Muffy Toe

Cairns from the boat.

















A snapshot of my campus- Macquarie University. (Pronounced Ma-cwar-ee)









A crocodile show at the Zoo. The mane never fed him this chicken because he said that it would be enough food for a week.












Me with a camera-shy kangaroo at the Cairns Tropical Zoo.








I can't believe I forgot to put this under Highlights on my last post. In Cairns the Aboriganees told us about these white ants that hold some sort of citrus acid in their rears. And if you touch it to your tongue it tastes like lemon-lime. So, I am happy to say that one of the things I have done while I am here is licked an ant's butt.


First glimpse of Australia after a 14 hour plane ride.











A white kangaroo at the zoo. I think they were ugly and very sickly looking. Not nearly as happy as the brown ones.






Aboriganees doing traditional song and dance. The paint on their bodies represent different elements of the earth like wind, fire, air, dirt, etc.






It's ridiculous how much these things weigh. But everyone should try scuba diving at least once.















Erika and me on the boat ride home from the Reef.









Everyone was very hot at the zoo on Sunday.





Awwww...
Don't worry, mom, I wasn't sunburned, it was just extremely hot that afternoon. The sun in Cairns is much more harsh than in Sydney. I wear gobs of sunscreen everyday and I haven't gotten burned yet but the freckles are so dark on my face now that I hardly recognize myself.













My bathroom and closet on right with a huge closet of double door mirrors on the right.








My little house! My room is in the upstair in the back right corner. The downstairs right window is the kitchen and the patio opens into the dining room. We have another patio and sliding door downstairs on the other side of the house that opens into the den.





My little room.








Yesterday was orientation. I think I have most of my classes nailed down and I might have an interview with Shell next week about an internship. I also got my student ID card, my health care card, and my cell phone is being mailed to me. Tomorrow I'm going into the city with some friends (my first bout with public transportation!) and the next day the university is bus-ing us all out for an orientation party at Manly Beach, one of the biggest and most popular beaches in Sydney.

Did you know that if you're an Australian and you don't vote in an election you get fined $55?

Cosette- I haven't heard that phrase over here. But they do say "how you going?", "no wah-ees" (worries) and "g'day" ALL the time. And everyone here uses nicknames (or terms of endearment, I guess) even with strangers or in a professional setting. Everyone is "dah-ling" or "mate". Overall, I think it's a much more friendly and laid-back society.

This post has taken forever and I really need to do laundry. Hopefully you like the pictures and they come through. Sleep well , everyone!
Mich

Thanks to all of you for your comments.

I'm now officially unpacked and it feels wonderful. Today I spent lots of money setting up my little room and stocking my fridge with pasta, bread, turkey, frozen veggies and fresh fruit, english muffins (I don't think they have bagels here) and cream cheese. I adore my little house and room- so new and roomy. Much more like an apartment or house than a dorm. My roommates are really great as well. Two of them are a little older than me and two are just my age. They are all girls I met briefly in Cairns and are sensible and very nice. Erika lives just up the street. I will post pictures as soon as I can get my laptop online somewhere. Right now I'm in the library.

The Village (where I live) is across the street from the university, which is very hilly, green, and beautiful. Ducks roam across the streets and there are tons of trees and little lakes. The buildings look old, but are spaced out nicely.

I went to the mall today which is on the other side of campus. It is HUGE but very convenient. I got some stuff at Target, Bed Bath and Table, and Woolsworth ("Woolies" or "The Big W" as everyone here calls it.) I nearly ran over 50 people today. It's so hard to remember to walk down the aisles on the left, that the up escalator in on the left, to walk down the sidewalk on the left, etc. You can always tell if the person walking towards you is Aussie or American by which side he is walking on. The students are allowed to take shopping carts to the Village so Erika and I loaded our purchases into one and hauled everything home. Unfortunantly the afternoons here are very hot, we had to climb three large hills, and the cart had a severe tendency towards the right. We thought we were going to die on that last hill. We were so glad to get home. I will be walking a TON while I am here which I'm actually happy about. The weather will be getting cooler (60 is the lowest I hear) and the campus is very pretty. Lots of pick-up rugby and frisbee going on today even though school hasn't started.

Tomorrow is orientation all day and classes don't start till Monday. We're hoping to go into the city and to the beach on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Figuring out the bus system should be interesting.

It's funny to hear commercials and announcements because at first you think it's a recorded voice and then you remember that everyone here talks like that. It still takes me by surprise.

Other highlights include: the free kettle and tea that came with our house, a rabbit on our porch this afternoon, and finding a wireless coffee shop in the mall.

A few more notes:
Lauren W- I have not tracked down my cell phone but hopefully will have it by this weekend.

Alex and Krista- Sorry the updates are so few and far between. Things are busy and it's been inconvenient (and expensive up till now) to get online. My roommates are hoping to install wireless into our house this week.

Bailey- Thanks for all your comments, girl! I just love hearing from you. Let me know how volleyball is going. Do you think you will play again in August when I'm home?

Granddaddy- I found the first Australian Starbucks in the mall near my campus today. I am proud to say that I am refraining from coffee because I want to save money to travel. (we'll see how long this lasts...)

Walt- Radio Music Theater when I get home.

Faith- if you run into loads of money then you should come stay with me. There's plenty of space in my room for an air mattress. =)

Lauren L- You were meant to be Australian, my darling. You just belong here. I think you should "swing by" on your way to Italy.

I will write more to the rest of you later. The librarian is pushing me out the door and my cute American accent isn't getting me any leeway. You are all fast asleep right now and I am off to COOK some dinner. Sleep well everyone!
Mich

Hi Everyone! I'm sitting in a little pizza/coffee/internet cafe in Cairns right outside my hostel. I wish I could writ hours and hours to each of you because I have so much to say but unfortunantly only 30 minutes online. I'll finally get to my apartment in Sydney tomorrow evening so you can expect more regular updates in the coming week. Thanks to Mom for keeping everyone updated. Reading y'alls comments made me smile and laugh outloud. I lvoe you all.

The flight over wasn't nearly as bad as I thought. I was able to sleep and it went by so quickly. The people here are soooo friendly, sarcastic, funny, and laid back. Everything is very green.

Some quick highlights taken from my journal:

-Serious, old-looking man in Houston airport wearing yellow SpongeBob cap and old man in Dallas airport train wearing purple velven top hat.
-after each meal on the plane the flight attendants walk down the aisles saying "cup 'o tea?" (Amy, it was straight out of My Fair Lady!) You put your little mug on this little paddle, they pour it and then you lift it back off. The flight attendant seemed plesently surprised that a young American wanted some hot tea.
-Customs lady says, "Ohhhhh, you're a Texas girl!"
-Everything is on the left, not just driving. I have to remember to walk down the sidewalk and the staircases on the left also.
-Two hour boat ride to the reef was fun. Scuba diving was awesome, just the experience of it. The guys were so nice and hilarious. I was scared and had to force myself to do it but I am so glad that I did. Everyone should try it at least once.
-Millions of non-poisonous jelly-fish around the boat. They were clear with 4 little purple cirlcles on their backs- very beautiful actually.
-Aussies love opposites and sarcasm and one of my leaders said that she doesn't know a single redhead here who hasn't been nicknamed "Blue-y." Something to look forward to I guess...
-Food here is good, but I didn't know they ate so much curry. I thought it was only India, but curry is a huge Aussie food.
-Today I threw a boomerang. I was going to throw a spear too but ran out of time. (We visited an Aboriganee cultural center.
-Also, I fed and cuddled with kangaroos and held a little koala bear! The zoos here are gorgeous- so green and lush! And they are more like adult petting zoos.
-I didn't know it was going to be so hot here. It is extremely hot and we are constantly sweaty.
-Tomorrow I get to Sydney and I am so excited! Pray about who my roommates will be- there are so many kids here just to party. I've met one girl, Erika, who I love and we have a lot in common. We will at least be in the same complex so that's good.

That's it for now. I will be more detailed in my emails and phone calls with each of you once I get a little more settled. I'm off now to go and relax by the city "Lagoon". There is no beach here by the dock so the city built a public pool/fountain/park/picnic spot - very cute. I will post pictures as soon as possible.

I can't finish my first post without saying thanks to Mom and Daddy for letting me have this experience and for seeing that it will be good for me, not just fun. And to Dad Ford for his work ethic and for valuing his children's and grandchildren's education. If there is one person I know who has had an easy and blessed life and does not deserve this beautiful adventure, it is me. May God give me the grace to use this time for His glory.

Love to you all,
Mich