Happy Australia Day!


I'm actually a bit late...since they're 19 hours ahead. But the sentiment still counts!


A "fruit loop" is a fool.

8 More Days!

Here are a few more random facts I learned while researching the Australian lifestyle:

• Australia has a serious coffee culture (here's where all my $$ is going!), with drinks like "flat white" or "short black"
• People drive on the left side of the road, and I can drive on a California license
• Box jellyfish, prevalent in many Australian beaches, have a deadly sting
• Australians have some of the highest skin cancer rates in the world, due to that hole in the ozone
• "No Swimming" sign in the Wilderness, aka the Bush, are there because of all the crocodiles that live there
• There are about 21 million people in all of Australia, compared to the 34 million in CA alone
• Very few H1 marks (80% or higher) are given in the uni's. Passing is 50%.
• Aussies take classes only in their major; in other words, 2nd year Aussies tend to be more advanced in their majors than 2nd year UC students

Australian vocab word/phrase of the day: true blue means genuine

Getting a head start on work for my Australia in the Wine World course.

11 Days

This is a map of Australia:

Yes this map gives you nothing in terms of geographical reference, but if you know me at all there should be no question why I chose it!

On the bottom right side of the mainland is the state of Victoria; Melbourne VIC is the most populous city in Victoria and the second most in Australia. Here are some random things about the place I'll be for the next 6 months:

• It's about a 19-hour difference between LA and Melbourne (count 5 hours back, but add a day to the date)
• Australia is the world's largest island and smallest continent
• It's about the size of the 48 contiguous United States with the population around that of New York
• Summers in January are about 80 degrees and decrease to the mid-50s in July
• There are six states: Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania.

Mr. Platypus, I will see you in 11 Days.

16 Days

Until this becomes my reality.