..it's been a while...

I've been meaning to sit down and write for a while but life, like always, it has been crazy here.

I had an amazing weekend...We went to a little village called Nimbin on Friday. Just a small group of us-Stacey, Brittany, Landon, Steph, Brittny, and I all went and explored the little hippie town. . . it was an experience I know I can't explain and know I won't forget. (I'm still working on these photos...the internet connection is slloooww and its impossible to upload pics)
On Saturday a small group of girls went to Bryon Bay for the night. We had an amazing dinner and cocktails at Hog's Breath Saloon (an American chain...I know...) then hit the bars. . . So much fun! We were known as the "American girls" and I'm pretty sure people loved us.
Every second Sunday of the month, Lennox Head has a little market. I'm glad I didn't go with any cash this week, because I would have bought so much stuff (expect a majority of your souvenirs to come from there!)

Classes are going well...Monday we had another field trip..this week it was to Southern Cross University. The Southern Cross is a constellation in the sky that the Aboriginal people used for navigation...it's the reason for the stars on the Australian flag. It's a big deal, many people have it tattooed on their body. The Univeristy itself (in Lismore) is basically for the Indigenous people. We're learning a lot about the Aboriginal people of Australia and the way they were treated by white settlers. It is almost identical to what happened in the U.S.....many similarities. I'm really going to enjoy this Anthropology class....UNLIKE the marine science class. I can't believe my "dream job" was to be a marine biologist. How boring. This professor lectured for about 5 hours about the size of sand grains...and this week we're talking about plankton (apparently plankton is his "special interest"...oh, boy!) My event planning class is coming together. We are putting on one big even in April for the community. Tonight we decided that we were going to do "field day" for the kids of the area....should be interesting. There is about 21 students in the class and we are all very different but I think we'll all work together. (There is a lot of frat/sorority kids in the class...and was very surprised the ideas and past events they had....I didn't know they did more at BSU than house parties and bustin' watermelons?...)

Classes really don't take up much time during the day...and there is still plenty of time for many many many other things. The beach hasn't gotten boring yet (and I doubt it ever will), the lake is still awesome, and weather is ALMOST perfect. We had our first "crappy" weather day since we've been here...and it was still pretty nice out. It was very overcast (people still got sunburnt haha) and muggy all day. It wasn't a big deal to me because today Brittany, Sam, Erika and I decided to go into Ballina to see a movie- Revolutionary Road. The movie was incredible....and not exaggerating when I say- the best movie I have ever seen. (Not my favorite movie...but the best.) It was brilliant . . . go see it.

I have received emails asking about the fires....and no, where I'm living is not affected. It's around Victoria, which is the very top part of the continent. The is also flooding occurring on the western side of the continent as well. So tragically, Australians are facing two national disasters, both extreme opposites of each other. I'm not sure what the death count is up to currently but I know as of yesterday morning, it was around 130 people. Most every store today in Ballina had someone (mostly from the Lions Club) standing outside the shop taking donations for the victims. There has been talk about some BSU kids going up north for a weekend to donate our time in the clean up efforts...once the fires slow down. Hopefully, mother nature chills out and this heat wave will pass (it was getting close to reaching above 50something degrees Celsius! I'm not 100% sure what that converts to...but I know it's real hot...)

We had a trip to the Australian Zoo (Steve Irwin's zoo...) planned for Sunday but sadly, the bus company was all booked...
Saturday is Valentines day...so all of us (well like 31 of us...) are getting all dressed up and going to the nicer resturant in town. Hope everyone back home as a great Valentine's day (even though it's a stupid holiday...)
Miss you all!!

Love
:)