G'day Mates!

Hello Friends!

I have been in Australia for just over week now and I love the country and the people.

We spent 3 days at a lakeside resort doing a study abroad orientation with about 150 other study abroad students. We took a tour of Sydney Harbor, visited the zoo, and had a surf lesson. The surf lesson was super fun. . .but also a little difficult. I still have bruises from my many attempts to get up J

I moved into my dorm, the International House, on Friday morning. There are about 220 students living in the building. It has a very community-oriented feel to it and so I have been able to meet a lot of people. I think about 40% of the students in I-House are Australian and the rest are from all over the world. Although students from the US make up a disproportionate amount.

I have yet to meet an unfriendly Australian. . .It seems like there might be some truth to the easy-going Aussie stereotype.

I live on a floor with 18 other students- both guys and girls. I was shocked to find out that our floor bathroom is co-ed. It hasn’t been a problem yet, but I did have to remind the boys to put the seat down J

The Aussie vernacular has been more difficult to catch onto then I was expecting. They shorten everything, so board shorts are boardies, sweatpants are trackies, Wollongong is the Gong, and a truck is a ute (as in utility). I usually have to ask Aussie’s to repeat themselves multiple times before I actually understand what’s going on.

Tonight the Uni (or University) is sponsoring a Salsa dancing night. Apparently salsa dancing is pretty popular in Australia. I am very excited to go take a lesson and then make a complete fool of myself with my two left feet.

I hope you are all doing well! I would love to hear what is going on in your lives. We have an internet quota at our Uni, so facebook and my Gustavus email are difficult for me to use. If you would like to email me, my Wollongong address is hboc452@uow.edu.au.

Hopefully I’ll hear from you soon!