Vegemite Dynamite

The past few days have been orientation, and I've learned more differences between the US and Australia.

For one, Australia is drier.  I hand washed a piece of clothing and within a few hours it was dry.  Also, the water is more dense, or so someone told me.  I did notice that it tends to make my hair wetter and my hair keeps dripping no matter how i try to wring it out, I just wasn't sure what to call it.  It's an odd combination of the air being drier but the water wetter.

The paper is also longer.  Good thing I didn't bring my own folders because none of it would fit.  Although I did buy a crate to keep my papers in since we have no desk drawer, but even that is shorter than the paper. You'd think it would be big enough.  I made do though.

Ok so on to what I've been doing.  They had people come in to tell us about various trips.  I signed up for Surf Camp! It's a weekend trip where we learn to surf.  Just about everyone signed up so it'll be fun.

Thursday night we went out! Partly just to be sure to start staying up later and getting used to the time.  There were 11 of us who went together but it was nice.  I learned that lemonade means sprite.  Good to know.  And I managed to stay up till 1! I was exhausted by then, but at least I'm starting to get used to it.

We signed up for classes yesterday so I'll find out what I'm doing soon, and classes start Monday.  Oh and we got a fourth roommate! Sorry Blaire.... her name is Hanna and she's very nice.

While I was talking to Jenna, my internship adviser, we discussed a little bit about my Jewish observance.  Mark, our program director, told me that there are 4 guys and another girl who are also Shabbat observant, and that they were all trying to figure things out and I should meet them.  After grocery shopping I happened to run into Ariella.  She was going away for Shabbat this weekend, but we exchanged numbers and will coordinate in the future.  I ran into the boys as well, Jon, Joey, and Alex, and we also exchanged numbers.

I then went on the harbor cruise.  The walk back from the grocery store was relatively hot, so no one was prepared for the sudden weather change.  The 20 minute walk to the harbor was cold and windy, and the freezing rain gradually worsened.  It was quite an adventure.  I walked ahead with Kate (my roommate) and Linsday to try to get there quickly.  Unfortunately, even once we arrived the boat was not yet there so we all had to huddle for warmth.  We found that under the trees was slightly drier and less windy, but still definitely cold.  Open toed shoes was a horrible idea.

                                         Roommates L to R: Alex, Me, Hanna, Kate

Once on the boat most people huddled inside until we got close to the Opera House when we went out to brave the wind and take pictures.  The two drink vouchers didn't help very much to keep us warm.  It was nice meeting more people though, and when the sun finally came out it wasn't quite as cold.  I also had a nice talk with Kerry, one of the internship advisers, and she told me about a really cool opportunity that she and I might look into.  I believe it had something to do with wombats? I'll keep you updated.

Kate and I rushed back from the cruise (again to keep warm), and when we got back I heard from Jon that they were heading to the Newtown Synagogue.  The boys were invited for dinner though, and I didn't want to walk back a half hour on my own at night, so Kate, my one non-Jewish roommate said she would come with me (Hanna was going somewhere else and Alex wasn't back yet and we had to leave quickly so as not to hold up the boys).  It was so nice being in shul.  It was not quite my typical experience.  The women had a tiny little 2 row section on one side of the aisle, surrounded by a lace curtain.  Kate and I sat there, and there was one more woman upstairs.  There ended up being exactly ten men (including the three guys who came with us), which was perfect.  Kate was a bit confused with having to turn the page the other way than an English book.  On the way back I explained to her about why women sit separately and why I mumbled instead of singing loudly.  I also explained that that is not like my typical community.  However, it was quite comfortable being there.  They used tunes I know and although the dvar torah (speech about the Torah portion) was in an accent, it was very nice.

After services we talked to members of the community.  I do not remember all their names, but they invited us to come next door to do Kiddush.  We then spoke with a student, Annalise I think, and a woman who had lived in South Carolina for 9 years after marrying an American husband.  There was also an architect from Mexico City who has lived here for many years but may be moving back soon.  The Rabbi invited us for dinner with the boys we came with, but we declined, having eaten on the cruise.  On our walk back we discussed religion, which was quite interesting.  Overall it was a great Friday night.

Today was quite calm.  There was a scavenger hunt around the city, but I skipped out.  I'll probably ask for the list to do maybe tomorrow.  It's Alex's birthday today so we went out for Taiwanese dinner (my roommates, Jess, and Tiffany).  Then we went on a hunt for birthday cake.  We kept finding pies and pastries, but cake was not so easy.  I even asked three random people on the street.  The first said in a great accent, sorry but I'm a tourist too.  The next was a mother who told me they're new to the city and quite lost.   The third told me to try Coles, the grocery store, but when I asked if there was anywhere sit down he said he couldn't think of any.  Alex then asked someone who very quickly sent us to a place called 85 degrees.  It was Taiwanese and looked great.  It only had 3 seats though so we brought it back to the apartment.


                                                                                                 Unfortunately we didn't get this cake but it did look great. None of us figured out what was naughty about it. A ridiculous name for a cute looking cake.