Coming up- this week!

Just a heads up!

This week we are taking a behind the scenes trip to ABC television (not to be confused with the American ABC channel) this one stands for the Australian Broadcasting Corportation which we've been learning about in our Mass Media class. That's our field trip on thurs morning, then we're also going to the Zoo on Saturday with our Program director Pascal (say it pass-kal) --the most amazing short man who i'm like 90% positive is the weirdest most adorable person we've ever encountered. His full name is Pascal Durr.. aka P.Durr bahahaha. He wears these weird sunglasses with a leather jacket over printed T-shirts and skater shoes with brightly colored laces. Be jealous. He lives on the floor above us and Bess and I are determined to find him and older slightly more matronly version of Avril Lavigne for him to marry and have mini-Pascals with.

^meet Pascal- he's obvi the fabulous man on the left^

Just the thought makes me all fuzzy inside :]

I can't wait to hold a koala/ baby kangaroo baby style at the zoo and i will take lots of pictures don't worry! Then on Sunday we're going to a "footie" game or rugby game as we call it.. should be a really fun time.

I'll post more soon!

*I*

SURF CAMP WEEKEND

Where to begin..

So Friday started off pretty uneventfully since it's the one day a week that we don't have any class [thank god] and everyone was generally pretty stoked about heading off to surf camp that evening. But then, Joe and I [you'll here more about this fellow later] figured out that we had never received a confirmation email like everyone else and spent an anxious 2.5 hrs running around like chickens with their heads cut off trying to see if we were going to be able to go.

I was ready to sob cry/ hyperventilate/ throw a hissy if I didn't get to go. Luckily for Mitch [the surf camp guy who organized everything, also the love of Bess' life] things worked themselves out and we made it onto the bus minus the tears/tantrum. Phew.

^meet Joe- he's basically the Situation mixed with Pauly D.^

After a roughly 3 hr journey we arrived at the Southern coast in a place called Gerroa which has a gorgeous view over 7 mile beach. (hint hint that's where we surfed). However, little did we know surf camp= actually camping.

I'm talking like hostel style 6 person cabins that smelled EXTREMELY questionable and whose sheets/ linens probably haven't been washed in a while, if ever. If you know me at all, you should know that the closest I get to "roughing it" is like when I run out of triple quilted tp and have to use single ply. So this was basically my hell. Also, since Bess and I are basically attached and have no other female friends in the BU group so far.. we ended up rooming with Drew, our Senior RA (also a USF alum and asian- so he's obvi chill), Peter who you met in a previous post, and 2 complete strangers.

Let me introduce you to Elmer and Jason.

Bess and I literally shared the double bottom bunk curled in the fetal position both nights because we were possibly scared for our lives. Not really, but maybe definitely most of the 1st night.

Saturday we actually sat down and had a conversation with Elmer, a 30-something businessman from Austria [yes, like the sound of music] who is totally the sweetest thing alive. After dinner he taught me how to do the Vienna Waltz. Most amazing moment of my life. :]

^me and ELMER :]^

But Jason... oh lord. Possibly mute because I didn't hear him say a single word the whole weekend! I could not tell you one thing about the man. He also came on this surf camp adventure trip all by his lonesome.. which is 1-really sad and 2-really fucking weird.

Not gonna lie I'm still terrified of him.

But the surf instructors.. OH SWEET BABY JESUS. the "director" of the camp is this guy named Shayne, or Shayno... and when they split us into groups our instructors turned out to be 2 of the hottest Aussies ever. Christian helped me a ton and was super sweet and although he's married [TOTAL BUMMER] he was SUCH good eye candy. Same can be said for 22 yr old Hayden- minus the married part- although he was a little crazy he had a Bangin' body. yumyum.

My ultimate fav however was Matt who helped me pick out a surf board both days, sweetest young thing ever, only 18 but he is a beautiful baby. Too bad I don't like them young :] ha

^surprised matt hahaha^

We also had a little girl helping us out who is only 17 and hasn't passed her driver's test yet but is the best longboarder in all of Australia.. Nbd.

Must be nice..

^L->R: Matt, mustache man, Shayne, me, Paul, Bess, Hayden & Christian ^

Side note- wetsuits are probably the world's most uncomfortable item of clothing ever invented. Although they did keep us semi-warm, mine kept unzipping until Christian jerry rigged it somehow to stay closed for more than 5 min at a time.. Bess' somehow had a hole in the crotchal area and made it extremely painful to walk and she's pretty much hobbled at this point since she wouldn't let me ask for a new one! Silly girl! Putting them on for our second session on Sat was the coldest/slimiest/ most awkward experience of my life. I felt like a little penguin in mine.. looked like it too [see photographic evidence at top]

But the actual surfing part was totally amazeballs. I actually stood up a bunch and when the waves weren't smacking me straight in the face it was pretty relaxing. If I had the time/ access to the ocean I would totally do it more often. However, contrary to popular belief surfing is WAY less glam than everyone makes it out to be. Wetsuits are basically the least chic outfits ever and there is definitely none of the fab hair and brazilian bikinis that are always being put on the posters for these things.. false advertising for real.

Shayne gave us some suggestions for places closer to Sydney to go to and I think Bess and I are gonna plan a short weekend getaway to try surfing in a different area one weekend maybe in September or October. Gerroa is in a seriously amazing location- in between a kind of countryside and beach town. We checked out the "Fisherman's Club" before dinner on Sat and got some great photos of the surrounding area!

^standing! :]^

Today Bess and I practically RAN off the bus when it arrived.. or crawled would probably be a more apt description, seeing as every muscle in my body is screaming in extreme pain/ soreness. I've never been so happy to see a familiar bed or have my comp/ wifi in my whole life! I don't think I'll make it to the gym for a few days since I can barely roll into my bed tonight but it was worth it. Lots of memories to look back on and laugh about

^Gorgeous views^

We're also working on finding the boys and inviting them to Sydney one weekend.. we'll see how that goes..

I'll keep you guys posted.. more soon..

*I*

Pretty Bashik Man

So I'm gonna fast forward a little since I haven't the time to sit down and blog about everything from the last week I'll give you a bit of last night :)

^the girls^

It was our first night out-out like high heels and tight clothes etc etc. Bess and I were thoroughly excited :] Vincent (my lovely USF exchange student who is back living in Sydney) came over with 3 of his roommates, Rhys, Ben and Ranga-aka Paul.

^Ben, Ranga, Rhys and I^

A note about Ranga, they call him that because he's a ginger and therefore like an orangatang. They make more fun of gingers here than they do in the states! I didn't even think that was possible. But the boys were tons of fun and we got in the fastest game of wine pong ever because our security guard is the strictest person on the planet and apparently we're not allowed to have guests up in the building past 10pm (male or female). Hi...ummm I didn't know I live in a convent lol. We need to make friends with him PRONTO.

^Vince and I :]^

We went to World Bar, which is apparently poppin' on Thursdays and it was so fun! They're thing is to have a whole list of "teapots" which are basically a teapot filled with a mixed drink that you then take in little shots (very fast I might add). The most amazing flavor was "fruit tingle" :] so yummy!

^this is a close up of our teapots- it was long island ice tea flavor^

Also made friends with most sassy gay guy ever when we took a break from dancing to sit out on the patio. He is amaze and totally flaming and he claims he's going to "ring me" so maybe I've found my Aussie GBF?

Fab.

^Peter^

My other BFF from the program Peter showed up too as well as my roommate Danielle who is so chill I really appreciate her. All in all the night was a huge success and today we leave for Surf Camp! Hopefully it won't be as frigid as I'm expecting it to be.. i loathe cold water!

Ciao for now,

*I*

Its Always Such a Struggle..

Hey guys,

So i decided that I should probably document the fun stuff that happens over the course of the next semester. If you weren't already aware i'm studying in the BU Sydney program from now until Dec 1 so there's plenty of time for trans-Atlantic shenanigans! I guess i'll start with the beginning..

On the 15th I flew out from ABQ to LAX.. we had a stopover in Vegas and guess who I see getting on the plane and who ends up sitting directly behind me in the plane? CSI actor Kevin Weisman.

Not the cutest little man, but hey, I rarely celeb spot so I'll take what I can get. He was actually super nice and called goodbye to me as he exited, remembering my name correctly, so props to you Kev.

Anyways I get to LA and turns out my flight [orig supposed to leave at 1030pm] was CANCELLED. This wasn't too bad bc the ticket agent saw me about to hyperventilate at this news and promptly switched me onto an 1145 flight and transferred my bags without any overweight charges. Score. However, i was supposed to be in a group flight with other people in my program and having no idea how to find any of them.. and really not in the mood to be social [i know GASP] i spent the next 8 hrs in the airport watching episodes of Criminal Minds.

best show ever.

Also, did I mention that this flight replaced our direct flight to Sydney with a 4 hr layover in Auckland, New Zealand? Peachy. So after a just lovely 40 hours of travel time we arrive in Sydney jet lagged and disgusting. Lets just say I did not travel well this time around.

But I'm finally here and I'm living in the cutest little place ever! All 3 of my suitemates are totally fun and normal which is a welcome relief after the G-town disaster that was this summer. Bess is the one I've been spending the most time with- she's a junior at UNC Chapel Hill and totally chic (see the photo below)--but I won't bore you with any more for tonight.. I'll have more exciting things to talk about after this weekend and I'll tell you about my first few days here--- expect karaoke, harbor cruise and shopping show and tell---

cheers,

*I*