My Bad.....

OK, I'm really sorry for not updating this in almost a month....that's not good...i know. I openly admit that I stink at blogging. It also leaves me in a bit of trouble, because so much time has passed I am having some trouble remembering what I have done over the last 20-something days. I honestly have not been doing many exciting things this month, it's been kind of slow. I've been forced to spend alot of time at school because of homework and midterms. I literally just turned in my final midterm projects about an hour ago, so I'm feeling relieved and ready to relax. One advantage of sticking around campus is that I am spending less money, and I've been getting to hang out with alot of really cool people. I've definitely encountered alot of questionable people here, and I've also encountered some really great people. I feel like I have adjusted to being here pretty well, and I am feeling comfortable with my environment and the people around me. But I am REALLY going to appreciate certain things about home when I get back, like having a car, knowing my way around, and Mexican food.

I would say that one of the best, most exciting things that has happened this month was Malcolm finally getting here!! If you don't know who Malcolm is (her first name is Katie also), she is one of my oldest friends who I've known since elementary school. She is studying abroad on the Gold Coast also at Griffith University. We got to see each other for the first time last Friday.....it was magical to say the least. It was pretty surreal for me to see her here, but it was exactly that familiar comfort that I have been missing and needing. We spent Friday hanging out around my school, going to the shopping center (Oh, and I got my hair cut!) and watching "Friends". On Saturday we headed to the beach for a little while, but it was so unbearably hot that we couldn't stay for very long. By the way, I was definitely that person who had to go sit in the shade because I thought I was getting heat stroke. Looking back on it the whole situation was pretty comical. From the beach Malcolm and I parted ways and I headed back to school to work on papers.

This past Monday we went on an amazing adventure with our Australian friend, Alex. We were all in serious need of a break from studying and papers, and this was the perfect solution. After we were all out of class, we loaded into Alex's car and drove south towards New South Wales, stopping at multiple beaches and lookouts along the way. We even found a 7-11 and got Slurpee's! I was reminded of how convenient it is to be in a car; we got to go places and see things that we never would see taking the bus. Alex knows the area really well, and she was an excellent tour guide. The beaches here are really beautiful, with gorgeous blue water, fine sand, and awesome cliffs. Some parts actually remind me of Westcliff Drive in Santa Cruz. Alex, bless her soul, was also really good about taking stupid tourist pictures with us, which we were very thankful for! The night ended with dinner at a local beach restaurant and a 5o cent ice cream cone from McDonalds (they call it Mackers here). We had such a wonderful time that we decided to make "Mini Roadie Mondays" a tradition. It's only Friday and I am already excited for our adventure next Monday. Alex has been such a blessing; she is so willing and excited to help us and show us around. We couldn't have met a cooler Aussie.

So here I sit, on Friday afternoon, drinking hot chocolate and finally having some time to relax. Tonight us girls are going to a laser maze called "infinity" that is supposed to be really cool....we'll see what its actually like. Tomorrow there is a pro surf competition happening that I am planning on going to, which should be sweeeet! I am excited for March and all of the adventures (like Sydney!!) it is going to bring. I promise to be better about writing these things next month :) Thank you so much for the comments, emails, and letters. It makes me so happy to hear from home. You know whats crazy, I'm going to be home in less then 2 months!! Time is flying......I'll see you soon :)

Zorb, Zorb, Zorb, ZORB!

Alright, I'll just be honest, I always feel really awkward writing the beginning of these blogs. Do I say hello, or do I just start talking? And who am I saying hello to? I don't even know who reads these things. Should I say "G'Day!"? Or does that just sound really stupid and tourist-y, like I'm trying to act Australian? These are all the things that run through my head when I start writing. Probably over-analyzing....but whatever. Anywhoooooo.....Here's an update on what has been going on these past few weeks:

Last weekend we went to the city of Brisbane on Saturday for Australia Day, which ended up being quite an adventure. After about an hour train ride there, we arrived around noon, ate lunch, where I squirted "tomato paste" (a sorry excuse for ketchup) all over myself, and walked around Southport, which is across the bridge from Brisbane. Southport has a huge park, where there was some festival thing for Australia Day going on, and it was cool to explore around there. Then we crossed the bridge into the actual city, where the main street basically consists of lots and lots of shopping (not a good activity, considering my current financial situation). After browsing through some shops we explored more of the city, which is much more historic and beautiful then I thought it would be. There were alot of big beautiful buildings, statues, and parks. We then again crossed the bridge back to Southport to watch an Amazing Australia Day fireworks show (they coreographed it to the "I come from a land down under" song!). After Lindsay, Corinne, Hayley, Lauren, and I went to see "27 dresses". This is where things got a little "dodgy". After the movie got out at 11:30pm we had to hurry back to where we thought the nearest train station was, because the last train back to Bond was leaving sometime around midnight. Ofcourse, we had trouble finding the train station, which was not helped by all the late night Australia Day celebrations going on all around us. We knew the train station was located on the same street as all the bars were on, on kind of a sketchy end of town. To be lost, American, young, and female were NOT good things in this situation. To make matters worse, I was getting a really creepy vibe from that whole area....creepy drunk guys were lurking all over...and the whole area was just out of control. But not to worry, being the competent adults that we are, we found the train station and got some safely, but veeeeery late. It was actually a very accomplished, independent feeling to figure out a city we have never been to before, in a foreign country, and figure out transportation.

This past week of school went by very quickly, actually most of the school weeks go by here very quickly. Not having classes on fridays is magical. The only thing that I'm going to say about school is that I'm annoyed, and slightly concerned, about the amount of work I'm realizing I have. I have a few projects and papers coming up, which I should probably be working on, but I'm finding it really hard to focus on school like I normally do. I mean, I'll get it done ofcourse, but I'm almost surprised to remember that I'm actually a student this semester....because most of the time I like to forget that I am.

This weekend has been a really great one. Thursday we went to varsity tavern with a pretty big group of people; it was a fun place to just hang out and have good conversations, while sampling some authentic Australian beer :) I think that Pure Blonde is my favorite....but it's really the only kind I have had. It ended up getting rowdy, with loooooots of crazy people pouring in around midnight, so we hightailed it out of there.

On Friday we went......ZORBING! (See the video at the bottom of the page, it's of Suzi and I going down the hill in the zorb, sorry there is no sound!) What is Zorbing? I actually didn't know until Lindsay found a pamphlet and suggested that we go. Basically what happens is you get in a big plastic ball (think of that movie "bubble boy"), with water in it, and roll down a hill. Going into it, I had no idea what to expect, but it turns out that Zorbing is amazingly fun! We were all laughing hysterically watching each other roll down the hill in this thing, while chanting "ZORB, ZORB, ZORB!" It was sooo awkward that it was awesome. By far the most awkward part is when you have to enter and exit this thing, through this hole that Corinne accurately described as "the Zorb's vaginal canal". When you get out of it you are literally birthed out onto the ground (the water pours out with you as you plop onto the ground)....sooooo hysterical. I think the pictures describe it better then I could in writing....but we all came out soaking wet and laughing. Infact, we liked it so much, we went twice! The first time I went in the Zorb with Suzi, and the second time I went in with Lindsay and Corinne.....we were sliding all around and knocking into each other. It basically takes away all body control as you are rolling down the hill and slipping around. The boss told us that around Easter they are going to fill the Zorb with chocolate instead of water......we really want to come back for that!

Today (Saturday) we went to a water park called "Wet & Wild" and....well....it was wet and.......wild. I'm actually really upset that I did not get more tan, but it was really fun to go down the slides, pay way too much money for over-priced park food, and float around the "lazy river" for extended periods of time. The bummer of the day was the bus situation....as usual it took us way too long to get there and back....I'm really going to appreciate having a car when I go home! Tomorrow I am planning on going to church in the morning, and then having some serious homework time. I have group projects coming up....and I don't want my group members to hate me.

On a more serious note....I have been struggling alot with missing friends (and family too ofcourse!). I've been feeling it since I've been here, but I think it's hit me hard recently...I hear that the 1 month maker is a tough one. The group of people I hang out with is really cool, and I like them all alot, but they all are here with a best friend from home. Corinne and Lindsay came together; Hayley and Lauren came together; Nate and Bjorn came together. I think it hit me the hardest today when the 7 of us were at the water park, and when we got to the top of a 2 person ride, I had no one to go with. I know this isn't really a big deal....but it was more the meaning of it that killed me. I miss having a buddy, and I feel like everyone else does. I keep thinking about how nice it would be to have someone here, and it's even harder when I'm surrounded by people who are best friends. It's like being a 7th-wheel. Now, I know that this is a good experience and lesson in independence for me, and I know that things worked out the way they did for a reason, but it is just a little lonely somtimes. I'm really hurting for a buddy. I'm not the type that likes to go down water slides alone. But I guess sometimes I have to. I don't mean to complain or whine, because I'm really happy to be here, but this is just how I have been feeling today. If you are the praying type, I'd appreciate any prayers you would like to throw up for that.

Again, I'm missing everyone continually, and thank you so much for the comments and e-mails, I love them!