Facebook keeps kicking me off when I try to upload pictures so I think I am going to have to stick with Picasa!
Here are some pictures from the weekend!
Sunday, August 2, 2009
I've got some nomad feet and some wanderin' toes that glide up my longboard and hang off the nose
I spent the weekend learning how to surf at 7 Mile Beach National Park in Gerroa, New South Wales. It was an INCREDIBLE experience!
We loaded up on Friday for the 4 hour trip from Canberra to (hopefully) some warmer temperatures and some surfing. There were about 20 Canberra exchange students, including myself and the 5 girls I have become such good friends with. According to tradition, I put on the I-pod and slept the whole trip (that's for you Bethany). We arrived after a dinner stop at KFC-who knew?- and were put up in little beach cabins! After a walk on the beach, a few rounds of Scattergories and talking about scary Australian spiders we called it a night.
It was colder than I would have liked on Saturday morning, but we all bundled up for some hot tea and brekky before getting fitted for our wetsuits and heading down to the beach. 7 Mile Beach was absolutley breathtaking in the daylight. A cliff dotted with colorful little bungalows overlooked the beach that stretched on and on. I love going to national park beaches because there are no hotels and seedy tourist stuff.
We were all in the first group to surf and the sun was nice and bright. We spent about half an hour on the beach learning technique and drawing fake surfboards in the sand to practice on. If you know me, you have probably noticed my lack of coordination and balance at certain times. If you have seen me ski, you especially know what I am referring to. I literally had no idea of what to expect out of myself in a sport that involved so much standing and balancing...on a board-on the ocean. Which happens to be very unstable.
The first couple tries I got nowhere, but after being given a few pushes from our instructors I was actually able to ride some little waves into shore. I seriously surpised myself on this one! And it was my first time in the Pacific! We spent two hours in the water before heading in for lunch. Our second session involved less learning on the sand time, and we were able to be in the water a lot longer. The wetsuit was amazing at keeping off the chill because the wind really made it feel like winter. I would say I had an overall successful first day ever of surfing
Amanda, Ayla and myself hung around after our second lesson and sat under the sun and talked. We played 20 questions and my personal favorite-Would You Rather, until the sun had almost sunk behind the trees. It was a relaxing way to cap off some intense hours of getting beaten down by the waves. Our staying out later also turned out to be a plus when we got back to camp and all the showers were open-win!
Preface: There is nothing better than the exhausted feeling you have after a day of being outside hiking or skiing. You have exerted yourself all day, your body is tired and you are hungry. Now, multiply that by about 120. Because that's how many tired and starving people there were...and it was FEEDING TIME! I literally do not think I have ever taken in as much food as I did in that short of a time. I don't know how it happened, but I looked down and it was all gone. The sun sets so early in Oz, so by about 6:30 every night it is almost full dark. By the time we were done with dinner, it felt like 2am but was actually only about 8.
We all collapsed shamelessly into bed at a ridiculously early hour and somehow ended up STILL oversleeping for breakfast this morning! I don't think I have been that physically drained since the half marathon.
The weather today was absolutley wonderful. It was about 5 degrees warmer and the waves were great! Although today seemed to be a less successful day in the balance department. At one point, I somehow managed to end up under my surfboard and took a fin to the forehead. I have a massive bruise on my left side from getting hit with a rogue board and a bruised knee from falling repeatedly on it. What's new, haha/ Ayla and I also kept managing to get so incredibly tangled up with each other. We would be going along just fine, and then end up crashing into each other! You have a cord on one of your feet connecting you to the board and we spent about 10 minutes laughing hysterically and trying to untangle ourselves.
We had a free afternoon before heading back to cold Canberra so we went looking for shells and walked on the beach. It truly was a stunning place to spend a weekend. Now I am back and thinking about class this week, but very much looking forward to going to SYDNEY this Thursday!
The City to Surf 14k is a week from today! We are heading out on Thursday to spend some time running around Sydney before actually running around Sydney. The weather is supposed to be mid 60s and sunny-I can't wait!
I think I will put the laundry and unpacking off until tomorrow. Tonight I am going to sleep like a baby.
We loaded up on Friday for the 4 hour trip from Canberra to (hopefully) some warmer temperatures and some surfing. There were about 20 Canberra exchange students, including myself and the 5 girls I have become such good friends with. According to tradition, I put on the I-pod and slept the whole trip (that's for you Bethany). We arrived after a dinner stop at KFC-who knew?- and were put up in little beach cabins! After a walk on the beach, a few rounds of Scattergories and talking about scary Australian spiders we called it a night.
It was colder than I would have liked on Saturday morning, but we all bundled up for some hot tea and brekky before getting fitted for our wetsuits and heading down to the beach. 7 Mile Beach was absolutley breathtaking in the daylight. A cliff dotted with colorful little bungalows overlooked the beach that stretched on and on. I love going to national park beaches because there are no hotels and seedy tourist stuff.
We were all in the first group to surf and the sun was nice and bright. We spent about half an hour on the beach learning technique and drawing fake surfboards in the sand to practice on. If you know me, you have probably noticed my lack of coordination and balance at certain times. If you have seen me ski, you especially know what I am referring to. I literally had no idea of what to expect out of myself in a sport that involved so much standing and balancing...on a board-on the ocean. Which happens to be very unstable.
The first couple tries I got nowhere, but after being given a few pushes from our instructors I was actually able to ride some little waves into shore. I seriously surpised myself on this one! And it was my first time in the Pacific! We spent two hours in the water before heading in for lunch. Our second session involved less learning on the sand time, and we were able to be in the water a lot longer. The wetsuit was amazing at keeping off the chill because the wind really made it feel like winter. I would say I had an overall successful first day ever of surfing
Amanda, Ayla and myself hung around after our second lesson and sat under the sun and talked. We played 20 questions and my personal favorite-Would You Rather, until the sun had almost sunk behind the trees. It was a relaxing way to cap off some intense hours of getting beaten down by the waves. Our staying out later also turned out to be a plus when we got back to camp and all the showers were open-win!
Preface: There is nothing better than the exhausted feeling you have after a day of being outside hiking or skiing. You have exerted yourself all day, your body is tired and you are hungry. Now, multiply that by about 120. Because that's how many tired and starving people there were...and it was FEEDING TIME! I literally do not think I have ever taken in as much food as I did in that short of a time. I don't know how it happened, but I looked down and it was all gone. The sun sets so early in Oz, so by about 6:30 every night it is almost full dark. By the time we were done with dinner, it felt like 2am but was actually only about 8.
We all collapsed shamelessly into bed at a ridiculously early hour and somehow ended up STILL oversleeping for breakfast this morning! I don't think I have been that physically drained since the half marathon.
The weather today was absolutley wonderful. It was about 5 degrees warmer and the waves were great! Although today seemed to be a less successful day in the balance department. At one point, I somehow managed to end up under my surfboard and took a fin to the forehead. I have a massive bruise on my left side from getting hit with a rogue board and a bruised knee from falling repeatedly on it. What's new, haha/ Ayla and I also kept managing to get so incredibly tangled up with each other. We would be going along just fine, and then end up crashing into each other! You have a cord on one of your feet connecting you to the board and we spent about 10 minutes laughing hysterically and trying to untangle ourselves.
We had a free afternoon before heading back to cold Canberra so we went looking for shells and walked on the beach. It truly was a stunning place to spend a weekend. Now I am back and thinking about class this week, but very much looking forward to going to SYDNEY this Thursday!
The City to Surf 14k is a week from today! We are heading out on Thursday to spend some time running around Sydney before actually running around Sydney. The weather is supposed to be mid 60s and sunny-I can't wait!
I think I will put the laundry and unpacking off until tomorrow. Tonight I am going to sleep like a baby.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Well I haven't done much over the last week that is worth writing about except start class! I am taking 4 classes here at UC and am still in the midst of making sure everything is all good with UT. I am meeting with my abroad adviser this afternoon to make sure everything I am taking is ok, and hopefully I will hear back from UT tomorrow with the same news.
Classes here are way different than back at home. For instance, I have no finals and am technically done with classes at the end of October. I am not complaining at all about this! My grades are determined by a combination of essays, participation in tutorials (like labs) and a few presentations. No exams! I think I like being a pass/fail only student. I am giving my first presentation in 2 weeks for my political communication class about "The CNN effect and communication in advanced technological times." I feel like I have the upper hand on this one and have already began work on it. And for it being my senior(ish) year, working on something that far ahead is a huge deal!
My days are basic and consisting of class in the mornings, meeting friends for a run around the lake an sometimes lunch at an on-campus cafe and then some sort of social activity in the evenings. I'm not a huge fan of being out late-especially since it is cold, so I have spent several nights in mine or Ayla's room watching 30 Rock and Entourage:) We went out for sushi last night with some girls from her floor who have a car!
The girls and I also took a bus into Civic last Saturday and walked to the Botanical Gardens, which were breathtaking. We had a little picnic by the waterfall and spent the afternoon walking on paths through the "Australian temperate rainforest." We also went briefly to the Australian National Museum. It was nearly closing time when we got there, so a return trip is definitley in order soon. I love museums...and especially free ones!
My 3 favorite things about Canberra:
-being able to walk to almost everything
-living on campus again is glorious and I can wake up 30 minutes before class
-breakfast and coffee at Lighthouse...omelettes, mmmmm!
3 things I do NOT like:
-the shower in my dorm. Strongly dislike.
-there is trash everywhere
-smoking everywhere. The smoking ban really got me spoiled
That's all for now. I am having great fun and am going to surf camp this weekend! I will be sure and write all about it when I get back on Sunday!
Classes here are way different than back at home. For instance, I have no finals and am technically done with classes at the end of October. I am not complaining at all about this! My grades are determined by a combination of essays, participation in tutorials (like labs) and a few presentations. No exams! I think I like being a pass/fail only student. I am giving my first presentation in 2 weeks for my political communication class about "The CNN effect and communication in advanced technological times." I feel like I have the upper hand on this one and have already began work on it. And for it being my senior(ish) year, working on something that far ahead is a huge deal!
My days are basic and consisting of class in the mornings, meeting friends for a run around the lake an sometimes lunch at an on-campus cafe and then some sort of social activity in the evenings. I'm not a huge fan of being out late-especially since it is cold, so I have spent several nights in mine or Ayla's room watching 30 Rock and Entourage:) We went out for sushi last night with some girls from her floor who have a car!
The girls and I also took a bus into Civic last Saturday and walked to the Botanical Gardens, which were breathtaking. We had a little picnic by the waterfall and spent the afternoon walking on paths through the "Australian temperate rainforest." We also went briefly to the Australian National Museum. It was nearly closing time when we got there, so a return trip is definitley in order soon. I love museums...and especially free ones!
My 3 favorite things about Canberra:
-being able to walk to almost everything
-living on campus again is glorious and I can wake up 30 minutes before class
-breakfast and coffee at Lighthouse...omelettes, mmmmm!
3 things I do NOT like:
-the shower in my dorm. Strongly dislike.
-there is trash everywhere
-smoking everywhere. The smoking ban really got me spoiled
That's all for now. I am having great fun and am going to surf camp this weekend! I will be sure and write all about it when I get back on Sunday!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
pictures from abroad!
Well, I haven't been on any major photo-worthy trips yet, but I set up a photo album with pictures of friends, campus and my room in Old Res!
If you would like to see, click here!
More pictures to come! I am being a major foreigner and taking lots :)
If you would like to see, click here!
More pictures to come! I am being a major foreigner and taking lots :)
Sunday, July 19, 2009
don't use the glossary in the travel books
Hello again from Canberra! We have a high of 55 today, which is nicer than it has been, so I might be able to leave a few layers behind!
Oh, and as for the title of this post-there is a story. Yesterday afternoon, Ayla and I took our travel guidebooks over to the Lighthouse, a restaurant near campus to sit outside and plan weekend trips. We ended up going through coffee and chips (fries) and spending almost 4 hours talking, planning and enjoying the day. When it got colder, we moved inside and set up shop on a table. After 2 people stopping to ask if we were already studying, one Australian asked if he could see our books. He looked through the glossary and proceeded to inform us that if we used about 80% of the words and expressions in the book we would sound like old rednecks. Thanks, Lonely Planet. Crikey!
I have been here just over a week and am in MUCH better shape than I was a week ago. I have made a great group of friends to run around and travel with, I am learning where things are and how to use the busses and have not been sick to my stomach, woken up at 3am or felt like I wanted to cry for probably 3 days!
I just want to take the time now so say this: whatever picture of Australia you have in your head as you are reading this, ERASE IT. Because almost guaranteed, unless you have been here, you are picturing the wrong Australia because I don't go to school in the Outback, by the Opera House or on the beach. Canberra is inland in the Australia Capital Territory (ACT) state, right next to New South Wales (NSW) in southeast Australia. Until the end of August/beginning of September it is WINTER! Although there are kangaroos that come onto campus, I haven't seen one yet because it still is pretty chilly in the daytime. The only other animals I have seen are a bunch or very loud, very colorful birds and a HUGE possum that looked like a cat.
That being said, campus is really nice. There are trees and greenery everywhere and it feels a bit like going to school in a jungle. The school buildings are numbered-which I like-and it is considerably easier to navigate than UTK. Lake Grinderra is right off campus, near the mall and restaurants, and it is really pretty (although not for swimming)! There is a path circling the lake which is about 8-9 miles and is a great run.
Annnnnd running leads me to say that myself, Ayla, Bridget and Amanda are running in the City 2 Surf run in Sydney on August 9! It's a 14k run that starts at Hyde Park in Sydney and ends on Bondi Beach! We are all really excited and got matching neon-colored tank tops, kneesocks and fake, colored hair! Apparently people get pretty into it so we wanted to fit in! We got a super cheap bus ticket there and are going to stay in the city on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and the race is on Sunday!
Sooner than that is surf camp on the 31st! It is going to be pretty chilly, but I'm thinking that the experience of a bunch of novice exchange students learning how to surf will be so worth it!
I have met so many friendly and helpful people since being here. I think that once I get into a routine of class on during the week and maybe working, and traveling on the weekends that the time will absolutley fly by. Classes begin today, but I don't have class on Mondays or Fridays! I can't wait to start heading off after classes on Thursdays and having great, Australian adventures with my friends!
Oh, and as for the title of this post-there is a story. Yesterday afternoon, Ayla and I took our travel guidebooks over to the Lighthouse, a restaurant near campus to sit outside and plan weekend trips. We ended up going through coffee and chips (fries) and spending almost 4 hours talking, planning and enjoying the day. When it got colder, we moved inside and set up shop on a table. After 2 people stopping to ask if we were already studying, one Australian asked if he could see our books. He looked through the glossary and proceeded to inform us that if we used about 80% of the words and expressions in the book we would sound like old rednecks. Thanks, Lonely Planet. Crikey!
I have been here just over a week and am in MUCH better shape than I was a week ago. I have made a great group of friends to run around and travel with, I am learning where things are and how to use the busses and have not been sick to my stomach, woken up at 3am or felt like I wanted to cry for probably 3 days!
I just want to take the time now so say this: whatever picture of Australia you have in your head as you are reading this, ERASE IT. Because almost guaranteed, unless you have been here, you are picturing the wrong Australia because I don't go to school in the Outback, by the Opera House or on the beach. Canberra is inland in the Australia Capital Territory (ACT) state, right next to New South Wales (NSW) in southeast Australia. Until the end of August/beginning of September it is WINTER! Although there are kangaroos that come onto campus, I haven't seen one yet because it still is pretty chilly in the daytime. The only other animals I have seen are a bunch or very loud, very colorful birds and a HUGE possum that looked like a cat.
That being said, campus is really nice. There are trees and greenery everywhere and it feels a bit like going to school in a jungle. The school buildings are numbered-which I like-and it is considerably easier to navigate than UTK. Lake Grinderra is right off campus, near the mall and restaurants, and it is really pretty (although not for swimming)! There is a path circling the lake which is about 8-9 miles and is a great run.
Annnnnd running leads me to say that myself, Ayla, Bridget and Amanda are running in the City 2 Surf run in Sydney on August 9! It's a 14k run that starts at Hyde Park in Sydney and ends on Bondi Beach! We are all really excited and got matching neon-colored tank tops, kneesocks and fake, colored hair! Apparently people get pretty into it so we wanted to fit in! We got a super cheap bus ticket there and are going to stay in the city on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and the race is on Sunday!
Sooner than that is surf camp on the 31st! It is going to be pretty chilly, but I'm thinking that the experience of a bunch of novice exchange students learning how to surf will be so worth it!
I have met so many friendly and helpful people since being here. I think that once I get into a routine of class on during the week and maybe working, and traveling on the weekends that the time will absolutley fly by. Classes begin today, but I don't have class on Mondays or Fridays! I can't wait to start heading off after classes on Thursdays and having great, Australian adventures with my friends!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Oops! Here's my address!
I forgot to include this, but I set up a mailbox yesterday!
My address is:
LPO BOx 5455
University of Canberra
Bruce, ACT 2617
Feel free to fill it up with lots of mail!
My address is:
LPO BOx 5455
University of Canberra
Bruce, ACT 2617
Feel free to fill it up with lots of mail!
hey how ya going?
Whew, since I wrote the other day I have made some friends! I have a great group of girls in the exchange group that I have been running around with, as well as Bek from my floor. Ayla and Emma are from Canada and Erin, Bridget and Amanda are from the US! We have all signed up to go to surf camp here in a few weeks! I am excited to go with my best mates:)
We had an adventure at the grocery store the other day that involved all of us trying to push a shopping cart all the way back to our dorm. The front left wheel did NOT want to turn and it was digging into the ground, making it impossible to maneuver. For anyone watching I can imagine we looked ridiculous. We also set up pre-paid phones, which was insane. There are waaaaay too many options! But I now have a phone and a super long phone number I can't remember! I have had such a great time already getting to know these girls and hear their stories from home.
Since being here, I was sick on the plane, I burned my arm on my iron (which actually happens a lot), broke into hives from being so hot (while pushing the shopping cart) and slammed my right hand in the G-Bot kitchen door. My friends have taken to calling me Bubble Girl, in jest, because I seem to be the one who keeps tripping and being spastic! It's kind of funny because friends in the States notice the same things about me.
I went to see Harry Potter last night with Bek and Cody from my floor. We bought some snack food I had never seen before for the movie, called Shapes-which were reallllly good barbeque flavored crackers. We ate a whole box. I rode with Bek and she said she is going to send me home with a great Aussie accent! Some of my favorite expressions are: How ya going? (how are you doing?), Heaps (used as lots or tons would be used) I'll give you a bell (a call) and Bogan (a person who is redneck, dirty or just generally uncouth). I have been saying "heaps cool" for things I like, but without the accent it sounds silly.
I also feel like since coming down here I sound more Southern than I ever have in my whole life. I'm around girls from Canada, New York and San Diego most of the time and they all love the way I talk, and have introduced me to people with "She has the best accent!" It is so funny how we all sound so different, but Bek says that all American accents sound the same to her.
I am really loving the campus here and the general Aussie atmosphere and attitude when it comes to, well, everything!
Here is an example:
When registering for classes, I noticed on my timetable that there was an overlap of 2 classes. I went to my exchange adviser about this and she told me it was "okay because some students choose to leave early or go every other week." Would this ever happen at UT? Uh, no. Also, when I did finally successfully register for classes-I got everything I wanted the first time. No waiting on CPO at 11:45 the night before, no add forms, no going the first day and begging to be let in-it is a nice change of pace.
And everyone I have met here is so friendly! When people hear me talking they will come up and ask where I'm from. A nice lady in the grocery store struck up a conversation with me on the cereal aisle. It really is no worries down here.
I really like my room too, even though it is pretty old and pretty bare. I'm not especially picky so the old-ish nature of Old Res is fine with me. I do, however, miss my pillows and big, soft beds in general because mine is kind of like a glorified cot. Oh well, I'm hardly ever in this room and it's not forever!
I have also mended my one HUGE hiccup of this trip which was forgetting my PIN numbers to one of my debit cards than can actually be used here. I have been emailing, skyping and calling people as soon as I got here and last night I finally worked it out. I did have to stay up til 1:30 here to be able to talk to someone at Bank of America, but it is finally resolved now, whew!
This afternoon we are going on a tour of the city of Canberra, via bus, so that we can learn our way around and learn to love the public transportation! I am also having dinner next Monday with Kara from Young Life Australia! I had emailed her before I left that I was an American exchange student and that I had been a YL leader. I am really excited to meet her!
I know September is over a month away, but I am already starting to plan my Mid Break trip to Northern Territory to see some real Australia!
We had an adventure at the grocery store the other day that involved all of us trying to push a shopping cart all the way back to our dorm. The front left wheel did NOT want to turn and it was digging into the ground, making it impossible to maneuver. For anyone watching I can imagine we looked ridiculous. We also set up pre-paid phones, which was insane. There are waaaaay too many options! But I now have a phone and a super long phone number I can't remember! I have had such a great time already getting to know these girls and hear their stories from home.
Since being here, I was sick on the plane, I burned my arm on my iron (which actually happens a lot), broke into hives from being so hot (while pushing the shopping cart) and slammed my right hand in the G-Bot kitchen door. My friends have taken to calling me Bubble Girl, in jest, because I seem to be the one who keeps tripping and being spastic! It's kind of funny because friends in the States notice the same things about me.
I went to see Harry Potter last night with Bek and Cody from my floor. We bought some snack food I had never seen before for the movie, called Shapes-which were reallllly good barbeque flavored crackers. We ate a whole box. I rode with Bek and she said she is going to send me home with a great Aussie accent! Some of my favorite expressions are: How ya going? (how are you doing?), Heaps (used as lots or tons would be used) I'll give you a bell (a call) and Bogan (a person who is redneck, dirty or just generally uncouth). I have been saying "heaps cool" for things I like, but without the accent it sounds silly.
I also feel like since coming down here I sound more Southern than I ever have in my whole life. I'm around girls from Canada, New York and San Diego most of the time and they all love the way I talk, and have introduced me to people with "She has the best accent!" It is so funny how we all sound so different, but Bek says that all American accents sound the same to her.
I am really loving the campus here and the general Aussie atmosphere and attitude when it comes to, well, everything!
Here is an example:
When registering for classes, I noticed on my timetable that there was an overlap of 2 classes. I went to my exchange adviser about this and she told me it was "okay because some students choose to leave early or go every other week." Would this ever happen at UT? Uh, no. Also, when I did finally successfully register for classes-I got everything I wanted the first time. No waiting on CPO at 11:45 the night before, no add forms, no going the first day and begging to be let in-it is a nice change of pace.
And everyone I have met here is so friendly! When people hear me talking they will come up and ask where I'm from. A nice lady in the grocery store struck up a conversation with me on the cereal aisle. It really is no worries down here.
I really like my room too, even though it is pretty old and pretty bare. I'm not especially picky so the old-ish nature of Old Res is fine with me. I do, however, miss my pillows and big, soft beds in general because mine is kind of like a glorified cot. Oh well, I'm hardly ever in this room and it's not forever!
I have also mended my one HUGE hiccup of this trip which was forgetting my PIN numbers to one of my debit cards than can actually be used here. I have been emailing, skyping and calling people as soon as I got here and last night I finally worked it out. I did have to stay up til 1:30 here to be able to talk to someone at Bank of America, but it is finally resolved now, whew!
This afternoon we are going on a tour of the city of Canberra, via bus, so that we can learn our way around and learn to love the public transportation! I am also having dinner next Monday with Kara from Young Life Australia! I had emailed her before I left that I was an American exchange student and that I had been a YL leader. I am really excited to meet her!
I know September is over a month away, but I am already starting to plan my Mid Break trip to Northern Territory to see some real Australia!
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