G'day!
I was going to try to keep myself up last night by writing my first blog post but i didn't quite finish. I was so exhausted and fell asleep at 815.
For those of you who are unaware, I am studying abroad until June at the University of Wollongong in Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. The picture up there ^ is the Wollongong beaches. This is my obligatory study abroad blog. Enjoy!
It's weird being the one actually studying abroad finally. A lot of my friends have gone already and I've been waiting for this for so long. When Katie went to Copenhagen it was crazy for me to imagine because I was at school doing my normal thing while she was off having crazy adventures. But now I'm the one half way across the world and I can't believe I have the privilege to do this. (Thanks Dad!)
First off, I spent the first 4 weeks of the Lehigh semester at Lehigh! I had a blast. I wasn't just sitting around all day, I did do some research on the impact of cyclical temperature changes on geothermal energy piles. But it was AMAZING not having homework! Aside from the occasional data I had to graph in excel, once I was finished doing research for the day I was free! Then I had all night to go to the gym (I went to the gym almost everyday, which was an accomplishment for me), go out to dinner and hang out with my friends. I had so much fun. I am particularly glad that I had this time to say goodbye to my senior friends who are graduating while I'm away. I am going to have some serious FOMO (fear of missing out) here although I know I will be having fun in Australia.
Katie didn't seem nervous at all when she left for Copenhagen but I was freaking out a little bit when I had to say bye to my parents (and Kita) at the airport. After the 6 hour flight to LA, I couldnt believe there were still two more flights. ( I went from Newark to LAX to Fiji to Sydney). I sat next to a girl from Sydney on the way to Fiji and she told me about all the bugs and giant spiders and snakes that come into houses in Australia. Great. Fiji seemed very nice from the cute little open airport, so I think I'm going to have to go back there. However there was no wifi so I couldn't talk to anyone until I got to Sydney, at which point I was so confused about all the time changes and what day/time it was at home. Time change is crazy to me. I just skipped Feb 19 this year. (Oh and theres another Friday the 13th this March woo! So exciting).
Got a ride to Campus East, (about an hour from Sydney) where I'm going to be living. At 3 i realized that I hadn't eaten anything since my breakfast on the plane and was starving. I met a few people, ate dinner, tried to stay awake, but then failed and went to sleep.
Here are my first impressions of Australia:
I'm going to get hit by a car because I'm gonna forget to look the opposite way.
The names of their towns are harder to pronounce than Pennsylvania names.
Aussies are so nice, but they curse a lot.
People walk around with bare feet and I love it.
Lots of guys have long hair.
Its the complete opposite of back home where it was too cold and dry… its hot and too soggy, I don't think my towels will ever completely dry. But I can't really complain considering the frigid temperatures at home.
My first two meals in the dining hall were way better than Lehigh ever was.
Speaking of Lehigh, I thought people drank a lot there….they seem to drink a lot more here.
I live in a single, but share a bathroom and common area with 4 other people. Three of them are guys…which I wasn't expecting but I'm sure I will get used to.
Australian words:
mossie = mosquito
cossie = bathing suit
tucker = food
Today, the plan is to go to the mall with a girl I met named Alana (she's Canadian, gotta love Canadians!) and her friend to get some supplies, and a new sim card so I can use my phone! I've felt so weird without being able to use it the past 24 hours. Oh- the reason I can't use my phone yet is because they don't have free wifi here!!! You have to buy internet connection to connect with an ethernet cable in your room. After the mall, we're going to check out the beach. My dorm is right across the street from the beach!
Orientation starts tonight, and there are lots of activities this whole week. I'll let you know how thats going in a few days!
I was going to try to keep myself up last night by writing my first blog post but i didn't quite finish. I was so exhausted and fell asleep at 815.
For those of you who are unaware, I am studying abroad until June at the University of Wollongong in Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. The picture up there ^ is the Wollongong beaches. This is my obligatory study abroad blog. Enjoy!
It's weird being the one actually studying abroad finally. A lot of my friends have gone already and I've been waiting for this for so long. When Katie went to Copenhagen it was crazy for me to imagine because I was at school doing my normal thing while she was off having crazy adventures. But now I'm the one half way across the world and I can't believe I have the privilege to do this. (Thanks Dad!)
First off, I spent the first 4 weeks of the Lehigh semester at Lehigh! I had a blast. I wasn't just sitting around all day, I did do some research on the impact of cyclical temperature changes on geothermal energy piles. But it was AMAZING not having homework! Aside from the occasional data I had to graph in excel, once I was finished doing research for the day I was free! Then I had all night to go to the gym (I went to the gym almost everyday, which was an accomplishment for me), go out to dinner and hang out with my friends. I had so much fun. I am particularly glad that I had this time to say goodbye to my senior friends who are graduating while I'm away. I am going to have some serious FOMO (fear of missing out) here although I know I will be having fun in Australia.
Katie didn't seem nervous at all when she left for Copenhagen but I was freaking out a little bit when I had to say bye to my parents (and Kita) at the airport. After the 6 hour flight to LA, I couldnt believe there were still two more flights. ( I went from Newark to LAX to Fiji to Sydney). I sat next to a girl from Sydney on the way to Fiji and she told me about all the bugs and giant spiders and snakes that come into houses in Australia. Great. Fiji seemed very nice from the cute little open airport, so I think I'm going to have to go back there. However there was no wifi so I couldn't talk to anyone until I got to Sydney, at which point I was so confused about all the time changes and what day/time it was at home. Time change is crazy to me. I just skipped Feb 19 this year. (Oh and theres another Friday the 13th this March woo! So exciting).
Got a ride to Campus East, (about an hour from Sydney) where I'm going to be living. At 3 i realized that I hadn't eaten anything since my breakfast on the plane and was starving. I met a few people, ate dinner, tried to stay awake, but then failed and went to sleep.
Here are my first impressions of Australia:
I'm going to get hit by a car because I'm gonna forget to look the opposite way.
The names of their towns are harder to pronounce than Pennsylvania names.
Aussies are so nice, but they curse a lot.
People walk around with bare feet and I love it.
Lots of guys have long hair.
Its the complete opposite of back home where it was too cold and dry… its hot and too soggy, I don't think my towels will ever completely dry. But I can't really complain considering the frigid temperatures at home.
My first two meals in the dining hall were way better than Lehigh ever was.
Speaking of Lehigh, I thought people drank a lot there….they seem to drink a lot more here.
I live in a single, but share a bathroom and common area with 4 other people. Three of them are guys…which I wasn't expecting but I'm sure I will get used to.
Australian words:
mossie = mosquito
cossie = bathing suit
tucker = food
Today, the plan is to go to the mall with a girl I met named Alana (she's Canadian, gotta love Canadians!) and her friend to get some supplies, and a new sim card so I can use my phone! I've felt so weird without being able to use it the past 24 hours. Oh- the reason I can't use my phone yet is because they don't have free wifi here!!! You have to buy internet connection to connect with an ethernet cable in your room. After the mall, we're going to check out the beach. My dorm is right across the street from the beach!
Orientation starts tonight, and there are lots of activities this whole week. I'll let you know how thats going in a few days!