Adventures.

Sorry it has been a couple days...it has been so busy here! Since my last post I have had a couple exciting adventures.

Swan River

1. On Tuesday we had our first orientation session for the school from 8:30 - 3. The part prior to lunch was a bit boring so we decided to not return after lunch (sorry mom). Instead Julie, another girl from U of I, and I decided to walk down to the river. While at the river, we noticed Jellyfish kept washing ashore so we started playing with them. After asking a local if they stung, which they didn't, he introduced us to jelly fighting. Apparently its a common beach game which entails picking up jellies and throwing them at each other (pretty awesome). The whole jelly fishing experience was amazing. just wading in the Swam River, looking at the vast skyline, and playing with the jellies was a fun experience, it was one of those moments I will remember that made me feel "alive".

Jelly

2. Wednesday we had the morning free so Julie and I wandered about campus and stumbled upon an outside cinema in a little clearing of trees. This is for the Perth Arts and Music Festival but it looked awesome and I cant wait for the starlit movies. After this we went to an international students barbecue where we met some new student, kayaked, sailed, and played bocce. Then returned to Tommy More (my residential college) for A Taste of Australia dinner where I tried crocodile, emu, and kangaroo meat.

3. Yesterday (Thursday) was AMAZING as well. We went on a UWA internationals trip to Caversham Wildlife park and frolicked with so many animals! I got to hop with, lay next to, and eat with some kangaroos. We got to see the Koalas sleeping (which they do for 20hrs a day).  And the wombat...unforgettable. The wombat looks like a big pillow and is adorable. Although they appear to be fatties, they can run up to 40kilos per hour. Overall the wildlife park was amazing and I got some really great, up close pictures. After that we went to Marget River chocolate factory its amidst the vineyards so what better way to spend your day then tasting wine and chocolate.

koala

wombat

red kangaroo

Lastly, the plans for the weekend entail enrolling in classes today, learning to surf tomorrow, and going to good vibrations music festival on Sunday. Everything is great here so far, but school is fast approaching which makes me nervous.

Tommy.

Today marks my second day here and it has been great. i finally got my luggage late last night after it was lost and unpacked this morning. Here is my room:

desk area

bed obviously

and closet area

Everything is really nice here at St. Thomas More residential college (Tommy) and I ended up with a pretty good room. The rest of the residential college is great too. We have two nice, grassy quads, a chapel, and tennis courts (i most likely wont see much of those though hah).  The RAs have been taking us around the city, shopping yesterday and beach today. The weather is SO nice here warm and sunny always.

I have learned a couple monumental things thus far:
-The toilets don't really flush backwards (sorry to disappoint, Aunt Jane).
-Right hand turns can not be made on red lights.
-Minimum wage here is about 20 dollars an hour which explains why everything is so expensive.
-There is no ozone so they only sell SPF 30 and higher
-And lastly, Bogans exist in Perth and we are finding one tomorrow.

Bogan Beginnings.

So, this is it, my last day in the US. I leave today at 6pm and arrive in Perth Saturday at noon. Its going to be a long haul...I hope its worth it!

I woke up today to steve demanding a hug before school (aww) and then came downstairs to see a chore list left by dad (gee, thanks).  Now, I am finishing packing and mentally preparing myself for the (long) flights ahead. I think I'm ready to go, finally.

As you can tell, this is my blog that I will keep updated with the happenings of my new life in Australia. I will post pictures and keep the stories short, sweet, and amusing. If you have an suggestions or criticism let me know; this is my first attempt at a blog...enough said. I hope you all enjoy the name (I find it rather funny) it is from the song "Baby Got Back" in case you aren't familiar. Hehe.

I think that is all for now. I will update when I arrive and am settled in Perth.

Love, Liz

p.s. In case you were wondering about Bogan...it is the joke with the fam that I will not return from Aust. because I will be converted to a bogan (definition found here: #1 http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=bogan )