Entry 8

We’ve had typical Australian weather all week— Hot Hot Hot. Local students seem used to the heat, and I see kids wearing pants when I’m almost melting in my chubbies. Classes are going smoothly and I’ve had no trouble keeping up with all my units and still having time to enjoy the area. My group mates in Accounting and in International Business are really great guys and I feel good about our chances of making high marks. I’m pretty used to life Down Under now— it’s gotten harder to find a new experience every day, but this week I set out to try new fruits. Some I’ve seen in America but had just never eaten. Australian Mangoes are my favorite, but for the first time this week I had Dragonfruit— it looks wild but tastes like a mild kiwi. Figs, dates, and plums—then I tried passionfruit, which is like a small pomegranate but the seeds are slimier. Friday some friends and I went to the city to a Mexican taco bar, El Loco, and indulged on a rarity in Sydney— shrimp tacos and Margaritas! Mexican food is very uncommon here and I crave some K38 chips and salsa, or some Chipotle. On Saturday I went to North Manly to watch the surfers and sailboats with my friend Kieran— after we had enough sun we walked through the Manly local art museum—which was very nice and casual— mostly featuring drawings and paintings of the beach over the past six decades. Manly is a very skate and bike friendly beach town. After the museum we walked through an outdoor market and stopped at booths selling knickknacks and boutique clothing. A lot of the clothes looked like things my Mom would sell at Hip Chics. At the end of the day I was happily surprised my sunburn was minimal. Sunday some of my friends invited me to an Aussie Barbie (barbeque). It was potluck so I said I would make cornbread— most of them had never tried it. Unfortunately the grocery stores here don’t sell cornmeal so I ended up taking fruit. I heard of a southern restaurant in the city and I think I’ll try to take a group there to introduce them to one of my favorite staples of the southern dinner table. Next week there is a boat cruise party for university students on Friday, so I definitely have something to look forward to throughout the week!