolutely amazed. It's a 60 second free fall. It's just indescribable. I was literally flying. When she pulled the parachute I felt a wave of relief. We floated around for a few minutes while I took in the view before safely sliding into the ground. I can't even explain how awesome it was. I would recommend anyone and everyone experience this at least once. It's so cool to be a part of something bigger than yourself.
I got a DVD of the whole experience, which meant that a third guy jumped out of the plane with us and filmed the whole thing. It's fantastic- from the look of absolute terror the moment I jump out to the views of Australia that are in the background. My only grievance is that I paid for pictures too but the guy didn't take any while I was in the air! The only pics are from when I landed. Lame. I stand on the ground all day every day- when's the next time I'll be 14,000 up!? Oh well, the DVD is really awesome. And actually doing it was okay too I guess...
Ladies Day: All the girls in my college dress up strangely, walk to a random field, and engage in an afternoon of debauchery.
Friends visiting: Emily's friend Diss came to Brisbane. It's always a good time when we add people to the team. With a majority of Long Islanders in the room, I felt like I needed to be a part of the team. I fit right in, yes?
Picnic: The boys arranged a lovely BBQ in the park. This area of town is called South Bank and there are a bunch of shops, restaurants, and free grills, not to mention a man-made beach. Oh Australia. The real beach is only 2 hours away but it's always smarter to create one 15 minutes away.
Beach: We went to the real beach this past weekend at Byron Bay. It was an intense weekend. We climbed up to this lighthouse. It was the most strenuous exercise I've had in months.
Byron Bay is the most easterly point of the Australian Mainland... as this sign says.
The ocean never gets old.
Halloween: Although Halloween isn't as huge here as in America, we did what we could. I fulfilled a lifelong dream of wearing a headband like that. Also it was an excuse to use my peace sign as much as possible.
Kayaking: I have no pictures from this because my camera cannot afford to be anywhere near water. Kayaking was really intense. I was not good at it. Poor J-Rod had to do all the work and tell me what to do and we still ended up always floating in the wrong direction. Highlight: seeing dolphins 30 feet from us. Lowlight: getting hit in the back with the kayak after we fell out trying to ride a wave. Note to all: kayaking is not as calm and relaxing as it appears (unless you have upper body strength, then it may be okay).Story time: After Halloween, I had a pseudo phone-breaking incident (because I really cannot keep a phone intact for more than two months at a time). Long story short, I thought my phone was broken and thus couldn't set an alarm (turns out I had put the battery in the wrong way... genius). I was planning on waking up at 6 am to go skydiving. Guess who can't wake up at 6 am without an alarm!? I woke up at 6:45, devastated that I had missed my one chance to go skydiving. I sulked in bed for a few minutes until Christine pops in saying that it had been raining all morning and skydiving had been postponed. I like to think God was so sad I had overslept, he had to shed a few tears for things to work out. Because of the rain, they hadn't left yet so I ran around trying to get ready in 5 minutes. It was stressful and hectic and suddenly I was in a van signing a document that read, "Serious accidents can and often do happen. Don't blame us if you die." Maybe in slightly different words but you get the point.
Skydiving: Fortunately, this story has a happy ending. We got to the skydiving place, got into our harnesses and learned what was going to happen. Of course all the training in the world can't prepare you for the actual jump. We flew up to 14,000 in a tiny, rickety old plane while I was strapped to my tandem master, a small intense woman who does this 12 times a day. It was terrifying and I repeatedly asked myself why in the world I decided to do this when I get scared even jumping off a bunk bed. However there's really not much you can do once you're 14,000 feet in the air. I was second in line so I had the pleasure of watching the first person fly out. They literally push you to the edge of the plane for you to get into position. Position: stick your legs out of plane and bend them back so they're wrapped along the bottom of the plane. Arms are holding the straps of the harness. Head is tilted back. I was expecting some sort of calming statement or at least a countdown but nope, I was sitting there for approximately two seconds when I feel myself FALLING OUT OF AN AIRPLANE.
The initial drop was by far the scariest moment of my life. I have nightmares about falling from heights and here it was actually happening to me. We fell out upside down and I had a moment where I wondered if I was going to die. After about five seconds we had leveled out and from then on I was absolutely amazed. It's a 60 second free fall. It's just indescribable. I was literally flying. When she pulled the parachute I felt a wave of relief. We floated around for a few minutes while I took in the view before safely sliding into the ground. I can't even explain how awesome it was. I would recommend anyone and everyone experience this at least once. It's so cool to be a part of something bigger than yourself.
I got a DVD of the whole experience, which meant that a third guy jumped out of the plane with us and filmed the whole thing. It's fantastic- from the look of absolute terror the moment I jump out to the views of Australia that are in the background. My only grievance is that I paid for pictures too but the guy didn't take any while I was in the air! The only pics are from when I landed. Lame. I stand on the ground all day every day- when's the next time I'll be 14,000 up!? Oh well, the DVD is really awesome. And actually doing it was okay too I guess...
The after shot.
All in all things have been pretty great. Jeanenne and I are going to Sydney tomorrow for three days which will be awesome. After I get back, though, adventure time is over and school time is back on. 5 finals in 5 days. A tragic reminder that even if I can fly, I still have to write papers.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Apparently it is OCTOBER 25. When did this happen!? Maybe time moves faster in the southern hemisphere. Maybe time moves faster when your life is all fun and sunshine every single day. Regardless I have a mere four weeks left but I am determined to make the most of them.
This coming week is our last week of classes. During finals week I have three papers due and two exams. If only I could get my act together and have some semblance of motivation before finals week. It's just, when your life consists of laying outside, having BBQs at the park, and eating ice cream (but seriously), there is simply no room for analyzing novels or studying types of algae. I can't be blamed.
I have two more trips planned- Byron Bay this coming weekend (thanks WashU!) and Sydney during reading week. I wish I had more time and more money to travel. I would love to go to New Zealand, Fiji, Japan, Thailand, etc. but alas, those will be postponed until I win the lottery.
My parents sent me literally three enormous bags of each of my favorite junk foods so I have been in a semi food coma for the past two weeks. The Skittles were a huge hit around here and served to reinforce the idea that Americans do everything in excess.
That's how you know you're loved.
This coming week is our last week of classes. During finals week I have three papers due and two exams. If only I could get my act together and have some semblance of motivation before finals week. It's just, when your life consists of laying outside, having BBQs at the park, and eating ice cream (but seriously), there is simply no room for analyzing novels or studying types of algae. I can't be blamed.
I have two more trips planned- Byron Bay this coming weekend (thanks WashU!) and Sydney during reading week. I wish I had more time and more money to travel. I would love to go to New Zealand, Fiji, Japan, Thailand, etc. but alas, those will be postponed until I win the lottery.
My parents sent me literally three enormous bags of each of my favorite junk foods so I have been in a semi food coma for the past two weeks. The Skittles were a huge hit around here and served to reinforce the idea that Americans do everything in excess.
That's how you know you're loved.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
my guys
This afternoon I skyped with Little Al. It pretty much made my day. I still can't believe Alex is already 12. He's like a real person now- he has legit homework and likes girls and goes to dances. Also he has become legitimately funny- when did this happen!? His voice is changing and he makes way too many inappropriate sexual comments but he's still my little brother. I refuse to call him anything but Little Al. I'm going to cry the day he stops calling me Sis and starts calling me Jordan. Not okay.
Later in the afternoon I skyped with my other favorite guy. Eric and I kind of suck at communicating, but every week or so we manage to have a real conversation. In some ways it's quite nice because so much happens in those days that we actually have things to talk about. I was really concerned that this long distance business was not gonna fly (there may or may not have been a meltdown in his bathroom a week before I left...) because we live five minutes apart both at school and at home. Fortunately it's been surprisingly easy to be apart. It's more a general feeling of "I wish Eric were here to see this shark" or "It would be cool if Eric could buy me a cherry limeade right now" rather than a sharp pain of desperately longing for him. I'll be back soon, we'll hang out, it'll be like no time has passed (hopefully? right?).
Here's to Little Al and Little Er. Can't wait until our next movie night where Alex will inevitably join us (by join us I mean he will nestle himself uncomfortably between the two of us) for a movie he is clearly not old enough to be watching (Borat at age 10- holy hell!) and the two of them will conspire against me to steal my candy when I'm not paying attention. I miss both of your huge heads.
Later in the afternoon I skyped with my other favorite guy. Eric and I kind of suck at communicating, but every week or so we manage to have a real conversation. In some ways it's quite nice because so much happens in those days that we actually have things to talk about. I was really concerned that this long distance business was not gonna fly (there may or may not have been a meltdown in his bathroom a week before I left...) because we live five minutes apart both at school and at home. Fortunately it's been surprisingly easy to be apart. It's more a general feeling of "I wish Eric were here to see this shark" or "It would be cool if Eric could buy me a cherry limeade right now" rather than a sharp pain of desperately longing for him. I'll be back soon, we'll hang out, it'll be like no time has passed (hopefully? right?).
Here's to Little Al and Little Er. Can't wait until our next movie night where Alex will inevitably join us (by join us I mean he will nestle himself uncomfortably between the two of us) for a movie he is clearly not old enough to be watching (Borat at age 10- holy hell!) and the two of them will conspire against me to steal my candy when I'm not paying attention. I miss both of your huge heads.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
GBR 09
It's late September and that can only mean one thing: SPRING BREAK. Or maybe that's just on this side of the world. It's pretty sweet to get two spring breaks this year and let me tell you, this one did not disappoint. My marine science class went on our second field trip, this time to Heron Island, which is in the Great Barrier Reef. This trip is the single reason I enrolled in this class because, let's face it, I do not do science.
We left at 11:15 Thursday night and took a loooonngggg overnight bus ride and ferry ride to get there, finally arriving at 1 pm Friday afternoon. Food was obviously first priority and we had a delish lunch prepared by Maggie, the heinous tyrant of the kitchen who barks at you for taking too long in the sandwich line and watches to make sure you don't take two slices of cake. Maggie is terrifying but she makes a mean ravioli. After that we immediately went snorkeling. Mind you I have been snorkeling precisely one time and that was in 8th grade (TCS '03 what up) so my skills were rusty. After a few failures in the realms of breathing (the mouth is hard when I'm used to the nose), seeing (my mask kept filling up with water), and swimming (flippers can be tricky), I was good to go and we floated around.
Saturday was by far my favorite day. We went out on boats (I thought I was going to fly out and never be seen again) to a spot that was in the deep part of the ocean. It was AMAZING. Every two minutes I would think about what I was doing and kept coming to the conclusion that this was the most incredible experience of my life. We were snorkeling in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef. The GBR!! Unreal. We saw tons of animals: rays, sea turtles, sharks, and heaps of bright, colorful fish. It is crazy seeing a completely different world beneath the surface of the water. It's just so vast and open and natural. Definitely in the top 10 days of my life.
Definitely not in the top 10 days was Sunday's night snorkel. Okay, I am not a super scared person, and I'm generally fine in water but OH MY GOD I was terrified. We were in the middle of the ocean, at night, with only a wimpy little flashlight guiding us. Reasons for terror: my mask wasn't tight enough and I could not see (partly because it was filling up and partly because it was NIGHT). Then I started hyperventilating (blatant lie, I just started breathing harder) which caused me to worry that I was having a panic attack (I clearly was not). Then every time a flipper would hit me (and this happened quite frequently as we were all in a tight bunch) I was absolutely certain it was a shark because it was NIGHT which, conveniently, happens to be shark feeding time. Basically, I was freaked out the whole time and didn't actually see many cool things because I was entirely focused on: not drowning, not being stung by jellyfish, and not being attacked by a shark. I think I'm gonna stick with day snorkeling from now on.
Oh yeah, we were actually there in the name of "education," whatever that is... our project was measuring the sizes of poop that came out of sea cucumbers. Science at its finest. We worked really hard for one day and then rewarded ourselves with several trips to the beach to lay out.
Have I mentioned how intense the sun is here? You know, the whole lack of ozone deal. Yeah, well, little miss I-never-get-burned-so-I'll-just-put-on-a-little-sunscreen here learned a valuable lesson. I am no match for the Australian sun. My face got burned, as did my legs. And my knees. The knees were the worst. You can't really see the burn but I assure you it is there. I have newfound sympathy for people who go through this regularly. I generally just assume people are wimps who can't handle a little sun exposure but holy crap it was painful. I now have ridiculous tan lines and will be coming home a full three shades darker.
Now I am back in Brisbane and not looking forward to the rest of break because it is full of nothing but schoolwork, aka the one thing I do not want to be doing right now. I have four papers and an online debate for the next two weeks, which is a lot of work in any place but seems extra horrible in Australia. I just... don't want to.... but alas, it will all get done after I stop complaining.
Bottom line: if you have the time and the money, you must visit the GBR. Seriously incredible. And if you need a snorkel buddy, I'm your gal. Daytime hours only, please.
We left at 11:15 Thursday night and took a loooonngggg overnight bus ride and ferry ride to get there, finally arriving at 1 pm Friday afternoon. Food was obviously first priority and we had a delish lunch prepared by Maggie, the heinous tyrant of the kitchen who barks at you for taking too long in the sandwich line and watches to make sure you don't take two slices of cake. Maggie is terrifying but she makes a mean ravioli. After that we immediately went snorkeling. Mind you I have been snorkeling precisely one time and that was in 8th grade (TCS '03 what up) so my skills were rusty. After a few failures in the realms of breathing (the mouth is hard when I'm used to the nose), seeing (my mask kept filling up with water), and swimming (flippers can be tricky), I was good to go and we floated around.
Saturday was by far my favorite day. We went out on boats (I thought I was going to fly out and never be seen again) to a spot that was in the deep part of the ocean. It was AMAZING. Every two minutes I would think about what I was doing and kept coming to the conclusion that this was the most incredible experience of my life. We were snorkeling in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef. The GBR!! Unreal. We saw tons of animals: rays, sea turtles, sharks, and heaps of bright, colorful fish. It is crazy seeing a completely different world beneath the surface of the water. It's just so vast and open and natural. Definitely in the top 10 days of my life.
Definitely not in the top 10 days was Sunday's night snorkel. Okay, I am not a super scared person, and I'm generally fine in water but OH MY GOD I was terrified. We were in the middle of the ocean, at night, with only a wimpy little flashlight guiding us. Reasons for terror: my mask wasn't tight enough and I could not see (partly because it was filling up and partly because it was NIGHT). Then I started hyperventilating (blatant lie, I just started breathing harder) which caused me to worry that I was having a panic attack (I clearly was not). Then every time a flipper would hit me (and this happened quite frequently as we were all in a tight bunch) I was absolutely certain it was a shark because it was NIGHT which, conveniently, happens to be shark feeding time. Basically, I was freaked out the whole time and didn't actually see many cool things because I was entirely focused on: not drowning, not being stung by jellyfish, and not being attacked by a shark. I think I'm gonna stick with day snorkeling from now on.
Oh yeah, we were actually there in the name of "education," whatever that is... our project was measuring the sizes of poop that came out of sea cucumbers. Science at its finest. We worked really hard for one day and then rewarded ourselves with several trips to the beach to lay out.
Have I mentioned how intense the sun is here? You know, the whole lack of ozone deal. Yeah, well, little miss I-never-get-burned-so-I'll-just-put-on-a-little-sunscreen here learned a valuable lesson. I am no match for the Australian sun. My face got burned, as did my legs. And my knees. The knees were the worst. You can't really see the burn but I assure you it is there. I have newfound sympathy for people who go through this regularly. I generally just assume people are wimps who can't handle a little sun exposure but holy crap it was painful. I now have ridiculous tan lines and will be coming home a full three shades darker.
Now I am back in Brisbane and not looking forward to the rest of break because it is full of nothing but schoolwork, aka the one thing I do not want to be doing right now. I have four papers and an online debate for the next two weeks, which is a lot of work in any place but seems extra horrible in Australia. I just... don't want to.... but alas, it will all get done after I stop complaining.
Bottom line: if you have the time and the money, you must visit the GBR. Seriously incredible. And if you need a snorkel buddy, I'm your gal. Daytime hours only, please.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
time flies and i cries
My Australian adventure is just over halfway done. I cannot believe it. It's been the fastest two months of my life and I'm guessing the second half will fly by even faster. I really want time to slooowww down. Here is the point where I could get all cheesy & sentimental but I'll just say that I am having the time of my life and I am not prepared to leave this behind forever.
Happier news: Great Barrier Reef next week. Plus Jeanenne & I booked tickets to Sydney at the beginning of November. Both are true Australian essentials so I'm glad I'll get to go there.
Even happier news: Gossip Girl is back.
Yeah, I know, I know. I'm in Australia & GG should probably not be my number one source of excitement. But have you SEEN Chuck and Blair?! Loooveee.
Happier news: Great Barrier Reef next week. Plus Jeanenne & I booked tickets to Sydney at the beginning of November. Both are true Australian essentials so I'm glad I'll get to go there.
Even happier news: Gossip Girl is back.
Yeah, I know, I know. I'm in Australia & GG should probably not be my number one source of excitement. But have you SEEN Chuck and Blair?! Loooveee.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
NOOSA
This weekend's trip to the beach was fantastic. It took about 4 hours to get there by a combination of buses and trains (Transportation Committee was on top of it). We rented a villa, which was this 2 story house with a kitchen, a bunch of beds, and an L-shaped couch (only the best of the couch options). The villa is right off the the main street in the town, where all the shops and restaurants are, but more importantly, it's a mere 5 minute walk to the beach.
The prospect of our own kitchen was thrilling, as we haven't seen a home cooked meal in months. Thus we made pasta, salad, and garlic bread. And by we, I mean the Dinner Committee (of which I had no part, but come on, this is no surprise if you know me at all). No worries, though, I was on clean up crew and man, am I a skilled dish-washer. All those years of doing the dishes have really trained me well.
We spent the majority of our time on the beach, obviously. It's a touristy place, so there were tons of people around. A lot of families with little kids, who were adorable to watch. Everyone in Australia wears hats because, awesome news, the hole in the ozone layer is directly above us. Skin cancer runs rampant here. Even I have taken to wearing sunscreen and that is big.
We buried Biagio in the sand one afternoon. Turns out, there was a wedding going on and we were directly in the aisle. To be fair, there was no announcement of said wedding and the aisle was not marked in any way. Only when the bride walked past us did we realize we were being 5 year olds as a beautiful, life-changing ceremony was going on next to us.
We also played a game, appropriately titled Sock Head, where you throw a sock and try to get it to land on someone's head. I told you, we are 5.
All photo credit is due to Xtine. I have basically stopped taking pictures because someone else is always on top of it. Instead I pop in as many as possible, hence the ridiculously high number of tagged pics in the past 9 weeks. Anywa, this was one of the best weekends I've had in Australia. I could easily live in Noosa. Oh, and not to brag or anything, but morale was out of this world this weekend. I take my role seriously.
The prospect of our own kitchen was thrilling, as we haven't seen a home cooked meal in months. Thus we made pasta, salad, and garlic bread. And by we, I mean the Dinner Committee (of which I had no part, but come on, this is no surprise if you know me at all). No worries, though, I was on clean up crew and man, am I a skilled dish-washer. All those years of doing the dishes have really trained me well.
We spent the majority of our time on the beach, obviously. It's a touristy place, so there were tons of people around. A lot of families with little kids, who were adorable to watch. Everyone in Australia wears hats because, awesome news, the hole in the ozone layer is directly above us. Skin cancer runs rampant here. Even I have taken to wearing sunscreen and that is big.
We buried Biagio in the sand one afternoon. Turns out, there was a wedding going on and we were directly in the aisle. To be fair, there was no announcement of said wedding and the aisle was not marked in any way. Only when the bride walked past us did we realize we were being 5 year olds as a beautiful, life-changing ceremony was going on next to us.
We also played a game, appropriately titled Sock Head, where you throw a sock and try to get it to land on someone's head. I told you, we are 5.
All photo credit is due to Xtine. I have basically stopped taking pictures because someone else is always on top of it. Instead I pop in as many as possible, hence the ridiculously high number of tagged pics in the past 9 weeks. Anywa, this was one of the best weekends I've had in Australia. I could easily live in Noosa. Oh, and not to brag or anything, but morale was out of this world this weekend. I take my role seriously.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
from A to Zed
Tonight at dinner we got to talking about American/Australian language differences. For one, they pronounce the letter Z as "zed" instead of "zee." Which means that zebra is pronounced "zehbra." I thought this was hilarious. Other abnormalities of Australian English include a high frequency of unnecessary vowels inserted in words (behaviour, labour, colour), as well as 's' where there should clearly be a 'z' (organisation, realisation).
Further, their candy (lolly) selection is far inferior to the American arsenal of sweets. No Reese's. Tragic, really. Instead of gummy worms and gummy bears they have gummy rattlesnakes (vicious but acceptable) and, worst of all, gummy BABIES. Human babies. In gummy form. If you want to go really crazy you can get the kind with the liquidy stuff inside and have squirting babies for an afternoon snack. These people are freaks.
Meal times are some of my favorite parts of the week. Besides the obvious enjoyment I get from eating, it is nice to have guaranteed socializing opportunities. At WashU it is so easy to avoid everyone and eat alone at 3 pm or 9 pm or 2 pm (all times we do not eat here), but here, there is such a small window for eating that everyone is together. I kinda love it, kinda hate it. It definitely keeps me on a schedule and gets me out of my room on those days I just want to sleep all day.
Today in our marine science class the lecturer spent the entire class detailing the many ways we could die by Australian sea creatures. The abbreviated list includes cone snails, box jellyfish, blue ringed octopuses, stingrays, and sharks, all of which we'll be encountering on our trip to the Great Barrier Reef in a couple weeks. I'm generally okay with deadly animals, you know, NBD, but that octupus freaked me out because it blinds and paralyzes you while you are fully conscious. I live a dangerous life.
Two of our friends are traveling this weekend and the rest of us were jealous. Not to mention we have gotten rather lazy lately. My time in Australia is going so fast that it is stupid not to take advantage while I'm here. Hence our quick decision to go to Noosa this weekend. Noosa is a place on the Sunshine Coast (I know, sounds perfect already) and we're staying at a villa on the beach for two nights. Shoutout to Christine, who is on the Transportation Committee* and planned the whole thing in like an hour (and also scored a sweet discount on the villa). Looking forward to getting out of Brisbane for a couple days and doing something different.
*Committees are always necessary in any group of friends. I'm Morale Committee, FYI. Basically I just get excited about things and encourage to others to get excited, as well. It's crucial.
Further, their candy (lolly) selection is far inferior to the American arsenal of sweets. No Reese's. Tragic, really. Instead of gummy worms and gummy bears they have gummy rattlesnakes (vicious but acceptable) and, worst of all, gummy BABIES. Human babies. In gummy form. If you want to go really crazy you can get the kind with the liquidy stuff inside and have squirting babies for an afternoon snack. These people are freaks.
Meal times are some of my favorite parts of the week. Besides the obvious enjoyment I get from eating, it is nice to have guaranteed socializing opportunities. At WashU it is so easy to avoid everyone and eat alone at 3 pm or 9 pm or 2 pm (all times we do not eat here), but here, there is such a small window for eating that everyone is together. I kinda love it, kinda hate it. It definitely keeps me on a schedule and gets me out of my room on those days I just want to sleep all day.
Today in our marine science class the lecturer spent the entire class detailing the many ways we could die by Australian sea creatures. The abbreviated list includes cone snails, box jellyfish, blue ringed octopuses, stingrays, and sharks, all of which we'll be encountering on our trip to the Great Barrier Reef in a couple weeks. I'm generally okay with deadly animals, you know, NBD, but that octupus freaked me out because it blinds and paralyzes you while you are fully conscious. I live a dangerous life.
Two of our friends are traveling this weekend and the rest of us were jealous. Not to mention we have gotten rather lazy lately. My time in Australia is going so fast that it is stupid not to take advantage while I'm here. Hence our quick decision to go to Noosa this weekend. Noosa is a place on the Sunshine Coast (I know, sounds perfect already) and we're staying at a villa on the beach for two nights. Shoutout to Christine, who is on the Transportation Committee* and planned the whole thing in like an hour (and also scored a sweet discount on the villa). Looking forward to getting out of Brisbane for a couple days and doing something different.
*Committees are always necessary in any group of friends. I'm Morale Committee, FYI. Basically I just get excited about things and encourage to others to get excited, as well. It's crucial.
Friday, September 4, 2009
these are a few of my favorite things
Yesterday I got to thinking about the things I miss from America. Here is an abridged version.
- Panera bread bowls
- SONIC
- Watching TV on an actual television
- Being able to eat at all hours
- Pigz
- the other 90% of my wardrobe
- magazines
- Mexican food
- basketball (I guess it's not basketball season so I wouldn't be watching it at home but there is a profound lack of interest in the sport here)
- my car/being able to travel without relying on public transportation
- Red Lobster
- unlimited outlets. I only have one in my room, and I only have one adapter.
- dressing casually to go out. why do we always have to be fancy here?!
- home cooked meals
- root beer
- rap & hip hop music. Techno, I have acquired a tolerance for you but we will never be friends.
- pop in general ($3 for a bottle of Sprite- no thanks)
- Target (exists here, but it's just not the same)
- Steak n Shake
I find it incredibly sad that the vast majority of things I miss are food related. It's just that the food situation here is really tragic. Having a one hour window for each meal is difficult. Having roasted chicken/beef and almost-good-but-a-little-too-bland pasta for every single meal gets old. It just gets old.
At some point I'll share with you the list of things that make Australia cooler than America, but right now I just want some tacos so I'm feeling patriotic.
- Panera bread bowls
- SONIC
- Watching TV on an actual television
- Being able to eat at all hours
- Pigz
- the other 90% of my wardrobe
- magazines
- Mexican food
- basketball (I guess it's not basketball season so I wouldn't be watching it at home but there is a profound lack of interest in the sport here)
- my car/being able to travel without relying on public transportation
- Red Lobster
- unlimited outlets. I only have one in my room, and I only have one adapter.
- dressing casually to go out. why do we always have to be fancy here?!
- home cooked meals
- root beer
- rap & hip hop music. Techno, I have acquired a tolerance for you but we will never be friends.
- pop in general ($3 for a bottle of Sprite- no thanks)
- Target (exists here, but it's just not the same)
- Steak n Shake
I find it incredibly sad that the vast majority of things I miss are food related. It's just that the food situation here is really tragic. Having a one hour window for each meal is difficult. Having roasted chicken/beef and almost-good-but-a-little-too-bland pasta for every single meal gets old. It just gets old.
At some point I'll share with you the list of things that make Australia cooler than America, but right now I just want some tacos so I'm feeling patriotic.
Monday, August 31, 2009
swine 09
Australia is obsessed with the swine flu and up until Friday I was disinterested in the whole pandemonium. It is basically just the regular flu, only it's been sensationalized so that we are all terrified of turning into pigs or dying or whatever happens when you get it. I basically rolled my eyes at every mention of the swine flu.
And then I contracted it. This may be a slight exaggeration, as I don't actually know that's what it is. However, it's my best bet, as some of my friends and many of my floormates have had it. My symptoms are dead on: cough, sore throat, fever, aches, etc. It actually does suck, although I maintain it is just the same as the regular flu (perhaps better because there seems to be less puking involved with the swine). For a few hours on Saturday night I felt as though I was going to meet my maker. Nothing several bottles of water and several episodes of Weeds can't fix!
I hear it's all over KU now. The attempts to stop its spread are a valiant effort but come on, washing your hands with extra soap is not going to stop the swine. I must admit, hearing of its attack at home does make the world seem a little smaller. Universal diseases connect us all!
In other, healthier news, I actually feel like I'm in school now. Boo. I've written two papers in the past week. And it appears that the work is never-ending from here on out. Weirdly enough, we've already been through 5 of 13 weeks of classes. I can't believe it's September. Just truckin along.
Sickness + schoolwork = unhappiness. This week sucked. Here's hoping for a better week!
And then I contracted it. This may be a slight exaggeration, as I don't actually know that's what it is. However, it's my best bet, as some of my friends and many of my floormates have had it. My symptoms are dead on: cough, sore throat, fever, aches, etc. It actually does suck, although I maintain it is just the same as the regular flu (perhaps better because there seems to be less puking involved with the swine). For a few hours on Saturday night I felt as though I was going to meet my maker. Nothing several bottles of water and several episodes of Weeds can't fix!
I hear it's all over KU now. The attempts to stop its spread are a valiant effort but come on, washing your hands with extra soap is not going to stop the swine. I must admit, hearing of its attack at home does make the world seem a little smaller. Universal diseases connect us all!
In other, healthier news, I actually feel like I'm in school now. Boo. I've written two papers in the past week. And it appears that the work is never-ending from here on out. Weirdly enough, we've already been through 5 of 13 weeks of classes. I can't believe it's September. Just truckin along.
Sickness + schoolwork = unhappiness. This week sucked. Here's hoping for a better week!
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Party in the AUS
We went on a field trip to an island last weekend. Let me tell you, Australian field trips are much more exciting than the field trips of my childhood (Kansas river, anyone?). Technically, we were there in the name of science, so we measured oxygen levels and salinity in tide pools blah blah blah but let's be real. We were at the beach. For school. We saw dolphins, played Mafia, and ate every 2 hours. My kind of field trip.
Being profound.
Just the Pacific Ocean in the middle of winter. No big deal.We went to an AFL game last night. It's Australian football, which is basically it's like a combination of American football and soccer. You can use your feet and your hands and the goal is to get the ball through the goalposts. They wear absolutely no padding and it's really fast paced and intense. Brisbane made a comeback during the last few minutes which was pretty thrilling. I still don't know exactly what was going on, but I cheered at the appropriate moments and cringed at the appropriate moments so I consider it a success.
My only issue with this place is that I actually have to do work. I have a paper to write by Thursday, and I don't think I've ever been more disinclined to do work in my life. It's just that I sit down to do work, but something more appealing always seems to pop up. Like croquet. Or the mall. Or laying out.
I miss Mexican food.
I've been listening to Miley's Party in the USA nonstop for the past two weeks. Ironically, it fully encapsulates my experience away from the USA. If you're not a fan of the song, we're probably not friends.
Today is Eric and my 3 and a half year anniversary, for those of you keeping up with such stats. Presents welcome. Feels like just yesterday we were merely mathletes together...
I still don't understand why we didn't win cutest couple in high school.
Friday, August 14, 2009
one month later
I left Kansas a month ago. A month! There's only 12 of them in a year and I've spent an entire one in Australia. What to make of this, I'm not sure. Time is tricky. In some ways this month has gone by way too quickly, but at the same time, every day seems long and eventful. When I look back at the many MANY pictures we've taken, I am astounded by how much we've already done. So to commemorate my first month down under, here are some reflections (because who doesn't love to reflect?)
1. Modern technology is freaking incredible. Even though I'm 9000 miles from home, I can talk to my parents, email little Al, iChat with Eric, write on Tara's facebook wall, and it's like I'm right there with them. Sort of. The 15 hour time difference can be irritating, but college students run on bizarre schedules, so somebody is always awake.
2. Everyone should take a break from their normal setting. Being away from the everyday routine has been so good for me. New people, new environment, new lifestyle. It's just necessary every so often before you get stuck in a rut.
3. I have a newfound appreciation and love for WashU. I have never and will never be WashU's biggest fan - in a lot of ways, I resent that institution and am glad to be out of the bubble for a semester. But absence does make the heart grow fonder and I find myself really missing certain aspects of that place. Ex: food at all hours; knowing at least five people you see en route to any place on campus; heated buildings. Plus I'm starting to miss the activities I'm involved with at school, especially Chi O. I'm going to go back refreshed and ready for the WashU world again.
4. Sleeping is fun, watching TV is funner, but socializing is funnest (also, I am digging the fact that funner & funnest are real words now). I am by no means the life of the party and I usually go out once a week, twice if it's a particular crazy weekend. Usually I'm just really tired, busy, & lazy so going out is not as appealing as Gossip Girl (but let's be real, what party surpasses the greatness of GG?). But here I am all about having fun and being with people. Part of it is that I'm not overwhelmed with extracurriculars and responsibilities here. Part of it is the general attitude of Australia. It's so laidback and relaxed that you can't help but get the happy vibe, too.
5. America has extreme influence over the rest of the world. Every day, in every class, there is at least one mention of the US -- an American author, an American city, an American politician, an American stereotype. It's amusing yet fascinating. At some points it makes me ashamed to be American (Iraq, obesity, treatment of Native Americans, Palin, etc.) but mostly I have a strong sense of patriotism at every mention of America. Home sweet home.
Five is a good number. I don't want to overwhelm you by the sheer amount of reflecting I have done. Leaving for a field trip in the morning, my first field trip in years. It is my opinion that the world would be so much better if we all went on more field trips.
1. Modern technology is freaking incredible. Even though I'm 9000 miles from home, I can talk to my parents, email little Al, iChat with Eric, write on Tara's facebook wall, and it's like I'm right there with them. Sort of. The 15 hour time difference can be irritating, but college students run on bizarre schedules, so somebody is always awake.
2. Everyone should take a break from their normal setting. Being away from the everyday routine has been so good for me. New people, new environment, new lifestyle. It's just necessary every so often before you get stuck in a rut.
3. I have a newfound appreciation and love for WashU. I have never and will never be WashU's biggest fan - in a lot of ways, I resent that institution and am glad to be out of the bubble for a semester. But absence does make the heart grow fonder and I find myself really missing certain aspects of that place. Ex: food at all hours; knowing at least five people you see en route to any place on campus; heated buildings. Plus I'm starting to miss the activities I'm involved with at school, especially Chi O. I'm going to go back refreshed and ready for the WashU world again.
4. Sleeping is fun, watching TV is funner, but socializing is funnest (also, I am digging the fact that funner & funnest are real words now). I am by no means the life of the party and I usually go out once a week, twice if it's a particular crazy weekend. Usually I'm just really tired, busy, & lazy so going out is not as appealing as Gossip Girl (but let's be real, what party surpasses the greatness of GG?). But here I am all about having fun and being with people. Part of it is that I'm not overwhelmed with extracurriculars and responsibilities here. Part of it is the general attitude of Australia. It's so laidback and relaxed that you can't help but get the happy vibe, too.
5. America has extreme influence over the rest of the world. Every day, in every class, there is at least one mention of the US -- an American author, an American city, an American politician, an American stereotype. It's amusing yet fascinating. At some points it makes me ashamed to be American (Iraq, obesity, treatment of Native Americans, Palin, etc.) but mostly I have a strong sense of patriotism at every mention of America. Home sweet home.
Five is a good number. I don't want to overwhelm you by the sheer amount of reflecting I have done. Leaving for a field trip in the morning, my first field trip in years. It is my opinion that the world would be so much better if we all went on more field trips.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
visual diary
A bunch of the girls in my college. The cards were a major theme throughout the evening.
Into the Wild theme party. For anyone who knows me well, it cannot come as a shock that I loved the cat poses I made throughout the night.
I fell in love with the beach. Amazing. Will be getting a second home there as soon as I find some money.
My fellow beach-goers. Love these two.
With more sun, more sand, & fewer clothes
Snuggled up on the way home. The beach is exhausting.
Story of our Australian lives: relaxing in the sun all day every day.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
on sausages
I had an epiphany today. An epiphany spurred by the loud group of guys advertising $1 sausages on campus this afternoon (more on the sausage phenomenon later).
During the entirety of the going-abroad-decision-making process, I’ve experienced anxiety about my chosen destination. Why, I asked myself, am I going somewhere where the language is the same, the TV shows are the same, and walking down the street, I could easily mistake it for any warm American city? Shouldn't I go somewhere super exotic, where I can't understand anything, where my Westernized mind is boggled by the intensity of the crazy, life-altering events going on every day? Why Australia? I have struggled with this issue on and off for several months, always pushing it aside and thinking about happier things, i.e. the beach.
Until today. Cue epiphany. I was walking to class, my stomach was growling, and I encounter this group of guys shouting about discounted sausages. And then it just hit me. I like Australia. I am happy here. This is where I want to be.
I don't want to struggle to communicate with the native people. I don't want to feel alone. I don’t want to go weeks without showering in a tiny rural village. I don’t want to live in a sophisticated European flat and go on art tours. I don’t want to go somewhere extremely exotic solely to have a more “authentic” cultural experience. I would love to go to Africa & Europe & South America at some point, but I’m devoting thousands of dollars and four months of my life to this experience. I want to be in a place where I can have fun, meet people, and not be stressed out all the time. That is Australia.
What’s more is that for all of the American luxuries I didn’t have to give up (Internet, showers, large portion sizes), there are tons of things that are, in fact, not the same. I am for sure living a different life in a place far, far, really really scarily far from WashU, and that makes me confident that I made a good choice.
I will make an elaborate post one day listing all the differences between America and Australia, but for now, let me leave you with a short piece about sausages.
THEY LOVE SAUSAGE HERE.
Seriously. So many meals here involve sausages. And every student group sells them on campus for fundraisers. When they say they’re having a BBQ, they mean sausages. No buns. Just white bread. Just a sausage on a piece of white bread. With onions. And barbecue sauce. I don’t get it. But I love it.
So today I walked to class, eating my $1 sausage, in perfect weather, and I was happy.
During the entirety of the going-abroad-decision-making process, I’ve experienced anxiety about my chosen destination. Why, I asked myself, am I going somewhere where the language is the same, the TV shows are the same, and walking down the street, I could easily mistake it for any warm American city? Shouldn't I go somewhere super exotic, where I can't understand anything, where my Westernized mind is boggled by the intensity of the crazy, life-altering events going on every day? Why Australia? I have struggled with this issue on and off for several months, always pushing it aside and thinking about happier things, i.e. the beach.
Until today. Cue epiphany. I was walking to class, my stomach was growling, and I encounter this group of guys shouting about discounted sausages. And then it just hit me. I like Australia. I am happy here. This is where I want to be.
I don't want to struggle to communicate with the native people. I don't want to feel alone. I don’t want to go weeks without showering in a tiny rural village. I don’t want to live in a sophisticated European flat and go on art tours. I don’t want to go somewhere extremely exotic solely to have a more “authentic” cultural experience. I would love to go to Africa & Europe & South America at some point, but I’m devoting thousands of dollars and four months of my life to this experience. I want to be in a place where I can have fun, meet people, and not be stressed out all the time. That is Australia.
What’s more is that for all of the American luxuries I didn’t have to give up (Internet, showers, large portion sizes), there are tons of things that are, in fact, not the same. I am for sure living a different life in a place far, far, really really scarily far from WashU, and that makes me confident that I made a good choice.
I will make an elaborate post one day listing all the differences between America and Australia, but for now, let me leave you with a short piece about sausages.
THEY LOVE SAUSAGE HERE.
Seriously. So many meals here involve sausages. And every student group sells them on campus for fundraisers. When they say they’re having a BBQ, they mean sausages. No buns. Just white bread. Just a sausage on a piece of white bread. With onions. And barbecue sauce. I don’t get it. But I love it.
So today I walked to class, eating my $1 sausage, in perfect weather, and I was happy.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
school is not cool
Weird things about living in the southern hemisphere:
1. I don't recognize any constellations (this is actually kind of cool).
2. No hot dog buns.
3. $1 and $2 coins instead of paper money
4. They have school in July.
I've had 3 days of class and I'm already ready for spring break (benefit of being here during spring: getting two spring breaks this year). Part of me is ready to blow off all my classes because we only have to pass them to get credit at WashU, and none of the grades transfer. But the other part of me, the nerdy part of me that likes school supplies and partook in math competitions, just can't blow off school. And that is the sad reality of my existence.
In case you're an avid reader and my last post was a bit of a cliffhanger for you, I finally cleaned my room. It was a tool of procrastination to avoid doing homework (vomit), but it was productive and now I can see the floor... all 10 square feet of it. Did I mention that my room is super small? I'm not too needy, but there are about 20 rooms on my floor and 16 of them are spacious and come equipped with a fridge... guess who got one of the lucky 4 other rooms?!
I think I'm going through pop withdrawal. I was drinking a lot of Sunkist and root beer this summer, but now that it costs $3 for a bottle, that habit has been effectively squashed. Perhaps my teeth will thank me.
1. I don't recognize any constellations (this is actually kind of cool).
2. No hot dog buns.
3. $1 and $2 coins instead of paper money
4. They have school in July.
I've had 3 days of class and I'm already ready for spring break (benefit of being here during spring: getting two spring breaks this year). Part of me is ready to blow off all my classes because we only have to pass them to get credit at WashU, and none of the grades transfer. But the other part of me, the nerdy part of me that likes school supplies and partook in math competitions, just can't blow off school. And that is the sad reality of my existence.
In case you're an avid reader and my last post was a bit of a cliffhanger for you, I finally cleaned my room. It was a tool of procrastination to avoid doing homework (vomit), but it was productive and now I can see the floor... all 10 square feet of it. Did I mention that my room is super small? I'm not too needy, but there are about 20 rooms on my floor and 16 of them are spacious and come equipped with a fridge... guess who got one of the lucky 4 other rooms?!
I think I'm going through pop withdrawal. I was drinking a lot of Sunkist and root beer this summer, but now that it costs $3 for a bottle, that habit has been effectively squashed. Perhaps my teeth will thank me.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
XXXX
I'm getting used to being here and starting to realize this isn't just a 2 week vacation, but a 4 month stay. As it turns out, my family doesn't seem to be missing me too much as they never call or email me. I'm talking to you, Lisa. I haven't been very homesick yet, and the anticipation for it is probably worse than the actual homesickness will be.
There are about 45 international students in my college (college = dorm, university = college), most of whom are Americans but some of whom are from cool places like Ghana and Malaysia and Germany. People here are so friendly and outgoing. Australian girls who live on my floor keep popping in and introducing themselves and chatting about life here, which I'm sad to say I would probably never do for a foreigner at WashU.
I spend a lot of time hanging out/going out with these girls.
We wanted cards but didn't have any. So we made some (twice). How resourceful.
For the first time in my college career I have a single. It's a new experience, that's for sure. Privacy is nice, I guess, but a bit overrated. It's kind of lonely and I have no one to motivate me to keep my side clean. Thus my room is a certifiable disaster right now. I'm talking trash on the floor, empty peanut butter packets on the desk, clean clothes mixed in with dirty clothes. I've become a monster!
Okay, I just reread that and realized how disgusting this is. Maybe this is the motivation I needed.
Monday, July 20, 2009
"No one who's sexually active watches cricket"
The group : )
I'm currently in the process of choosing classes for the semester. Here's the deal: the past two semesters, I've had 3 day weekends, so I am basically incapable of going back to a full week. Apparently, this university is down with long weekends, too, because I have yet to find a class that meets on Friday. I told you this place is great. On top of that, I'm planning on having Mondays off, too (I need a day to recover from my 3 day weekend), so helllloooo 4 day weekends. Tuesdays are going to suck, but I've always hated Tuesday anyway.
I had my first going-out-on-a-Sunday experience last night. It's still winter break here, so I suppose days don't matter yet, but Sunday is a big night here. As are Wednesday-Saturday. They like to party here, which I'd be down with if not for the hefty price tag. I mean, $5 for a schooner of beer?! $10 for a mixed drink?! No thanks, mate. (side note: how impressive is my use of Australian vernacular?)
Harry Potter tonight. Regretting the decision to leave my Gryffindor scarf at home.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
koalas and kangaroos and ferries, oh my
Brisbane is gorgeous. It's like a cleaner, warmer, more beautiful version of an American city. Today we went to a koala sanctuary and holy crap, koalas are adorable. This little baby and his mama are isolated so he can grow up properly. He was fully latched onto his mom and she just climbed up the trees and crawled around and it was precious.
Obviously there were kangaroos. There were a bunch of them and they just chilled out while annoying tourists pet them and took pictures with them. Watching them hop around cracked me up, but for the most part, they seemed to live a pretty lazy life.
We take the ferry to get into the city. It's the middle of winter and we can still take a boat to go downtown. I love this place.
I have many more pics, but I'll put them on facebook later on. I'll try to keep the extreme tourist pictures to a minimum because I tend to hate those, but I had to put the kangaroos and koalas up here because, c'mon, I'm in Australia.
Oh and I have never put pics on here before so I have no idea if I did it right. Oops.
Time to get ready and go out. Being legal here is pretty sweet, I must say. It is going to drain my wallet, but sweet nonetheless.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Apparently the rest of the world uses Celsius.
Somehow it's Thursday afternoon, when last I checked it was Tuesday. Sadly, I lost all of Wednesday. A real bummer.
Basically, my three plane rides were long, uncomfortable, and terrifying, but there were no crashes. And really, what more can you ask for? I tried sleeping on the 13 hour flight, but every time I dozed off, I woke up to extreme turbulence & then frantically wondered who would find my lifeless body at the bottom of the Pacific. The only redeeming quality was the on demand movies (I knew we were gonna be okay as long as I Love You, Man was still playing)
Australia is pretty sweet. It's winter here. When the pilot announced it was a cool 10 degrees here, I had a moment of shock and extreme distress. That's when I remembered they use Celsius. Then I was fine. That's when I remembered I have no idea what 10 degrees Celsius means. For those of you who are straight Fahrenheit, it's like 50 degrees. Which is cold. But not really.
The school is huuuuuuugeee. Like 40,000 students huge. That's quite a jump coming from little WashU where everyone knows everyone. In some areas of campus I feel like I'm in a rainforest with the trees and exotic birds. Oh and the turkeys. At least that's what these creatures appear to be.
I have a little dorm room to myself. Apparently the Aussies don't believe in insulation or heat because it's freezing in my room and it's only mid afternoon. Also, I'm back to community bathrooms, which, let's be real- I'm all for camaraderie and sharing, but they're kinda gross. And fun fact: Australia is perpetually in a drought, so we are limited to 4 minute showers. Yeah right.
It's bizarre thinking of myself as an international student. But here I am, in a place where I have the accent, where the currency is weird (don't get me started on these $2 coins), where I can't even fully understand the temperature. Cheers, mates!
Monday, July 6, 2009
freak out
So apparently I'm a blogger now.
In one week, I'm hopping on a plane (and by "a plane," I mean three) and leaving Kansas for a four month adventure in Brisbane, Australia. I have never been out of the country, have no idea what I'm doing, and am generally unprepared for the situation. Awesome.
If you are reading this, you must be:
A) my mom (hi, Lisa)
B) Eric, whom I will encourage to make witty comments on every post
C) a loyal/bored friend
D) a creeper
I truly don't care which of those four you are. Basically, I have the memory of a carrot and need some way to capture this trip so I can show my grandkids that I was a world traveler at one point.
Looking forward to the day I actually have something interesting to share. Until then, enjoying my last days home on the range.
In one week, I'm hopping on a plane (and by "a plane," I mean three) and leaving Kansas for a four month adventure in Brisbane, Australia. I have never been out of the country, have no idea what I'm doing, and am generally unprepared for the situation. Awesome.
If you are reading this, you must be:
A) my mom (hi, Lisa)
B) Eric, whom I will encourage to make witty comments on every post
C) a loyal/bored friend
D) a creeper
I truly don't care which of those four you are. Basically, I have the memory of a carrot and need some way to capture this trip so I can show my grandkids that I was a world traveler at one point.
Looking forward to the day I actually have something interesting to share. Until then, enjoying my last days home on the range.
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