Getting Down to Business

First of all, I'll give you a quick update on the past week.

About a week ago we started actually getting into school mode, after all that is why we are here. During "O Week" we met student mentors and other new students who are studying in the same fields. They gave us tours of buildings we need to know like the library, the student mall, and a few classroom buildings as well. The student mall is pretty cool. It has the bookshop, a corner store, a few places to eat, a hairdresser, and the Uni Club, which is basically a bar. After our tours there was a big lunch where they gave us (once again) a pizza each.

We got our JCU student ID's a few days ago and last night we got buckets. Yep, buckets. At dinner there was a big meeting for the whole residence hall and the new students got buckets. They also made up nicknames for us and wrote them on these yellow headbands. My nickname is Koala and Chris' is Griffin.

Also, we now have roommates. Last week my roommate Scott moved in and yesterday Jess moved in as well. I haven't really gotten to know them yet, but so far they seem cool (although it was kinda nice having this place all to myself).

And now for today's news: Classes have begun.

I had my first class in Australia today and we learned about, guess what, Australia. The class is called "Australia Through Time and Place" and its Archaeology/Anthropology. School works a bit differently here than back home. First of all, the professors prefer to be called by their first name. Also lectures are once a week. Most classes also have tutorials once a week, but you pick which one you want to go to. Somehow my schedule worked out so I only have classes on Mondays and Thursdays (and occasionally Fridays). One of my classes is external, which means I do it online and another one only meets four times the entire semester (two of those times being field trips). Yeah, it's a pretty awesome schedule, but I'll have to find something to take up some of that extra time.

Anyway, that's all for now. I'll let you know when more interesting stuff happens.