SUNBURN

Well, once again I am on a time limit, so this will not be as long as it should....
The night after we all moved in and got settled (honestly, it feels like we have lived here for weeks not just days) Chrissy, Laura, Caroline and I went out with 2 of our roomates (the 2 who hadnt gone home for the weekend). We went to the pub across the street (where else?) and instantly become "locals". After spending too much time at the "pokies" which are slot machines that are in just about every bar here. Chrissy and Caroline fell in love. I was kinda over them after Vegas. We also had some shots bought for all of us by the bar owner, Micheal- a man as round as he is short. According to Alice, it is not common for guys to buy shots or drinks for girls here, in fact, drinking liquor at all is uncommon at bars. I'm not surprised-- these were legitimately the grossest shots I've ever taken. Anyone who knows me knows just how close I was to throwing up in the middle of the pokie room. After that the night was uneventful except for Laura being a little bit too feminist and SCREAMING at some really rude gross "clown"who wouldnt leave us alone. No worries, Micheal soon told him to leave us the hell alone. Bars here close at midnight with the police storming in every door making sure everyone leaves with0ut a rukus (and because there was a fight about an hour earlier). Thats pretty much it for our first night out in our new neighborhood.

We spent the last 2 days going to the beach, only when we got here yesterday it started to rain. Today however, it was sunny and HOT. I am a color I have never been before I swear. To be fair, we were warned. We laid out for a few too many hours, then Laura and I swam in the "ocean baths" which are possibly the coolest things EVER. The ocean itself has tons of sufers and swimmers, and strong currents, so these are a lot safer way to cool off.

We start O week tomorrow (orientation week) which is apparently a HUGE thing at all Uni's (Universities) in Australia. They have tons of games including beer bingo and other random stuff you would never find on any American University campus. There is even the "bar on the hill" which is our local campus bar. We havent been yet, but it looks like a great place to meet people.

Next Saturday we are going on a boat excursion with the US (it was 20 AUD charged to my tuition-- thanks mom and dad!) and apparently we sit in a net and get dragged by a boat across water until we get to our dolphin outing. We can pet and swim with the dolphins there. It should be pretty freakin awesome. HOPEFULLY out internet at home will be installed by Wednesday so I can start adding pictures here and you can check out how that whole trip goes.

A few random thoughts about Australia...

These are a few things we were told about Australia that I have discovered are in fact NOT true:
There are tampons here
There is makeup here
The toilets do not flush backwards
There is ketchup here
They do not eat completely shitty food- it is actually really similar to America
They do not eat only organic food
It is NOT more expensive to live here
It is not more expensive to do anything here, really. I love it.
There are lots of other things I will remember as time goes on, but it just makes me so mad that we heard so so so many things that were wrong.

Thats all for now! I hate taking so much time between updating this thing because so much happens that I forget about, but hopefully soon I can add stories every day or so.

Until next time :o)