An update from the future.

Well that was definitely one ridiculous week.

I wish I had more time to post this week, but I barely had any time to myself. This is really the first time I've sat down and actually attempted to write about anything. So some highlights:

-This University is massive, and has so much money. The whole week before classes they have O-week (orientation week) and all the clubs have tents set up around campus, so I joined Bio club, wakeboard and waterski club, and surf club. Hopefully it'll keep me busy through the semester.

-There are pretty much insane parties every week hosted by UNSW; next week they're bringing in 7 tons of sand and putting a beach volleyball court INSIDE one of the buildings. Yup.

-Regardless of the fact that you can't get into clubs downtown with sneakers since everyone hates Americans, the harbor is amazing to go to at night and walk around.

-Went to the Blue Mountains on Saturday, which was cool but a little touristy for my taste. I was hoping not to be a person that put all my pictures on facebook but now that I have a camera I suppose I might as well.

-I'm probably going to end up looking for a job here since everything is so expensive. It would be nice to have a little extra cash. Australians must love going to America since they'd all be super rich there.

-Having tax included in prices is pretty nice, but when minimum wage is $16 an hour and everything is almost double the price here, there isn't much to be optimistic about.

-I'm still getting used to not using pennies.

I refuse to spend $400 going to the gym here. I'm going to have to be so motivated. Also I've apparently already planned out my 21st birthday. Sounds like its going to be such a long day, ending with going straight from the airport to jazzfest. So there's that.

I still feel like I'm on vacation, but classes started today so that might change pretty soon. We'll see, I don't think I'll be totally comfortable until I get completely settled, that being said I still hate banks. Oh well.

I'm running out of adjectives to describe this country.

This place is absolutely incredible.

Forget the fact that this is the first time since I've gotten here that I've really been able to sit down and even think. I honestly still can't believe I'm here. The program I'm here with had so much stuff set up for us this weekend. We took a cruise of the harbor the first night we got here with kids from University of Sydney and Macquarie.

The next day we took a bus into downtown Sydney and met up for our programs orientation. Then we had lunch in Darling Harbor and took a speedboat tour of the entire bay which was absolutely ridiculous. It was one of those twenty person speedboats that stop on a dime and do spins in the water. Needless to say we got absolutely soaked. It might take me a while to get used to salt water but I loved every second of it. 

I'm really only brushing over everything I've done because I feel like it's too much to even process right now. I still can't believe I'm here. I'm going to start a youtube page because my camera doesn't take great photos, but the videos are awesome. I'll put the link on here when I get around to it. Things are different and my back hurts, but I wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the world right now.

Well I made it.

I did it. Survived the flight, customs, the duty-free store in the airport, all that jazz. Got a ride to my apartment and am in the process of setting my room up. I have a roommate, and am supposed to have another apartment-mate but he hasn't shown yet. Apparently Australians don't like Americans very much. Understandable, but I still have to meet some for myself, that's just the rumor.

Probably won't get to buy sheets until tomorrow, which doesn't really bother me, I can sleep on a blanket. They have a bunch of stuff planned for us, which is really nice because hopefully I'll be able to see the city well on the first day here. More updates to come, I'm going to take a nap.

An update from the plane...

The plane ride is going much better than I expected it to. Probably because I was so tired from the entire day of getting across the U.S. that I slept for ten hours on the plane. Which is kind of awesome. Only got woken up once by a crying baby and I totally forgot to use the earplugs grammie and papa got me until right now. I might try and sleep more but I doubt that will come. I feel pretty good right now. Kind of foolish because I think I bought too much food at the airport because I didn’t know how much they’d feed us, and I can’t bring food into Australia so I’m stuffing my face with trail mix.

I actually have no idea how long I slept. But I know that it’s 2:52am in Sydney right now, and we’re supposed to get there around 7am I think so for a 14 and a half hour flight that’s not too shabby sleep wise. I’m sure it won’t be as easy coming back, seeing as how I’ll be flying during the day. I probably will end up pulling an all nighter my last night in Sydney but that’s four months from now so I’ll think about that when it comes.

When I was figuring out the seats on this leg of the flight, my friend McColl (who is a Bio major at IC too) told me to sit next to her, so I’m in seat 60H, the very last seat in the back corner of the plane. It’s kind of nice actually because there isn’t as much noise (except for the turbines which you get used to) and it’s only a two seat row. But McColl never showed. Which is a total bummer but I thought this might happen, she told me her flights only had like two 40 minute layovers which would definitely get you in trouble if there was the slightest problem. So I’ve got two seats to myself, which for sleeping I’m not complaining about, but it is a little lonely.

 

I don’t think I’ll have a problem with jetlag but you never know. I’ll be posting this when I get to Australia since there’s no internet (or outlets) on the plane. But for now, four hours to go.

Seven hours later...

Well this is it. They're finally starting to board the plane to Sydney. I actually sat next to a couple of Australians on the flight from San Fran to LA and didn't realize it until we touched down. I'm hearing a lot of accents already. Australian and New Zealand as it turns out.

So this is either my last update until I get internet figured out in my apartment in Sydney, or there'll be internet in the plane. Which would be cool. Not really sure how I'm still awake right now. Running on fumes is taking a whole new meaning.

Expected flight time: 14 hours 34 minutes.

A Los Angeles update...

San Francisco

Thoughts on the few minutes I spent in San Francisco.

1) wtf sunglass hut? Done anyone actually need a pair of sunglasses for $500? The cheapest pair I could find were $100. I'll stick with my $12 zumiez sunglasses thank you very much.

2) airport food is super expensive.

3) I should probably get used to spending money

4) There's a lot of asian people in this airport. which I guess makes sense since it sounds like everyone is going to Hong Kong besides me.

5) Every time I see someone my age I start wondering if they're going to Australia.

6) Everyone going to LA is wearing a suit. I feel underdressed

Oh and I think Barack is here. Just a rumor.

Chicago

I’m not very good at traveling. Not because I don’t like flying or anything like that, but it seems like most people are solely focused on getting from one destination to the other, and I like to make friends.

I made it to Chicago though. Pretty much slept the whole flight, but when I did try to make conversation with the guy sitting next to me, his response was usually a grunt or a super reluctant, “uhhh, 10 to nine.” Oh well. O’Hare is bumpin. My problem is that wherever I go I always think I see people I know, so I’m constantly staring at people and then I just look super weird. I guess Chicago brings that out in people (yes Rae, I’m talking about you). Catching the flight to San Fran soon, then from there I go to LA and have a seven and a half hour layover. I might jog around the airport just for the exercise.

I hate not having a phone. Mostly because I don’t know what time it is and I’m going to be so behind on angry birds when I get back.

This is going to be a really boring blog.