1 Week Till Break

A bit behind the U.S. system, we have just one week until our mid-semester break! Yet between now and then, I have a philosophy essay due, and a circuit analysis exam. Fortunately, I've nearly completed the philosophy essay, and am actually looking forward to studying for the exam this weekend - I don't think it's taught very well here (it's the professor's first time ever teaching the subject), but the subject matter itself is intriguing as a mechanical engineer (who doesn't like to explore electrical circuits?). I'm still debating on whether or not to buy an Arduino kit from the CREATE society on campus. Basically, it's a kit that includes a microcontroller and some other components that would allow me to play around with electronics on my own. Something I imagined doing was using a bluetooth receiver in series with the Arduino, so I could text from my phone to computer and have it say random things ("Good boy, Jono!") out loud while I'm not at home. Engineering humour I guess...

I wanted to share this song from Hillsong today. It's just been released (in fact, it's pre-release), and was debuted (for the very first time ever!) during my visit to the giant Hillsong campus in Baulkham Hills. If anyone's interested, Hillsong sent me an email with the (free) song download, so just let me know.

I've been feeling a bit under the weather recently. But it luckily only lasted about a day, and was nothing but a head cold. It's entirely due to the lack of sleep that I get here in Fig Tree, due to fellow residents slamming doors, screaming in the hallways, and whatever other shenanigans they get up to past midnight. I find it quite inconsiderate, and don't know where the logic comes into that behaviour. Thursday, I had to wake up to register for classes for next semester (back in Michigan) at 2am (because 2am in Sydney on Thursday morning is noon on Wednesday in Michigan). So I did, and was lucky to get all of the classes I needed. But I heard the door slamming again at 2:30am, and took that opportunity to hustle out into the hallway and have a word with this noise-maker. Well, when you only have time to grab your ID card and book it out the door, you don't have time to put a shirt on. So there I am, having a word with the surely-17-year-old, shirtless in a pair of gym shorts, and with a bit less manners than usual because I'm nearly asleep. So while I hope I didn't scare him or come off as rude, I do hope I relayed the message held by everyone else on the floor.

I booked a surf camp for the mid-semester break! Or rather, I booked three one-day trips to learn to surf. It was a great deal - while most 3-day camps will cost you between $350 and $500, this one was only $240, and includes visits to the Royal National Park, 4-wheeling on the sand at the beach, barbecues during the day, 4 1/2 hours of surf time per day, and travel from Coogee (a twenty-five minute walk). Ideal, right?! I'm quite excited to learn to surf, I think it'll be a whole lot of fun. That'll be April 19th - 21st, then on the 22nd I'm taking a day trip with the photography society here on campus to a coastal area in New South Wales, where they have natural blowholes (imagine rockets of water shooting from the ground between rocks, with lighthouses in the background). Then on Thursday, April 24th, I'll be flying to Melbourne, only to return on Saturday the 26th. So I'm fully booked!

It's really been a wonderful opportunity to be here in Sydney so far. When I look back at all the things I've done, and all the people I've met, and all of the things I've learned, it's entirely a fantastic experience to study abroad. And it's not even halfway through! I owe it all to you guys, Mom and Dad, for making it possible, as always. You're the best! Also to Sandra, for all of your wonderful support amongst everything else our relationship offers - murakoza cyane. And to all of my family, everywhere you are - thank you for everything, I love you!