What does Lismore and SCU look like?

Well, I'm glad you asked. Here are some pictures I've taken over the past 5 weeks (have I really been here that long already?) and I will post more over time!

Looking down the street, downtown Lismore

Walking down Ballina Road towards the shopping centre and downtown

The share-house that I am living in for the semester, about 10 minute walk to Uni

Walking down to Uni from Orion College (Orion is actually campus accommodation for students) Killer trying to climb this thing back home!

Walking onto campus now. Library is at bottom right.

At the very bottom of the hill and still on campus is the Plaza. A lot like the K-State Union. Both have places to eat, book store, and student center. This is the middle of the Plaza where local bands play during O-Week (orientation week) and a great place to hang out with friends.

Conversations with an Australian, Pt. 2

Australian- "So, are you from America then?"
Me- "Yes, I'm from Kansas. It's in the middle of the States."
Australian- "Oh, isn't that where Dorothy's from?"
Me- "Yeah," (sighs loudly)

Truth Hurts

I would not recommend talking about politics to Australians. They will give their pro's and con's about Obama and ask who I voted for. One Aussie that I talked to said, "I give the black fellow 12 months before he drowns himself in the river." And another says, "Obama will change the world." Either way, they will tell you how they feel! Of course, I always tell them I voted for Obama and I looked at both McCain's and Obama's websites, comparing important issues and seeing what I most agreed with. Truth- not everyone in Australia likes Americans. In fact, a lot of people will completely write me off once I say that I'm American. I don't want to generalize because just like Americans, each Australian is completely different. But I have often been asked if I'm Canadian and I was told the reason people do that is because if they ask if you are from the US and you are not, you could be deeply offended.



We Americans are constantly being judged by other countries. We don't see it because we get so wrapped up in US issues that we tend to ignore the other cultures. I believe you have to be well-educated to understand another culture as well as spend a significant amount of time in another country to develop a sense of awareness of other cultures. I wish that all people could view a person as exactly that-- an individual. You can't look at where a person was born or what citizenship they have, it can't describe their personal characteristics or what their personality is like. I wish people, regardless of nationality, would judge me by my character- not by my citizenship. (Oh boy, I think I feel a MLK Jr. quote coming on...)



Not a bright and shiny post like I've been doing, but I wanted to let the folks back home know the whole truth about living here. I think my cultural awareness is showing!



To end this on a happy note, I went out with a few friends to Mary's, a local pub. Pictured with me below is Ashton from Canada and Jess from the Bahamas! Never thought I'd be having drinks with a Canadian and a Bahamian but this is the Aussie life, no worries. :)