Week 1 at Bond : "Orientation"

G'day mates! Well, we're all settled into our places and starting classes this week! Our apartments couldn't be much more different. CJ is in "Varsity Towers," a one-room hotel-like accommodation, furnished entirely by IKEA. It's clean-cut, modern, and has a phenomenal view of campus and the shark pool. Yes, you read correctly; his building is situated on stilts over water inhabited by stingrays and sharks. A lovely bridge crosses over it, connecting his building to campus with about a 5 minute walk. We've decided our experience would be incomplete if we did not at least try shark fishing off the balcony, so if you're interested in having some shark mailed home to you for sandwiches, let us know :)

On the other hand, I'm living at "University Place, " which is about the same walking distance from Bond, but in the opposite direction. There are several separate units, each with their own outside entrance and garage. Each unit has 2- 3 bedrooms, 2 bath, a full kitchen, dining room, lounge area, and patio. They are much older looking and a bit on the grungy side. I like to think of them as a lovely yester-year throwback...vintage, if you will. Needless to say, I've had quite the opportunity to put my cleaning skills to use this past week! My roommate and I each have our bedrooms upstairs. She is a first-year student from Southern Australia and I've really enjoyed getting to know her! We have a spare bedroom downstairs now too, since our 3rd roommate moved out to go live in one of the IKEA catalogue units.

Today was our first day of classes- back to reality! The class structure is not too different from the states' except that there are fewer graded assignments and a more relaxed atmosphere. CJ raised a brow hearing one of his classmates throw a casual F-bomb to the prof-- somehow I don't think that would go over well at Bethel! CJ had a total of about 6 hours of photography today, which he's really excited about. I, on the other hand, had one class in the morning and another in the afternoon, leaving some time to lie out by the pool in between. Life is good :) This is the first unbearably hot day so far, with temps nearing 100-- a good day to cool off at the beach.