City2Surf and New Skills

Last weekend I participated in City2Surf, a walk from downtown Sydney to Bondi Beach.  This walk is 14 km or 8.7 miles.  It is the largest timed race in the world with over 80,000 registered participants.  Since it was $60 to partake, a few of my housemates and I decided just to jump into the insanely large crowd.  Most people who started early in the race ran and the winning time was 41 minutes and of course I decided to run the whole thing.  Just kidding.  I think I ran about 0.5 km and only because the people I was with started running.  The people I was with said they were going to tell their friends that they ran the whole thing and I said no one who knows me well would believe me if I said I even ran 2 of the 14 km.  Sad, I know.  But honestly, it was a great morning.  One of my classes, Sociology of Relationships, is more of a self-help class and last week we learned about how you have to slow down in life to really notice what is going on around you.  This was exactly the story for the City2Surf.  One of my housemates ran the whole thing and only saw the path that the run was on.  Since no one I was with really cared about getting a certain time, we really slowed down our pace and saw the beautiful surroundings.  We saw a beautiful private beach (picture above on the left) that allowed you to see both the city skyline and the Habour Bridge.  It was spectacular.  Then we climbed this hill only to gaze again on the same things (picture below to the right of two of my housemates and I doing yoga's tree pose on the hill).  Later on in the race, we passed cliffs that we hung

our heads over to reveal a 100 ft drop to water crashing on the rocks (two pictures below, again with the yoga- dancer's pose).  It was so so so beautiful and you could see quite a few beaches along the shore.  I was so glad that we didn't care about how long it took because those sights really made the race what it was.  I also did it with a few of my housemates that I hadn't gotten very close to so it was a great opportunity to get more time to hang out with them.  We finished the whole thing in 2 hours 41 minutes.  Everyone wearing race tags got medals but I covered my stomach with my jacket and pretended to be a racer so ended up being the only one in my group to get a medal, something I will cherish my whole life because it is the only form of race I ever intend to be in.

     That weekend was also pretty exciting because we found this cave on one of the beaches that is really really awesome.  We went there and built a fire and just hung out for the night.  It was so beautiful and it is a very very very small beach so it is pretty secluded which allowed us to see the stars really well.  I then became quite the explorer and climbed all over the rocks finding more caves.  It is definitely going to be the new hangout for my house as it was the coolest cave ever.  We fit about 20 people in the cave at once and even more could fit.  I feel like a local now because I know of these hidden gems of Sydney.  

     I am also finally meeting more Australians!!!  One of the girls in my house, Alex, is really into pool and we both are pretty darn good.  There is a bar with pool tables that has free pool all night long on Mondays and Thursdays.  Since finding out about this awesome deal, we have been every Monday and Thursday.  While there, we met these two awesome Australian guys who pretended to be our boyfriends so we could escape from two really old creepy men trying to hit on us.  One of them is a pool guru, as I like to call to him, and has promised to teach me a few tricks.  I can already see improvement in my game and I plan on being a professional pool player once I get back.  You all better be ready for some games.  Oh and the guys are teaching me how to have an Australian accent which is actually harder than it seems since I live with Americans and don't know many

Australians.  It's definitely something I need to pick up so I sound so sweet when I get back.

     Another skill I am getting is very very interesting.  Last year, Caleb Jones let me cut his hair which I had never done before.  It was a pretty sweet experience and somehow it came up in conversation with my housemates.  One of the guys whose hair is as beautiful as Justin Bieber's, let Alex and me cut his hair.  We did layers and everything.  It was so sweet and it turned out really well.  We now have about five other guys and three other girls scheduling hair cuts with us.  Yes, this is very dangerous as I really don't want to mess up anyone's hair but I mean I have to get experience somehow, right?  It has been helpful going to the Rudy and Kelly School for haircuts because they talk through the whole thing allowing me to pick up on a few tips.  So since I can't bake here because we have no pans and mixers or anything, I decided to pick up a new skill.  Haircuts anyone when I return?

     Well it is finally starting to get really nice outside.  It has been upper 60s (upper teens in Celsius) and this weekend its supposed to reach 74.  It's weird because it is still winter here and the Aussies still think it is kind of cold.  Crazy I tell you!  The sunsets have been the prettiest things I have EVER seen in my entire life!  The water turns pink with the sky reflecting off of it and the colors are spectacular.  Pictures (to the left) don't do it justice but it is still pretty sweet.  We have been relaxing on the beach playing frisbee, rugby, volleyball, soccer, and just chillaxing all day long.  I'm so glad I only have three days of class but it is going to get dangerously hard to do school work as it gets warmer and warmer.  And then before I know it, I will be back in Virginia all tan from an Australian summer.

Aroma Festival and Camels!! Foundation Day!! Wine Tasting!!

     Last week there was an Aroma Festival in The Rocks in Sydney.  The Rocks are one of the oldest areas of Sydney and are located right under the Sydney Harbour Bridge.  The Aroma Festival is a coffee festival in which there are hundreds of tents all around with everything from about 50 different coffee shops to Turkish crepe things, camel rides, coffee cup paintings (picture to the right- made out of over 5000 coffee cups filled with milk and coffee and a combination of the two to make different tones.  It is the world's largest coffee painting or whatever you want to call it), cupcakes stands, gelato, and everything you could ever want in a festival.  There were some awesome things that I definitely just have to put pictures up of because it was the coolest ever.  For starters, I got to ride a camel along the edge of the harbor (picture below).  Yes, most of the riders were about 5 years old, but how could I turn down a ride on a camel for only $5?  What a steal!!!!!  It was a fabulous day and it was great to see the first of many festivals I plan on going to during my time here in Sydney.

     This past Thursday, 29 August, was Foundation day at my university.  Basically it is a day for the students to get wasted and attend classes drunk.  Everyone wore weird outfits including boys who dressed up like girls which was strange.  They had music playing all day, clubs performing, free gelato, pancake eating contest (which I sucked at but beat the guy I was racing against), and many other random things.  Then at night it is a big dance party both inside and outside.  I got to my uni at 9 am for class, got to the place on campus where Foundation Day was at at 4pm after class and didn't leave the uni til 1:30 am.  It was an extremely long day but an awesome day.  I've become quite the pool player and played for 5 hours that night.  I also was able to meet Australians for the first time really.  Since I live with 24 other Americans, I really don't get the chance to hang with Australians.  That night I met a ton of people and they said they would show us around town, teach us how to surf, and other things as well.  I also officially saw and talked to the second most beautiful guy I've ever seen in my life (only second to John).  Hopefully with these new connections, I can learn the Aussie things to do and places to go.  I'm tired of going out only to find other people from America there. 

     This Saturday I went to Hunter Valley to go wine tasting.  We stopped at three wineries and tried some really awesome wines.  I hated wine, except Moscato, before I left America but since wine is the only cheap drinks here, I have grown a liking for it.  The views were spectacular and the air was so clean and fresh being athe higher altitude.  It was a fabulous day being with all the girls from my house and being sophisticated trying all these really expensive, awesome wines.  My time here is still as amazing as it always is and I'm currently planning my trip to Fiji for Spring Break.  Enjoy the last weeks of summer break for me!

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.

The Beautiful Blue Mountains and Familiar Faces of Family

The Corleys (my cousins and aunt and uncle) just happened to be coming to Sydney for Drew's graduation trip conveniently just a week after I arrived here myself.  It was great to see a familiar face in this big city.  I couldn't get in contact with them but I knew which hotel they were at and as I was randomly strolling through the city having no idea where I was, I passed there hotel and was able to go in and see them.  The next day we went to the Blue Mountains which is about an hour away and we had an amazing tour guide who told us the history of the city, of the mountains, and about any random questions we asked her.  It was really fabulous and the sites to see were absolutely splendid.  I took almost 200 pictures the whole day so I'll definitely be showing you all just how amazing the mountains were.  We saw some really tall waterfalls and walked through the rain forest after riding the steepest railway in the world at 52 degrees incline.  We road a sky rail that had a glass bottom and which passed through the mountains and valleys giving a direct view to the rain forest.  We saw some of the brightest colored birds imaginable right out in the wild.  We also went to a field and saw kangaroos in the wild.  From here, we went to an animal farm/zoo where kangaroos, emus, peacocks, birds, etc. were just roaming around with us out in the open.  We got to feed them right out of our hands.  We saw a tasmanian devil being fed and you could hear the cracking of the rabbit's bones that he was eating.  It was possibly one of the most disturbing sounds as he easily tore through bone and as I was thinking what would happen if a human fell in there.  It was a ten hour adventure but definitely worthwhile and who better to spend the day with than family. 

Learning the City

     So I've been here for a few days now and I am really really enjoying myself. I'm finally finding my way around the city without a map which is really handy and I look less like a crazy tourist. And, with 7-11 being on every corner and right next to my hostel, I found $1 (small) and $2 (large) coffee.  What could be better? This is a crazy deal because most coffees are $4 for just plain coffee.  Since learning this secret, which isn't really a secret since it's advertised (Aussies spell things with an 's' instead of a 'z' which makes spell check change all my words) all over the place, I have gotten it every day and it truly brightens my life.  The weather is still crappy and rainy but it should be clearing up over the next days. I have had to learn how to convert Fahrenheit to Celsius which is definitely something new. I haven't even started school but my clearly education has begun.  And last night for the first time since I have arrived, I slept for 8 hours straight!  It is because I listened to wise counsel and decided to push through the urge to nap all day long.  I also set up my phone in Sydney today so I'll be able to call you all very shortly.  Another two interesting things: 1) a homeless women asked me where I was from and so I said, "US, have you been there?" and she said and I quote, "hell no, every time a plane goes into the American skies, it comes crashing down" so I said kindly but curtly, "yeah.....that's not the case, the last time that really happened was 9-11 and it wasn't even our fault," strange people I tell ya!  2) every time I say I'm from America people say, "you don't look American."  I don't even understand?? What do American's look like?  I feel like I look like a typical American but apparently no one else thinks so.  But back to my time here.....

     I'm really liking Sydney a ton, maybe even more than I imagined.  I love big cities.  First of all, you can get anywhere and everything within a 30-40 minute walk.  Today I walked down to the Sydney Opera House which is also right next to the Royal Botanic Gardens.  These Gardens are absolutely beautiful with all kinds of trees (picture above and to the right) and birds I've never seen before.  The birds will come within a foot of you and just sit there so close to people, kind of like the squirrels at UVa- ssqquuuuuiiiirrreellll, ssqquuuuuiiiirrreelllll, ssqquuuuuiiiirrreelllll okay see you later- that was for you Sally.  Actually, Sydney reminds me of UVa in a lot of ways which is very difficult to imagine.  Obviously Sydney is a city and Charlottesville is more of a town but there are quite a few similarities.  First off, EVERYONE here runs, at all times of day, just like crazy UVa runners.  Second off, I love working for UTS because I love the smell of exhaust.  Sydney smells like exhaust at ALL times and it just comforts my being.  Third, the squirrels I just mentioned.  Fourth, the gardens at UVa are so pretty and I always felt like I could get away from life and just hang out in one of the gardens for a day and life would be better.  Which leads me to what I did today.  I just sat on a bench which looked out to the harbour and the sun bounced off the water and the metal of the Sydney Opera House and it was just spectacular.  I was there for 8 hours just reading on a park bench.  I took some pictures exactly where I was sitting
(picture on left) and I think this is going to be my new hang out spot.
I also got some gelato which seems to be insanely popular here and I realized why it is so, because it is SO amazing.  I tried guava today, but I'm sure I'll go through all the flavors by the end of my stay.  Sydney strangely already feels like home, even though I've been here for 4 days and even though I have no home but a hostel.  I do miss everyone back at home of course and I will be calling you all soon to catch up and will be able to skype july 9th when I move into my new apartment!  I do have a few favors to ask of you all 757ers: 1) eat Three Amigos in my honor, 2) eat Rita's in my honor, 3) be Chuck and Blair honest, 4) watch The O.C. for me, 5) drink slurpees everyday, 6) bake a cake in my honor.  With those, I'm sure it will feel like I'm right back in the 757.