Wow, it’s been longer than I thought since I last updated. I have this grand goal of updating more frequently and thus keeping my posts shorter than a novel’s length, but it seems my inner verbosity has gotten the better of me again. That or maybe I just got out of the hospital after getting mauled by an angry koala. Don't be fooled by their cuddly looks friends...I have proof:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8oLu7znwQ0
Anyhow, today’s post *dum da da dum* is brought to you by…the letter S:
School (that’s why I’m here, after all)
Shared Birthdays (who knew 21 was a big deal in a country when you’re done gaining "rights" at 18)
Scuba Diving (might have seen some cool stuff)
Some more funny Aussie Anecdotes (which will explain the title of this post, but you’ll have to wait until the end!)
Sorry about the stretch on that last S
1. School
Yes, contrary to what it looks like on facebook and my previous blog entries, I am going to school here. Interestingly (or not, depending on how you look at it), UQ classes are very similar stylistically to those at Wash U, with one noticeable difference:
Class sizes aren’t capped, meaning you can have hundreds of people sign up for a class.
<-- My first Aussie lecture, okay maybe not
I initially thought, as you probably did, that that sounds like a great alternative to Wash U’s screaming mad race-to-sign-up-for-your-class method of enrollment.
<-- This is the first image that comes up when you Google Image Search "people running madly." No seriously. Lentils?
But don’t worry, UQ still makes you feel right at home when signing up for Tutorials, small mandatory break-out sessions that you have to wake up at 6:00 am (yes, I did this) to register for. Ahh uni.
2. Birthday!!!!
So, I fully expected to have the lamest 21st birthday ever, as I was becoming “legal” in a country where “legal” is soooooo three years ago. Not true. America must have truly infiltrated Australia when they make such a big deal about a birthday that changes absolutely nothing except that all your birthdays from now on will be pronounced in three or more syllables.
Aside from talking about it for what seemed like weeks beforehand, my friends made my first birthday away from home incredibly special, complete with a beautiful hand-painted card,
...super touristy Aussie thongs (that’s a flip flop, folks)
...an epic music video starring two very, uh, talented people, and TWO packages of Tim-Tams.
Have I told you about Tim-Tams? They. Are. From. Heaven. No seriously, the best chocolate biscuit (that’s a cookie, folks) I have ever tasted. I don’t know why we don’t have them in the states. The Aussies must be hoarding them all. You are all trying one because I’m bringing back a lifetime supply (finances depending).
=
Oh, how could I have forgotten, I discovered during O-Week that I share my birthday with someone. Err, I mean, with someone else... ;) This someone else not being my twin but an absolutely awesome Aussie friend of mine (who turned 19), who also happens to be the inspiration for the title of this blog, but will remain anonymous because this is the internet after all.
3. Scuba Diving!!!
As the title of my Facebook album so keenly (that’s an Aussie word that means pretty much whatever you want it to) puts it, I spent this past weekend “Down Unda’…the Sea!” I went diving with a UQ club called Unidive, which I’m glad I didn’t join just to “meet more Aussies” because pretty much everyone in the club is international: Canadian, Swiss, German, Colombian, New Jersey-an, you name it. I guess everyone wants to take advantage of the amazing diving while they’re here, and we certainly weren’t disappointed. Four dives at North Stradbroke Island showed us green seaturtles, huge manta rays, and, well you can just check out my album to see what else lies in the deep blue down here:…
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2086767&id=1304250203&l=433ddb31bc
Oh, and here's a plain, boring old video of some fish...at least it was going to be:
4. Aussie Anecdotes (Back by popular demand…more or less)
[Disclaimer: In case my friend is reading this, this convo has been enhanced for dramatic effect. A lot. Blame it on my poor memory. Or my uncanny flair for the dramatic.]
Me: Man, I’m glad I’m living at Duchene, because last summer when I had to cook for myself, I pretty much lived on PB&J.
Anonymous Aussie Friend: PB&J?
Me: Peanut butter and jelly, it’s pretty much a staple of the American college diet. Along with Ramen.
AAF: Really? It seems kind of gross to me.
Me: Couldn’t be grosser than your Vegimite sandwiches.
Another AAF: Hey, don’t diss the Vegimite.
AAF: No seriously though, I tried it once, putting jelly with peanut butter and toast. It was…well…interesting…
AAAF: Dude, that’s because you're not supposed to use jelly, you use jam.
AAF: Nah weren’t you listening? The J stands for jelly, not jam.
After getting my fill of amusement from this conversation, I finally revealed what was in fact so funny. In Australia, “jam” = American “jelly”, and “jelly” = well…
Trust me, Americans may be on the other side of the world, but our taste buds aren’t quite that upside down. Then again, it probably still tastes better than Vegimite... :)
