baby, it's cold outside

Sooooo Tonia and I ventured out to the beach and guess what? It's no fun when it's freeezing. You don't see it in the picture but right after the shot this exact wave soaked my jeans up to my knees. The waves come and go with more force than anything. Figures. It's winter! Way to suck the fun right out of beaches. Speaking of freezing waters, I'll be surfing in them this weekend...wish me luck. My Minnesotan gater-skin-to-the-cold stayed in Minnesota, I shouldn't complain too much considering my return will be a lot more extreme. I have cooler pictures of the beach that'll go up on facebook as soon as I get to a place where I'm not paying for the internet lol.

Other adventures this week...Hmmm let's see. I can't tell you enough how exhausting work has been, I'm almost reconsidering my ability to tolerate kids for a full work shift.. On a brighter note, I'm learning so incredibly much every day. The staff uses a lot of child psychology in their practices so here I am at work learning more about psychology than I would sitting in a lecture hall for the rest of my life. So this is why I'm not getting paid...No hard feelings, can't wait to get back to my students at home! I'm gonna be a better teacher! I hope.

This weekend was great but my wallet has been suffering from bulimia...I can't even tell you how much I spent in these last few days... It's tough not having any income, and I'm dreading the day that I have to ask my parents for more money. I've exhausted all the money I have saved up...and it's only been THREE WEEKS. Sigh....

Sydney Opera House : Pirates of Penzance

 My very first opera, I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would it might be stupid of me but I always thought operas consisted of viking hats and fat women. This was nothing like it, I spose the more classical ones would be but this one was smart, funny and the musicians were brilliant. It was similar to a musical but with opera singing and not as glamorous of a setting (as seen here). There's a character, the captain who carried the personality of Jack Sparrow of the pirates of the Caribbean in the show. (thats where most of the humour was from). Very fun, but I can't say I enjoyed it enough to go see another opera. I'm more a broadway soul, which is A LOT more expensive here so I'm going to wait till I get back home to see them.

Sydney Tower: Observation Deck

Sydney, as well as any other city ever would be beautiful from the sky tower. I almost wish that it was night time when I was out there. The streaks over the water to my left are sailboats ( something else on my to do list). Sydney Tower is in the middle of the city where you can walk around and see everything, from the bridge and the opera house to the aquarium and even the zoo in the distance. It was very cool and the views were breathtaking. Nothing like a bird's eye view.


Anyone who knows me fairly well can vouch for my shopping habits and how it's my favorite past time aside from eating. EVERYTHING IS EXPENSIVE. So I can't shop. I shouldn't be surprised since I do live in the central business district and the biggest city attraction in the country, but still. That's something that's taking a little bit of adjustment as well as the fact that I don't like to be recognized as American. Not for anything personal but let me be the one to tell you that America does not have a good rep. "Aren't you American, you should be crazy" (dear lord, for me to be that kinda crazy? don't hold your breath.)

Something else I'm trying to get used to are the different terms people use
chips: french fries ( i shoulda known that but i didnt)
jumper: sweater
rubbish bin: garbage can
walk path: sidewalk
after thank you they say  "it's okay" (thats what i use when someone says sorry..)

As far as the accent, I can't do an impersonation but in a convo I start sounding like them. They don't understand how cool they sound. As far as my accent, they think its awesome. I'd say its a fair trade if it worked that way.

oh yeah, and everywhere I go I've been accumulating souveniers, thats what I get for having so many friends and family. I won't forget any of you, promise!

Ozzie quote " Are you half filipino?" -No, I'm Vietnamese "Oh half Vietnamese" uhmm I'm full Vietnamese.
Never reffered to myself as full/whole Vietnamese but there are so many biracial relationships here, many people are half. Not something Americans think of huh

OH and speaking Vietnamese, you can't say my trang because my=american. white people aren't american here so they were pretty confused as to who I was referring to. again, something I never thought about.

goodnight folks, till next time
latah!