Day 1

Bill bryson said that anyone flying into Sydney from the states should already feel accomplished just upon arriving because you technically dont exist for a day. I never got a July 20, 2010. my body was unaccounted for. i left LA on July 19th , flew for 14 hrs, yet arrived on july 21st. You would expect, having cheated time that when you stepped foot outside your carrier you would see signs with unfamiliar markings, people with space suits or vegetation that lit up to the touch- maybe even an Avatar. the first thing i saw when i hopped off the plane was a Krispy kreme and a Mcdonalds. the trees that lined the highways were pine and oak... the only reason i knew i wasnt in South Carolina was the bitter cold air when i stepped outside . it was rainy too. where's Hugh Jackman and the hot desert? hollywood lies.

they drove us into the city to get to campus and it was breathtaking. It redeemed my first impression of Sydney in an instant. It has the modern architecture of Vancouver, mixed with the quant colonial houses of charleston. and its the size of New York. I cant wait to get lost in it.

the australians i've met so far are rather funny. I would not use the word friendly or sweet but they really are genuinely nice. they seem skeptical at first and not willing to trust which i heard was bc they know we're leaving and dont like to get attached but they end up falling for us americans anyway. who can resist our charm ;)

my homestay situation is splendid. me and 3 others have our own little flat in the back of the family's house. The townsends have 4 children who are still living at home even though they are in their 20's which is odd. but its fun bc there is always people here and they are so laid back... about everything. except the internets which i am convinced wont last long. so i'm writing this now by a little box oven bc its near 40 degrees outside and houses/buildings dont have heat. I dont know when i'll be able to send this or post it bc i have to be on campus to do so. but i'm also in the futre so youll probably read it on the date that i wrote it. weird. everything here is backwards. the seasons, the constellations, south is cold, drive on the right, and i still dont know if the water goes down the drain backwards but i'll keep you posted.