Rebas' Adventure in Ozzieland

Hi ho, how's it? I was walking down the hall on Monday past the door of the head of the food science department, Vicky, and she called to me and ask me to come in. My professor, Hannah (who was on holiday this week) wants me to be the tutor for one of her classes. What does that mean exactly? what will I be doing? what will I get paid? No idea :) Every class has a lecture and a tutorial, at the tutorial the students work through example problems or do some sort of hands on stuff. Vicky said that on Wednesdays Hannah will lead the one tutorial and I will help, and then I will lead the others by myself, a total of three. She said she would handle the paper work and then I left her office. I am hoping to talk to Hannah soon because I start next week! I am really pleased I wanted a job, but new I could not give much time to it and this is perfect, one afternoon a week and I get to teach! the class is a functional foods and food development class, which I love so I think it will be really fun. I will let you know when I know more about it.____________After my fun filled day of shopping with friends I lost my fear of "the city" and yesterday braved the train all by myself to visit the Perth licensing centre (not center you know, centre) to get an Australian license. For two reasons really, one: in case I decide to buy a car I am all set, and two: to have a valid local ID. it gets rather tiring to have your passport on you at all times. I had a surprisingly nice time of it. I was in and out in 15 min! Now, according to my roommate, that is not normal, but I have to say, it was a much nicer experience than I have ever had at home. they centre was clean and did not make my skin crawl. the lady behind the desk was nice and help me get everything I needed with no fuss at all. this truly is the land of Oz.

Well, I finally made it into the city of Perth itself. They don't call it "down town" it is just known as "the city". I went with my friend Emmy and her friend (now my friend) Jess. In the pictures Emmy has glasses and Jess has the curly hair. We took the train into The City, where the train lets you off there is a shopping area that has cobble-like stones on several streets and no cars come through. Lots of shops and on the no-cars-street there were painters and street musicians (I love that sort of thing). We went into the town hall were I learned that the city of Perth was officially founded in 1829 when a tree was cut down to commemorate the event. on the shopping center is a small street called little London and in it you can buy English stuff, I went into a candy store and asked if they had sherbet lemons and they did! the clerk gave me one to taste, it was like a lemon drop with some yummy goo in the middle. by the way, hard candy, and candies in general are called lollies, chocolate is not a lolly, but everything else is. From Perth we took the train to go the harbor town of Fremantle that was founded around the same time as Perth. Fremantle (aka Freo) is a tourist-y place, fun shops and historical sites. we had fish and chips on the wharf and just walked around. It was such a fun day. I have been wanted to go into the city since I got here. I will defiantly be going back, so much more to see! PS I could not get my photos to be right way up, sorry about that. The last two pics are of a card I saw. It made me laugh so I though I would share it.

Yes, so I am all moved into my house. I live at number 13 (grimmauld place anyone?) and I have a blue gate (just gates in general). both of these things give the house a certain element and fill me with a small amount of delight. I have been here a week and I am liking it. the only thing so far is there are no buses to Uni on sundays. I found this out right before i needed to be at church! (which meets on campus) got a ride with a friend, but this means I will have to get a ride every week. Roommate is nice, no drama so far.

Well, I thought I would give you a quick update as I promised to write on this blog at least once a week. I have sent in a scholarship application that, if I get it, will pay for school and living expenses for next year and most likely the year after! I am really hoping I get this. The one thing I was worried about coming here was the amount of debt I had to go into. I hate being in debt, but I really believed that God was calling me here. So I am glad there is a chance to only have to take out loans for one year. I am moving this weekend, again :) and hopefully for the last time. I had dinner with my new roommate last night and had a look at the my room. On Sunday I will be moving in. The Rowbottom's neighbors have a bed they are giving me and maybe a dresser. On Saturday I get the fun of shopping for sheets and pillows and some inexpensive things to hang on the walls. You will be getting pictures of the house, room, and roommate soon. Melissa (roommate) seems nice, she is only 22, but has finished Uni and is a 3rd grade teacher. She is from the country and she likes to talks. She doesn't like movies or books (sigh), but she is a christian and I think we will get on together. The only thing is, she was just notified last week that the owner is selling the house, worst case, we will have to move in January. I feel that I can handle that, moving in 6 months doesn't bother me, and it is a nice trial period with a new roommate. Right now I can't wait to have my own space, I am really looking forward to having a room and a house I can call my own. well, must dash.

Hello all you darling people, today I presented my proposal for as master by research in a 12 min. PowerPoint presentation. It went really well. I was able to answer all the questions I was asked at the end and after the talk, a committee of the School of Public Health sat down with me and told me that they would be happy to approve my project! Hannah (advisor) said that in the Food Science area there have only been 4 proposals that got through the first time that she knows of in the last 5 years! And the committee members themselves told me that I should upgrade my project to a PhD! So I am definably going for the PhD now. I will get approved for the masters and then apply for the PhD in October. I have found a Scholarship to apply for that may pay for my tuition and maybe for my living expenses although changing degrees is making that a little complicated. (I will deal with that tomorrow). Everyone said I did a great job in presenting and that is was well put together. I have to thank Stuart for that, he has helped me allot with re-wording my paper so it sounded the way it should. I feel really good about it, I feel that I have lots of work to do yet, but I am not as afraid of it was I was. I really didn't think I was going to make this deadline and I am so happy that I did and that I did so well at it. Yay God! Pray that I get a scholarship for next year and that I continue to work hard and focus and God. I am moving into my house next week and it seems crazy to me that I am just starting my adventure in Australia, now I will be here for 3 years!

Hi Everyone who is reading this blog. Of course I don't know who is reading this blog because I never get any comments, hint hint :) Sunday was the 4th and several people tried to wish me a happy day with the proper salutation, but I could not think of what is was. Do we wish each other a happy Independence day? I went to lunch with my friend Emmy to a family at church. I believe I have mentioned them before, the husband has had a hard time with depression and dealing with that, plus having a special needs son, the wife is having a hard time all around. We at the church are tyring to get them into community and all that. Anyway, they invited me to lunch and because I had mentioned that on the 4th we usually have a big BBQ, Leoni (the wife) made potato salad, coleslaw, sausages and hamburgers for lunch. I thought that was really sweet of her and then the husband, Tim, played the star spangled banner on youtube. in the pictures, the woman in purple is Leoni, Emmy is the asian looking girl, the guy in red is Tim Leoni's husband, and the tall guy is another Tim ( engaged to Jane who was out of town, they are in the bible study with me) and the kid is Issac pronounced "eye-zack". I had a really good 4th and the week has gone well, but I will make that a new post so it is not too long.