Compilation of Today

Okay before I start this post I just want to let you all know that the bar has been set! I GOT MY FIRST LETTER TODAY!!!!! Every morning at breakfast they pass out mail and today my name was called! I almost choked on my food because I was so shocked. But thank you Aunt Judy and Uncle Mark! It was a great way to start the day! It took 2 weeks for it to get here, but none the less, I got it and it's hanging up in my dorm! Mail from home is SO exciting! Woooooo.

Moving on- I know this isn't the most flattering shot (haha!) but I just wanted to give you a visual of these bug bites I'm talking about! A grand total of 14 FOURTEEN bites on one arm, and just above my elbow. My whole body looks like I broke out in a skin disease! I'm all of sure the Aussie boys are really attracted to me now! ;)
Today I went to the beach (...again) and I took some pictures on my walk to the train station of things around campus. I know you can't really tell from this next picture, but this white bridge you've gotta cross to get to the train is HUUUUUGE and really long! It's beautiful! But unfortunately, the only pictures I could take of it were while I was standing on it. Underneath is more swamp land.
This is an awesome sculpture outside of our Student Union. It's called the "House of Aces" and its about a foot taller than I am.
Everyday since I've been here I've been trying to take pictures of the rainbow colored parrots that live here. In 2 weeks- this is my BEST shot. I feel like I'm trying to photograph Big Foot or something because every time I whip my camera out, they fly away OR the picture turns out blurry. But I swear- THEY'RE REAL! :)
So after that I got on the train and went to the beach! This is my favorite spot in Newcastle. I was sitting on a bench when I took this picture and I absolutely L-O-V-E this area...

Some of you may need to put your glasses on for this one, but here's the main entrance to my dorm, Edwards Hall. You can very faintly see the name atop the wall. Home sweet home (...except not)!

On a different note, do any of my friends remember the TV show, Doug, from when we were growing up? I found every single season on iTunes!!!! Nostalgia doesn't even begin to describe it. Every spare minute I have now I spend watching it.

Another thing I was going to mention- I took the bus into the city so that I could grab a couple groceries and one of the things I got was a loaf of bread (that seemed to cost a million bucks) and on my way home I realized the bag had a gaping hole in it! So when I went to go make a sandwich- the whole loaf had already gone moldy. Just my luck, right?! Ugh, Australia Australia Australia.....

I've mentioned this to a couple of you, but I'm thinking that over Spring Break, instead of flying over to New Zealand and seeing Auckland- I'm going to book a cruise around the country. That way I'll be able to see a lot more of it, meet more people and have organized fun instead of attempting to make my own. I'm REALLY excited though!! It should be "heaps" of fun, as they say. :)

Tomorrow night is out Commencement Dinner, and we're required to wear our Respect Robes... these black gowns that we put on for special occasions around campus and in our classes. They make us all look like we're Harry Potter. I'll post the evidence.

If you're reading this- I love and miss you lots, I'm sure! Post again later.

--LP--