Of Random Thoughts

rrandom pic for a post of random things!

Since the beginning of this adventure i have encountered interesting people as well as interesting situations, and I have thought recently that i often only blog the "big" stuff or most significant, but i figured i'd dedicate a post to the random things in life or atleast in the past 2 months :)

Random point 1: In Australia, the uni system is different. They skew their grading scale so that they can grade harder and make "A's" or (HD's) hard to receive, making the average grade a C which most students accept as an acceptable grade. However, students address their professors by their first name or even nickname. I find this ironic that they decrease the amount of respect expected from the students towards their professors but increase greatly their level of grading...
I personally have not brought myself to address any of my professors by their first name ...it just feels too weird, I will try to purposely do it before my time is finished here :)

Random point 2: On my flights over to Australia, i did not once sit next to any of the people i met up with in LA which i think is hilarious because it was a group flight of 45-50 other students.. :Luckily though, i got the aisle seat so i didn't feel imposing when i got up several times (as directed by mother) to walk around or just to stretch out as much as you can on a plane.

Random point 3: I never really felt homesick, the closest thing to it was when everyone back home started posting pictures from the beginning of the school year and i couldn't help think that if i hadn't decided to go to australia, i would be apart of those pictures and the experiences that go along with them....however, i quickly remember that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and i do love being here, and fortunately, all my friends will be there when i get back and hopefully it won't be too hard to get back in sync with them all! Plus i am really excited about meeting all the freshmen that have joined RUF!

Random Point 4: One of my really good friends that i have met here and has become my travel buddy, is from Maine, and a very accomplished swimmer. the more ironic thing is that her sister teaches at a public highschool in my hometown! oh, It's a small world!

Random point 5: The aussies friends that i have become really good friends with from church are such a blessing. There is even a slight chance that one of them might come back to winthrop to study for a semester, so i promised her Alot of friends automatically, which she thought was funny and i reassured her that it was so true!

Random Point #6:Electrical Outlets...you'd think plugging something in would be easy, yes if you have the right adapter...(Got one that Great!....so why isn't it working...) Well on all outlets in australia you actually have to switch the outlet on...im not sure if this is an energy saving concept but I still get fooled when i plug something in and the power doesn't immediately come on....maybe i'll get it before i leave...oh and as soon as i do, i'll be looking for a switch on the outlets in america... :)

Random point 7: I was down by the marina recently and noticed that each dock was lettered A,B, C, D etc...but they don't refer to them as docks, rather they refer to them as "Fingers" ...so my question is, are boats like dirt stuck under your fingernails? haha

Random point 8: It's amazing how creative you become and how your tastes change when some where new. At dinner they Always have a thing of steamed mixed veggies...and though some may thing they are the blandest thing on the planet...i personally love them and have them at every dinner...which is funny because i wasn't much of a veggie eater before australia....also, Vanilla icecream is a great blank slate for interesting flavors....my favorite so far is the addition of a pinch of instant coffee....there's also the addition of hotchocolate (very original :) and then others have tried peanut butter and others honey as well as strawberry jelly...interesting for sure but i just think ill stick to coffee and coco :)

OH, today they were giving away silver dollar pancakes on campus, though they called them something else that i can't remember but they had jam available to spread on them so i tried it and surprisingly it was kinda tasty....you should try it!

Random point 9: At the Gym they always have the tv on and i happen to always be there when there are cooking shows on...i find this very annoying...im at the gym, im not supposed to be tempted by food!! the worst is when they are making chocolate desserts...i just want to be like REALLY,....i'm trying so hard and this isn't helping!

Random point 10: Well, i honestly can't think of another random point, though im sure once i lay down for bed i'll be like "oh, i should have shared that.." so this can be a (Insert Your Own Random Thought) think of it as my gift of mental clarity to you .... lol

Well, i suppose that should wrap up my random post blog,...if you have continued reading thus far, let me thankyou for hanging in there, and i really hope you don't feel as though you will never get that time back in life,....Hope you have a FABULOUS day! Cheers!

Off into the great blue sea

So i went diving yesterday and it was heaps of fun except for the boat ride there which was extremely turbulent for a boat ride...and i don't normally feel sick on boats so that should tell ya something. The weather was perfect and there were lots of different fish out, several nemos and we got to plat with sea cucumbers and juggle them underwater...and my instructor wanted me to put my hand into a giant clam but i didn't think that was such a good idea....its hard to do other things while scubadiving when you are so focused on your breathing and trying to get water into your face mask and equalize the pressure in your ears...Its alot to worry about besides possibly getting your hand stuck in a clam. It was all good fun and then when we made it back to dry land i went to an outdoor christian concert with a bunch of friends from church ...so needless to say it was a Long day.
I had a sleep in today, and worked on some homework and took it easy. Tonight was Cafe Nite church so i opted to go early to help set up. I found it quite interesting and humorous that they actually had an intense strategy for setting up the tables. One lady made 6 homemade apple pies for dessert and they tasted so good....they even served it with vanilla icecream. yum yum
Tomorrow is monday, again...i feel like they come so fast...this week has to be a productive week, and i am hoping to kick laziness to the curb, we'll see if it goes willingly....haha
~Cheers!

More Pics....

I uploaded more pics to picasa so if you are interested in seeing capetribulation, portdouglas and our croc adventure, have a look!
http://picasaweb.google.com.au/eaglchk/CapeTribulation?authkey=Gv1sRgCJLVkNP10rSCYw#
Cheers!

Cape Trbulation with a dash of technological rebirth

This past saturday, a few friends and I traveled up a few a hours north of cairns to cape tribulation which is historically significant because it is where Captain Cook had troubles with his ship and had to dock to fix his ship. Other than that, cape trib is known for its beauty because its where the daintree rainforests meets the reef. SO BEAUTIFUL! we went onto the beach to each lunch and the water was completely blue and the reef came right up to the shore. On our way up to the cape trib. we stopped in port douglas to have a look around and we found the most cute chapel that is used primarly for weddings. It was so ideal for a "wedding by the sea" and it had a great view from a little window in front of the alter! I really want to get married in sometype of cute little chapel like this,..though i don't think it would be quite possible to get everyone over to auststralia for the wedding at this particular church... though it would be incredible!

Later that afternoon we went on a "croc hunt" inwhich we rode on a boat going up and down a river bank insearch of crocs. and we actually found several which was really awesome to see them in their natural environment instead of behind a fence...it makes the fact that their presence is actually reality and quite a danger, we were told that a local boy that lived on the river was attacked by a croc in the past few weeks and didn't make it...it kinda made me really sad to hear that stuff really happens.

anyways, after we got back from our long day excursion, we went to a friends 21st bday party, Aussie style. Apparently in australia, 18 is significant due to the drinking age, and the 21st bday is really like a "coming of age" where you have a huge family and friends party...there's speeches and whatnot along with a slideshow of your childhood in pictures, and then the there is the giving of the "house key" which apparently is symbolic of your parents accepting you as an adult and thus giving you a key to the house, eventhough most people don't live at home anymore which was the case for our friend so it was kinda ironic.

Sunday i went to see UP in 3D and it was such a great movie, a little tearful in some spots but overall a very great movie, i deff. recommend it! after the movie i went shopping a little and found some great shoes and some other things that were on sale so it was a great time of retail thereapy as we have coined it.

Monday came too fast once again but i was able to restore my computer back to almost the way it was originally, i didn't loose too much just microsoft 2007 because i took it from someone else and don't actually have the cd to reinstall it....im hoping i can just get it from someone else again so i won't have to buy it, thats one expense id rather not have to deal with while abroad...especially when there are soo many other things that money could go towards.

Nexus tonight was really great, i love have good and deep discussion about important and relevant topics. I'm so glad that God has blessed me with such a great church and youth group here in cairns! He certainly does answer prayers!

I'm going diving this coming saturday so i am extremely excited for that trip, i just have to actually do my work so i don't get behind :)

Thats all for now, more to come later! ~Cheers!

Revitalization is underway

TODAY was a long awaited day...I finally got my package that is essential for reviving my computer from the grave! I am hoping that it will get fixed by sunday but we shall see...i've gone two weeks without it..so a couple more days won't kill me.
Im going to Cape Tribulation tomorrow with some friends and i am anticipating it being a really great day! Then once we get back we are going to help celebrate one of our aussie friend's 21st birthday so it will sooo much fun!
This week went by so fast and my work load is just beginning to get intense...thankfully its when my computer will be back into commission...Before i know it, i will be getting ready to go off to surf camp! and then after that, it will be the end of my semester and my mom will come to visit and we will get to travel around together which i am sooo excited for! It will be such a great bonding experience to top off the best time of my life!
Pictures to come soon of Cape Trib! Cheers!

Aussie Night Out!

Saturday night was so much fun! A friend and I went out into the city to go clubbing with some local aussies from the church that we go to. It was so nice to be taken around to "the best places" instead of having to guess and be the "tourist". Knowledge is a powerful thing and if there is knowledge incorportated into a situation, that situation is always less stressful, atleast from my experience.

Australian clubs are interesting, each one has its own vibe so its fun to travel from one to another in the same night ( WIth the exception that if you are wearing heels...you will die from the pain in your feet...not advised). The dancing is so funny in a good way to the standard american "bump and grind" method....aussies like to just move in place and they love their techno music! quite and interesting experience.

Sunday church was good and we all went out to eat for dinner which was fun to fellowship and eat Amazing food! Fasta Pasta is still my favorite resturant so far!

Got Class tomorrow, it seems like mondays come so fast...i can't believe its already the 7th week of my adventure here, its going by so fast and often times i have to remind myself that i am actually in australia and that my dream of going to australia is actually happening...

im sure i will get back home and think that "WOW i was just in australia for 5months....where did the time go!"

Anyways, i suppose all i can do it just take everything for whats it worth and make memories as i go along so that i may relive my experience later on.....

Long Week...

This was the longest week since i have been here... Having my computer at of commission has really put a damper on doing school work and being able to communicate with people back home. I didn't realize how much i used my computer until i found myself having all this "free" time inwhich i would normally be devoting to talking to people or writing emails. So instead i used my free time to sleep... Luckily, i did not have any major assigments due and thus did not feel the burden of not having my computer available for use in that manner. Also, i have a friend who has been gernerous and has allowed me to use her computer to skype occassionally and to get a facebook fix. ;)
Hopefully, the startup cds will arrive soon that my mom sent. these are vital in the process of erasing my harddrive and restoring it again. I just hope that it can all be back to normal in the coming week!
No big plans for this weekend, just going to the beach and relaxing and i will probably go out with come church friends tonight so that should be a good end to this lame week.
More to come later! Cheers!