So much to say, so much to say

Lots to say, but I'll try to keep it as short as possible. Looks like I haven't updated this thing in quite some time.

Left off with the middle of O-week. Well, we had a classy night out and a wacky/goodwill type night out. Both soooo much fun, except for the time when I tore off my toe nail. Yeah, that happened. We decided to walk to McDonald's (maca's as they call is here) and at some point I guess I kicked my foot back and hit my toe, popped up the toenail. It didn't fall off right away, no it fell off just yesterday. More like people kept stepping on my foot when I'd go out and it finally was just barely hanging off. So now it's officially gone. I am told it will grow back no problem, but I still have my worries.

School started 2 weeks ago and I must say I'm already starting to stress about it. It's different than back in the States. There are no exams throughout the semester, but you may have a huge project due. Histology has one lab final and one final and maybe a couple quick quizzes on the lab material to make sure we've actually read the prelab. For Ecology we have to create our own example. We're supposed to observe a pattern and process in nature and then collect data about it and eventually present it in a seminar and write an paper as though writing for a scientific journal. And then there're my Indigenous Australia class. Got a small paper and a big final paper. Oh and I have to keep a journal for it. Never was good at keeping diaries or journals. We have to write about our feelings and perceptions about the readings each week. At least I don't have class Thrusday and Friday! Heaps good, can travel more.

Been spending a lot of time at the beach, which is nice change from cold, rainy Indiana. Can't really think of exactly what happened the week before this one except that we went to a toga party. All the pecker toga-ing from last summer definitely came in handy then. Pretty much a pro at wrapping togas, no big deal or anything.

Last weekend was Mardi Gras which is huge and we went up to Sydney. People all over town were decked out in crazy gear. Stayed at my first hostel that night! First, though, we were staying at King's Cross and decided to walk around all day. I really do love Sydney. Such a great city and such a great atmosphere. It's a big city, but it has that little city feel and uggghhh I just love it. I'm obsessed! Got lost a few times, meh, found our way back. That's the best, getting lost because it just doesn't matter. You just find new places and enjoy the city more. We walked to the Opera House and by the harbor. Walked to the Rocks and went to the oldest pub in Sydney, Lord Nelson's. Went to a couple other pubs and then made our way back to the hostel. Went through Hyde Park and St. Mary's Cathedral. That night went out to the World Bar for most of the night. Absolutely great night. Lots and lots of dancing with great people!

This week had some class, of course and then did some more celebrating of being here in lovely Australia and Amalia's birthday. Wednesday was a big night and a good time, but Thursday went to Garden Party. It was at the UniBar on campus and there were some apparently good bands playing. I thought, hell, why not by a ticket. Oh wow, the bands were so good!! Jinja Safari and then the Bag Raiders were insane! Danced my butt off. Wandered around quite a bit and found some hippie, bongo playing band and jammed out to them for a while. Then back to see the Bag Raiders, who were the last act. People went insane for them! A friend and I made our way to the front and jammed out. Got so sweaty from dancing, but loved it. Afterwards, got a kebab in town and headed home. Love concerts so much, especially when the atmosphere is so great and everyone is lovin the music....and I got a koozie and sunglasses :)

Today I learned how to surf. A friend of our's is a really good surfer and used to teach at Surf Camp, so he said he'd show Amalia, Lindsey and me how to surf. I have so much respect for surfers now. Not an easy gig. It's sooooo much fun and think everyone should defnitely try it! Didn't exactly get up...kind of, sort of, meh. Got some squatting in and at one point stood up too fast too straight, so didn't really stay on the board. Kind of scary sometimes when going out deeper and the waves are big and you have to just let the surf board go and duck under waves. You getted dragged back by the board a bit, still, so great. I'm definitely doing it again. Can't go home without having stood up on a board, right??!

Oh and I've officially booked a flight to Melbourne during my study recess before finals. So psyched! Canberra in May for Groovin the Moo festival. Currently trying to get my mid-session break trip in order. I will most definitely be going to New Zealand, just trying to figure out plans and maybe some people to travel with. Otherwise, I'll have to do it solo. Still haven't gone skydiving or to the Blue Mountains, but it is on the agenda. After finals, I'm thinking of flying up to Cairns, doing the reef, maybe Whitsunday Islands then making my way down the East coast to Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Gold Coast and Byron Bay and finally end up in Sydney and eventually fly home. Got planty of time post finals, I reckon.

Lastly, I believe I am obsessed with yogurt and muesli (an oat, fiber, raisin mix). That and kebabs. And Sydney. And the ocean.........having a great time in Australia and I hope everyone is having a great at home and enjoying life!!

O-week has begun

So...what's new...

Louis has been gone for a few days, but before he left some of us did make it to the top of Mt. Kiera. Only reason Amalia and I didn't before is because apparently at some point during the hike you have to just cut straight up a dried up creek. Basically just boulder up. Gotta say, I was quite winded at the end, but the view was amazing from the top!! On the way down, I jumped down from a rock and almost jumped onto a snake! About 5 ish feet long and was starting to get angry. Definitely quickly moved away and Louis got a few pictures of it on my camera. Couldn't identify it at the time, looked for venom sacks. Later looked it up online and I'm pretty damn sure it was a tiger snake which is apparently extremely dangerous...fabulous. Run in with death number two. I think I've only got, what, 7 lives left?

Anyways, went out dancing all night. Good night, if I do say so myself. Went for a dip in the ocean with some friends post clubs, but of course didn't go very far out. Got to be careful.

Last weekend, Amalia and I went up to Sydney to visit my mom's friend. All I have to say is, wow, I absolutely loooooove Sydney!! I totally understand why people come here and don't go home. First night there (well first thing I did was buy sheets and pillows, so amazing) went for a stroll along Manyly Beach, took the ferry across the harbor, went to dinner at the oldest pub in Sydney, walked across the Harbor Bridge and walked along the harbor. Pretty successful and wonderful. Spent the next day at Manly Beach. Watched some street performers and walked around. We walked over to Shelly Beach, also, and it is just a scene out of a travel book. Hike up a little hill and found a great view. Pretty relaxed day. That night, went out to Manly Warf Hotel, again fabulous. Met some nice guys, one of which is a Kiwi, so I've got some insight into my upcoming trip to New Zealand. Just found out today, actually, that a major earthquake hit Christchurch yesterday. Really sad and I hope everything is alright over there! Next day Anna (the woman we were staying with) threw a bbq for me and Amalia. Omg the food was amazing!! Got some tips from her hiking friend regarding where to go and what to see. I think we're planning on meeting up and taking some small hikes.

Rode the train back to the Gong, but of course got off at the wrong stop. Had to wait for the next train, but alls good. Met an Aussie who is obsessed with American beef jerky...weird. Along with vegemite. Probably the worst stuff ever. I'm not a picky eater and I'll eat a lot of different stuff, but damn, vegemite is disgusting. Tastes like pure salt. Don't understand how the Aussies love it so much. It's like a butter spread, but loaded with salt and a cardboard after taste.

O-week started for us that day, so we had a block party. I live in Hospital (name of the building), so you can guess our theme: doctors and nurses. Pretty fab, really good time. But things got out of hand and everyone got kicked out of the pub. I guess a fight broke out? Hm...rowdiness continued, though.

Next night, there was an organized pub crawl. Totes fun! People doing it had to get a shirt and a wristband and those without a shirt weren't allowed into the bars...kind of lame. Bouncers kicking people out and shit. Anyways, rowdy night, of course lots of dancing. Got up with the DJ and got help pick out some music which of course was great. Came back to the dorms and there were pancakes waiting for everyone! Score

Last night, house party, good time. Been some pretty loose nights, but go big or go home! I guess this is what o-week is all about.

Oh totally forgot, had to get up at 8 yesterday to go to an international student orientation, that was lovely, especially after a bar crawl. Pretty boring stuff. Watched a video about beetle sex that some professor that was presenting showed. Interesting subject, I guess. Walked around campus, nice campus. Really pretty. Went for a run later that day. My goal is to be able to run with Amalia who is insane and runs to the lighthouse and back all the time. That's probably 6 km if not more. Woah, gotta work off the goon somehow (goon=super cheap box wine that everyone drinks around here since alcohol is so expensive).

Today, probably going to the fruit and vegetable market, or at least picking up some food somewhere. Very exciting. But tonight is some formal night at a pub, as always, should be a good time :)

Need to get some trips organized. First thing will be sky diving over the beach here in Wollongong and the Blue Mountains just outside of Sydney. Can't wait!

Mt. Kiera Attempt, Sunny Beach

Haven't updated in a couple days, been a little lazy...trying to keep up

Sunday, Amalia and I tried to hike up Mt. Kiera. Well, we finally found a sign with a map, after hiking and around and going the wrong way. Tried to follow the path and needed to reach a trail that shot off the main path. That didn't happen. Trailheads are very poorly marked. Instead of getting to Mt. Kiera, we made it to Mt. Pleasant? Meaning, we passed Mt. Kiera. On the way saw some little black creature that looked like a porcupine, maybe, but was black and had yellow spots. At the end of the Mt. Pleasant track, I found a leech on my ankle! Never thought I'd get a leech on me whilst hiking...for some reason I decided to wear ankle socks instead of hiking socks.

That night we all went out. They had a party bus, a bus with pulsing lights and the middle was for dancing, take us too and from the bars...FO FREE! How convenient is that? Greeeeat night out. Lots of dancing. Tried to get on stage where the band was playing, but the guitarist wasn't having it :( lame. Came back to floor and more of a good time ensued.

Next day, Valentine's Day, bright and early at breakfast Louis showed up!! So awesome, so glad to see him. Walked down the beach with some people and got smoothies. On the way back it started pouring down rain and we got caught in it. Kind of fun, but super cold.

Today was much better weather! Before lunch the sun started to come out and it was glorious. Spent most of the day on the beach, sunning and enjoying the beautiful ocean. Played in waves a lot, except until I almost drowed! The waves were getting pretty large and I got carried away a bit out further into the ocean. Then the current kept pushing me towards a section where you weren't supposed to swim since the waves were too big. Luckily, one guy and Louis swam over to help out...even the cute lifeguard started wading into the waters. How embarrassing!! Scary, but I survived and burried Louis in sand.

It's sooo nice here, I love it and all the people! Tomorrow, I think Amalia and I will try to actually find Mt. Kiera. Hopefully we get there!

Pillows are some of the most wonderful things!

I am quickly coming to the realization that I need to invest in a pillow. And sheets. I'm currently sleeping in my sleeping bag, on a mattress with a stack of quarter zips as a pillow. Tried stuffing my stuff sack with plastic bags I had...didn't work out well.

North Gong

Loving the Gong and the people here. The Aussies on my floor are super nice and lots of fun. Last night, the girls decided to go out to this bar, North Gong. Lots and lots of fun...learning quickly that drinks are expensive here. I see lots of cheap box wine in my future. Also, turns out people are not so unfamiliar with IU. In fact, one guy at the bar listed off heaps of info he knows about IU, odd. But I do get the "oh, so you're from America" business haha. Bar closed super early, midnight early, so started walking to another one. Took a detour and got kebob and tried to break into a pool. Sadly, people were on the porch by the pool, so next stop the beach. It was drizzling so some of us decided to take off our shoes, good idea right? Wrong, feet hurt like Hell and still sore today. Brilliant plan on my part. I figured it wouldn't be that far of a walk...I was wrong. Stopped at the beach and we wanted to swim buuut some creepy, old, fat man decided to plop down in the middle of the beach and watch, so that plan was nixed real fast. Disappointed, came back to Campus East (the dorms/pods w/e where we live).

Heaps of fun, though, a little tired today. Post lunch walked to the train station and to the uni. Made it, but it's quite a walk. The campus is nice, very green and pretty. I need to find a hiking trail soon, though! Too much just hanging out in the dorms. Need to go out and explore :)

Made it!

AAHHH!! It's so beautiful here!

Finally made it to AU and to the Gong, as they Aussies call Wollongong. So much drama with my flights, though. First one was delayed so I wouldn't make the next flight, had to completely switch everything around. Got put on a flight to Denver. Met a cool guy in Denver. Avid climber for about 20 years, had a lot to say about that, interesting to talk to. And the guy on my other side, well, he smelled like pine needles and tree sap. On the flight from LA sat next to another girl going abroad and a woman from AU, but living in the States. Looooong flight, and I slept through it all. Oh, and one of my suitcases feels like and smells like it was doused in vinegar. Lovely

Made it to the Gong and just settled into my room. Haven't met the roommates yet, but apparently I'm living with 2 girls and 2 guys. It'll be interesting... It's a bit cloudy, but at least it's warm and there's no snow!

Well, I should go explore the town, maybe spend some time at the beach :)

Last day in Indiana

So this is the beginning of my adventure. I'm leaving today and I"m getting pretty excited! Hope my flights aren't delayed with the weather and that my suitcases make the 50 lb. cut.....

Hopefully I'll keep up with this blog thing and keep you posted anything cool down under