Nathan and I (at the cookout)

Rhys, Jenn, and I (the cookout)

Cirque du Soleil (I couldn't take pics once we were inside)

Divya, Me, Jenn, Livia, Matt, Sean, and Ashley (at my bday dinner)

Im sorry it has been over a week since I have written! I have lots to share :) Last Sunday I went to church with Divya. I really liked Diyva’s church, it is more like what I am used to back home. It was actually an evening service, and a man shared his incredible testimony about dying for 55 minutes and then being brought back to life. The man was only 39 years old and he had a heart attack. The doctors tried everything, but they couldn’t revive him. His wife arrived, and she prayed a simple prayer, and he was brought back to life! I wish I could share more of the details because it really was an incredible experience.

Monday we went out dinner for my birthday dinner. Through the international program, we are allowed to take five friends out to dinner, and the program pays for each of our meals (although we were on our own for appetizers and drinks). I invited Jenn, Livia, Komal, Matt, and Divya. My advisor (Sean) also came and so did our senior student advisor (Ashley). I really wanted to go to an Italian restaurant, so Ashley knew of a good Italian place called Bella Rosa. Dinner was delicious, and the best food I’ve had in a long time. Unfortunately, after dinner I had to work on an assignment. I know it probably seems like I NEVER do any school work in Australia, but I actually spent most of Saturday, Sunday, and Monday working on my first assignments.

On Tuesday, Nasir cooked dinner for a group of us. I met Nasir through my friend Komal. He has quite a big crush on Komal, and he really enjoys cooking, so he cooks for all of us about once a week. He is originally from Pakistan, like Komal, and he is really good at making Curry dishes. Divya also joined us for dinner this week. After dinner we went across campus for dessert at Jenn’s house. By the end of the night, were racing shopping carts in the Vickery House parking lot.

Wednesday I went to the Cirque du Soleil with Komal, Jenn, and Livia. The circus was in downtown Perth, so we took a bus into the city. It was incredible! Unfortunately, photography was not allowed. The things that the acrobats did seemed humanly impossible. As the show continued, we were more and more amazed by the talent of the performers. After the circus we went for a walk along Swan River as we slowly headed to the bus stop It was such a beautiful night.

On Thursday we went on our second field trip in my Australian Studies class. This week we went to Fremantle. Now I can actually say I had class on the beach! We walked along the beach, and we also went to a few historical places. Then, because my friend Livia wants to get a tattoo on her birthday, we went to a tattoo parlor so she could make an appointment. Going to a tattoo place was definitely a new experience for me! Later that night, I went over to a friend’s house to hang out, and we also watched the movie “Transformers.”

This weekend has been quite enjoyable as well. On Friday, I went to my weekly bible study, and enjoyed a home cooked meal at Du Vihn’s house afterwards. I also look forward to those home cooked meals! Saturday I went to the local shopping mall with Komal and Nasir. I was really excited to use the Target gift card my parents gave me for my birthday; however, I found out that the Target in Australia is not related or owned by the Target in the U.S. The three of us had quite a fun time shopping together. Once we got back to campus, I got ready for a Saturday night cook out/camping trip. It is kind of complicated, but we went to Matt’s (my friend) roomate’s boyfriend’s house near Fremantle for the cookout. A few of my friends brought tents for camping out in the backyard; however, a few of us came home around midnight. It was a lot of fun, and it was actually a little chilly outside, so it was quite nice to have a fire going. It seems that there is never a dull moment around here. I am beginning to realize how difficult it will be for me to leave all of my friends in a few short months.

This morning I woke up to go to church, without realizing that the time had changed. I arrived at church an hour early and no one was there! It took me a while to realize what was going on. So now there is only a time difference of 12 hours between here and back home. This coming week is midterm week, and then I have two weeks of break! I am excited about my upcoming trip along the west coast of Australia.