Prepare yourself for a novel....

Good Day Mate!

I cannot even believe how much time is flying by! I am trying to keep up with this blog but there just does not seem to be enough hours in a day.

This past weekend I participated in a volunteer conservation trip with 7 of my international peers. We were terrified because the group that went the weekend before us had an AWFUL weekend-they picked weeds the whole time, slept in a house where they people never cleaned and had a ton of animals living inside-thus there was feces and stuff everywhere, and just had a terrible time. My group was terrified Friday morning but we couldn't back out or we'd have a $200 fine. I have NO idea how we ended up getting so lucky-we got to plant trees along a creek on a farm were race horses were trained, it was really pretty where we were-and LOTS of shade. Our first day there we worked our butts off and planted more than 2,200 trees. Little did we know that we only had 3,000 for the whole weekend so the rest of the time we ending up getting to hang out. And get this-we got to camp out in tents a block away from the ocean in the place that I went on my dolphin cruise at-Nelson Bay. Every night we grilled and then hung out down by the ocean. Saturday morning after we finished planting, the farm owner and his wife came down and invited us up for lunch. We were starving and would have eating anything they would throw our way at that point. We walked up there and they had a feast prepared for us!!!!! Like everything from hamburgers/hot dogs to chocolate eggs to a fridge full of beer (the boys really enjoyed that)...it was incredible. They have a pool to and they let us hop in there-well actually I was thrown in by the guys then everyone else ended up going swimming with me. They spoiled us rotten!!! And they said anytime we are in Sydney or want to go to a horse race anywhere in New South Wales that they would get tickets for us. Needless to say they are SUPER wealthy! Ah but they were so so kind to us, we will meet up with them again I am sure. Sunday morning they took us to find Koala bears, that was fun. I just cannot express how thankful I am that we had such an awesome weekend-I feel so blessed because I was suppose to be on the previous weekend (the awful weed-picking, flees everywhere trip) but I had to switch with someone because I had that Bara Commencement Dinner that I had to be at. Oh man did I ever luck out!!!! There will always be a special bond between myself and the other 7 volunteers-words cannot express all the shananigans we got into last weekend!!!!

So get this-I ate kangaroo-yet again. This time though it was WAY better though-we made roo burgers with onions mixed in. Delicious!!!! It pretty much tastes like a hamburger but way healthier and leaner. Oo and last night we finally ate Mexican food-we have been looking everywhere for a Mexican restaurant here but have had zero luck up until last night. They are very hard to come by I guess-which makes sense because Mexico is on the other side of the world. It was so tasty, we were all thrilled to get some chips and salsa in our systems again. The food here is delicious!! They have these things called kebabs which are sort-of like a quesdilla but not really. I don't know, all I know is that they are so tasty. Omg and wedges (like fries) and sweet chili sauce is a feast from above-so tasty!!!! Omg I am obsessed!!! In one of my classes, all the Australia girls bring in a bunch of snacks for me to try. So every Thursday we have a mini-feast. Last week they brought in Lamingtons (like vanilla cake surrounded by chocolate frosting and coconut), sherbet (like the candy FunDip), and Minties which were another candy. All were super tasty! I was going to make them some puppy chow but Australia does not have Chex Cereal or even anything close to it. So if you think of anything super America that is a common treat that would not be too hard for me to make for them (I am a super bad cook)-please let me know ASAP because I would love to bring them a treat....just email me the recipe or idea at back0157@umn.edu! Help please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I want to share a little bit of America with them, since they have been spoiling me rotten with all these Australian treats but have no idea what to bring them.

I love how chill everyone is here! Everyone is so kind and laid back. In fact-heaps of people don't ever wear shoes when they go out. Stores don't care either-it is very common to walk around barefoot around here! It is nice being so worry-free and laid back all the time-I really could permanently get use to this lifestyle.

My classes are going really well so far. The teaching style is a tad different but I feel as though I am catching on fine. And yes-I am actually going to class!!! It is extremely hard sometimes because it is always so gorgeous here but I end up sucking it up and heading to my classes. I am taking a Health Sociology class, an education class-special ed to be specific, an Aboriginal Studies class, and a Public Health class. I am learning heaps of new things and am enjoying all of my professors. Also, I am making tons of new friends!!!!

As for the job situation-it has been very difficult to find a job here for many reasons. First off-I am only here for a few more months and no where wants to spend time training me in knowing I will be leaving soon. Second-there are way more steps I have to go through to get a job here than at home (applying for tax stuff and background checks). Third-being that I am on campus anywhere I would want to work I would have to take either the bus or train and their schedule is super messed up. They are never on time!!! So I don't know what I will do about that...I am still looking so hopefully something will come up soon!

Well I am going to end it here-there is SO much more I can say but I am sure you are getting heaps tired by now trying to read all this!

Miss everyone a lot! I hope all is going well back home and I am glad to hear that the weather is finally getting nicer!

LOVE LOTS!!!!!

XOXO
Stac