Happy One Month!

Yesterday was officially my one month here in Australia.  It's crazy to think that I've been gone for so long but at the same time it still feels like it was yesterday that I arrived.  I absolutely love it here and in some ways its like I never want to leave.  As it becomes one month since I've been here, it only reminds me that I only have 5 more months left until I'm back in America and back to UVa.  Looking back reflectively on my time here, I feel that I've already learned so much.  Just this week I was talking to a friend of mine that I met at the hostel and I was saying how Australia really makes me feel comfortable and so at peace.  I thought for a moment about why I felt so myself even within days of arriving.  I soon realized that this is the first time in my life that I have gone off and done something completely on my own.  When I moved when I was younger and got a fresh start, my family was always alongside of me.  When I went off to college, Sally was there as well.  I am so grateful that all those experiences were shared with someone I love, but at the same time, I never went anywhere where no one had any idea of who I was.  They say when you go off to college you really find who you are because you are finally on your own.  For me, I still felt like everyone had the same expectations of me and so I stuck with what I knew my whole life.  But now, I am completely on my own and it has been really awesome for me to challenge what I've been told my whole life and put it into practice.  I have had to look for churches on my own.  At UVa I went to the church Sally went to because I had a ride there; I went to the same Christian group and it was easier knowing that I would know someone there.  But here, I have had to be really intentional about finding a church knowing that no one is going to do it for me.  It's been a great experience just learning what things I put my time into and what things I truly enjoy for myself. 
     This past Monday classes officially started and my summer or I guess winter break here is finally over.  All my classes seem pretty interesting and I'm really looking forward to this more relaxed style of class.  Each class is only once a week for two hours and then a discussion which is often lead by the professor.  Also, most classes only have one test if that and it is only worth about 10-20% of your grade.  I'm taking almost all intro level classes and we have 12 page papers we have to write that are worth 50%.  What happened to a chill intro level class?  The class I'm most nervous about is International Relations.  The professor said that he assumes we all have a basic level of history knowledge.  Anyone who knows me knows that history is clearly not one of my strengths.  In fact, I relate my knowledge to that of a kindergartner; and yes, I do mean that literally.  I might be calling some of you up to tell me who someone is or what happened in which wars just to make sure that I'm not an idiot when writing a paper or something.  Normally I love discussion sessions because talking has never been a problem for me and it's an easy A for about 20% of my grade.  I've never understood how people just don't speak up and get that easy A.  Now I am starting to realize why some people never talk during them.  I'm so freaking nervous to say anything in this International Relations class knowing that I'll probably mess something up and sound stupid and ignorant.  My other classes seem really awesome though and very intriguing. 

    Other than that, life has been exceptionally good.  With 29 people in my house, it feels like I'm back in first-year dorms or something and its awesome because there is always someone doing something.  I'm learning how to balance my own personal time with social time.  The people in my house are awesome and I'm having some awesome experiences.  Even tonight we saw Inception on the world's largest IMAX screen.  Definitely see the movie- IT'S AWESOME!!!!!  The weather this week has been fantastic, about 62 everyday- yes it is the dead of winter, so I have been going to the beach a lot to play volleyball or toss a frisbee.  There is also this walk that connects 5 beaches and is 4.5 miles long so I walked that the other day and it was absolutely beautiful.  We walked it around sunset and the colors in the sky were the most amazing thing I've ever seen.  So even after one month, I can still say that life is good and I'm still gaining new experiences and making new friends.  Hope everyone is enjoying the warm weather back home!  Check out all my pictures on facebook or if you don't have facebook, you can look at them at them here on my Australia Album. 

At the After the Honeymoon Phase

     So this past week I've had orientation sessions which I completely slept through because there was really no important information whatsoever.  However, the speaker did talk about how right now is the honeymoon phase but soon something was going to happen that would make us hit rock bottom.  And yes, that indeed did come, albeit a little earlier than predicted.  There are 29 people in my house, 13 girls, 16 boys.  Everyone is really really awesome and all but two are from America.  I was a little disappointed that it really isn't very international but at least when I get back to the states, I will be able to see everyone still.  One girl even goes to ODU and two others go to Virginia Tech and others go to Duke, UNC, Michigan State,

Purdue, University of Illinois, Syracuse, and other random places.  One other girl lives in England which means I'm definitely going to have to make a trip out there.  With so many people, this definitely makes for a lot of noise and a lot of fun times.  However, last night we had some people over and this boy from Austria broke our front door glass and another window downstairs.  He was arrested within 10 minutes but it definitely caused a lot of drama having to deal with the police and the university because it is owned by them. But other than that little speed bump, everything has been going really well.  We have been having a really good time and are finding our way around the city.  The other night I even did karaoke for the first time ever and sang Genie in a Bottle.  I even sang two songs by the end with my new housemates and we all won a free night stay at a local beach resort.  Who knew I could sing so well- ha! just kidding.

     This week we signed up for classes which was a huge headache but I think I've finally figured everything out and hopefully my classes will be interesting.  I'm taking quite a medley of classes including Sociology of Relationships, International Relations, Society and Desire, and Intro to Women and Gender Studies.
Fortunately, I only have class on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday meaning I can travel Friday through Monday.  Because of this hopefully I'll be able to see way more of Australia.  I'm really looking forward to my time here especially now that I am in my new house and making some really awesome friends.  It has already been so amazing and I am anxious to see how the semester will play out.  Please add my on skype- Anyagirl10- so we can all keep in contact.  I miss you all!

My Long Week and New Home!

     So internet is really hard to get and so I haven't updated this in a while so I've done quite a bit since my last post.  I have been doing more things around the city including going to a plethora of museums and parks.  One of the girls that I hang out with the most in my hostel is from Canada so we obviously had to celebrate Canada Day.  I soon learned that I am exceptional at face painting maple leaves on people.  I never knew that my 2 years in Canada when I was 3 and 4 really would have helped me so much.  And we started singing the national anthem and I actually remembered quite a bit more than I imagined.  Sadly I was too tired to do anything on Independence Day and they don't sell fireworks so it wouldn't have been the same anyway.  This week has probably been my favorite week so far because I am starting to become good friends with the

people in my hostel.  I can comfortably go into the main lobby and know that I will have someone to talk to and sit with.  Most everyone is from England and have beautiful accents.  I'm also picking up some really sweet words- I'm saying "reckon" and "mates/lads" and many other really awesome phrases that you all better be ready for when I return.  There are four English guys who remind me a lot of my guy friends from home and so it has been so natural hanging out with them and having fun.  The English boys and the girl from Canada and I went to the Aquarium a few days ago and it was really good.  They have shark and sting ray tanks that have clear walking tubes underneath the tank so you can see sharks swim right over you.  They had some really awesome exhibits and I took a million pictures.  I also went and saw the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge at night and it was even better than what I imagined.  It literally always looks like a postcard picture even with the small camera I have.  Oh goodness it was beautiful.
     Today has also been very exciting because I moved into my new apartment.  It was very bitter-sweet as I have gotten used to being in the hostel and I genuinely like the people that are there and it is in such a great location.  I was within walking distance to every major landmark and museum.  But my new apartment is better than I imagined; It's pretty much like a huge huge house where 29 people live, half boys, half girls.  The kitchen is so nice which hopefully means I can bake and we have pretty decent amount of room for clothes which I needed since I brought 150 lbs worth of stuff with me...oops.  We have satellite tv on a big screen and free internet and free washer and dryer.  Oh so beautiful it is.  There are only 5 people here right now but people should be arriving shortly as orientation starts on the 12th.  I had my registration session this week where I am working on setting up my classes.   Hopefully I'll get a good schedule.  One of the girls I'm now living with has the same amount of classes as me and only has class on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday leaving the rest of the week for traveling.  This would be ideal.  Now that I have internet all day, I will be able to skype.