Travel, Oz, Love.: North Gong Beach, Out on the Town, and Always A Home-Cooked Meal

G'Day Mates!

Today was pretty sad so far, because lately all I've been doing between the agony of studying for finals (I HAVE 5 (FIVE!)), I have been watching Game of Thrones (almost at the finale), running, and trying to figure out items I might sell/give away before I leave. Barely any human interaction has happened lately... In addition, I just took down all of the developed pictures from home that I had hanging around my room. It hit me hard afterwards that I really am leaving in a mere 18 days.

O-Week, which marked the commencement of UOW orientation was very exciting. A full week of activities, festivals, meeting people, and the parties that occurred in the night that mentors had no knowledge of, only us new residents! The festivals occurred near the duck pond lawn, I won a t-shirt from a skydiving company when I rolled dice and got them matching, and also free speakers and other stuff. Our photos were taken in the IT center for our student photo ID's, and mine came out pretty good for once...maybe it was a sign! Signed up for the ultimate frisbee and ski/snowboard club (which would only host parties for the session I wil be hear, the snow season I will end up missing...unless of course I decide to last-minute stay here forever). Don't have to be too much of an active member to get notification emails about upcoming events and parties! Took a picture with Erin where I wore full snow gear and went on her shoulders, it came out hilarious and people would vote on it later in the year for us to win some gear, a set of ski's, or a snowboard.

SO many people have dreadlocks as a hairstyle here, I love just observing people and not to generalize but they typically seem the most down to earth and just good-natured people.

At the beginning of Uni, I started having a problem with my eye and I think it was irritated from the sunlight/sand from being at the beach a lot. I went to the doctor, (paid about 60 bucks just for a consultation!) and turns out I had a Minor Ulcer there! Was put on steroids and antibiotics and it was gone in no time. This keeps coming back up. One time last summer I played Ultimate Frisbee in Wildwood New Jersey with a makeshift eyepatch for a full 2 days because it was that sensitive. I scored some points too! It was quite the experience and test of my body's will-power and balance haha.

Orientation carried on per usual, but all it attempted to do for me was confuse me even more about what I wanted to see and where I wanted to adventure to first/spend my hard earned work money on. For example, there's a few 9 day/9 night excursions for spring break - New Zealand or Australia which both costed around 1900 excluding flights. Too many options is the true problem! I booked a trip to Blue Mountains for a weekend in March, which costed around 350.

During O-Week there was also an epic and massive pool party in UOW's olympic-sized swimming pool held at their recreation center. There was a GIANT crocodile blow-up float that was an obstacle course you had to get through while people were constantly spraying a jet stream of water on your body as you went through, in effort to knock you off. I got through 3 times and this little boy kept showing us up he was a master at it (who kept asking to cut in front of me, and of course I had to let him he was only about 5)!!! I must have tried out this obstacle about 8 times it was addicting...I kept having to hold on to my strapless top in fear it would fall down but luckily all went smoothly. Regret not bringing my camera for this one but it's probably for the best considering my camera is not waterproof!

On Tuesday nights, there's a mexican diner called Amigo's that everyone goes to for 3 dollar tequila shots and tacos. Don't worry mom and dad, you cannot forget that it IS legal for your daughter to drink here; the same daughter who has obviously never had an alcoholic drink in her life before Australia! Since my 21st birthday is on a Tuesday as well, and nothing else seems to be happening Tuesday nights, chances are we'll end up there!!! Vegetarian/bean tacos to celebrate my womanhood yay!

Well it's getting late and this was just a quick break from studying, so I shall bring on the photos: