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Today we had out first weekly Sunday BBQ at the apartments. Each apartment brought their own goods that they were assigned. So one group brought meat and another did dessert, etc. Each week we will rotate so everyone brings different stuff each time. It was a huge success and we had so much food. I was actually impressed and there were so many leftovers. What a way for us broke college students to save money haha. But back to school tomorrow so if anything good happens ill be sure to let everyone know!

Gone hiking

Today we went to eumundi market which was nothing more than a flea market or canal street x2. Everything was pretty cheap and there were so many fish markets so I had to get more fish and chips! The flea market is open on Saturday only. After we went to noosa heads and hiked a trail that was approximately 4 miles in length I would say. Up and down the hills it was extremely tiring. I got to see a wild koala bear up in the tree which locals say is extremely rare. I also was
Fortunate to see a dolphin pop its head out of the water. So cool! The sun was beaming strong but luckily for me I had my new aussie hat! This week is going to be hectic because we are visiting 8 schools in 3 days and have class the following two days...oh yah I'm being quizzed on Australia this week and have to read a boring 400 pg book. did I mention I'm only on pg 40..yikes

Got fish?

Today I had fish and chips aka fish and fries and it was delicious!!!!! I wish I loved shellfish but it's a good thing I like regular fish because it was sooooooo good! Freshly battered and I guess the fries were normal. A fish that big was only 8.50 with the fries so it was pretty awesome!

Super Bowl?

New York Giants vs. New England Patriots....or should I say Queensland vs. New South Whales? Yesterday my homework was to go to the local pub and watch the rugby game Queensland vs. New South Whales and if i can pick one word to describe the atmosphere it would have to be 'nuts.' This game is like the equivalent to out Super Bowl but it is a 3 game series. Queensland lost yesterday so the series is now tied at 1-1. I could only imagine what the next game will be like in a few days. If anyone was spotted wearing a blue shirt in Queensland during the game they were asking for trouble. The whole pub was coated with maroon all over. Although I don't understand how rugby works it was certainly a sight to see. 

Today I got to do my first tour of a school. Currimundi specialized school was incredible! THere were only 125 kids enrolled in this school and they all had some form of disability. Here at this school, two of my colleagues will be working at this school because they majored in special education. This was not like any ordinary school you would see back in the United States. THey were truly dedicated to making these students learners that can succeed out in the world on their own when they get older. There were so many unique features for the students like a big swimming pool, a bike track with street signs so that the students seemed like they were out on the streets, a fitness center, a gymnasium(very uncommon in Australia), and much more. I will be touring around 7 more schools and can't wait until I get to my school next Wednesday!

P.S....the toilets do not flush the opposite way...in fact they don't even circle/swirl at all...it's just a big plunge downwards haha

Here they are!

Have you ever had that craving for a nice home cooked meal? I sure miss all of the food at home! Of course living with 2 other guys isn't the easiest thing to do as far as cooking is concerned. Of course three guys are going to do the simple "BBQ foods" that can be cooked in 10 minutes. Eventually I will get the hang of making a better meal sooner than later (I hope). The fish here is amazing, there are so many flavors that are added to make it tasty. I do plan on trying kangaroo meat soon, in fact I am extremely excited to! I don't know if I will like it but either way it's something that needs to be done. THey sell it at the store but I feel that I won't make it well so that just might have to be a restaurant option for me one day! Enjoy the pictures :)

G'day Mates

G'day back to everyone from the states! I finally made it to Australia safe and sound. I finally have internet to check my mail and everything. The plane ride was extremely long and tiring, but it's a good thing that the person sitting next to me from Los Angeles to Australia didn't show up! It was nice having a little more room space I guess. The first day we stayed at an apartment in Brisbane and walked around town. The people here are so friendly and are always willing to help with directions. The Australian accents are really cool but can sometimes be hard to understand. Of course many of the locals think that us New Yorkers have the coolest accent ever (even though it's just the Long Island accent). Some things that i had noticed was that everything is extremely expensive (it sucks). THis is because we don't tip and there aren't any taxes. To make up for the difference, the minimum wage for the the locals here is 15$ an hour. Another thing is that people drive on the opposite side of the rode. It is weird that the driver operates the vehicles from the right side.

The following day when we got picked up rom the hotel we went to the Koala Sanctuary. This was an experience like no other! I was able to hold a koala and take pictures as well as feed kangaroos! It was awesome to say the least. THe koalas were so fuzzy and soft, they felt like teddy bears. The roos were hopping about and were not shy at all. They would come up to me and I would rub their chest just like a dog. THey absolutely loved it because their arms can't reach that part of their body. I also saw a platypus which was cool because they are such estranged creatures.

Now I am starting my 2 week orientation class and we are learning about the history and culture of Australia. It's good information to know before I get into the classroom but I feel like I am in my history class all over again (my least favorite subject of course).

*I will be posting a couple of photos when I get a chance to upload them.

Where did the time go?

About little while back I was in my dorm room and could remember saying to myself, "Ugh 100 more days..." It felt as if time had come to a standstill, BUT I guess not because the day is finally here! The bags are all packed and I think I'm ready. I hope so. I am definitely not looking forward to the 20 hrs on the plane, but I think it'll be worth it in the long run! I would like to thank my parents for supporting me and making this journey possible. I will try my best to update as much as I could from the other side of the world! 

P.S...If you have an iPhone and can iMessage, I can still text through that!