Mardi Gras 2009!!!

Mardi Gras was completely nuts!! Everyone got really into it and dressed up in some fabulous outfits!! Alex, Liz, Katie, Leslie, Chole, Candace, Nils, Markus and I all took the train to get to Oxford Street to try to get a decent spot to watch. Unfortunately, by the time we got there it was so crowded that there was no way that we'd really be able to see from where we were. Most people had bought stools to stand on and it was four deep in front on the fence. I tried taking some pictures at least. We actually ended up selling hotdogs on the street for some vender (aka our new best friend) in exchange for using his crates to stand on. Man did that get a lot of funny looks and some weird reactions haha. Needless to say, we all decided to leave early to try to find everyone else at Hyde Park. Miles of walking later, we ended up going to 3 Wise Monkies Bar on the corner of George and Liverpool. Everyone eventually ended up at the bar and drank and danced. So Much Fun!!! Afterwards we were all exhausted and hungry so people got kebabs across the street. By the time I got home I died and didn't wake up for hours the next day

Sydney!!!

So, yeah I'm new to this whole blogging thing so I thought I'd give it a try while I'm abroad. I've been away for about a month now. I lived in Fiji for 10 days before coming to Australia. I am in love with FIJI and wouldn't trade those experience for anything! We got to do the tourist thing going to places like Beachcomber Island but also got to experience real Fijian culture living with our home stay families. I really loved my family and I'm so happy that I got to live with a great group of other American girls from my program. I really lucked out!! :) Some of the best parts were going to the waterfall pool, horseback riding on the beach, BBQ church dinner, O'Reily's pub, walking around Suva and some badass 21st birthdays. It was an amazing 10 days but by the end I was so ready to come to Sydney, get settled, and start classes (and finally do some laundry!!). I loved that I got to meeting pretty much everyone in the program (61 total) and make some amazing friends.

One of the first things we did when we got to Sydney was a bus tour of the city. It was a fantastic way to see the city I'll be living in for the next 5 months!! I really liked that we got to get out and explore. One of the first places they took us to was a park overlooking the Opera House and Harbor Bridge. We ate some lunch at Bondi Beach, chilled at The Gap, took pictures at park overlooking the city, and went to a bar on Darling Harbor to name a few. Later that night we did a boat cruise of the harbor and danced the night away ;) I'm in love with Sydney!!!

Michelle came to stay with me for the second week. It was great to see a familiar face and hang out =] I found out how great of a cook she is (especially at 2:30am hahaha). We ended up going to the Ranch with Lewis and Jeff one of the nights and had so much fun :) I really liked going to the city with her to the Australian Museum, Hyde Park, the cathedral and chillin around town. It'll be fun to visit her and Melanie when they get their apartment in Bondi Junction (so lucky living right by the beach!)

Last night was the first real time that I got to spend out with my roommates. We went to the Ubar on campus because they had a pajama party theme. Everyone enjoyed wearing comfy PJ's. I loved pregaming at the house with everyone and hanging out at the Ubar for a while. It's awesome to finally hangout with some Aussies for a change. I can't wait for tomorrow when we get to go to Mardi Gras in Sydney!!!