In class yesterday, for about the 100th (no lie) time we were learning about the neurons in the brain...so Kyra and I decided to make a list of the foods that we miss dearly. Mostly we want everything cooked by our mothers, of course, since we may or may not be able to find it here. Some stuff--definitely not. The cafeteria food is plain and leaves you starving about an hour after you eat it. We have been wandering, going to IGA, looking for things to eat like we are beggars on the street. Rather amusing. Here are some of the foods and restaurants we desperately miss:

-American Cheese

-Dunkin Donuts Iced Coffee

-Alfredo sauce

-With decently cooked pasta (not mushy...)

-Tomato sauce with meatballs

-Cheesecake

-Italian Bread

-Wheat Thins and Cheddar cheese

-Milk

-With Cheerios

-Senor Panchos and Maggie McFlys

-Ben + Jerrys, Rich's Farm (by Kyra's house)

-Omelettes...eggs PERIOD (everything here is slimy, undercooked and just plain awkward)

-Crappy Chinese Takeout from school

- Warm soft pretzels

You don't realize how much you are spoiled with a fridge until you don't have one. I always think that I can just go right to the kitchen, either at school or home, and grab anything I want. Many things need to be cold, so we can't keep it for a prolonged period of time. The other day all three of us wanted ice cream, so we ventured over to IGA and bought a gallon of neapolitan ice cream. Downed most of it. Impressive really. But we could not keep it, so in the trash the rest went. No one in Australia is lazy, like us lovely Americans- so delivery is pretty much non existent...from what we have seen. We have not thoroughly researched, however. I must come up with a list of the first things I want when I get back home. Herrmm.

Also, I figure I will jot down some of my observations of similarities and differences and just plain every day life here in the great land of the outback.

1) Barack Obama. Everyone here is very excited to see what he will bring to the world. Our winery tour guide asked us what we thought and then chatted on about how he was already impressed with his work. It's kind of refreshing to see that another part of the world is genuinely happy for us, in spite of everything. And maybe the hatred isn't as widespread as I have heard. Or it is. Either way, coverage (from what I have been able to watch in the cafeteria at dinner time) is moderate. I am trying to keep up with everything but it's hard.

2) Their version of Deal or No Deal is much more modest than America's. They have money ranging from 50 cents to $200,000...including a car option. Pretty sweet! And I don't think the host has OCD or anything. I only know this because it's pretty much the only show on when we go to eat at the Brasserie.

3) MACADAMIAS! are everywhere. They love them here. In cookies. In pasta. In chicken dishes. In almost every store you walk by that sells food. Chocolate covered. Plain. Dryroasted. Amazing.

4) Along those lines of food, they also enjoy pumpkin, semi-dried tomatoes, nuts (all kinds), capsicum (what we would call green/red/yellow peppers), anything Asian (tons of restaurants, sushi places...even in the malls, extremely large Asian population), zuchinni, sweet chili sauce (very good, but slightly tangy...can put on anything and is really tasty with chips*thats what they call french fries*)..

5) Spartan sandals are the most popular thing here. I call them spartan because they are strappy sandals that I am pretty sure Mercury and Zeus and all of them wore. And I'm pretty sure all those sexy spartans did too. I will try to find an example of them to post later on. They are fantastic. I found a pair of black ones and light brown in Target for 1/4 of the price in most stores. They have buckles, and the brown ones zip up at the Achilles tendon. Cute & comfortable. We plan on bringing that fashion to the States and blowing everyone away. Or failing miserably. Hahaha.

6) Cars- are very small here. Small and efficient. Even their "pickup trucks" are nowhere near the size of ours at home. Fuel is extremely expensive here so being economical and practical is the best way to go. They have all the major carmakers here (Ford, Honda, Toyota) but the models are different. Some of the bodies are the same, just the names are different. They also have pink cars. Which is exciting for me because well, that's just such a random color for a car. Yay. Garages are about the size of our one-car at home but can easily fit dos.

7) Roundabouts- or what we would call rotaries. Everywhere. Instead of having four way stop sign intersections, they have roundabouts. Almost every street. Without a doubt. It's sometimes humorous on the bus because the driver drives like NY taxi cab drivers and going around the roundabouts gets you thrown into the window or off the seat into the aisle.

8) Classroom buildings. They are more built like offices than anything. There is no real system to finding your room, they are not just straight down a hallway like Kaplan. You have to go around corners, up 4 flights of stairs, around an elevator, blah blah blah...I still don't know where my classes are REALLY. I mostly hope for the best.

9) Acceptable dress code is bathing suit and cute short cover up dress. Guys- board shorts and tank. It's awesome.

10) Meat pies. They love, love, love pies..of all kinds. It's kind of like biscuits and gravy in the south at home. You can have pretty much anything in your pie- ranging from bacon and eggs to beef to lamb to veggies..and then dessert pies. We were told we MUST have a homemade one before we leave. Mission!

11) Swearing is public is totally acceptable and no one looks at you twice about it. Not because I have tried (Mom...hahaha) but I have noticed it, on the bus, and elsewhere.

12) Drinking is almost a career. Don't get me wrong, it's fun on occasion and in moderation but people go out every single night here. It's EXPENSIVE, too. Beer, impossible (2 Coronas...20 bucks...). I am saving for travelling, so they can have their fun doing that.

13) Cleanliness. Everything is very, very tidy. Small and cute. There aren't cigarette butts everywhere on campus. People pick up trash. Recycling is pretty big too.

I'm sure I will have a million more things but I am going to the beach and then I have to pack for Fraser Island this weekend. I will update on Monday, or Sunday everyone else's time.