Entry 11

Crikey! First week of autumn break has been amazing. Midterms were last week and I was in sore need of some stress-relieving adventure time. My first excursion was to the Outback. I flew from Sydney to Ayers Rock, which is in the very center of the Australian desert. For three days I went bushwalking, learned how to throw boomerangs, and read a book about aboriginal dreamtime and its relation to the native art of dot painting. On the last day I was in Ayers I got to go to a camel farm and ride a super friendly one-humped camel named “Darcy” to the great rock that the town gets its name. Ayers Rock is over two miles long, 1,100 feet tall, and over a mile wide. It’s almost six miles around the base, and half of it isn’t even above ground! The native aboriginal name for Ayers Rock is Uluru, and it is a very sacred place for the local tribe. The different metal composites in the rock make its color drastically change in the setting sun— it truly was an awe-inspiring sight. On the return trip the stars began to pop out of the horizon— the Outback has the clearest night sky of anywhere I’ve ever seen. I had a hard time saying goodbye to the desert, but was excited to fly to the northern border of Australia, and spend some time in the city of Darwin. When I walked off the plane I immediately thought I had landed in Wilmington because it was so humid! Darwin is surrounded by some of the countries largest natural rain forests. On my second day in the Northern Territory city I woke up at 5a.m. and headed to a tour of two of the national parks. First was Litchfield, which had some of the most impressive waterfalls in the world. We were able to swim in two of the locations we went— the water was clear and clean enough to drink, and the pools were warm as a bath. After lunch we went to Kakadu national park, which is famous for its wildlife, specifically the giant jumping saltwater crocodiles. While we waited to get on the boat I got to hold a water python, which was fine until she licked the back of my neck— then my spin shivered and the snake tensed its muscles around my shoulders. On the boat our guide held bits of raw buffalo on fishing rods and to attract crocs. The very first one was a sixteen-foot male with a missing right arm (so we knew he was a fighter). Crocodiles are one of the few animals in the world that are cannibals. Their ruthless nature and genetic superiority is what has kept them unchanged and at the top of the food pyramid since the age of dinosaurs. The male croc only jumped half way out of the water because he was so large, but the female crocs we saw would use their powerful tails to get three quarters of their body above the surface to grab the meal. I’m really glad we went swimming before watching the feeding frenzy because now I am pretty hesitant to get back in the water in this country. On my last day in Darwin I went to Crocosaurus Cove, which was a zoo completely devoted to crocodiles and other reptile and marine life native to the Northern Territory. All ten of the most venomous snakes in the world live in Australia, alone with pretty much every other deadly animal you can think of. Now that it’s officially fall, and I’m back in Sydney its starting to cool off, but I’ve still got one more trip before the end of autumn break. Next week I’m headed off to do some serious relaxing in Queensland at the Gold Coast.

Special shout out to my parents who sent me an amazing care package Easter basket. I couldn’t have asked for a better support team back in America, and I miss my Mom and Dad every day while I’m here. I hope everyone had a great Easter in the states!

Entry 10

Biggest week yet by far! So much has been going on I feel like I’m being dragged behind a boat trying to keep a wakeboard under me. Tuesday was the Study Abroad Info Fair— all of the international students got a chance to answer questions about their home countries and talk to prospective exchange students about the experience. I talked up the dub as much as I could. After the fair the Study Abroad advisors at UWS had a meet and greet for past exchange students, current ones, and UWS students who had been accepted to a program for next semester. I remember last October I was so excited when I got my acceptance letter, I rode my bike in circles around campus for an hour. We played a game of international trivia, and yours truly won first place and three boxes of tim-tams (which is an Australian candy). Wednesday I headed into the city and took a walk around Hyde Park, then the botanical gardens. Hyde park is really beautiful— statues, fountains— the air was saturated with the smell of cut grass and the sounds of grade school tour groups headed to the art museum. I followed the kids in their uniforms to the free museum and spent a few hours looking at the classical and then modern exhibits of art. My favorite piece was relatively new— Cadence #1 by Robert Owen. Thursday I caught a flight to Melbourne and met up with Shannon to see a few comedy shows during Melbourne’s annual international comedy festival. The shows were hilarious— afterwards we went back to our hostel and met other backpackers from all over the world. Staying in a hostel was a lot like staying at Laurel Ridge— people are very friendly, the beds are horrible, and the showers never have warm water, but it was still a great time! Friday, Shannon and I went to the Museum of Victoria and saw lots of classical art, as well as an original Warhol in an exhibit inspired by the sixties. We went shopping in the Queen Victoria market and had some fish and chips in the food court. On Saturday we took a tour of the Great Ocean Road. Our first stop was a small surfing town where some of the most popular Surf brands were started. Ripcurl, Quicksilver, Billabong, and Roxy all had their headquarters in the small town. We went to a koala sanctuary, but they were all sleeping in the tops of trees. Koalas aren’t bears for one thing, their technically marsupials— they have a pouch to hold their babies and are nocturnal. We hiked through the Victoria rain forest and got to see the only species of meat eating snails in the world. Finally we headed back to the coast and saw the Twelve Apostles, which is hands down the most breathtaking view I’ve ever seen. Sandstone sediment and compounds of marine life created twelve formations that stuck out of the ocean, but three have collapsed back into the sea due to erosion. We also went to Loch Ard Gorge, were a famous shipwreck left two lone survivors of a fifty-four-passenger boat to sleep in the gorge’s cave for the night. It was a long day and an early morning getting back to Sydney but I’m very glad I got to see Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road. This is the last week of class before fall break— I may not have internet next weekend, but check back in two weeks for a wild update that will hopefully involve my experience on the back of a camel!

Entry 9

Dayflies, sweat, and the woes of public transportation can’t dampen my experience studying abroad— which truly has been transcendent. As March is ending, and autumn descends on the southern hemisphere, I’m starting to value each day more than the one before it— knowing how quickly the next three months will fly by. This week has been somewhat of a test— the complexities of living half a world away have sunk in.  Technology, and my Internet connection particularly, are fickle and communication with home has gotten harder. I’m glad for my blog and my journals so I can keep track of everything that happens for my family and friends back home as well as myself. Tuesday was my friend Harry’s twentieth birthday, and the international students threw him a riot of a surprise party I doubt he’ll ever forget. In some ways living in the village reminds me of freshman year— living on campus in H4. The community that we’ve made is both hilarious and comforting, and I know I’ve made friends here that I’ll keep for life. On Thursday, Harry, my roommate Jon, and I went to a guest lecture on campus about the recent absorption of Crimea into Russia. Professor Norman Davies of Oxford was traveling through Sydney and agreed to give a one-hour synopsis of the complete history of Ukraine in relation to Moscow’s Russia, then explain the implication of the current annexation of Ukraine’s port city. Kiev, the current capital of Ukraine, was one of the first major cities in Eastern Europe, established before Russia was even a country. After the USSR broke apart and Ukraine declared itself an independent nation, Kiev became the capital and Crimea became one of the most significant regions of the country. Personally its hard for me to establish an opinion I feel passionate about because even after listening to the lecture, I know little about the people of Crimea and what they truly want. I do think the military pressure imposed by Russia was against international precept. I’m glad UWS gave us the opportunity to become more educated about something current and independent of my regular classes. Friday was the “Endless Summer Cruise and Casino,” which almost everyone in the village went to. We all got dressed up for a three hour cruise around Darling Harbor, then took over the club level of the Marquee, one of Sydney’s best Casinos. We walked past the slot machines and roulette tables— glassy eyed adrenalin seekers, lost in the possibility of striking it rich. I was thankful I had no desire to gamble. Inspired though—the next night a few of us played Texas Holdem with puzzle pieces and uncooked pasta as our poker chips. Today was so nice when I woke up I grabbed my sunscreen and kindle and headed to Bondi to soak up some rays. I stopped for a crabmeat pizza on my way home and thought of Piccini’s in Ocean City. The pizza was good but not as good as Piccini’s, and it couldn’t hold a candle to Mac & Mancos! I’ve booked my tickets to Melbourne for next weekend, off to the southern city of Australia.

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!

Entry 7

It’s crazy to think I’ve already been in Australia for a month! Most of the original shocks and differences have faded and I feel like I’ve fallen into the society and almost totally. I’ve even been asked for directions and probably/might have pointed that old lady in the right direction. This past week has been beautiful. Most days I make a big breakfast, read on our porch, go to class, then the gym, and still have time to lie out by the pool and chat with other local and international students. Accounting is definitely going to be my hardest unit. The first two months of class we’re working in groups on presentation assignments. I’m analyzing financial reports from Australian owned construction company; Leighton Holdings— Creating an upstart winery in International Business— and in International Marketing my group is exploring the international laws R.J. Reynolds tobacco company (from my hometown) faces when advertising cigarettes. On Wednesday this past week, the Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore, hosted a very classy reception for some of the international students from each of the universities in the city. We met at Town Hall at five thirty and were each given a nametag and a folder of informational guides, coupons, and helpful business cards. Town Hall was centrally built in the mid eighteen hundreds and is one of the most historic buildings in the city. After eating dinner, we were first welcomed to the event by the Chief of the local aboriginal tribe, the Cadigal’s. Australia is very devoted to recognizing the original people of the land at any major public event. An Uncle of the tribe came in with a smoking basket of coals or incense and blessed the space— clearing away the bad spirits. Then the Lord Mayor welcomed us and told us a bit about Sydney and her goals for the future of the city. Sydney is both the cleanest and safest city in the world. You almost never see trash on the street, and both crime and violence are rarities. Mayor Moore told us that a third of the international students that study in Sydney return later in life to either live or do business. The third speaker of the night was an international student from Washington D.C. who had studied at the same campus I am at, and moved to the city to work after graduation. The program ended with an open bar while dancers and a local jazz band performed and I exchanged stories with new friends I made from India, China, England and Japan. Unfortunately the weekend has brought erratic storms. The lightning and thunder has been nice to watch and listen to, but our hike to the Blue Mountains will have to wait for a dryer weekend.