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:)