So we know many of you are anticipating these posts. We know it’s been awhile since our last update but we have been super busy as you will see with all of the explanations to follow. Some of you don’t even know what kind of place we are living in so we’ll talk about that first now that we have been settled in here for the last two weeks.
We are living in a university residence. It’s called New College Village. It was just finished being built in January, so brand spanking new! It was mainly intended to be for post-grad students but they hadn’t filled it when we went to ask so they were letting in some poor homeless exchange students which is how we managed to get it.
It’s right across the road from the main entrance to the “uni” (as they say here, none of this “campus” or “school” talk) meaning we have no longer than a 10 minute walk to most of our classes! The bus stop is also right outside the entrance with buses that go basically everywhere we would need to go. In terms of location it’s perfect except it’s a 15 minute bus ride to the nearest beach. Although the shark sightings are holding us back on swimming!
The unit we are in has 6 individual rooms and we share a kitchen and living room. There is no tv in the living room, but there is a common room right outside our door that we can use with a massive wide screen tv. We haven’t had much time to watch but are anxiously wanting to see two shows we have heard about. “Border Security” – an actual broadcasted show on problems the customs people encounter with people trying to get in to the country. And “Bondi Rescue” – a Baywatch like show, but with hot Australian male life guards replacing the babes in red swimsuits and detailing the rescuing they do at the beach 20 minutes away, Bondi. Laura and I are in the same unit right across the hall from each other. Each room has their own ensuite bathroom with shower, toilet and sink. The only thing we had to buy was towels. Each room comes with sheets, duvet and pillow and the kitchen is all equipped with plates, cutler, glasses, etc. This may be the best part though. Our rooms and kitchen get cleaned by the housing staff every Monday and our sheets are replaced. It’s more like a hotel than a university residence!
Our own individual bathrooms!
Half of Morgan's room
The shared kitchen/dining table
Most of our roommates seem to want to have nothing to do with us. We are still waiting for the 6th one to move in, but two of the ones who have moved in haven’t said anything but “hi” to us yet. There is one nice aussie girl who has moved in and she actually speaks and doesn’t hide all the time. I think they are all done their undergrad though, or at least the one we have talked to is!
As for grocery shopping, we have been adding to our list of crazy Australian food that we are contemplating trying, but have to build up some courage, or also stuff that is just crazy! The list includes: kanga bangas and all variations of kangaroo meat, aussie pizza and burgers which seem to have eggs on them, cheese and bacon balls, yo yo and anzac cookies, pies – possibly from a store called pie face and tasty coon cheese. We did get to experience vegemite at orientation and will not be going out anytime soon to get ourselves a jar!
Pies at Pie Face actually have faces on them!
One of the various Kangaroo meats you can buy.
Our experience with vegemite ended with faces like this!
Are you directing the vegemite where to go in that picture? I presume that the caption was truncated and was meant to include Laura's words: "Get in my belly."
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