Today is September 1st, and that means it's Spring!
And it really feels like spring...quite warm outside...wishing I'd worn sandals instead of shoes for the first time ;)
I've ditched the hot water bottle, too...and the hens are laying again (they kind of suspended the egg-laying in the colder months).
Oddly enough, they count the change of seasons as the first of the month that contains the equinox or solstice - not the day of the planetary event itself. We had a debate about this on the roadtrip w/the boys, and Walter lost the bet. Which meant he was supposed to go skinnydipping in front of all of us...but he never fulfilled the bet (which, honestly, is fine with me ;p)...
And the flowering trees outside the architecture building are blooming...
Happy Spring!
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
food
The architecture faculty has a student mini-kitchen on floor 3. It has 2 microwaves. Sometimes it radiates delicious smells...sometimes, not so much. Usually if it's night-time, there might be a big cockroach guarding the water cooler, which usually makes my heart beat faster because even though he is a fraction of my size, he still scares the sh*t out of me.
Today around lunch it smelled like someone had heated up something that had a hot dog in it? And it smelled surprisingly good. Perhaps I will have a good old fashioned american hot dog when I am home! I'm excited for pizza (though I have had good pizza here, too, but still)...and excited for a few Ron Kalin breakfasts ;)
I also discovered a new Australian love this afternoon - pumpkin minestrone soup! Delish. I love everything pumpkin, and apparently they do, too, here. (My housemate Nathan makes a killer pumpkin risotto, too.) This version was from a can (might have been Kraft, can't remember, definitely an American brand, though many American branded things here taste quite different...like ketchup, for example, which they call tomato sauce). Heaven. So good. I added some leftover couscous to it. And toasted a piece of linseed sourdough bread with butter. Perfect lunch.
Today around lunch it smelled like someone had heated up something that had a hot dog in it? And it smelled surprisingly good. Perhaps I will have a good old fashioned american hot dog when I am home! I'm excited for pizza (though I have had good pizza here, too, but still)...and excited for a few Ron Kalin breakfasts ;)
I also discovered a new Australian love this afternoon - pumpkin minestrone soup! Delish. I love everything pumpkin, and apparently they do, too, here. (My housemate Nathan makes a killer pumpkin risotto, too.) This version was from a can (might have been Kraft, can't remember, definitely an American brand, though many American branded things here taste quite different...like ketchup, for example, which they call tomato sauce). Heaven. So good. I added some leftover couscous to it. And toasted a piece of linseed sourdough bread with butter. Perfect lunch.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Facebook pics
I just spent a few hours (sadly, kind of) tonight on Facebook updating my profile with a bunch of fun recent photos. Lots are party pics...but plenty of scenery and cityscapes, too. If you're not on Facebook, you can look at them through your spouse's account or see links below...
...OR just start your own account already! You know you don't have to put your full name, right? You can make it under some very cryptic psuedo nickname...you can lock up your privacy controls nice and tight...and no worries...you don't HAVE to accept Lee Waldrep as your friend once he finds you...;p
Enjoy! It was a lot of fun to reflect on the last few weeks...I'm feeling stressed about getting as much done as I'd like to...but I'm certainly having a lot of fun here, too!!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=79474&id=1195387275&l=a99a5ad05e
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=79471&id=1195387275&l=40fcbb2bbc
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=79469&id=1195387275&l=8510091637
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=79466&id=1195387275&l=c2c3a87d5d
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=76202&id=1195387275&l=52d40b7d42
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=79463&id=1195387275&l=cd9a03dfb8
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=79461&id=1195387275&l=3fad0bee70
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=79456&id=1195387275&l=e35ed4c2b8
...OR just start your own account already! You know you don't have to put your full name, right? You can make it under some very cryptic psuedo nickname...you can lock up your privacy controls nice and tight...and no worries...you don't HAVE to accept Lee Waldrep as your friend once he finds you...;p
Enjoy! It was a lot of fun to reflect on the last few weeks...I'm feeling stressed about getting as much done as I'd like to...but I'm certainly having a lot of fun here, too!!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=79474&id=1195387275&l=a99a5ad05e
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=79471&id=1195387275&l=40fcbb2bbc
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=79469&id=1195387275&l=8510091637
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=79466&id=1195387275&l=c2c3a87d5d
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=76202&id=1195387275&l=52d40b7d42
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=79463&id=1195387275&l=cd9a03dfb8
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=79461&id=1195387275&l=3fad0bee70
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=79456&id=1195387275&l=e35ed4c2b8
coffee slang
I'm still foggy on some of their coffee terms here. I have no idea what a long black or a flat white is. No clue. I just order a latte or vanilla latte and I'm golden. The fancy places usually don't have flavour syrups and give you a funny look if you ask if they have vanilla syrup. You can also request they add the sugars into your coffee for you.
And they have some pretty rad desserts to go with their caffenated beverages. Today I indulged and had a caramel slice. This decadent treat has a biscuit/cookie/graham like base (with plenty of butter I'm sure), a caramel center layer (hardness or softness of the caramel depends on the bakery/cafe), and a hard chocolate top. Heaven!
On the other hand, talking to Grandma Mary today, she reminded me of the irony that her husband and my grandpa's older brother were always worried about their baby brother, Uncle Lou, who has lived with diabetes for 90+ years. They didn't think he would get to see his daughters grow up...but he's outlived everyone! So...maybe I should try to cut down on the sugar since low glucose intake may have something to do with the key to staying healthy when you're old...but I just have SUCH a sweet tooth!
And on another random tangent...one of Uncle Lou's daughters lives here in Melbourne. With her lesbian partner. Except no one in our family has acknowledged the orientation bit. Which is fine. Just interesting. What's even stranger is over Christmas, Aunt Kathy was in town from Australia, and we were both at St. Therese at the same time, visiting Uncle Lou (who had broken his foot and was in there recovering)...yet, we did not get introduced. Weird. I will DEFINITELY be going to Melbourne...but whether I actually meet my longlost aunt that I've never met before...that's not something I would put money on at this point ;)
Okay...it's very late and I should go to bed! Totally stuck in a night owl sleeping pattern recently...
Cheers!
And they have some pretty rad desserts to go with their caffenated beverages. Today I indulged and had a caramel slice. This decadent treat has a biscuit/cookie/graham like base (with plenty of butter I'm sure), a caramel center layer (hardness or softness of the caramel depends on the bakery/cafe), and a hard chocolate top. Heaven!
On the other hand, talking to Grandma Mary today, she reminded me of the irony that her husband and my grandpa's older brother were always worried about their baby brother, Uncle Lou, who has lived with diabetes for 90+ years. They didn't think he would get to see his daughters grow up...but he's outlived everyone! So...maybe I should try to cut down on the sugar since low glucose intake may have something to do with the key to staying healthy when you're old...but I just have SUCH a sweet tooth!
And on another random tangent...one of Uncle Lou's daughters lives here in Melbourne. With her lesbian partner. Except no one in our family has acknowledged the orientation bit. Which is fine. Just interesting. What's even stranger is over Christmas, Aunt Kathy was in town from Australia, and we were both at St. Therese at the same time, visiting Uncle Lou (who had broken his foot and was in there recovering)...yet, we did not get introduced. Weird. I will DEFINITELY be going to Melbourne...but whether I actually meet my longlost aunt that I've never met before...that's not something I would put money on at this point ;)
Okay...it's very late and I should go to bed! Totally stuck in a night owl sleeping pattern recently...
Cheers!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
other words
- bogan - kind of a redneck, usually the opposite of classy, low level of education/manners
- bits
- 'horses for courses' (?) - one professor in particular loves this one
- off track, on track, jumped the track - they do love horse racing here...maybe that's the influence?
- have a go, see how you go - take a chance, take a stab; also related to 'how are you going?'
will keep adding...
home!
I'll be heading home in just two weeks!!! Really excited...pretty stressed, too, about trying to wrap up work stuff, school stuff, wedding-ish stuff, gift stuff...all in a matter of a few days (I have a bunch of 9-5 classes inbetween now and Sept 8th).
Part of me is nervous, too, about feeling homesick? I haven't felt homesick at all since I've been here, though D kind of contested that when I told her it over the phone. I have cried to her at least twice, but tried to explain that was different - it was more about missing things I didn't want to miss, wishing I could be in two places at once, but not a longing to actually be back in Chicago or Minneapolis. The only time I've felt REALLY homesick was when I went to Pratt for a 5 week summer intensive the summer between my junior and senior year in high school. Oh baby! I literally was thinking about faking an illness to go home. [Didn't hurt that I had a hot boyfriend back home writing me love letters, either!] Everyone there was SO different - SO East Coast, SO into art school. But by the end I didn't want to leave.
Anyway, even though I've lived away from 'home' (MN let's say) most of my life, I've always been close enough and fortunate enough to visit quite often. By September I'll have been away for 7 months - nothing for the record books, but my longest stretch to date. And after I come back, I'm not sure how long it will be. It could be as little as 9 months...or as much as a year (my visa is up in Sept 2011)...but I really don't know yet where life will take me. I'm loosely planning to move back to Minneapolis in July or August next year...but...still keeping an open mind.
So I'm nervous about feeling homesick after I'm back here...and not sure when I'll be home again. I'm so excited to see my niece Sophia...but nervous I'll feel some geographical guilt from missing out on a lot of her changes and growth.
Skype certainly makes things a lot easier!! It's hard to imagine life here without it. I think I would be much more likely to be homesick without it.
Though I am a bit envious of my friend who is exchanging love letters of sorts with a girl back in Spain. And she sends him little bits of artwork (she's an artist) (they love to use the word 'bits' here!). And my grandparents all communicated by letter/love letter. And even my parents.
Geri has a plan to find me a MN crush on a boy-magnet circuit she's thought about. Maybe eventually I'll get some love letters of my own ;) [I just watched a program on attraction tonight before coming into the lab to work for a bit]
Part of me is nervous, too, about feeling homesick? I haven't felt homesick at all since I've been here, though D kind of contested that when I told her it over the phone. I have cried to her at least twice, but tried to explain that was different - it was more about missing things I didn't want to miss, wishing I could be in two places at once, but not a longing to actually be back in Chicago or Minneapolis. The only time I've felt REALLY homesick was when I went to Pratt for a 5 week summer intensive the summer between my junior and senior year in high school. Oh baby! I literally was thinking about faking an illness to go home. [Didn't hurt that I had a hot boyfriend back home writing me love letters, either!] Everyone there was SO different - SO East Coast, SO into art school. But by the end I didn't want to leave.
Anyway, even though I've lived away from 'home' (MN let's say) most of my life, I've always been close enough and fortunate enough to visit quite often. By September I'll have been away for 7 months - nothing for the record books, but my longest stretch to date. And after I come back, I'm not sure how long it will be. It could be as little as 9 months...or as much as a year (my visa is up in Sept 2011)...but I really don't know yet where life will take me. I'm loosely planning to move back to Minneapolis in July or August next year...but...still keeping an open mind.
So I'm nervous about feeling homesick after I'm back here...and not sure when I'll be home again. I'm so excited to see my niece Sophia...but nervous I'll feel some geographical guilt from missing out on a lot of her changes and growth.
Skype certainly makes things a lot easier!! It's hard to imagine life here without it. I think I would be much more likely to be homesick without it.
Though I am a bit envious of my friend who is exchanging love letters of sorts with a girl back in Spain. And she sends him little bits of artwork (she's an artist) (they love to use the word 'bits' here!). And my grandparents all communicated by letter/love letter. And even my parents.
Geri has a plan to find me a MN crush on a boy-magnet circuit she's thought about. Maybe eventually I'll get some love letters of my own ;) [I just watched a program on attraction tonight before coming into the lab to work for a bit]
group work
I really dislike group work. I know it's supposed to be a reflection on what happens in the real world...but it's so not realistic real-world dynamics and stakes. In one of my classes this semester we have a group project that is worth 60% of our grade, and a paper worth 40%. Last term, I initially was scared of the class where the paper was 100% of our mark...but I still got a high distinction in that class (the best you can get...yes, I will toot my own horn here as I have 6 people reading it ;p). But in the class where it was 50/50 between a group assignment and a paper...I got my lowest grade. Still got a high distinction on my paper...but the group project was only a 'credit' (the scale here is pass, credit, distinction, high distinction). So...my overall grade was distinction. Still nothing to cry over...but disappointing to this nerdy goody-goody nonetheless!
Luckily, I think I have a pretty stellar group for this project. Well...stellar may be a slight overstatement. But...solid. Fairly solid. I feel a bit bad, too, as I'll be gone for 2 weeks during part of our crunch time...but will still give it my all when I'm here.
Also, it seems like the way they run design studios here, you often work in teams of 2. WHAT?!?! Won't make as much sense to non-archies...and, okay, in the real world you typically aren't working alone...but...it's really different from my expectations of how studio works. I'm planning to take a design studio as an elective next semester (my last semester, also odd that it's an elective)...but it seems like the average age in the regular master's program is much lower than in our sustainable design program...and their undergrad here is only 3 years of school...so, potentially, I could be paired with a 21 yr old. Literally. Not that I have anything against 21 yr olds, and really I shouldn't be wasting my time thinking about this potential future situation anyhow.
They have a 'workshop' that's more geared towards our program...but I've heard it's pretty lame - basically a do-it-yourself studio. I'll have to think more about what I want...challenging myself and designing my own program (or select a competition), or something more intense and competitive. Input appreciated. [Dan, are reading this?]
Luckily, I think I have a pretty stellar group for this project. Well...stellar may be a slight overstatement. But...solid. Fairly solid. I feel a bit bad, too, as I'll be gone for 2 weeks during part of our crunch time...but will still give it my all when I'm here.
Also, it seems like the way they run design studios here, you often work in teams of 2. WHAT?!?! Won't make as much sense to non-archies...and, okay, in the real world you typically aren't working alone...but...it's really different from my expectations of how studio works. I'm planning to take a design studio as an elective next semester (my last semester, also odd that it's an elective)...but it seems like the average age in the regular master's program is much lower than in our sustainable design program...and their undergrad here is only 3 years of school...so, potentially, I could be paired with a 21 yr old. Literally. Not that I have anything against 21 yr olds, and really I shouldn't be wasting my time thinking about this potential future situation anyhow.
They have a 'workshop' that's more geared towards our program...but I've heard it's pretty lame - basically a do-it-yourself studio. I'll have to think more about what I want...challenging myself and designing my own program (or select a competition), or something more intense and competitive. Input appreciated. [Dan, are reading this?]
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Spring in Sydney...
It is starting to feel like spring! Flowers are blooming (though...seems like that happens to some degree year round)...I'm sneezing ;)...and it's starting to get warmer. I'm trying to embrace this relatively non-sweaty time. I know once it heats up just a few degrees C more...I will need to start carrying my questionably strong natural deodorant in my bag at all times. Right now it's absolutely perfect if you're in the sunshine...but still pretty cool if you're in shade and a breeze is blowing (supposedly August is their windiest month).
I'm a little concerned about being pasty white next to all the other 'maids in D's wedding. I was looking at a picture from her bachelorette today...everyone is beautiful...most girls are blonde and everyone has their Minnesota tan! I...have spent the last two weekends in the sun and at the beach...but more or less fully clothed. Fingers crossed that it warms up enough to lay out just a teeny bit (with a hat of course! to protect my crazy sun-spot prone face)...in fact today I went for a run on my favorite route...it's in Glebe, and I need to walk to route sometime and take pics to show y'all. It's reminiscent of running along the Chicago lakefront...but better! I can see the Harbour Bridge...the Anzac Bridge (I heart it)...the city skyline...the fish market...lots of fancy condos/homes and always people walking dogs! Spotted two beautiful men sunning themselves today...even though my gaydar is not the best...it was going off ;)
At the lab at uni now (they call university uni...even my uni email address has 'uni' in it)...it's somewhat hoppin'. I've been working in the evenings and at night...and then it's usually dead. Just me and a few select Asian over-achievers ;) Trying to get some work work done now...and not feeling super motivated. But...will go salsa dancing tonight...so that should help!
Just two notes on random fashion. First, I asked my new BFF, Sumi, the most adorable hilarious South Korean I've ever met, what's up with Asians rocking the tights with shorts here. Because it happens a lot. She said maybe it's that Aussie girls show off on top...and often Asians are lacking in that dept (am I part Asian?)...so they show off what they've got...their skinny legs!
Also...lots of the anglos look very British to me. The girls are rocking the really ugly boots that are flat and tie up..almost look like work boots. Lots of flower prints...esp skirts, which are usually quite short. And hair must be up in a loose bun on the very top of your head. Blazers, too...and over-sized cardigans. But yeah...lots of buns. Trying to grow my hair out (a teeny bit)...for D's wedding. Not bun length yet ;)
Hope you are well!
cheers,
B
I'm a little concerned about being pasty white next to all the other 'maids in D's wedding. I was looking at a picture from her bachelorette today...everyone is beautiful...most girls are blonde and everyone has their Minnesota tan! I...have spent the last two weekends in the sun and at the beach...but more or less fully clothed. Fingers crossed that it warms up enough to lay out just a teeny bit (with a hat of course! to protect my crazy sun-spot prone face)...in fact today I went for a run on my favorite route...it's in Glebe, and I need to walk to route sometime and take pics to show y'all. It's reminiscent of running along the Chicago lakefront...but better! I can see the Harbour Bridge...the Anzac Bridge (I heart it)...the city skyline...the fish market...lots of fancy condos/homes and always people walking dogs! Spotted two beautiful men sunning themselves today...even though my gaydar is not the best...it was going off ;)
At the lab at uni now (they call university uni...even my uni email address has 'uni' in it)...it's somewhat hoppin'. I've been working in the evenings and at night...and then it's usually dead. Just me and a few select Asian over-achievers ;) Trying to get some work work done now...and not feeling super motivated. But...will go salsa dancing tonight...so that should help!
Just two notes on random fashion. First, I asked my new BFF, Sumi, the most adorable hilarious South Korean I've ever met, what's up with Asians rocking the tights with shorts here. Because it happens a lot. She said maybe it's that Aussie girls show off on top...and often Asians are lacking in that dept (am I part Asian?)...so they show off what they've got...their skinny legs!
Also...lots of the anglos look very British to me. The girls are rocking the really ugly boots that are flat and tie up..almost look like work boots. Lots of flower prints...esp skirts, which are usually quite short. And hair must be up in a loose bun on the very top of your head. Blazers, too...and over-sized cardigans. But yeah...lots of buns. Trying to grow my hair out (a teeny bit)...for D's wedding. Not bun length yet ;)
Hope you are well!
cheers,
B
Monday, August 9, 2010
City to Surf
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=77383&id=1195387275&l=5460f1053f
I walked 14 km yesterday! (15 really, I think)
It's Sydney's biggest race...and supposedly the world's biggest fun run.
80,000 people.
And that's the people that signed up and paid.
Unlike my group of friends...you know, living the meager grad student life ;)
Actually, one friend signed up and actually ran it...and I wasn't sure whether to pull a J and refuse to take offered gatorade...but...it didn't look like they were going to run out...so I was a mooch. It was the most gorgeous, sunny, crisp winter day for the race. It was amazing to walk through new neighborhoods and catch new views of the city from vantage points I probably wouldn't have come across otherwise. And it was a lot of fun to just spend an entire sunny Sunday hanging out with friends.
Check out photos at the facebook link above - supposedly if I send you this link you should be able to see it? Let me know if it doesn't work. Eventually I'll get 'em up on my flickr account, too.
We chowed on Macker's (what they call McDonald's, isn't that strange?)...and then spent a few lazy hours at the beach. I got about half a roll of film shot for my photography class...and took tons of pics on my little digital. Hope you enjoy!
I'm really excited about my photography class. Our professor was wearing a rhinestone bindi. Aww yeah! She totally has the artist-scatter-brain mind...the info was all over the place but I'm so excited to dive into the material. We start to play in the dark room next week. Yay!!
I've heard several complaints from you all that I need to keep this up...and I promise I will try to do better. But let me just say...it makes it much more exciting for me when people post comments! So...please share your beef/praise/random thoughts with me, too ;)
love from Sydney! _B
I walked 14 km yesterday! (15 really, I think)
It's Sydney's biggest race...and supposedly the world's biggest fun run.
80,000 people.
And that's the people that signed up and paid.
Unlike my group of friends...you know, living the meager grad student life ;)
Actually, one friend signed up and actually ran it...and I wasn't sure whether to pull a J and refuse to take offered gatorade...but...it didn't look like they were going to run out...so I was a mooch. It was the most gorgeous, sunny, crisp winter day for the race. It was amazing to walk through new neighborhoods and catch new views of the city from vantage points I probably wouldn't have come across otherwise. And it was a lot of fun to just spend an entire sunny Sunday hanging out with friends.
Check out photos at the facebook link above - supposedly if I send you this link you should be able to see it? Let me know if it doesn't work. Eventually I'll get 'em up on my flickr account, too.
We chowed on Macker's (what they call McDonald's, isn't that strange?)...and then spent a few lazy hours at the beach. I got about half a roll of film shot for my photography class...and took tons of pics on my little digital. Hope you enjoy!
I'm really excited about my photography class. Our professor was wearing a rhinestone bindi. Aww yeah! She totally has the artist-scatter-brain mind...the info was all over the place but I'm so excited to dive into the material. We start to play in the dark room next week. Yay!!
I've heard several complaints from you all that I need to keep this up...and I promise I will try to do better. But let me just say...it makes it much more exciting for me when people post comments! So...please share your beef/praise/random thoughts with me, too ;)
love from Sydney! _B
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