Brizzie

So I’ve been a bit upset ever since I found out that when you get internet in Australia that doesn’t mean that you get unlimited access! I get a 200MB download quota per month and I used that in about 2 days. I think it went so fast because Skype uses heaps of it. Anyway I bought more internet download today and I guess I will just keep having to do that but at least now I know that I have to make it last! Last night m y whole residential college went ice skating which was a nice break from sorting out the not-so-fun aspects of my life haha. I forgot that most aussie’s very rarely ice skate if they ever have at all! I had quite a good time having everyone be so impressed after I told them that I’m not very good! We got back late and I was exhausted. Some of my hall was staying up to hang out but I just had to go to bed. I’m definitely missing out on some of the bonding because I’m so busy with international student info sessions and activities. At the same time, I’m sure I will have no problem catching up. Today was probably the most exhausting day yet. It was a big day for everyone at UQ because it was Market Day—a huge event. Every club and sports team and local vendor was there. I got a lot of free stuff. I ended up walking around the Great court (the main courtyard on campus…it’s gigantic) about 4 times throughout the day, each time acquiring more free things and information. I signed up for a club where you get a card that gives major discounts to all of the clubs and bars that everyone goes to which is very popular. Most of us on my hall got the card. I also signed up for a dance club. Yes I, the uncoordinated Erica Fratz, signed up for a DANCE club! A bunch of girls on my hall did it because it is an amazing deal. All you pay is 2 dollars and that covers the whole semester. Each week there is a dance class for an hour and each week it’s different. I guess I just had so much fun on the first night when union college had dance instructors come and we learned a lot of dances. After all of that I had my “science student day” thing that I attended with a guy in my hall who is also in science. The presentation was cheesy and definitely meant for first year students but I had a good laugh just thinking back to when I watched similar presentations a few years back. After that we had a self-guided tour that was like a scavenger hunt that required answering questions about buildings on campus. Boring but important. Then there was a BBQ but all they had was hot dogs so we made the trek back to the college for lunch there. Then I went back out to Market Day to buy some gorgeous homemade earrings from this nice woman--they were really cheap (2 dollars!). I found out about mobile phone deals and asked about 10 different people about biking and what they think I should do about getting one. I decided that I probably don’t want to do the triathlon training club because they train at 5am 3 times a week and 6am the other 2 days! I’d rather just run, bike, and swim on my own with my gym membership that I want to buy. SO I still have so much to do! Tomorrow in the morning I’m going to the “working while studying” info session for abroad students so that just in case I want to work somewhere on campus I can know what the process is and what jobs are available. I’ve heard that there are some really fun jobs on campus and I feel so guilty about how much money I’ve been having to spend. After that I’m going into the city by bus (my first time!) to buy stuff for my room and some cool fabric for the toga party tomorrow night that is supposed to be legendary. It does make me laugh when I think about the fact that everyone is so excited because it’s their first big party…I still remember that feeling! Okay I want to get the pictures up so this is all for now. Wow this was really long!