And the detailed posts begin..

So I'm updating..again. I'm going to try to get used to regularly updating since I've never been the blogger/journal keeper/diary writer type. I really don't think I'll be updating EVERY day but this weekend has been slow so here it is!

A lot of people went to surf camp this weekend, but I initially missed the signup because I wasn't feeling well. Close to the weekend the opportunity rose to go after all, but I decided I would instead use this weekend to catch up on everything: start the blog, revise my cover letter, connect with people back home, do some laundry and actually start my paper. I was able to do all but the last. Oh well, I'll just do it later. But that's boring. I'll share what I actually did this weekend to make up for that.

I've been curious to see what surrounds Unilodge (where we're staying) other than George St. which leads to the harbor, so I decided to venture out and go on some long runs out to the more suburban areas. Lots of palm trees and great outdoor weather, but it turns out that beyond the quaint suburbs that lie JUST outside this area, there's not much more than roads of gas stations, low buildings and fast food restaurants. Oh well, looks like Syndey's strong point really is further within the city.

That said, I still wanted to do some more exploring with the free time this weekend so instead of writing my paper (...) I walked to Paddy's Markets, about a half hour away from Unilodge into Sydney. It was absolutely worth it. It was a giant indoor marketplace filled with small booth setups of jewelry, clothing, sunglasses and souvenirs, all for very low bargain prices. Then on the other end of the market, they had fresh produce for even cheaper. I ended up getting some great fruit for next to nothing cost: 4 apples for a dollar, 3 nectarines for 65 cents, etc. All in all a great place to have explored and I'm looking forward to going back again.

I have yet to master the art of finding the right places to get true Amurrrican iced coffee here. I'm determined though, because I KNOW it's out there somewhere for under $3.50 or $4.00. At least that's what I like to tell myself. Still, today's attempt in finding good iced coffee was a fail. After being denied by three stores, I finally found a place that said they did in fact serve regular coffee with ice ("so, not blended, right? just with...ice floating in it?" "YUP!") and it ended up being like a coffee milkshake with ice in it. for $4.50. A small. I wasn't thrilled. Still I have not given up hope. I should just make a blog dedicated to this venture. Well maybe not. That might be as boring as me going on about a paper that's due in a blog that's supposed to be about my wild Australian adventures.

ANYWAY. Now that everyone is back from surf camp, I just got back from meeting up with my friends at Scubar, a backpacker's bar about a twenty minute walk from here that they always bring the surf campers to after the weekend. It was nice to see people again after my Weekend of Independence (that's my twist on it!) and I'm looking forward to next weekend where we are planning to take a ferry trip out to Manly Beach which is supposedly absolutely beautiful.

And because I've been thinking about it today, here is a list I have thought of so far about things that are different here from back home (inspired by Thais's inclinations toward mentioning things that are different in London). Not at all close to complete, I'll continue to add just for kicks:

1) The cars here drive on the opposite side of the road, which I probably shouldn't have been surprised about coming here since it seems as though the U.S. is the only country to do it the way we do. So it's NOT just Europe!

2) Speaking of U.S. always having to be different, the measurements are different here (again, obvious) but I still have no idea when I ask someone how far away _____ is from where I am and they say, "oh, only a few kilometers from here!" ....oh, okay thanks.

3) Of course I would notice this, but the ads here have potential to be ridiculous sometimes. The billboards are way more racy. Example: right outside my window there is an ad for a..love enhancer where the copy reads: "Making love? Do it..longer!" Hmm..what is P.C.? But it's great.

4) Professors are so much more laid back here. Innuendos left and right. And when our Australian Culture professor was telling us when we should come to take our test, we could "come in any time really between 5 and 6. No worries."

5) They say "no worries." I mean the U.S. does too, but here any time you say "thanks" it is answered with "no worries!" It's actually a little refreshing.

6) A bottle of Diet Coke here is $3.50. I am not happy about this.

7) The accents. Given.

8) A pitcher of beer here is a jug. I still say pitcher and I get laughed at. And french fries are chips. And chips are....crisps I think?

9) This is something not everyone agrees with me on it's seemed so far, but the Australian pride here seems much stronger and, dare I say acceptable that it is in the U.S. For example, it is not uncommon to see someone with Australian flags flapping from their cars or someone wearing a hat with the flag on the front at the beach..but in the U.S, if you were to wear an American flag shirt people would pin you as a hick, an Amurrrican. At least, that is my personal observation. Feel free to disagree. But my guess would be that it has to do with the controversy coupled with American politics that doesn't seem to occur quite as strongly here.

10) THE ICED COFFEE IS NOT ICED COFFEE. But I've ranted about that enough that I'm starting to annoy myself with it.

11) They eat kangaroo. 'Nuff said. I refuse to do though, because I think I would just feel so guilty afterwards.

Enough for now!

-Jackie