Big Move

lauraka is making a move – so ignore that last post.. :)

This move will allow you to see photos, videos, and of course my blog posts.

Find me now HERE!

Australia FAQs

Since my arrival in Shawnee – I’ve been asked numerous times about my traveling to Australia. So, I figured that this would be the perfect opportunity to answer your questions! If I haven’t addressed it – feel free to comment with more questions and I’ll add them later.

When are you leaving?

June 21st, 2009. I’ll arrive in Melbourne on the 23rd. It’s a stinking long flight.

Where are you going?

I’ll be attending Deakin University in Geelong, Victoria

What are you studying?

Journalism! I’ll have the opportunities to take classes that compare different types of journalism from the Australian perspective. One class will allow me to study the United Kingdom’s journalism, Australian journalism, United States’ journalism, as well as those that differ vastly – like in China or India. I’ll also get a lot of my general education credits out of the way. I’ll take a child psychology class, Australian history class, as well as a few art and philosophy classes.

How long will you be gone?

I’m going to spend my whole sophomore year there. So because of the difference in Australia’s and the United States’ academic years, I’ll come back around June or July 2010.

Will you come back to visit during the year?

No. It’d be very unlikely because of the long flight, and the expense of the flight.

Why are you going?

I’ve been interested in Australia for a while, and with my adverse reaction to Spanish these last two semesters – I didn’t want to go to a country where I would have to know a completely different language – not yet at least. But, I still wanted to study abroad. I’ve always been interested in other cultures, and haven’t really pictured living in the states. I want to work with something along the lines of international journalism – ideally a magazine. Maybe even National Geographic! But I figured this would be a good taste of what that life might be like.

victorian inferno.

Obviously the news is of interest to me because of my journalism major.. and obviously when i see the word “australia” in the news I zero in real quick.

This is just to ask you to pray for the people of Victoria that are being plagued by these massive forest fires. Their stories are so disturbing and heart wrenching. The numbers rise every time I check CNN.com, and with each number is a person who had a family and people who loved them.

Side note: The previously mentioned Australian boy is safe and doesn’t look like anything bad fire wise will be heading his way.

20 signs that you are dating a guy who lives in Australia

1. You are constantly doing mental math.

2. You’ve got 5 + numbers 1-12 down.

3. Koalas remind you of him.

4. Along with the saying “G’day” ‘Mate” and anything involving the word “Australia”

5. You are sleep deprived because his workday ends at your midnight.

6. Shows like the City make you miss his accent.

7. You’ve been known to let a variation of “sweet as” slip out.

8. Along with “WTF Mate?!”

9. You’re tired of hearing how warm it is in January and February.

10. You looked at vegemite at the store to give it another shot so you can impress him.

11. Same applies for a meat pie recipe

12. But you’re not about to do Milo again.

13. The only kisses you’re getting are blown across the world by Skype.

14. You are always on Skype..

15. or MSN..

16. or Facebook…

17. or all three at the same time.

18. Your favorite time of the day ranges from 4 pmish til 1 amish. depending on work schedules.

19. You now commonly use the term “I’ll ring ya later”

20. You came up with the idea to write this post. Oh wait. That’s me.

i’m going over the rainbow.

What do you think of when you think “Australia”?

Kangaroos, Koalas, Duckbilled Platypuses maybe. Or maybe the Sydney Opera House, or Uluru aka Ayers Rock.

I think something new as of this morning. I am going to be a study abroad student of Deakin University in Geelong, Victoria as in Australia. The Land of Oz as they refer to it. And I am so stoked, and terrified, and cannot wait all in one bag. I’d be studying for a semester to a year.. and I’d be in Australia!!! (I know I mentioned that before. It’s just fun to say).

So here’s to the little Kansas girl who’s jumping over the rainbow and into the land of Oz (AUS-tralia. I swear they call it this. I’m not making it up.)

so if you may. send up a few prayers to the big guy about this. money. being away from everyone I know for up to a whole year can be scary. but I know in my gut, it’s where I’m supposed to be.