I am alive! And back from vacation, and how appropriate because woohooo! Today is my birthday and I am finally 21! Even though everyone says that it isn’t that great, I’ve been so pumped, even though I’ve been legal here since I arrived.  Liberated is the way in which I would describe my feelings, since I am legal to drink anywhere in the world now!  Luckily, I don’t have class today since it is a Monday.  However, I do have a test or midterm tomorrow in my Earth Science Class.  I’ve [...]

Surf camp was AWESOME!  But I am so extremely sore.  So Friday was when we left.  They guys showed up about an hour late, they had gotten lost apparently and the drive took them longer than they expected.  Then it decided to rain obnoxiously just about the whole time there.  And we had to travel on this past that was twisty and turny, literally at some points you could only go 25 km it was that sharp.  Thought I was going to die!  Anyways, got there over an hour late [...]

It was super fun going to the what I would call the Canberra Fair.  Reminded me a lot of the Tyler County fair.  Very cool, being outside, people watching, looking at the animals, getting dirt on my feet.  A lot like home, it was a nice little aside.  Us girls hung out with Ryan’s mom all day and his younger brother and his friends.  Made me laugh when we were told that we looked 16 and not 20.  I’m thinking that was there little  pitch to try and put us [...]

I was really struggling today.  Basically having a pity party for myself.  Classes are somewhat difficult because I feel like I don’t have any idea what is going on and because school has always come naturally to me.  Also, I haven’t been able to skype my mama or sister, which I had been doing just about everyday.  And I’m really missing everyone from back home.  As I said, pity pouting party for me, with a few tears too.  But then I came back to my apartment to eat my healthy food and decided to turn my [...]

Happy Valentines day to all!  I use to be a sucker and poor sport when it came to this day, but now I truly embrace it.  Not just for “the love of my life” or a boy or anything like that, but using it as a day to tell the people I love that I love them. Sunday night was a great night at home.  I taught my family how to play crazy 8′s and we ate jello and french toast–which the boys had only had a time or two [...]

Finally, I have begun to sleep throughout the entire night.  I think it helps that I’m not sick anymore and I don’t cough myself awake.  However, I’ve been sleeping for 8+ hours each night, which is way different, compared to back home when it was maybe 7 hours.  Not quite sure how to change that, I suppose I could still be catching up on lack of sleep the first two weeks of being here.  Now that classes have started, the dynamic on campus has changed entirely.  I was expecting a [...]

Well I can say that the first day of classes was successfully completed!  I’m not quite sure how I feel about it all.  All three of my classes today are first year classes (aka simple classes).  It might be nice.  But it also wont be all that riveting.  Oh well, I shouldn’t complain and I’ll just do what I’m suppose to do to get the grade.  Tomorrow I will have my 4th and final class so we will see how that all goes.  For one of my classes I don’t [...]

We spent a fun filled weekend in Sydney.  The city was quite amusing.  Starting the day off right, I over slept for my alarm and instead of waking up at 5:45 as originally planned; I woke up at 6:30 and needed to be on the bus at 6:45.  Rushed as rushed can be, I had showered, dressed, packed, and Laura made me toast, packed a few other snacks and raced to the bus making it on time thankfully. Then for the next 3 hours we were on the bus for our adventure [...]

here is my wonderful closet with nothing in it! my bed and desk. here is the bathroom I share with Laura and Ryan this is our kitchen! The living room was littered with beer bottles and such :) oops! There are kangaroos all over on the bike path right by the uni.

Right now we are in what they call O-Week.  Basically it is orientation for everyone who goes to UC so they have all of the different sessions telling you about the things that they offer or other things to do.  Last week we were here for Fresher’s week, which was for all of the new people moving onto the ressie.  So far this week has gone pretty well, I’m learning a lot and through the many activities they offer I’ve been meeting lots of people.  I believe I got my schedule figured out, they [...]

Alrighty, time to update everyone!  So first, my Australia Day was amazing!  I had so much fun doing the whole family side of things.  It helped that Ryan’s family was so welcoming.  On Thursday morning we drove up to Wollongong (I think that’s how you spell it) which is 2 and a half hours away.  They call it a trailer park but I would describe it more or less as a camp site.  It is a hop, skip, and a jump away from the beach which we went down to [...]

Each and every day gets better here.  I become more familiar with my surrounds, meet more mates, and feel more comfortable with being here for the next 5 months.  My eating and sleeping schedule is still completely off, especially because they are use to a completely different life style.  For instance, last night I was up until 4am, which is normal, but then woke up at 9am because my body does not know how to sleep in!  Hopefully I will be able to get a schedule down soon, which I [...]

I swear airports make it their job to add additional stress to people’s lives!  Woke up Friday morning to falling snow, awesome, thinking that somehow it would mess up my travel plans.  Checking the flights, everything was on time.  So I proceed to get myself ready, make sure everything is packed, and that I was all set to go. So I go through security, got all my stuff together, ready for the big day, or two, of traveling.  Because of the snow, the flights earlier than mine was cancelled.  Of course, the airlines book these [...]