Week 1 of....

G'day mate! While that sounds overly flamboyant and Steve Irwin'esc, it is the land of the kangaroos (but only in the outback...and the zoos), $40 30-pack of Victorian bitter, and without a doubt crazy aussies and the Jews that love them. This has honestly been an amazing week and the thought of being here for 24 more has made me very excited. For those of you who miss me, I definitely miss everyone back home. For those of you who hadn't realized I left yet, heres a little news flash.

I will be posting photos very shortly, but there are over 400 to sort through, and I dont feel like making 39 albums by the time this semester is over, so I thought I'd do one for each few weeks and they will be coming up within the next few days. But for the mean time, let me please share with you a few of my escapades.

Currently it is 10:45pm on Friday, and I just awoke from an amazing nap and break from a temtping game of goon (boxed wine) pong. Beer here is on par with a handle of Graygoose, you buy it because you want it, and it costs you what a 50 yr old man seducing 18 yr olds in a club would pay. Basically all you can drink on a students salary is goon, or in my case stock up at duty free and hope that my parents bring me over 4 handles of rubble for my birthday... btw mom and dad if you are reading, that is in no way a subtle hint, send vodka, not money... or natty light.

I have mostly been hanging out with 5+ kids here. Its a great group, nothing compared to CP, but they sure have supplied me with enough good times to make my time here more than enjoyable. We have a met a bunch of Aussies, killed dozens of pitchers or 'jugs' at the pubs, seen asians after asians along the streets, made an ass of myself one too many times, and violated at least 20 cultural laws.

This one aussie we met just studied at U of Texas and could not get over his love with Keystone light....it is after all the pride and joy of Texas, just above the strip clubs and cowboys. We met a bunch of kids at orientation who have quickly realized that I will do a lot for some positive attention, include shove 17 full sized marshmallows in my mouth, before spitting them all up in front of a room of 207 foreign students, and one of the hottest orientation advisor's south of equator. We took a 7 mile tour of the city, explored the cultural and scenic district, took endless self timer photos, checked out the Australian Rules Football... or Footy, and Cricket arena (MCG), checked out a few pubs and a larger than life cone sized mall, watched some random American TV whenever it happens to be on, sat in on orientation for 2 days, signed up for classes, hit up Target and "Big W" aka Wal-Mart, saw the amazingly beautiful city from afar, checked out the site of the 1956 Olympics, witnessed hundreds of thousands of pilgrams (pope seekers) flock out of the city and up to Sydney (which btw is a 12 hr drive.... I thought it was like from rockville to CP... but apparently not), and overall blew by 7 days.

It seems very hard to believe that I am 1/2 way across the world right now, but it doesn't feel that incredibly different. I am having a great time, meeting new friends, and trying to live it up. Juts try not to forget about all of my antics while I am gone, and check out my pictures! They should be going up this weekend.

Thanks for taking the time to read all of this. As most of you know, as out there and self-proclaimed humorous as I am, my friends are most important to me and making sure you all stay close to me is more important than finding nemo, hunting kangaroo jack, or punching Russel Crowe in the face. Have a great weekend everyone and dont forget to skype my ass! Mitchell.Levine1

Cheers