First week of classes
Trip Start
Feb 15, 2004
1
8
34
Trip End
Dec 18, 2004
Randwick,
Australia
Saturday, March 6, 2004
Yesterday was a very productive day, and a beautiful one at that. Unlike today, which so far has consisted of sleeping late and sitting around my apartment. But today it's raining, so that's my excuse, which is unfortunate because the big Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade is today. Anyway, yesterday I started off by paying my rent for the first time (the man at the bank told me Australia's glad to have me here - I love this country!). Then I finagled my way into a class I really wanted to take. Then I went into the city and got both my work visa and my tax file number. I even had an impromptu interview for a job at a Kathmandu store (but the guy said they've done most of their hiring already, so I don't know how promising that is). Then I rounded out the day by walking down to Circular Quay and sitting in the sun drinking a flat white (coffee with steamed milk) at an outdoor cafe right on the harbour with a perfect view of both the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. I even made it home in time to watch Neighbours and Home & Away! I ended my day at the Coogee Bay Hotel, where I met up with Kristin and some of her Landscape Architecture classmates for a beer. A great day, in my opinion.
But oh right, I'm here to learn! My life has gotten slightly busier, now that classes have started. Week 1 is over and so far I've learned that postgrad linguistics classes are filled with females (and a few random older men) and Asians who don't speak English very well. Mostly Asian females. My very first class of the semester was cancelled, because the professor was sick. But I ended up dropping that class anyway, so no worries. On Tuesday I had Structure of English, which will be great for a grammar nerd like me. There are some annoying "mature-aged students" in the class, who like to monopolize the conversation because they think they know everything. The professor is really laid-back and easily gets distracted, going off on tangents. He talked about how the class 2 years ago used to go to the pub together after every class, but then last year they were boring. But he has a good feeling about the class this year, so looks like I'll be drinking with my professor! Only in Australia!
On Wednesday evenings I have Adult Language Learning and Teaching, which is going to be more work than I thought. Lots o' lesson planning! There's an optional teaching practicum, which is funny because I thought the whole point of the class was to get some practical teaching experience. The professor said that sometimes the language schools hire the students after the practicum, which would be nice. I'm the only American in my classes, except for this one. Unfortunately there's a weird old American guy, to whom I was introduced at the Arts Faculty Postgrad Welcome Party. I'm so glad I went to that thing because I got to meet all my professors, so they know who I am already. And that's how I was able to work my way into the Bilingualism class, which I have on Thursdays. The professor's from Ethiopia and did his postgrad work in Quebec. When I was sitting in that class waiting for it to begin, in walks this tall, dark, and handsome guy. Instantly I thought that he must be in the wrong room because there are no guys that look like that in any of my other linguistics classes! Then the prof had us go around and introduce ourselves, and I learned that this guy (Anthony) is actually an honours law student who's sitting in on the class. I knew he didn't quite belong! After class, he and I ended up in the elevator together and we had a dumb chat about a mislabeled elevator button. I couldn't think of anything else to say to him because I was all flustered since I wasn't used to having gorgeous guys in my classes! Oh well, homework for next week: I'll have to think of something more intelligent to say to him.
