Back To Class...

I suppose my 2 and a half week vacation had to come to an end at some point... it went by so quickly I couldn't believe myself when I woke up this morning and realized I actually had to go to class! So, I quickly came to the realization that Australian units are much different than courses at home... Today I had Cultural and Spiritual Well Being. This unit seems to be really chill and relaxed. The reason I say it will be so different than at home is because for this class I have two assignments for the entire 13 weeks of classes. Both are weighted at 50% of my grade for the course, so there is a little pressure to do good on those two assignments... okay a lot of pressure! The first assignment is a 15 minute presentation, the topic "The Truth about Me", the second assignment, a 7ish page paper reflecting on the course. Neither sound too difficult at the moment, hopefully when it comes time to do the actual assignment I feel the same way! So today's unit went well, tomorrow should be interesting, my unit tomorrow is entitled Peach, War and International Politics, I suppose I should start reading a newspaper... oh well, hopefully it is as relaxed as today! Besides classes starting nothing too much else is new here in Lismore. I've found a good running path, although I'd advise everyone to stay away from running in the middle of the day, it just isn't a good idea! This past weekend we went to wild life sanctuary, it was pretty interesting, minus the 60+ bug bites I have on my legs, if you haven't seen the pictures I posted on facebook, look at those, they are pretty gross!! Wednesday I have two more classes, an English unit and another cultural one. Then Thursday, nothing! Friday, Byron Bay, it should be a great beach day! As for now I'm not overwhelmed by courses like I tend to get at Hope, hopefully it will stay that way for the remainder of the weeks!

Getting Comfortable

Things are starting to get a little bit more comfortable here, I've got my class schedule, which doesn't start until next week, but I can't lie, it is an amazing schedule, for many reasons, the first being that I don't have classes on Thursday or Friday!! Traveling on weekends, that will have to be a must! The second reason, I have one class on Monday in the afternoon, which only meets every other week, YES!! Then Tuesday one class in the a.m, Wednesday I have two classes, but one is also only every other week, looks like free time will be in large amounts! More time for adventure! Also, all of my classes look super interesting. Cultural and Spiritual Wellbeing, which is supposed to allow you to grab a greater grasp on your life, great! Indigenous Ways of Cultural Expression, learning about the Aussie way of life as well as the aboriginal people! Poli Sci course, something about peace and war. Then finally Intro to Written Text. All should be wonderful! But I guess the true test will be next week when I start them! Also, today I booked my first trip! This is a trip all around Byron Bay, which isn't too far from my school, but this trip includes two day of learning how to surf, that ought to be interesting. The next day is snorkling, the fourth day includes horseback riding on the beach, then the final day is the Blues festival here, I know Jack Johnson is going to be here, and many more! I'm very excited for that trip, I'll have to wait until April to go on it though! Needless to say things in Australia are going well and I'm starting to get acclimated to the time difference and the Aussie way of life, time will only help! Oh yes, and in case anyone was wondering (more or less I just want to share this with everyone) if you are a BBQ chip lover like myself, good luck in Australia, they have chicken flavored chips as well as BBQ ribs, I have yet to find normal flavored chips. Grocery shopping has been interesting thus far, at least they have Greek yogurt and honey! More fun news, I've joined a beach volleyball team, as well as signed up to play in a soccer tournament tomorrow... all should be fun, and funny for others to watch! Last thing for now, on Thursday I get to go to with the Angels Beach Dune Care group and help clean up the dune, should be a fun day! Until next time... try and stay warm at home, while I'll try not to sweat every minute... do you all hate me yet?

Making my home at SCU

Well friends, I've officially moved into my new home here at Southern Cross University! The first day was rough, I live in a 6 person apartment, I arrived and I was the only one here, no one came until today. I've started to make my room mine, but it is hard with brick walls! I'm very thankful for my pictures which I brought! With a few pictures and meeting new people, it is beginning to feel a bit more like home, once classes start and a routine begins I feel it will be much simpler. So far I have gone shopping twice, my favorite purchase...... $3.30 for a hair dryer.. second hand shops!! Besides that it has been a lot of walking around introducing myself to new people. Tomorrow we have another free day, then on Sunday we are going to Byron Bay, which is supposed to be incredible.. I'm very excited for that! Then on Monday the work begins, well sort of, we begin our orientation, where I will figure out what classes/when and get acquainted more with the city of Lismore. So far, it has been a good time! Be on the watch for pictures, I am attempting to post some on facebook, but due to terrible internet it seems to be taking forever! Love and miss you all!!

SNORKLING ON THE GREAT BARRIER REEF!!

There has been no lack of sun here in Cairns, and I'm soaking it all up! Over the past few days I have roamed around the streets of Cairns getting acquated with the area, helped plant trees for an endangered bird species and most importantly, or at least the most fun was snorkling on the Great Barrier Reef, what an amazing experience!! I have plenty of photos to share with all of you thus far in my trip, hopefully I will post them soon!! The weather was perfect for our 2 hour boat ride to the reef and as well as our 2 hour boat ride back, needless to say, I'm getting darker by the minute, or redder! Australian sun is WAY stronger than any sun I have ever been in before, SPF 55 applied about 4 times through out the day... still got a little red, you just sweat it all off immediately! Tomorrow begins my trip to SCU! I am so excited, as much as I have loved being in Cairns and meeting tons of new people, living out of a suitcase is just not for me! I leave tomorrow around 10 a.m for Brisbane, then I'll have another 2 hour bus ride to SCU, where I will finally get to unpack! Then head off to Target to stock up on all the supplies I couldn't fit in my two suit cases! I'll leave you with this thought... if you can do something, go for it... in the end you will regret the opportunities you don't take advantage of more than the money you spent on those experiences, when in Australia, do what you want! Don't hold back (and that doesn't only apply for Australia!)

Safe Arrival

G'day Mates,

It was a long 3 flights but I'm here safely, sweating in the 90 degree weather...I know none of you have any sympathy for me, which is fine!!! Just wanted to drop a post to let you all know I'm here!!

P.S Today I went to the Rainforestation, I held a 6 ft snake (photo proof will be coming shortly), had my picture taken with a koala and fed a kangaroo!!!

Back to the warm weather.. oh who am I kidding I'm sitting outside sweating as we speak.. time for more adventures!

Less Than Two Days.....

Well, in less than two days I will be in Australia. After over a year of planning it is hard to believe that the day I leave is already here. I leave Thursday from O'Hare and fly into L.A, then again I leave L.A for Brisbane, Australia!!! It will be a long flight, but then I will get on a plane to leave for Cairns, where I will spend my first week in Australia, getting aquatinted with new friends and my new home for the next four months. Then on the 11th I will again get on a plane and head to my true home for the next four months, the campus of Southern Cross University(SCU). At this point I will get my address, which I will then give to all of you. To my knowledge I will not be able to have an internet connection until I get to SCU, the only connection which I will have to home will be a short phone call I am given to home as soon as I land in Brisbane. So, the next time I will post, I WILL BE IN AUSTRALIA!!! I wish I could explain how happy/excited/nervous I am, but I don't think it is possible. This will be a tough adventure for me, I have yet to be away from my family and friends for this long, often I heavily rely on them to support me and help me through tough times, now I am on my own. I look forward to this adventure and know that despite the miles between us I will always have my family and friends close at heart.