Much More Settled... (Week 5)

G'Day!

So I am finally caught up on blog posts and can discuss anything and everything in this one! Here goes the ranting, raving, rambling mess of a post...I'll start with the regular stuff though because this week has been a bit more relaxed and settled in it feels. Week 5 just ended for me being in Australia but it was only week 3 of classes. I am loving it more and more each week! I spent most of the week sick, so I slept a lot and only ventured out a bit. However, I managed to get a little sun which was clutch. Last Wednesday I forced myself to go out for St. Patty's Day.. we all went to Surfers to this bar called O'Malleys. It was packed with green clothes, Guinness hats and green beer jugs! A whole lot of drunkenness at it's best. However the rest of the week was just as festive.

This past weekend (Weekend 5) was great too! A bunch of us hung out one night and went to the  rec room in the village, with super comfortable couches and a big flat screen TV. We watched Life As A House and of course I fell asleep mid movie! Saturday night we were supposed to go to a house warming party in Surfers but Colleen and I lost the whole group and ended up at Beergarden (my favorite bar). It was just as fun and there were three different bachelor parties going on throughout the night. Of course they were all old men that Kiki, Colleen and I mingled with. Regardless it was a quality night that ended in happy meals. That seems to be the trend around here. I've only fallen into the trap twice though, and yes- that is something to be proud of!

There is one new thing I wanted to blog about.. it's the question that every post really answers... it's why are we here? Why am I in Australia? The more we all talk about it and think about it, it just seems unreal. It's like one big dream. I am living in a dorm-like apartment with 4 other people who a month ago were complete strangers to me.  I go out every night trusting the same group of girls to safely come back with me... and one month ago we were all strangers boarding a plane to a foreign country together. It's an unbelievable feeling to be here and think about this. It's amazing and incredible at the same time as it is scary and wild. It's been an adventure and to think that we are all changing as individuals in a group of best friends that really we don't know much about. Just a little reflecting.... 

On another note... Internet here is ridiculous! I mean we pay by the month and yet we are all international students who need Skype to communicate back home, and Facebook to share our pictures and that eats up internet very quickly. The connection is also shitty. It's always in and out, often catching every other word on Skype. I guess it's partly because I Skype every day, however you have no idea what it's like to have a boyfriend on the other side of the world until you try it. Thats another rant...

I really, really, really miss Steve. Just as we really fell comfortably into something amazing, I left. It's really weird how that works, but everything happens for a reason- right? I can't believe we have already gone a whole month with just talking over Skype and BBM but at the same time I picture being here without BBM or Skype and it would be absolutely miserable. Though at first it was really hard to keep this across the world relationship strong because we were both adjusting to the time difference and everything, we have both given up a bit of sleep to be able to Skype because all we want to do is see each other, but we are doing such a great job at it. I really think so. We are both dedicated to each other and in this together and the trust is all that matters. Steve is the most understanding guy, and he wants me to enjoy Aussie just like I should be, and therefore being involved isn't holding me back, if anything its making me try even more new things! I love being here knowing that I can BBM him as something happens and tell him all my stories and that when I am out at night, I have him to go home to talk to before bed! I really believe that being in a relationship keeps me focused on the beauty of Australia, rather than the beauty of Australian men (like most of my friends). I have really learned to appreciate time, and I think it all has to do with this relationship. In just a few more months we'll be back together and I know we'll have every minute together so it makes all of this long distance stuff worth it in the end.


Along with that, I am realizing how much I love sitting in Chi O doing absolutely nothing yet laughing hysterically with Shayna, Fitz, Foley, and Christine. I honestly miss them and Chi O so, so much... which truth be told- I didn't think I would. It's a good break from the URI drama of course, but I am really excited to go back to live with Liz and Smalls down the line in our beach house.. I actually can't wait!! I think it's going to be weird though because once I am back, Shay leaves and I just keep telling myself that she is making it through this semester without me, and I will survive next semester without her too. It's okay cause I plan to send the most amazing packages of course! Also, I kind of miss the usual suspects of 10 Frat that run around causing chaos... it's one of those things you don't think about missing till you aren't around it. Of course, at the beginning of Fall I was just as worried about being at school in a new scene of friends in a way, but it all worked out and now I miss my favorite girls!

SO now for the topic everyone seems to ask me about- Aussie food. Yes, it's different. Every sandwich/burger/wrap has beets and bacon in it. Bacon is more like ham here. Ham and cheese is a huge thing.  They also LOVE sweet chili sauce. It is put on every food. It's good, I bought a jar for when I cook chicken and meats. There is this food though, called a Kebab (kah-bahb) and it's delicious! Comparable to a burrito, but healthier and more delicious. It's heavenly and comes with lamb, chicken, falafel or a combo. You can put any additional food on it as well (lettuce, onions, pickles, peppers, etc). As far as the rest of the food goes, things are a bit different although everything 'appears' the same. Yes, they have McDonalds, and Burger King is called Hungry Jacks. However- these are both healthier than the typical American fast food chains. Fast food here is also called take away (rather than take out). They have amazing smoothies and crushes (icey) at a place called  Boost and they have the best gelato (besides Italy I'm sure). They call ketchup tomato sauce and the grill is the barbie. They have Australian patties and sausages- those are roo meat! They sell crocodile and shark meat at the butcher and you can buy milk in a room-temperature carton. Basically, come to Aussie and you will learn to eat healthy because everything unhealthy doesn't look as appealing!

Other than that- there is some amazing Australian retail stores, and I am learning even more about them through my Australian Retail Marketing course. A general few favorite clothes stores are Supre (soup-ray) and Cotton On. They are cheap(ish) and fashionable. Similar to the American Forever 21 and Express stores. Last week Kiki and I explored a new shopping area, more like a mall, called Pacific Fair (PacFair for short). Though it was a 40 minute bus ride away it was well worth it, with Target, Pandora, Cotton On, and many more! We even got Brita waterbottles (best investment since we got here) that filters the tap water! Other than that shopping is typically not a priority, it just happens around here.

So...for the longest post I've written, the rambling is over now. I'm going to actually get some work done before my busy, busy day tomorrow. Wish me luck!

xoxo