The End of Week 2

Well, today is Sunday and the end of week 2. I'm half-way done with my studies here, and when I finish this essay that's due tomorrow morning, I'll be mostly done with the work. It's very weird to think about. I feel truly at home here in Melbourne and I can't imagine having to leave it and continue on. As much as I'm thrilled to experience Kakadu and eventually Sydney and Cairns, I really will miss Melbourne a lot.

However, I've got a full four days ahead of me in Melbourne, so hopefully I'll be able to cram everything in that I want to see.

Today Jamie, Ryan, Lexie, Mimi, and I went to Dandenong National Park, which is an area just outside a bunch of Melbourne suburbs. We took a commuter train from Flinders Street and passed an enormous number of neighborhoods. It seems like such a different lifestyle here, commuting in from your suburb on a train, then transferring to a tram while you're downtown. I like the idea of not having to drive to work and still being able to live outside of the city.

The park itself wasn't as spectacular as I had in mind. We were able to see mountain ash, which is a rare kind of eucalypt, and we also saw a flock of sulphur-crested cockatoos and a bunch of other small birds, but that was about it. It was nice to get out of the city and walk around in the forest with fun people.

The rest of the day has been spent napping (still sick) and reading so I can start work on this dang essay. Australia would be so much more fun if I didn't have to study!