And Finishing Off the Week

Moon (it only comes out 4 days a month)

The Girls (from the left): Sabina, Elly, Katarina, Lizzie, Me, Lisa, Steffi, Audrey

BEACH

the kanga on the right has a kid in its pouch

View From my apartment

Cheap pizza night!

My roommates from Japan with Cheesecake

The university (or uni)

We had all been checking the weather regularly since we had arrived and saw that Wednesday was going to be one of the warmest days, so we planned to take the bus to the beach and the plaza that day. It ended up being a bit chilly and overcast but we made the most of the trip anyway. We walked along the beach for a bit and had some local aussie boy (who was very cute) take a photo shoot for us.

From the beach it too about 20 minutes to get to the Sunshine Plaza where everyone was ready to do a little shopping. Once more we all compared the prices of things they here to back home-- and in comparison to the US some was twice as much if not more. We had been craving sweets so we all got ice cream from this shop which was really good! Our trip was cut short because none of us realized that all the stores in the Plaza close at 6pm (so early).

That night we stayed in and I introduced the German and France girls to a couple of games we play in America. They all found the games to be alot of fun. Since we played outside on the terrace, the group of ten ended up turning into 25 or 30. This drew the attention of the security guard who informed us there were only allowed to be 8 people at an apartment at once (can you believe that!!! I called the next day to find out why only 8 and they said its due to fire safety).


THURSDAY JULY 23

Everyone pretty much did their own thing for most of the day, going on tours of the area or writing sessions at the uni. We all met up later in the evening when steffi made thai food for every (well lizzie and I ate pasta instead). The thai food that she made was so spicy that we had to open the doors in the flat and turn in the fans because it was burning our nostrils and making our eyes water. I ended up trying a piece of the chicken which wasn't tooo bad after I wiped it off with a paper towel. That night we did what everyone did on Thursday evenings. We took the bus to Mooloolaba to the night club 240. It was fun to go as a group although most of us only stayed for an hour or so.

Friday was my lazy day where I just hung out around the apartment and finally watched some tv. That night Audrey, from france, made everyone pasta cabanara (?) which was delicious! They have all asked me to make an american meal. One requested Chicken Pot Pie (something i have never made) and I am debating on that or something else. I'll be sure to write how it went!

Orientation Week

Orientation week started yesterday (monday). As my roommate Hang (girl from France-- her name is not pronounced like you would think) waited in line to get registered, we met a girl named Elly from Germany. Come to find out most of the international students are from Germany. We all started talking and traveling around together to the different orientation programs. The morning started with just the basic what to do and where to go stuff. As the day progressed our group of three grew to about 10-- five girls from germany, three girls from france, another girl from american and myself. We went to a bbq here which I guess just means serving sausages on white sandwich bread. Like in American there was a red bull mini handing out free beverages. This is a steal considering here they cost about A$4 a can. After the bbq we all hiked the 30 minute walk to the alcohol store, the discount store and the grocery store. On the way we found it was one gir'sl, Audrey from France, birthday on Tuesday. At the store we snuck a cake to surprise her with.

Oh and while at the grocery store I purchased cat food for this stray cat that keeps showing up at our apartment. At first I was feeding it my turkey but that got too expensive so I decided to buy a can of cat food just in case... in a day it has almost finished a large can!

Upon arriving home, a friend of mine, Beck (who lived next to a girl in my sorority when she was traveling here) came over and brought her friend Andrew who was from England. We all just talked about what there is to do here and fun places to travel.

Later that night Hang and I headed to steffi's (german girl) apartment to hang out and talk. At midnight we sang happy birthday to Audrey then all headed in for the evening.

TUESDAY JULY 21

Today we went on campus to check out market day. This is where many of the companies in the area come around to promote what they do. There were a number of banks, and other various booths offering free goodies and information. We walked around the almost every booth. I stopped at STA travel where I paid a small fee for a card that would get me discounds on travel and tours. Another booth offered information about the local snakes and some people were even able to hold a snake (I stayed far away during this activity). At one booth we got to try some of the local food. They had bread that you dipped in oil then a crumbled nut thing, this wierd lemon cheesecake, and kangagroo pot pies. It tasted pretty good, it reminded me of beef stew in a pastry shell.

When we returned to our apartments, it was so warm we all put on our bathing suits and headed to the "resort pool," where we played a little beach volleyball and hung out.

Tonight a local pizza place offers A$5.50 for a large pizza so we are all going to walk over and grab one.

I will post pictures the outside of my apartment and the school soon!

Pictures

Cheesecake

"I come from the land down under"

houses near my complex

Kangaroos on my way to campus

Bathroom

My Bedroom!

another view of the living room.

This is the living room and kitchen as you walk in the door.

My First Day

Upon arriving the first day I went to turn on my cellphone expecting to have cellphone service. This was not the case, I had nothing... As I walked with my 120 lbs worth of luggage I searched for the girl, Bek, that offered to meet and pick me up. I scanned my surroundings and she was nowhere in sight. I went to the local pay phone and tried numerous times to make a call, after being unsuccessful I walked around for about another 15 minutes. After realizing I needed change for the phone, I went to exchange my money. Did you know in Australia they don't have one dollar bills, its a coin! After making my call twice I got ahold of Bek and she was outside circling the pick up area waiting for me. Finally settled in the car I was off to Varsity, where I would be living.

During the car ride I learned all of the differences between Australia and the United States. Their steering wheel is on the opposite side of the car (I have gone to the wrong side a few times now) and they drive on the opposite side as well. They abbreviate everything like Uni for University. People don't wear shirts and shoes into most store and wierd things here are really expensive! They don't use one cent pieces here so when you buy something that is A$25.19 they just round up to A$25.20.

When I checked into my apartment, I could tell other people lived here but no one else was here at the time. I was so curious to meet these mystery roommates! I had been informed about a week earlier that they would be: a boy from Australia, a boy from Maldive, and a girl from Thailand.

I began to unpack and get my computer up and running so I could let my family know I was here and safe. My internet required an ethernet cord (ah! had I know i could have saved myself A$25 and brought one from home). In order to get any further in my unpacking I would need to take a trip to the store. After about 20 minutes of wandering around and walking in what I thought was the right direction, a guy on the street told me I was going in the complete opposite direction. I got on the bus and embarked on what I hoped was the right place.

While at the Sunshine Coast Plaza I needed to buy a computer cord, acvitate my phone, sheets, a bedspread and groceries. About A$150 later I finally got what I needed. They had such a limited supply of sheets and bedspreads. I finally ended up getting hot pink sheets with this zebra bedspread because they don't have normal comforters here. (haha pictures to come). When grocery shopping I didn't know it would be so different, they only carry a couple of the brands we have in America. When purchasing shampoo I just picked one and hoped it would be alright.

When I got back to my place around 4:00pm here, 2:00AM in Virginia, I was finally able to set up my phone and internet and call my parents, who were so worried they called the front desk here and a note was waiting on my door to call they back asap. I met one of my roommates, a 22 year old girl from France. This was her first time living in a dorm/apartment style place because in France she lives at home and commutes to school. She seems really nice, we spent most of the night talking and getting to know each other.

Around 8:00pm last inght I decided I was tired and to try and get some sleep, when I went out into the kitchen because I heard a noise. I noticed one of the other bedrooms had a light on so I knocked on the door, when no one answered I scooted back into my room. About 10 minutes later I heard more noise in the kitchen so I proceeded to venture out. This time there was a boy standing there. He introduced himself and told us he was from Japan. He is here studying English and will be leaving at the beginning of August. He said our other roommate was from Australia and left his light on by accident and is at home this weekend in Brisbane. We spoke for a moment then retired to our rooms for the evening.