Lists, Lists, Lists

“Australian” Words and Phrases That Are Awesome:

• Wanker (though the derivative “wanky” may be even better)

• Basalt (pronounced BA-salt, with the emphasis on the first syllable instead of buh-salt like at home)

• Girl (pronounced more like “guuhel”, kinda like ‘gull’ as in seagull, but a longer vowel and a bit of an e sound in there too)

• Moustache (pronounced “moo-staaush”. Teeheehee ^^ Every time I hear someone say it I think of Emil and have to suppress mad giggling)

• Chook (short for “chicken”, most commonly used in reference to a chook-pen)

• Mozzie (short for mosquito)

• Jellie (short for jelly fish)

• Blowie (short for blow fish…. Do you see a pattern here?)

• No Worries (I already said this a lot before I came, and now I say it ALL. THE. TIME.)

• G’day (You know how I say “have a good day” constantly as well? Well, now it’s “have a g’day” and I may never fully pronounce the word “good” again)

• Afters (the party after the party, which usually involves lots of drinking)

• Sundowners (drinking as the sun goes down)

• Leavers (graduation parties, which usually involve lots of drinking…...)

Things That Make Me Grumpy:

• Driving on the wrong side of the road. Still disorienting. I’m sitting on the left but I can’t see out any mirrors! I’m crossing the street but I have to look the other way! We’re merging left and turning right across traffic! It’s madness, I tell you, madness!

• How expensive everything is. Harumph. :/

• 20 cent coins. They're too big and light and annoying in my wallet.

• The washing machine in my apartment. I don’t feel like it really gets my clothes that clean. The fact that the clothes line is all cobwebby doesn’t help either.

• The drinking fountains on campus. At home, you can pretty much count on a water fountain at the entrance of every bathroom, but here they are mysteriously random and hidden in weird nooks and crannies and I have to work to hunt them down and remember where they are.

• The size of my classes. My smallest classes is a tutorial with 20 students, but we only meet once a week. My largest class is 200 people, and all the rest are 40-70. :/ I’m not very good at meeting people this way and the professors aren’t very good at teaching this way either….

Things I Miss So Much It Makes Me Want To Cry Every Time I Think About It:

• Roommates who are family. Hilarious example of how pathetic it is living in this flat right now: I had to lay in wait for FOUR DAYS to finally be in the common area at the same time as a roommate, so I could get someone stronger than I am to open this horrendously stubborn jar of jam. D: (IN MY DEFENSE, even the beefy steel-worker guy had to go get a rag to help with traction on this sucker. Last time I buy jam…)

• My kitties. I practically accosted Nicholas’ poor cat in my attempt to ease my despairing feline-loneliness. :’( I never felt so alone until I couldn’t snuggle with my Queen.

• Friends who get my sense of humor so well that Apples to Apples becomes the most fabulous game on earth. Also friends who trade verbally abusive jokes with me, and friends with whom I have all the silly inside jokes. Friends whose families treat me as another daughter and friends that I go on crazy camping trips with. And definitely the friends that give me great big kidnapping-Miela hugs. Also…. guh, I just miss you all. So much.

• My brother and his astonishing ability to say the absolute funniest things in the world.

• Green chilie. Oh god, I think I’m literally DYING of withdrawal. “Spicy” flavor here (like everywhere else I’ve ever been) is just disappointing in comparison. My cravings for real breakfast burritos grow by the day. T_T

• My textbooks. It’s so frustrating trying to do geology without my reference guides, especially when the teachers don’t really teach. ><

• My bed. ….. I’m trying not to think about it actually, because if I do, I will probably spiral into depression.  

• Family and adopted-family that make me feel at home even when far away. I feel like such a stranger here.

• My closet. I’m not exactly a fashionista and I own far too many things I never wear, but I’m already getting bored of the same 8 shirts I have. >.> This also applies to my jewelry box, especially since I keep losing/breaking pieces!! Cry cry cry. T_T

Things I’m Falling In Love With:

• The little tiny Australian 2 dollar coins. Somehow they are the most wonderful size and shape. Just watch, I’m going to come home with a secret horde of them.

• The Indian Ocean and the beach. Bodysurfing is, as Leonard pointed out, like flying, and the sand beneath your feet has a constantly-changing life of its own and I think I could spend an entire day contentedly watching the movement of the waves on the shore and the smell of salt in the air reminds me of the Chesapeake and family and makes me feel more alive.

• The train. Even during peak rush hour when I get crammed in like a sardine and everyone awkwardly avoids everyone else's eyes, there’s still something about catching the train. The train is …. Solid; rest assured it runs and runs on time, unlike buses that may break down or cars that get stuck in traffic. The train is also anonymous, and freeing, like I could go anywhere and quietly read a book until I get there. Plus I think I just like sense of motion, the gentle push and pull of stopping and going, the trick of trying to take all the momentum in your knees without needing the handholds.

• The birds. As my last post may have indicated, I’ve developed some weird fascination with all these “exotic” birds, despite the fact that birds are creepy dinosaurs. I think my love must have something to do with the singing; they all together make such a singular racket on campus, so much louder than blue jays and road runners and humming birds.

 And finally, another song that makes me happy deep down in my soul.