Computer Cord

I am alive! :)

So... I convienently forgot my computer cord that hooks up to the wall at home. Brillant, eh? So, I will not post until I get that from my mother. But, be expecting some good stories! :)

I am hungry, so I think I will wander down the three flights of stairs to the 24 hour kitchen and look for some grub.

Ciao until the cord arrives! :)

What happened to Tuesday? And who let that drunk on the plane? And why do flights make you feel hungover?! (26.01.2009)

Hey everyone!

*warning alert: this will be a LONG blog so be prepared to sit for a while :)*

So I finally made it to Adelaide, Australia!!!!!!!! After 22 hours of intense flying. Ugh. In Cedar Rapids, I had to go from United Airlines to American Airlines because the United incoming flight was 45 minutes delayed. And I would have missed my connection from Chicago to San Francisco. Then when I got to Chicago, they said our baggage was only going to Sydney and NOT to Adelaide like previously specified on the bags. It was a mess thanks to American Airlines (whom I normally love to fly with). And to top it off, the lady who sat in front of us on the Chicago to San Fran flight was DRUNK when she got on the plane. She had a drink in her hand and the flight attendants continued to give her more. She was making scenes and being very loud. It was a somewhat disheartening sight to see and on the other hand, it was obnoxious when you're trying to sleep.

Then we arrived in San Fran and made our way to our next gate. It was there that I was called up to the front desk because my number on my passport was entered wrong on their system. So I would not have been able to enter Australia. So that was fun - and the lady was quite nice to me when I asked about our luggage. This can not be said the same for Ellie. The lady on the phone with my mom said the luggage was going to Adelaide, while the lady at the desk said I had to get my bags in Sydney. I was just like, whatever, I want to get on the flight so that I can sleep and eat. And who wants added stress you know?

The flight was not fun. It was 14.5 hours long and I was sick the entire time. I didn't feel well when I woke up on Monday morning and that continued all day. I will spare you the details. And to make the matters a tad bit worse - our seats were right in front of the console where the flight attendants put the food together. Translation: our seats didn't lean back. That makes 14 hours feel like 30 - and the fact that the Australian man in front of me leaned back most of the time thus cutting into my already limited space. Plus, the food on the plane wasn't that great. Thank God for Sprite.

The movies on the plane were interesting - I enjoyed "Nights in Rodanthe" starring Richard Gere and Diane Lane. I did not enjoy "The Son of Rambo" - it was just straight up weird and difficult to follow. Sylvester Stallone was in it. I also had the chance to watch Grey's Anatomy and Ugly Betty. My last bit of American TV and it's shows I don't even watch when I'm home.

When we landed in Sydney - it was Wednesday! Which means I completely skipped over the day of Tuesday. Plus it was ridiculously humid - I was hoping and praying that Adelaide was not the same. The three of us (Ellie & Morgan - for those of you who do not know) found our bags and then somehow snaked our way throughout the entire airport to where we needed to be. Morgan had her bag sniffed by the sniff dogs - and the man had a nice accent. Then the customs lady asked us five times if we had any jerky, beef jerky, meat of any kind or fruit. I guess that must be all that Americans eat? As we were walking through the airport, I saw so many Asian people. I didn't realize that Australia has a high Asian population. I should have, since Helen said that many of the students where we're living at are Asian. It was packed in the airport and kind of stressful since I don't like crowds.

Anyway, after waiting an hour to get our boarding tickets (the lady in front of us was trying to send like 20 packages on the plane and they were all too large) we rode a tram throughout part of Sydney to get to our plane gate. Then we boarded this little plane and headed for Adelaide. Barack Obama was on the television on that plane ride. And the tea on that plane ride was so BOMB! It was so good that I asked one of the 3 flight attendants what it was. It's Australian-made tea and it's called Nerada. She was even so kind as to give me a bag full of Nerada tea bags. God bless her soul. One of the other flight attendants commented on my mp3 player and said it was cute. She then proceeded to ask what I was listening to (which was Taylor Swift) and after I told her who, I then had to tell her she was an American country musician. She just smiled and then moved on. Ah, well.

So upon landing, I met Helen. She knew my name and that was a comfort. It was crazy to see her actually there when we departed the plane because most places you won't find that. She was carrying a big thick folder on us and then informed me that I was going to be hot in what I was wearing. A fleece jacket, a hoodie, t-shirt and jeans. She was right. I arrived on the hottest day on record - 45.7 C. We gathered our bags, and stepped out into the scorching hot sun. Helen took us to Henley Beach where we at at some nice cafe. The margherita pizza was so delicious. We snapped some photos and then she gave us a tour of the town through her car. I was half out of it from the flight and the heat so I have no idea what she said. Then we headed to Hosanna Heights to get our accommodations squared away.

Morgan, Ellie & I at Henley Beach right after arriving in Adelaide

When we arrived at Hosanna Heights, Sue helped us to our rooms - which 2 were ready and one was not. I took the one nearest the stairs (and Radar - our spider). I'm on the 3rd floor (which technically is the 4th floor) and there are 6 flights of stairs to go up (or down - depending on which way you're going). It was hot and difficult getting our luggage up the stairs. Morgan carried one of my bags up since I was heftying the really heavy one up the stairs. Helen got us a few things like hangers, cups, towels, sheets, and posters for our rooms so that we could make them feel more "homey".



This is the point in the story where I proceed to blow up the first of many things. I plugged in my power strip (so that I could plug my computer cord in - which I had forgotten at home) and it proceeded to make a loud popping noise, the smell of smoke filled the room and then the light above the mirror and my basin (sink for those of you who don't know) in my room went out and it doesn't work now. The power strip is now retired and this was sad because it was my favorite one! Then I told David (he is the owner of Hosanna Heights) about the situation and he informed me that that socket is actually turned off and doesn't work. Which is interesting, since my power strip is gone. Haha.



After that experience I plugged nothing in except the air conditioner. Then I just started to set up some of my stuff and tried to call my mother, but had some difficulties with that since I didn't have a international phone card and then didn't know how to use it right.


Good note: there was a family from Elgin, Iowa traveling to Sydney as well. So it was comforting to "know" some other people on the flight. The daughter, Kate, goes to Grinnell and is studying abroad in Melbourne and doesn't start until beginning of March. So the family is driving around the coast of Australia for 3 weeks. I wish them the best of luck.

Welcome to My Blog!

Let me start out by saying: welcome to my blog! :) I am glad you are here!

This is where I will be sharing with you the daily toils and triumphs that I will experience while I am living and studying in Adelaide, Australia. Get ready for a rollercoaster! :) I am so excited for this journey and can't wait to get started! And the journey starts soon...

Here's the flight itinerary (in brief form):

I will be departing from Cedar Rapids, Iowa at about 4:00pm on Monday, January 26th and heading to Chicago where I will board another flight to San Francisco. At about 10:45pm, I will be leaving the United States of America and headed for the Commonwealth of Australia! Yeah boy! For 3 months! Then I will land in Sydney at 8 in the morning on Wednesday and arrive in Adelaide at about 1 o'clock. (FYI: There is a 14 hour time difference between the US and Australia.)

Then off to the AMAZING PLACE WHERE I GET TO LIVE FOR THE NEXT THREE MONTHS! Check it out at www.hosannaheights.com. Rock climbing, caving, hiking, pictures with koalas, and did I mention that the beach is just beyond the balcony of one side of the building, while the other side is a national park that has three waterfalls? :)

Well, I am off, but will be writing to you again soon. Until then. Paz.