Coming Attractions

Much to my surprise, today is in fact, Sunday. For the majority of the day, I thought it was Saturday, but eventually figured it out! Anyways, as I have massive amounts of reading to finish tonight, I will have to postpone my weekly Sunday update (sorry mom, I know you look forward to Sundays for it!) I will hopefully have time in the next day or two to be able to do a thorough recap of my FIFTH week in Australia! So on that note, I must finish this, prepare for a presentation tomorrow in developmental psych, and actually sleep, as I am beyond exhausted from the weekend (which of course started last Wednesday). So I'll work on the next post as soon as possible!

I need a more interesting title for these...Part 4!

So, another week has come and gone in the land of Oz. I can't believe I've been here for a MONTH! It really feels like I have been here forever, but it is certainly going by very fast. This week has been more class intensive, and I've actually spent a lot of time doing reading and homework. The classes are becoming more and more different from those at home, and although I still feel fairly lost, I am starting to figure out the expectations. My favorite class so far is Bioethics. Although the lecture is fairly boring, it should get better, but what is great is the tutorial. This happens once a week for an hour, and basically it is a group of about 20, and we debate ethical issues. As those reading this likely know, I LOVE to debate. I can safely say it is one of my passions to debate various issues, especially those that are medical. There was another American in the class, who is a biochem major, and we really went at it on several topics, especially euthanasia and genetic testing. The class is a "history and philosophy of science" course, so a lot of the students do not come from a scientific background, but the two of us do, making the debate even better, since he did not at first expect my knowledge of science, as he bragged about what he knew. Once I busted out some terms regarding blastulas, gastrulation, totipotent vs. pluripotent and IVF methods, he shut up pretty quick, and we had a great debate! As I said in a previous post, I got into developmental psych, which should also be a cool course. We have a longer tutorial portion of this class, and I will be doing an experiment on a 3-5 year old child, regarding Piaget's preoperational theory. How shall I find a child in Aus? No idea! I'll work on that, and can hopefully hook up with someone in the class who has access to some kids. A lot of the class has to do with theories, so I should be able to get into depth on topics I haven't done since beginning psych courses. Brain and Behaviour is...dull. We have been learning about classical and instrumental conditioning, extinction, and fear learning. Once again, things I did many years ago, and did not enjoy at the time. But a new lecturer who is supposed to be great is starting the next series of lectures tomorrow, so hopefully things will pick up, and we'll get more into the "brain" portion. We started the lab component this week though, so I have a rat of my own for the whole semester! Finally, is my only actual physical science (which is strange because I'm used to ALL science) course, "cell biology". It has focuses on regulatory cell biology, and is not quite as easy as I expected, but I don't think it should be too taxing. The four hour lab this week was very basic and boring, but I volunteered to do a presentation which the professor loved. They were also impressed by my knowlege of scientific journal searching, as the rest of the class probably didn't even know what a journal was, while I am an avid reader of the New England Journal of Medicine!
This week I had a great conversation with a new friend about the process of becoming a doctor in Australia. It is very different from the process in America, and I didn't really know what to make of it. The school system is very different in general, so I guess I shouldn't have been too surprised. I will actually do a seperate post on this whole phenomena, so as not to bore anyone reading this one. So stay tuned for that!
I also had a lot of fun this week, going out several nights, and doing the hike yesterday. I unfortunately did not do anything off of my Sydney Top 25 list this week...I can't believe it! There are also no big goals that I completed. I better get a move on in the coming week. But I definitely had a great week and learned a few important lessons!

#12: It is unhealthy to eat Pide so much that the man knows who you are and what you want.

#13: Be careful where you hike alone. It is likely you will run into a naked man and have to run away on your bum leg...

#14: Do not expect that you will not have to do work on semester abroad. It is one of the saddest facts you will learn very quickly. So it's just better to know ahead of time.

#15: Do not forget to go to the beach! You will quickly become as white as your friends at home.

Alright, that's it for now. The coming week looks good-classes until Thursday AM, and then who knows what the weekend will bring? Definitely a hike, beach, surfing, and who knows what else! Only 4 weeks til New Zealand...Time to get planning!

Until next time!

Royal National Park

Today I decided to go on a day hike to Sydney's Royal National Park. I took the train from Central to Cronulla, about an hour ride. Then the ferry takes you from Cronulla to Bundeena, the gateway town to RNP. When I arrived around lunchtime, I found the tiny little "visitor's center" which was actually a little cafe with a few brochures on the area. I grabbed one with a map and started walking. I went to Jibbon Beach, which is an aboriginal site. I took off my sneakers to walk along the water, and the views were very beautiful. I then came to the rock areas, which were absolutely breathtaking. I then began the hike into the actual park. Several years ago 95% of the park was ruined in fires, and it was evident walking through, since many of the trees were clearly still burnt. About two miles in, I turned a corner, and all of a sudden right in front of me on the trail was a man who looked to be about 45, completely naked. I did as any young female, walking alone in the middle of the woods would do-turned around and booked it back in the direction I came from. I made it back to the beach, but it was a very creepy encounter. I then went into the "town" and decided which cafe I was going to eat lunch at. I had three options. A nice man asked me if I needed help or advice on traveling around the area, since I looked deep in thought, but I just explained that I was deciding if I wanted to eat in shack #1, 2 or 3. I chose one and ordered a plain burger with cheese and tomato sauce. My burger came back, and it had "the lot" on it, including beets, tomatos, and an egg, along with all the other veggies. I took the egg off, and ate it, and it turned out to be quite delicious! I continued my hike, and ran into a girl who I had met on the ferry over, so we sat and talked for a while. She was from Austria, and had been traveling around the world for many years, and was now staying in the park for a week. After I left her, the skies turned black, so I went to catch the next ferry. All in all, it was a very interesting, but fun adventure. I will likely go back when I can do the two day 28 km coast to coast walk. Check out the pictures!

Schedule Modification

Monday evening, as I sat down to do my reading for Conservation Biology and Applied Ecology, I realized I must get out of this class as soon as possible. I then proceeded to study my degree audit a little more thoroughly, and realized that I can actually count Biochemistry, which I'll take next year, as the same Bio credit! To make a long story short, after finally being approved, I was able to get into Developmental Psychology. Although it is a senior course, I'm sure I'll be able to do fine, and it should be quite interesting. What is even more exciting, is I now have NO class on Friday, and ONE class on Thursday from 10-11! This makes my weekend traveling much easier to do, so I'm very excited! Well, I'm off to begin catching up on this class!

Pi-ed? Pi-day?

So my first official obsession since I've been in Sydney-Turkish Pide. I just came back from eating one for approximately the 4th day in a row. I can't get enough! But I have now officially become a regular. As I walked up to the man, he said "Hi! How is your day today? The usual?" I replied with an excited yes! This was something that really made me feel at home in Sydney, since there is not even a spot in Boston where I am a regular. Of course, I still have no idea what the correct pronunciation of pide is--I will try to ask tomorrow, if I get a chance before he throws a hot, delicious, chicken and mushroom pide my way.

Pictures

Hi all! I have finally uploaded most of my pictures thus far onto Picasa. The links are on the right hand side of this screen, so check them out! I apologize for the ones that are of the same thing 20 seperate times, but while seeing them it was very exciting, and with them on here I can delete them off my computer so they don't make my computer slow! Enjoy!

Thoughts from Down Under-Part 3

Hi all! Well, here is my third edition of my weekly thoughts. I cannot believe I am now going into my fourth week here in Sydney. I can honestly say, that these have been some of the most exciting weeks of my life...Never a dull moment. In addition to classes this week, I have been trying to set up my extracurricular life as well. I have looked into many of the clubs on campus, and have already joined a few. My favorite is the Bushwalkers Club. I went to the first meeting/slide night on Wednesday, where they provide food and drinks (boxed wine of course) and look at slides from previous trips. The slides of course contain a drinking game, so it was a lot of fun. I was supposed to go on my first trip today, to the Royal National Park, but I am not feeling very well, likely getting sick. But next weekend is a trip that I am deciding if I will go on, an overnight beginners Canyoning trip! For those of you who don't know what canyoning is exactly, it basically includes, but is not limited to, the following; hiking, scrambling (rock climbing with (usually) no rope), climbing, jumping (off ledges/cliffs), swimming, and drifting down rivers on Lilos (a sort of raft). I really want to go, just am thinking of the possible risks on my knees. So I will decide a little later in the week, and if so, I need to go get some equipment. The next big trip will be from the 28th to the 29th, another overnighter. This is the "Freshers Trip" and goes to Shoalhaven Gorge. This will include hiking, jumping, swimming and fishing, among other things. I am really excited for this! They also post several hikes a week, usually on short term notice, so I'm sure there will be many more I'll go to in the coming weeks.
I've also joined the Equestrian Club, Buddy Club, and Red Cross Society. As you all know, I love to be busy and active, so all these things are going to be really great. I'm also working on applying to volunteer at the Sydney Children's Hospital, which would be great so I can learn about the Aussie health care system, and continue doing what I love.
I have of course, continued to do some touristy things. Friday afternoon I went on a walk down to Darling Harbour, then down King Street to Hyde Park. On the way I saw a Bollywood Star going into her wedding, which was showcased by TONS of photographers and news crews. I then went to the Hyde Park Barracks, and walked around the museum for a couple hours. It was not what I expected, but was very interesting and informative about the beginnings of Sydney's Prisons and Asylums. I then went to St. Mary's Cathedral, but unfortunately the crypts were closed, but the church was beautiful. I then walked to Wooloomoolooo (best suburb name EVER), Darlinghurst, and Kings Cross, and then back to Unilodge. It was a great afternoon, finished by a fun night out with friends.
Saturday evening was Sydney's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. It was one of the most fanastic things I've ever experienced! I got there early, and was going to meet up with some friends, but there was no way to get from one place to another, so I stayed where I was, and eventually got to the front row. I made friends with some definite characters around me, and got some great videos. There were over 125 floats/performances, 400,000 in attendance, and innumerable amounts of barely (if at all) dressed people.
I've continued to work on the broad goals I have, and have still not been homesick! I've been able to talk a lot this week with friends and family, which has been amazing. I'll give a shout out to MESHER because she is amazing and always comments on these, and I am talking to her right now...I LOVE YOU!
The most important and exciting part of my week though, is that I have booked a flight to Bali, Indonesia. This is a place I have wanted to go to for as long as I remember, and has always been a dream of mine. I'm not planning too many of the logistics yet, such as hotel and activites, but I will be there from June 7-June 14th. It is also starting to get close to my New Zealand trip, so I need to start planning that more thoroughly...About 5 weeks away, which is crazy, since it is about the halfway point of my trip.
Alright, time for the weekly lesson portion of this blog. Here goes!

#8: If studying abroad, don't skip the majority of orientation, where you would learn things that would actually benefit you when classes started, and you wouldn't be so lost.

#9: Do get to Mardi Gras at least 3 hours early. If not, you will get knocked to the ground by some very drunk people trying to get in front of you.

#10: Do not stay up until 6 am...Twice in one week. It's just a bad idea in general.

#11: Do join as many clubs as you can. They will provide you with alcohol at all the meetings.


Alright, that's it for the week. Also, I found out this week I have been selected to be a Resident Assistant (RA) in a freshman dorm next year! That means I can spend my seven weeks of summer relaxing, studying for the MCATs, and hanging out with SMAK!!!!!!!!!

Until next time!