Pictures!

For those of you non-facebookers, here is a link to an album I just posted of some pictures from the first few days here....more to come in the near future!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2138788&id=7411464&l=7d2f8

Let me know if that link doesn't work and I can try to figure it out.

Also, I just put credit on my skype account so that I can call landlines and cell phones in the US for 2 cents/minute which is incredibly cheap and convenient. SO, if you don't have skype, you should get it and add me: laura.simons11
I also got a cell phone which I think you can call me on (from skype is the cheapest I think) and that number is +61 0466 566 718..so try it out!

Today was the second and final day of mandatory orientation (even though we skipped the first half today and second half yesterday...oops). We got our list of classes today and on my schedule now (by the way they call schedules timetables here) I have two econ classes, history of ancient greece and a business class. I'm pretty sure I'm going to drop the business class and trade it in for a more exciting class having something to do with Australia. After orientation I just came back to my room and hung out with a few girls from Northeastern and relaxed. I can't tell if I'm tired because of being so busy the last couple days or if it's from jet lag. Hopefully my body will figure itself out in the next couple of days!

As I've been exploring the city and going to various orientation activities these past few days I've started to pick up on the "Australian English." For all of you (and this includes myself) who thought it was going to be easier for me in an English speaking country, you were wrong! Here's a list of just some of their unique vocabulary:

bottle shop = liquor store
tomato sauce = ketchup
timetable = schedule
details = information (as in, write down your details on this form)
how are you going = how are you doing

etc, etc.

It's been very interesting trying to understand what everyone is saying and learn how to not sound like SUCH a tourist when speaking to native Australians. So far though we've only really interacted with other international students who come from just about every country you could think of, with the majority from the US. Next week all the local students come back (all 50,000 of them) and I'm really excited to start meeting people who can tell me all the cool places to go/things to see that aren't in any guide book or touristy brochure.

I think that's all for now. I'll probably be updating this a lot in the next couple days/week or so as I experience new things so stay tuned!