Adventure continues ... with a new friend :)

They say that you know you have learned the language (or accent) when you begin dreaming in it. Well no dreams yet, and I have yet to open my mouth and have a badly pronounced Australian word flop out but I have begun to think in an Aussie accent… I guess I am part way there! The other night when I was on the phone with another potential housemate I was told to “please speak more clearly” because he didn’t understand me through my “thick accent.” Imagine that ;) I think the last time I was told to speak more clearly was in 3rd grade prepping for one of ATID’s (my elementary school) infamous Hannukah programs Needless to say, it has been awhile.

Today marks the end of my first week here. I keep forgetting that I am actually here to study but I am really looking forward to the structure that school will give me. I met a really amazing woman at the airport from Finland named Tellu and we have been pretty inseparable for the last few days. I have to say, however, that we don’t really know what to do with all our time. Our daily routine is walking on the beach, running errands and eating… sounds good to me! The other day I discovered that she is also an avid Harry Potter fan so we went to see that last night.

It was a very different experience. The “large” soda and popcorn was probably the size of our smalls. The theater had maybe 15 other people in it and the movie came out one day ago! There have been several things that remind me that I am not at home and that is definitely one of them. It is hard to grasp just how oversized our portions are until we come to a new place.

In other news, I finally found a place to live! I think I probably saw at least 20 places but I think I will be quite happy at my new home. I am renting from a young couple who just bought this flat. The woman is 22 and a student and the man is 28 and a surfing instructor (Tellu is very excited about this!). The suburb is called Surfers Paradise and the area is called Chevron Island.

I am about 20 min (by bus) to school and a ten minute walk to central Surfers Paradise and the beach. The flat itself has three bedrooms and one bathroom. The place is kind of a fixer upper but I think I will enjoy being able to make the room/ apartment livable. Don’t get me wrong, it is not disgusting but it definitely needs some new paint and light fixtures and love :) There is a very large IKEA between here and Brisbane so I am going to try and make a trip next week. I have some more orientations next week but I don’t officially start school until the 27th. I still have not finalized my classes but I think I am ready to start that learning stuff again.. ;) until next time… love to you all!!!