Another Week in Paradise!

So Monday came as a harsh reminder that I'm actually here to go to class, not just go to the beach/rainforest/other magical places. But I'm happy to say I have officially survived my first week of Australian classes! :) Classes here are much different than at App. Every class has a lecture and a tutorial, or "tute" as the Australians call them since they like to shorten every word possible. Here is my schedule:

ENS 372: Integrated Marine Systems
ENS 242: Intro to Weather and Climate
GEO 350: Animal Geographies
ENS 222: Animal Diversity and Ecology

Integrated Marine Systems is meant for "third year" students (seniors), so I might be in over my head a little, but I'm SO excited for the class anyway! There are about 8 of us in the class, and I think the material is going to be really interesting to me. AND I found out we're going on a field trip in a few weeks to Fraser Island, the largest sand island in the world and the only place on the planet where rainforest grows from sand. We're going to do research on birds (Dr. K- wish you could go!) and we'll be there for two nights and it's FREE. I am SO stoked!!!

Intro to Weather and Climate should also be a good class. My professor is really nice and the class is meant for anybody, so it hopefully won't be too tough. I learned about the weather in my environmental science class in high school and found it really interesting so I'm thinking I'll like this class!

I think Animal Geographies is going to be one of those classes that makes you think about things you've never really thought about before. The professor is a huge animal lover like me and I think she'll have some cool stories to tell (she showed us a picture of her with lions!)

Animal Diversity and Ecology sounds like the material will be AWESOME, but I think I'm going to drop it. There is a TON of work to do for it, and if you know me well enough to be reading this you probably already know that I'm an extremely hard worker, but I want to be able to enjoy my time here without constantly stressing about school work. That's why I took 18 hours my fall semester and 19 hours my spring semester- so I could get here and take few hours without getting behind and fully enjoy the experience here. Plus there is a mandatory field trip during our 2 week break, which is when I'm planning on doing a lot of traveling. And the class is my only Friday class so if I drop it I'll have three day weekends to travel. But dropping it could affect my visa, so I need to talk to somebody at USC to figure it out.

Anyway, I have Wednesdays free, so on Wednesday I slept in and then headed to Mooloolaba Beach by myself (after doing an entire sinkful of dishes- Mom, you should be proud!) I brought my book and just laid on the beach and read while watching the surfers and the sunset. It was chilly out but the beach was beautiful, as always!

 There are seriously surfers EVERYWHERE in Australia! I cannot wait to learn; I feel like I'm such a surfer at heart haha!

 And this is a 20 minute bus ride away from my school... am I lucky or what?!

Last night (Friday night), Sam, Megan, Aren, Eli, Erick, Peter and I went to Mooloolaba for dinner. I bought some garlic bread (I didn't want to spend money on a full meal haha) that was basically a pizza and was delicious! Then Megan and I split a caramel chocolate dessert, which was pretty tasty too!

 Our dessert!

I'll definitely have to do some of these while I'm here!

Then last night the roomies + Aren (she's practically our fifth roommate) watched Made of Honor. Then I got to Skype my Sheild family (well, Katie, Ellie and Momma Sheild), which was magical. I loved hearing all about Katie's study abroad trip! Oh and I also got to Skype Monica and Muhammad earlier this week, which was amazing as well! I miss all of my friends so so SO much!!!

Today we all slept in. Then I got to Skype my parents and wish my dad a happy birthday. They're going on our annual beach trip tomorrow and I wish SO badly that I could go on it and then just come back here right after! Anyways, then a big group of us (everybody from last night plus Helen and Brent, Peter's Aussie roommate) walked to a restaurant for a cheap-ish lunch and then went to Sam's, which is a big store with everything from food to toiletries to art supplies. Sam's is the cheapest store we've been to, so it was exciting even though I didn't get much. When we got back to the apartment I went for a run. Best run I've ever been on! SO beautiful! I am so blessed to be here!!!

Tonight, Helen made the delicious lasagna that she, Amy and I bought the ingredients for awhile ago. It was scrumptious! Then Amy invited me to go bowling with her, her roommates, and her roommate's friends. I was so pumped! Amy is lucky and has 2 Australian roommates, who are both super nice.

 Me and Amy! We've been great friends ever since we met in the LA airport! :)

 I bought Sarsaparilla- Australia's version of root beer! I don't think I'll ever be able to say it!

 Me and Amy's Aussie roomie, Bianca, but we all call her B!

 Amy, Me, Pat (the 2nd Aussie), and Mat

 I got a strike and was allowed to spin the wheel...

 I got to pick a prize out of the red bucket! WOOHOOO!!!

...And I got a super cheap plastic bead kit haha

Then when we got back I went to Peter's and joined everybody to watch the Olympics for a little while. I'm planning on going to the beach for the whole day tomorrow, even if nobody goes with me (nobody else is as crazy about the beach as I am haha). 

Sorry this blog wasn't quite as exciting as the others, but just wanted to give everyone an update. Love and miss you all lots and lots!

Hugs from Australia!

Sara