I < 3 you John

Monday, September 6, 2010

Today is Johns Birthday!!!!! He is officially 14 and still my favorite brother.

I called him before my 10am indigenous studies class but he was at soccer practice

10-11 indigenous studies

215-315 Genetics tute

315-415 Genetics Lecture

Indigenouse studies consisted of something about land rights and land justice. kinda horrible what happened, but still the presenters can be so dry.

Called John and sang him happy birthday outside the Library. Heard all about his sleepover and everything that went down, wish i could have been there.

I then went to the library to something so important I dont even remember.

At 215 I had my mid semester test in genetics during my genetics tutorial. I had studied by making the study guide and reviewing it a couple of times. The test was 40 minutes and 25 multiple choice. I got a score of 18/25 which is a 72%. Not great but not horrid.

After the test I went to go to genetics Lecture.... whoop whoop so exciting.

After classes were done, instead of taking the train home, I took the train to brighten beach to go see Anita at her school. At Xavier they were having a "Night of the Notables" for 7th graders. Night of the Notables is like a huge project the boys have to do where every subject takes a part. They choose a person they think is noteworthy and then they have to draw their portrait, come up with good traits of theirs, make a box of questions and have the answers ready, create a board, write a paper, etc. Some of my favorites....



Left: George Lucas, Amelia Earhart, Steve Irwin

My most fav was the boy who was homer hickams inspiration. god, i forgot his name.
Some of the boys were even girls, such as opera and amelia.
Some of the characters I didnt know, and i just told them it was bc i was American and didnt know the Australian who brought the wool industry to australia etc. Every once in a while it was an american and i still didnt know, they gave me some ish for that.

It was a good time, I got to see Anitas School and have some good chats with some kids.

A Blank Spot

Sunday, September 5, 2010

I would like to appligize, I havent been writting the days details in my "diary" (weekly planner) like I typically do to remember what ive been up to for blogging purposes. This combined with sheer who the hell knows (forgetfulness?) has led me to completly have ABSOLUTELY no clue what I did on Sunday.

Looking back i dont have any photographs so I dont feel like I did anything in the city but I cant imagine I would just stay in the house and do what, homework?

If I miraculously come up with the answer to what happened on this day I will fill it in but for now its just a Blank Spot.

Halfway Across the World

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Today Micheal, Bec and I went into the city to pick up her dress and get them ready for the big 2-1. The dress was a good "its my birthday dress" complete with..... well i cant tell you yet, it will have to be a surprise.

We then went from the CBD (central business district. all the cities have them here. i dont know if america does tho?) to Prahan were bec and micheal had hair appointments. The hairdress was mad sweet, offering us coffee and being a great chatter. He thinks I should do something a little more edgy with my hair, and i agree, but ill have to wait till I go home. Im thinking I want to grow it out, i miss playing with long hair but I wont like the prep time.

After Micheal was done we walked over to look at some tv screens and laptops at JB and pick up some burbon and malibu for the party tonight. A girl at the liquor store had bought heaps (serously hundreds of dollars) of liquor and was loading it into her "yute" (truck) with the help of store employees. we should have found out what party she was going too.

We then grabbed bec and came back "home" real quick before going out again to Chelsea for Laura, Daniel, and Jess's house warming party. Heaps of people were there so im not going to even attempt naming names. It was good, i had rum and coke and then a barbecue. Its kind of interesting. I dont enjoy/stay far away from sausages we have in America. However here I really do like them and will actually chose to eat it over other food. go figure. Im not really sure why. Maybe because they taste like hotdogs or maybe im just being open minded towards them or possibly they are made with non pig meat? who knows. The food was good and we had a fun time.

After the housewarming we came home to go to bed.

ps- i still havent spoken to briana!!! something is desperatly out of sinc.

Side note- I recently read a blog my friend wrote about how people are so overly connected wondering if we are too plugged in. Truth be told I enjoy having a basic phone with only the ability to call people (as opposed to the many phones that can call, text, internet, email, fb, twitter, myspace, etc etc). I like being able to run away from the world, hid in my room and just have me time. However i must say something towards being so plugged in. Although its a bother to update every single person on how you are doing sometimes, its a great wonder to be able to talk with people across the world, see their face and hold a conversation. I feel like if it wasnt for skype and other networking devices i would feel utterly detached from my life at home and become very homesick. I am really not homesick tho. Seriously, and i dont mean that in a bad way. I talk to my family at least once a week (which is sometimes more than I did while at college) on skype and multiple times on email. I see what my friends are doing over fb and check in on them every once in a while. there are things I miss about home and how i would love to have more interaction with briana but I really dont feel far away. It doesnt feel like im halfway across the world.

The City and Such

Friday, September 3, 2010

No school fridays- how I appreciate you!

Today I slept in and then got a drop off at the train station to go into the city to see Parliament. I decided to take the train to Southern Cross station and then tram over to Parliament so that I would see some of the city. It took me a bit to find the right tram stop (thanks to some strangers I did) but then the ride was good and some a part I hadnt seen yet.

Outside of Parliament there is a garden

Left: Pastor Sir Douglas and Lady Gladys Nicholls Memorial- This is the first memorial statue in Melbourne dedicated to two Aboriginal community leaders. They vigorously fought for the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Peoples across this country and are an eternal symbol of our ongoing history and commitment to human rights in Australia (according to plaque). Right: the garden itself.
Center: Princes Theater. From what I have heard they have plays there. right now i think it is hairspray.

I got to Parliament and they told me that the tour wouldnt be on until 230. I had to busy myself for an half an hour. I went next door to the garden to sit until my time was up.
Left: Adam Linsday Gordon 1833- 1870
He fought for the army and wrote his own work. It wasnt published. He then died of suicide. Im not exactly sure why he deserves a monument.

Outside there were army guys who were collecting money for some fund. I sat and talked to them, well actually it was the other way around. I would like to point out their uniform and how different it looks. The pattern is more like our old one where as now our pattern is computerized. The hat is crazy intense. Otherwise its very much the same. I had to leave him and another guy to go to the tour at 230.


This is the outside of parliament building.













Inside the main entrance is a beautiful seal.
The tour took us into the green room.




I got to sit at the head chair!










Dont I look great. lol.
Here is an image of the outfit the head is supposed to wear along with the mace:












We then went into the library which is closed to the public.




And then we entered the red room. However a bill was going through and the room was in action so I couldnt take any photos.

In the hall they had Queen Victoria statue and paintings of the heads of Victoria Parliament.





This is the only woman VIC Parliament Leader who was a woman and Prime minister of Vic the year I was born, 1990.
The tour was then done and after talking with the tour guide I went on my way. The view from the steps of Parliament was cool of the city road of Bourke St.

I then had some time before catching the train home but not enough to go do something else to I went to the coffee shop next to the Melbourne Library I had gone too with Larissa. Of course what did i get but an Iced Choc. duhhh.

After the wonderful bit of heaven I jumped on the Flinders St train to get home for the fish fry on friday.

For the fry Kevin couldnt join us. Instead one of their friends (i believe her name was Gail?) joined us. Delicious as always. After dinner I quickly got ready so as to go out to a concert with Bec and Micheal in the city. The concert was off of Swanston St. We got something to drink (2 cranberry and vodkas for me) and waited through some bad bands to our awaited band at 10pm. It didnt get good until Becs friends boyfriend (blanking on the name) band went on. They had a sound similar to that of the strokes and were much appreciated after the noise chaos we had just heard. After their turn we left the concert and headed home. We got back around 12pm and sat around until 1 watching tv before turning in.

Every Class should be in a Bar

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Um today was kinda cool and very different.

10-12 psychology
215-315 politics
415-515 politics tute

Psychology:
Today we had some new guy (Dan) come and talk to us about Concepts and Categories... oooh ahhh. not really. Kinda interesting seeing as how he incorporated aliens and had lots of fun examples but really if you have that for me in any subject i will be entertained.

In between classes (12-2) I met up with Chloe for the first time on campus. Her and some friends meet up at one of the cafes on campus next to the building i have my indigenous studies tute in. (ive gone there for an iced choc once and it didnt stand up against its opponent mocha joes what-so-ever. Ive kinda lost faith in my campuses ability to impress me with a iced choc. a few more tries around and we will see). I brought my lunch but her and her friend Juliana got some food which looked pretty good. We chatted for a bit and then I attempted to complete some of my genetics study guide. A bit before 2 i left them to grab on to a computer and check my fb. my friend larissa said she would fb me with plans for thursday evening. I had suggested that we go see something for Melbournes Spring Fashion Show Week that was going on this week but she didnt seem to excited. Checking fb she hadnt left me a message so I gave her a call only to be told that she didnt know yet so i went to class.

Politics Lecture:
I must say nuclear warfare, weapons, terrorism etc sure does scare me. Not in the sense that im going to go build a bomb shelter for myself (because seriously what good will that do unless i am first warned that the bomb will go off and secondly am still in melbourne when it happens). More like, excuse me but WHY ON GODS GOOD EARTH ARE WE BEING SO STUPID ABOUT IT. I really cant believe that at one point a guy was flying around in a plane with multiple nuclear bombs and no one knew. REALLY, i mean REALLY ( feel like that SNL short: in case you dont know what im talking about- Really, Micheal Phelps; Really, NYC Bomber) ok rant and SNL over, I think you can get my point.

During the lecture I got a phone call from Larissa so I called her back once I got out of class. She was wispering and I couldnt really understand her. She said she was in the union library so I told her i would meet her there so I could understand what was going on. Once i found the library in the union building, after some help from random strangers, I found her in this room with sleeping bodies. She was in one of many bean bag chairs (which explains the sleeping people). Apparently she had juggling club till 630 and was going to eat at her place and then meet up with ppl on some street at 830 to figure out what everyone wanted to do. Well this was too late for me because it took an hour to get back from the metro and I hate keeping Peter and Anita up so that they can grab me from the train station. I told her I would pass and walked to the library to see if I could find an alternate activity. My friend Ronja was looking for someone to join her at the showing of some anime movie (for free). I figured that person could be me. However when I looked into it she had gotten the date wrong and it was actually playing next week. Fail. So I decided I would look around some of the shops for Fashion Week.

Politics Tute:
This weeks tute, get this, was in a bar. YES, how amazing. can you figure out why i want to stay in this tute as opposed to the one i had been showing up too?? Jack the tute guy bought us a round of beer (which i actually drank, despite my detest for beer, probably because it was such a good story) and we just sat around and chatted about whatever. The people I got in a discussion with talked about what its like to live internationally and traveling. We really had a good time and it was nice to get to know some people. People started to leave at around 515 when it was over but we stayed and jack joined our conversation. at about 6 we left.

I had asked one of the girls I was talking to from politics tute if she wanted to join my adventure that night in the city. She had to go home and pack for a trip she was taking the next day to alice springs so i didnt get any company although I would have liked it.

I rode the tram down to melbourne central and got off. I wanted to walk my way down the street so that I could go in shops if I wanted. I was on the search for some post cards as well, looking for the best deal. On my way I found some cool wall art and statues of men.














At the third souvenir shop I found some good postcards. I got ten for 3 dollars (it will be heaps more in postage!) but here are three:

I tried finding the shop where they had the Fashion event at (free champaigne and a fashion show of the 2010 spring collection) but I never found it. Instead I lost myself (not really lost) in the streets, arcades and allies that are so much a part of melbourne. I looked at some shops but I wasnt really looking to buy. Retail here is much more than you would pay for in the states. Yes maybe I was looking at more expensive shops but I have yet to find a place similar to something like wet seal that I can buy things for 20$ max. Ok, maybe im just cheap.

At around 7pm the shops started to close and I was hungry so I found a Japanese food place called Gigi Sushi Bar and got a hot meal for about 9$. I cant do sushi (even though it is soo cheap and fresh here) but I looked at the menu outside and found something that I liked. I cant remember what it was called bc the name was so foreign to me but it was a great rice dish with chicken and veggies with a soup broth on the side. Go figure, I was in the mood for rice?? I am a changing woman.

After dinner I got on the train home. It would have been nice to have company but its not going to stop me from exploring.

First day of SPRING!!!!

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Today is the first day of spring! yaaay, i LOVE spring. no, seriously its my fave season in the states. Its a bit of a wonder that they have flowers here even in the winter. So anticipate that spring will bring much beauty to my surroundings.

Today wasnt a bad genetics wednesday.
As usual on an "on" wednesday;
10-1pm genetics prac
315-415 genetics lecture
415 train to peters work and drive home

Genetics Prac:
Today I had that awfully confusing flylab due. It was nice to get rid of it I just hope that after all the confusion I did it properly. The girl next to me that I befriended forgot to do it. Not good.

I was a bit happily surprised- todays lab wasnt too bad. Normally im awfully confused about something and its a big pain in the ars to find a prac lab assistant to explain it/let me know whats going on. Theres one lab assistant that doesnt know whats going on whatesoever. Its useless to ever get her help because she never knows. I digress, I had no problem with the lab and it all seemed to make perfect sense. Almost enjoyable.

At the end we had a 9 question test that was worth all our 10 lab points for the day. Usually its spread out between some test questions and completing some part of the lab correctly (like making a slide). Hopefully because I really understood everything i got a good test grade?

Genetics lecture:
Ehh its ok, still rather learn more about genetics instead of the origins of plants and such.

I decided to get on the tram at Victoria st instead of the usual Swanston St because its closer to the building I had my gen lecture in and i didnt feel like walking across campus. Totally should have walked across campus though because I ended up waiting over 15 minutes for a tram. At Swanston trams seem to come literally every minute. And one street over its over 15 minutes?? Thats what I get for being lazy. I did see some super cool birds that were in a tree. There were these two green parakeets (m and fem)that were just so pretty. You would never see a wild parakeet in america, only in cages. Picture at Left arent the ones I saw bc I couldnt get a good pict.

Got home ate dinner and worked on my genetic study sheet. At 830 peter and i sat down for Farmer wants a Wife. It really is entertaining.

Nuclear Bombs Scare Me

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Schedule

10-11 Indig
215-315 Politics
415-515 Indig tute

Nothing to interesting in Indigenous studies

Nap time in the library for an hour and half at 11!! I love naptime in the library. haha. I woke up and got to reading some politics. After politics I worked on making my study guide for genetics test. I figured the best way to study would be to rewrite all my power point slides condensing them and putting everything in a way that makes sense.

Politics- nuclear bombs. scary stuff when you sit down and think about it. We were told that when you sit down and think about it, we are lucky that we havent accidentally had one go off in the past 65 years. uhhh, and ive been worried about silly things like test grades and what to write about in my paper!

Indig tute- I was hoping to get my paper back but no such luck, she said next time we would.

After class I came home and worked on genetics study guide. ohh my exciting life.

I got all excited at 830 for tangles. I came into the living room and tried to find the channel to turn it on. I couldnt so I had Anita help me. She couldnt either so we had bec come out and help us. She told us that the season was over. FAIL.


*****Culture Note: people dont shake hands here when they meet for the first time or as good friends. Instead they do one kiss on the cheek. Kinda funny getting used to this when they pucker up and I stick out my hand. I'm not sure what I am supposed to do when I introduce myself to someone like my professor. I dont think I would be too keen on kissing them. Still, the kissing is a bit friendly which I like*****

Another Busy Monday

Monday, August 30, 2010

This is an on week- :(

Schedule
10-11 Indig
12-2 Psychology prac
215-315 Genetics tute
315-415 Genetics Lec

Indigenous studies was good. A couple weeks ago we learned about aboriginal hip hop and I wanted to include it but totally forgot. So here are some links to youtube to hear some abo r&b.

"Big Shots" by T.D.B.
"Mango Pickle Down River" M.I.A and Wilcannia Mob
"B.L.A.C.K." by Wire MC
"For the People" Outlaws and Young Warriors
"Take this Message/What Do You See/Laugh it up/Hey People/etc" Impossible Odds
"Balarooman" Last Kinection (i think i might buy their cd)
There are heaps more artists including:Mavis Staples, TZU, Local Knowledge, and Foreign Heights

between indigenous studies and psychology i shoved some food down my throat and relaxed for an hour before class.

Psychology prac was is the computer lab so that we could do the SPSS work for our lab. God do i strongly DISLIKE SPSS. but life goes on

Genetics tute was not very useful seeing as how next tute we have a mid semester test. I figured we would have some type of review but of course i was wrong. why would we have review before the test?? HAH. instead we did something that was completely useless- reading about old genetic breakthroughs- wtf?

Genetics Lecture was given by a different guy than the normal girl. weve switched ways from genetics to plants, algaea, moss, ferns etc. Not as interesting. actually kinda boring compared to the cool stuff we were learning before. oh well. I must say the new lecturer is very amusing and has some great quotes: "If you live in the ocean how do you have sex?" "We could spend a lot of time talking about sex in the ocean" topic: algea... ??? ahahahaah.

After class I jumped on the tram and train to come home.

Tonight I finalized everything in my trip to the great barrier with allysa. I cant wait.

Unexpected Adventure

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Today I had plans to go to the city and see the Chinese Museum and Aquarium with Larissa and some of her friends for half price (bc its the anniversary of Melb!) but instead since Bec came home from work early I decided to spend the day with her.

We drove to Epping (i think, either that or Essendon) to visit with her two cousins on her moms side (no relation to me). It was nice to meet someone from the other side of the family, aka Anitas side. Jesse and Laura live together and have another sister but she lives separately with a newly born. We chatted about various things and ate chicken sandwiches. At around 3 we left to get home before going out again, but this time to chelsea.

We got home to grab sunnies and cheese and choc chips for the road. Back in the car we made our way to Chelsea the area where Laura, Daniel, and Jess moved to. After a bit of work finding the place we arrive to their house near the beach. We got a grand tour of the place and it seemed like a good place for them. They got a cat for the house, Chuck -after chuch norris, he is soooo cute. Im not the biggest cat person but chuck is precious. We had dinner at there place (they made a roast of lamb and pig bc they knew i dont eat pork- too sweet of them) and it was impressive, I dont have a clue how to cook a roast! We played drawing games and chatted the rest of the night until coming home.

Footy and 21st

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Woke up at 7 to go to the Footy with Bec. Usually I dont see saturday morning before 10 (on a good day, bad day 2pm) but this was a special occasion. Last sat I had promised Bec that I would go to the footy with her to watch her three teams play from 8 till 4pm but I came to the realization that that was a lot of footy (i dont know if im ready for that) and this week was only two games (8am till 2) which I figured would be better.

The morning was cold, which makes sense because its still winter. I bundled up so I was fine. Rain off and on and then the sun came out for the second game. The first game springvale lost. This team was a level 3 (out of 4 levels, 1 being the best). The first game I stood under cover so as not to get rained on. Since the sun came out for the second game I got to go stand with Bec and the team. The team is very amusing and made me feel comfortable. We killed the other team for the second game with springvales level 2 players!!!! It was pretty impressive to watch Bec at work and dealing with the players injuries. Doesnt seem easy.

After the game we came home until we went out again for Aussie and Beths 21st. Austine and Beth are twins. The theme was paris. I just wore a dress and didnt feel very french but it seemed like half the people got the memo and the others didnt so I wasnt too out of place.
Not the best photo but its something. Left: me, sara, bec, nick, johnathan.
The party had some great food, mixed drinks, the sweetest speaches, and some cool decor. I didnt really know anyone there besides bec but thats nothing new so i made friends with the people I met.

ACMI

Friday, August 27, 2010

I like my "no school fridays" even though everything considered I actually do have class on friday. I just like to forget about it and not show up/listen to it online later.

Today I decided to go into the city (what a surprise) and meet up with a girl from my Indig Studies tute. I wasnt sure what we were going to do but I figured it would be fun. and i was right

Got to Melb Central Station at 11 and met up with Laryssa. We walked around (aka all the way down to Flinders St) until we found a coffee shop that we liked. On flinders lane next to the Melb library there is a great coffee place. We sat down and I ordered a Iced Choc. An iced choc is amazing. Whenever I go out for coffee this is what I get, every time. Its warm choc syrup drizzled in milk with a scoop of icecream and choc shavings on top. AMAZING! Ive been trying around town and this place makes one of my faves. The best however is at mocha joes in chaddy. John- i think of you every time I get one (bc we attempted to make them when I was in America before I left). Enough about my ode to Iced Choc.

Looking through our melb guides we decided to go to the Australian Center for the Moving Image (ACMI). It was free- a definite plus.
Outside the museum I found some intersting things (there was a tim burton exhibit going on in one of the galleries) :

Above Left- me with the characters from Alice and Wonderland. they dont work at the tim burton exhibit, they just like getting dressed up and coming out....? strange. Center- Ode to tim burton. Right- Batmobile? idk but its a sweet ride.

This is a super cool museum with old movie makers. Some photos of the original movie makers from back in the day:
From Left- Shadow Images. Instead of having a movie you make your own by projecting a light and in front of the light you shine these people which in turn block the light. Its kinda like a puppet show with shaddows. Center- ummm i dont actually remember what this was. Right - a crank movie. You take hold of the red handle and turn it clockwise or counter clockwise to make all the pictures appear as if they were moving.




Above- These are all movie makers that rolled tape on its own.

Below is a movie I recorded on my camera:






The movie is before sound was introduced or color or even background music.

Below Left- Color Camera!!!!! modern marvel. Center- you dont know this show but I think i would have liked it as a kid. Skippy the Bush Kangaroo!!!!! Watch the intro on youtube here! Right- I saw this and thought of John right quick. This is Buster Keaton, a silent movie comedian.










Above Left- a clear version of the first home televisions. It was made clear (this version) to show people that there werent little men inside the tv. hahaha, well maybe not but thats what it said. Center- ummm amazing star wars action figures. Right- Toy Story figures.

Top Left- The Wiggles!! Toy, hat and award for the kids show the Wiggles. Annoying to watch when ur an adult but the kids seem to like it. Center- Treasures from The Pirates of the Caribbean!!!!!!!! AHHHH!!!!! If you dont understand this then you dont understand life. hahah jk. if I remember correctly the ring belongs to Capt Barbosa. Right- Sword and treasure chest from Pirates.

















Left- Another metal outfit worn by a member of the Kelly Gang (remember my article on "Ian Potter and Shots Museum" ). I feel like I am collecting images of all the gangs outfits. Center- uhhh i didnt know who this was but I thought it was funny. Zooming in on my image it says the robot is "Dexter" from a tv dating game. Right- an outfit worn in the Queen Elizabeth movie. Kinda a cool outfit~ it would have looked better in hot pink tho. lol.

Finishing up at the ACMI i said goodbye to Larissa and got on the train to make it home for tea. Fish and Chips- amazing as always- with guest Kevin. If I remember properly, at night Anita, Peter and I sat down for our Waking the Dead tv show. When I go back to America I need to find this show on tv.