One month...really?

Not much to report. I figured since I've just passed the one month mark, a new blog entry was in order. I've been going to classes for 3 weeks now and life is starting to settle into a comfortable routine. It's amazing how quickly time flies the minute a routine develops. I remember thinking how incredibly long my first week in Sydney was, and now here I am a month into my time here and I can't recall where it went. It really will be just a second and I'll be back on the other side of the ocean.
So what is my daily routine here in Australia? (Not too exciting, that's what, but I had to write about something!) Well, depending on whether or not I have class, I typically spend my day either on Abbotsleigh's campus or Macquarie's. My class schedule is (very) light--I have class for two hours on Monday and Wednesday nights and on Thursday morning once a fortnight. (This means I can almost always sleep in!) On class days, I take the train to uni a few hours before class begins and spend some time prepping and completing assignments in the library. On days I don't have class, I'll either run errands in one of the nearby villages (Gordon, Chatswood) or find a comfortable place to study (my room, the Wahroonga park, the uni's library) and spend several hours reading (which is all I ever do anymore). I can't protest too much because the nature of the degree means we get to read a lot of children's and young adult fiction. (I've actually just begun reading Peter Pan.) My total assignments for the semester are seven essays, the longest being 3,000 words so, again, I can't really complain.
Outside of school, my evenings are usually spent studying in my room or watching whatever is on one of the two decent channels my TV picks up (I've gotten quite into the Aussie criminal drama, City Homicide) or socializing in the office with whichever resident(s) is on duty. Occasionally, during the day, the Junior School will call to see if any of the residents are available to fill in for a sick faculty member. Last week I was able to spend five hours working in the JS library as the head librarian's assistant was out with a cold. It was a great experience getting to work with a younger age group of girls (and being surrounded by books all day!) and of course getting paid $20/hour was a wonderful incentive. ;)
Spring break (which Aussies just refer to as "holiday" like every other holiday, apparently it doesn't hold the significance it does in the states) is at the end of September and since I have two luxourius weeks all to myself, Sara (another resident) and I are tentatively planning a trip to Melbourne. (And, of course, there will be plenty of pics and videos!)
I haven't been into the city too much since arriving. I think a total of 4 times? The last time was last Friday night when I went on a cruise around the harbor with over a hundred other Macquarie international students. It was absolutely gorgeous being on the water at night. I'd like to go on another cruise once summer rolls around so I can be on the water to watch the sunset. I imagine it's breathtaking. The cruise ended at 10pm so we headed into the city for a few more hours and can I say how incredibly clean the city is?? I shouldn't admit this, but having been in heels all night, I actually took them off for a bit and my feet were no worse for wear. Apparently, Melbourne is even cleaner (I don't see how that's possible) so maybe I'll just forgo shoes when I visit. :)
Alright, well I realize this hasn't been the most riveting of journal entries but I am going to a show at the Opera House this Thursday which I'm sure will give me plenty to write about.
Below are a few of the pictures from the cruise. Enjoy, and please comment or query!

OzFacts

- Hugh Jackman attended Knox Grammar School right down the street from where I live in Wahroonga. I literally pass the campus each time I go to uni.

- It costs around $17 to see a movie in Sydney ($12 if you’re a student) and there's no such thing as matinee pricing or discount theatres. Although, it is possible to attend some theatres on Mondays or Tuesdays for reduced pricing (which means $8).


- Most Aussies watch American TV shows (which get here about a year after they start in America). There are very few Australian shows that are hugely popular.

- Almost every school in Sydney, both public and private, require their students to wear full uniforms (blazers, hats, skirts, ties, you name it, they wear it).

- University students get paid to be students. All students pursuing higher education get monthly payments from the government to spend however they wish. (um, come again?)

- Department store make-up brands (Maybelline, Almay, Covergirl) cost well over twice as much here than in the states (for example: a bottle of mascara is $21). Apparently, the makeup has to be tested here before it can be sold which hikes up the price. Needless to say, I WILL be using Aussie brands for the duration of my stay.

- Australians play rugby, soccer, and cricket, but they also play football (not to be confused with soccer or rugby). The AFL (Australian Football League) is literally in a league all its own and most Aussies just refer to it as AFL (and not football OR soccer) to avoid confusion. It is not, however, in the least bit similar to American football.

- McDonald's is called Macca's by Aussies (and I have yet to try it here).

 *I'll keep the list updated as I continue my Oz quest. Please feel free to comment on any of my posts. I love to hear from you guys!

A walk along the beach

I have finally ventured outside of Sydney proper and visited the coastline. A few days ago, myself and two other residents (Michelle and Sarah) took a leisurely stroll down the "coastal path" of Sydney, walking all the way from Bondi beach to Clovelly beach. Outside of the tame waters of the harbor, I hadn't been near the ocean since arriving in Australia so I was excited to lay eyes on waves and a beachline.
We set out to the Wahroonga train station around 11 o'clock, beckoned by a cloudless sky and warm(ish) weather. Michelle was quickly instated as the unofficial tour guide as she was the only Aussie out of the three of us (Sarah and I both being Americans), and we were off. Our only hitch: Michelle hadn't been to the Great Coastal Walk, as it's called, since childhood. So we hopped on the train hoping that her childhood recollections would resurface accurately and we'd manage to get there in a timely manner. Thankfully, one train switch and a bus ride later, we were deposited along the sandy coastline of Bondi (pronounced BON-die not BON-dee).
Before making the 2+ kilo hike, we wandered through the mini street market next to the bus station and then grabbed a quick lunch at a fish and chips joint (where I promptly lost my sunglasses). There's nothing like fresh fish salted and deep-fried to order and eaten while overlooking the ocean. Make no mistake, I will be back.
Nourished and cameras at the ready, we began our march along Bondi's boardwalk. The coastline alternates between small cliffs and beaches with the beach often tucked up into the shoreline and bordered by cliffs on both sides. The coastline is also fairly rocky and the waves crash beautifully against the massive boulders. We took our time, stopping often to take pictures and cheer on the surfers dotting the water while wishing for warmer weather so we could brave the water, too. Standing there on the little cliffs overlooking the ocean, watching the surfers skim effortlessly over the water and the waves racing in from the ocean and slamming mercilessly into the rocks, made me stop for a moment and think----of The Little Mermaid. (That is actually the first thing I thought of. Disney, look what you've done!)
Honestly, though, what exactly is it that makes one want to wax poetic when encountering the ocean? It must have something to do with the sheer size of it. Miles and miles of blue-green waves rippling towards an endless horizon. It somehow flings your own insignificance directly into your face while simultaneously creating an indelible sense of awe and wonder. The deafening waves and battering winds may cause anxiety or fear, even, while the gentle lap of the waves against the beach or a sinking sun reflected across the surface can bring such peace. It is certainly a place of beautiful contradictions. Perhaps one day I'll be able to afford the six-digit price tag on a house by the sea and have the luxury of looking at it for as long as I wish.
Until then, please check out the photos I took on our trek. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2043363&l=e4de9f3678&id=66600965

More pics!

As promised, I've finally created a photo album on Facebook for most of the pictures I've taken so far. The majority of them are of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge (of course!) but it should give you a general idea of what the city looks like. The link is pasted below. Leave a comment if you have any trouble viewing it.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2043321&l=dab307ece3&id=66600965

Home Sweet Home

Hey guys, here's a short video clip of my room at McCredie House in case you're interested in exactly where I'll be living for the next year. I actually just changed rooms from the one I was in originally since it's a bit quieter and more private. Sorry the video quality isn't the best...it didn't upload with the quality I was hoping it would. Anywho, enjoy!

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Take a look at Sydney

 Video 1: Leaving the airport

 Video 2: At the opera house

Video 3: First sighting of the opera house on the way in from the airport

Video 4: More opera house and Harbour Bridge