This was a very eventful first weekend. Just to clarify, at school they keep track of Weeks by numbers. So orientation week (which is still holiday for returning students) is called O week. Being that it is Monday here, today is the first day of Week 1. So I guess it would be more appropriate to say O Week. Complete. Anyway...
Friday night we were all ready to just relax. We ended up going to Broadbeach (one of the closest beaches/towns around campus... about a 15 minute bus ride) and just walking around. We laid on the beach at night and the stars were incredible. Then we all decided to walk around town and see what it was like. We ended up stopping in a bar to watch a rugby match that was going on. Gold Coast vs. New Zealand (not the All Blacks for those who follow rugby, that's a different rugby league). But we got some funny looks coming in, to the effect of: "What are you doing here you young group of Yanks?" Regardless, we sat down and had some drinks while an Australian band played. It was an older group, and we all enjoyed watching some Australians and Kiwis (New Zealanders) dance to Eagle Eye Cherry. After the match was over, we walked around for a while longer before catching the bus home.
Saturday was beach day for Bond Uni. We were all bussed back to Broadbeach (which is way more hopping during the day). We swam in the ocean, learned how to play cricket, played some sand volleyball, and relaxed on the beach before catching the bus back home. My friend Marisa was running a half marathon in Sunshine Coast on Sunday morning, so she decided it would be a good idea for all of us to join her. (Great call Marisa). We had a 4 pm bus to catch outside campus. We had a bus to the train station, one train for about an hour, switch to another train for about an hour and a half, then another bus for about a 45 minutes. Be at Sunshine Coast about 7:30 right? No big deal.
We made the first bus at campus despite some close calls for people who went to get lunch. Somehow we arrived at the train station late and piled off the bus as our train was pulling out of the station. Next train in a half hour. No problem. We get onto the train and arrive at Brisbane Central (our transfer) to find out that we missed our original time, but another train is coming in 2 hours. Yikes. We decided to not let it bother us too much (No worries mate. Right?) and just go outside the station and grab some dinner. Little did we know that we would come across the best deal in town. We found this hole in the wall bar that was offering a $10 deal which included a steak dinner with mashed potatoes and vegetables as well as a pint of beer. Now this may sound standard for those of you back in the States. Keep in mind that a burger and soda at the cafeteria is about $13. This was like heaven on earth to college students whose bank accounts are already in shock from this first week abroad. So we all enjoyed our meal and drink and promised Down Under Bar and Grill that we would be back to Brisbane soon. So we catch our train and next bus and finally arrive to the hostel at 11 pm.
We ask around to see where would be a good place to go out. A few different people responded: "Friday's." Great. We traveled 4 hours in what took 7 hours and we're about to go out on a Saturday night to T.G.I.Friday's. Little did we know. Turns out this place is not T.G.I.Friday's, but a huge building with multiple bars. After walking around for a little bit in awe, we finally settle down at the main bar. We run into some Australians who are at a Bachelor party. They invite us over for drinks. A few hours later, we have run the extent of their $1500 pre-paid bar tab (which should not be a surprise because we out numbered the guys 3:1). We all leave the bar around 2:30 am feeling better about our saga of a transit.
At this point we were un-phased with the accommodations of the hostel and all slept like rocks. Turns out our "free breakfast" was toast with the choices of butter, jelly, peanut butter and Vegemite. Luckily I showed up to breakfast in time to hear that Vegemite was not a good decision. Jelly and toast it is, and we were off to the beach. Our stay at the hostel included free surf boards for the day. We all grabbed a board and were anxious to hit the waves. We arrived at the beach to find out that this was not the place to surf. Waves were small and there were rocks all over the beach and ocean. We tried anyway, some being more successful than others. I was in the bottom half (shocker for those of you aware of my balance natural athletic ability... right?). Regardless, we had a great day laying around by the beach, walking around the shops, and posing for pictures by the rocks. I posted a few here, but be sure to check out my Facebook for a more complete album. If I look red, it is because I am. While we remembered to bring our boxed wine, we all forgot sunscreen (priorities, I guess). All of us looked like tomatoes and already went through a bottle of aloe. Live and Learn I guess. That or live and get skin cancer. Regardless, we're remembering sunscreen from now on. And for those of you worried about the sleeveless shirt, it is called a singlet and that's the style down here (not that that makes it any less embarrassing). I guess I am going to have to hit the gym.
We arrived back at the hostel in plenty of time to catch the bus, and we caught the next two trains and bus right on time. What took us 7 hours on the way there took not a minute longer than 4 hours on the way home. We were all exhausted and hungry when we arrived to find out that Sunday nights are buffet nights at Cafe Bond. Awesome. What a great conclusion to a great trip.
Classes start today. I have a pretty tough lineup of Australian Popular Culture, Australian History, Australia: Dreamtime to Dust, and Database Management. Should be a pretty rigorous semester. But don't worry Mom, I'll be sure to study and go to class.
P.S. I think if you want to make any witty comments on the blog you have to Follow the blog. Special thanks to Keeley for the first comment. Great to hear from all of you. Talk to you soon!
Saturday was beach day for Bond Uni. We were all bussed back to Broadbeach (which is way more hopping during the day). We swam in the ocean, learned how to play cricket, played some sand volleyball, and relaxed on the beach before catching the bus back home. My friend Marisa was running a half marathon in Sunshine Coast on Sunday morning, so she decided it would be a good idea for all of us to join her. (Great call Marisa). We had a 4 pm bus to catch outside campus. We had a bus to the train station, one train for about an hour, switch to another train for about an hour and a half, then another bus for about a 45 minutes. Be at Sunshine Coast about 7:30 right? No big deal.
We made the first bus at campus despite some close calls for people who went to get lunch. Somehow we arrived at the train station late and piled off the bus as our train was pulling out of the station. Next train in a half hour. No problem. We get onto the train and arrive at Brisbane Central (our transfer) to find out that we missed our original time, but another train is coming in 2 hours. Yikes. We decided to not let it bother us too much (No worries mate. Right?) and just go outside the station and grab some dinner. Little did we know that we would come across the best deal in town. We found this hole in the wall bar that was offering a $10 deal which included a steak dinner with mashed potatoes and vegetables as well as a pint of beer. Now this may sound standard for those of you back in the States. Keep in mind that a burger and soda at the cafeteria is about $13. This was like heaven on earth to college students whose bank accounts are already in shock from this first week abroad. So we all enjoyed our meal and drink and promised Down Under Bar and Grill that we would be back to Brisbane soon. So we catch our train and next bus and finally arrive to the hostel at 11 pm.
We ask around to see where would be a good place to go out. A few different people responded: "Friday's." Great. We traveled 4 hours in what took 7 hours and we're about to go out on a Saturday night to T.G.I.Friday's. Little did we know. Turns out this place is not T.G.I.Friday's, but a huge building with multiple bars. After walking around for a little bit in awe, we finally settle down at the main bar. We run into some Australians who are at a Bachelor party. They invite us over for drinks. A few hours later, we have run the extent of their $1500 pre-paid bar tab (which should not be a surprise because we out numbered the guys 3:1). We all leave the bar around 2:30 am feeling better about our saga of a transit.
At this point we were un-phased with the accommodations of the hostel and all slept like rocks. Turns out our "free breakfast" was toast with the choices of butter, jelly, peanut butter and Vegemite. Luckily I showed up to breakfast in time to hear that Vegemite was not a good decision. Jelly and toast it is, and we were off to the beach. Our stay at the hostel included free surf boards for the day. We all grabbed a board and were anxious to hit the waves. We arrived at the beach to find out that this was not the place to surf. Waves were small and there were rocks all over the beach and ocean. We tried anyway, some being more successful than others. I was in the bottom half (shocker for those of you aware of my balance natural athletic ability... right?). Regardless, we had a great day laying around by the beach, walking around the shops, and posing for pictures by the rocks. I posted a few here, but be sure to check out my Facebook for a more complete album. If I look red, it is because I am. While we remembered to bring our boxed wine, we all forgot sunscreen (priorities, I guess). All of us looked like tomatoes and already went through a bottle of aloe. Live and Learn I guess. That or live and get skin cancer. Regardless, we're remembering sunscreen from now on. And for those of you worried about the sleeveless shirt, it is called a singlet and that's the style down here (not that that makes it any less embarrassing). I guess I am going to have to hit the gym.
We arrived back at the hostel in plenty of time to catch the bus, and we caught the next two trains and bus right on time. What took us 7 hours on the way there took not a minute longer than 4 hours on the way home. We were all exhausted and hungry when we arrived to find out that Sunday nights are buffet nights at Cafe Bond. Awesome. What a great conclusion to a great trip.
Classes start today. I have a pretty tough lineup of Australian Popular Culture, Australian History, Australia: Dreamtime to Dust, and Database Management. Should be a pretty rigorous semester. But don't worry Mom, I'll be sure to study and go to class.
P.S. I think if you want to make any witty comments on the blog you have to Follow the blog. Special thanks to Keeley for the first comment. Great to hear from all of you. Talk to you soon!
You say singlet, i hear wrestling uniform and i see bad things...hopefully this is not the same clothing
ReplyDeleteI've been enjoying reading your blog, makes me laugh and I'm already picking up on your Australina lingo, aka when you say mate eh? Thatll be fun when you come home! just kidding :)
Can't wait to read more but so glad your having fun!