Entry ?

{The two photos Gaz sent me a little bit back.  Did he get even skinnier?  He's such a showoff that boy. He's not as shy as he comes off.}

UNI RESIDENTS & LITTLE PLEASURES  I skipped Entreprenuership by semi-accident after sleeping in through class since my body desperately needed rest. But meanwhile May sent a sweet message about how she missed me in class, and then a reply about how she hopes I feel better.  I don't know, friends like her are difficult for me to get, and so it's shame to have to leave it.  Yes, I'll have it long distance, but that's such a shame all together.

I went looking for Arthur and meanwhile missed Stephen's phonecall.  Before looking for Art, I had accidentally gone to the finance tutorial too early, by an hour, and I ran into Ying's friend Amy who wouldn't stop talking to me.  She's so friendly.  And I think it's because she feels the same way about Ying I do!  She says she'll only do what she wants to do, she's angry, and she won't listen.  Thank God most people see that.  

CHANGE  So when I got to the tutorial, Stephen and Art showed up but not Mike.  Turns out they wanted to invite me to lunch, but that was okay in the end that I didn't get the chance to go.  After talking to Zala and Alex, both stupid dumbasses (they only use you, and don't care about me), about the quiz, I moved to sit by Stephen.  I just got this urge and did it in the middle of class, not caring.  That's not like me at all.

GREAT PLEASURES  After class the three of us went to an empty classroom where I was being weird and flying paper airplanes.  Stephen said I've changed and I'm so much more carefree now that I've let go of my past in NSW and I have to agree.  I do have a non-neurotic, do what I want, just do it, whatever attitude now.  It feels great.  I was laughing so hard flying those airplanes.  And Stephen said, as I tidied and organized the room, that once again I'm going to Zurich to work for him one day.  He said that the three of us have to exchange personal information and keep in touch.  I love long-term friends, no matter the age.   When a professor came and I was giggling because we were being naughty flying paper airplanes (see I don't care), Stephen kept hugging me and kissing my head.  He adores me I think.  He's like an Aussie father.

Art and I ran into Vishen who waved like a queen (like I did as a joke) and came over to talk to us.  Shivang came as well, but he's such a user.  He's only nice to network and does not care about people (like Zala and Alex above).

At dinner the nice New Zealander girl knew I wanted take-away for the first time ever and when I went to get my dessert, a girl shorter than me was beside me!

Entry ?.

Tuesday means Entrepreneurship and then my tutorial for International Finance. Entrepreneurship was nothing significant, but international finance definitely was. Mike and I have known each other for over a year, but we've never been this close until this semester and he's never joked with me in this way before. And let's just say it was two hours of him flirting with me and me just blushing. It was all in fun, but then I started taking it seriously, and therefore I had to bring myself back down again to reality.

It started with him walking in ten minutes after the start and saying pretty loudly, "Hey, Jen!" Then he worked with the photos below, going back and forth. He non-stopped talked to me. Was very giddy, and even made me giggle when he schootched his chair towards mine until they were touching just to be closer to me. He kept leaning into to talk, shared with me some of this gum, his hands shook, and he kept giving a flirting and nervous smile.

I wish it could be serious, but I think he was just in a happy, flirty mood unfortunately.

After the tutorial he calmed down and we had a serious talk about our group project. We instinctively went one direction towards the bungies and market square, with Arthur running to catch up (such a five year old, and he's like 32!). Mike asked why I'm with Stephen yet again when he's constantly doing bad things to our group work and I made a funny: "Because I like being fucked?" as in "fucked over." I felt witty for once.

Entry TWO-HUNDRED-THIRTY-THREE

It's that time to move my laptop and study.
Revision here I come.

YING will I ever, ever understand here? She stormed to the back row with me, three seats down after her computer didn't work. No hello, nothing, but I could see her repeatedly looking over and I refused to acknowledge that I noticed. She had no feeling when she finally asked me for help, so I gave none back. Don't expect happiness when you give me none.

UNI RES At the end I went over to ask Stephen for help when he grabbed me for a hug and placed the side of his forehead against mine, making me feel loved. Happy.

Meanwhile Ying stood near huffing. I didn't pay her any attention. She huffed more. I still ignored her. Finally she huffed off. Why should I pay her attention when she sees I'm busy talk to Stephen? She ignores me when talking to others, so why should I do what she won't do for me?

While out on a walk I found a big, white, fluffy cat and then I ran into Jillian's friend. She's nice and we had the longest chat yet. I'm practising networking.

Entry TWO-HUNDRED-THIRTY

{My hair was actually decent today, good curls, and I felt inspired to take some photos. Although I'm not happy with my nose, let's not concentrate on that. Let's see the good.}

{Then I had to take a photo of even more flowers I picked}

"....so that class, Miss Brit's class...the one with the terrible group I have....got interesting. I know you are probably sick of hearing about this, but I've never come into such horrible groups in my life until I attended Bond. I guess when you take international students with different work ethics and work ways and then add in the fact that most aren't here to study (just to hang out in Aus for a bit), group work won't work. So Ines, the French girl, did it again to us and I have facebook to thank for it. She added me for some reason and thankfully it helped in my favour because she posted she was going to this Bond sponsored presentation at 4pm, which is one hour after our meeting time. Instead of telling us that, she texted me with, "Hey jen, I can't go to the mtg. I should have my part done by Tues. I have my pres tomorrow to worry about" (as if having a presentation stops her from meeting us for a whole hour). I texted back asking her to send what she's done, since the meeting solely relies on her work. She never texted back.

Unfortunately, there's more. Ten minutes before we were due to meet Shivang cancelled as well and never got back to me like he promised (he must've sensed how pissed I was in my tone over the phone). All because he wanted to watch the billionaire Sir Richard Branson of the Virgin group came to Bond to give a whole 30 minutes of a presentation (I wonder how much that cost us students for Bond to do that?). Reasonable I thought, until he never came to the meeting after Branson's presentation. And this is the last meeting I wanted since we have to present this coming Monday.

You can imagine I'm livid. Ying actually had to calm me down (not that I went ballistic).

Maybe I'm being irrational? Maybe I have to accept that most people aren't going to do their share of the work?"

Ying said to be calm about it, that we're doing a peer evaluation. So let's hope.



Uni Residents

• Ying was acting like a good friend again, but will I have it? Not sure yet. We just don't mix well.
• I ran into Jillian's friend who was nice and talkative. Considering no need since she barely knows me.

Entry TWO-HUNDRED-TWENTY-NINE

UNI RESIDENTS how is it that I can get really close to him in such a short period of time, but with others it takes so long? I was in the IT labs and Shivang walked in after spotting me during his walk. He sat down and we talked for a good while from class to PR to this book he's writing. It was just naturally flowing with both of us helping. So why can't I do that with everyone? And it was enjoyable, pleasurable, like as if I really do have friends on this campus. Now I don't see him as a friend, but a aquaintance, just to make that clear.

On the way back I ran into Jillian who was all smiles and talk with me again. And yesterday I ran into her on the way back from the Bra, her with her two friends, and she was the same cheery girl. That added to the blond surfer Bra worker knowing what I wanted and being nice.

HOLIDAYS I participated in Earth Day, and Bond made a half-assed attempt inself (okay,so you run alllll the fluro lights and yet turn off six main ones for the arch?). It was so awkward walking around campus with the arch spotlights off and it made me realize how important and yet wasteful they are. So Earth Day conserved energy, but also got me out walking in fresh air.

Entry TWO-HUNDRED-TWENTY-ONE

What discipline I have for writing in this thing every day. And just think, I didn't even record my fun days at CSU. I barely touched on them.

DISCOVERED how to beat Americans at their own game. They come to the Brasserie in droves and don't wait in a queue while it's opening up, so I go on the other side where only very few people wait and then beeline it to the register. Otherwise all thirty Americans take forever and cut in front. It feels good to be crafty without doing it in a mean way. And for the first time in three semesters, I was the very first customer.

Megan walked by and said, "Fish and Chips on a Friday! What a great meal!" I wish I could be as outgoing and carefree as her.

CHANGE for a change I took my laptop outside to stare at the stars, listen to the crickets, and breath fresh air. What a difference it makes. Watching the moon slowly creep across the sky and the southern cross before I can't see it any longer.

Entry TWO-HUNDRED-FIFTEEN

DISCOVERED  I stayed up the entire night, which was refreshing to walk to the IT labs at night and exit with the sun rising. If I make myself stay up the night, I feel like I'm being productive since I'm "up early." I worked on my stats project, discovering that I work best by example and the reason why stats was easy to knock out three weeks early is because I had May's work to review first.

But then I fell asleep because I didn't have caffeine the entire night, only to wake mid-afternoon to walk over to the library (resolution!) and enjoy it while cruising along with music. Just feeling the sun on my skin while it lasts. 

CULTURE  That's where I went looking for Arthur and found him, staying for a few hours to semi-help him and to just read the news myself.  His American friend, this black French-American chick, was being pushy and taking May's finished paper.  I told Arthur, don't tell people we have it or else we'll be caught for "copying" when we aren't.  Arthur's just too nice though.

Even though she was snotty to me and pushy, even though I was trying to help her, she placed her hand on my shoulder and said she'd see me later.  Some Americans are so full of themselves.

I then went and picked some pretty flowers.  I did this at Hargraves, now I'm doing it here

It makes you feel better just looking at the prettiness.

Entry TWO-HUNDRED-TEN

I've discovered that I really work when I'm under time constraint. Like today, I actually went through outlining our consumer behaviour paper because it was two hours before class and I needed something to do. Mostly why? I was listening to the soundtrack of Juno and Skins and then Lupe Fiasco's newest album. Music makes it all better.

To top it off, I re-feel in love with David Sedaris after finding videos of him online.

UNI CLASSWORK I failed my 10percent midterm for customer analysis like I knew I would so now I'm missing like 6 percent from my total. But it's only 10percent, right? I've been in worse situations, right? I didn't freak, then I did in private, and then I was fine again.

YING Zala came up to talk while Ying came as well, and Zala kept talking to us both (me at first) and it was fine. But thankfully the boys (Arthur and Stephen) came and the doors to the classroom opened so I could get away from Ying.

I have to get it to the girl: she has guts. I sat down and was nice but cold, and she started tearing up and she said something about her weight. So I was blunt and told her that I was worried since she talks about it a lot and that I just want her to be okay. See, I can show emotions. And that's been she started getting happier. She even asked to have dinner next week.

My Best friend emailed me the day after I emailed him, which for some reason is something has hasn't done in a while (that I can remember at least). So while I wasn't expecting one, I was hoping for one, and it made me feel so much better in regards to failing my one midterm.

• There was an email from Sam there today, not much, but hey it's an email. The problem is I never have anything to say...all the people I know are doing something with their live, unlike me. It's kind of hard to make what I'm doing sound interesting, and not boring instead. Finally, more Sam talk to make me feel included. And I'm pretty happy that he's relieved. Because I'm happy when he is.
  

• I guess that's what I mean by the whole themepark thing in Australia. You may as well see Australia (tasmania, north west Australia, northern territory etc...although your parents sound like that'd just make them bored). I've decided Australia are crap when it comes to running decent theme parks. Does he think my parents are coming here?
  

• And Owen's coming along on the weekend with the whole posse, so I'll wait and see how that turns out. Finally calls him by his name.
  

• So I'll let you know how tomorrow goes, fingers crossed...should be a problem...and I have to remember to get my eye appoinment booked, I noticed just how bad my eyes are getting! Yay, he'll let me know ;p
  

• Messing around with camera settings. The water bottle was with "vivid" and the others were with "dawn/dusk." I'm trying to either achieve an over saturated look or a muted look.

Entry TWO-HUNDRED-NINE

WEEKLY RESOLUTIONS Over at doc-u-menting Mae Jane has noticed the idea of a fellow blogger to create easier, more obtainable goals by looking at them in a weekly sense. Just like with listography, it should make it more easier and a lot more fun for me to do this. But what will be my resolution this week? I think this week I will take a short walk every day just to force myself outside of my room. And this is why:

LITTLE PLEASURES I was tired of being stuck inside, with no sunlight or fresh air, so today I went for a twenty minute walk around campus while listening to Lupe Fiasco. Not only did it feel refreshing to get out, exercise, and be renewed, but I also find that listening to music while driving or walking is the best entertainment.


Watching Lars and the Real Girl is making me laugh.

Seeing a smirk on Mike's face made me smile.

Knowing the Bra well enough has made me content.

DEEP SADNESS but it also makes me sad to know that I won't meet anyone. No one to wake up to. No more sex. Nothing romantic. I guess Gaz is a substitute for some of that? But I guess if things get too lonely and travelling runs out, I can always have a baby via artificial fertilization.


I want my photos to look like these.
I want to be able to take photos like these.
I LOVE the show Skins and wish my life could be just as fun.

Entry TWO-HUNDRED-THREE

{Finally added some photos}

I stayed up the entire night because I couldn't sleep because of Gaz. But of course, I woke up and found his email, so then I couldn't sleep still because by then it was 3am. Even though this technically happened last night, I'll mentioned it here:
I was expecting him to get defensive, but actually he seemed pretty broken down. In fact I ignored reading his email until this morning out of fear. But the best part of the email? "Hey, I know you don't "love me" love me, and don't worry I feel the same way back."

Stats eventually came, real fast too, and there I was with Zala standing next to me and having no problem socializing while I was wishing she'd shut up. And as she was speaking, Ying arrived and stood at the side, thankfully. Doors opened, we went in, and I went to my newly updated iTouch to have Ying want to "ask me a question." She fucked up her referencing and got in trouble with it, but she never took my advice to learn endnote, so why bother asking me now? I was cold and stayed relatively cold, and managed to work Stephen in so I didn't have to bother much.

After she left and class started, no Ash or Mike showed, meaning it was pretty quiet throughout. And although I listened, I was dead-tired because I hadn't slept, and I almost fell asleep twice. Ines kept making faces and vice versa because he was dragging on and we were bored. We're pretty decent friends- not close, but have fun.

That's why I pre-decided not to go to Customer Analysis. I have not missed a class yet, and being week 8, I had to miss at least one. And so it felt good skipping. On the way out, walking with Arthur and Stephen, I felt like I belonged with them as if it's just that easy with everyone. Until I ran into Shivang who pulled the Indian bullshit-in-your-face-for-no-reason stunt with me when I told him I can't go to class. "I didn't sleep either? Why not? Why?" I kept it relatively cool, but I don't like that Indian trait. I just need to learn to keep it more calm though.

Talking with Stephen he said that his wife's upset that I was charged $900 in fees with my plane tickets. See? I'm important enough to be talked about otherwise. It made me feel like they all care.

Entry HUNDRED-FIVE

According to the news this morning: "Mr Rudd used his victory speech to underline his determination to continue the relationship, despite his policy of a staged withdrawal of Australian combat troops from Iraq, in consultation with the US.

He singled out the US for the first special mention, ahead of countries in Asia and Europe, as the nation with which Australia had a special relationship."

Yay!

And from the NY Times: "Mr. Fullilove said Mr. Rudd’s experience regarding China was unlikely to make a significant difference to Australia’s relationship with the United States. “I would counsel against people assuming that because Kevin Rudd speaks Mandarin there would be a big rebalancing of the relationship in favor of Beijing,” he said."

Double Yay!

I woke up late, feeling free, after almost finishing my WTO presentation last night. No Gaz today, making me wonder if he took my political talk the wrong way? I'm tired of the droves of Japanese tourists, older tourists, snapping photos of our campus like it's some palace. I hide from pretty girls, skinny, with lots of makeup and skimpy clothing like I'm completely inferior.

CHANGE My perception is changing. I'm thinking more about the world we live in.
Walking on campus I noticed ants scrambling away and I wondered why they didn't go near the building where no one walks. Then I remembered that they are tiny and can't see far enough to tell if it would be safer and how easy it is for me to see that. And that, I too, am like an ant in a way. Like the night I wondered the area looking for a store, thinking I would know if one is near by, but the world was too big to tell. And there was a store right under my nose, but I couldn't tell with my small perception.

I'm also thinking more like a business woman, although I don't remember the most recent example. I'm also thinking like a team member/business student. I walked past the newly set-up tables thinking, "Now that will promote team work." What about my perception of a student? Have I changed and I can't tell yet as I'm in the middle of it? I feel like I'm working harder and putting more thoughtful effort in, producing better material, but am I?

YING I got fed up with Elaine today; I'm not being obnoxious, I'm just being western. But she takes everything as me insulting her when that's not true. And I don't find her "I don't know anything about Australia, nor do I want to learn" cute either. I wasn't mean, but instead of giggling and being happy, I started to walk away and said I would see her tomorrow at the end of our walk. If she can force me into things I don't want to do by repeating it over and over, I can act western and stand up for myself for once.

UNI RESIDENTS Matt made me feel "cool" again, like back in Bathurst. He drove past as I was walking with Ying and he honked three times and waved. (!)

Entry NINETY-NINE

By a stroke of fortune I tried emailing Gaz after not hearing from him (but the email wouldn't go through) and he texted me ten minutes later.

Text one: (half was lost, but the gist was that he was telling me he was in Greta, that he thinks the beanie I knitted for him is 'fantastic' and how bored he is); around 12pm

"Well don't worry to much, it'll be over before you know it. It's okay, apple's no really my thing. I'll just get some ginger beer, and fruit later."; 2:48pm

"Goodluck, why's that?"; 4:24pm

"Well, not for a little while by the look of it now...if doing things over your break is going to keep getting blocked."; 4:50pm

"Hey, you can pester me...just not so accusingly. Hm, I'll see if mum can get that computer tomorrow (sorry about the time delay, got frustrated and decided to recharge the phone)."; 7:18

"Not at all, it's not like I see you much anyway, just a week or two every once in a blue moon. I've only seen you a few times this year, and it's almost over." (about me being afraid he'll get sick of seeing me); 8:00pm

"Sandcastle definitely (I think I've forgotten how). I'm going to look for a place in a. cooks, b. derby st, c. hamilton, fingers crossed. Eh, I'm happy seeing you when the chance comes, there's no set quota. Apparently there's a Japanese restaurant in Newcastle, and getting a hamburger should be easy."; 8:57pm

"I think there are just those little shops you see in certain areas (not quite like Haymarket). Yeah me to, there should be plenty of good food there, don't worry about that."; 8:30

"Yep, it's just not that big really. You still have to get from one place to the other, that seems to be a reaccurring theme though."; 9pm

"Hmm, only a month and a bit. Hopefully my place in newcastle will be set out by then (or the first few baby steps anyway)."; 9:30pm

"It'll be find once it's organised, I'll do share again, it's the only thing I could ever afford, but it's better that way anyway. Whoa, almost fell asleep, think it's bedtime. So goodnight, hope you get some sleep at least, even if it's not enough. Remember, worry about stuff later. Whoa..."; 9:55pm


There were more, but they somehow kept getting deleted on their own. There was one about wanting to send me a photo of his tattoo, but how he'd rather show me in person, and that's what started with us figuring out he doesn't know I was coming to Newcastle. Good thing, because now I know he knows. Another missing important one is about how I can tay at his lace and if he doesn't have it by then, then his mum's place! I received at least 12, a couple an hour. We texted from 12pm until 10 pm. The conversation kept going, something we haven't done by text yet, and I loved it. Sent and received: 16 messages each! So I'm missing 5 from above...:(




Ying left class without me, starting a chain reaction of bitchy randoms, but I took it in stride. I just won't acknowledge her on Thursday. And no, Ying, I won't go to lunch with you. Ah, but wait. I have class with her next semester, so I need her. I'll just do it discretely.

Audrey was cute. My door opened as she closed the main door and we had a giggly chat about it.

Entry NINETY-SEVEN

I woke up two hours later than desired, but it allowed me to run into Arthur who was eager to talk in the library. I have a rosy outlook now that Gaz and I are good. And it's always the little pleasures of running into campus friends. Just like I did with Ivette while waiting in line for dessert with Elaine. Elaine called to invite me to lunch and it was quiet pleasant, although conversation was a bit laxed. She didn't ask if everything was okay with Gareth, but we did talk about Brissy tomorrow.

some artistic creations with jacksonpollock.com

Entry NINETY-TWO

Nothing spectacular today other than while I was coming out of marketing I decided to go see Neva about the paper so I could start it, but she was taking too long. Waiting there on the blue chair, waiting outside for the German guy to talk to her, and her speech was so slow. I decided to come back when I ran into a smiling Alex, the first time since last semester. He still remembers my name. About halfway home I decided to go back, but she was still talking, so I finally left for good when I ran into Ashnita. Smiling, in a rush, but still wanted to talk about regional.

No Gaz today, but I'm assuming in lieu of tomorrow since I sent a really long email. I know, excuses, excuses. And even though I was excited for it, I wasn't upset when I didn't receive it. It's a big step from earlier this year.

I was off schedule where instead of going to lunch at 12pm exactly, like I've done all semester and half of last, I went to Market Square to see that fountain. It felt good to be organized and yet deviate from it. It felt free. Unplanned. Change.

I had two odd dreams:
dream 1: I dreamt of walking through my grandparents house, the Ussai's. I haven't done that since I was eight, nine? I remembered the majority of the first floor, but not the second. I remember how scared I was of the stairs in the basement and that hidden bedroom as well.

dream 2: "three levels of building, raining, no marathon or bike, guys never spoke to from last semester, mean facebook winks, hide in third floor with roomes between floors and door must blimb out of, quiet third eatery and even fourth." Okay, I don't remember the first bit other than I was being scared off into this imagined building on campus that had four floors. I was hiding on the second floor, ran into a bathroom, and then went out the door but found I had to climb up since it was halfway between two floors. The ceiling was low. The third floor I found didn't have as busy as an eatery, and the fourth floor, which I never knew of, was quiet and like a nightclub with fancy dressed people eating at a bar.

Entry NINETY

UNI RESIDENTS I was up at 5am when the sky was turning from dark blue to spots of orange and birds were calling in 360 around my bungalow. I woke up at 12pm with Elaine standing outside my window screaming, "Jennifer! Jen! Jennifer!" instead of knocking.

Last week we found a park, so today I went there to study, but I only lasted a few minutes with the wind. I tried holding down the pages of my marketing book, but it didn't work very well, so instead I wandered around campus the long way before going back to my bungalow.

DISCOVERED This will sound rather odd, but I felt like I was in Bathurst. Back then when I got bored or no one was around, I would just wander around the city. I remember that's how I finally discovered that they had wineries and hidden grocery stores. I still haven't gotten too far, but I will eventually make it out to Robina (which looks like Varsity Lakes, but isn't).

AMERICAN HOME Still don't know what to do about Jessica, but as far as I know, I won't have much when I finally do get back. We've been keeping in close contact, but god love Jessica, she's pretty forgetful and not very reliable. Basically, she's done this several times in the past and it doesn't surprise me, but I just thought things were going so well. So maybe things will be different once I'm actually in the same country as her. (Just like Christina. She only wants to give me attention when I'm not actually there- err).

Also I deleted Liz off of MSN, even though we've purposely haven't spoken to each other since August, and it felt great. Why it took so long, I don't know, considering what's happened over the last two and a half years.

CULTURE I think I've figured out how to get the Aussie 'doll' and 'hun' back home. ""Honey", along with variations like "honey bun" and "honeypot" and the abbreviation "hon," has become a term of endearment in most of the English-speaking world. In some places it is used for loved ones; in others, such as the American South, it is used when addressing casual acquaintances or even strangers"

Entry EIGHTY-EIGHTY

I tried so hard to get to the congee this morning, but it only reminded me how much I need to get around once in a while. After I got ready and rushed to the Lakeside Grille, I saw it was empty in hopes I could take a picture of the congee, but instead I found that it was deserted because they've stopped offering breakfast this semester. No wonder the Brasserie offers breakfast so much- why couldn't I see that? Of course, it makes sense. And so that's why I should get out more and see what's been changed and updated sometimes. Why is it so difficult to get to now that I actually want to try it? I even tried the Brasserie and found that they were only offering porridge, baked beans, and spaghetti. Gaz believes me I know, but it's got to be funny how I can't get ahold of the stuff. This is my second time trying and I will try again tomorrow (friday) and, if not, Saturday or Sunday. I need that photo to prove I'm good to my word.

No German in marketing made me feel free as I smiled and felt no pressure to look as if I were keeping busy, as immature as that may sound, but that's always my reaction around someone I'm blatantly not talking to. Even though I did no wrong. Elaine surprised me with how talkative she was with me for once, but maybe because she was a bit more earlier than usual. Either way, she gets on my nerves, never asking about myself.

Joey and Dino (two Chinese) sat in the back as usual and I asked Joey to see their draft (which we already did ours weeks ago) and Dino was obviously talking about me and pointing in my direction. Joey smiled and when I handed back the paper I gave a "meh" and "rude" smirking look and didn't say anything. Joey must've realized and wanted to talk while they both smiled at me.

"So there's this other German guy (a forth of the class is German, after all) and he sits at the table next to mine, always bothering me with seemingly pointless questions. Anyway, today he asked me what I thought of the midterm, so I told him the truth (that I didn't like it, even though I prepared two weeks in advance). I don't know if this is a personal thing, or a German thing (because I found this with Franzi), but he told me I didn't like it because I didn't prepare. He told me I didn't study right and I didn't study the right stuff. I just kind of looked at him and went "uh-huh" and went back to working on my laptop. Cultural things, it's the little cultural idiosyncrasies that are just as annoying. He doesn't know me and yet he "knows" I studied wrong and that he's automatically smarter than me. Hmm."

Elaine must have been tired of eating alone because she asked me to lunch. I knew she wanted Lakeside so I obliged while she went around the fact with, "What do you want?" The place was busy, the salad made me bloated, and it was disgusting as usual. She knows I hate it, but I'm always the one giving in. No more. What made the situation even more unpleasant is that we were conversing fine, but as usual she didn't care about my life. Only hers. She wanted to talk about her boyfriend, but was emotionalless when I told her I was staying here with Gaz.

"And once again the academic highlight of my week was my favorite subject, regional studies. I felt good for once in that class because we were talking about Australian history, and guess who was the only one who knew her questions? Me for once, go figure (take that Europeans who think they know everything!)...I think hell just froze over and pigs are flying. Anyway, it's thanks to you teaching me so much over the years. I even giggled when she brought up Holt, because I instantly remembered you telling me that. Let's see, and strangely enough, I was the only one in the class to have gone to Melbourne and to The Rocks and know about Ned Kelly..."

Jillian kept looking back and me and commenting, as Americans and Canadians know each other, and it made me feel good to talk to her. I want to be her friend but she's sometimes hard to get to. She's cool and has her friends already.

On the way back from class I ran into that random cute, blond guy again who said around week two, "Hey, how ya goin'?" which I love. Then Matt saw me and was especially happy like old times, running the conversation in his fast talk and smile.

I started mom's beanie/hat yesterday and so far I've been working four hours on it (what is above). I love the pattern of it, the little bumps. That's why it's taking longer than Gaz's did, but it's going to be so pretty when it's finished. A little hiccup occurred when I didn't realize the pattern was big enough for doing it in the round, hence the double "ribbing", but I like the look actually.