No Worries...

Hey All,

Due to popular demand - I have decided to update this thing! Sorry for the long long long delay - My internet in my dorm costs $36 a month for 5gb.. well much to my surprise 5gb is not a lot at all - and because of my love for everyone at home and wanting to update them on skype all the time - I have used well over half of my gb for the month and have not quite reached half way through the month - sooo needless to say - I'm backing off of the internet usage in my dorm. So today I ventured to the "Uni" (as it is called here) and figured out how to set up my wireless account - and voila free wireless! Thank you USC... So I have a LOT of updating to do - my bad!
Sooo I'm not even sure where to begin. I guess we will start with the living situation - As of Monday February 14th (stupidest day of the year may I add) all of the "flat"mates of 32 have moved in! Our new roommate wasn't the one who was initially supposed to move in but because - well basically 32 is so awesome she requested to live with us - well she requested to live in an all girl dorm and they put her in ours... I like my story better. Her name is Shannon - and she is from somewhere that starts with a "T" in Australia. She is 17 - a youngin...
Secondly - school update: soo orientation week has started and we have been spending a lot of time at the University figuring out classes and important dates and getting all of the necessities done and done before classes begin on Monday. Things are looking good! Everything is falling into place nicely.. Feeling a little bit overwhelmed at times but everyone is awesome here... The laid back attitude of everyone here and everywhere you go is wicked - don't feel like wearing shoes - who cares go in bare feet! Which tons of people do - to the mall (or the "plaza") to the bank, to the school, where ever you want! There are these things called "go cards" which you scan getting on and off the bus you just put money on it instead of having cash on you all the time (kind of like DCB - from Brock for my parents who understand what that means) - so we have been putting off getting one because really every time we're at the mall we forget about it - well good thing we did! Normally the card costs $5 and then you just keep putting more money on it when you need to - well we heard that you can pick them up at the school on tuesday - just for orientation week. So we waited until Tuesday. Well not only did we get a free card we also got $70 balance already on the card - FOR FREE!!! Again thank you USC - there are some perks to being a student you know. I've pretty much figured my way around campus now - it is a really really small campus which I love! I don't think there are more than 5000 students here - but that is a complete guesstimate... I see kangaroo's and palm trees every day.. rough life i know! Looking forward to classes starting on Monday - tomorrow is our "Edu" orientation for our program - where we meet professors and former and current students and figure out important stuff - like placement - should be interesting.
Thirdly: Weather - well that's quite the topic - one minute it's sunny and hot - with a gorgeous breeze and the next minute it's absolutely pouring, I mean pouring - we were in a lecture on monday and we couldn't hear the speaker because the rain outside was too loud.. Oh speaking of that you know how when you go to the Dominican Republic and the airport is all open - and the hotel is all open - everything is all open? Welcome to USC... like lecture halls are just a building in it's own - you walk outside and open a door and walk into lecture - you don't walk into a building and then find the lecture hall.. I have pictures...
Fourthly: ok sooo I'm going to say that covers most of the important things I need to tell you about - except for the upcoming plans - which I'm really excited about! So this Sunday it's Lise's 23rd birthday - do we ever have a weekend planned! Friday we are going on this tour (I can't remember the name of the town) however there is a rainforest where we have been guaranteed pictures of tons of animals! There is a waterfall - and there is a water hole of I think natural spring water - and it's cold! I think it's going to be an awesome adventure with amazing picture opportunities - and only for $20!! I can't wait... Saturday is going to be the celebration of the big birthday with a venture to the bar - and I'm sure too many drinks will be had - but I'm over it! Sunday for Lise's actual birthday our housemates are all heading to "Noosa Heads" for the day. Google it - AMAZING. We are taking the city bus up and we are spending the day there - again rainforest and beach and staying there for dinner afterwards. Tons of stuff going on this weekend and I promise I'll update you early next week about everything! As mentioned before I also have pictures to upload of the school and my new home for the next year so hopefully next week I'll get on that!
As for everything else going on - I'm lovin life right now - having a really good time. I'm meeting people from ALL over the world.. the different cultures coming together and mingling is really really cool! The language barrier - even with our roomates - is soo funny - Lise and I have been caught twice with dumbfounded looks on our face trying to figure out what the heck our Aussie roommates are saying! But we will get used to it - I'm learning tons of new words and slang - I'll probably be using them when I come home!
I would also like to give a shout out for a second - I don't know if you have seen the new photos on facebook (for those that have it) but there are new pictures of the beach - Mooloolaba - which Canadians have a heck of a time trying to pronounce properly! The first L isn't really pronounced... Anyway point of the story - I took pictures in the water - and my camera still works! Just so you know - so thanks for that!
That's all for now - thanks for reading! As I said - update soon - early next week at the latest - that one should be a good update!
I hope everyone at home is doing well! I miss everyone but am really enjoying myself so far!
Talk soon....