So good news...I made it!

Sunny BrisVegas opened its arms to me Tuesday morning at about 8am Australian time. My journey to Brisbane took around a full day and Monday, the 12th, was sucked into a time lapse while I was on board the Qantas 747. Some highlights of the trip were catching up with Jamie in LAX (and her bringing me pastries that saved me from the terrible airplane food), finally seeing the familiar faces of fellow Dickinsonians in LAX, and having a nice conversation with my neighbors who were returning to Australia and happened to know someone currently living in Cromwell!

After breathing in a sigh of relief to have made it past the customs drug hound and collected both pieces of my treasured luggage, I went through the gates that lead to Australia. We all finally got to meet the famous Ann Wadsworth who is both awesome and taller than I expected. She already knew most of our names and we had a chance to chat about past Jivers who had been to Australia previously.

Then we went on a little adventure to pick up our phones and shop for things we needed. My new phone makes me feel like I am in the stone age; there is not even an option to turn the volume up and down. I had the bright idea of calling my mom right when I got it, you know...because moms really want you to call them..and then quickly realized it was about 1am at home. Not an ideal hour to call. This time difference is going to be mighty interesting. If you ever wonder what time it is here, add two hours and then switch it am/pm. (I think.)

Cromwell is awesome. We have a sweet little crew of four representin' Dickinson here, plus we got our Hogwarts gowns. (Pictures will be taken) I am living on the top floor of Hancock, also known as Top Cock. Megan is my neighbor and the dudes have the same set up as us one floor below. Food is decent, nothing like chicken ranch wraps or pasta bar, but it'll do. We had dinner with the Principal, Ross, tonight and got the low down about rules and Cromwell's history.

I had the internet working just fine and then somehow I screwed it up right when I went to post this. For now the Dickinson Cromwellites will constitute most of the college's population because it is still break for the other UQ students. And tonight we are going to get a drink as a group at a bar nearby. That is, if we can make it there without falling asleep from jet lag or getting lost in the dark.

P.S. Brisbane is amazing as well as pictured below.