I'm Sure You've Been Waiting!

Tuesday, February 26

So I'm sure that you all have been dying to hear how things are going!

I moved in with my more permanent host family on Sunday afternoon.  While this family isn't the original one that I was going to, and was a last minute change, I couldn't be happier with the way things worked out!  The family that I live with has 3 daughters, ranging in age from 22-19.  The family owns 4 apartments all in 1 building, and I share one with their oldest daughter.  Across the hall is the parents apartment with the kitchen that we use.  About a 5 minute walk from the house is the cafe and surf shop that the parents own and run.  Literally across the road from them is the beach! The family has been extremely welcoming and helpful!  They are a very close family, but joke with each other, just as mine does, so I feel very comfortable.  I eat breakfast at the cafe, and they pack me a lunch if I need it, but we eat dinner at the house with everyone.  After dinner we watch tv together.

I went to UNSW (University of New South Wales, or my uni) yesterday for an exchange student information session.  This entire week is called O week, which stands for Orientation week.  It was pretty crazy, as UNSW has 49,000 students, and it seemed like all of them were on campus for all of the free stuff that was being given away!  Also, all over campus there were booths set up for each club that the uni had to offer; I signed up to receive more information from a few clubs, so I'll see what looks interesting once I receive more information.  I was also able to set up my student account, and get wifi access to the campus (both things that I knew I needed to do)!  

I also got my schedule (they call it a timetable) and I'm super happy with it! I have class from 10-12 on Mondays, 9-2 on Tuesdays, off on Wednesdays, 5-6 on Thursdays, and 10-2 on Fridays.  Classes start on Monday, so I don't have long to relax!

The weather today is supposed to be in the low 80's but now that I'm so close to the beach, there is always a nice breeze. 

My plans for the rest of this week are: head to uni later today for a campus tour, beach tomorrow, back to uni on Thursday for a mandatory orientation session for exchangers, and to the Taronga Zoo on Friday with other exchangers!

I may sample Vegemite tomorrow for breakfast  : )

Until Later,
Kaitlyn