March 31-April 1

I have the best family!

My assignments are in for the week and I got Easter cards! Thanks Aunt Kathy--you always love your Tweetie bird and the halogram chocolate bunny was jumping off the page at me and Aunt Jenny very nice colored eggs on the card--reminds me of dying Eggs with Papa and Grams:) thanks for thinking of me!

and SHIRLEY--as soon as I saw the heart mailer my face lit up! Easter candyyyyy---YUM Peanut Butter M&M's (you know me sooo well Shirl) and SKittless!! Came at the perfect time ...it is 2pm here and I have to walk up to class and needed some motivation! Grabbed a mini Skittles bagggg ---it has beennn wayyy tooo long since I have had those!

The chewy ..fruity goodness.. ugh what a mood booster.

It also makes me think of all the Easter egg hunts Shirley use to make ..and how the baskets would be in Annie/Kevin's cruiser trunk. Also the biggggg pinatas that she would have outside on the deck at her house..and the tortellini soup that we'd have at Ema's..and how Bumpa use to bleach his whites outside in those trays in the sunroom... EASTERTIME:)

xoxo


I have the besttttttttt familyyyyyyyyy.

March 29- 30

I am sitting in my room chowing on gingerbread babies, ice cream, and veggie burgers... not a fan of this paper--9pm. No motivation.

Had to hand in 2 assignments in my morning class. My afternoon class was filled with the usual funny presentations and bribery (more bottled beer, boxed wine, cadbury eggs, mars bars, and a giant chocolate--Willy Wonka golden egg style)...

Today it poured all day and was very chillyyyy. The coldest it has been since I've been here.. I bought a sweatshirt on campus in between classes.

Thanks for the postcard Ninny---love the random questions !

March 27-28

I realize how in the states your life is so fast pace and coming here it's so opposite.. it makes me enjoy the little things and I am beginning to relax. For example, at the beach yesterday there is a snack shack and being here for over a month I always thought it was called "Fish and Chips", well yesterday walking slowly by it and enjoying my pace I read the real name. "Chish and Fips". Very cute and catchy name, but for those who aren't use to the pace of life here--you miss out on the little things like that..

Finally, I am getting the hang of it. :) Yikes--back to Babson in the Fall..with a whole new understanding of what is really important in life.

My "Contraband" aka gum is holding up.. no thieves yet.. but my roommate has already offered me money for my stash. Hot commodity.

March 26

So this morning..made a trip to the markets. I was waiting outside for one of them to open. I was sitting outside the Coogee Butchery Market.. and guess what rolls up.. a guy who brings in 2 big dead pigs over his shoulder. These pigs were the size of humans. Reminded me of Christmas morning at Shirleys.. where Dad and Drew would make "oinking" sounds when the bacon came out.. and call the bacon Babe.. pleasant thoughts:) The guy I was waiting with saw my face and goes "They would probably let you watch them cut it.." To be honest I wanted my picture with it..but didn't have my camera.



Also.. funny I see all these great bakeries with "smarties" in their cookies.. (in the USA those are sweet/sour candies).. and I have thought how bizarre for the past month. Today I found out the "smarties" here are like generic M&Ms..

A great beach day and a night of productively finishing some school projects!

Went out last night to chat and eat dinner with my roommate and two Australian guys in her civil engineering class (at "Chicken Out"). (Drewbie) will definitely enjoy it! Full chickens, massive amounts of fries, pounds of oriental salad options... burgers..etc.

March 25

OHHHHHHHHHH MY GOSH. Holy Cow. Thank you Jenny and Dad . I received a box of 36 packs of Orbit Gum. Gum with flavor lastly more than 3 minutes in every kind---RARE here. Literally every kind--BJs shopper--I love it. Spearmint, Wintermint, Sweet Mint, Peppermint, Bubblemint, Strawberry Mint, Pina Colada, Maui Melon Mint, and Citrus Mint. Good thing no one in my house has my blog page..Pretty sure the entire house would be living in my room right now. I am selfish--no sharing allowed. My roommate may have a heart attack-she chews gum more than I do(once again--no sharing).

Also, it is Thursday and I just had a group presentation and on the way home I decided to celebrate that officially at 3pm my weekend has begun. So I stopped at Woolworth's and immediately went to the ice cream section and snagged an Australian brand (So Good Chocolate Bliss). Risky I know--not disappointed at all.

March 23-March 24

I think probably 18% of my class was actually in our class today (and that is being optimistic). It's all based off of group presentations and bribery. Each presentation using brings in stuff to try to keep the class's attention..

Today a group's presentation was baseball theme so they gave out red socks, peanuts, and bottled beer. Another group gave out cadbury chocolate frogs, and the other groups gave out chocolates (Time-Out Bars and Tim Tam's)...

Today I went to an on campus marketing club event after my 6pm class.. to expand my horizons. An epic failure. Went with a friend and we both decided it was the most unfriendly event we could have chosen to go to. Only benefit was the green wrist bands.

But WE GOT OUR MINI FRIDGE..which is quite large for being MINI!

March 21-22

Today was a baking and homework day.

I made M&M cookies crumbled into vanilla ice cream and swirled in a peanut butter/sugar mixture..and created the Peanutbutter M&M Ice Cream Pie.

Then I baked one big oven cookie in a pie pan (Chocolate Chip).

Overall VERY PRODUCTIVE HOMEWORK DAY AS WELL:) YAY FOR SUNDAYS!

Also exciting --Drew's trip is booked and confirmed!

Another funny thing.. last week someone stole my last banana out of my double knotted bag in the fridge at night.. and I was so mad --it was my last banana and I was planning on putting it in my oatmeal that morning. So when I woke up at 6am and it was gone I realized I would have to wait another hour before breakfast because the store to buy bananas at DOESNT OPEN UNTIL 7am.. so I sent this message to my house after...


"Subject:Watch It

Not even kidding.. Whoever ate my banana last night I am not happy and

I will find you..

Unless you are a Diabetic and were going into extreme shock and my banana was the only thing in that first floor fridge (despite being in a double knotted bag for a reason) that would have saved your life--there is going to be a problem.

Not cool..Thanks."


Soo.. today a guy in my house apologized to me because he was a bit rowdy last night and kept me and my roommate up until 3am..so I said it was okay and that it takes a lot to make me mad..and as I was walking away... another guy goes "yah like eating your banana"...

I was so glad that my message got through to a least one person in the house. Satisfaction.

Along with that.. I complained to the study abroad office and guess what--they have selected my roommate and I to get our own personal mini fridge. Satisfaction x 2.

YAY MORE MAIL---THANK YOU NINNY AND Aunt JENNY! So fun!

March 20th

Today was a warm and sunny day as usual. After spending some time at the beach and doing some homework projects last night I met a friend on campus and we took the bus into the city (brought my roommmate along as well). We went to the Queen Victoria Building for some shopping. Lot of fun stores, some recognizable some new! Note the biggest chocolate easter egg I have ever seen ($185 at Darrell Lea http://www.dlea.com.au/ )

Lots of cupcakes (KELLY you'd love it)

http://www.cupcakesonline.com.au/
http://www.thecupcakebakery.com.au/


and lots of great architecture within the shopping mall. Really unique place.

http://www.qvb.com.au/

**Interesting fact I learned today while my friends were trying on some clothes I chatted with the dressing room man.. he makes $21 an hour.. compared to the US (avg. $8).. nuts. Granted cost of living is a bit higher here..

Also, when you go out to restaurants you do not tip here (there are holiday service charges added sometimes, etc) but you do not tip. Many restaurants have different people that bring food, take your order, bring drinks, bring recipes.. and you have to request your receipt/bill or you could sit there ALL DAY!

In addition, if you are at a store..and your item is say $3.77 they do not have pennies so you pay them $3.75 (they round down)!

Day 31-33

Great day of classes.

Took a bus downtown to the Darling Harbour area in Sydney and went to the Harbourside Shopping Center for a 7pm dinner at a great Italian place called Criniti's. We sat upstairs overlooking the harbour (they spell words different here--harbour=harbor, behavioural=behavioral.. makes class homework/spell check fun)

http://www.crinitis.com.au/

Then we walked over to the concert at the Sydney Enertainment Centre at 830pm. Just in time to skip the opening act and to see her go on. She is one of a kind. Really crazy costumes..bizarre speaches... I made several FlipCam movies too..

Ended my night with some gingerbread man cookies for a midnight dessert.

Day 29-30

Spent Monday at the beach. Got completely demolished by a wave..lost the shades. There were quite a few Blue Bottle Jellyfish washed up on the sand..which were fun to look at. They have longgggg tentacles... and are pink and blue with a main body that resembles a huge bubblegum bubble! Fun to p0ke (on the sand-not alive)..in the states we call these Portuguese Man of War and are deathly afraid. Here no big deal..

http://www.australianfauna.com/bluebottlejellyfish.php

Tuesday got mail! Thanks Papa! I learned in class you can't chew gum in Singapore---Drew you would not survive.

I had a pretty funny Business, Ethics, and Law class. A class that consists of student presentations. We had 3 today.. the teacher encourages you to make it creative and lively. The first presentation..begin with handing out cups and boxed wine..aka "goon"=cheap wine... definitely something you wouldn't consider doing in Australia..

Throughout the presentation our professor made several little comments..not your average USA professor....

The first group was dressed up..so he had to crack a joke at them. "I like how you dressed up...You should all come down here and do a little fashion show for us..I'm too sexy...a little catwalk"

A few kids left after the first presentation and he says "this girl's meeting her boyfriend"..

The second group made the girls stand up to try and make a point/ take a survey... and he goes "they just wanna check you out...sleezy"

A few more people existed quickly after this presentation and he say "Where are you going... just give me a wink if your leaving to let me know your off to a hot date...I would never get in the way of a hot date"

"Where are you going a blind date with yourself?"...

Throughout the whole lecture...he keeps suggesting people friend him on facebook...
"Is there a Mexican version of facebok..."

Keeps the class entertained/interesting.

Day 25-Day 28

Woke up to 2 couches being on our porch..(so funny they were set up high on crates so that you could look out and creep the neighborhood)..Here when people don't want things they put it on the side of the road (which is common in the US ,but more common here).. So last night a few guys walking home from the pubs thought they would be ideal for our porch (I guess the cleaning staff/abroad staff wasn't a fan). They are demanding them to be removed--but for now they are fun!.. for breakfast sitting, neighborhood creeping, napping, late night chatting...etc.


Before I went to the beach I got 6 cards!!!!! (DAD, JENN, YEN,KELLY and NINNY) WOAH.

ALSO when I returned I had 2 packages (thanks Ninny and Darovena)... SO many goodies... my roommate almost had a heart attack when the mail came.

Also, learned lots of new words/lingo/facts today from a few Australians that my roommate and I had dinner with.

*Sloppy Joe=Sweatshirt, Hoodie
*Chewie=Gum
*Muesli Bars=Granola bars
*Brekky=Breakfast
*Mate=Friend
*Thongs=Flip Flops
*Toilet=Restroom
*They are unaware of Thanksgiving (they just say it has to do with Turkey)
*Halloween is no big deal here
*Australians love the US's gum because the flavor lasts a lot longer than theres(I could definitely be one to tell you that)
*Nutella and VeggieMite are loved here (but Americans think VeggieMite is gross)
*Australians do not like peanut butter like Americans do... they tried making candy bars with it and it didn't catch on
*Australians love "Buffalo" wings..etc.. because they don't have it here
*Cadbury is their Hershey's
*Ice Coffee= contains Ice Cream
*In general Australian's are behind the US in music, etc. 3-6 months!
*"Heap"=a lot
*Oy=Horray
*Fairy Floss=Cotton Candy
*Oz=Australia
*Bloody= Very
*Also, a staple food here is pies (every kind...meat, dessert, vegetarian..etc)
(Even on your birthday you get a free pie next door)

http://www.garlospies.com.au/

I posted a picture of my lecture... not use to the size..my professor is a riot..he asks kids that are on their laptops or blackberry if they are going to be his friend on facebook.. he is always telling everyone (to relax that they will get the handout eventually).. very care free..which drives me nuts ---I am so structured..but it is good for ME!

A CHANGE:)

Day 24

Thanks for the mail DREWBIE--very cute.

Day 23

Rainyyy day.. off to class.

Yay MAIL---Thanks SHIRL and MOM:)

Day 22

School Day---very hot day..

Thanks Kath for the Birthday mail:)

Day 21

One word-nothing..

Today was a nothing, lazy, homework, organizing--kind of day. But nice. I had a successful request made at the study abroad office..and it looks like its going to go through... each room may now receive MINI FRIDGES!!!!!!!!!

I did get a package today-thanks momma:)

Little house drama (mass email sent out)...


Hey all,

In case you haven't realized, we don't have mommy and daddy here to clean our stuff up, and we don't have any pledges to help out with that either. That being said, there are some basic household maintenance things that seem to be getting a bit out of hand.

The trashes; if it is full, don't throw something else into it. Take out the trash. It's not that hard. There's no reason that the same people should be left to empty it every time.
The common room; take care of the condiments you leave out, put the dishes in the dishwasher or clean them, throw away the bottles, turn off the tv when you leave.
The counters; just wipe them down when you're done with them.
The microwaves; if something boils over or explodes, wipe it off.
The dishes; if you open the dishwasher for a dish and its clean, just put all the dishes away so that people can start loading it again.
If we could all pitch in $2 for some of the general household items needed (dishwasher soap, trash bags, dish soap, hand soap, paper towels, sponges), I will go out and buy them tomorrow and store them in one of the 1st floor closets by the bathrooms. If you could stop by my room and drop off a couple dollars (room 5, first room on the right of the main entrance), that would be great.



(REMINDER .. I live in room #5 (sent from my roommate)

Day 20

<


I can't believe this is DAY 20..wow.

Today it was my birthday here..although not yet in the states. Opened my pretty pink packages from mom--fun surprises.

Went to the beach for a bit. In the afternoon we took a bus to Sydney to scope out some local markets...




and grabbed dinner at a place in Darling Harbour (Harbourside Shopping Centre: the mall/center maps were touch screen!) called "Pancakes On The Rocks".

http://pancakesontherocks.com.au/menu

I got the Gourmet Eggplant Pizza, my roommate got the Savoury Thai Chicken Crepes and Matt got the Famous Strawberry Patch Pancakes--quite diverse choices for dinner.

Day 19

I spent my day doing not too much. Headed up to campus.. walked around ..hit some shops..

I went to Coogee Beach for a bit.. headed over to a new area on the beach..that people call the "baths" or the "pools" loved it..

The water is clear like a pool and very rocky. Lot of cliffs..that kids jump off of and a lot of snorkeling business going on.. next time I am definitely going to have to bring my Flip Cam to snag some videos..

Went to the Coogee Bay Hotel last night for some festivities..

http://www.coogeebayhotel.com.au/

than to a house gathering for some Irish festivities...didn't realize how thick the accents are here..

I just nod my head and smile.

After wondering home last night...saw some cockroaches for the first time..stepped one one..nasty.

(note: my camera pictures are a bit blurry--having some malfunction issues...not sure what the actual issue is.. )