Rain, rain, go away.

Hello again!

It’s very rainy and gross here right now, it was monsooning before. A friend and I are going to go to the movies since we can’t go to the beach anymore.

I had my first week of classes, although some don’t happen the first week so I only had a couple. So far they all seem really interesting, although what I’ve realized is that I already took my phonetics class back in the states. It’s the same one, but this time, I have to use an Australian dialect, no American accents allowed. On one hand it will be pretty boring since I just went through all of this last semester, but on the other hand it’s going to be very hard since I don’t have an Australian dialect. I guess I’ll learn a lot!

I don’t have classes on Thursday or Friday, which is perfect because now I can go on lots of weekend trips. Everyone here is starting to plan Spring Break, which is in April. My Dad is coming to visit and we’re going to Tasmania, yay! Then for the other week of break (we have two here) a few friends and I might go up to Cairns. Snorkeling and rainforest, here we come!

Last night everyone in my program went out to Thai food together, yum! Then everyone headed back to the apartments and went to local club, it is Wednesday after all. This evening I’m going to go see Melissa (finally) and we’re going to watch Lost together, then go shopping for Mardi Gras tomorrow.

   Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is on Saturday. There’s a huge parade where everyone dresses up and then after goes out on the town. It’s a huge event here, I’ll be sure to take tons of pictures. Get ready for lots of neon clothes!

  More pictures to come, hope everyone liked the others. Things are going great here, I’m having so much fun! School gets in the way a little bit, but I suppose that’s part of the ‘study abroad’ thing...one must study. Miss you all!

Pictures!

This should work even if you don't have Facebook, but if it doesn't let me know!

http://nyu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2280807&l=d22c8&id=824622

I touched the Opera House!

Another update! It’s Sunday evening here, just got home from the beach with a bunch of people. We went to Manly again because Sydney was supposed to be crazy today because the Queen Victoria is leaving the harbor today and there was a big sporting event. To get to Bondi you have to go through the city. Still haven’t been there, but I have 4 months for that.

Last night I went downtown with two friends and we walked around the harbor, Circular Quay (pronounced ‘key’), and checked out the opera house. We got gelato and had a drink at Sydney’s oldest pub, Fortune of War. It’s in a place called The Rocks, which is sort of a hip younger place with some pubs and a few tourist things.

Spent the whole day at the beach today, tonight will be dinner and relaxing since school starts tomorrow! I’m really nervous because classes here are supposed to be pretty tough. Luckily I’m only taking 3, 11 Australian credits (about equal to 14 or 15 American). It’s not a full load, which I thought would be bad, but my academic advisor seems to think it’s fine, and I suppose this is the best semester to take it easy.

I hope to get pictures up ASAP but I want to do it on campus so I don’t use too much of my internet (since they do it by information passed, not time, here). This week wireless should be available to me on campus and then they’ll be pictures.

Hope everyone is doing well!

Much delayed post #2

2/22/08 4:30pm

Hi!

So I know that these posts are back to back but I’ve been writing them even though I didn’t have internet, so I just posted them all at once.

As of last time, I said that I was going to have a 2 day orientation is Sydney with my program (CEA), and have orientation we did. My whole group, about 23 kids, met up on campus Tuesday morning and finally met our leader, Murray. He’s in his late twenties I’d say, and is a surfer. He works at a surf shop and works for CEA, and he is really cool. Since he’s so young he knows what we want to do and just hangs out with us like a friend. Anyway, we went from campus to downtown Sydney, basically, where all the action is. We walked down George St. the main street in Sydney, and shopped around (they have amazing gelato here, my friend Jen and I got some for our shopping).  We walked to our hostel and checked in, I stayed in a room with 5 of my friends. The kids in the group are awesome. There’s only about 5 boys and the rest are girls, but we all have so much fun together. Everyone is so nice and we basically just hang out together all day and night. It’s like dorm life all over again, just in a way cooler place.

 After checking into our dorm, we took a bus and then another bus and then another bus to get to Bondi Beach (pronounced bond-eye, not bind-ee, like most Americans do). Didn’t have time to swim, but we grabbed lunch and looked at the beautiful scenery. Australia is so lush with plant and animal life you can just go for a walk for hours and take it all in. It’s like a mix of the tropics and the Mediterranean. A lot of Sydney on the harbor reminded me so much of Greece. We then took another bus to get to a ferry that would take us back to the main part of Sydney, the harbor (we basically went in a big circle, just to see the sights). Unfortunately, we missed our ferry so we had an hour to kill, but I collected some seashells and with such a fun group, an hour went by fast. The ferry was so beautiful I took tons of pictures, which I will post soon. We went right past the Opera house and saw all the prime ocean front real estate of the city. After getting dropped off in the harbor we ran to do the bridge climb. The Sydney harbor bridge is a huge, huge bridge made out of steel that is 75 years old. Most people predicted it would only last for about 60 years...and we climbed it. You get into a huge grey jumpsuit, not attractive (and you’re almost naked underneath, it’s too hot for clothes), and put on a bone-vibrating headset. Instead of the sound going into your ears, it vibrates the bones behind your temples and you hear it that way, creepy if you ask me. Anyway, you get a group leader, ours was Nathan, and you carabineer yourself onto a cable that goes up the bridge. Then you climb...1,467 steps. And it is high. Very high. Once you get to the top you walked to the middle of the bridge on a see-through grate above 7 lanes of traffic. That’s when I cried. I don’t do well with heights, but my group was very supportive, I would do it again in a second. The view was unbelievable. You can see forever and you’re literally right above the opera house and the prime minister’s mansion. You can’t bring your cameras with you (or anything that’s not attached to you) but they do give you a complimentary picture of your group at the top (the climb costs $150, so maybe not so complimentary). Luckily, this was included in my program through CEA, so it was already paid for. Most kids don’t get to do it since it’s so pricey, but I highly, highly suggest it if you can, or are ever in Sydney.

After the bridge climb, we all went out to dinner to this awesome place. You go in and pick your favorite cut of meat, from about 4 different animals and 5 choices for each. I got a huge T-bone steak, and you grill it yourself. Unlimited salad and potatoes. It was perfect for such a long day. And, I bought my first legal drink! I got a Coopers (of course, Australian beer is amazing), and the best part is, you don’t tip in Australia (for anything really) so AU$5 will get you an ice cold beer from tap or a bottle.

After dinner we headed back to the hostel, and some people went out to a local pub, but I was so tired and getting a cold, that I feel asleep instantly until morning. The next day was our free day in Sydney so we got up, had breakfast and headed to Manly beach where Murray has his surf shop. Manly is the less popular beach compared to Bondi, but is gorgeous and not too crowded. Lots of sunblock and some swimming, super fun. I finally got to eat Thai food here. I convinced my friends to go with me and we all got the most amazing Pad Thai I’ve ever had. The ingredients (I went all out and got shrimp) are so fresh and incredible, and Asia is so close that everything is delicious. Back to the beach but...uh oh, jelly fish alert! They have announcements when jellyfish come into the bay and just as we got back the water was full of blue bottles. They are small and clear so you can’t see them but can kill children and the elderly. We would all have survived but the sting hurts more than anything you’ve experienced for a good 2 hours. A kid in front of us got stung and cried (he was a 20 year old boy).

Took the bus home and showered. The guys across the hall from me bought a grill so a lot of us go there every night, bring our own dinner and grab a beer. The nightlife around my uni (university) is pretty dead although the local bar/club is free on Wednesdays so everyone comes out. They have a bar and a dance floor. We went and although I’m not much of a dancer, I had a great time. We all just had fun and got to know each other (and yes, I danced).

Thursday was orientation for the uni, so we learned about classes, homework, homesickness etc. Pretty boring but informative. Up until this point I had been feeling a little under the weather but on Thursday I took a turn for the worst. Everyone went out to this party at a bar that was sponsored by Macquarie, but I could barely talk and swallow, I really thought I had strept, so I went to bed early and missed it. Luckily, I got a doctor’s appointment for today and she doesn’t think it’s strept just a viral infection. So tonight everyone is probably going downtown and I will probably go with them.

I’m going to try to set up internet in a little bit so I’m hoping to be online by tonight, and wireless on campus by next week.

I registered for classes, taking 3, which is normal here, their credits are different. No classes Thursday and only one on Wednesday and Friday. We’ll see how it all pans out.

Sorry these posts are so long but a lot has happened and I have some time to write.

From now on they should be more regular and much shorter. Thanks for reading and I hope to hear from each one of you at some point.

Cheers mates!

Much delayed post #1

2/18/08 7:48am

Hello!

Can’t sleep so I’ll type a post. Sorry for the short post before, I had to pay for internet since I can’t get the University wireless at the library yet, so I couldn’t spend much time typing. Yesterday I spent all day buying things (like shampoo and sheets) and being homesick. My housemates (all 3 now, 2 boys, one other girl) went on this surfing trip offered to early arrivers. They won’t be back until tomorrow, which is orientation, so it was/is a bit lonely. I did make friends with two girls on the top floor of the building who were very nice. We went around and met kids throughout the building and then made some dinner. Today the three of us are going to the only thing around here, the shopping center, and getting some more things. We’re also going to explore campus since it’s confusing and spread out. The building numbers are all things like E93, F45, without any indication of there location.

Tomorrow starts the first day of CEA orientation, which I luckily found out yesterday, is a 2 day thing in downtown Sydney (I never got the email). If you look on a map of Sydney, I’m in a northern suburb called North Ryde at the intersection of Herring Rd. and Epping Rd. There’s a bus ride to downtown Sydney (where Melissa lives and everything happens) that takes about 30 minutes. I’ll probably be spending most of my free time down there since that’s where all the action is. Tomorrow morning my whole group meets on campus and we take a bus to the harbor area in Sydney. Then, believe it or not, we’re doing the bridge climb! This is a tourist thing in which you put on a harness and some camouflage (so as not to distract the drivers) and climb to the top of the Sydney Harbor Bridge. Imagine tons of people climbing the Golden Gate or Brooklyn Bridge, and you’ll get the idea. It’s usually very expensive ($150) and I really wanted to do it, and CEA is paying, so why not? I am scared of heights so it may be rough; the whole thing is about 3 hours long (bottom to top to bottom). But I’ll charge my camera and get some great pictures which I will post in a Facebook album and put the link here (people without Facebook should still be able to see them). We’ll be getting lunch downtown and staying in a backpackers hostel for the night. The bar/nightlife scene is huge around here and it’s normal for students to get drinks with their advisors and orientation leaders at night. Wednesday we’re...doing something but I can’t quite remember now. Still touring downtown Sydney I think. I won’t be around then until Wednesday night, just so you know.

Melissa is in Melbourne until Wednesday night, so since I’ll be near her dorm anyway, I’m hoping to see her then. She’s going to Byron Bay (a hippie like area up the coast I think) with a couple friends for the weekend, and she invited me to go. I’d love to, but you have to buy plane tickets and that’s my weekend before classes start so I think I’ll be busy preparing for all that. Thursday is my Macquarie Orientation and Welcome, with yet again, a party at a bar that night. Friday is an optional beach trip, which I may go to if Melissa isn’t around.

My area is pretty dead at night, which is too bad. There are two bars that are popular with students on Wednesday and...Sunday nights, but otherwise most people go downtown. Also, let me tell you, things are very expensive here. More so than I thought. Going out just for one night, including food, is apparently at least $100 (Aus dollar and US are about equal now). Shampoo and groceries add up quickly too. I did get a really nice sheet set (370 thread count, cotton) for only $30 yesterday that was on sale, I’m hoping it arrives Friday (had to be ordered).

The weather here is odd. Quite humid and hot during the day but gets pretty cold at night, but still humid (think clammy). I’m worried I didn’t bring enough warm clothes since it’s just going to get cooler now (it’s the end of their summer). Don’t really want to buy anything since it’s so pricey. Instead of pigeons, here cockatoos and colored parrots fly around like crazy and are very loud. Especially at 3am. There’s a beetle situation since I’m on the first floor, bugs are everywhere (buying Combat today).

I got myself to stay up until midnight last night but was super tired and still fighting that cold, so I woke up at 7am and there’s no going back. I really miss everyone, I think the first month will be tough, then I’m sure I’ll settle in and not be so homesick.

This is a long post, but I won’t be able to again until Friday at the earliest. I looked into internet for the dorm so I could post/check email (going crazy without it!) but it’s expensive here and you pay per GB of information; 5GB is $50/month, 15GB is $100/month etc. Depending on the campus wireless situation, I may or may not set something up with a few other people. The library is quite a walk away. I’ve talked to people about traveling after (is it true you need 14 shots for Thailand?) and most have already done so, or will just be doing New Zealand, so I may end up going with a backpacker/student tour (in which case I’ll be shipping a lot of stuff home). We’ll see how things pan out, I really hope I settle and fit in soon. I’m not much of a partier and a lot of the kids came here for just that. Melissa isn’t either, so we may be spending more time together than we think. Time to shower I suppose and watch some TV on the 6 channels we get. Stay safe everyone, I love you all.

Phew.

Hi everyone,
I made it. This can't be too long because right now I'm paying for internet after I tried for hours all day trying to get wireless on my laptop. No success.
Longer post tomorrow once I can go the library (hopefully).
The flight was long and sad and now I have a cold. Haven't met my apartment-mates yet (there are two, a boy and girl) but hopefully they'll be home soon. I'm in a mall now where I ran some errands. Feeling mighty homesick to be honest since I don't know anyone (Melissa is in Melbourne right now), but once orientation starts Tuesday I should be fine. Please please PLEASE email me or comment or something, I need some love!
Post tomorrow if I can.
Miss you all.

Adios, Hejdå, Au Revior, Goodbye, Cheers!

Hi everyone! Welcome to my Australia blog!

For those of you that don’t know, I’m studying abroad at Macquarie University in Sydney this semester. My classes go until June 30^th (but don’t start until February 25^th), and after that, it’s pretty much up in the air. I’m planning on traveling around South East Asia for a month or two after classes, but I don’t know where (hopefully though, it will include Fiji, Thailand, Malaysia and New Zealand), when or with whom. I do know though, that it will be very exciting.

Now, I do have a preface for this blog, and it goes as follows. How I feel about blogs is the same as how I feel about Crocs; they are only appropriate in a select few instances (for Crocs, if you’re a gardener or work on a farm. That’s it, end of story. And only if they’re black). In order for it to be appropriate for someone to write a blog, there should be something very unique about themselves or their life (for instance a worker in the sex industry, and person missing a limb, an astronaut...you get the idea). I do feel that a student studying abroad falls under the unique category, but only while they’re actually abroad (so this will not be continued upon my return to the US). The main reason I elected to start this blog is because I really didn’t feel like composing separate emails for everyone I wanted to keep in touch with, or telling ten different people what I’ve been up to. This way, if you’re interested in knowing, read away, and if you’re not, then don’t.

This being said, I encourage you to comment or ask questions, because I most definitely will want to hear from friends when I’m so far away (and yes, Dad, you too). I will update this blog as often as I am able but (believe it or not), I don’t have internet in my apartment-style dorm. Check back often, put me in your favorite places!

I leave on Friday, in two days, and I finally packed. I’m pretty much done. I have a layover in San Francisco during which I will be getting dinner with my god-parents. Then it’s time for the thirteen hour flight. I have my Benadryl Allergy packed, which will hopefully knock me out for at least ten of those hours. I land on Sunday at 8am Australian time, which is by the way, sixteen hours ahead of US Eastern Time. Orientation starts on Monday, and classes a week after that. I’ll post as soon as I can after I get settled into my dorm and let you know how it’s going (how the person I live with is, how jet-lagged I am, when I see Melissa). Oh, right. Melissa is my best friend from when we were two, and she’s in Sydney too. We have plans to do many things like surf camp, explore vineyards, hold baby kangaroos and koalas at the zoo, see Edward Scissor hands at the Opera house, snorkel the Great Barrier Reef, eat all the delicious Vietnamese and Thai food there is, the list goes on. Basically...it’s going to be an awesome semester.

I will miss you all, but I’ll be back before you know it (or I know it).