Category: Australia Life (2005-2006)

So I got back home safely last night and got some groceries to make a sandwich and headed to bed. It’s good to be home, and I’m glad I didn’t feel sick on the flight home! I checked my grades this morning and so far I have three Distinctions, and one still not posted. So I’m very relieved at that! I’m posting my pictures of the Hawai’i trip so check them out!

Last night marked my last exam for my first semester here in Australia! I cannot believe how time has flown. I mean, in January this year, I was making plans to come here, applying for Sydney University, and thinking of closing up shop in San Francisco. I had my 26th birthday in Vegas, and planned for my leaving my job to pursue this masters degree. It never seemed like it would be here, and now, I’m finished with my first semester! Last night’s exam was the toughest exam, so it’s quite a relief to be done, but an even bigger relief when I see the final marks come out. Tomorrow I leave on vacation to Kauai, Hawaii, to meet up with my best dear friend Rebecca to spend Thanksgiving together. It’s going to be fantastic to see her and get caught up in everything that’s gone on since I’ve been in Sydney. I’m really excited for the amazing scenery that should prove to be perfect photo ops for me!

Today is the day I turn in my last project assignment! I still have three exams left to study for… Nov 10, 15, and 17. Then, I’ll leave for a nice vacation to Hawaii to see Rebecca and her family. I still can’t believe that I’ve already finished my first semester getting my Masters, and it went by really so quickly! But, the good thing about being in the Southern Hemisphere, is the Christmas trees are starting to go up, and it’s getting hotter each day! The beaches are packed! I also recently saw a funny commercial talking about ‘holiday weight in the winter’ yet, there’s no really big holidays in the Australian Winter. Guess they’ll have to watch what they eat during Christmas if they expect to be in a bathing suit the next day!

So today at the gym, I saw a guy wearing a top with the Athens 2004 Olympic logo below the insignia of Australia, which made me think he was an Olympian. So, when he came near me to use a machine, I asked him if he was in the olympics. He was–he’s a canoer. So, I asked if he knew Dan, the rower that was in my class just this semester, who is also the olympian, and he did. How many people out there can say they have met two Olympians! :)

What an amazing Halloween Party! After lots of preparation including makeshift Capsicum pumpkins, streamers, balloons, tombstones, bats, spiderwebs, and candles everywhere, the night was ready to begin! We had our keys attached to a balloon that would be dropped down to the entrance when people buzzed in–and attached were the rules of the murder mystery game we had going. Paula arrived in tow of so many goodies and spent some time getting them prepared. We had everyone to the balcony area (you can see there are quite a few), I had the murder mystery game going, and had a best costume vote, and got to see all the new friends I’ve made since I’ve been here since July. It was fantastic. Chris fired up the grill and we had sausages, great desserts, nachos etc.. being host though, I missed out on a lot of the food! Thanks everyone for an amazingly successful party!

Tonight, I went with my friend Tom to the Missy Higgins and Ben Lee concert over in Centennial Park–it was an evening ‘under the stars’. We brought some food with us and had a great time watching the great show. It was really great. It’s amazing how talented people can be, and the scarier thought, is that they’re so talented and I’m starting to see that these people are younger than me…

Today was the last day of my lecture classes, and it really couldn’t have ended any better. I was dressed in my suit for our final presentation for my Business Communications class–our topic: The Bias against/for Bush regarding the Katrina Disaster. My Cross Cultural Management class professor, Prem, is this amazing Indian woman from South Africa. We were the first group to present early on in the semester and we set a high standard (per Prem’s comments) and we got High Distinction on our presentation mark–the highest in the class. So that set me for a good feeling for the exams. Then, Sneha, a Gujarati friend of mine made me all sorts of Indian food because she knew I loved India so much–so I had that for dinner–It was EXCELLENT! She’ll be going back to India for the summer. Then, in Business Communications, our group went first and did a great presentation, so I finished all my classes with a bang. Just finish exams and then I’m off to see Rebecca in Hawaii!!

My friend Nikola sent me a frightening link the other day–the Colour Quiz. After quickly selecting the colours right when I looked at them (not giving any thought, as I think these quizes are a little lame), out came the freakishly accurate self-analysis:

Needs warm companionship, but is intolerant of anything short of special consideration from those close to him. If this is not forthcoming, is liable to shut himself away from them.

Feels that life has far more to offer and that there are still important things to be achieved–that life must be experienced to the fullest. As a result, he pursues his objectives with a fierce intensity that will not let go of things. Becomes deeply involved and runs the risk of being unable to view things with sufficient objectivity, or calmly enough; is therefore in danger of becoming agitated and of exhausting his nervous energy. Cannot leave things alone and feels he can only be at peace when he has finally reached his goal.

The situation is preventing him from establishing himself, but he feels he must make the best of things as they are.
Very exacting in the standards he applies to his choice of a partner and seeking a rather unrealistic perfection in his sex life.
Preoccupied with things of an intensely exciting nature, whether erotically stimulating or otherwise. Wants to be regarded as an exciting and interesting personality with an altogether charming and impressive influence on others. Uses tactics skillfully so as to avoid endangering his chances of success or undermining others’ confidence in himself.

The fear that he might be prevented from achieving the things he wants leads him to play his part with an urgent and hectic intensity.

Today, I worked at the cafe at the Paddington Markets–I got there at 10am and met the other workers who were tons of fun! I learned the cash register and learned about all the different cafe type foods and the coffees. I did pretty well if I say so myself, but I did make a funny mistake. As a non-drinker of coffee, all the words of the different coffees and such didn’t make much sense to me–like Flat white, long black etc.. One womany came and asked if we served ‘Oyst’ coffee, to which I thought it was a brand name, turned and asked if we served ‘Oys’ coffee.. Everyone started cracking up as it was just a woman asking for ‘Iced’ Coffee. Anyhow, the afternoon went by fast, and I made some good cash, so I’m hoping I’ll work again this Saturday to help alleviate the cost of my Halloween party this Saturday night! Last week of classes here I come!!

Tonight I headed over to North Sydney to Kirribilli Avenue, the street that faces the Harbour from the north side, also where good ol’ John Howard lives. (AUS PM). Rie was throwing a soba party and so I arrived around 6 to an amazing spread of fresh foods, vegetables, and Paula’s AMAZING caramel brownie dessert. Most everyone was from a musical background at the party, so I was a little out of the loop, but there were some randoms there like myself as well. I met some really nice people. The view, as you can see from the picture on the right, was incredible, and you can’t stop looking at the city–I left with Brendon, as he was going to the cross as well, and had quite an interesting train ride home with him–I believe we met about fifteen people on our way home! LOL.