Landing in Australia

So, once again, I have taken up blogging. Really, it seems to be the best way to tell everyone what I am doing at once, and since I seem to have found myself halfway around the world and away from my family and friends... well naturally it's just the perfect solution to spreading news.
Right, so, I am here in Brisbane studying at the University of Queensland. However, studying is probably a loose term since I am currently sitting in the sun writing a blog post. Oh yes, what marvelous studying this is. I could do this for the rest of my college career, AND be able to kick my coffee habit. That's right, being at this school is actually relaxing. What a contradiction.
My mother accompanied me to Australia for the first two weeks that I was here, since I had no idea where I was going to live, what classes I was going to take, what the transportation was like, or really what I was doing at all. We were both pleasantly surprised to find that everyone here wanted to help us. Brisbane is by far the friendliest city that I have ever been in. The first day when we tried to actually FIND the university campus we ended up going the wrong way on the bus. Well that wasn't really the best way to start the morning. But when we reached the final stop and still weren't at the school *cough yes we went to the final stop cough* the bus driver told us to wait there for him, and came back around in 5 minutes to pick us back up. He then let us take the bus all the way back and further on to the school for free. How nice is that?
Then he GOT OFF THE BUS WITH US and actually SHOWED US WHERE TO GET ON AGAIN. Talk about helpful. I was absolutely stunned. It was just so nice of him to make sure we could get back where we came from, and help us go where we needed. And it wasn't just the bus driver. All day long people were helping us get un-lost, without a single rude word. I was amazed (and so was mom).

So we had finally arrived on campus to go to the housing information session for international students. We were hoping that we would get there and they would say, "oh yes, we have a place to put all international students". No, that's not what happened. We got there and they told us how to deal with real estate agents, and what the tenancy laws are like in this country. Great. We were totally on our own. It was a bit of a shock. Luckily, somehow or another Mom and I ended up googling (is that actually a word these days?) "homestays in Brisbane", and what did we find? We found a forum type website that set students up with homestays for free. Why the school didn't mention this in the information session, I have no idea.

So we browsed the homestay options. It was a little bit like looking through personal adds, except I just wanted to live with someone, not date them. Still, it was funny. Eventually we sent out some emails asking families if they would be interested in having me live with them. Some people responded, and some didn't which was all fine and dandy. One of the families that responded seemed really nice, so we set up a time to go meet them. I am now living with that family. They are really very nice, and there are two kids, one of which is three and very funny. Plus they have a dog, and as of yesterday, a bird. It's awesome.

I am finally in Australia and somewhat settled. :)