Update...

Things have been going good and I suppose I am almost getting used, maybe too used to, things here. I like the lazy pace of life on the weekends, the quiet evenings to myself (and of course my current indulgence, The O.C. - of which I've just finished watching Season 2 of) and the general quietness of life. Though it's not exactly quiet since there are parties almost every other day here.

I've two planned this week - on Wednesday is more of a dinner get together, it's potluck and I'm making a pork and apple stew, I think. On Friday is Toga Night! Now that's something I've been looking forward to! Lol. Shameless. Yeah, I've my navy-blue bedsheets, my leather slippers, the white, braided cords to tie around my waist... and a gold crown! Kinda. It's this hair band I painted gold... Oooo! Can't wait.

I'll also be taking the train down to Sydney this Saturday afternoon with a couple of people from the Queer Collective. (Ah-hem... To the people who don't know, ie, Mr Pooh, well, er... Now you do. :P Ok ok, don't shoot me.) And like I've told a few of you, it amazes me how well-organised the queer community is here. This group, along with a few others like the Womans' Collective are funded by the school. Of course it can be pretty scaring walking into a room for the first time with all these fruitcakes (I'm the cherry) sitting around in a circle. One of the funnier members doesn't shave her pits and has fantastic one-liners. No surprise she's also from the Womans' Collective.

Last Saturday was very Asian. For lunch I had the fried udon I prepared earlier and froze while dinner was Asian take out, a "Combo-box" of fried noodles, which can be compared to Singapore's Hong Kong noodles. Not too bad I must say. Oh dear, it's been awhile huh. I'm saying Aussie-fried Chinese noodles are not bad! But really, it wasn't that bad. I also had my first try of fortune cookies! They were pretty much like butter cookies.

Now the reason for the take-out was because we were watching a movie! Yes! The Cinema Under the Stars was a pretty good experience. Next time I'll bring a big cushion though. My neck hurt.

Tomorrow we're going to the beach for our first assignment - The Wall. We're supposed to build a wall with sand as a group of ten and then choose a part of the wall and "define" it as your own. Sigh... Isn't this what school should be like?

Miss you all back home.

I don’t wanna get fat!

The past few days have passed well enough. I suppose to a certain extent I have tried not to stick out like a sore thumb. Also the fact that I’m one the few Asians around make me feel all the more self-conscious.

I spent a lot of time on Wednesday enrolling in my courses. I had so much problems and I think I’ve only just begun to understand the working customs of the Australians. At times I almost wanted to scream at them.

On Wednesday night we had a “Back to School” party. It was held in town near Civic station. I did actually force myself to come out. The fact that I did have something to wear had nothing to do with it. I think I looked pretty good. Ha.

It was cheap though – the beer was only three bucks and trains another three (only coz we didn’t pay on the way to Civic – the machine was spoilt.)
Right now, parties seem all around, the next upcoming one being the toga party, which I think, will be fun. Then there’s the 3Ps – Prostitutes, Pimps and Porn. Now that’d be something to talk about!

Tomorrow there’s this speed-dating thing at night. We’re having it only because it’s Valentine’s Day. (The speed dating was a horror. The noise, the forced conversations. Bleah!)

I don’t wanna grow fat! The way these people eat! The way I’ve been eating at dinners. I don’t like it! (Oh, today, Sunday, I had macaroni and cheese for dinner! One of those you pour out form a packet and mix with water. It was super unhealthy, but super yummy.)

I feel loved

There are a couple of similarities between Newcastle and Singapore. For one, the mosquitoes still attack as ferociously. There are also stag-horn ferns, frangipanis and bougainvilleas too.
It’s mighty chilly for summer – a cool 17 degrees when I touched down. After what seemed like a long bus ride from Sydney (on which drooling in my sleep occurred) we reached the University of Newcastle. Of course no one was working (it was a Saturday, what do you expect!) and Itried to call the number displayed for people arriving after office hours, and what do you know? I can’t make outgoing calls! So here I was… Stranded… Cold… Hungry…

Nah, I just sent dad a message to ask him too call the number for me.

I spent most of Saturday alone and slept early. Most of my housemates got in on Sunday – in my unit is Aurelie, a girl from France, Rosie from Sydney, Peter from Kenya, Steffen from Norway and Scott from Port Macquarie. Of course there’s Yedda, my residential assistant who is extremely helpful.

Oh, and guys, I had a wonderful send-off. Missing you guys. :)