First Impressions are Everything

Hey kids,

so I have safely arrived in Melbourne and am settled into my dorm room at Glenn College. School doesn't start up until March 1st but I had to register my arrival with the international office and whatnot. So right now, the international students are slowly arriving and moving in but apparently not to my floor. I have been hanging out with a small group of Americans in these first few days which can be pretty taxing. Some of them are hard to handle but I'm trying to not let that show. I feel like I can relate a lot easier to the Australians than the Americans. The Res Fellows and student mentors are all here for their training before school starts up so it has been good having them around. We went out with them on my first night here for some drinks at a local pub and they were all really welcoming. I wasn't suffering as badly as I thought following my ridiculously long trip so I lasted longer than the Americans at the pub and got some props from the locals for doing so. Just doing my part to rep Canada as much as I can!

Since the drinking age is 21 in the States I think the novelty and appeal of getting absolutely plastered in a new country hasn't completely worn off for my American counterparts. Since I have been going to bars for two years already, my highest priority isn't to get mangled as fast as I can but to enjoy a jug of Bogues and chat with the locals. The Australians are like me in that sense since the drinking age is 18 here. I think that's the way it should be.

Last night we took the tram into the city centre which takes about an hour. We wandered about for a while figuring out where we wanted to eat. We settled on a Japanese place. I wasn't a huge fan but by that point I was so tired of flip flopping back and forth trying to accommodate everyone that I would have eaten anywhere. After that, some of the group wanted to go bar hopping. I wasn't in the mood as it was 7:30 pm and there was still so much of the city that I wanted to see. It took me having to stand up to the group and say that I wouldn't be coming with them. I was joined by Jenna, a really nice girl from San Diego who wasn't interested in bar hopping either at that point in the night (probably has something to do with the fact she is 21)

So from there, Jenna and I wandered around and came across some gorgeous parts of the city just as the sun was coming down. The Yarra canal was really nice and everyone was out and about enjoying the lovely weather. We picked up some gelato and just strolled around taking pictures. Something that you don't see too much in North America is people just sitting and taking in the scenery but there were small groups all over the place just chillen' out, maxin', relaxin' all cool, shootin' some b-ball outside of the school. It was refreshing to see.

I've been checking out a lot of the concerts that are coming up in Melbourne and there seems to be a really good scene. Franz Ferdinand, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Massive Attack, and OkGo are all playing within the next two months. Edward Sharpe is already sold out but I will not lie down until I get my hands on a ticket. Watch this space.

Well that's about it for now. More updates to come as things start to pick up but just know that I am here safe, and lovin' it.
Stay Golden

Dom