Shelby K. - Australia - Spring 2012

It has been roughly a month since I stepped foot on Australian soil and I am trying to embrace every moment.  It has been fun thus far.  My journey started out with a trip up to Cairns for a four day orientation.  As part of orientation, I was able to white water raft the Barron River (scary stuff) and snorkel over the Great Barrier Reef.  Floating at the ocean’s surface, just meters above a stingray, was a once in a lifetime experience.  My favorite part of the orientation was petting and feeding kangaroos, and holding a koala.  I am a sucker for soft, furry, cuddly things.

I moved into my residence in Wollongong about three weeks ago.  My home away from home is a nice sized dorm room that I share with one other American student.  Even though I have to share space, I am not complaining.  I’ve got the luxury of a huge desk, about double the size of the one’s at Elmhurst in which I personally always feel cramped, and a sink in my room which is perfect for my obsessive hand washing tendencies.

Wollongong is a medium sized city so there is a fair amount of things to do and keep busy with.  I have spent several afternoons browsing the mall nearby, looking for the best deals on Ethernet cords and t-shirts because I seemed to have packed a little too lightly.  I have also enjoyed relaxing on the beach with a good book in hand, if the one by Snooki counts as good.  I have even gone out dancing with friends in downtown Wollongong.  Wednesday night, or Uni night, is the night to go.  I always have a blast dancing my heart out.  Riding the party bus, decked out in neon lights, hardwood paneling, and roaring music, to get downtown on Wednesday nights is a cultural experience in itself.  There is just so much to see and do.

I have been attending classes for two weeks now.  The first day of classes and lectures was a bit intimidating but they get better.  One of the quirky parts of the lectures was that each lecture began by informing the class how and where to exit the building in case of a fire.  I think it is mandatory that the professors put that information in their first lecture.  Each lecture is two hours, which depending on the lecturer flies by faster than one might think.  My sociology professor just has a way of keeping the class so engaging, interacting and asking us questions, that before I know it class is over.  My philosophy lecture on the other hand tends to drag on a little.  This past week was the first week of tutorials, which are basically a class in which you debrief from the lecture, talk it over and sort out any confusing parts.  These are very helpful and somewhat comforting being that they have smaller class sizes and share more similarities with classes I have taken at Elmhurst.

Everyone is very friendly here in Australia.  I have already made some very good friends through my program orientation.  I hope to make even more friends as I begin to settle in and get into the swing of class.