Well, this will definitely be a birthday I will never forget. I arrived into Port Macquarie around 12:45am this morning and then took off to find my hostel. I wandered around and found it difficult to navigate my way around in the dark, especially with the lack of street signs and the fact that it began to rain. The hostel ended up being located in an alley-like street with hardly any light. I walked up and it seemed deserted. I peered inside and no one was manning the reception desk nor were there people walking around inside. Panic began to rise up inside and I began freaking out.
I called both of my parents and neither of them answered the phone, but luckily I didn't end up alone; I was able to disturb Alex's slumber. It was nice to have someone on the other end of the line as I made my way back through the dark to the bus depot. That was my destination because I really didn't know what else to do. Once I got there, we went through my options; first we tried to re-book my bus ticket to Coffs Harbour, but unfortunately that didn't work. Eventually he gave me the numbers to their call center as well as to the Port Macquarie police station. The bus station booking center was closed and the police were not helpful at all. The guy on the other end of the line just told me there wasn't much I could do except wait it out at the station. Again deflated I tried calling mom and dad and luckily my dad answered this time. He told me to find any hotel that would take me and then call a cab to take me there. The Mid-Pacific Motel came through with a room, though I had to pay $100 for it. By the time I got there, checked in, showered and got into bed it was 3:00am. Luckily check-out wasn't until 11:00am so I was able to get about seven hours of sleep.
I woke up at 10:15am to a string of birthday messages, which was awesome. I took the time to call the hostel where I was supposed to stay to request a refund. They were apprehensive at first and were trying to pin the blame on me, but then they gave in. I joke that I want them to compensate me for the mental trauma I suffered, but there is some truth behind that. Afterwards I checked out of the room and called mom as I walked through town. The weather wasn't great which was another damper but being that it's winter it was bound to happen.
I went back to the bus depot because I wanted to leave my luggage somewhere but the locker hire machine was broken so I was forced to keep my bags with me. I snapped some photos at the historical cemetary before heading back into town. I went to a bakehouse for lunch and just took my time eating there, killing time before my bus was supposed to leave. Luckily it was confirmed that someone was going to meet me at the bus station upon arrival so I wouldn't have to wander on my own. Time ended up going by quickly because I got on the phone with my classmates, which was really great.
The bus ride went smoothly until we were pulled over because a power line had fallen and no large vehicles were being let through. We had to wait on the side of the road for about 30 minutes while they attempted to fix things. Once back on our way we were fine and made up most of the time, only arriving 10 minutes late. I was driven to the hostel and had dinner there. There is a restaurant on the premises and it was actually really good, though I didn't get a birthday dessert like I had hoped, but the beauty of having two birthdays (an Australian and an American one) is that I can try again tomorrow.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
Newcastle
As I said before, it was an early morning for me. As much as I loved the sights and sounds of Sydney, I'm very excited to get out of the hostel I was in. All three nights I was freezing and actually got up really early in the morning once to take a 45-minute hot shower. This morning was interesting as well because the desk manager came into my room around 4:30am and tapped me on the shoulder, woke me up and asked me what my name was. I told him and then he just left the room. Later when I was checking out he apologized and said that he was looking for someone from our room who didn't return the key. I nodded but didn't really understand why that couldn't wait another hour and a half until I woke up. I also had that added pleasure of seeing one of my roommates (the one with no ambition) stumble in at 5:15am after being out all night, turn on all the lights, rummage around, pull a beer out of the refrigerator and begin to play music. At that point I had had it, so I got up (I was supposed to get up at 6am anyways) and packed my stuff. I got out of there and to Kings Cross to catch a train to Central Station, where the bus would be picking me up.
The bus ride was smooth (I actually got a front seat!) and I realized that so far, the Australian freeway that we've been on hasn't wound through any towns at all. There is just nature on both sides of the road...nothing built up, which is different than the billboards you are bombarded with at home.
We made it to Newcastle after a couple of hours (during which I enjoyed a nap) and I was the only one to get off. Apparently it's not a very popular destination, or more realistically, most people are headed straight up to Brisbane. I checked my luggage and the guy at the counter informed me that no matter what happens I couldn't lose the check tag unless I wanted to have to go through the police to get my stuff back. I told him I understood and went on my way. At first I was not impressed at all. The town is really small and parts of it are rundown. The university has two buildings, though the library is really nice (that's where I am now). I walked around aimlessly for awhile before I spotted water. To my surprise, Nobbys Beach was amazing! There were a fair number of people out on the sand and for winter, the weather was great. The waves were crashing on the shore and I knew that even though I wasn't dressed for the occasion, I just had to check it out. I took off my shoes and started walking through the sand (which was white and soft). When I got to the edge of the shore, I realized that the shoreline was pretty extensive and decided that I should run it. I set my stuff down and jogged down and back, which was great. Afterwards I just enjoyed my lunch and took my time sitting there gazing at the water.
After some time went by I decided to continue on and took the Newcastle Heritage Walking Tour in which you are guided by signs posted throughout town. Reading about the town's history was interesting, but all of the sights have since been built up, so there actually wasn't much to see. When I was finished it seemed as if all of the walking around I'd done in the past week or so had caught up with me, so I decided to gather my bags (the check counter closes at 4:30pm) and find a place to hang out until dinner and my bus to Port Macquarie. Back at the bus station, I walked up to the check counter and rang the bell. In the mean time, I looked for my luggage tag and realized I had lost it. I don't know when or how, but it wasn't in my bag, pockets, or wallet. I looked at the guy behind the desk and he gave me a form and said I had to take it to the police and get it filled out. At this point I had an hour before they were to close so I pulled the "poor American tourist" card and told him that my passport was in the bag behind the counter if he would just let me get it out to show him. He said that he would have to talk to his manager and when he left a wave of dread rushed over me. But when he came back he said that the manager (apparently the man who had checked in my bags earlier) said that I could get them back without all of the formalities. I was so relieved and quickly took my bags away after he handed them over so that he didn't have time to ask more questions or change his mind.
I lugged my bags to the other side of town to the library so that I could just sit and relax. I'm here now and soon I'm going to have to go find a place for dinner and then wait awhile until I leave again. I'll get to Port Macquarie around 12:45am tomorrow morning, check into the hostel, get some sleep and then quickly explore the town before I'm off again. A whirlwind couple of days before settling in for more than one night in Coffs Harbour.
The bus ride was smooth (I actually got a front seat!) and I realized that so far, the Australian freeway that we've been on hasn't wound through any towns at all. There is just nature on both sides of the road...nothing built up, which is different than the billboards you are bombarded with at home.
We made it to Newcastle after a couple of hours (during which I enjoyed a nap) and I was the only one to get off. Apparently it's not a very popular destination, or more realistically, most people are headed straight up to Brisbane. I checked my luggage and the guy at the counter informed me that no matter what happens I couldn't lose the check tag unless I wanted to have to go through the police to get my stuff back. I told him I understood and went on my way. At first I was not impressed at all. The town is really small and parts of it are rundown. The university has two buildings, though the library is really nice (that's where I am now). I walked around aimlessly for awhile before I spotted water. To my surprise, Nobbys Beach was amazing! There were a fair number of people out on the sand and for winter, the weather was great. The waves were crashing on the shore and I knew that even though I wasn't dressed for the occasion, I just had to check it out. I took off my shoes and started walking through the sand (which was white and soft). When I got to the edge of the shore, I realized that the shoreline was pretty extensive and decided that I should run it. I set my stuff down and jogged down and back, which was great. Afterwards I just enjoyed my lunch and took my time sitting there gazing at the water.
After some time went by I decided to continue on and took the Newcastle Heritage Walking Tour in which you are guided by signs posted throughout town. Reading about the town's history was interesting, but all of the sights have since been built up, so there actually wasn't much to see. When I was finished it seemed as if all of the walking around I'd done in the past week or so had caught up with me, so I decided to gather my bags (the check counter closes at 4:30pm) and find a place to hang out until dinner and my bus to Port Macquarie. Back at the bus station, I walked up to the check counter and rang the bell. In the mean time, I looked for my luggage tag and realized I had lost it. I don't know when or how, but it wasn't in my bag, pockets, or wallet. I looked at the guy behind the desk and he gave me a form and said I had to take it to the police and get it filled out. At this point I had an hour before they were to close so I pulled the "poor American tourist" card and told him that my passport was in the bag behind the counter if he would just let me get it out to show him. He said that he would have to talk to his manager and when he left a wave of dread rushed over me. But when he came back he said that the manager (apparently the man who had checked in my bags earlier) said that I could get them back without all of the formalities. I was so relieved and quickly took my bags away after he handed them over so that he didn't have time to ask more questions or change his mind.
I lugged my bags to the other side of town to the library so that I could just sit and relax. I'm here now and soon I'm going to have to go find a place for dinner and then wait awhile until I leave again. I'll get to Port Macquarie around 12:45am tomorrow morning, check into the hostel, get some sleep and then quickly explore the town before I'm off again. A whirlwind couple of days before settling in for more than one night in Coffs Harbour.
Manly
I know it sounds like an interesting title choice, but there's actually a city in Australia called Manly and I decided that I wanted to visit it. I went back to Circular Quay and I was happy to see the improvement I was able to make in finding it. I bought a ferry ticket at Wharf 3 and hopped on the next boat. The ride was amazing and took about 30 minutes. The view as we pulled away from Sydney was breathtaking and it really was my first "Is this for real?" moment. The water was smooth which made the ride easy and there were numerous sailboats out in the nice weather.
We pulled into the dock at Manly and right away I went to the scenic trail. I didn't walk the entire 10K but everything about Manly made me want to live there: the houses, the town, the views. I also got to see the ocean and Manly Beach but didn't stay long. I took the ferry back to the quay and the train back to Kings Cross. I walked from there down Darlinghurst Road and to the Sydney Jewish Museum. I didn't go inside (the cheap part of me is refraining from doing things that aren't free, if I can help it) but walked around the perimeter and scouted it out.
I went back to the hostel, got online, and then left again soon afterwards to try and find the pedestrian entrance to the Harbour Bridge. Unfortunately I was unsuccessful, but I walked down to the quay this time instead of taking the train, so I was able to see a lot of things I hadn't before. And it wasn't entirely a lost cause; I got fish and chips (I mean I kind of had to, I was right by the water) and sat across the quay from the Opera House and took it all in from there. It would have been cool to walk across the bridge, but I still enjoyed just sitting by the water.
I leave early in the morning for Newcastle and later for Port Macquarie. It's time to switch gears from big city to small town, because I won't make it to Brisbane for quite awhile. Hopefully the stops will be fun and give me a taste of what it's like in the coastal towns of Australia.
We pulled into the dock at Manly and right away I went to the scenic trail. I didn't walk the entire 10K but everything about Manly made me want to live there: the houses, the town, the views. I also got to see the ocean and Manly Beach but didn't stay long. I took the ferry back to the quay and the train back to Kings Cross. I walked from there down Darlinghurst Road and to the Sydney Jewish Museum. I didn't go inside (the cheap part of me is refraining from doing things that aren't free, if I can help it) but walked around the perimeter and scouted it out.
I went back to the hostel, got online, and then left again soon afterwards to try and find the pedestrian entrance to the Harbour Bridge. Unfortunately I was unsuccessful, but I walked down to the quay this time instead of taking the train, so I was able to see a lot of things I hadn't before. And it wasn't entirely a lost cause; I got fish and chips (I mean I kind of had to, I was right by the water) and sat across the quay from the Opera House and took it all in from there. It would have been cool to walk across the bridge, but I still enjoyed just sitting by the water.
I leave early in the morning for Newcastle and later for Port Macquarie. It's time to switch gears from big city to small town, because I won't make it to Brisbane for quite awhile. Hopefully the stops will be fun and give me a taste of what it's like in the coastal towns of Australia.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Sydney
I got up at a decent time this morning and found the gym that accepted the free pass. I walked back and forth in front of it a couple of times before realizing I was in the right place. The cardio equipment was on the 8th floor and I was able to do my workout while looking out onto the harbour, the bridge and the opera house.
After the gym I came back to shower and get breakfast. I made my way to Kings Cross Station to get on the tram to Circular Quay. It was nice to step off onto the wharf, kind of like San Francisco. I again wandered back and forth before deciding on what I wanted to do. I made up my mind and headed to The Rocks, an older part of the city that is modelled after a small European town. It has nicely constructed buildings and cobblestone streets and today was nice because there was an open-air market where people were selling handmade crafts and some really good smelling food. I walked through the stalls and then made my way to the heart of the city to try and find an ATM. I had to stop at the Sydney Visitors' Center before finding it, but I was eventually successful. I took out the cash I needed...for what, you might ask. Well, happy birthday to me...I bought a new camera (Nikon D5000). I've been wanting one for a long time and finally decided that after getting some money back from Unilodge it was time to drop the cash. I found a great deal online on Gumtree (kind of like Craigslist) and I met the guy I was getting it from by the quay and he took some time to show me how to use it. I was so excited to get going and for the amazing deal I got on it.
After the gym I came back to shower and get breakfast. I made my way to Kings Cross Station to get on the tram to Circular Quay. It was nice to step off onto the wharf, kind of like San Francisco. I again wandered back and forth before deciding on what I wanted to do. I made up my mind and headed to The Rocks, an older part of the city that is modelled after a small European town. It has nicely constructed buildings and cobblestone streets and today was nice because there was an open-air market where people were selling handmade crafts and some really good smelling food. I walked through the stalls and then made my way to the heart of the city to try and find an ATM. I had to stop at the Sydney Visitors' Center before finding it, but I was eventually successful. I took out the cash I needed...for what, you might ask. Well, happy birthday to me...I bought a new camera (Nikon D5000). I've been wanting one for a long time and finally decided that after getting some money back from Unilodge it was time to drop the cash. I found a great deal online on Gumtree (kind of like Craigslist) and I met the guy I was getting it from by the quay and he took some time to show me how to use it. I was so excited to get going and for the amazing deal I got on it.
I took my new toy to the Opera House and spent a couple of hours there taking pictures. I don't know where along the way, but I somehow managed to pick up a friend. He made a comment about my camera and then just started talking. He is from Africa but is a part time student of commerce at a university here. He works for the state full time as well and we connected over our experiences as international students. Since he knows the area, he took me around and I saw the largest Apple Store in Australia (three stories!) and Darling Harbour, home to the National Maritime Museum.
He invited me to have dinner at his place and I accepted (free meal!). He shares an apartment with a couple from Argentina and actually lives close to my hostel. We had dinner and watched the movie "Conviction" which was actually really good. I decided I needed to get back and when I arrived the hostel was SO LOUD and full of drunk people. It was actually kind of ridiculous.
I ended up going out with this guy later in the evening and the first place he took me was also loud and obnoxious (strobe lights, no room anywhere) and it was just so crowded that we couldn't talk so it made things a little awkward. We ended up leaving and going to a smaller place that was better, but I still didn't really have a great time. The guy was nice enough, but it was just a bit of a weird situation. We walked home after that and did the "stranger goodbye" and then I went to sleep.
Overall a great day, and the end just adds an interesting twist to the story, so no regrets :)
Canberra to Sydney
I packed up and moved out at a leisurely pace this morning. Because of the four hour gap between checkout and bus departure, I had to carry all of my luggage with me wherever I went. I found the state library and spent just over a couple of hours there on their free internet. I was able to upload and send out the pictures from Canberra, but it was a slow process.
When 12:30pm rolled around, I went to the pet store in Canberra Centre to meet James (one of the tag-alongs on our outing last night...he works for Parliament and goes over to the pet store for "puppy therapy" sometimes on his lunch break). I can see why he's addicted to them...SO CUTE. Eventually he had to go back to work so we said goodbye (though his internship ends in three weeks and he lives in Melbourne...yay a friend when I get home) and I went to the bus depot. I checked in and got on the bus (seat 9A this time...farther back, but at least a window seat) and fell asleep very soon after we left. It was a 3 1/2 hour drive that went rather smoothly. We stopped at Sydney airport before my stop at Central Station; I had to navigate the metro system and get to Kings Cross Station and then walk to the hostel. This hostel feels different than the one I was just in and again, so far at least, I'm the only girl in the room. The first person I met in my room turned out to be a guy with absolutely no ambition in life (he said so himself) so it was interesting trying to hold a conversation with him. He has been here for six weeks and apparently isn't thinking about leaving any time soon. He said that he just has to keep asking his business partner to send him money. And then the conversation turned to drugs and he was disappointed to find out that not all Californians smoke pot or grow it in their backyards. It was a very interesting talk that ended with him grabbing three beers out of the fridge to tie him over on his walk to the pub. One the plus side, they have free breakfast here and I got an hour of free internet when I checked in which is nice. I also received some coupons and one of them is for a free day at the gym which I am most definitely going to take advantage of tomorrow.
After dumping my stuff in the room I set out to get dinner at one of the top 10 restaurants in New South Wales (according to my travel book). It was a little fancier than I expected and I felt a little strange eating there alone, but the gnocchi I had was delicious. I turned in early because I was still tired from going out, but I had a nice talk with the two Canadian guys in my room before getting to sleep. They were working in the Gold Coast and are returning home, but not without major delays due to the ash cloud in South America. They are pretty much stranded here until they can get a flight out which is super frustrating. However we found out that we have Thailand in common...they were there earlier in the year as well and did much of the same things as I did. It was fun to reminisce with them about that, and it's always nice to have someone to commiserate with about it being winter in July.
When 12:30pm rolled around, I went to the pet store in Canberra Centre to meet James (one of the tag-alongs on our outing last night...he works for Parliament and goes over to the pet store for "puppy therapy" sometimes on his lunch break). I can see why he's addicted to them...SO CUTE. Eventually he had to go back to work so we said goodbye (though his internship ends in three weeks and he lives in Melbourne...yay a friend when I get home) and I went to the bus depot. I checked in and got on the bus (seat 9A this time...farther back, but at least a window seat) and fell asleep very soon after we left. It was a 3 1/2 hour drive that went rather smoothly. We stopped at Sydney airport before my stop at Central Station; I had to navigate the metro system and get to Kings Cross Station and then walk to the hostel. This hostel feels different than the one I was just in and again, so far at least, I'm the only girl in the room. The first person I met in my room turned out to be a guy with absolutely no ambition in life (he said so himself) so it was interesting trying to hold a conversation with him. He has been here for six weeks and apparently isn't thinking about leaving any time soon. He said that he just has to keep asking his business partner to send him money. And then the conversation turned to drugs and he was disappointed to find out that not all Californians smoke pot or grow it in their backyards. It was a very interesting talk that ended with him grabbing three beers out of the fridge to tie him over on his walk to the pub. One the plus side, they have free breakfast here and I got an hour of free internet when I checked in which is nice. I also received some coupons and one of them is for a free day at the gym which I am most definitely going to take advantage of tomorrow.
After dumping my stuff in the room I set out to get dinner at one of the top 10 restaurants in New South Wales (according to my travel book). It was a little fancier than I expected and I felt a little strange eating there alone, but the gnocchi I had was delicious. I turned in early because I was still tired from going out, but I had a nice talk with the two Canadian guys in my room before getting to sleep. They were working in the Gold Coast and are returning home, but not without major delays due to the ash cloud in South America. They are pretty much stranded here until they can get a flight out which is super frustrating. However we found out that we have Thailand in common...they were there earlier in the year as well and did much of the same things as I did. It was fun to reminisce with them about that, and it's always nice to have someone to commiserate with about it being winter in July.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Can(brrrrrr)a
Last night after hanging out in the lounge I just went back to my room. The TV got boring so I decided not to waste away in front of it. To my surprise, I am in a room with seven other guys! I thought I was alone, but finally another girl came in to help offset all the testosterone. All the guys are really nice and we ended up talking for a couple of hours before getting to sleep. There are two older gentlemen from India who actually have been living in the hostel for a couple of years. They live in Sydney and come here for work during the week. Another guy is from England and he's here to start school. One from Germany who studied in Perth, moved to Miami and now is back in Australia, and one from Texas. The last guy is from Melbourne but is moving up here for work and the girl is from Canada.
I got up this morning and went for a short run before coming back to shower and make breakfast. I'm heading out for my day of exploration in Canberra. It's very different from Melbourne and I'm excited to see what I can discover.
Later: It's 4:30pm now, which makes it seven hours since I left this morning. I set off on the recommended tour route and most definitely got lost and completely turned around. I strayed off track for about an hour before I finally made it to the Australia War Memorial. The street leading up to it, ANZAC Parade, is lined with mini memorials on both sides. They are really nicely crafted and a great way to honor those fighting for their country. At the end of the street, the actual memorial is this grandiose building that pretty much details the stories of Australian soldiers. I spent a good chunk of time in there just walking around and taking everything in. I'm not really a history buff but I do enjoy a good museum.
Once I got out of there and made my way down the long parkway, I began the circle around Lake Burley Griffin. I stopped for a few photos at Blundells' Cottage, which was actually closed today, before finding a bench across from the National Carillion to eat my lunch.
After a phone call to my mom I made my way to the National Gallery (art...not my thing and kind of boring so I didn't stay very long) and the High Court of Australia. I got to go inside the largest courtroom in the country and received more information than I really cared to from the elderly guide in the room. He's passionate so I'll praise him for that.
Finally after all of that I made it to the Parliament and Old Parliament buildings. You had to pay to explore the old one so I opted out of that. The new one is really modern and nice and I had a good time walking around there. I really wanted to see the Prime Minister but the House of Representatives was in session and she was in attendance there. I bought some postcards and sent them off before heading outside for some last pictures and then the long walk back to my room. On the way home I found a Parliament badge in the street so now I have to find a way to return it. Or maybe that's my ticket to the PM...though unfortunately I look nothing like the dude in the picture.
Later I went to dinner at a Chipotle looking restaurant but was kind of disappointed. Not satisfied, I went to a cafe and got a fancy coffee drink before heading back to the hostel where I met up with the group of guys from my room plus two others Canada (we just decided life would be easier if we called each other by where we're from, so was have Texas, California, Germany and London) met and invited along. Germany, Canada, Texas and London all had wine from a bag before heading out but we finally made it to the Uni Bar. After checking out the bar we went up to the fourth floor where the dancing was. It was a really fun, long night (we didn't get back until 2:30am) and I discovered that all of the American-loving Australians are just in hiding in Melbourne. They were out and about in Canberra and I describe my night as getting preyed on like a piece of meat. It was kind of funny because every time I turned around someone else was there and at one point I ended up over the shoulder of a really big Samoan man (like a sack of potatoes). I knew nothing bad would happen to me because I was with my comrades from the hostel. It was an interesting "cultural" experience, but it's been a long time since I've gotten out and I had a good time.
I got up this morning and went for a short run before coming back to shower and make breakfast. I'm heading out for my day of exploration in Canberra. It's very different from Melbourne and I'm excited to see what I can discover.
Later: It's 4:30pm now, which makes it seven hours since I left this morning. I set off on the recommended tour route and most definitely got lost and completely turned around. I strayed off track for about an hour before I finally made it to the Australia War Memorial. The street leading up to it, ANZAC Parade, is lined with mini memorials on both sides. They are really nicely crafted and a great way to honor those fighting for their country. At the end of the street, the actual memorial is this grandiose building that pretty much details the stories of Australian soldiers. I spent a good chunk of time in there just walking around and taking everything in. I'm not really a history buff but I do enjoy a good museum.
Once I got out of there and made my way down the long parkway, I began the circle around Lake Burley Griffin. I stopped for a few photos at Blundells' Cottage, which was actually closed today, before finding a bench across from the National Carillion to eat my lunch.
After a phone call to my mom I made my way to the National Gallery (art...not my thing and kind of boring so I didn't stay very long) and the High Court of Australia. I got to go inside the largest courtroom in the country and received more information than I really cared to from the elderly guide in the room. He's passionate so I'll praise him for that.
Finally after all of that I made it to the Parliament and Old Parliament buildings. You had to pay to explore the old one so I opted out of that. The new one is really modern and nice and I had a good time walking around there. I really wanted to see the Prime Minister but the House of Representatives was in session and she was in attendance there. I bought some postcards and sent them off before heading outside for some last pictures and then the long walk back to my room. On the way home I found a Parliament badge in the street so now I have to find a way to return it. Or maybe that's my ticket to the PM...though unfortunately I look nothing like the dude in the picture.
Later I went to dinner at a Chipotle looking restaurant but was kind of disappointed. Not satisfied, I went to a cafe and got a fancy coffee drink before heading back to the hostel where I met up with the group of guys from my room plus two others Canada (we just decided life would be easier if we called each other by where we're from, so was have Texas, California, Germany and London) met and invited along. Germany, Canada, Texas and London all had wine from a bag before heading out but we finally made it to the Uni Bar. After checking out the bar we went up to the fourth floor where the dancing was. It was a really fun, long night (we didn't get back until 2:30am) and I discovered that all of the American-loving Australians are just in hiding in Melbourne. They were out and about in Canberra and I describe my night as getting preyed on like a piece of meat. It was kind of funny because every time I turned around someone else was there and at one point I ended up over the shoulder of a really big Samoan man (like a sack of potatoes). I knew nothing bad would happen to me because I was with my comrades from the hostel. It was an interesting "cultural" experience, but it's been a long time since I've gotten out and I had a good time.
Melbourne to Canberra
Final exams/semester 1 is over! Four finals later and I'm officially done. The second two exams went much more smoothly and I actually feel decent about them. We'll see when my marks come out on July 8th but between now and then I'll live a blissful, carefree life of ignorance.
Today marks four months since I arrived in Melbourne and also the first day of my mega-Australia east coast adventure. I woke up at 6am and made some last minute additions to my suitcase before heading to the the tram stop. It was definitely still dark outside and pretty chilly. I waited for about 10 minutes before getting frustrated and began walking with all of my luggage. I know "patience is a virtue" but it didn't seem as if the tram was coming. But of course as soon as I made it about one block one went rattling by. Frustrating. I managed to catch the next one, made it to Melbourne Central and eventually the bus terminal at Southern Cross Station. I checked in and found out that we had assigned seating and that I wasn't in the front; I was in seat 5B, next to a bigger lady who was nice but kind of talked a lot. She informed me that she had been visiting Melbourne and actually lives in Canberra. Her husband died recently and she had just been to visit her daughter.
Along the way we stopped a couple of times to let people on and off and once at about 11:30 for a food break. I was definitely the only one to whip food out of my suitcase; everyone else went to the cafe before getting back on the bus for the second half of the trek. The first half went by really quickly, but the second half was slow. I slept, looked out the window (well the part of the window that I could see) and listened to my iPod. It was pretty uneventful and decently enjoyable. Many parts of the drive were like I5 to LA (less cows, more sheep) mixed in with some rolling hills that reminded me of parts of the drive between Stanford and Sacramento.
In any case, I finally made it to Canberra and when the bus door opened, I was shocked by the cold. I'm really glad I have my new white coat with me; it's going to get a lot of wear on the next couple of weeks. Getting off the bus, my first order of business was to find my hostel. I had to ask for directions on three separate occasions but I was finally successful. I checked in and was happy upon arrival in my room. There are 10 beds with a bathroom down the hall. There's also a kitchen downstairs and it was cool to see groups of people cooking there. I didn't bring dinner food with me so I had to make my way to a recommended restaurant, Gus' Cafe. It was a quaint little place with lots of variety on the menu. On the way back to the hostel I stopped at the grocery store to pick up some breakfast food and fruit so that I can make both breakfast and lunch for myself and hopefully save some money.
Now I'm in the lounge watching TV and there is a diverse group of people here. It's only 8pm and I'm already thinking about showering and getting ready for bed. I'm going to wake up, make breakfast and plan my day in Canberra. I'm actually hoping to get up and run first, but I don't know if I'll have the willpower to do that because it's just so cold. On the other hand, I need to be in bathing suit shape by the time I get to Cairns in three weeks or so.
Today marks four months since I arrived in Melbourne and also the first day of my mega-Australia east coast adventure. I woke up at 6am and made some last minute additions to my suitcase before heading to the the tram stop. It was definitely still dark outside and pretty chilly. I waited for about 10 minutes before getting frustrated and began walking with all of my luggage. I know "patience is a virtue" but it didn't seem as if the tram was coming. But of course as soon as I made it about one block one went rattling by. Frustrating. I managed to catch the next one, made it to Melbourne Central and eventually the bus terminal at Southern Cross Station. I checked in and found out that we had assigned seating and that I wasn't in the front; I was in seat 5B, next to a bigger lady who was nice but kind of talked a lot. She informed me that she had been visiting Melbourne and actually lives in Canberra. Her husband died recently and she had just been to visit her daughter.
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| my chariot |
Along the way we stopped a couple of times to let people on and off and once at about 11:30 for a food break. I was definitely the only one to whip food out of my suitcase; everyone else went to the cafe before getting back on the bus for the second half of the trek. The first half went by really quickly, but the second half was slow. I slept, looked out the window (well the part of the window that I could see) and listened to my iPod. It was pretty uneventful and decently enjoyable. Many parts of the drive were like I5 to LA (less cows, more sheep) mixed in with some rolling hills that reminded me of parts of the drive between Stanford and Sacramento.
In any case, I finally made it to Canberra and when the bus door opened, I was shocked by the cold. I'm really glad I have my new white coat with me; it's going to get a lot of wear on the next couple of weeks. Getting off the bus, my first order of business was to find my hostel. I had to ask for directions on three separate occasions but I was finally successful. I checked in and was happy upon arrival in my room. There are 10 beds with a bathroom down the hall. There's also a kitchen downstairs and it was cool to see groups of people cooking there. I didn't bring dinner food with me so I had to make my way to a recommended restaurant, Gus' Cafe. It was a quaint little place with lots of variety on the menu. On the way back to the hostel I stopped at the grocery store to pick up some breakfast food and fruit so that I can make both breakfast and lunch for myself and hopefully save some money.
Now I'm in the lounge watching TV and there is a diverse group of people here. It's only 8pm and I'm already thinking about showering and getting ready for bed. I'm going to wake up, make breakfast and plan my day in Canberra. I'm actually hoping to get up and run first, but I don't know if I'll have the willpower to do that because it's just so cold. On the other hand, I need to be in bathing suit shape by the time I get to Cairns in three weeks or so.
Monday, June 20, 2011
D-O-N-E...DONE!
My first semester of grad school is officially in the books. Even now that I'm writing it out I don't really believe it. I actually still have a hard time believing that I got into grad school in the first place. I would always look at the grad students at Stanford and just think about how smart they were. I know I'm not at Stanford, but it's still cool to think that I've kind of joined their ranks. And I'm surviving (well I hope...we'll see what happens when my grades ("marks") come out).
Now that I'm finished, the first order of business is to do laundry and get ready for break! I know, exciting stuff. I'm leaving on my mega-East Coast adventure on Wednesday and there are just some last minute things that need to happen. I need to pack of course, but I also need to get to campus to print out a bunch of bus tickets and hostel reservation forms, etc. And then I'll stop by the market to pick up some food before I leave. I'm going to try to have enough food to make my own lunches along the way (so far I've done a good job picking out accommodation with free breakfast), just to save some money. I'll go out to dinner though, because I don't think carrying pots and pans around in my suitcase would be fun at all. I'm so excited to finally be able to breathe easy after a long semester and an equally long finals period. Woohoo!
Now that I'm finished, the first order of business is to do laundry and get ready for break! I know, exciting stuff. I'm leaving on my mega-East Coast adventure on Wednesday and there are just some last minute things that need to happen. I need to pack of course, but I also need to get to campus to print out a bunch of bus tickets and hostel reservation forms, etc. And then I'll stop by the market to pick up some food before I leave. I'm going to try to have enough food to make my own lunches along the way (so far I've done a good job picking out accommodation with free breakfast), just to save some money. I'll go out to dinner though, because I don't think carrying pots and pans around in my suitcase would be fun at all. I'm so excited to finally be able to breathe easy after a long semester and an equally long finals period. Woohoo!
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Happy Father's Day!!
Even though they don't celebrate Father's Day here, I just wanted to give a shout out to my most amazing dad.
Dad, I can't thank you enough for everything you've done for me and everything you've taught me. There isn't a day that goes by where I don't stop to think about how lucky I am to have you in my life. I wouldn't be the person I am today if it wasn't for you. I love you so much and cherish our relationship. I miss you and honestly can't wait until you are out here with me at the end of the year. I hope you have the most amazing day, because you deserve it!
Happy Father's Day! :)
Friday, June 17, 2011
Traumatic Subdural Hematoma
Cerebral contusion, traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage, dementia pugilistica...these are just some of the wonderful terms I committed to memory earlier this week and am already trying to forget. I have to purge these from my storage space and make room for one more round of cramming. My Cellular and Tissue Biomechanics final exam was this afternoon, and so far, despite the fact that the class was very disorganized, I feel like this was my best showing. Hopefully I can top it on Monday when I take on Biomedical Engineering, but we'll just have to wait and see. I can't wait until this time next week when I'll have been to Canberra and will have also spent my first day in Sydney. I was going to embark on my journey the day after I was done with exams, but I finally decided to give myself that day to get organized and I'm really glad I did. Things are going by so quickly as it is, and I don't know if I would have been ready on time if I had to leave next Tuesday.
I can't believe that one semester of school is finally coming to a close. My brain is so exhausted from being in such a heightened and stressed state for the past three weeks; it's definitely time for a break. But the situation also got me thinking about the fact that I will probably only be a student for 12 more weeks!! After 18 years, that's not a lot of time at all, and I'm going to have to give myself time to adjust. It's all I've really known and it's comfortable, but I don't really think that I want to pursue a PhD, so this will be the end of the line for me. I'm sure that whatever lies ahead will be exciting too, but I really like being a student in spite of all the complaining that I do :)
In other news, poor LC will be getting picked up tomorrow to go home for some cosmetic surgery. Unfortunately he was in his first accident, but it wasn't his fault. Hopefully the recovery time won't be that long and he can be back on the road, good as new, in no time. As my mom put it, he is a few years old and could use a facelift. Always the optimist!!
I can't believe that one semester of school is finally coming to a close. My brain is so exhausted from being in such a heightened and stressed state for the past three weeks; it's definitely time for a break. But the situation also got me thinking about the fact that I will probably only be a student for 12 more weeks!! After 18 years, that's not a lot of time at all, and I'm going to have to give myself time to adjust. It's all I've really known and it's comfortable, but I don't really think that I want to pursue a PhD, so this will be the end of the line for me. I'm sure that whatever lies ahead will be exciting too, but I really like being a student in spite of all the complaining that I do :)
In other news, poor LC will be getting picked up tomorrow to go home for some cosmetic surgery. Unfortunately he was in his first accident, but it wasn't his fault. Hopefully the recovery time won't be that long and he can be back on the road, good as new, in no time. As my mom put it, he is a few years old and could use a facelift. Always the optimist!!
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
No More Fourier Transforms
I'm happy to say that round two of the final exam period is over and that I will, for the time being at least, no longer be required to remember anything about the dreaded Fourier analysis. I do have to say, that as much grief as it gave me and for all of the hours I spent completing MatLab labs, Medical Imaging was probably my favorite course this semester and the one that I feel like I got the most out of. I loved the professor and the way that she taught the class. She is one of the first female professors I've had since concentrating on my engineering courses, which is an interesting fact that I didn't think about until I stumbled upon the subject with one of my classmates. She is actually a professor in the Electrical Engineering department, which is very male-dominated, and currently is a part of 15 publications about varying topics focusing around MRI.
Next up will be Cellular and Tissue Biomechanics on Friday, which is a class that didn't turn out at all as I expected. Part of the reason for that is because of the fact that the professor didn't update the handbook before I registered for the course, so I had a skewed view of what we would be covering in the twelve weeks of instruction. It wasn't at all related to anything I'd done throughout my biomechanics career and is going to be rather difficult to study for. And the added bonus is that this upcoming exam is what they call a "hurdle," meaning that I have to pass the exam to pass the class. All I call it is added pressure. Oh well, two hours of torture, it will be over, and I'll just have to wait and see if I did enough.
Next up will be Cellular and Tissue Biomechanics on Friday, which is a class that didn't turn out at all as I expected. Part of the reason for that is because of the fact that the professor didn't update the handbook before I registered for the course, so I had a skewed view of what we would be covering in the twelve weeks of instruction. It wasn't at all related to anything I'd done throughout my biomechanics career and is going to be rather difficult to study for. And the added bonus is that this upcoming exam is what they call a "hurdle," meaning that I have to pass the exam to pass the class. All I call it is added pressure. Oh well, two hours of torture, it will be over, and I'll just have to wait and see if I did enough.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Brighton Beach
Today I woke up and made pancakes (I'm loving being able to actually cook things) for breakfast. In this process I learned that Australian syrup is different than what I would usually think of putting on my pancakes. It's more like the consistency of honey and doesn't really have that kind of maple flavor that I love. It wasn't bad, just different.
After finishing up, I lazed around for a little while longer before deciding that I did in fact want to go somewhere today. I got dressed and walked to Flinders Street Station to take the metro to Brighton Beach. I learned that there was a detour, due to who knows what, and I ended up having to get off and catch a bus somewhere down the line. I eventually made it to the beach, after driving through some nice looking towns, only to realize that I couldn't see three feet in front of me because of the fog. I was kind of disappointed because I thought my trip was going to be a bust. However, in between the bus stop and the beach were a couple of cafes, so I decided to sit down and have lunch while I was there. I had brought along some of my study material and I ended up enjoying a nice warm toastie (panini) while studying the physics behind MRI and ultrasound. Before I knew it, an hour had passed and I looked outside and found the sun shining brightly and the fog dissipated. I was so happy!
I walked back down to the water and took my time looking at the sea shells in the sand and listening to the water hit the shore. I had picked this beach as my destination because of its famous changing huts, which are really colorful and fun. I ended up finding them before sitting on a bench for about 30 minutes, just soaking up the sun (even though it was cold outside) and looking at the Melbourne city center from across the water. It was a nice afternoon getaway.
I made it back home, went on a mini run, and then decided to make dinner. I went to Victoria Market yesterday to buy some fresh produce and poultry, and I used them in a baked macaroni and cheese recipe I found online. It was actually a lot of work, but I just had my first helping and it was soooo good. And it's all worth it because the recipe makes 4-6 servings, so it lasts me at least half the week. This comes after the chicken and rice casserole that I made, and it's a pretty tight competition when it comes to which one was better. The novelty of cooking will probably wear off, but I'm going to ride the wave until that happens because right now it's a lot of fun. One of my roommates finally dug in to the cake that I made yesterday...good thing because it's going to be bad news if I end up eating it all myself.
After finishing up, I lazed around for a little while longer before deciding that I did in fact want to go somewhere today. I got dressed and walked to Flinders Street Station to take the metro to Brighton Beach. I learned that there was a detour, due to who knows what, and I ended up having to get off and catch a bus somewhere down the line. I eventually made it to the beach, after driving through some nice looking towns, only to realize that I couldn't see three feet in front of me because of the fog. I was kind of disappointed because I thought my trip was going to be a bust. However, in between the bus stop and the beach were a couple of cafes, so I decided to sit down and have lunch while I was there. I had brought along some of my study material and I ended up enjoying a nice warm toastie (panini) while studying the physics behind MRI and ultrasound. Before I knew it, an hour had passed and I looked outside and found the sun shining brightly and the fog dissipated. I was so happy!
I walked back down to the water and took my time looking at the sea shells in the sand and listening to the water hit the shore. I had picked this beach as my destination because of its famous changing huts, which are really colorful and fun. I ended up finding them before sitting on a bench for about 30 minutes, just soaking up the sun (even though it was cold outside) and looking at the Melbourne city center from across the water. It was a nice afternoon getaway.
I made it back home, went on a mini run, and then decided to make dinner. I went to Victoria Market yesterday to buy some fresh produce and poultry, and I used them in a baked macaroni and cheese recipe I found online. It was actually a lot of work, but I just had my first helping and it was soooo good. And it's all worth it because the recipe makes 4-6 servings, so it lasts me at least half the week. This comes after the chicken and rice casserole that I made, and it's a pretty tight competition when it comes to which one was better. The novelty of cooking will probably wear off, but I'm going to ride the wave until that happens because right now it's a lot of fun. One of my roommates finally dug in to the cake that I made yesterday...good thing because it's going to be bad news if I end up eating it all myself.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Ohhhh-Leven!
It's that time of the year again...time for Stanford to celebrate the members of the class of 2011 (and all those left over from the best class Stanford has ever seen, 2010). Stanford's 120th Commencement ceremony is on Sunday and the class of oh-leven has been experiencing all of the fun activities that go along with such an amazing weekend. These include Senior Dinner on the Quad (always a fan favorite) and the Senior Student-Athlete Banquet, which I really enjoyed last year.
I can't believe that it's been one year already since I "graduated" and celebrated four of the best years of my life with my classmates. I also can't believe how different my life is now compared to what it was one short year ago. So much as happened to me and many people that I know, and it's exciting. However, I have to say that I've been a bit nostalgic lately and really wish that I was on The Farm right now enjoying the festivities with all the people I love. All you oh-leveners will know what I mean at this time next year.
I extend my congratulations to all you guys who are walking across the stage this weekend, but most of all to Shelley (Pac-10 Postgraduate Scholarship recipient), Dani, Gretchen, Alex, Tim, Ryan, Josh, and Abhi (who will be doing the ME Coterm next year...such a stud). You guys are awesome and I hope you are having the best time! Enjoy it while it lasts...I'm sure you now realize how quickly time flies.
Even though now my school colors are blue and white, and in spite of all the grief my father has given me over the years, I will always bleed Cardinal. Stanford is one of the best things that has ever happened to me, and I hope all you soon-to-be graduates feel the same. Oh, and you better have some awesome Wacky Walk ideas. I can't wait to see pictures :)
I can't believe that it's been one year already since I "graduated" and celebrated four of the best years of my life with my classmates. I also can't believe how different my life is now compared to what it was one short year ago. So much as happened to me and many people that I know, and it's exciting. However, I have to say that I've been a bit nostalgic lately and really wish that I was on The Farm right now enjoying the festivities with all the people I love. All you oh-leveners will know what I mean at this time next year.
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| Dani, Gretchen, and Shelley as little froshies...so cute :) |
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| Tim, Alex, Ryan, Abhi, and Josh |
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| Cartwheels down the aisle at graduation, Superman capes and all. |
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Final Exam Kickoff
The first exam is done and over with. And for all the time spent studying, the three hours they give you to complete the test go by in a flash. My exam this morning was at 9:30am in a big hall on campus. I got up at 8 and had some breakfast while doing some half-hearted, last minute review. I finally decided that it was time to get dressed and head out, and I made my way to campus. From where I'm living now it takes me maybe 10 minutes to get there. Again I had my flashcards in my hand, but between paying attention to the traffic and listening to my iPod, there weren't many opportunities to really soak in any more information.
I arrived at the location of my test to find a large bin sitting outside. I realized that we weren't allowed to take in our backpacks or any other bags, so I had to take out what I needed (pens, pencils, water, engineering approved calculator (yeah, I had to buy another one), and student ID card). The doors to the hall were only opened five minutes before designated reading time began, and they checked my ID and directed me to my assigned seat. There were some 300+ desks in the room, and I was in lucky number 148. The specific instructions were to leave my ID card on the top left hand side of the desk and to wait patiently for the announcement to begin reading. Reading time is when you can look through the exam, but you aren't allowed to have a pen/pencil in your hand. They give you 15 minutes, and I actually found it to be very stressful. It's like they give you extra time to realize all the things you don't know before you actually have the chance to write anything down.
Once the actual testing experience began, there were monitors continually walking up and down the rows of desks, excusing people if they needed to go use the restroom (you can't just get up and leave) and checking the ID cards yet again. As I said before, the three hours I was given just flew right on by, and before I knew it, the test was over and the damage was done. I don't have any clue as to how the grading goes or anything like that, but this exam was worth 60% of my grade so it was kind of a big deal. I'm really hoping I did enough to pass. As I began to walk home, the waves of stress and exhaustion hit me and I felt like I wanted to puke. I definitely didn't, but I am so glad it's over. Now at least I have an idea of what it's like, though my remaining exams are all in buildings off campus, so I am going to have the added pleasure of trying to find them. Next up is Medical Imaging on Tuesday. It's the Queen's Birthday on Monday, so we "get the day off" of school, which just means more study time. I'm taking either tomorrow or Sunday off, I just haven't decided which. Probably Sunday because the tram tickets are cheapest on that day, so I can go on an adventure while saving some money.
I arrived at the location of my test to find a large bin sitting outside. I realized that we weren't allowed to take in our backpacks or any other bags, so I had to take out what I needed (pens, pencils, water, engineering approved calculator (yeah, I had to buy another one), and student ID card). The doors to the hall were only opened five minutes before designated reading time began, and they checked my ID and directed me to my assigned seat. There were some 300+ desks in the room, and I was in lucky number 148. The specific instructions were to leave my ID card on the top left hand side of the desk and to wait patiently for the announcement to begin reading. Reading time is when you can look through the exam, but you aren't allowed to have a pen/pencil in your hand. They give you 15 minutes, and I actually found it to be very stressful. It's like they give you extra time to realize all the things you don't know before you actually have the chance to write anything down.
Once the actual testing experience began, there were monitors continually walking up and down the rows of desks, excusing people if they needed to go use the restroom (you can't just get up and leave) and checking the ID cards yet again. As I said before, the three hours I was given just flew right on by, and before I knew it, the test was over and the damage was done. I don't have any clue as to how the grading goes or anything like that, but this exam was worth 60% of my grade so it was kind of a big deal. I'm really hoping I did enough to pass. As I began to walk home, the waves of stress and exhaustion hit me and I felt like I wanted to puke. I definitely didn't, but I am so glad it's over. Now at least I have an idea of what it's like, though my remaining exams are all in buildings off campus, so I am going to have the added pleasure of trying to find them. Next up is Medical Imaging on Tuesday. It's the Queen's Birthday on Monday, so we "get the day off" of school, which just means more study time. I'm taking either tomorrow or Sunday off, I just haven't decided which. Probably Sunday because the tram tickets are cheapest on that day, so I can go on an adventure while saving some money.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Moving Day
Three round-trips across town and I am officially moved into my new place. There are some things that I need to go out and get, but I am happy to be here. Not only do I have an awesome grown-up sized bed (instead of the twin I was on before) and a really comfy desk chair, but I have a fast internet connection that will allow me to Skype without the annoying few seconds delay and I will be saving about $400 per month. And best of all, I don't have to deal with the terrible UniLodge management any longer. Someone is set to move in to my old place on Friday, which means that I won't actually be out any money at all...fantastic.
After getting settled, I went to the store because I am really excited to have an oven and the ability to cook real food (instead of having to microwave everything). Because I am in a different part of town, I have to get reacquainted with my surroundings. My new roommates pointed me in the direction of the nearest grocery store, and without really knowing where I was headed, I found it. It took me a long time to go through and get everything, but it was fun. On the way home I managed to get completely turned around and ended up walking around in the wrong direction for about 20 minutes...all while carrying all of my groceries. It has been raining on and off all day, but luckily it stayed dry while I tried to find my way home. I would have been miserable otherwise.
All of this activity means that I haven't studied at all today, so I am going to have to get back to it for a few hours before I get ready to cook dinner. Ugh, finals...ruins everything.
After getting settled, I went to the store because I am really excited to have an oven and the ability to cook real food (instead of having to microwave everything). Because I am in a different part of town, I have to get reacquainted with my surroundings. My new roommates pointed me in the direction of the nearest grocery store, and without really knowing where I was headed, I found it. It took me a long time to go through and get everything, but it was fun. On the way home I managed to get completely turned around and ended up walking around in the wrong direction for about 20 minutes...all while carrying all of my groceries. It has been raining on and off all day, but luckily it stayed dry while I tried to find my way home. I would have been miserable otherwise.
All of this activity means that I haven't studied at all today, so I am going to have to get back to it for a few hours before I get ready to cook dinner. Ugh, finals...ruins everything.
Monday, June 6, 2011
City Circle Tram
I decided to clear my mind by taking the day off on Sunday. I really needed to get away from school and studying because I'd gotten to the point where I wasn't even sleeping because I was so stressed. I was originally just going to take the morning off, but then the morning turned into the day, and in the end, I'm happy it did. My morning was slow to start, but I finally got up and dressed and went out into the cold. The mornings here are getting quite chilly, but I actually like it. As long as it's dry, I can handle it; it's only really when it starts raining that I find myself miserable. I set out to get a winter coat, because the one I've got has gotten ratty an is too big for me now. It was semi-frustrating experience, but I found one that I really liked and I began to wear it right away.
I decided to hop on the free tram, called the City Circle, because that's something that I had yet to do. It's the only tram that's free and it takes you around the perimeter of the city and past most of the historical and tourist areas. There's the added bonus of having the narration to go along with it so that you know what you're looking at. You can get on and off as you please, and a tram comes by a designated stop every 12 minutes. The only bummer about doing it on the weekend was there were loads of people doing the same thing, so it was a bit overcrowded.
I decided that my first stop would be the Victoria Parliament Building. I'd run by it before, but I had never stopped to really look at it. Apparently, though you would never know by just looking at it, the building was never finished. The 19th century architect that had envisioned the final product never saw that dream realized.
Next up was St. Patrick's Cathedral. The organ was belting throughout the city and people were going in and out as different church services were beginning and ending. Going inside, bits and pieces reminded me of MemChu and I was amazed at the beauty of the place.
I decided to hop on the free tram, called the City Circle, because that's something that I had yet to do. It's the only tram that's free and it takes you around the perimeter of the city and past most of the historical and tourist areas. There's the added bonus of having the narration to go along with it so that you know what you're looking at. You can get on and off as you please, and a tram comes by a designated stop every 12 minutes. The only bummer about doing it on the weekend was there were loads of people doing the same thing, so it was a bit overcrowded.
I decided that my first stop would be the Victoria Parliament Building. I'd run by it before, but I had never stopped to really look at it. Apparently, though you would never know by just looking at it, the building was never finished. The 19th century architect that had envisioned the final product never saw that dream realized.
Next up was St. Patrick's Cathedral. The organ was belting throughout the city and people were going in and out as different church services were beginning and ending. Going inside, bits and pieces reminded me of MemChu and I was amazed at the beauty of the place.
I then swung by Docklands, which is a newer part of the city and is still under construction. It sits right along the water and there are many fancy apartment buildings, restaurants, and a shopping center. I strolled around the shops for a little while, enjoying the cool breeze and eating my sandwich along the way. I didn't really go inside any of the stores. Instead I just decided to window shop and see what's out there. I found my way to the water and the dock after that, again just taking some time to enjoy being outside and letting the wind carry my stressful thoughts away. Finally back on the tram, I stopped off at the Royal Exhibition Building, where I'll actually be having two of my exams, and then just took my time to walk to the store to do a little grocery shopping. I didn't stock up for the entire week like I normally do because I'm moving tomorrow and I don't want to have to haul extra food around.
When I got home, I sat on my bed and then next thing I knew, two hours had passed. I had fallen asleep, which was something that I really needed. I woke up, made dinner, and just relaxed for the rest of the evening. It made for a nice end to a stressful week. I know that these next two weeks are really going to test me and my ability to keep a level head. There is a lot to get done and I just have to remember to take it one day and one thing at a time. The one real positive to all this stress is that I just want to release all of that negative energy, and I find myself getting lost in my workouts. Yesterday I somehow managed to just keep going and going, and then bam...I ran a 10K (6.25 miles). If anything, this stress is keeping me in shape :)
Friday, June 3, 2011
SWOT VAC
Our designated study period came to an end yesterday. I don't have an exam until Friday, but some people will hit the ground running come Monday. I've been putting in long hours in the Mechanical Engineering Graduate Lounge, my chosen study area. My brain is completely fried and yet I still have to find a way to get through another week. I don't really know how it's going to go, especially since I haven't really been sleeping either. Not a good combination for trying to cram as much information into my head as possible. I'm really looking forward for everything to be over, but totally nervous at the same time. They make everything so formal here; at Stanford we had the Honor Code and we were allowed to take our exams wherever we wanted and the professor and TAs would sit outside the room while the test was taking place. Here we have to check our bags at the door before we walk in and we are only allowed to bring in a pencil and an "engineering approved" calculator, if necessary. This means that I have to go out and buy a new calculator because my fancy graphing calculator that has the ability to store formulas is definitely not allowed. The professor sits in the front of the room staring at you the entire time like a babysitter and there are assigned seats and everything. I feel like I'm back in high school and taking the SAT. I guess the faculty isn't willing to risk trusting the students here. I miss Stanford.
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