The Land of Aus

Enter AUS, a world of color and sunlit brilliance. The beaches never end and the water is sparkling blue. Flowers of magnificent shape and color line the roads and the walkways. Car's drive on the opposite side. Bats are 3 feet long. Spiders the size of mice with legs like bent wires spin webs in every garden. It truly is a wonder.

I have never seen a place like this. The weather is different. The atmosphere is different. The way people treat each other is different. As far as the weather goes, it is pretty unpredictable right now. Most every day has been about 35 degrees (Celsius that is!) from the hours of 11-3 and then faded off to a pleasant 25 or so. The funniest thing is, we've had more rain in the last few days than we did in California before I left. It dumps down like a shower. 2 seconds outside in that is the most liberating, wet, refreshing feeling of your life. 75 degrees and raining on the beach mid day. It doesn't get any better.

The atmosphere is relaxed. I think that is the best way to describe it. No one cares. About anything. Want to go to the beach? Oh sure. How about shopping? Why not. There is no sense of urgency or a strict time schedule at all. Even stores close at different times of night every night because they feel like it. You may get in one night at 7:30 and then see that their closed the next day at 6 for no other reason than because. It's very cool.

I can not even explain all the wonderful people I have met. Everyone is extremely friendly, even when I tell them I am from the US. So far I have only had one person really resent me for being American. It's interesting how some people really blame you personally for the last 8 years of the Bush regime. There is nothing you can do, they just don't want anything to do with you.

I was in a hostel for a few days here. I didn't have a room, like I said, so I slept on floors and open beds when people were passed out drunk in their friends rooms. All of the room mates that came through Brittney's flat were very nice. There were a few Canadian boys, a Norwegian guy, and some Korean girls all in the last few days. Also, our friend Austin's room mates were these really nice guys from down south in Australia who offered to show us around Surfers Paradise where we were staying. It was so fun walking around the streets and going into all the cool shops. There are a lot of interesting styles and such around here.

One of the nights in the hostel I thought we might go out but I passed out early and ended up missing it. The next night we were also going to go out but it started dumping rain and I wasn't really in the mood for a wet outing. The NEXT night we decided to stay in and drink with some Finnish kids who we had met in the lobby. We grilled Kangaroo (which is extremely chewy) and made shish-kabobs with some bell peppers and pineapple. They were delicious. It was pretty fun except for the American-hating Canadian girl sitting a table down from us. She went a little crazy and started telling us how we were closed minded Americans and disrespectful and rude and loud when we hadn't even said anything to her OR made any loud noises on the deck. It was fairly ironic how she was calling us closed minded JUST because were were Americans. Needless to say it was an interesting night.

Yesterday we FINALLY found a place to live. Me, Brittney, Austin, and Brandon (all Chico State students) came to the Metro on Central and got separate rooms so that we could try and meet as many new people as possible. I got a room with a really laid back Dutch girl and a really funny Iranian guy. He jokingly gave me crap about being American ("you aren't going to shoot me, right?") and then made us dinner. It was a very relaxing night for all of us.

Today I had orientation at the campus. It was SOOOOOOO long. There was a lot of talk about being safe. Apparently people get mugged a lot and girls get their drinks spiked with numerous different things on a fairly regular basis. There were a lot of basic safety tips and emergency numbers to call. It was kind of scary to be honest. After they freaked us out, there was a presentation about traveling around the country. I think I am going to book a trip to Sydney and see an opera if it isn't too expensive. I want to go to a lot of different places. Apparently it's not too expensive if you take the bus and stay at hostels or book flights early. I want to go to Melbourne to see my friend Anna and her son as well. It would be nice to see a familiar face.

Basically it's been fun. I am really tired from trying to get everything organized before school starts. I don't know where to go to get food and other supplies for my room. I am definitely going to have to figure that out before I starve. I miss everyone very much. I have been talking to Jordan a lot on Skype, which is great, but it is hard to see him right there and not be able to give him a big hug. I have also spoken to my parents and some other friends as well. I really appreciate how loving and supportive everyone is being.

I think that through all of this, I'll be able to make my way down this yellow brick road with the help of my wonderful friends onward into Aus. :)