A Piece of Home

Today I received a package from my mom full of Canadian souvenirs to distribute to all my international friends. It was really great to get a package and even better something that I could share with my buddies. I took the box to school and we all opened it together. It was like a mini- Canadian-version of Christmas and I think that everyone liked it.
With only 17 days to go I can't believe how long I've been here. Sometimes it seems like I left home yesterday and others it seems like I've been here forever. I'm really going to miss the friends I've made and it was nice to give them a little something to remember me by.

Canadian galore

Canadian socks and pens

Canadian toques (called beanies here) and a sock purse keychain

Great Ocean Road Tour

"Oh God, thy sea is so great and my boat is so small"


This is a prayer I've always liked. I saw it in the movie W. about George Bush, as he had it on a plaque on his desk in the film. I think about it all the time, anytime I have an overwhelming task, but especially when I get to witness things that show me just how big the world is. Yesterday was a 14 hour example of the latter.


Germany and I booked a tour to drive down Great Ocean Road, which, as you can probably tell by the name, means the long road along the coast. We boarded a bus bright and early at 7 am with 22 other tourists and set off. The weather was beautiful and clear the whole day and we saw A LOT!


We drove to the famous surf beach, Bells Beach, and watched the early morning crew take on massive waves from the top of the cliff. Took some pictures too and enjoyed a morning tea provided by the tour guide, Matt. The sun wasn't too high in the sky yet and it was really beautiful.

The little dots are surfers!

Next we travelled through several small towns to get to a wildlife sanctuary and hostel. There we saw koalas lazing in trees (SO adorable), colourful parrots, and ducks and their ducklings. The highlight though was definitely seeing a Kookaburra! The man who owned an ice cream shop nearby was feeding two of them. I have to say, they are the coolest looking birds with heads nearly the size of their bodies.

kookaburra

Next it was onto Otway Lighthouse, which was a big deal for me. I grew up in a small town on Lake Erie that just happens to contain Canada's oldest wooden lighthouse, that I once worked in. This lighthouse was made out of stone and quite a bit bigger, but reminded me a lot of home non the less. We were also lucky enough to come across and echinda, which is like a porcupine but with a long nose. Our tour guide told us they are one of the rare mammals that lay eggs. I think they're amazing. 

Echinda

After lunch at the lighthouse we reached our final destination, The Twelve Apostles. They are tiny islands along the coast that are grouped together and look like giant stone fingers coming out of the ocean. They are not made out of volcanic rock and it's quite amazing that they have survived the years of being pounded by waves 24/7. 

5 of the apostles

the top of the hill all along are PEOPLE- to show size

very informative sign

2 more apostles

Kissing aus goodbye (it's actually a mile away)

Near the Apostles are Gibsons Steps, which are 86 steps carved out of the rock by a fisherman, not surprisingly, named Gibson! They take you from the top all the way down to the water for miles and miles of sand and surf. 

The final and coolest part (in my opinion) of the whole trip was visiting Loch Ard Gorge. This is, obviously a gorge, which is filled with caves and rocks and beach. The exciting part though is the story. A shipwreck occured back in the day (no idea what year, so don't judge my reading comprehension), and there were only 2 survivors, a man and a woman. The woman was the daughter of a rich doctor and the man was a ship hand. The man and woman floated into the gorge and the man saved the woman (classic). He made a ladder out of debris and climbed up the cliff face to go to the nearest farmers house (the Gibson guy from earlier) who came down and helped to revive the woman, saving her life. A while after that the man sent the woman a letter proposing to her- and she turned him down!! Saying that she was too high class for him. Like wow, he saved your freakin life lady, the least you can do is marry the guy! Anyways, it was kinda cool to go down there and run around and be where that actually happened.

Then we had a 2 hour and 40 minute drive back into the city. It was an amazing day with so much to see. I think I may actually miss this place. 19 days til home... and counting.

Chisholm Ball

Last night was the Chisholm Residence Ball. Most of my friends live there and those who didn't were able to sneak in as guests of our other friends. It was a great night and I love any chance to get dressed up. I rocked a halloween themed outfit, just because, and 3 of my British friends all showed up wearing white. 
It was a great night and awesome to see everyone all cleaned up. 
The venue was beautiful, The Royal Ballroom in Northcote, and we were seated at a table with really nice people. The music was great and it was all you could drink of beer, champagne and wine until 11:30pm- when clearly the 300 people in attendance needed to be cut off. 
All in all in an awesome event and a great way to end the semester together. I'm going to miss these people so much, as most are only here for one semester abroad and I'll be returning in a few months.

The Girls- myself, Chicago, Britain 1 2 & 3, Guelph 

Me and a nice tree

More of my friends- Florida, myself, Detroit and Sweden

A picture of my awesome fascinator- the little tophat on my head :)

Most of the International students in attendance

This weekend, excitingly, means 3 weeks til I go home to Canada!! I can't believe how time has flown by. Now to study for my exam and pack up for my Sydney trip this thursday! 

Very Important Dates!

Hey all!
Sorry I haven't posted in a while but my life has not been too exciting. I'm in the midst of writing papers and finals as there are only 2 weeks left of classes until exams! EEK!
So here is a quick version of updates:
Today was Germany's birthday!
The Chisholm Ball is on Thursday! That means dressing up with my friends, which will be exciting
A trip to Sydney on Oct 27th-Oct 31st- which is our study week for exams, but as I only have one, I won't need a whole week 
My exam is Nov.7th

Dita Von Teese- famous for her dance in an oversized martini glass, star of Cointreau Liquor ads and just produced a new fragrance Femmetotale this month

The Burlesque Ball in Melbourne is Nov. 11th (my mommas birthday) where I'm hoping to meet Dita Von Teese
Flying back to Canada Nov.13th!
This is proving to be a busy 4 weeks and then I will be back in the land of ice and snow. I'm sooo excited to come home and see my friends and family, as well as enjoy the great month ahead.
Here are some photos of my roommate Germany's 19th birthday today. She opened her presents (chocolates, a baking recipe book, and an australian themed photo album) then we went to the Max Brenner gourmet chocolate shop/restaurant for brunch and split fondue. Next we went for lunch at the Young & Jackson's rooftop cider bar, and later on to friends of her house for a home cooked dinner. It was a solid day and I even managed to write 800 words in that time as well!
Here are the photos some are random things I've seen recently and others are from today's birthday celebration:

cool exotic flowers on my street

White ribbon in the Agora to stop violence against women

A happy birthday girl at Max Brenner with amazing fondue!

apples, strawberries, marshmellows and banana bread for dipping!

very decorated chocolate truffles

a happy me! What a study break

cupcake cakes in The Cupcake Bakery- we always stare at them

That's all for now! Hopefully post Chisholm Ball I will have something more interesting to write about. Now does anyone want to edit my essay on technologies affect on culture? anyone?.... anyone?

27 days til home!

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!


As one of my favourite holidays I was not willing to miss out on it this year. I organized a potluck dinner among my international friends last night, and it was a great success! My friend Britain and I made 2 chickens all on our own (neither of us had every done it before). She kept saying "poor little chicken" everytime we had to do something to it, or we were screaming over the slimy-ness of them. It was quite the endeavour, but we got it done and no one got food poisoning! Horray!
And yes we did not have turkey or pumpkin pie because you, sadly, cannot get those things in Australia. It was the thought that counted!
About 25 people showed up to eat and most people brought something. We shoved some tables together and made a giant banquet table that still did not have enough room for all of us. It was great :)
I'm very thankful to have this international family in my home away from home.