Day 2: I Think I Can Do This

17 July 2014

I woke up still a little tired but determined to make the best of things. As soon as I got up I started unpacking. By the time I was done I felt more level headed. We would go to the mall, buy everything I needed and make this thing work. When my parents finally decided to roll out of bed, we walked down to the dining hall for breakfast. It wasn’t much better. I’m starting to think that Australians really just aren’t that into food. Think about it, what dish are Australians famous for anyways? Not a one, and speaking from this cafeteria it’s not hard to figure out why! 

Once we finished breakfast I asked my dorm supervisor about the wifi and we figured out what I was doing wrong. My connection to the world was finally restored! Afterward we walked to the International Center which is really cool! I felt so at home there. I guess I should since I’m now, well, international! The person in charge of the International Center actually studied abroad at my college! Imagine that! Louise also gave us directions to get to the bus. Finally I got my student ID. I don’t know why I’m obsessed with Student ID’s but I love my new one! It was finally real, I was going to stay and I was determined to love it no matter how hard it seemed to be. 

Food Court @ Shopping Centre

We got on the bus and made it to the mall! And what a great mall it is! It’s actually better than our mall at home. (Side-note: They have a KFC, Subway AND a McDonalds!) We bought a majority of my stuff from a store named the “Big W” which is like a step down from Walmart. Then we bought a new phone for me to call my Australian friends once I have them and found our way back to the University. While there, I got an email from a member of the Christian Union here at JCU, she invited me to a bible study later on that evening and I agreed. 

My Dorm Room

Once we were back, my parents and I went to work transforming the room. In under two hours I had a new bedspread, curtains were hung and I was organized. I am so thankful for my parents. My room finally looked like me. I finally 

thought, maybe I can actually do this!

Once the room was done it was time to hop in the car with Meghan and go to the bible study. Hopping in a car with an almost stranger is "taboo" in America, but somehow, it didn’t seem so bad at the time and we got there safely. The students were great! I loved talking to them about the States and learning new words and tasting new things. (ex. “Mylo”is like hot chocolate only made with dark chocolate, it can be served hot or cold. A “spider” is any kind of soda with ice-cream in it. “Pudding” is not what you think, but instead it’s a chocolate cake drenched in chocolate syrup served with ice-cream. Lastly, “jelly” is jello and the jelly we know is jam, and a “jumper” is a jacket.) For the first time I was convinced that this is where I need to be. Australia might be different from America, but that doesn’t make it bad, just different. And different, sometimes, can be good. Very good indeed.