Aussie Words/Slang

English - Austalian

How're you doing? - How're you going?

Hoodie - Jumper

Duvet - Dunna

Sweatpants - Trekkes

Biscuit - Bikki

Sausages - Snags

BBQ - Barbie

Chicken - Chook

Potatoes - Spuds

Car Accident - Bingle

Toilet - Dunny

Thanks/You're welcome - No worries

I'll pay - It's my shout
Pitcher - Jug

Cotton Candy - Fairy Floss

... more to come! ...

Round 2: Oz

Two years later, I think I'm going to start writing again. This time from Down Under. Australia!




To fill in the gap between my last entry and now, I stayed in Germany for 6 months during my past posts. I had completed a "Praktikum" with a small animal vet clinic and the Kindergarten in my home town, where my aunt teaches.

The Kindergarten was where I learned a good amount of the language. From 3-5 year olds, might I add. They were the sweetest, most loving kiddos. My favorite memories from the Kindergarden was seeing my aunt doing what she loves and the kids love her, having the kids bring books up to me to read to them (poor idea) and seeing the kids creativity in crafts. I love the innocence and curiosity kids of that age have. If only it lasted, we would be a happy and (even more) disfunctional society.

The vet clinic was a remarkable experience. The clinic was rather small and I really enjoyed the 5 min train/25 min walking commute through a beautiful, peaceful community. No matter the weather, it was calming under the sun walking along small picket fences protecting the homes from the outside world. The experience I gained in an assistant/tech role was more than I could ever imagine. I felt so encouraged and assured that I was in my kind of environment. Not so sure about small animal because of the joy that fresh air and sun bring, but definitely in Veterinary Medicine.

Over those several months, I spent a lot of time either in the Praktikums, at a Baggersee with Katha enjoying the weather (manmade lakes in the most random places), doing Sudoku with my lovely Opa,  traveling Europe enjoying good food and company, and spending days and nights around my favorite town in the world Augsburg (and I still stand by that today).






Coming and being home was by far the hardest part of my travels. 
Sure, I was very happy to see my family and friends who got me through high school. I had really missed my family and I had really enjoyed spending time with everyone. I was happy to be back, but I have never felt so removed. I was physically there, but emotionally and mentally I felt numb. I'd laugh along, not paying much mind to what I was laughing at.

Some times, I still feel that way. Not depressed, maybe. Just... removed.

My friend Lo, who has been abroad this bast semester for the first time, just posted a really good link that describes it pretty well. Click here if you're interested! It was comforting knowing I'm not alone.



Eventually, I ended up going back again the following Summer and Winter. I was trying to figure out what I was looking for, why I just couldn't fall back into my home routine. There's such a comforting feeling about being back in Deutschland, I always loved every second of it! I got to live with my Opa again, this man is nothing but love. AND my best friends family for several weeks, which was incredible. I consider them family.





In the meantime, I have met my boyfriend back home in Chicago, who brought me out of this removed feeling I carried with me these last two years. Day to day, he has been patient with my stubborn and very closed self. In spending time with him and confiding in him, I've started to reflect on who I was/am and how I want to live my life. In this reflection, I've found more strength and less passiveness. I've set forth to accomplish the goals I have for myself with endless encouragement from him and my family.






That brings us to the NOW!
I have always loved the idea of going to Australia (since watching Mary Kate and Ashley in Sydney, actually). The wildlife and environment has always left me amazed and dreaming. But, now, it's reality. I came to Melbourne, Victoria about 10 days ago, and Australia has not disappointed!

I plan to write about my blessings and burdens in my semester here, as a way of new found reflection, but as of now I have just been adjusting. I have met MANY internationals from literally EVERYwhere, with a few Aussies mixed in (its still Winter Break until tomorrow).

Simple Observations/ Experiences:

• Everything is $$$$$$. For real, everything. Except the (mouthwatering) sushi.
• Aussie slang is heaps fun, but strange at times! I'll start a post with words and such
• Melbourne is one of the most language/culturally diverse cities
• The city is also incredibly clean and architecturally beautiful
• BIRDS ARE CRAZY. They constantly scream/divebomb/steal food
• Vegemite is not bad! I couldn't eat anymore of it after a half piece of toast though
• Kangaroos are adorable. So are Echidna. Possums are just rascals.
• Markets become your favorite places, if they aren't already. 
• Phillip's Island is beautiful

Melbourne City Center

Phillip Island

Feb. 16, 2012

This week was my first week working at the vet!

It was really great, definitely excited to begin studying it in college :)
Pets come in needing various things from shots/ check ups to emergency surgeries and then they're on their way.

Tuesday, which also was wonderful Valentines day, I got to watch a cat get spayed and a dog get a tooth removed (which is bloody business).
I know, I have yet to hear any stories cuter than that from that special day..

and I'm surprised my heart is still functioning after today. 
I can't handle costumed people. At all. It's the worst experience ever.
and the train was full of them.

Feb. 12, 2012

since Superbowl, a lot has happened. and i have a busy week ahead :)
this week has been great.

well, Superbowl was spent at home. (fun fact: Superbowl is not a word if it isn't capitalized) I went to sleep after the patriots scored after the halftime show. Since I was cheering for the Pats, I went to sleep happy, and woke up disappointed.. I'm glad I went to bed when I did, which ended up being around 230am.

then bright and early Monday morning, I went to Kindergarten :)
which I went to all five days of the week this week. They all know me pretty well now, and I can hold conversations and play with them :D makes me happppy.

Monday night, I went over to four corners (http://fourcorners.de/) for a performance by Billy Yates and Buddy Jewell. Two great country singers, and both were fantastic performing. Bill brought me in the back room to meet all the musicians as well :) they were all incredibly nice, and such. Buddy's daughter is only a few months older than me, which was pretty cool since he reminded me of my dad in some ways. the whole night was fun, and a good time with my Opa and Gabi :)

Tuesday night, I was back at four corners again, for a girls night. my first and last time going to Bingo. it was soooo longggg and boringggg. but it was nice to go out and spend time with everyone.

Friday night, I don't think I did anything. or wait.. I think that was the day that we went to four corners.. again.. and then to the shooting place! No one was actually shooting, but everyone was there! Which is nice, because they're all around my age. And I actually talked to a guy my age, who is going snowboarding with us in a few weeks! Making more frannnnns!

Saturday. Oh boy.. Saturday was a big day. Sabrina and I dragged Michi shopping. haha. I bought a snowboard! ...and fell in love with another. but I bought the cheap one because once I'm back in the states, I wont be able to use it much.. so it works..
And after 7 hours of shopping, we changed into our costumes and painted our faces blue for a smurf party :) haha it was great! all the people I met at the club earlier was there, and more. so I actually got to hang out with them, all are fun people. Honestly, I couldn't tell you what time we got back..

Sunday, I went ice skating with Katharina and her family and boyfriend! The place was both indoor and outdoor, and I didn't bleed to death from the blades or somehow hitting my head on the ice. Win.

yayay doing things here. :)


Pictures from before the party! (My camera charger is currently in the mail, which is why there hasn't been any pictures...)

Feb. 4, 2012

Wow, I have so much to update. And I really need to talk to someone, and no one's online, so now is as good as a time as ever.

Last post I was in Hamburg. Well now I'm back in my home here in the south.
We came back on the Tuesday of that week, and the train we took home looked like the one in Harry Potter, :) #travelinginstyle

Then Wednesday, quite frankly, I don't remember what I did.. Thursday as well.
I'm pretty sure those were the days that every family member somehow related to my mom and I came throughout the two days to see my momma. I didn't understand much, so I just sat around.

Friday, my mom left early in the morning for the airport. I said goodbye, and slept again. I couldn't get myself to actually go without being a mess. All day Friday and Saturday, I kept to myself.

Saturday night, however, Sabrina and Michi took me to the local Disco (club). ITSCLASSY! haha honestly, I think it makes American clubs/dances look somewhat trashy.. http://www.disco-pm.de/p/
WELL anyway, the drinking age here is 16 for beer and wine, 18 for everything else. Being a 16+ club, drinks were everywhere.. that was something I wasn't used to.
Also, they play a lot of American music. The amount of it actually surprised me.
At one point we found some of their friends in a booth in one of the dance rooms and eventually it was completely filled with friends of friends of Sabrina and Michis. I met quite a few people that night (some who spoke a bit of English) and got my mind off of all the change.

Sunday, nothing really happened. I slept in, which is rare here.

Monday, I started working at the Kindergarten playing and helping out with the kids all ages 3 or 4, with one cute little 2 year old. I worked there every morning (except Wednesday) this past week. The kids and I began to understand each other and they are very patient with me :) Ahhh, they're all so sweet!

Tuesday, I met the vet in the next town over that I'll be working with as a vet assistant type position, which is an incredible opportunity. Many turned me down, because they only accept students in a University currently studying it. Not only was she willing to let me work with her.. but she also knows English from living in London for three years, and has a friend who works with many cows and horses that I could possibly also work with!
A lot of good things have been happening.

Wednesday, I slept in, so no Kindergarten for me. BUT my.. aunt(?) who I'm working with in the Kindergarten set me up to meet a girl who lives down the street that speaks English very well. Not only that, but she is only 2 months younger than me, has very similar interests, and she is so nice :) One of the upcoming weekends, I'd like to go to the IceDisco with her and her boyfriend, and brother. (Iceskating with music and lights and such). Finally, meeting people around my age..

and TODAY I went snowboarding in the Alps with Sabrina, Michi, Markus, and Jan! yesyesyes. Its BEAUTIFUL. I'll post a picture soon. (and -20˙c/about 0˙f) The board was more difficult to ride, but I rode in powder today! It was insanely hard to get used to,  but I loved it :)

plan for tomorrow: sleep in and hopefully go to the bar around midnight for the superbowl! oh, and enjoy the soreness thats to come.


allllll caught up! <3

Jan 22, 2012

I arrived in Hamburg yesterday after a 6 hour train ride and the ride was great. The trains here are so different than those in America. This particular one was extremely quiet and traveled at over at maximum of 300km/hr. I'm not sure how fast it is in terms of mph. Two cars over was the speisekarte, which basically was like a small restaurant where you could dine in or order to your seat. They served good food, unlike the airplanes...  -_-

Haha, but here's a picture from on the train

The seats were waaaay comfortable. 

Oh, did I mention, I had to wake up at 520am? Way. Too. Early.

So yes, it was pitch dark for the beginning of the ride. But there was snow everywhere! It had snowed a lot that night (which was the same night Chicago got a crazy amount of snow).

Klosterlichfeld is the name of the small city I'm staying in is down south, by the Alps. It also happens to snow a lot, so the snow that night did not come as a surprise. But Hamburg is up north by the sea where it's warmer. During the train ride, I saw the snow slowly turning into rain and the country becoming the city. With the city, comes graffiti. And there was a lot of it.. miles and miles. It was much more colorful that the graffiti I'm used to seeing in Chicago though.

We were greeted by Anja and Sebastian when we finally arrived. After traveling on an U-Bahn (underground subway), we walked a bit to their apartment. In Germany, everyone gets around by walking, bike, or train for the most part. 

This is the mall that sits on top of the U-Bahn

We then took the U-Bahn back into the city and walked around a bit before our dinner reservation. Of course, it was raining. We stopped at a bar for drinks and then continued to the shopping part of the city.

The lounge area of the bar

After a few stores, we decided to check out the Reeperbahn on St. Pauli. You might know the name, its something that Hamburg is known for...

If not, well, its their red-light district. Containing all forms of entertainment...

From grand theaters, to strip clubs. The street is lined with pubs and bars, theaters, strip clubs, diskos, and casinos. Needless to say, there were a lot of men on that street..

BUT that's where the Beatles got their start in the music business (;

The place we had dinner was a high-end restaurant owned by a famous German tv chef who my mom idolizes. And... he was there. Oh was my mom excited.

And our waiter was my two Shawn/Sean's in one body! 

The threeish/fourish hours spent there was a good time, and the food was incredible.

Anja and I in the restaurant 

My mom and Henssler

Today, we went back to the city and did the official tour of Hamburg and went to the miniature museum, were they did cityscapes of 6 or 7 countries all in miniature size. It was incredible to see, and there were sooo many people there. 

Some pictures of Hamburg at night:

Well, goodnight :)

Jan 18, 2012

We arrived at the house yesterday evening, after a long flight. Even worse was sitting in the London airport for six hours.. unable to afford the Tiffany and Co. and Prada stores.
-_- but the London airport is massive. So there was plenty to do, I just slept.

Landing in London

View out of the airport while waiting.

Money used in London.

But, this morning we got all settled with buying groceries and a new phone and such. Understanding/speaking German is getting a lot better, and it's only been a day.

and by the way, dinner last night and breakfast this morning was literally a plate pile with meat. Being a vegetarian in Germany is ridiculous. hahah. It's not terrible.
Tomorrow I'm visiting my Oma all day. I'm not sure what were doing, but I'm excited to see her. And Germany is just as beautiful as I remember.