"your american accents are so cool!"

Perhaps, since I am studying abroad, I might include a solid paragraph or two about my studies. I can only ramble about my newfound love for kangas, my eternal love of the ocean, or my fascination with things like flip-cup at orientation for so long.

In all honesty, although it’s more work than I had hoped for (read: wildly minimal), I am pretty into my classes. All teachers encourage us, in their ever-endearing accents, to call us by their first name. None of that “I didn’t go to school for 30 years for you to call me Andrew” nonsense. More like, “Please, call me Andy!” Points. Also, the ability to use profanity without consequence is not limited to Aussie ads or TV…it extends straight to the classroom. In my creative writing class the teacher talked about writing as a sexual metaphor…quite extensively and explicitly. No better way to get your point across.

My psychology of language teacher is this little, sprightly, British(ish?) dude (not unlike Sofer!) who happens to be a straight up genius. All of my teachers, actually, have cause to be arrogant monsters, but instead they’re chill as chill can be. In my marketing discussion, we had a go at speed dating, which was quite hilarious. I, lucky girl I am, had the chance to go on four “dates”…every single one was with a dude who, upon my asking what they did for fun, replied with a solemn, “computers” and nothing else. Beyond those four superstars though, the class is quite engaging and friendly.

Finally, I am head over heels for my “Health and Healing” class. I actually want it to be Thursday again just so I can be back in that room. Nothing defines it better than the following comment from a dude in my class (who was replying to the teacher’s “what do you expect from this class?”): “I hope this class stays this awesome. It feels like it’s one of those long, rambling, deep drunk conversations that you walk away from, thinking, WOW! And also, did that just HAPPEN? Please don’t take offense to that, I think it’s the best compliment I could give.” Teacher laughed and thanked him.

This time difference still baffles me mostly because, oh, I don’t know, I live in the FUTURE. What a bizarre thing to wrap your head around. If you’re ever curious about how the next fifteen hours of your life are gonna fly, email me and I’ll happily let you know. I have already lived them.

My new favorite day is Wednesday. There’s a place called the Beach Palace Hotel (it’s as ill as it sounds) that offers $2 steaks when you purchase a $4 beer, aka full meal and full drink for $6 aka wonderful. And when you take into account the 30% Australian “discount” due to how poorly (/awesomely for me) the Aussie buck is doing, that’s only $4.20! Such deals leave some leftover bills for more awesome things…like flights to New Zealand and fees for jumping out of planes.

In wave riding news, I have two surfing playdates! I think finding other pros (who have extra Kasey-sized boards) to surf with will be more efficient economically (buying a board ain’t cheap investment) and also will decrease my casualty odds (I don’t know these oceans, these rips, these sharks, etc… the pros do). One dude is a legit surf instructor, and I’m throwing him a few bills. One dude is a NZ native who wants no money, only a new face to ride waves with. Glorious.

KathyXcore would be proud of me: No sunburns. No diseases. I take a multi-vitamin and end up walking at least three miles daily. And I’m drinking an inhuman amount of water. These things serve as advanced apology note to my liver. Australians drink. I was ripping wifi from a bar on Sunday afternoon and by 4pm, the place was packed. Insane to the membrane. This country makes the Mods look like a place of peace.

In conclusion, if you all could start up some lemonade stands, start working street corners, sell your textbooks back early, what you do doesn’t matter, just make the bills and buy your plane tickets here. We have an extra bed, or, if preferred, I’m happy to share (dibs little spoon). But truly, I’m here until July. This offer is forever on the table and forever serious.

The end.

Love,

Kasey