All hail the mighty free wifi!

Not.

The hostel internet is crap.

I will post an update with pictures soon as I have better internet I can actually connect to. My phone can only get me so far.

I am moving out of the hostel tomorrow and into my flat in Coogee! Yes, I found a place to live with a bunch of other exchanglings. I'm ready to leave hostel life and get into the swing of things as a resident, rather than a tourist. I'll still play tourist.

That is all for now!

New post to come soon!

**Here is a side note:
The internet across Australia is not as in the USA we call "unlimited". They say its unlimited, but really they give you a huge block of GB per month. It's really easy to use up a lot of this with watching movies, skype, etc. Especially if its 6 people living in a house :)

If Australia is OZ, then which part is the Emerald City?

It's only been a few days, but it feels like longer. Here are a few pics from my wanderings.

Sharelly made me some yummy cookies and a silly crossword puzzle! The puzzle was fun and made me laugh. There were two I couldn't figure out though! Of course, I was trying to do it 2.5 hours before landing in Sydney.. haha

THANKYOU! 

These little signs on *most* street corners have saved me! I forget which way to look before crossing the street, haha.

Ew? Maybe it's better with cheese. Have yet to try vegemite by itself. Maybe tomorrow.

BACON!!! They are also big on bacon-esque foods/snacks. I did see come chicken flavoured crisps today...

This is for Megan: Just as good as English Breakfast, when you drink it upside-down ;)

Awesome animals on the monies!

Echinda - $0.05

Platypus - $0.20

Kangaroo - $1.00

I will be spending most of my time on campus, so I figured I would check it out and get my student ID.

ON the bathroom stalls at UNSW. Apparently, this is a problem??

Being the über tourist :) Voilà! The Opera House!

Annnd Sydney Harbour Bridge! I WILL walk across the flat part one of these days!

Amusing postcard I saw.

Yep -- its a real thing. Didn't actually check the ingredients, but I'm sure its legit.

So far the last few days have been spent looking for housing and exploring a bit. Yesterday, I went to the Uni, and then checked out Bondi Beach. BTW, apparently there is Free Beach WiFi at Bondi!! Best idea ever.

Going to relax for the rest of the weekend while searching for housing.

Hope all is going well back home!

When in Rome...

I don't want to seem like everything I've written about my trip so far is super negative... its just been a long stressful journey.

After the fiasco of missing my first flight to Sydney, I spent the next day in San Francisco. I got lost. A lot. I found my way to the Aquarium and spent most of my time there. Saw a cool 3D film about sharks!

So, then I get back to the airport, and I think, "there is no way I can screw this up now!" HA.

Flight was on time and everything, even got into Sydney early. The flight was SO long. Made even longer by the major things you want to avoid on flights. Like being stuck next to the person who wants to talk your ear off, or the kid who wont stop coughing (and doesn't cover his mouth) and kicks the seat in front of him, or behind the guy who puts his seat all the way back and passes out so you can't get out of your own seat. Yes, I had the glorious pleasure of all those things, not to mention being near the guy who just wanted a beer. BADLY. And to top it all off... 3 screaming babies.

Well, at long last the flight was over, and I'm amazed I didn't give myself a panic attack or make myself ill with nerves and anxiety. Got through customs and to baggage claim.... where my checked bag is not. Apparently, because I missed my original flight, and despite the fact that United said I didn't have to touch my checked bags when I got bumped to the next flight, my luggage decided to stay in San Fran.

But I made it to the hostel and got myself lost. And found again. I also got myself a phone and a few necessary toiletries to allow me to brush my teeth and such until I reunite with my luggage.

It's only about noon, and it feels like 4pm. It's really nice out, and the hostel provides not only free wifi, but breakfast AND sunscreen. Not sunscreen for brekkie, mind you.

Ok, now I have to deal with the rumbling in my stomach. Cheers!

Something profound.

The path she followed was paved in gold, and the bricks lain along the way were cracked and crumbling beneath her feet...

Today (yesterday) has been a long and stressful one. Not only was it emotionally draining, but then, it was like somebody poked a hole in my juice box.

Flight out of SBA was over an hour late, because of weather in SFO. At long last, all four (4!!) of us boarded the world's tiniest plane. All of us were making connections in San Fran, but mine was the only international flight. Arrived in SF just after 10pm, giving me literally enough time to exit the plane, find the terminal transfer shuttle, follow the bouncing ball up the stairs, down the hall to the right and around the corner to a flight of stairs up and down, and up and left and right and straight for days and to the other side of the moon. Once I finally found the gate (which was marked as "GATE ****" on my boarding pass, btw), I went down the escalator, turned the corner and was sent back up and back down the path of the bouncing ball because the gates were closed and I couldn't board the plane. It was due to take off in 1 minute. ONE MINUTE! Another poor soul missed this flight, so we wound our way back to the other side of the moon to talk to the customer service center to book the next flight out.

Apparently, there's only one (1) flight out of SF to Sydney daily, and its at 10:35pm. So, here I am at some BW hotel in SF eating a charming vending machine dinner after midnight. A hotel, which I have to pay for, because United doesn't comp them if the flight was missed due to weather in another city. Thanks a heap you guys.

Tomorrow will be a better day. Good night, little fishies.

Munchkinlanders can't have all the fun...

Happy February!

Only a few more days until I hit the ground running in Sydney. I have finally been enrolled in 4 courses:
Intro to Criminology
Science: Good, bad and bogus (Philosophy of Science)
Philosophy, Morality, Society
Intro Greek

I can likely change this during registration week towards the end of Feb, but at least I have 4 courses, and 3 that I def want to keep.

Getting excited!!!

My cat, however, doesn't seem too keen to let me leave. Every chance he gets, he is on my lap. Otherwise, he is squeaking at me.

A special thanks to my HBOO, for looking at Australian Deadly Diversity with me last night! Now I know, if I see any brown snakes -- run! And, always check under the toilet seat for spiders before I sit. And to check my bedsheets.