So, How Am I Doing?

So I am already in the middle of my second week of school here at UWA. Tutorials started this week and all in all school here isn't much different than back at home. The main difference is lecture size and the duration. I am still getting used to only 45 mins. lectures with 75 students. I really like the tutorials (even though it requires participation) because it gives students a chance to discuss lectures and ask any questions we might have. Because lectures are so big and short there is no way to ask questions or get clarifications. All of my tutors are 5th year grad students who have already taken the course so they know what to expect and are very easy to talk to. I found out the business building is a full mile from Currie Hall but the campus is pretty and the building is so gorgeous that I don't mind the walk at all. I just have to make sure I give myself at least 20 mins. to make it to class on time. Luckily my earliest class is at 9 so its no problem getting there. Last week, I had no problem finding any of my classes or tuts. My classes don't seem like they are going to be too difficult but I find that in my managing diversity class that I am at a disadvantage because I am an exchange student... In the lectures she uses many examples of events that have happened in Australia and I barely keep up with U.S. news. 

So far, I have met so many people. I can't even count the number of countries, where people are from, that I have met. At dinner, its always a surprise as to who we may talk to. It is such a good feeling to have somebody ask me where I am from and have them actually be interested in what I have to say about my country and culture. Surprisingly, that has been one of my favorite things about this experience so far.. meeting so many different people. It has definitely opened my eyes to the world. Although, sometimes I embarrass myself because I am not the best at geography and I really don't know much about other countries... Hopefully by the end of the semester I will know they speak english in the UK /:

Right now, I think I have the flu. Both Alaina and Jaime have gotten sick while out here and I thought I was going to miss it but I woke up with a fever this morning. I didn't have any medicine in my room so I went to class aching and with chills. After class I went to the school pharmacy and when I asked for Dayquil/Nyquil the chemist just stared at me. They have no medicines here that I recognize. I have never not known what to take for a fever..He finally said I could take Dimetapp day and night but by this time I was already in tears. Once I took the medicine I was fine and my fever went down..I am drinking a lot of fluids and I am going to bed very early tonight. 

This weekend there are a lot of very fun things planned. Tomorrow night is the "Op-Shop Ball" where we have to buy our outfits from an opportunity shop or GoodWill. We went on Monday..I spent $15 on my outfit. I am wearing mustard yellow trousers with a shimmery purple tank with a red grandma sweater. Don't worry, I will take lots of pictures. On Friday, we want to go to Caversham Wildlife Park. This is a park where you can hold a wombat and koala and feed the kangaroos. So exciting! Also on Friday, Currie Hall is hosting "Twilight Volleyball" where we play volleyball against another college before dinner ( I hope I get to feeling better by then so I can play). On Saturday, a group of us are going roller skating (not sure where) and Sunday we are playing 2 more games of field hockey. So its a very busy weekend.. 

I hope I did not bore you with this long post. I just thought some of you would like an update.. I miss everyone very much! Thank you for the comments and emails, they are much appreciated. I'm going to sleep. 

In Time of Desperation

Last night at around 8 o'clock, a few of us were very hungry and decided to make a late night McDonalds or "Maca" run. Those who know me know that I hate McDonalds and would honestly pick any other fast food restaurant over it, but there is no room to be picky (anything is better than Currie Hall food). As long as it's not chicken and rice, I don't care what it is. Lately, I have been eating Nutella and butter sandwiches. We are forced to be creative. I have not yet tried Vegemite but I may have to soon. Today I received a package in the mail from my grandma filled with food (Cheez-Its, Tuna, Slim Jims, Top Ramen). Yum. Thank you Grandma! It was a fun and interesting outing...I definitely know that I will never go to the city by myself at night.. All shops, even target, close at 5 every day. Our advisor told us that even the shop workers are lazy and nobody wants to work at night. In my opinion, they would get a lot more business by just staying open a few more hours.... So even though it was only 8 o'clock the city was pretty empty. 

Tomorrow, Currie Hall is hosting a ball and food is being catered so we are all looking forward to a good meal. Please don't worry about me. I know I have been complaining a lot about the food, but I am eating. Promise! I am not starving myself. I just really miss home cooked meals (& Chipotle). 

We are so happy to be at McDonalds!

OK...This amazed me... This photo is of our cups, sizes large, medium, and small. THEIR SIZE LARGE IS OUR SIZE SMALL! The large is the biggest size you can order here in Australia. I couldn't believe this. They also don't have "power sizes" or anything like that. I was in complete shock at the difference is portions...but a few people here have told me that Australia is a more obese country than the U.S. I would have never guessed that.

This is how they spell favorite. They also spell tire tyre and organization organisation. Kind of funny.

Field Hockey

Yesterday, Jaime, Alaina, and I played field hockey with a few of the girls from Currie Hall. We played 2 games against the other colleges on campus, St. Catherines and Trinity. We felt like we needed to play because the sports rep was having a hard time finding participants, so we hesitantly agreed. We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. None of us had touched a hockey stick before that morning and it was only 2 days earlier that we had even known what it looked like. We decided that it would get us out for the morning and we could say we attempted to play a sport that they play here in Australia. It was a very interesting attempt indeed. We didn't have any gear (shin guards, socks, etc.) but they said it was fine to play anyways. Luckily none of us were hurt (some of these girls were really into it).  Since I don't even know the rules of ice hockey, I don't know if the rules of field hockey are different. All I know is that the stick is much different than an ice hockey stick. The field hockey stick looks like a half candy cane. Instead of a long "foot" like in ice hockey it has a little nub on the end of it... which makes it very difficult to hit the ball. Currie Hall didn't score one run against either team but we had a lot of fun anyways. It was nice because the girls on our team didn't know much about the sport either. We didn't mind losing. We are playing again next Sunday so I will be sure to bring my camera and take more pictures. In 2 weeks we are playing volleyball so I am very excited for that. 

The Day I Finished My Lunch!

I decided this deserved a post of its own. 

Yesterday I

Actually Finished My Lunch and Enjoyed It!

They served baked potato with green beans (with no oyster sauce)! There was nothing special about the potato except that it didn't include uncooked chicken, curry, or some kind of asian twist. I have never been so excited to eat a baked potato in my life. They even had sour cream and chives! I ate 2 (:

Woo Hoo!

More Pics of the Sunken Garden

Jaime didn't go with us to the Sunken Garden earlier so we went again after the clock tower so she could see it. We took more pics

Top of the Clock Tower

I know I know, I said I would post these pictures a few days ago. With school starting this week I have had a very busy week and I haven't had much time. Now its the weekend and I can catch up. 

On Tuesday, a group of us went up to the top of the clock tower. I am so happy we got the opportunity to do this. We could see the entire campus, city, and swan lake. It was a pretty clear day and the view was amazing. It was 22 flights of stairs to the top and as we went higher the stairs got narrower and narrower (sketchier too). The last flight went straight up to the top. The climb was well worth it though.

I took this hoping you could get an idea of how high we were... You can't really see but I liked the picture anyways.

Alaina, Jaime, Wolfgang, and Jake just posing

This is the main city in Perth. I really want to get pictures at night.

UWA campus

This is basically what all of Australia looks like. Everything is green except where there is a city. This was one thing that surprised me a little. I have not been in the "outback" but this is also what Sydney looked like..One minute it looks like your in the rainforest and the next you are in a huge city..

The entire group! Alaina is being smothered (: 

More Pics

Jaime and I in Fremantle.. Not sure what's in her mouth

Alaina and I trying on our new UWA sweatshirts

At UWA there are many gardens where students can go to relax, do homework, etc. Yesterday Alaina, our friend TD, and I went to a garden called the "sunken garden". There wasn't much down there except a few ponds and a small bridge. We decided it was a good place for a photo shoot. 

Alaina and I

Our friend TD
Trying to take an "action" shot but it didn't really turn out. This was also in the sunken garden

Sundial in the garden

I forgot to post this picture earlier. This is what all the hallways look like at UWA. I believe this is a picture of the Arts building.

A Few Pics of UWA

Finally I had some time yesterday to take pictures of the UWA campus (mostly of the clock tower). I know there aren't many but I promise I will take more soon. 

This is the big clock tower that is located in the middle of campus. If you google images UWA campus, the first picture you will see is of the clock tower. You can see it from the city and Swan Lake and is probably UWA's most well known buildings. Today some of our friends said they would take us to the top, so I look forward to that...

The pool located in front of the clock tower. Many students sit around here or on the quad and do homework, hang out, etc. 

Can you find the mistake??? It took me a little while to notice it. Let me know!

This was taken a few days ago..

Also taken a few days ago in front of the library during orientation

Classes at Uni

Today I found out my school schedule. I'm taking Managerial Accounting, Intro. to Finance, Managing Diversity, and Aboriginal History. Fortunately, these classes will transfer and I will receive both LAF and major credits at the UofR. Unfortunately, I have to go to school every day... Only for 45 minutes on Friday's though (: Its going to be interesting because lectures here are only 45 minutes long, 2X at week. These will be held in big lecture halls with approx. 75-200 students each. This freaks me out a little because I am used to lectures of only 25 students at the UofR. Luckily, along with the lectures, we are required to attend 1 tutorial per unit. These are small question and answer groups held by post grad students to give students extra help if needed. I start Uni on Monday and I am praying I find all my classes. Three of my classes are in the Business Dept., which is about a 20 min. walk from Currie Hall...so I not only hope I find my classes, but that I can get there in time too. Jaime, Alaina, and I are going to walk around campus tomorrow and find our lecture halls so we will be good to go on Monday. I will bring my camera too so I can take pictures. The UWA campus is beautiful and I can't wait to show everyone (: Wish me luck! Like always, I am nervous for school to start, especially at a new campus that I know almost nothing about. I am excited at the same time..I love everything about Australia (except the food) and I know I have much more to see and do and I'm ready for the adventure!

I Ate Kangaroo....

Our study abroad advisor told us that we had to try kangaroo today. She said that there are so many kangaroos in Australia that they are more of a pest than anything else and because of this kangaroo meat is extremely cheap. She also said kangaroo meat is one of the healthiest meat because it has almost not fat. I decided that I would try the kangaroo kabobs (: 

Kangaroo actually is very tender and doesn't taste any different than steak...

But I still couldn't help but think of my furry friends at the zoo..

Only 2 Pics

I desperately need to take more pictures of the main city and of the UWA campus but here are 2 pics I took of the city before we boarded the ferry.

Ferris wheel that overlooks Swan Lake. We know this is just a tourist trap but we are going to have to ride it at least once before we leave. 

Bird showing off for us...or drying its underarms!