I've concluded that I've had a bout of reverse culture shock and missing Boston in the last few days.

Painful.  I still can't seem to get my head in the game, 100%.  I've been told it'll take 3.5 months.  Let's hope its shorter.  I hate being somewhere I love, but thinking about being elsewhere, and the months that passed. 

They're not coming back.

Hope the scales fall off my eyes soon and I snap back.

Reality is going to give me a big ol' slap in the face, very very soon.

Having just come back from a cruise around the South Pacific (Noumea, Lifou, Port Vila and Mystery Island), I'm refreshed, but also mightily contemplative. 

Reality starts tomorrow.

I'm definitely a different person than who I used to be, but when I'm in the company of others I feel old habits creeping in again.  My dreams are smaller, but more achievable.  I've realised that life extends much further than what I see in my day to day life.  It sounds cliched, but it truly did take my trip around the world to awaken me.  My only fear now is that being back in reality, I lose track of the ideas, memories and beauty I held so tightly these last 6 months.  But I know that life doesn't have to suck.  When I think about why I enjoyed myself so much - it was because I found what I believe, I stuck to it, and found the greatest joy in doing so.  I was open to new ideas, seeing more and extending myself.  I did what I liked, mostly stayed away from what I didn't, and continued to try new things to form opinions on them.  I was pretty much open.  And being back doesn't mean I have to close my mind and live in my box.  The time I had overseas can be replicated here; its about my attitude - I formerly had the help of new surroundings to inspire me, but now, its not impossible, but just a little tougher.

I feel like I'm new years resolutioning; but I'm thinking that improvement and dreaming doesn't have to be restricted to once a year when you're a little coo-coo from your celebratory drinks and finger food.. so here goes.  I promise myself to dream, think and inspire.  I promise I will remain alert, and awake to issues and stimuli.  I promise to look outwardly, and act accordingly.  I promise I will be more disciplined, and live by 'everything in moderation' - even travelling.

Will keep you posted on how my new reality is,

kirstie.

Exchange is cruel.

It's cruel because you want it to be awesome, and when it is, it's so hard to let go.

The time is coming for my semester here at Boston College to end.  I'm feeling a little (understatement, btw) emotional about having to leave this place I consider my home.  Exchange has blown away every expectation - if you had asked me what I expected to be feeling at this point in my exchange, I would've said happy.  But I never expected to be this happy.  I truly have loved this time, and I don't have a clue how I'm going to say bye to the people who've made it worthwhile.  I think I'll even have a hard time saying bye to my little dorm room here.  Sure it's not the flashiest of dorm rooms, but it's still mine, and it housed me in all the difficult moments, carrying memories of home on the walls, being my little haven when I felt homesick.  Its cream walls, the pipe that runs the heating across the ceiling, my double open closet...

I think I'm feeling like I'm in a bit of a limbo situation, because its not like after leaving Boston I'm going straight home.  I'm off to have some adventures, and I think I need to get back into that enthusiastic attitude I had right at the beginning of exchange to try new things.  I'm so comfortable now I could almost picture myself staying; but at the same time, there's home, and I can't deny missing it.  Especially with this 29 degree weather here, it's so warm and gorgeous out that I can't help but relate it back to home sweet home.

I'm currently feeling the pressure and time crunch of study and finals, and the desire for them to pass conflicting with the desire for time to go slowly so I can savour my last 13 days in Boston.  But I guess it has to come to an end.  It's time to make my way back home (albeit it'll still be another 2 months til I arrive in Sydney). 

Time of limbo, here I come.

Being in Canada has made me realise how American I've become as of late.  Namely:

• I expect colour, harbour and favour to be spelt without the 'u', and was actually surprised to see the word "harbour" when I came into the city.  Similarly, I was thrilled to see the word 'centre'. 
• I think with nasal 'a's, but I correct myself when I speak, and say my a's like an Australian.  (ie, grah-ss not with an 'a' like in bat)
• I was shocked at the concept of a $2 coin.  Oh dear.
• I was pleasantly surprised when signs and tours are conducted in metric!  So, the CNN is over 500 metres tall.  None of this feet and inches business.  Also thrilled to see the temperature in Celcius.  I've found myself to come to expect the English system of measurenment...
• I'm sad that there aren't many bagels around.
• My brain automatically calculates approximate tips when looking at prices.
• I expect flags to hang from every building
• I expect everything to be either historical, tourist trashy or constructed on a grand scale
• I've come to expect that people can peer into my cubicle in the public toilets because Americans could not get the door measurements right and tend to leave a 2.5 cm gap between the door and the lock of the toilet that people can peer into when waiting.
• I half-expect automatic flushing toilets
• I expect people to say ya'll to me.
   

Wow, how I'm going to miss the commercialism, beauty and plain oddness of America.

Feeling the time crunch, and the feeling of wistfulness creeping in every now and again as I relate back to the reality that the semester is almost over.  A few more weeks of work, (and hopefully play!) and game over, BC exchange. 

Its all the more painful when I look at people now and realise that in little over a month we won't be together.  It's a saddening and hollowing thought. 

But God has truly exceeded every expectation I had for this exchange, and I am thankful.  I am going to rest knowing there is a time for everything.

Ecclesiastes 3

 ¹To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

 ²A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

 ³A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

 ⁴A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

 ⁵A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

 ⁶A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

 ⁷A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

 ⁸A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.


My time of completion is coming, and I will rejoice.

Chat soon,
kirstie
 

So, it seems that a wonderful weekend away seems to be followed by an electrical problem of some sort.  Last time it was my phone charger, this time my laptop.  It won't turn on, and won't charge.  Thank God though, I didn't lose any of my information on the hard drive.

Funnily enough, even though I'm frustrated, I'm not in despair.  There are more pressing issues.

I think this is a testimony to God's work in my life.  Comparing this to when I was out of touch with the world a month and a half ago, this is much better.  His peace really does surpass all understanding.  I am also very thankful to my friend Steph, who kindly lent me the laptop I am currently using to type this entry up.  The body of Christ never ceases to amaze me..

Also, I've been asked lately how exchange is going.  I'm going to say its tiring, fun, and that its these random problems that pop up and require dealing with that really move and challenge me to step up.  I think I become less frustrated at things that go wrong now.  I'm not as concerned, although I do have a healthy measure of concern to accompany my issues.  Its all so surreal, this bubble that I'm in now.  I don't want to leave, but at the same time, I miss Sydney.  But I wouldn't trade my experience so far for another - it's been fulfilling, and I've seen unexpected developments and turns in my own personal life that I hadn't anticipated when I thought about exchange a long time ago...

Anyhow, pls forgive my short and infrequent posts.  Just be assured that I'm alive and well.  Nothing to worry about; I'll be home in no time.  I'd love to hear from you btw if you're reading this.  I cannot believe that the halfway point passed a few days ago.  Time is shooting by, and I have no idea how to emotionally comprehend the nearing conclusion.  But more emotions later - for now, there's still much time to be enjoyed here :)

speak soon!

kirstie

I'm back from what was the best week of my exchange, in San Diego, CA.

I'm crushed that I'm back on the east coast of the States, which is hilarious given this is where I chose to go for exchange.  But anyhow, I'm still in love with the week that just passed, the company of the other 17 college students, and our time in San Diego.  I think my heart will possibly shatter into millions of pieces when I have to leave.  I don't want to leave the people here, can I take them back to Sydney with me... please?

In the past week, we reached out to students on San Diego State University campus, went to the beach, bonfired and bbq'ed on the beach, played nukem ball on the sand, packed up and moved a house into storage, sang, skateboarded and all the rest of it.  Amazing week, amazing people.  Revolutionary in terms of my Christian walk, I haven't had such a refreshing and life-affirming string of events in for a while.

For photos, I have a billion on my fb account - (well, just under 4 albums worth), so check it check it :)

I'm going to head back to reality now though (that is, a pile of accounting work), I lost an hour due to daylight savings (but that's another story in itself, hahaha!) but it's all good -  I'm filled with joy.

xox

At present, I'm reading my professor's book, "Speaking of Sadness" for my exam tomorrow.

It's a very insightful and thoughtful book - but I thought I'd document one of the short passages I just read.


" There is a parable about human troubles that has every person's most powerful sufferings hanging from a tree.  Each leaf, we might imagine, tells of an individual's life travails.  The pains and injuries that all others have endured over the course of their lives are plainly documented.  Every person is then five the choice of a second life from all those displayed, to be lived with exactly the difficulties advertised.  The parable has it that in the end everyone chooses their own life over all others..."


Food for thought.

I'm interested to know whether you think it would extend to your life as a whole.  Given a chance to choose from a full description of people's lives hanging on a tree, would you choose your own life again?

Just writing to document my "exchange stress"

As I write, its Monday morning, Week 5 of my exchange.  Crazy as it may seem, I've been away for more than a month now, and my mind is still blown away when I consider that I've survived this long.  So, to epitomize my exchange experience, I've done the entire booking accommodation, buses, looking for things to do in NYC (not that that's hard at all!), and I've travelled back on my own, found my way from the bus station to home.  Its all very satisfying, and where I am on that "U Curve" I described in my very first post is currently a bump in the uphill section, I'm guessing.

So at present, I've been feeling a little out of touch with the world simply because my mobile phone won't charge, and I don't have a landline here in my dorm.  I think I'm a bit too highly strung when it comes to these things (how un-Australian of me!), but its funny because I feel separated and frustrated.  But I'm trying to take a step back and think about how dependent I've become on my mobile phone - but also how I can see people still, and even more so, I can knock on some friend's doors in this building if I'm feeling out of touch, so essentially its not that bad.  I can always find something to do anyway, and I'm absolutely swimming in work this week, so I better get started.

This is purely an "I'm alive, a little stressed and needing to vent" post.  I just need to get it out of my system so I can push forward with the other billion things I need to do like laundry, my assignment, bagel-hunting (love them!).  I'm pretty sure I'm just blowing things out of proportion at the moment, like I tend to do when I get stressed. So, currently  I'm calming down - as I started this post, the plumber came in and fixed our toilet (yeh, unnecessary stress of the morning #103854), and my roommate lent me her phone so I could call the phone company.  They've put in an order for a replacement charger for my phone, so it won't be long til my phone functions again.

Oh well, on the bright side, at least my exchange experience got that little bit more exciting =P

Today was another freezing cold day in Boston.  Or, at least, I thought it was.  I kind of feel I'm back to square one adapting to the cold, having experienced that lovely 5 degree day the other day, it's almost like I'm learning what cold is again.  Although I'm sure I'll have no problem adapting again.

I'd firstly like to apologise for not blogging often enough - I think exchange is just getting into full swing, and at the same time its almost as if us exchange students are in rhythm and routine.  I'm trying not to get stuck in a routine though, because I tend to shut myself from the world if I get too comfortable.  Being new really forced me to get out and meet people, and so I'm hoping complacency doesn't set in anytime soon..

To summarise my life in Boston (I'd really love to do a picture post on the key aspects of my life here, when I get the time and have the patience to do so), its a mix of freedom and constraint.  When I take a step back and examine my circumstances, I'm surprised.  Firstly I'm shocked I haven't made myself sick trying to cook for myself.  I'm absolutely surprised that I function day by day, and find things to do which occupy me.   I still cannot believe I'm not supervised - that time is essentially not pre-filled (except for classes), but that its up to me to make decisions about how I will fill my day.  I guess I've experienced personal success in that I can now navigate the majority of campus, including having a better idea of where all the residence halls are, (although you would hope so, being in the 4th week of class), and that I am still managing to do some homework as tempting as it is not to.  More importantly though, I am so very thankful that I've found some wonderful friends, and that I've decided to go on a mission trip to San Diego for spring break.   All these things have not ceased to amaze me, and still continue to bring me much joy.  

But I digress from the intended subject of this post.  This evening I sat here for a couple of hours researching things to do in New York, seeing as Whitney and I intend to head over this weekend (which, btw I'm incredibly excited about!), and between pondering whether my bank account can handle a Broadway show and whether its worth travelling to see the big green lady (that is, the Statue of Liberty) up close, I heard a terribly high-pitched beeping sound.  Now, I wouldn't usually be surprised to hear such a sound if I were cooking ('smoked' anything, anyone?), but it became deafingly loud, and in a matter of seconds my roommate had wandered into my room to check up on me.  A lady on the loudspeaker made the announcement that we should evacuate the floor when the siren wailed once again, and in my panic I threw on a hoodie, grabbed my winter jacket and bag, and walked out of the building.

Another thing which surprises me - how easily I forget it never truly warms up outside.  Rain, sleet, snow or sunshine, its still jacket weather, and most often, scarf weather.  So put simply, it was absolutely freezing outside and there I was not mentally or physically prepared for it due to my uncanny ability to be constantly fooled by the warmth inside this dorm.  So in my panic I had forgotten about what I was wearing, but thankfully when I evaluated my attire in the cold breeze of the night, I was pleased to find that I had decided to wear my thick trackies instead of my pyjamas.   I shuddered at the thought of me out there in my Peter Alexander flower pants and daggy t-shirt.  Now I know why my mum insisted I pack decent sleepwear..

If only I'd left the daggy t-shirts at home - my elephant t shirt, which is a large shirt with 3 elephants stitched on, my plain purple loose shirt I've been wearing for years, my cousin's teal man shirt..  Although on the up side, I did "forget" to bring my Hello Kitty, Winnie the Pooh and assorted Asian t-shirts that say nonsensical things like "Will you be my bow"..

Oh well.

At least I can take comfort in knowing I have other personal successes that offset my poor wardrobe choice.

(Earlier in the week)

Get up at 4:50am to line up in the performing arts theatre on campus to get ball tickets, which went on sale at 8am.   Wait for friends at nearby residence hall.  Trudge through the freezing cold to the theatre.  Fall asleep in the process of waiting whilst sitting on a table which was moved against the wall after moving a broken television.  Get tickets.  Grab breakfast at dining hall across the road; omelettes made of a billion eggs and customised filing.


(Earlier today)

3:00pm. Take an afternoon nap after having lunch with Korean transfer student at lower campus dining hall.  Wake up, get stuff together then head over to friend's dorm to get ready.  Fuss over makeup, jewellery and then realise that I forgot my ticket to the ball at my dorm.  Rush back, and forth.  Out of laziness (and heels, and avoidance of cold) - take the free campus shuttle bus to upper campus, and take some happy shots.

7:30pm. Ride in a YELLOW SCHOOL BUS hired to take us all downtown.  Arrive at the beautiful venue; ooh & ahh.  Have some delicious food in copious amounts, then dance the night away.  Once overheating, take a walk outside to the icy cold and dry off.  Drink 'mad' amounts of water throughout the night.  Dance with a blonde White American.

"Hi, where are you girls from?"
"Australia"
"Cool! So you're studying here for the semester?"
*nod.  music thuds on*
"I wish I could've gone abroad, but no money!"      
*makes hand gesture symbolising wealth, or money*

"Where are yous originally from?"
"I'm from Philippines, and shes from Beijing."
"Ah! So if I go to China, can I ring you and stay over?"
"Uhhh, yeah, sure..."
*no exchange of numbers*
"Not that I'll ever get there, no money!"
*Nervous giggle*
"We should grab lunch at Lower sometime!" 
*We nod, smile, and dance on*

At some point, make our way to the dance floor again.  Tall black man starts dancing with Whitney.  Happily observe the blacks dancing; amazingly fluid! 

12am. Bus back to B.C.  The walk through the freezing cold is amplified by Whitney's heels situation which slowed her down dramatically.  End up at lower dining hall again, having what they call Late Night (chips, subs, chicken and other varieties of junk..) for the third Friday night in a row now.  Watch energy levels of friends dip as the time passes..

1:05am. Walk by housing with 'seniors' (final year + sem) students having a large party.  Get partly amused by the snow blocks forming a wall outside one of the houses.  Find a drunk guy singing extremely loudly, shirtless, in the cold outside friend's dorm building.  Nearby students start throwing snow at him to get him to be quiet.  He remains oblivious to the world, listening to his large white headphones.  Avoid a large group of students standing in the foyer trying to decide where to go next to party.  Get in lift.

1:10am.  Our favourite (not) drunk shirtless guy joins in the lift and keeps singing the entire way.  The elevator reeks of alcohol, and doesn't move fast enough.  Dora is desperately pressing the open and shut door buttons to speed up the journey.  Guy gets off, yells "WELCOME TO BOSTON!" and disappears around the corner to where our friends live.

1:20am.  Awkward moment in the bedroom when Whitney didn't realise that my friend's roommate's boyfriend was lying in her bed watching something on her laptop, as she was loudly considering getting changed out of her dress in that room.  Classic.

1:40am.  Walk to my dorm, change into jeans and drop off stuff.  Went up two floors using the elevator (for which Dora had to apologise to everyone in the elevator) because she was too tired to walk up the stairs.  Trashed Rob stumbles into the elevator, having returned from another dorm party, but still recognises us.

"Hi guys, I'm so drunk right now.."

Cheeky smile.

1:50am. End up at an Asian beer pong/guitar hero party.  Dora learns she hates Jack Daniels Whiskey and tries to spit it out in the sink whilst Vickie is washing her shot glass, and ends up with some on Vickie's jacket.  We leave; too tired to stay and I'm disinterested in the scene.

2:00am.  Clean up myself after the night.  No roommates at home; those as I finish editing this, they've made it back.  (3:00am)  Ponder the errands I need to run later this morning.

- Print some photos
- Buy some supplementary phone credit for messaging
- Trim fringe
- Deposit money in Bank of America account

Consider a walk or run around the local reservoir in the morning.


And such was my American Friday night on the 30 Jan, 2009.

Today is 1°C.

Hot!  One lone, positive degree of warmth.

I was terribly excited as I walked back to my dorm after class; I started to feel toasty, almost like taking my jacket off - it was a strange, foreign feeling, I tell you.

Considering that I haven't felt vaguely hot in a month (always swinging between just right, and cold), this is probably a lot more exciting than it should be.. but anyhow I am now far more motivated to go out than I have been for a while.

Fantastic start to my weekend.

So its currently 2:32am and I can't get to sleep, and I immediately thought to blog.  Mostly because I love to read about my days gone by and laughing at my silliness, but also because its quite therapeutic and allows me to think.  Funnily enough, the other day I was reading my blospot whereI had said hello to my future self in a post.  I couldn't help but laugh.  Taking sociology has been teaching me to take a step back and observe myself from a detached perspective - and although my life is probably not as exciting as most, the fact that it is unique to me is sufficient reason to enjoy the moments that I do have, and cherish them.

But I digress!  Back to my couple of photos that I took yesterday (or rather, the 15 Jan).

Yesterday I woke up relatively late, not having class until 1:30. 

Lesson: Wake up early if you're trying to make pancakes for breakfast, even if you're just using a pre-packaged mix.

So my pancakes didn't quite work out.  I made a grand total of 4 - 1 was too doughy, 1 too hard, and 2 just right.  I'd say 50% success rate is dismal, but considering my cooking skills, I'll take a passing grade.

After breakfast I headed upper campus to meet Whitney.  Poor thing hadn't eaten breakfast yet, so we went upstairs to one of the dining places and grabbed something to eat.  A preconception that has been proven wrong here is that dining hall food is bland, and camp-food like.  It's actually quite impressive the number of eateries that exist here - sandwiches are generally 6USD, and burgers a similar price.  I'm quite impressed, actually.

So naturally, Whitney's sandwich came with a massive pickle.



And my yoghurt was upside down?  Oh America, how you strive for originality.



Afterwards, Whitney headed to class whilst I went back to my dorm to try to make food.  Let's just say cooking is definitely not my forte.

Writing to you from the comfort of my (now) single room, much has progressed since the last time I wrote.

Firstly, I have managed to motivate myself to leave the house, whilst snowing, to go grocery shopping.  Leaving the campus seems to be an adventure in itself - with no car, everything seems so much further away than it actually is!  I mean, I thought I was far from downtown Boston, but as it turns out, I'm about 15 minutes drive away from it.  But of course, the 'T' (I think it stands for Trolley, its like a tram/streetcar and goes underground downtown) takes half an hour or so.  I think my perception of distance has been very much distorted!

As for the supermarket, it was more 'homey' than Coles or Woolies, but pretty much had everything I could've dreamt of.  I, for one, love grocery shopping (even in Australia), but this was my first time shopping for myself.  I think the ancient cultures called it hunting and gathering.  But in my case, its more of a case of finding the cheapest, easiest and tastiest food that won't result in heart disease.. which I'd say are a pretty reasonable set of variables to optimise!  I racked up a bill of around 80USD, here's hoping that feeds me for a bit...

Anyhow, if you've ever tried shopping on a budget, you'll understand the usual dilemma of figuring out which size/brand is most economical.  Which is why I thought they taught us consumer mathematics in year 8.  But no need here.  Everything has two prices - price by the pound, and the unit price.  Even though it took me a bit to actually realise this was for comparison purposes, I was trying to use my poor yr 8 maths skills to choose between tuna brands.  In the end, I got Sunkist tuna, but now that I think about it, which tunas see the sun?!  Probably the ones sitting on the boat forever..

After my freezing grocery episode (which lasted about 3 hours in total), I was far too lazy to leave the house due to the sun setting so early in winter, and basically the cold - I stayed in the dorm (alone, still) and watched some TV.  I think that was the night that Little Miss Sunshine was on..  we've got some magazines spread across the coffee table, so I just flicked through.  I think if I lived here for a year I'd sign up for a subscription - a lot of them are just $12 for the year.  As Rob said, America is just weird, some things are so cheap, and others ridiculously expensive.  (Like tuition.  Apparently BC's nearly $50K a year now - which would suck really.  The $30 you save on magazine subscriptions hardly makes a dent in your college fund...)

Monday morning I was up early, asking for help with my bill here at BC.  That was the day one of my roommates moved in.  I  pretty much left the dorm soon after her arrival and attended to admin-related things, also going for a 15 minute walk in the afternoon to get a webcam from - guess where - the pharmacy.  This place, called CVS, seems to have everything from perscriptions to cereal.  I also picked up a mini whiteboard for my room - I needed something to scribbe on.  My roomies' room is so gorgeous and cosy,  I'd even go as far as to say their half-rooms beat my bedroom at home!  You wouldn't think it was a dorm room at all.  Oh, and I promise to post a pic of my room once I clean it up enough to take one...

Yesterday my other roomie moved in.  At the moment there are only three of us in here, so I have a spare bed in my room. Apparently there may be some people shuffling around, but my roomies said to be really nasty if someone comes to "interview" me to see if we're compatible to co-exist in this limited space - I laughed.  We'll see how it goes. 

I met up with Amy yesterday too - we walked around campus (I'm stil in absolute awe at the beauty of buildings here), and I bought two of my books for Auditing.  She helped me find my textbook online too - and we also stole a (spare/discarded?) microwave from the bottom floor of my dorm building and smuggled it into her dorm.  Hilarious!  I really wish I had a camera at the time - we looked so guilty!

After that we took the shuttle (free, it roams around campus and down the main road to where the shops are) and visited Amy's IS (international student) from last semester - Becca.  She lives on her own in a neat apartment (with no store-bought furniture, might I add.  Literally EVERYTHING in the apartment- the table, the desk, the chairs- were all found on the street, but you can't tell at all)  and she's still here for another semester (one year exchange).  Aussie too!  She hadn't left the apartment in at least half a week, and her fridge was literally running on empty, so Amy got her out of house and to the supermarket - but not before she had two Tim Tams from the stack sitting on Becca's table.  After another shopping trip at my favourite grocery store, we ate at this nearby Asian foodcourt.  It was very much reminiscent of Chinatown.  Its nice to know Asian food exists around these parts of town...

The T system is a bit strange though,  as it runs on a flat rate, so whether you're taking two stops or going all the way downtown, (10+ stops), its a flat rate.  Although at smaller stations its prone to fare evasion.. so if that's your cup of tea..

Today was another day of firsts - first American class, first (and last, I hope!) uni class starting at 8:30am, first Sociology class, first time being able to wake up 30 minutes before class and still make it there in time.  I love living on campus.  Being an exchange student, I'm just doing the subjects I need to do, and so my timetable is far from ideal. So being able to come back and chill, or sleep, if I really wanted to, suits me just fine.   Today there was a poster sale near the bookstore (which I should add is far more efficient than UNSW's, and is half-filled with BC paraphenalia), and I was tempted to find something for my wall, but nothing struck me enough.  Although I was tempted to buy a New York Grand Central print.. it was b&w, and was reminiscent of a grandose and American version of Central station.  Or I might go print some of my New York photos when I next hit the pharmacy.

For the rest of today, I have a 2 hour Project Finance class in an hour which has about 300USD worth of course material, which I'm not too keen on.  So I might change the class after I try it out tonight.  Then might have dinner with Amy at the dining hall - will write again soon, with pictures.  For now, I'll leave you with my favourite building interior - this is the common area in the business building here at BC - the building I'll be spending the most time in!  I think I'm in love.

Speak soon!!

love kirstie xox

So today I set up an American bank account.  My first offshore bank account, but sadly it doesn't come with the thrills and spills of an exotic tax haven with a secret mass of money, but rather is a student account with no fees or anything.  Literally.  They're just giving away these things.

Not sure I'm very comfortable though with their method of depositing through ATMs (a bit sketchy if you ask me), but I was pleased with the customer service.  I've noticed customer service is generally better here than Australia.  Is that because of tipping?

After the bank, I met up with another Aussie from Melbourne Uni, Rob, and we went to knock on Whitney's (UNSW) door.  Poor thing, she's still jetlagged.  But her roommate was moving in with the help of a friend and her parents, and that girls' mum was ever so lovely.    We also had an awkward moment when Whitney asked if it was just the girl moving in, cos she had been under the impression that a couple was moving in.  That is, she, and the landlord had suspected the girl to be lesbian..  a tad awkward, but the parents brushed it off quickly. 

In the end, Whitney couldn't come along, so Rob & I took the 'T' to downtown Boston.  We were frozen within minutes of getting out of the subway station, not to mention starving, so we wandered around til we found a place with some burgers and pub food.  But not before taking a snap of the protest on Park St..

Sitting, alone, in a dorm halfway across the world really makes you think..

Today, at orientation, we were asked today to write down a list of expectations of American society and college life.  Akin to writing a letter to your future self, we placed our list in a self-addressed envelope, and were promised that we would be mailed these at the end of our exchange.  

I've been thinking for months about what I expect from these next five months, but it was really challenging to write them down.  Its almost as if by voicing them, I would feel disappointed if they weren't met, and that would make me feel wasteful.  It's that mentality where if you aim for nothing, you'll be happy with what you accomplish.  No doubt a terribly lazy mentality; I will really try to banish it this year.

It's been nearly two weeks since I arrived here in the USA - and looking back, I experienced the "U Curve" at an accelerated rate.  For those of you unfamiliar with the terminology, the U Curve is a term used by exchange offices to describe your emotional state during your time away from home.  It basically begins with you being on a high (at the top of the U), and as time passes you pretty much hit rock bottom, then come to a brilliant realisation that its all worthwhile - after which you rebound and run in open flowering meadows and eat rainbow lollipops again.  Well, kinda.

I fear to really place myself on this imaginary curve, but I would say the initial homesickness and uncertainty were pretty low.  Whilst I never seriously considered going home, it really showed my initial aversion to being away from home.  Separated from the comforts of mum's cooking and flushing toilets (no, seriously), I'm out of my league, but getting there..

Having said that, I have had some of the best times these last two weeks.  I can already see why I need to be here, but also why I want to be here.  Independence gained by some a while back is still brand spanking new to me, and whilst it seems at times that I'm diving in the deep end, its the deep end of a very refreshing pool.  Its new, but its great, challenging and satisfying.

To those reading, thanks for checking up on me.  Don't worry about me; I will triumph in the coming perplexities, challenges and confusion that's bound to be thrown my way.  I know it's all a part of growing - and that's definitely on my list of expectations for this 6 months away.

kirstie