I think time speeds up in Australia?!

Hello all! So I know its been ages since I’ve last posted.... coming up on two weeks and for me it only feels like two days! My time here in Australia is just slipping away. Its already mid semester here, which I can hardly believe and I have had schoolwork out the yang. One paper due last week, and two more this coming Monday, none of them short mind you.... My shortest assignment is a 300 word abstract, which ironically is turning out to be the hardest to complete. All-in-all though, school has been good. Nothing really to complain about too much!

Balancing out the other side of the scale however, I have been having some fun. Don’t worry... I didn’t come all this way JUST to study! ;) Australians like to have a good time, and like I’ve said before, they really just work when it suits them... You could really find something to do any night of the week, but my friends and I have decided that just on Monday’s, Wednesdays and Fridays are we going out. Mondays have really been a thing since we got here. Every Monday, the pub next door to our apartment building, has good specials and after 10 pm they have a really good DJ. It doesn’t get too wild, seeing as its a Monday, but it is still a good time. A great way every week for everyone to get together and see each other. Last night was particularly fun however, the Irish threw a house party. During my stay here, I have become great friends with a group of Irish people, who are amazing. I know what you’re thinking... he’s traveled halfway round the world to be best friends with the Irish? Where are the Australians?... a question I have frequently asked myself. Being in the city its hard to meet a lot of locals, because they go home. Living in an apartment building with a bunch of International students makes it a lot easier to make for friends from Germany, the UK, and for me... Ireland, but I digress. Anyway, so the Irish had a big house party and we all had to dress up in something orange, green, or white, (the colours of their flag) or all three. When I heard dress up, and that there would be a prize for best costume, I was bound and determined to win it. So Claire and I headed off to savers, which is like Goodwill here. I had a rough idea of what I wanted, but what I found was gold! I walked out of that store with orange polyester pants, a 1960’s plaid green wool suit jacket and green stockings all for $15. So I turned the pants into shorts and put the green stockings on under them. I wore a white collared shirt and the green over coat with black dress shoes. I looked completely outrageous, but it was a pretty freaking awesome costume. So we head out and get to the party. The walk down the road was hysterical, everyone looking at me, but when we get there, needless to say, I was more Irish than the Irish. So, by the end of the night, I was chosen winner by the masses and collected my prize of Irish goods. It was a fun night had by all!

With it being mid semester and spring time for that matter, our spring break is coming up next week. We get two weeks off, Sept 20-Oct. 3. I am pretty stoked about it too, because me and a couple of friends are going to New Zealand. After much research and finding a bunch of different tours, we decided to just road trip it. We have rented a car from Christchurch, NZ and are touring the South Island, then hopping a ferry and Touring the North Island. It has turned out to be the best way to see the most for the least amount of money... and being the tight, cheap person that I am, I am even more excited. We have booked our flights and our hostels, as well as the car, which by the way is a sleek 2002 Nissan Sunny, which looks like it jumped straight out of the 80’s.... I think, due to its stunner looks, could be the reason it had “model year 2002” in big letters right under the picture, because at first I was like “I don’t care how much more I have to pay, I am NOT getting in that thing.” Then I looked at the year and more pictures, and although it isn’t the nicest looking car, it will do its job well, and it gets good gas mileage. Needless to say, I can not wait for this trip to get here. And for those of you who may be saying, “why is he going to New Zealand when he’s in Australia” I have three things to say.... Just google New Zealand and you will see how amazingly beautiful it is, Lord of the Rings (need I say more), and I have a trip planned to Sydney for mid October. :D

Besides the whirlwind of activity that has been the past few weeks, there isn’t much else new. The weather has been nicer lately, but the rain showers have been more frequent. The other day, I was walking back from class and was excited to see the sun... I even took off my jacket, because it had really warmed up. I got back to my place and dropped all my stuff. I then went to open up the balcony doors to let in the fresh spring air and much to my surprise, slash not really surprised anymore, it was POURING rain. Rain which only lasted ten minutes and the sun came out, but still... really?! It is not uncommon for it to do that 3-4 times in one day. Again, the weather here is on crack! I have also come to find out that it is the wettest and coldest it has been here in like 20 years, which naturally is my luck. I couldn’t have gotten here when it was Hot and in Drought? I am just thankful that the weather is starting to warm up now.

Other than all of that, I am just trudging along. Trying not to blink, because another day goes by. I know that I will be ready to go home come November, but for now I am just trying to cherish every day! Hope all is well with all of my readers! Until next time... no worries!