So, I thought maybe I should share some fun Aussie sayings that I have learned. The key thing to remember is that Aussie’s tend to abbreviate words and that sometimes makes it difficult to understand what they are actually talking about.

Mate… widely used but generally means friend

How are you going?...Basically a combination of how are you and how is it going?

No Worries… My pleasure or You’re welcome

Dodgy…unreliable or sketchy

Rellies…. Relatives (So if an Australian says, “I have to get Chrissie prezzy for my rellie… that means I have to get Christmas present for my relative)

Macca’s … McDonalds

Brekkie… Breakfast

Cheers… Thanks

I had quite an interesting weekend after my first week of classes. I found out about a Christian organization for overseas students during orientation week, so, on Friday afternoon I went to their bible study. I expected this to be big group, however when I got there I was the only one there other than the staff advisor who runs the program. Du Vihn (the staff advisor) was really nice and I got to chat with him about churches, etc. until a few other students arrived. The three other students that showed up were all from Hong Kong. At the very end of the study, Michelle, an Australian who is helping Du Vihn arrived. I had the opportunity to talk to her and she told me about another Christian organization on campus, and she invited me to a picnic the organization was having the next day. After the Bible Study, Du Vihn invited us all over to his house for dinner. His wife made us delicious pasta and a curry dish. We even played Rummikube! It was really great to have a home cooked meal, and It was the first time I have been in an Australian home thus far!

Saturday, I went to the picnic with Michelle and she introduced me to a lot of people involved in CCU (Curtin Christian Union). I met an Australian girl named Divya, who actually studied abroad at Purdue last semester. It was really cool to talk to her about her experience while studying in the U.S. We are actually going to meet up this weekend to hang out.

Sunday, I went to church for the first time, which turned out to be quite an experience. Du Vihn told me about a community church that meets on campus, so I figured that would be the perfect place to start. Well, as I was walking to the church service (keep in mind I did not know exactly where I was going) I heard familiar worship music, so I followed the music. Thinking that I had to have been at the right service I walked up to the doors and I was immediately ushered in to a seat before I realized that I was at a completely different church. I have never felt so out of place. There I was in a church service surrounded by hundreds of people of Asian descent. There might have been five other non-Asians. I stayed for the entire service, and it was quite good. Now I have a better Idea of what it is like to be in the minority. After church I joined a few friends and we went into the city to catch the train to Scarborough Beach. So we spent a relaxing Sunday afternoon at the beach.

I can’t believe I am already halfway done with my second week of class. I dropped one of my classes, so now I don’t have class on Monday or Wednesday! All of my classes are going well so far. The math class I am taking is a bit over my head, so I am going to have to work extra hard in that class and get help from the professor. I went to see the professor yesterday for help, and, while he did end up helping me, he kept talking about random topics in math that had nothing to do with what I needed help on…