Tuesday, February 28, 2012
O-Week
Sooo it's O-Week (orientation week) at Macquarie. For all of you UPS students, it's kind of like LogJam for 5 days straight, annnd a lot bigger. Anyway, I signed up for two clubs. The first is the WANG club. It is the largest club on campus, and it stands for We All Need Grub. Some students (one of whom is the person who informed me of this club) decided they should make a club that just holds barbecues all the time. Basically, the university subsidizes their food and alcohol purchases and members (it was $10 to join) just get to come party. Genius. I don't think it'd fly at UPS though, sadly. I also signed up for the dance academy...we'll see how that goes. I think it starts next week. In other news, I picked up an on-campus job application and turned it in today...hopefully I get something. It's expensive here, in case you didn't know. Annnd I'm almost done with my first week of classes! Tomorrow I have three hours in the morning and then I'm freeeeee! Oh and if you didn't know...I'm making travel plans with two of my friends to go to Fiji for the first week of our two-week break in April. Stoked.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
First day of class!
So I finished my first day of class. I was really nervous because my first class in this country was a 300-level Spanish class, and apparently classes here are more difficult. It wasn't too bad, even though I haven't spoken Spanish for about two months. My class is really small, only 9 students. It's based a lot on watching Spanish language films, which is what my class at home last semester was like too, so I don't think it will too bad. Except that all the Australians have really good accents when speaking Spanish, and I have no accent. The professor did remark that most Americans that come to Australia that she has taught can't really speak Spanish, so apparently I was doing all right. (As I should be...it is my minor, after all.) Anyway, enough about that. I posted a picture of my schedule on Facebook the other day, but I will put it here as well.
I also got a gift while walking around today...
I'm gonna keep it, just because Australia is on the front.
And last but not least, I will show everyone at home how pretty the Macquarie campus is.
This is the lake on campus. It's quite lovely.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Random
There are a few little things that I haven't written in my previous blog posts, so I will write them here.
For one, the housing that I'm living in--Macquarie University Village, West Side--was built to accommodate the athletes for the Sydney Olympics, apparently.
Also, Australia is under a hole in the ozone layer, and it's the middle of summer. My pasty self pretty much has to reapply sunscreen every two hours, or less. Oh, and my freckles are back...all over my face and arms.
It is very common here to say "heaps" as in "very" or "a lot." Also, "keen" instead of "interested" or "excited" or whatever. So, if I come back to the States and tell you, "I'm heaps keen," it means, "I'm totally down."
Goon, the boxed wine that I have previously mentioned, gets its name from homeless people (often called goons) using the bags as pillows...or so I have been told.
On that note, Australians really like to trick Americans (or people in general?). "Taking the piss," means to make fun of someone. They do that a lot. I was worried my sassiness would be offensive to people here, but it turns out it fits right in.
Lastly I just wanted to mention that while we were waiting for our dolphin cruise, a little boy was pushing his bike around on the dock (with no railing) and pushed it right into the water. His dad went in and got it, but it was pretty adorable/funny.
Anyway, sorry all my posts are boring. I admit that I don't write very well. Oh, and my T9 texting...not getting much better yet.
For one, the housing that I'm living in--Macquarie University Village, West Side--was built to accommodate the athletes for the Sydney Olympics, apparently.
Also, Australia is under a hole in the ozone layer, and it's the middle of summer. My pasty self pretty much has to reapply sunscreen every two hours, or less. Oh, and my freckles are back...all over my face and arms.
It is very common here to say "heaps" as in "very" or "a lot." Also, "keen" instead of "interested" or "excited" or whatever. So, if I come back to the States and tell you, "I'm heaps keen," it means, "I'm totally down."
Goon, the boxed wine that I have previously mentioned, gets its name from homeless people (often called goons) using the bags as pillows...or so I have been told.
On that note, Australians really like to trick Americans (or people in general?). "Taking the piss," means to make fun of someone. They do that a lot. I was worried my sassiness would be offensive to people here, but it turns out it fits right in.
Lastly I just wanted to mention that while we were waiting for our dolphin cruise, a little boy was pushing his bike around on the dock (with no railing) and pushed it right into the water. His dad went in and got it, but it was pretty adorable/funny.
Anyway, sorry all my posts are boring. I admit that I don't write very well. Oh, and my T9 texting...not getting much better yet.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Catch Up
My last post was a week ago...so I will try to recreate the past week. I think on Saturday we tried to go to Manly Beach again, but got to Sydney and it was already around 2 or 3 and we thought taking the ferry wouldn't be worth it.
Sunday we went to Sydney again for Tropfest, a short film festival. We ended up getting lost and walking all over the place. At one point on our walk, a chubby shirtless guy yelled "WHOA!" right as he passed our group of 5 girls, and he proceeded to rub his nipples and say, "I get a good feeling." We started cracking up, as did the group of people sitting outside of the restaurant across the street. Anyway, we made it to Tropfest at about 1 or 2. All we knew about Tropfest was that it apparently ran from 11 am to 11 pm. What we didn't realize was that the films didn't screen until 7 pm. So basically we got to lay there and sunbathe and watch ads on the screen.
Monday I sat at the pool all day. Rough life.
Tuesday I believe our lovely flatmate Leigh was nice enough to drive us to the store. Later that day, the goon garden happened. In case you're wondering what a goon garden is:
If you're still confused...those are bags of wine. Like Franzia. This started at about 2 pm, a few houses down from ours.
Wednesday was orientation for abroad students...10 am until about 3:30. It was a little rough. Wednesday night is also the big night for students at The Ranch, but my experience there wasn't as good as the experiences I've had just hanging around the village.
Yesterday we had to be up and ready at the admin building at 7:20 am. We went to a buffet lunch, which was delicious, especially when basically all you eat at home is toast, sandwiches, and frozen pizza. After that we went on a dolphin watching cruise. We saw dolphins at the very end of our cruise. After the cruise, we stopped at a winery and had a wine tasting. I have been trying to develop a taste for wine for a few months now, as you may know, and I think I've got it! So proud of myself. We went to a blowhole after the wine tasting, but the waves weren't big enough, so nothing really happened. We didn't get back home until 8:30. I went to bed at around 11 last night...I think that's the earliest I've gone to bed the entire time I've been here.
Sunday we went to Sydney again for Tropfest, a short film festival. We ended up getting lost and walking all over the place. At one point on our walk, a chubby shirtless guy yelled "WHOA!" right as he passed our group of 5 girls, and he proceeded to rub his nipples and say, "I get a good feeling." We started cracking up, as did the group of people sitting outside of the restaurant across the street. Anyway, we made it to Tropfest at about 1 or 2. All we knew about Tropfest was that it apparently ran from 11 am to 11 pm. What we didn't realize was that the films didn't screen until 7 pm. So basically we got to lay there and sunbathe and watch ads on the screen.
Monday I sat at the pool all day. Rough life.
Tuesday I believe our lovely flatmate Leigh was nice enough to drive us to the store. Later that day, the goon garden happened. In case you're wondering what a goon garden is:
If you're still confused...those are bags of wine. Like Franzia. This started at about 2 pm, a few houses down from ours.
Wednesday was orientation for abroad students...10 am until about 3:30. It was a little rough. Wednesday night is also the big night for students at The Ranch, but my experience there wasn't as good as the experiences I've had just hanging around the village.
Yesterday we had to be up and ready at the admin building at 7:20 am. We went to a buffet lunch, which was delicious, especially when basically all you eat at home is toast, sandwiches, and frozen pizza. After that we went on a dolphin watching cruise. We saw dolphins at the very end of our cruise. After the cruise, we stopped at a winery and had a wine tasting. I have been trying to develop a taste for wine for a few months now, as you may know, and I think I've got it! So proud of myself. We went to a blowhole after the wine tasting, but the waves weren't big enough, so nothing really happened. We didn't get back home until 8:30. I went to bed at around 11 last night...I think that's the earliest I've gone to bed the entire time I've been here.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Domestic Life
The only unfortunate thing about being here is our DISGUSTING kitchen. We explored it yesterday to see if we had pots and pans and dishes, which we do. I open a cupboard and there is a carton of eggs. The best by date was from August. Apparently in Australia they don't make you throw away your food or take it with you when you move out... Our stove and fridge were disgusting as well. There were dishes everywhere. Oh and when we turned on the vacuum, it smelled awful...so there goes clean carpets. Anyway, we put on gloves and scrubbed EVERYTHING. And now it's still gross...but as good as it'll ever get. Tonight we cook our first meal! Spaghetti--the cheapest thing you can buy at the grocery store here! We also eventually got to meet our last flatmate, he's Australian. The apartment is great other than the kitchen. There is one bedroom downstairs and four upstairs. We each have our own private bathroom, which is really nice. And now...I will post pictures of my room.
The desk/my view
Half of the closet...
...and the other half.
Bathroom
Bathroom
My bed. I bought children's bedsheets because they were the cheapest...don't judge me.
Last but not least...my super fancy cell phone for the next 4 months! I'm learning ABC and T9 texting alllll over again.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
The First Few Days
I am finally settled in in Macquarie University housing! So much has happened in the last four days...I feel like I've been here for a month already (in a good way).
Day 1:
Arrived at the airport in Sydney after about 36 hours of travel time total (including sitting in LAX for 9 hours). It was SO hot. We went to a hostel in Sydney at The Rocks (basically it's built on top of old architectural ruins). We had lunch on the deck and then took a three-hour walking tour of the city. We had dinner at the pizza place next to our hostel, The Australian Hotel, and I ate kangaroo pizza. It actually tasted exactly like chicken. And of course, we had to end the night with clubbing.
Day 2:
We left at 8 to go hiking in the Blue Mountains. On the way there we stopped at a wildlife center and got to pet koalas, kangaroos, and wallabies. I felt a little bad about eating kangaroo the night before at that point... The Blue Mountains has the steepest railway ride in the world (52 degrees...it was terrifying) and we rode that down, then hiked back up. One portion of our walk is called the "1000 Stair Walk." Pretty intense. After that we went to an aboriginal center and saw some aboriginal dancing, painted boomerangs, and got our faces painted. The rest of the day was free, and we ate dinner and went out. It was probably the best Valentine's Day of my life.
Day 3:
We had some informational sessions, then the middle of our day was free. Most of us in the program took the ferry to Manly Beach, where a surf competition was taking place. It was gorgeous and soo nice. The water was ridiculously warm. After Manly, we had a dinner cruise, which was so much fun.
Day 4:
We left at about 9 for Macquarie, got our accommodations--I'm rooming with my friend from UPS, another girl in our program, and an Egyptian guy...we still don't know who the fifth roommate is--went shopping for the essentials, unpacked, and ate dinner. Later tonight we will go to The Ranch, which is the most popular pub in the area.
I cannot express how amazing these past few days have been...this post doesn't even begin to cover it. I love it here. Oh...and if you want to see pictures...they're all on Facebook.
Day 1:
Arrived at the airport in Sydney after about 36 hours of travel time total (including sitting in LAX for 9 hours). It was SO hot. We went to a hostel in Sydney at The Rocks (basically it's built on top of old architectural ruins). We had lunch on the deck and then took a three-hour walking tour of the city. We had dinner at the pizza place next to our hostel, The Australian Hotel, and I ate kangaroo pizza. It actually tasted exactly like chicken. And of course, we had to end the night with clubbing.
Day 2:
We left at 8 to go hiking in the Blue Mountains. On the way there we stopped at a wildlife center and got to pet koalas, kangaroos, and wallabies. I felt a little bad about eating kangaroo the night before at that point... The Blue Mountains has the steepest railway ride in the world (52 degrees...it was terrifying) and we rode that down, then hiked back up. One portion of our walk is called the "1000 Stair Walk." Pretty intense. After that we went to an aboriginal center and saw some aboriginal dancing, painted boomerangs, and got our faces painted. The rest of the day was free, and we ate dinner and went out. It was probably the best Valentine's Day of my life.
Day 3:
We had some informational sessions, then the middle of our day was free. Most of us in the program took the ferry to Manly Beach, where a surf competition was taking place. It was gorgeous and soo nice. The water was ridiculously warm. After Manly, we had a dinner cruise, which was so much fun.
Day 4:
We left at about 9 for Macquarie, got our accommodations--I'm rooming with my friend from UPS, another girl in our program, and an Egyptian guy...we still don't know who the fifth roommate is--went shopping for the essentials, unpacked, and ate dinner. Later tonight we will go to The Ranch, which is the most popular pub in the area.
I cannot express how amazing these past few days have been...this post doesn't even begin to cover it. I love it here. Oh...and if you want to see pictures...they're all on Facebook.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Saturday, February 11th I am off to Sydney for four and a half months! This blog is to keep everyone updated on my life down under, if I remember not to neglect it. Currently I am just bouncing back and forth from excited to terrified, so there's not much to say yet. Hopefully it gets more interesting from here!
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