I’m sorry that all of my posts are coming at the same time -
getting Internet access was a little bit challenging. But, it was totally worth
it, and now I am ready to post as soon as I am finished writing! The past few
days have been a little blurry due to the jet lag, but I’d like to fill you in
on the highlights so far.
My first meal at Murdoch was classic American – Domino’s
Pizza. It was delicious. If Domino’s was made the same way in Cincinnati, I
would say it tasted better than LaRosa’s. Unfortunately, I was so exhausted
that I didn’t really meet anyone. I went to bed as soon as possible.
On Sunday, the group had a short orientation with Paul, our
advisor, on Australian culture. According to Paul, the biggest adjustments I
will face are; cars driving on the opposite side of the road, Australian slang,
a higher cost of living (minimum wage is 15 dollars!), and a much warmer
climate (Perth has almost no ozone, most people burn within ten minutes without
sunscreen). Two things that I am accustomed to by now are the drinking age (I
can drink anywhere now, its not so special) and grading on a bell curve (Thanks
for the prep, Vandy).
Afterward, Paul took us on the public bus to nearby
Fremantle, a port town where the downtown is right on the harbor. The locals
know it as Freo. Paul bought the group lunch at a deli, and then set us free to
roam for the rest of the day. Fremantle was absolutely beautiful. There were
open-air markets selling anything imaginable, from fruit to Brazilian samba
CDs. The buildings were all built in a Parisian style, very similar to the
French Quarter in New Orleans. The streets were lined with boutiques, second
hand bookshops, and bars. There was even a hostel for backpackers in the middle
of the shopping district.
At the end of the shopping district is the oldest building
in Freo – the first jail ever built there. It didn’t look like much; it was
really a mud and stone hut. I am glad, however, that this historic building has
been preserved, especially considering that it is in such a lucrative
real-estate area. Apartments nearby start pricing at 1,000 dollars a week.
Behind the monument was a small beach, where the group unwound by dipping our
toes in the surf. The Aussies walking by probably thought we were all crazy, as
70 degrees is very cold to them, but we Americans loved it. It was a nice way
to end my first day in town.
Yesterday was relaxing. We spent most of the day in
orientation, but in the afternoon we were able to go to a nearby shopping mall.
The major difference that I noticed was that there were two separate, full size
grocery stores within the mall. I don’t know why they were both there, but it
was interesting to see them so close to each other. That evening, Paul took us
out to Clancy’s, a pub in Freo. The food was delicious – I had stuffed
mushrooms with a green salad, French fries, and chocolate ice cream. I was
surprised at how many people were in a pub on a weekday night. I think it is a
comparable experience to going to BW-3’s after work. We found out that they
have a weekly trivia night – I think we are going next week.
Today was another round of orientation meetings, but the
highlights were that we had a chance to meet the U.S. consulate and the rest of
the international students. In the morning, we met with the consulate to learn
about its role in our safety and wellbeing while we are abroad. We also had a
chance to ask the representative about working in the Foreign Service. It seems
to be a very demanding profession. After listening to some of his stories, I
truly respect that line of work. They take great measures to ensure our safety
abroad. It is remarkable.
For dinner, we went to a welcome dinner, where we were
accompanied by all of Murdoch’s international students. We played games to get
to know each other, the best being an Australian-themed aluminum foil sculpture
contest. Subjects included; platypuses, kangaroos, boomerangs, surfboards and didgeridoos.
I was able to meet students from Norway, Canada and Malaysia. They were all
very friendly and easy to get along with. I think we are making plans for a
shopping trip soon.
Tomorrow, we are going to the Caversham Wildlife Preserve,
where I’ll be meeting marsupials and other native animals of all kinds. Prepare
for some cute photos.
Until
next time,
Sarah
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