...Update on Life...

Hey!!

It has been a very long time since I updated about my life in Australia. But I just wanted everyone to know that everything is going extremely well and I am enjoying being on summer break until February. Although I must say it is HOTTT and I'm not looking forward to March, which from what I hear is the hottest month of all. I've been enjoying trips to the beach and living a relaxing carefree lifestlye (since I'm not having to write papers every week anymore)....the following pictures are from a trip to Bondi Beach.

Cheers!!

Sydney Halloween Cruise

Since Halloween really isn’t a big deal in Australia my friends and I decided it would be fun to go on a Halloween Cruise around the Sydney Harbor. I decided to dress up as Michelle Obama and it was a huge hit. The night was amazing and we made some new friends along the way. But I must say that I woke up the next morning with all kind of injuries with no memory of how I got them but from what my friends and I put together I’m guessing I hit the pavement pretty hard, lol. But it’s all good I will recover as always. Cheers!!

:::Pam from True Blood & Michelle Obama:::

:::Ashley & Kynda:::

:::other people waiting to get on the boot as well:::

:::Danielle and Morten:::

:::the queen of hearts says bow down:::

:::i'm on boat:::

American Treats

My wonderful friend Scott sent me a package from good ol’ Texas full of my favorite candies, a shirt and planner from SFASU, and other great things for Halloween. Thanks so much Scott it really made my day, and just so you know all that candy was gone in one week. I just couldn’t stop eating it, lol.

:::the 9lb package::

:::my favorite movie candy:::
:::the SFA shirt::::::one of the notes...so sweet:::

*Crazy-Fun Weekend*

This weekend was one of the best weekends I have had since moving to Australia, filled with the most embarrassing moment of my ENTIRE life! On Friday Tamsin and I decided to go see a movie at Deny Cinema, which is one of the best in Sydney. We seen Wall Street 2 which is a really good movie if you’re in to all that financial stuff…Tamsin and I got lost in the “financial dialect” but it was good anyway. After the movie we headed to Manly for Zebine’s Frat Party, which turned out to be a great event. It felt just like an American Frat Party with drinking games, bear bong, and drunk crazy people everywhere. While at the party Trisha and I decided to take shots of Tequila to get the party going….two hours later the whole bottle is gone and this is where my memory starts to fade, lol. The next day I’m not feeling to hot but I have to get on the fiery to go from Manly back to my place in Newtown. Can you see where this is going yet?? Well, on the fiery ride I start to feel sick but I’m able to do my breathing techniques and tell myself its mind over matter, and I overcome the sick…or so I thought. From the fiery I have to take a 20 minute bus ride to be back in Newtown, as soon as I’m on the bus I realize that the feeling of queasiness is back and bolder than ever. The bus is overcrowded and I’m sitting in the inside sit, I’m looking around and there is nowhere for me to go….I have no choice so what do I do?? Open my purse and vomit. The girl sitting next to me jumps half way across the bus, everyone on the bus is looking at me….the smell of tequila fills the air, I’M MORTIFIED. I still have about 15 minutes to my stop and I contemplate getting off at the next stop but I know having to walk will only make the situation worse for me…I could care less about how the other people on the bus felt, lol. So as I’m getting off at my stop a few minutes later the older lady in front of me said, “if you ever need help they offer AA meetings every Thursday in Newtown”…..as I burst into laugher I almost vomit again!!! I make it home and I only have time to shower and change before I have to head to Meagan’s Han Day (AKA: Bachelorette Party). I have to take an hour long train to get to her house but I was able to make it without getting sick again. At the party were of course tons of alcoholic beverages and delicious food….I’m not gonna lie and say I didn’t drink cause of course I did, lol. While at the Hen festivities I attended by first Tupperware party and Zumba workout class, followed by a BIG surprise….the police which equals a male stripper, lol. Overall definitely one of the most memorable weekends EVER.

Enjoy the pictures!

--------FRIDAY--------
:::Tequila friend::: :::Texas Besties::: ::: Tamsin and I at the movies::: :::The group::: :::Drinking games::: :::the next day isn't so cute:::
--------SATURDAY--------
:::Ashley getting the party started with a glass of wine::: :::the cute light-up wine glasses::: :::Meagan's shirt:::

:::Great food::: :::Meagan:::

:::Who is that at the door? The Police??:::

:::Stripper time::: :::Hott mess:::

Weekend Fun With Zebine

This weekend I got to spend time with my best friend Zebine, which was super exciting since I haven’t seen her in about a month. We decided to do what we do best…$HOP! I got some new Versace perfume which smells amazing to say the least! I also go my niece, Alandria, some cute stuff that I just put in the mail to her…hope you love it sweetie! I also got a fake tattoo on my arm that was cute but it only lasted for two days. Cheers!!

:::hometown love:::

::: fake tattoo that means courage:::

:::I may get a real one:::

:::on the water rocks:::

:::YAHH!!!:::

Final Tutorial Dinner

Hey Everyone!

Last night was my final tutorial for my Global Perspective of HIV/AIDS course and it was also my night to be the group facilitator for an hour. Although I was very nervous it went well with the help of my group members. Once we completed the final tutorial the entire group went to dinner at Kammadhenu, which is a wonderful place to eat in Newtown, I had the best butter chicken and basmathi rice. But it was kind of sad that it was the last tutorial meeting since I have learned so much from all the girls in my group. I gained so much needed knowledge about different cultural perspectives and the tutorial leader, Phoebe, was so great at helping us learn the needed material. She has so much worldly knowledge and she is the founder of Hands of Help, which is an organization that "works to build equality to alleviate poverty, advance education and provide for the relief from sickness and disability for people living in developing countries and for disadvantaged people residing in developed countries." She is truly an inspiration of what can be done in the area of public health.

Hopefully we will all keep in touch because I know we are all going to do great things to help the world with public health!

::: Enjoy the following pictures :::

Hoochie Mama Cafe

Hey Lovers!

I found my favorite coffee hot spot that is only two minutes from my apartment, and from the title of this post the name of the café is Hoochie Mama (doesn’t this name fit me?) It has a very inviting atmosphere, indulgent coffee, and delicious, European-inspired café fare. They serves breakfast and lunch daily, and a wide selection of beers, wines, and spirits, and an array of delectable desserts. Enjoy the following pictures!

lovely menu...the place to be... view from the outside...

Friday Nights at The Ivy

Last Friday my Italian mamas (Eva & Veronica) and I went to the hot spot in Sydney….The Ivy. Which is a very sophisticated urban pub in downtown Sydney, and it ranks #1 in my book of the best places to go. I had so much fun dancing the night away. The following are pictures from my night out on the town. Enjoy!

View from the 2nd floor
Go D.J!

Love the bar!

Eva, Veronica, and I

Pub Crawl

On Friday night I went on my first pub crawl in Sydney. For those that don't know a pub crawl is just like in the United States were people go club hopping....going to a different bar every 45 mins. Anyway, at the first pub we went to I had my first taste of kangaroo pizza which was very tasty to say the least. The leader of this event, Andrew (the pub-specialist as he likes to be called), did a great job organizing where we went. The following was the game plan for the night:

1. The Australian Hotel 8:00pm (100 Cumberland St)
2. Lord Nelson 8:45pm (19 Kent St)
3. Hero of Waterloo 9:30pm (81 Lower Fort St)
4. Mercantile Hotel 10:15pm (25 George St)
5. The observer Hotel 11:00pm (69 George St)
6. The Orient Hotel 11:45pm till late (89 George St)

Overall, I had a great night exploring the pubs in Sydney! Enjoy the following pictures, Cheers!

Me in my room getting ready before the pub craw

Kangaroo Pizza (I know it doesn't look good from this pic, but it really was)
Zebine and I at one of the pubs (forgot which one)...lol
Mr. PhD was trying to drink my wine...that's a no, no!
We are all about sparking wine :)

*My First Month In Sydney*

Hey everyone!! A lot has happened since my last update, I have been living in Sydney now for almost a month (29 days). I absolutely love it here! I'm living at SUV with my 4 roomies, and we are all from very different places....Germany, Iran, China, & Australia. My masters program (international public health) is great so far, the classes are kinda challenging but I'm pushing through it with a smile. And my best friend Zebine has been so wonderful with helping me set up everything and showing me around the city (Lov ya Zebine).

I have also made many new friends since my arrival (Eva, Danielle, Veronica, & Avy...just to name a few) and I'm having a great time exploring the hot spots in Sydney. A few of the hot spots I've visited are Ivy, 3 Monkeys, Cheers, Cargo Bar, and many more. The nightlife here is amazing and I love going out and having a great time (when I'm not studying, lol). In addition, I'm still in the process of getting the Aussie slang down, but the one Aussie saying that I have down is "no worries"....it is kinda annoying when you want something done quickly, but I'm learning to love it. Furthermore, I surprisingly have not been the least bit homesick, I guess that just shows that "I'm a big kid now", lol.

The following are a few photos of my new life. Cheers!!

Zebine and I @ Luna Park

View of the Harbor
My first night at the Opera House Bar
Australian money (which is plastic not paper)

My "course readings"...that are given to students for free

Opera House

Ax'em Jacks :)
My apartments

University of Sydney