Homeward Bound

Tomorrow morning I leave for Sydney-Auckland (NZ)-LAX-Cincinnati and finally to Indy. It will take me 40 hours of traveling time but I will get there eventually. I really look forward to being home, even if it's only for a couple of days.

The first picture is of Christmas in July and the second is Barefoot Benefit. I am very much enjoying my time here. There is a lot less work involved in the classes here and I haven't had too much other work to do. One thing that I have noticed is the amount of essays that are used as assessments here. Many of my classes replace essays with exams.

I had Australian sushi for the first time today. Sushi is sort of a really casual affair. You just stroll into a store and they have sushi pre-made and you order them piece by piece. I'm pretty sure I'm starting to get used to the customs here.

Some more Aussie words to add:

dero (derived from derelict, "He's so sleazy, such a dero)

dag (dowdy, I reckon I am looking pretty dag today)

esky (cooler)

keen (I'm keen to play some footy)

starkers (naked)

chunder (vomit)

rockmelon (canteloupe)

reckon (I reckon....)

I was incorrectly informed about the usage of sleazy, apparently, the word is seedy (hungover).

Hopefully this turns into a series...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlKZOMlOR8g

Thursday night was pub night and before we left a couple of girl's here decided to "borrow" a life-size paper mache tree from a room on my floor that had been left open. We put the tree in my room because I had the most space and left for the pub. I returned later that night, entered through the balcony and proceeded to trip over an unknown obstacle in my room. I stumble towards the light switch, turn on the light and see my room lovingly trashed and my entire bed missing from my room. Notice my boots stuck on the ceiling fan. I look around and someone locates my bed in the bathroom. After replacing my bed and putting everything back together I go to sleep. The next morning all of the toilet seats had been taken off of the toilets. Retribution will be swift and imminent.

Last night was Barefoot Benefit which was an annual cocktail charity event that raises money for the impoverished. Cocktail attire, no shoes and cheap drinks makes for a sticky night...will post pictures later. It also looks like most people got a case of food poisoning..

Today was my second day of work at a Vietnamese/Thai restaurant called Beyond the Red. Unfortunately, it looks like I will be quitting tomorrow for many reasons. It is much easier to find a job in Australia and the pay is excellent. Minimum wage is $15 an hour if you are over 18 and on average around $20 if you are over 21. I am in dire need of a job.

This week I booked my plane tickets to New Zealand for two weeks at the end of September. I am looking forward to a series of adventures or misadventures.

Oh so I accidentally had a wrong setting on my blog that didn't let anyone that wasn't a follower make a comment. It is fixed now, go crazy.

Settling Down

Things have gotten in a routine for the time being. I am attending all of my classes (missed my first one this morning) and on the hunt for a job.

I have decided to join the soccer team at St. Mark's and so far it has been a delight. Our first game is on the 29th of August. All throughout the year every sports activity that is won scores points for the college. There are 5 colleges total that compete with each other, our main rival is Aquinas, the college just up the hill. The college at the end of the year that has the most points will win the High Table Cup, sort of like a huge trophy and massive bragging rights. As of now, we are down by eight points with 70+ left to earn this semester so things are looking bright. I am feeling very much like I am at Hogwart's competing in the Triwizard Cup.

If you get a chance, look up netball (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netball). It is a strange sport that is sort of like basketball that is played here. I saw my first game yesterday and it was weird. I don't think I'm a fan of no-contact sports.

Looks like I will be in the states between August 20th and August 27th. What a pain to have to fly back for such a short period, but nevertheless, I am looking forward to it.

Some lingo or phrases I have picked up:

Uni (university)

Heaps (a lot, i.e. Last night was heaps fun)

Bugger (this is versatile, I've stepped in a hole, bugger)

Mucked up (messed up)

Loose (tipsy, I had such a loose night)

Sleazy (tipsy, I was so sleazy last night)

Dodgy

Bogan (sort of like red-neck)

Dinner (lunch)

Tea (dinner)

Brekkie (breakfast)

Barbie (barbecue)

Mate (good friend)

Port-a-loo

When greeted, most people say "How you going?"

Everyone wears Uggs here, EVERYONE.

Ball and Formal Dinners

Ponding: you may be ponded by your peers for the following offences.

1. Ponding is only to occur when one or other of the following College practices or traditions have been violated:
   1. entering the dining hall without footwear
   2. rising from table during Formal Hall before the JCR President, or his/her representative for that evening, has risen
   3. not wearing an academic gown to Formal Hall
   4. wearing baseball caps or other headgear at Formal Hall
   5. team members not turning up for sporting events in which they are due to participate.
   6. to have a mobile phone ring or make any such sound entering or from within the dining hall (excludes members of administration)
   7. showing kneecaps or shoulder caps during Formal Hall
   8. entering the dining hall wearing pyjamas
2. The personal rights of a pondee must be respected. No-one may be ponded without their consent.
3. Pondees must be allowed to remove any items (e.g. clothing, watches, jewellery) before being ponded.
4. No-one may be ponded who has a cold or is in any other way ill or disabled.
5. Pondees must be placed in the water, slowly and carefully, not thrown and not dropped. Care must be taken to ensure they do not hit themselves against the sides of the pond, or any protruding objects.
6. Ponding must not take place if the water appears to be polluted in any way.
7. As a general rule ponding should only take place where ponders and pondee are personal friends.
8. No ponding is to be undertaken by parties under the influence of alcohol.
9. No pondings may take place after 8.00 p.m.
10. A member of the College Club committee or a Senior Resident student must be present at all pondings. If a resident of the College breaches any of the above, the matter may be referred to the Dean, who may then call the Board of Conduct to consider the case. Penalties to apply will be those deemed appropriate by the Board.

    Conclusion

    Ponding is a valuable tool for ensuring the continued respect of College traditions. Whilst it is a novel and often fun form of discipline, the personal rights of individuals must be considered first priority.

    
    

    Formal dinners are Monday through Thursday at 6:25. Robes must be worn at all times during Formal Hall (Harry Potter).