"You belong in Bondi!"

Today has just been one of those really good days. Nothing too exciting has happened, but as I walked around through the campus I was just thinking about the fact that I’m in Australia, across the other side of the world, meeting new people and interacting with people from all different backgrounds and places in life. How cool is that?

This morning I woke up, and instead of going to the gym like I would normally do, I decided to catch up on my journaling. I sat out on my apartment balcony, just reflecting on my life here while the sun shined on me coming in and out of the clouds. Then at 9 am two of my best friends Emma and Emma and I talked on Skype for an hour and a half. The video finally worked, so I got to see their beautiful faces! I cannot even tell you how great it was to talk to them. To talk to two girls—besides Kate of course—who really know me was so refreshing. We have a past and previous life together, whereas here, I’ve only known people for about two months.

Then I went to my Media class at 11 am, and afterward my group for the campaign proposal we have due on Friday got together. The three girls in my group are all really nice, and we all have worked well together, doing our share of the work (sometimes hard to come by these days!). One of the girls Emma is Australian, and Sarah is an international student from Singapore who has lived in Australia for a couple of years. Kim is also from the US, in Connecticut. I ate my ‘sack’ lunch, and then walked back to my apartment to put some jeans on (the weather is so weird!). I stopped at Hoochie Mammas, the café and coffee place that Sydney University Village students get money to, and bought a flat white coffee. The Aussie guys there are SO awesome…probably in their late 30s. Two of my favorite guys were working as usual (one of them always says “Hi darling” (“daling” with the accent) to all of the girls that come in. We all love it! Or like today, he said to me, “Thanks love” when I picked up my coffee. Anyway, while I was paying with my U-card, this guy (I should know his name by now…) said to George the other guy, “She could pass as an Aussie, couldn’t she Georgie?” He smiled and shook his head yeah, and then I laughed and said, “Why, because I have blonde hair?” And he shook his head yeah again and said, “You belong at Bondi.” (Bondi Beach). Haha I just laughed and smiled, thinking ‘Yes! I look like an Aussie! Now I just need to work on my accent!” Needless to say, it made me feel good, and kept me smiling till my next lecture.

We watched a movie in my Australian Multicultures lecture today about a Chinese family who moved to Australia. The unit we’re studying now is about Australasia. It was really interesting and funny to see the drama they faced when they first arrived from Hong Kong. I have another group project in that unit as well, and so my group met afterward to discuss our presentation. I got blessed with another good group, and the two girls are also really fun to talk to and hardworking. It’s refreshing to know that school isn’t meant to be a big stressor here, which I find SO amazing since studying sometimes consumes me at Hope. “No worries” is the mindset here, so I am constantly keeping that in mind and living life to the full! Tonight I am going to the Hillsong college group, and then just chilling and studying a bit. Thanks for your support and prayers everyday—they don’t go unnoticed!

Love, Megs