Fiji Here We Come!!

Spring Break 2009 starts tomorrow, and we are off to Fiji!! 

Since my last update, I have done so much and have been so busy!! I went to Melbourne for the weekend, and we got to see AFL which is the Australian Football its insane, they pretty much combine every sport and don't wear pads, and it is really exciting to watch!! It was the opening night so that was really fun. We also go to see the Formula 1 which was in Melbourne, it was such a cool experience to actually be there, the cars are so fast and so loud!! One of the boys that studied in Miami last semester but lives in Melbourne had his 21st birthday party that weekend too, so a lot of the boys from Sydney flew down also, so it was a lot of fun and celebrating. It was a great weekend. 

We are going to be in Fiji for 5 nights, and are staying on Beachcomber island, which is supposed to be beautiful and a great spot, very popular for spring break! I will try and update my blog a lot more often when I get back ,I have been terrible with it, just so busy!! But I will be more on top of it I promise!

Lots of pictures from Melbourne and Fiji to come, so check back in a week and there should be some updates!!  

Here are some pics from the Formula 1 Grand Prix Race!!

internet down...

My internet has been down for quite some time now, that is why I haven't updated my blog!! Im in the library where there is wireless but I will hopefully be getting it back in my room in the next few days! I have TONS of things to update you all on and some gorgeous pictures to go with them. 

Stay tuned...

First week of classes!

This past week has been really busy. I finally started classes, and it was a strange week since they told us "shop around" for the classes you want and then at the end of the week go in and change your schedule and add or drop courses. So I did exactly that, I went around to a bunch of classes, and figured out which ones I wanted. I am taking three classes this semester: Outdoor Learning in Education (which is great, I get to go hiking and also camping for one night!), Marketing (Consumer Behaviour), and US in the World: Obama's America (which is going to be really tough but interesting). So I have a few courses that I would never even find at Miami and I am excited to not have too much work to worry about, but still be challenged, but have enough time to relax and enjoy Sydney and travel! 

I already have some homework, reading and something to write, but hopefully my classes won't be too time consuming, (but don't worry Dad, I'll be working hard!).

Friday night we went to the Waratahs Rugby game again, we are becoming quite the fans I must say! The games are a lot of fun, and we won so that was a plus! Everyone had been talking about Mardi Gras on Saturday, and we thought we must check it out. We quickly realized it is not like the Mardi Gras we know in New Orleans, but a gay and lesbian parade, so we went to see how crazy it was and experience it once, and I must say, it was 10 times busier than the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, packed with people wearing anything from fairy wings, to full blown costumes, basically anything goes. So we people watched which was fascinating, stayed for a couple floats, then left. Apparently there is a concert that goes from 10 p.m. until 8 a.m. that people go to, which just sounds absurd! 

We were all tired last night but decided to go out with Andrew since we hadn't seen him in a week or so, so went to this place called World Bar where they serve drinks in teapots, it was very funny. So everyone is drinking out of these white teapots, certainly a unique way of serving a drink!

We are going to go shopping a bit today, check out the stores, and we are going to plan a trip to Melbourne for the last weekend in March, so hopefully we will get that booked! 

It is my 21st birthday in a week, I'm getting so old! We are still new to the city but I am sure we will be able to find something good to do next week, and celebrate like we would have in the US!! It is certainly a day to celebrate and I am very excited!

Travels to Brisbane and the Gold Coast

Sorry for not posting for a while, but I have been traveling around up North and had my first day of classes today so things have been busy.

Last Tuesday, we left for Brisbane. There were 4 girls, all of us from Miami, and we flew to Brisbane mid afternoon. I have never experienced less security in my entire life, they never once checked my ID, it was a little strange, and we took liquids and food through security!! Things are definitely more relaxed and there isn't much concern here. The flight was very quick just an hour and a half, by the time we took off we were landing. Once we got to Brisbane, we went to our Hostel called Bunk which was right next to Brian's roommates from Fairfield who are studying in Brisbane for the semester. Bunk was interesting...there were 4 bunk beds in the room, so 4 random girls in there with us, and one bathroom and one shower. Not the hotel room I am used to but for 2 nights it was ideal and very very cheap! The first night we met up with Brian's roommates and went out with them. It was great to see them and funny to see people you know in Australia!

The next day, Wednesday, we went to the Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane. It was incredible. Koala's and Kangaroos everywhere, we literally walked into the area where all the kangaroos were and you just go up and hug them and feed them in a large field. It was unbelievable I loved them! Next, we knew we wanted to take a picture with a Koala, and Brisbane, Queensland is one of the only places you can actually do it, so Beth and I went straight over and hugged and held a koala!! They are so cute, and cuddly, I wanted to take her home with me!! We saw all sorts of animals there, saw some shows and it was just amazing. Such a great experience!

The next day we traveled by train to the Gold Coast, where Surfer's Paradise is and we felt as though we were back in Miami. There was even a sign that said "Miami Beach" so we were very confused. It was gorgeous, beautiful beaches and definitely "surfer's paradise". We found out hotel which was so great, especially after the hostel. It was a hallway with 2 separate doors, one with 2 single beds and a balcony and small living room, and then mine and Beth's had 2 single beds, a huge bathroom, a full kitchen, dining table, couch, and a balcony looking right at the water, we couldn't believe we got it for just $50 a night!! We went straight to the beach after dropping our stuff off, got some great colour, then went out that night. The next day we spent the whole day on the beach and had a great dinner, and then went out for a couple hours again. It was beautiful but nothing more than the beach and bars really, so for a couple days it was very relaxing but I certainly couldn't live there!

On Saturday we traveled back to Brisbane and went straight to the airport, and were back in Sydney by 630pm, and Will picked us up from the airport which was nice. It was nice getting back to Sydney, it certainly feels like home now!! 

We had our first day of classes today, I had Australian Politics at 10am, and that was it, so went and changed my classes and schedule around, and I have a 9am tomorrow morning (Tuesday) but that is it for Tuesday so will be nice to get up and be done with class by 10am! 

I will attempt to post some pictures now...

First week!

So I have officially been here a week now, and it is just amazing! We have been doing a lot of exploring and walking around trying to grab our bearings. My friend Rachel and I walked to the Chinese Gardens on Friday which was just gorgeous, very relaxing and beautiful. We got jasmine tea and had scones with jam and whipped cream, so it was quite a great day! 

Friday night we went to a rugby game! We were cheering on the Waratahs and it was great, we didn't know what was going on, but such an exciting atmosphere and we will definitely be going back!

We are trying to plan a trip up North for this week, maybe Brisbane or Cairns so hopefully that will work out! We just need to actually book it, so tonight we are going to look for flights!!We still have another week before classes start, and then the first week of classes is just sitting in lectures and then the following week is when school ACTUALLY starts, so still lots of time!

The weather is supposed to get better so I am sure we will be heading to the beach if we aren't in Brisbane! I will try and post pictures soon...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUMMY!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUMMY FROM SYDNEY!! Hope you have an amazing day; we toasted in your honor tonight! Love you xoxo

Sydney Harbour and the Opera House!

Today was the first sunny day, thank goodness it stopped raining!! We knew we had to take advantage of it and decided to walk to Darling Harbour and then to Sydney Harbour and the Opera House. It was a really nice walk, absolutely beautiful and we walked a long way and had a great time. When we turned the corner and saw the Opera House and Sydney Bridge, it was real that we were actually in Sydney. They are as stunning in real life as they are in pictures, but it was just amazing to see! We saw people walking up the bridge, and we are definitely going to do that soon. We walked up the 100 steps to the Opera House and the view was incredible. We were all looking in the water to see sharks, but didn't spot any! We took a bus back and then UniLodge (the apartment building that we are staying at) had a welcome BBQ and live band on the rooftop deck so we went to that, got food and it was BYOB as all places are here so had some wine too which was great. 

We went to dinner after because one sausage did not fill us up. We found this great new Italian restaurant near to where we live, and the owners and cooks were actually Italian, and not Asian, so that was a good sign that the Italian food would be legit! They were so nice, there were 5 of us and we sat outside in the back surrounded by trees it was really nice. Will ate with us too, he lives here but did a year at Miami. They gave us free wine and it was a great meal so we will definitely be back!

Last night Andrew, another guy that went to Miami last semester, but lives in Sydney, picked us up and we went to Coogee for dinner. He just got back from his world travels 2 days ago so it was great to see him and catch up! We went to a really good Thai restaurant, again BYOB and a liquor store right across the road so very convenient! We then went to a bar in Coogee and were outside on the back deck, but then it started pouring! 

We are so happy the rain has stopped, it is very uncharacteristic of a Sydney Summer we have been told so we are going to the beach tomorrow, to finally get a tan and enjoy the beautiful Sydney beaches! I am just really loving everything about Sydney, and can't wait to keep exploring!