No Pressure.

I'm now enrolled in my courses, and I can definitely say I'm not looking forward to them nearly as much as I looked forward to my Psychology courses. Even buying my textbooks, I felt sad passing over the Psychology books to get to the Health Sciences section.

And as a Masters student, especially as an international student who is required to be a full-time student, you don't really get much choice in courses. They just tell you what to take and where to pay.

Speaking of international students, I had my 'international student orientation' last week, and came to the startling realization that I am the ONLY AMERICAN STUDENT IN MY PROGRAM. Even the other students were surprised.

Now on the one hand, I don't have to worry about needing help with my English to keep up with my studies, and I don't have to worry about being compared with any other Americans in the group (by my peers).

On the other hand, it isolates me a bit. I don't have the same course freedoms and liberties that the Australian domestic students have, and I don't have the common cultural differences, or languages, that the other international students have (being Asian, Indian, and Nepalese).

And then there was our course orientation, two nights ago, when we got to meet the faculty and learn "what is expected of us." I like all the faculty I've met so far, and the Public Health Course Coordinator, who is also my Epidemiology professor, is pretty awesome. I had a few questions to ask him about my courses so I approached him after the session. The conversation went something like this:

Me: Hi, Dr Vally. I have a question about summer courses - since I'm an international student, and..
Dr V: Oh, where are you from?
Me: I'm from California. In fact I think I'm the only American international student.
Dr V: Oh! Yes, I think I remember your application. You worked in Thailand?
Me: *feeling proud, yet self-conscious suddenly* Yeah, I spent 3 years there.
Dr V: Great, great. Yeah I remember your application. You've done a lot, haven't you? Well it's great that you're here.
Me: Thanks. I actually applied for the dual degree, but was told I wasn't qualified for the International Development half...so that was a bit disappointing.
Dr V: Well, that's odd. I'll tell you what. You work hard, do well and show your excellence this term, and come back and meet with me. We'll see if there isn't something we can't do about that.
Me: Yeah? Okay, I'll do that. Thank you.

WHAT JUST HAPPENED?! Not only does the Course Coordinator remember my application, but here I am as essentially the sole representative of my country, with him, well, keeping a close eye on me and my work so I can *maybe* add to my course *if* I impress him.

Yeah.

No pressure.

Groan

This is my University :)

No joke. This upside down statue is right in front of the West Lecture Theatres on campus.

Welcome to La Trobe University.
Enough said.

That being said, haha, I do very much like my university, despite the main campus being in Bundoora, a 45 minute tram ride outside the city. Thankfully, all my courses will take place on the Franklin St campus in the city, a mere six blocks from my new apt.

Registration took place on Feb 12, 13, and 14 from 10am-4pm. So I showed up on the 13th at around 12:45. I thought, how long can it possibly take for them to look at my offer letter and check my name off the list or whatever? Sigh..it's obviously been a long time since I've done this. If you've ever gone to DMV, or applied for a Chinese visa, you might have an idea what the registration process was like. They were currently helping number 334. I took a number (465), and waited.

For 2 hours.

I read my book, played with my phone (though there was no reception in the lecture hall so I couldn't do much), and looked through my welcome packet. I was finally called up, asked to show them my offer letter, my visa confirmation, and my passport. I then received a registration guide paper, which they stamped "APPROVED" on, and I was free to go home and start choosing classes.

And that was the easy part. 

Follow the Unicorn

Last Saturday night was Melbourne's second annual White Night. Contrary to how its name sounds, it has nothing to do with Caucasians. It's simply to represent the lights being on all night, as the city, or at least most of it, stays open all night until 7am Sunday morning. My new friend Halla, one of the interns at City on a Hill and hardcore nursing student, invited me out with her to join Rehab Radio's Decentralized Dance Party - "Generating complete awesomeness, street by street and block by block with Australia's baddest collection of vintage boomboxes." How could I say no?

Me. and Halla. :D

So she met me at my apt, and then we headed from there to where the dance party was starting in front of the State Library at 8pm. We didn't really know what to expect, but we had a great time.

Joining the group

Halla and "our" boombox

Inside Melbourne Central (mall)

The Mustache Man! XD

Halla..and a dancing tutu

The stick figure man!

Heading through Chinatown

Disco ball!

The Unicorn (center) and friends :)

Danced and wandered the streets (following the Unicorn with the "follow me" sign) for about two and a half hours, at which time we decided we were hungry and left the group to go get pizza. After pizza Halla's flatmates joined us, and we wandered around some more, looking at the lights and some of the exhibits along the river, but by about 2..we were tired. So, like the old and boring adults that we were, we parted ways and all headed home.

Beautiful Flinders Street Train Station all lit up with colors and pictures

Home Sweet Home

~Monday~
Monday morning I headed into the CBD to first stop at the bank to activate my account and order my debit card, then meet up and have lunch with my friend Russell, a local Melbournian who I met on my way back to Bangkok from Madrid 2.5 years ago. We had burgers at Grill'd, then had a nice long chat over coffee, then he walked me to Spring Street where I was meeting with Edward to view the apt.

He buzzed me in and I took the elevator up to the 7th (well, 8th floor, but outside of the States the bottom floor is the "ground floor" not the "first floor"), and knocked. Edward welcomed me in, showed me the second bedroom, the second bathroom (which included washer AND dryer, SCORE!), and the balcony, which overlooks the tennis court, swimming pool and gym (weight room with a few machines).

I loved it. Told him I could move in the next day (Tuesday). He told me he was meeting with one other person that evening, and would let me know the next day.

~Tuesday~
I woke up Tuesday morning, got dressed, walked down the hall to the bathroom to put my contacts in, and then tried to go back into my room. My key fob didn't work. Crap.
I had only booked my accommodation through Tuesday, so today was either moving day or extend-my-stay-here day. Still waiting to hear from Edward about the apt, but not being able to get into my room, I walked down the hill to the Residential Services Office (in my slippers, no less; thank goodness I'd had the sense to get dressed before getting locked out of my room), and had them re-activate my key fob for a few days, and, having not grabbed my wallet when I'd left my room that morning, told them I'd return to pay for the next few days.
As soon as I returned to my room, however, I received a text from Edward congratulating me on "beating out the competition" and being chosen for the second bedroom in the flat. I was ecstatic. He agreed to come pick me up and bring me and my things from Bundoora to the city, so I packed my bags up as quick as I could, and skipped back to the Residential Office to cancel my extension and return my key.

Spent the following hours after arriving *home* out shopping for food and sheets and towels and other little essentials. Was a long day, but well worth the exhaustion to FINALLY have a place to call home.  Check it out:

Living room

Kitchen, complete with fridge, oven and dishwasher!

My bathroom (shower to the left, washer and dryer behind folding doors to the right just outside the picture).

The view from the balcony

Tennis court and pool

The sweet balcony

My room before..

and after!

Yes. I did bring 10 pairs of shoes with me. :)

 ~Wednesday~
 Wednesday I was back at the bank to transfer my part of the deposit for the apt, and then it was off to Target for some more shopping.

All the furniture I put together that week - coffee table and end table, 4 drawer dresser and cubbies

Halfway through assembling my desk

Finished!

Aaannd the file cabinet

Becoming an expert furniture-assembler

~THURSDAY~
Thursday I took the tram to Bundoora and waited for two hours to have them stamp "approved" on my registration, lol. But I was registered. Went home and watched Olympics on tv.

~FRIDAY~
Friday I visited the bank yet again to see my favorite associate, Mariana, who helped me set up my renter's insurance, transfer my first month's rent, activate my online banking, and set a recurring online monthly transfer for bill/rent pay. I then wandered up Elizabeth street and found a lovely little art shop called Outre that also did custom framing, so I went home and brought back my two canvas paintings to be framed - the big black elephant one I got in Chiang Mai, and the small fire and smoke I painted myself at art class with Dton Naam. (I'll show them when they're finished).
That evening, wearing my anti-valentines shirt, Edward and I walked down the road a bit to have a drink and get to know each other a bit. Earlier in the week, Edward had informed me, with what I assume was an unintentional air of superiority, that he's a "music snob"....to which I had had a nice little chuckle and responded by informing him about my 9 years of classical piano training, my 12 years of classical clarinet, my concertmaster position for 2 years in college, my 2-year degree followed by my minor in clarinet performance, and my 2 performances in Carnegie Hall - in short, that I not only knew what classical music was, I was well-versed in it.
My degree in Psychology also tells me that the look on his face when receiving this information was a good indicator that he was realizing he might have underestimated his new flatmate. ;)
So, like the snobby music nerds that we were, we spent the first hour or so Friday night discussing our favorite composers and music styles. Bahaha. :D

~SATURDAY~
Hardly worth mentioning. Didn't leave the apt. Just stayed home and read my book and watched more Olympics.

Old Friends and New Friends

~SATURDAY~
After a tiresome three days of travel and arrival, I was finally here. But, having only booked my temporary accommodation for 4 nights, I was on a mission to find permanent housing off-campus. But first! - friends of mine from Bangkok, and more specifically my church in Bangkok, happened to be in town visiting relatives. So I wandered around the campus, got myself a Myki card for transport, and rode the trams to Highland shopping center, where we had lunch and did a bit of shopping before heading back to their relative's house in Flemington. They invited me to stay for dinner, and I of course accepted, so we made a trip to Costco to get some fixin's. I got some snacks to take home with me, and they got all the other stuff.

When we returned to the house, I played with little Jared while some of the other adults got the barbecue ready and prepared the salads.

Charis and Jared

Jared checking out mommy's new cookbook

 

Dinner was delicious and seemed to never end, which is how I like it. When the evening did finally come to a close, Sam drove me back to campus and dropped me off near my building. 

 

~SUNDAY~
Sunday was a wonderful day, full of surprises and blessings galore.

I was up early and showered and on the tram into the city by 9:15, and arrived just a few minutes tardy to the 10:30 service at City on a Hill, my chosen church here in Melbourne. I had visited this church when here in Melbourne in October of 2012, and loved it, and knew that this was where I wanted to be. To further reassure me that this was the right place, I met a lovely couple, Meshack and Nicole, who introduced me to another couple, Lesley and Calvin, and the four of them took me out to lunch.
"Do you like Thai food, Amelia?"
"Uh..yes?" lol
Thai food for lunch, though I was disappointed when the waitress was not Thai (and therefore didn't speak Thai).
On the walk to the restaurant, I expressed to the group my frustration that I wasn't able to view contact numbers on gumtree.com where I was trying to find an apt. To add to that frustration, I also couldn't seem to get my new smartphone's 4G to work; it just wouldn't access data. Lesley informed me it was because my laptop is American, Calvin lent me his ipad so I could access the contact numbers and send a quick inquiry for an apt, and Meshack fixed my phone later that day at coffee by taking the battery out and waving it around in the air for a minute! Craziness, but so many helpful people that day. And, thanks to them all, I received a response from one of the ads I inquired about, and had an appointment to view a potential apt the following day!
Moral: Go to church! You never know how or with whom God is going to bless you that day! I had (half jokingly, I'll admit) prayed for Him to "reward my faithfulness in going to church my 3rd day in a new country by bringing me an apt with a fridge and air conditioning"...and He did so much more than that! I know I take it for granted sometimes, but He he has never failed me in His faithfulness. :)

After bidding my new friends goodbye for the day, I headed off to the train station to meet Sam, Charis, Jared, and some more of their friends in Williamstown for a picnic at the beach. I spent most of the ride there downloading apps and trying to figure out how to use them. Took me a minute to find my friends once I arrived, but once I did there was once again tons of food (maybe that's why I love Asians - there's always food around lol), and Jared was busy as ever running around exploring and chasing bubbles.

Jared chasing the birds :)

Bubbles!

More bubbles!

Learning to do it himself

Charis and Jared

'Twas a wonderful start to the week; hard to once again say goodbye to old friends, but was wonderful to see them and be able to have some familiar faces around for the first few days to ease my transition. :)

Welcome to Australia!

Sorry this is so overdue, but Ivan (my Dell) was in the shop having surgery and I've been busy and blah blah blah excuses excuses. So anyway. I'll do my best to keep you all updated with my life now on a more consistent basis. :)


~THE JOURNEY~
After spending weeks packing, and repacking, and weighing, and repacking, and weighing again, my bags, they were finally ready. I had my two large green suitcases, as well as a smaller black and white one, as checked luggage, and as carry-on items I had my black backpack, my laptop bag(with laptop of course), two paintings in a 4ft tube, and a small shoulder clutch with my passport/camera/phone in it. 

My new life in 5 bags and a tube

 Had to traipse all over SFO to find the plastic-wrap station for my smaller suitcase, but once they were checked the only other hiccup was getting through security, where they confiscated my jar (*brand new jar*) of cookie butter, and the wine corkscrew I forgot to move to my checked bags. Thankfully, they at least let my dad take them home, so they weren't lost for good (just lost from me :( ).

My first flight was a short one to LAX, where I had a 7.5hr layover. I found my gate without any trouble, and the passengers for various flights before mine came and went while I sat there, drinking my coffee, playing with my phone, and reading my book. 

Sent a few last minute farewell text messages with my US phone before boarding, then settled in for the 14hr flight to Brisbane with Qantas. The flight was uneventful. They fed us a few times, I watched a movie or two, and tried to sleep. I was next to a Canadian named William who was moving back to Brisbane to practice law. Nice enough, but too intent on sleeping most of the flight to engage in much conversation with me. And the seat on the other side of me was empty. SO..yeah. A bit boring, but probably the most comfortable 10+ hour flight I've ever been on. Something about Qantas, they just seem to make flying less dreadful.

Leaving San Francisco

Upon arrival in Brisbane I was informed that I needed to collect my checked bags and re-check them in the domestic terminal. There was no charge, as they had already been officially booked through to Melbourne from SF, but apparently their baggage staff can't work out how to move baggage from an international flight to a domestic one. Whatever. All three of my bags had made it, though the small one had a broken handle (which Qantas will be charged for when I take my claim form to the repair place, so not the end of the world). I checked them in, and the woman behind the counter took one look at my painting tube and warned that they might not let me on the plane with it as carry-on, but I assured her that despite all the announcements that no more than *one or two* items of a specific size were allowed on board, no one had said a peep to me about them, so I intended to take the chance. And I was right. They made their announcement as the passengers lined up to board, and I got several funny looks from other passengers (as well as getting chosen for the "random" search at security downstairs beforehand), but waltzed up to the ticket checker as though all I were carrying were a purse, and they scanned my ticket, wished me a good flight, and didn't bat a single eyelash at my clearly excessive amount of carry-on luggage. Mission accomplished.

My final flight to Melbourne? Short, but miserable. Well, the lady next to me was quite interesting to talk to, but the toddler with the disgustingly phlegmy cough across the aisle and the TWO crying babies in the row behind the toddler made me really just want to be done with the flight. Little did I know, the day was FAR from over.

~THE ARRIVAL~
I arrived in Melbourne at 3:30pm to, fortunately, all of my bags being accounted for, but unfortunately, my confirmed airport reception/pick-up nowhere to be found. I called the provided number on my confirmation sheet, they told me I wasn't on the schedule, I told them to hell with their schedule because I was here and someone was supposed to get me, and within 10 minutes a driver was there. :)

He took me straight to my temporary on-campus housing, and after locating the Residential Services office and checking in, he helped me unload my bags from the car and left. I found the RA for my buildings, a nice guy named Andrew, who helped me carry my bags to my room, gave me directions to the nearest store where I could purchase a few essentials and a sim card, and even lent me a towel so I could shower (after two days of traveling, that was a God-send).

The entrance to the common area between a few of the buildings at Chisholm College (my dorm buildings).

The entrance to building 12, where my room was on the 3rd floor...with NO ELEVATOR. Thanks, Residential Services.

 I showered, walked the mile or so to the store, grabbed a sandwich at Subway, then went back to my room and passed out. I. was. exhausted.

I didn't remember to take a picture of my room, but this is exactly the same set-up. Except..without all that stuff and me instead of that guy. And on the 3rd floor. As you can see, it's not really terrible, but there is no fan, just a window to open (and it was very hot that weekend), and to top it off - my ceiling light didn't work (they fixed it the morning I moved out).