7/21/15
Hey everybody, I am sorry it has taken so long for me to post another blog since my last one, it has been busy and its hard to remember to blog! The last two weeks have been jam packed with activities, and meeting new people! Last week on Tuesday we started the orientation for ISA (the program I came here through) and we had students from Perth, Adelaide, and Melbourne all here, totaling 23 students. It was an amazing experience and we got to do so much in just 3 short days! Some of the things that we got to do were, take a walking tour of Melbourne from an experienced tour guide who grew up here, so we got awesome information. Later on Tuesday we went up in the Eureka Sky deck were you can see 360 degree views of the city from the tallest building in Melbourne, then to end the night we got to take a tram car ride where we were served dinner, and I had my first legal drink just some champagne and wine, which were both nasty! Once we got back to the hotel we were all staying at a small group of us ended up going out again to a bar in central station. When we got there, we had to go through security, which was just a bouncer and we had to show them our IDs. Out of the 8 of us that went, I was the one person who didn't know what they wanted or what pretty much anything was on the menu, so me being curious, asked the bartender what she would recommend and she said a mojito. (Everyone thought it was so weird that I asked, but I didn't really care.) Not a huge fan, but I do like hurricanes, which somebody in our group got one to share! Wednesday has been one of my favorite days here so far! We all took a hour and a half bus ride to a city called Ballarat, where we took a tour of a Wildlife Park, this park had hundreds of kangaroos just roaming around to pet and feed, SOOOO COOL!! They also had other animals such as koalas, Tasmanian devils, wombats, and crocodile, it was super fun. That night we had a night out again, nothing too fun, just hanging out. Thursday we toured the Melbourne Cricket Ground or MCG, our tour guide was super funny but you could only understand like half the things he said. That night was super fun, we went downstairs to the bar attached to the hotel and we sung some karaoke. I haven't sung in front of people since I was probably 7, man it was super fun though! Then this past week we had orientation for school, so we figured out class times and what books we needed and all sorts of different information that would be helpful for the semester. You could attend which ever sessions you wanted that were going on, and me being me I attended most of them! Its crazy to think I have been here almost three weeks, and that classes start today, AHH! Well it has taken me a good week to write this post and I apologize if you have been waiting, I warned you guys that I wouldn't be the best at remembering! Well I am gonna head to campus and start reading my book before class! Look for a post at the end of the week. I posted pretty much all my pictures on snapfish! (:
Hakuna Matata
Love you all,
Tegen
Sunday, July 26, 2015
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
I Made It!
7/9/15
Hi from Australia everybody! I made it safely to Melbourne (pronounced Mel-bin). The flights here were not as bad as I was anticipated, and it helped that since I have a boot on my foot that I had an escort waiting for me after each flight that took me to the next gate, which made things go very smoothly. When I landed in Brisbane the escort waiting for me was named Tegan so it was really funny and confusing they were super surprised I called her by her name when in fact I was asking if she was waiting for a Tegen, that being me. She helped me go through customs and all new security which gave us access to the fast lanes and made everything a lot smoother! I freaked out a little bit because I had to take a shuttle from one airport to another in Brisbane and I quickly realized that the bus was going the wrong way around the roundabout and then realized here they drive on the opposite side of the road and of the car. When I landed here in Melbourne I was quick to find my luggage but took me awhile to find my driver, who had left to go get food. Once I found them I was joined by a couple other students either attending University of Melbourne, La Trobe, or the University of Victoria. One student was from Nashville and then the other was from Indonesia, which was pretty cool to meet him, he was very helpful and nice! It was about a 25 minute drive from the airport to my residence, during which I also realized I do not like the driving here, I am too much of a country kid to drive in the cities in MN, much less here, THEY ARE WAY WORSE! The person who helped me check-in here was very nice and answered all my questions I had. I am on the first floor of my building, but I still have to take the elevator up, because I have a key card that grants me access to the building, but also to make sure no random people end up on the floors. My room is a studio that is shared by two people although my roomie is not here yet; has its own bathroom and little kitchenette. I was provided with my own bedding, and a kitchen pack that had all the essentials to cooking. One thing that I was warned of is that in Australia if you set off a fire alarm and the fire trucks come, and it is a false alarm the fine is up to $1000 or so, CRAZY, I know. also in the building we have study lounges, a tv room, and access to the roof which is like a little hang out area that has two barbeques or barbies. Yesterday was my first full day here and I started to explore a little. I tried to find a grocery store, which I found but it was little one so I need to go to a different one to get food, but with my foot it is hard to go a half a mile to go get food and then back carrying the bags. I also tried the trams, which was definitely an adventure in itself. I went about 15 minutes on the tram to meet up with the resident director I will be working with here. On the way home from her I went a different way to explore more, and I got my phone switched to an Australian number, found a McDonalds, and a Subway. I also stopped at a little tourist shop and picked up some postcards. By the time I got back home yesterday I was exhausted but I had to make myself stay up longer or my body would be skrewed up, but I only lasted until 7pm. The day I got here I went to bed at 7 and woke up at 5:30, which worked cause I got some skyping in with Trent and my parents. Today I woke up at 7, Skyped Trent for a bit and then went back to sleep until 1, hopefully I can stay up and get on the right schedule! That is about the extent of my trip so far, nothing too exiting, just trying to take it one day at a time and not overwhelm myself. Off to go find the bigger grocery store and post office! Talk later! If you would like my address you can ask my parents or facebook me, also for my skype name, and for my texting number! I will be posting some photos here soon as well so go ahead on snapfish and look for those!
Hakuna Matata
Love you all,
Tegen
Hi from Australia everybody! I made it safely to Melbourne (pronounced Mel-bin). The flights here were not as bad as I was anticipated, and it helped that since I have a boot on my foot that I had an escort waiting for me after each flight that took me to the next gate, which made things go very smoothly. When I landed in Brisbane the escort waiting for me was named Tegan so it was really funny and confusing they were super surprised I called her by her name when in fact I was asking if she was waiting for a Tegen, that being me. She helped me go through customs and all new security which gave us access to the fast lanes and made everything a lot smoother! I freaked out a little bit because I had to take a shuttle from one airport to another in Brisbane and I quickly realized that the bus was going the wrong way around the roundabout and then realized here they drive on the opposite side of the road and of the car. When I landed here in Melbourne I was quick to find my luggage but took me awhile to find my driver, who had left to go get food. Once I found them I was joined by a couple other students either attending University of Melbourne, La Trobe, or the University of Victoria. One student was from Nashville and then the other was from Indonesia, which was pretty cool to meet him, he was very helpful and nice! It was about a 25 minute drive from the airport to my residence, during which I also realized I do not like the driving here, I am too much of a country kid to drive in the cities in MN, much less here, THEY ARE WAY WORSE! The person who helped me check-in here was very nice and answered all my questions I had. I am on the first floor of my building, but I still have to take the elevator up, because I have a key card that grants me access to the building, but also to make sure no random people end up on the floors. My room is a studio that is shared by two people although my roomie is not here yet; has its own bathroom and little kitchenette. I was provided with my own bedding, and a kitchen pack that had all the essentials to cooking. One thing that I was warned of is that in Australia if you set off a fire alarm and the fire trucks come, and it is a false alarm the fine is up to $1000 or so, CRAZY, I know. also in the building we have study lounges, a tv room, and access to the roof which is like a little hang out area that has two barbeques or barbies. Yesterday was my first full day here and I started to explore a little. I tried to find a grocery store, which I found but it was little one so I need to go to a different one to get food, but with my foot it is hard to go a half a mile to go get food and then back carrying the bags. I also tried the trams, which was definitely an adventure in itself. I went about 15 minutes on the tram to meet up with the resident director I will be working with here. On the way home from her I went a different way to explore more, and I got my phone switched to an Australian number, found a McDonalds, and a Subway. I also stopped at a little tourist shop and picked up some postcards. By the time I got back home yesterday I was exhausted but I had to make myself stay up longer or my body would be skrewed up, but I only lasted until 7pm. The day I got here I went to bed at 7 and woke up at 5:30, which worked cause I got some skyping in with Trent and my parents. Today I woke up at 7, Skyped Trent for a bit and then went back to sleep until 1, hopefully I can stay up and get on the right schedule! That is about the extent of my trip so far, nothing too exiting, just trying to take it one day at a time and not overwhelm myself. Off to go find the bigger grocery store and post office! Talk later! If you would like my address you can ask my parents or facebook me, also for my skype name, and for my texting number! I will be posting some photos here soon as well so go ahead on snapfish and look for those!
Hakuna Matata
Love you all,
Tegen
Saturday, July 4, 2015
Just Over A Day
7/4/15
First of all I would like to wish you all a very happy Fourth of July. Having it be the Fourth of July it marks that I have just a little over a day until I leave for Melbourne. As happy as I am to go on this experience, I am really having a hard time saying goodbye to my family and friends. I had been doing pretty good not crying until I had to say goodbye to two of my brothers, Jerred and Kyle and of course my nephew Dexter (the dog). This was yesterday and even thinking about it yet today I tear up. To everyone that I haven't personally said goodbye to I would like to say now, goodbye and thank you for all your love and support. I am so blessed to have the support system I do, I do not know where I would be today, without you all! Today's agenda is to hang out with Trent, and my parents, possibly going to find fireworks, and just spending my last night with those I love, and to pack up my carry-on bag. EEEK I AM SO NERVOUS! But I am just as excited. Otay, well, I am gonna stop writing and spend my time with fam! Bye all, I will write when I can!
Hakuna Matata
Love you all,
Tegen
First of all I would like to wish you all a very happy Fourth of July. Having it be the Fourth of July it marks that I have just a little over a day until I leave for Melbourne. As happy as I am to go on this experience, I am really having a hard time saying goodbye to my family and friends. I had been doing pretty good not crying until I had to say goodbye to two of my brothers, Jerred and Kyle and of course my nephew Dexter (the dog). This was yesterday and even thinking about it yet today I tear up. To everyone that I haven't personally said goodbye to I would like to say now, goodbye and thank you for all your love and support. I am so blessed to have the support system I do, I do not know where I would be today, without you all! Today's agenda is to hang out with Trent, and my parents, possibly going to find fireworks, and just spending my last night with those I love, and to pack up my carry-on bag. EEEK I AM SO NERVOUS! But I am just as excited. Otay, well, I am gonna stop writing and spend my time with fam! Bye all, I will write when I can!
Hakuna Matata
Love you all,
Tegen
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