February 28, 2008 Clean Sheets!

Today was nice and leisurely. I slept in had lunch and then headed off to my lecture at 2:00 I came back went shopping with friends were I found some cute dresses to wear to go out. I am trying to do the more girly less sporty thing but it is definitely not easy. After a very leisurely 2 hour dinner, we had to do some voting for open positions on the Executive committee I spent the rest of the evening watching American television. It’s now 9:45 and I’m back in my room for the night. Most of my friends went out to the Uni bar but I just didn’t feel like pasting on a smile and dancing tonight. It was a mellow day and I didn’t want that to change. So I’m catching up on letters to people, emails and blogging J The picture is of our sheets in the hall. I woke up stripped my bed and left the sheets in the hall andlike magic when I came back after class I had new freshly laundered sheets folded ready to go. The only thing to make that scenario better would have been if they were on my bed already… but I’m not complaining! It’s great!

February 26,2008

I had my politics class again today and then I also had the Making of Australia and intro to Australian Media. I accidentally went two hours early to the media class and I walk into this 300 person lecture hall full of Asians I swear I was one of about 10 people that wasn’t Asian. This kind of made me question whether I was in the right place because stereotypically this class should be full of Americans. After I figured out I was wrong and left I killed 2 hours by going to the campus club fair. I didn’t really have desire to join clubs but I did want to see how M.U’s Christian club responded to my questions and what /how they treat the Fresher’s and what kind of pamphlets and advertising they hand out.

February 25, 2008 First Day of Uni

Today I had my first classes and Macquarie Uni. It seems like I have been here so much longer than one week. Today I had Australian Politics in a Global Society ( AKA Intro to Aussie Politics) I spent the afternoon doing laundry and trying to get my timetable worked out so I could fit everything in, in as few days as possible so right now I have Fridays off and I have the potential to be able to skip Thurs. and Mon. So I can take a super long weekend. We had dinner and then we got together a pick up game of soccer which led us till dark. We (ie my friends and I) Hung out at the picnic tables in the courtyard and then we decided to go for Pizza so we ended the evening picking up pizza at a really dodgy (sketchy) Domino’s.

February 24,2008 Sydney Bike Ride

I went on a four hour bike tour of Sydney this afternoon which was nice to see the sights but long, and I'm a tad saddle sore. Becuase I had to be in Sydney at 2 and it is about an hour bus ride I decided to take this opportunity to visit Hillsong Church. Which was an interesting experience. It is amazing the difference perceptions of Hillsongs from the US compared to that of Australians. Or at least the Americans/Australians that I have come in close contact with. You just can't think of it as a "normal" church... Which gets me into what does that mean. Why do we think the way we do it is right? Church today and church 30 years ago looks very different and no one says that the church of 30 years ago wasn't really "church"... Just some thoughts. I bought a ticket (Which is refundable at concert) for the Hillsong Live Concert where they are recording for their next Album... (Yes I put that in just to make Becka and Briet Jealous:)

I came back to school (It was a fiasco trying to get back on a bus system that pretty much shuts down on Sun. evenings + me not knowing the bus system) And we had a movie/picture show of our O-Week. Where I found out that my team won the Scav. Hunt (Which is a big honor within the college :)

February 23,2008

We started out the day with Block Wars. We divided by residence hall and then played capture the flag. However instead of tagging people we had eggs and were pegging eachother. My team won again :) I have a huge goose age (well actually a chicken egg) on my leg from where a guy pegged me at close range. But so much fun. This is the area where we had our fight. I actually took the picture later in the evening when we I went for a walk because I wasn't willing to let my camera get egged. I spent the afternoon cleaning my room and playing a trivia game. Where I had to race to eat vegimite with three others. Lets just say I got my butt kicked. That stuff is so so NASTY it is pretty much like taking a salt dispenser off the table and just pouring it straight into your mouth. That is one australian custom I just can't embrace.

February 22, 2008 FELICITIOUS FRIDAY

We started the day of with the Block wars. Our college/ residence is built in 4 different blocks that are all connected but considered separate. So we had sport between us. We started out with a soap toss then moved on to tug o war and then spoon and egg races and then finally we finished with soccer. Where apparently the college got its first taste of how intense I am… They are all way intense also but they don’t expect it from a girl so it was fairly amusing. Then we went Op-shopping Which when I asked what the rest of the word was when referring to Op I was told it was Opportunity. So like thrift stores etc. for the harbor cruise which has the theme of Wild Wild West. Where come to find out Australians are not politically correct AT ALL. The costumes were extremely interesting all very stereo typical and you would be shot down if you wore them in the USA. It was a good evening. I feel like I laughed a majority of it but that was because I was laughing at all my fellow RMCers that had taken advantage of the Open Bar. But wait the cruise was done at 10:30 so what do we do… Yep the tradition continues we ended the night at the pub. I did learn some very interesting Australian and Pakistani songs on the way home because why not sing in your own language as loudly as possible J

February 21,2008 TRULY BREATHTAKING THURSDAY

We had a late pancake breakfast which was good minus the fact that Australia’s pancakes are like dense crepes not light and fluffy. Then we all trekked down to the outdoor pool on campus were we spent the afternoon in sport competition with the other residence colleges, DLC and MUV (MUV is the housing that was built for the athletes during the Olympics I believe) Sadly our hopes of winning were dashed but we had a great time. They ended off the day with Water Polo which I have never seen in person before. It is INTENSE I have some sweet photo’s though.

February 20, 2008WICKED-GOOD WEDNESDAY

Sadly I couldn’t participate in the Beach Crawl pretty much the main thing I wanted to do because I had Orientation L I would have skipped it but the whole I didn’t know what my classes were thing made me change my mind and be responsible and go. This photo is at our weekly all college dinner where they give us info etc.We ended the evening with oh wait what is that yes another night of drinking at the Ranch which is the closest pub.

February 19, 2008 TERRIFIC TUESDAY

Today we went on a Scav Hunt and obviously you and I would call it a scavenger hunt. But not in Australia the land of shorten every word because why say the whole thing when you can need half.
We spent the day doing crazy activities all through out Sydney. The first activity was that one member of your team had to have their hair cut like an old man. This is three of the guys who did it.
I did a lot of the talking to random strangers because my group already figured they thought Americans are crazy so why not just reinforce the stereotype. I gave a random guy a wedgie ( I asked first and I am kind of awkwardly laughing and he is like where are you from and as I am laughing I’m like Ame-ri-ca) and I asked some random smokers to have a dance off with me. It was great fun. I however didn’t participate in the RMC tradition of nudeness, I swear anytime these people can take off their clothes they do. In the middle of China town about 25 students stripped down to their skivvies and ran up the street. Odd I know. They ended the night with a pub crawl. But I stayed back at school and watched a horrible early 90’s flick about teenage computer hackers on rollerblades (however it was still better than the crawl)

February 18, 2008 MAGICAL MONDAY

Today we played more sport… ie soccer and poison ball which was fun we had an all fresher meeting going over the rules and etc. it has been pretty laid back but the schedule for the week is pretty jam packed. We ended the night with a scavenger hunt where someone had to skull (chug) 2 litres of Whole milk, eat cat food, and drink 4 raw eggs. Oh an you can guess who didn’t do any of it J But I was right there cheering and encouraging my teammates. We finished with a Foam Party. It was pretty exciting there was a kiddie pool which was used to shove people in and buckets and a machine producing high amounts of foam. This picture is from afterwards, I couldn’t get any photo’s during the foam because I was thrown in the water so many times it wasn’t safe to have a camera. I know someone took pictures because I saw the flash as I was being dropped so if I can I will get one of those to share J

February 17, 2008

I slept in till like 11 which was a tad late because I awoke and found a schedule saying I had stuff to do at 10 but oh well. Maybe they should have slipped that note under the door earlier. So yet again I walked into the cafeteria to find seat but this time it was all fresher with their parents so I just picked a table. I sat with a really nice family. Then I set up my internet and used my spare time on that. At 3:00 I had an all dorm meeting which was great because I got a chance to meet everyone and my dorm has like 25 fresher and there or only like 30 fresher in the whole college so it is great because they are even more awkward then I am. And I made friends quickly because everyone had on there I am here to meet people face J so it went great we played soccer, which apparently I pronounce wrong ;) and then had dinner and went to church. It was a commencement service so it was really nice and what else is there to do on a Sunday night so after church we got changed and went to a pub. Yeah it seemed a little odd to me also. But I have come to the conclusion that not only do I not have the desire to drink but I also can’t afford it which is a good thing. But it was a good time at the pub but a little weird to go there straight from church. Though I have come to the conclusion that Australians dress up way more than I do…. So thongs (yeah they still call flip flops thongs) are not acceptable dress in pubs and you need to not wear like tank tops so I am kind of screwed in the outfit department. Luckily I through in one pair of closed toed shoes. I didn’t have my camera with me till I got back to my room so this is a shot of my unpacked room. You would think with all that original free time I would have gotten settled in but oh no J

February 16,2008

We flew from Marochydore to Sydney where I was dropped off at the college where I am living (they call dorms colleges) I got to my room, unpacked a little then I went to dinner. I just sat down with random people and then after dinner we went our separate ways and I had the whole evening by myself, for those of you that have spent anytime around me you know that is not my favorite thing to do, so I read for the evening and then called it an early night, like really early I was awoken by welcome people which was a tad embarrassing because it was so early but there was absolutely nothing for me to do, I couldn’t use the internet because my account had to be set up during office hours. It was a tad rough but I just focused on the fact that more Fresher (that is what they call first years) were joining me tomorrow. This picture is sort of random but I figured it would give you an idea or as the Aussies say idear of my reading

February 15, 2008

We went to Fraser Island for orientation. I didn’t know that so I got a double dose but it was still good the island is about 100kilometers long and we did a different section and I got to be in Lake Mackenzie again so it was great. We ended the day with a presentation by an Aboriginal group that does native dancing, and we were able to ask them questions about what it is like being an aborigine and all about their culture. It was great. The red water picture is from fraser Island and it is 100% pure it has just been colored by some tree ( I forget what) and that tree is making the different shades of red and brown.

February 14, 2008 What better way to spend Valentines Day then with Snakes and other Reptiles

I started off the morning of orientation with surf lessons in the rain. It was great I was able to get up and you just wanted to be in the water because the water was so much warmer than the air. We then finished our Valentines day off with Australia Animal guy who brought in snakes, a croc, birds, opossums, and did a presentation for us.

February 13, 2008 Meeting up with My program

I met up with my IFSA- Butler orientation group. I sat in the airport for a couple hours waiting for everyone and then I just started getting out there and introducing myself. I met one guy/ already knew him from Chapter Focus Week Last may in Michigan with InterVarsity. He goes to Case Western and is doing his study abroad in Australia also. We drove to Noosa to our orientation site and then we spent the afternoon in the ocean. While it was pouring down rain. Here I am at the airport with all of my luggage ready to start a new chapter in my life.

February 12, 2008- Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo

We drove from our beach site in Mooloolaba to Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo which was AMAZING! It was one of the coolest things we did. We both got to feed the elephants and we saw a show at the Crocoseum with the crocs, birds flying all around, snakes… etc. It was really neat. It rained almost the entire time we were there which was a bother, but also a blessing because it kept the crowds down. It is amazing to see the vision that Steve Irwin had, and his legacy continues through the zoo. We had to leave before seeing everything because we had to return the campervan. We took a cab to our hotel in Brisbane and then we went out to dinner in China town/ of downtown Brisbane.

February 11, 2008

We had a leisurely morning and then we drove to Mooloolaba to spend the night. Were it continued to POUR for the whole night. This is a picture of me taking out the trash and emptying the toilet box. You can faintly see me running through the water on the window. I am in my Swimmer ( ie swim suit) to do these jobs because it was raining so hard my clothes would have just been drenched. We also took a leisure stop over in Rock Hampton to go to the Capricorn caves which is a limestone cave system that has had almost no human disturbance at all. The have a sanctuary area that is amazing they are like .01 or .001 off of being perfect acoustically it was AMAZING our Guide played Amazing Grace with a professional child singer (it sounded like the child from Across the Universe) and then Hallelujah which was Phenomenal.

February 10, 2008 My 20th Birthday!

I spent my 20th birthday on Fraser Island which is beautiful. It is one of the world heritage sites with it’s famous/ and beautiful Lake McKenzie pictured in the background. It is an 100% sand island and the water goes through 2 reservoirs and takes about 100 years to come through the sand to the surface so it is beautiful fresh water.

In the background is our four wheel drive bus that we rode all over the island jumping sand rocks and fording pretty large creeks.

February 9, 2008 Diving on the Great Barrier Reef

We took a boat (large boat) out to a pontoon boat that was situated on the reef where we got to transfer to another boat that was glass sided so we could see the entire reef (well at least that little section) and fishes with out actually getting wet and then Jennifer and I went our separate ways. I went diving on the Reef which was PHENOMNIAL!! We went down about 6 k or so I think it was about 40 or 50 feet I don’t really know but “sadly” we didn’t see any sharks (oh bummer) but we did see some Huge fish and I got to hold a starfish in my hand. While I did this Jennifer got a massage and then we went snorkeling and we finished off the day with a trip down the water slide into the water. It was a majestic day!

February 8

We spent this day catching up on laundry and just took our time driving down to Airlie beach where we needed to be for our next day boat tour. We stopped at a pineapple plantation and macademia nut farm. Which was actually more depressing than anything else. It is one of those tales of it use to be thriving and a total tourist destination and now they have an owner that doesn’t put any money into it and things are just broken down, not maintained and dieing to the point where the big pineapple will be no longer. And from the looks of it that is the only thing the area has going for it so it was a tad depressing. Though I did get to see a Dingo up close (which is like Australia’s version of our wolf.)

February 7,2008

Jennifer and I rented a Moke (Which we incorrectly prounce it Mokey) which is one of the original forms of dune buggies but have since been retired and this island bought them up and still use them for the tourists and the locals. Another great day of viewing the water but not going in because of the stingers.

February 6,2008

We spent a good portion of the day driving to Rockhampton so we could make our way to Townsville. We took a long break and went to the beach which was seriously about 100m off the main highway so we had lunch and this is the view from our beach location. We didn’t get to go into the water because of the Stingers (Australia’s way of saying box jelly fish that if they sting you it will probably kill you) So we weren’t quite willing to take that risk for a cool down in the water.

February 5, 2008

Pretty much the sweetest location ever! We spent the night with the back doors open so we got to listen to the waves crashing in. It was pretty much amazing!

February 4, 2008 Bundaberg Rum Factory

We spent last night in Marybourough and then got up and drove to Bundaberg the home of the Bundaberg Rum Factory. It is the only factory in all of Australia (maybe the world) that gives tours. It was very interesting to see all that goes into making rum. Did you know that in Australia Rum is required to sit in wooden vats for several years before it is allowed to be sold. So let’s just say rum production is not quite a get rich quick scheme. Also the Australian government takes 2/3 in taxes of the rum price.

February 3, 2008 - The Great Luggage Escapade

Finally Luggage. We decided to drive back to Brisbane to find our luggage because Qantas told us they would probably loose it again so we lost a day but this was what we drove by so it was still pretty spectacular views.

February 2, 2008 First Day Down Under

Landing in Australia, After and eventful flight we got to Brisbane minus all of our luggage but we got there. This is our first day. We spent the night in Noosa Heads We went out to dinner and I tried Kangaroo for the first time. (It was on Jennifer’s Pizza) It was an eventful dinner because one our clothes were smelly because we had been in them for so long because we had no luggage and two because a lady at the next table had an allergic reaction to her seafood and the paramedics had to come and take her away all the time while we were eating dinner.

Historical Monsoon of course what is a vacation without a Natural Disaster

Last night, was our last night with our beloved campervan. We had an ocean view but didn't reallly get to enjoy it because it was raining pretty hard. But oh well we sucked it up we are from hearty stock. Todays agenda was to visit Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo. Which was wonderful and there was no crowds because of the crappy weather. We got to feed the elephants and hold a Koala and pet a Kangaroo with no lines. We were just dripping wet. We then returned the van and got a hotel in Brisbane where we proceeded to turn on the news to find out it wasn't just a little rain. If we hadn't had put in a 12 hour day of driving on Sat. We would not have made it back to Brisbane in time for me to meet up with my group and Jennifer to fly out because the road (There is only ONE) was flooded in several sections and the town next to the one we stayed in (the one Jennifer wanted to stay in) was exacuating all of their caravan parks.... So We were blessed to not be stuck. Or as also we saw one of the overnight boats we contemplated going on had hit the reef and washed into an island and all 30 of the backpackers had to be air lifted of the yacht. So Just wanted to let you know if you hear the weather we are fine just a tad damp. Though I am heading back to the "Sunshine Coast" with my group tomorrow though I believe most of it was suppose to pass by tonight.
So thus sadly ending the vacation part of my month and starting the "school" part. (Though I guess it is more Orientation then School.)
Love you all, and Hopefully when I get to school I will be able to get all those missed photo's up :)
Julie

More of an Update

It is crazy I found internet twice in one day! So a little more detail. I had a wonderful B-day we celebrated on Frasier Island which was spectacular and the first time we were able to be in the water since being in Australia. Everything North of Bundaberg has Box Jelly Fish Warning... Which the box jelly fish is pretty much invisible and its sting is lethal So we weren't quite willing to take that risk. There were signs every where that pretty much said, poor some vinegar on it and hope for the best! Not quite the "adventure" we were looking for. Today we stopped at a pineapple plantation and just relaxed. Tomorrow we are off to Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo which is a little eerie because all of the brochures make it look like he is still there which we all know he isn't. But I am looking forward to it. Then we return the camper van and spend the night in Brisbane and then I meet up with my IFSA Butler Group. Which I am excited about but also a little nervous just because it is another chance to go into a large group of people and not knowing anyone. Oh well we will see what happens :) Miss you all and I will try and post pictures as soon as possible!!
Love, Julie

Another Update

So we have now been in Australia for 12 days and have seen and experienced so much. We took a daytrip out to the Whitsunday Islands where I got to go diving on the Great Barrier Reef then we drove 12 hours switching off every two to Hervey Bay, Where we took a day trip to Frasier Island which is a huge Island made 100% of Sand. It was pretty spectacular. We went in the lake were you can see all the way to the bottom because the water is so clear.
Well my time is out for now.
Love, Julie and Jennifer

G'Day From Australia!

So I most definetly have a picture for each day but finding internet is not so easy here. So I will update with pictures once I get to my dorm and don't have the little clock counting down at me!!! :)
Jennifer and I are having a great time the Camper Van is going wonderfully. Last night we stayed beside the beach where we left the doors open so that we could look directly out onto the water and listen to the waves crashing in! (Pretty Much the best night ever) I have already taken 4 Gigs of pictures so No Worries they will be coming.

Lets start with the flight........ Oh man Why can't a vacation ever start out stress free. For the sake of time lets just say there was delays my 5:00 flight left at 8:45 and I got to SFO with about 20 Min. before my flight to Sydney Left. Jennifer was already there so I called her and all she said was RUN!! SO with my Laptop in my messenger bag and a fully loaded camping backpack that stood above my head I took out running through SFO with Crocs(not such great running shoes) it was probably about 2 miles by Jennifer's estimate. When I got there my lungs were burning!! I got on the flight and My heart was pumping so fast it was intense but I made it!!! So we get to Sydney and catch our connecting flight to Brisbane Uneventful Tight but ok... and we get to brisbane and oh wait they have lost my luggage oh and not just mine Jennifer's also!!!! So we decided to go on because they actually had no idea where it was.... So We drove to Noosa Heads and Spent the night which was nice and beautiful and then we woke up and Qantas told us they had found it but it was in Brisbane and it would probably get lost again so we drove the 2 hours back because by then we NEEDED clean clothes We had been wearing the same thing for like 2 days (not so nice) If i didn't like the shirt i would burn it!!!
We then drove about 6 hours each day stopping at beaches and doing fun things. (I only have 8 min) left so we will leave it at fun things and then Today we got to Townsville where we took a ferry to Magentic Island where we hung out at the beach and drove a Moke (its a car from the us that was like the original Dune Buggy that they don't use anymore) It was fun !!!
Lets see It is really warm about 90 degrees or more plus humidity.. The drive up to townsville is kind of like driving from WA to CA with lots of different climates and landscapes!! And oh the Joy of Jennifer Driving on the other side of the road and in a bus no less (pretty much)
Thats it i am out of time
Love, Julie