Australia so far
Well, I'm going into Week Three here at Griffith, and so far classes don't seem to be an issue. I like all the ones I'm taking, and there isn't really any more work than I get back at my college in the States. The only real difficulty is carefully explaining to each Australian who asks why I don't have a Program (major) even though I'm taking a bunch of classes.
As for fitting in around here, it hasn't been easy, but I also didn't expect it to be. However, everyone on my floor is incredibly friendly, the other international students are always up for doing something, and I've already gone to more parties in the past two weeks than in the entire rest of my life combined, not to mention that I've discovered that I have a pretty high tolerance!
So far though, I think I haven't been really fulfilling my promise to myself about refraining from drawing attention to where I'm from. It's a little difficult though, because everyone asks about it the second I open my mouth, and it's even worse if they're the curious sort. =P As long as I keep myself from becoming the token American among my new friends, I think I'll be just fine.
The sense of difference was expected, but I don't think I was fully prepared for the "language barrier," because sometimes I still have to ask people to repeat sentences, not to mention pick up the slang! Oh yah, and I also figured out that people will take the piss outta me if I'm drinking Victoria Bitter at a party. It's worth it though, because it's just that much better than that XXXX crap. Pre-mixed drinks kind of confuse me though, I mean, how big of a hurry can you be in that involves getting rum and coke? OH NO QUICK GET OVER TO THE BOTTLE-O FOR SOME BUNDERBURG AND POP BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE, NO TIME TO JUST BUY SOME COKE AND BUY SOME RUM AND THEN MIX THEM!!!!! I dun' get it.
Anyways, to sum up the trip so far:
Australians are incredibly outgoing and it's not hard to get to know them at all, and they love teasing people (which I'm cool with).
p.s.- Their women are insane =)
As for fitting in around here, it hasn't been easy, but I also didn't expect it to be. However, everyone on my floor is incredibly friendly, the other international students are always up for doing something, and I've already gone to more parties in the past two weeks than in the entire rest of my life combined, not to mention that I've discovered that I have a pretty high tolerance!
So far though, I think I haven't been really fulfilling my promise to myself about refraining from drawing attention to where I'm from. It's a little difficult though, because everyone asks about it the second I open my mouth, and it's even worse if they're the curious sort. =P As long as I keep myself from becoming the token American among my new friends, I think I'll be just fine.
The sense of difference was expected, but I don't think I was fully prepared for the "language barrier," because sometimes I still have to ask people to repeat sentences, not to mention pick up the slang! Oh yah, and I also figured out that people will take the piss outta me if I'm drinking Victoria Bitter at a party. It's worth it though, because it's just that much better than that XXXX crap. Pre-mixed drinks kind of confuse me though, I mean, how big of a hurry can you be in that involves getting rum and coke? OH NO QUICK GET OVER TO THE BOTTLE-O FOR SOME BUNDERBURG AND POP BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE, NO TIME TO JUST BUY SOME COKE AND BUY SOME RUM AND THEN MIX THEM!!!!! I dun' get it.
Anyways, to sum up the trip so far:
Australians are incredibly outgoing and it's not hard to get to know them at all, and they love teasing people (which I'm cool with).
p.s.- Their women are insane =)