Gelato Messina

Tonight we ventured out to a benchmark in Australian desserts, Gelato Messina, rated the best in Australian gelato. There was a line of over thirty people on this unassuming Thursday night, but we soon realized why - the dim lighting, the nook-in-the-wall intimacy, and the gelato expertise of course. It was an awesome trip, I'm glad I went.

Amazingly, my weekend has already begun. I'm quite used to what I might call an engineer's schedule, whereby every day completes enough hours to fulfill some humanities majors' weeks, and each week is filled to the brim from Monday morning to Friday evening. But alas, I have only one class here on Fridays, and it doesn't begin to meet until week 2.

I'm certainly growing more comfortable in my new environment. At first, I think you're cautiously aware of everything that's going on around you, at once sensitive to Australian norms and customs and simultaneously trying to merge your Americanism into that traditional routine without adding any insult. But eventually, you become more at ease with your own nationality and differences and whatnot, and you see where it all fits, even see where it might complement. You don't worry so much about offending as you do about representing well, and contributing to others' perceptions of America. It seems so quick the emphasis slips from confusion to a relaxed bewilderment (growing less bewildered over time) and confidence is replaced where jet lag and island soil previously knocked it down. According to the University of Michigan's chart of emotions for students traveling abroad, I'm still in the "honeymoon phase," a two-week period after you arrive where you enjoy everything about your host country simply because you're abroad. So perhaps as I enjoy the end of the honeymoon phase and transition into studies and travels and reading philosophy on the beach, I can later call myself completely relaxed here in Australia.

I've noticed a couple things this week. The first is that while many nations and races show representation in Australia, people will generally be of lighter complexion. Even for nations like the U.S. or South Africa which are made up by a strong portion of black citizens, I think it's interesting that the citizens that happen to come to Australia, either to work or live or study or travel, are (generally) white. Secondly, Australia feels very much like an island nation (and, in fact, it is) in some respects. You can notice this when you talk to some of the locals and get their opinion on this or that, or just chat freely. But today, I bought a book for my philosophy course. The book is called, "Reality? Knowledge? Philosophy!" and is a cheap little paperback book. Well, on amazon.com, I could have bought this book back home for A$4.00. I perhaps still could have bought it, but I would have been subjected to 42 business days' shipping. The same book, used, was A$27.50 here. They really get ya.

A great first week of courses, I must report! I really enjoyed taking classes in the Australian university system, and I look forward to the semester ahead. For tomorrow, though, I will take my philosophy text and head to the beach...

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