The House!

Alright so since I'm gonna be moving from my house in honor of that I thought I'd post one of the last pics of all of us roomies together.
Back Row: (Left to Right) Jeff, Marc, Jann, Warrick
Front Row: (left to Right): Colin, Sebastian, Lilli, Valerio, Me
Across everyone's lap--Rafael

The Photo

So I've had comments that I look mischevious in the photo posted on the entry below, I would totally have to agree. The picture was taken by one of my roommates while I wasn't look and no doubt I was hatching some evil plan.

AHHHHHH!!

Hey everybody..why the AHHHH you ask? Well in the last 24 hours I've gotten a notice to vacate my house by Aug. 10th and been told that my job will be ending after next week, so needless to day in the next week or so I need a new job and place to live. Guess I'm gonna be busy, I've been trying to be proactive though and been looking at places today all day on my break from Uni. The job thing might be a bit trickier but I'm confident it'll all work out (if I wasn't telling myself it'll all be okay then I'd be freaking right now). I have to say it's making me minorly stressed being that I'm super low on money as usual but don't get the rewards without the sacrifice, love where I'm living at even though it's been a bit difficult at times it's all worth it. Also since I just started classes I figure that new semester, new everything, my whole reality might as well be altered.
So apparently I can now just upload pictures straight to my blog so here's experiment #1 with a random pic taken a few weeks ago...hope this works then I'll post pics up here more often!!

The Russian and the Chinese Fashion Designer

This semester I'm in a class called Business in Australia, now the thing with this class is you are only allowed to take the class if you are an international student so as it turns out I'm the only native english speaker in the class (about half the students are French, the rest Chinese or Thai with a Russian thrown in the mix) except for the professor who's British. So on the first day the prof paired us up with someone and we had to talk to them for a bit and then introduce them to the class and they in turn would introduce us..you know getting to know you games. My partner was from Taiwan and after several botched attempts for me to say his name right he finally said I could just call him Chris. Once the introductions started hilarity ensued, mostly because people kept saying inappropriate things about their partner such as their age and they were too young or old for this program or they hate certain foods or they come from small town in China with only 7 million people stuff like that. The best bit though had to be this Russian girl Katya and a Chinese girl Shirlee. Now Shirlee was wearing an interesting outfit, it looked to be a full on pink velour sweatsuit and some type of space boots. So Katya says to the class, This is Shirlee from China, in China she studied fashion designing obviously. At this point I bust out laughing (no one else does) and Katya turns red as if I was laughing b/c of her english or something, I don't think she meant to be funny at all, not from the expression on her face but it was funny nonetheless. The she goes on to tell us that Shirlee was also professional piano player in China playing in many bars (again laughs from yours truly) and I didn't hear anything after that b/c I kept thinking how Shirlee was a fashion designing drinkie girl in Shanghai and that threw what little focus I have to begin with right out the window.

International Negotiations

So semester 2 is offically underway as I"ve just attended my second lecture, which is my negotiations class..you know the one I blogged about where you can't be late. It's definetly gonna be my hardest class this semester (apart from probably International Finance but since I've already given up hope on that one before it's even begun, I have a certain zen feeling about the entire thing). First we had to break up into cultural groups so that we could tell the class how our culture normally negotiates. Once again I'm the only American so I had to be with a couple of Australians that were in our class and we talked about negotiating in Australia. Then we had a huge group from Thailand, one from Mainland China, one from Norway, one from Taiwan, and one from France. So that pretty much sums up the class...half asian, half european..then me the token American as my professor called me. I'm definetly gonna learn alot there's no way I can't being totally out of my element. Also as an aside I also must mention that all the French guys are hot, that's sure to throw off negotiation tactics I'm sure..at the end of this week we got randomly given a negotiation role to study for next week and some other random person got the other number so that's who you'll be arguing against next week. I've gotta argue with Emmanuel this Frenchman who promptly came up to me and says, ah so now we are a couple. Ummm yeah I guess you could say that..trouble!

Back to the Grind

My semester break is nearly over got a few more days left but already the madness has started..these days professors can send mass e-mails to everyone on the class roster which is slightly annoying..I got this e-mail today for a class that doesn't start until over a week from now.

IBN409 - Negotiating Across Borders
Dear All
This is Cheryl Rivers, your unit co-ordinator and one of two lecturers in your Negotiation course this coming semester. Our first class is next week on Thursday morning - yippeeeeeee!!! Please note that this course only works if students come along to all three hours of the class. Because I am a lovely person - you have all, already earned 15% of your marks because I figure you are all great people and want to work hard in my subject. Now the bad news - if you do not come, on time, every time, then I deduct marks off the 15% as part of your reputation /integrity marks. -5% for being late - how harsh is THAT? No excuses are acceptable beyond being on your deathbed or work (and it has to be somewhere more important than MacDonalds / local restaurant). If you are extending your holidays at home, or your bus is late, or you can't be fagged walking in until 9.20 am then you lose marks. You would not walk into a business negotiation late, so do not do it in this course! Please read the unit outline in more detail so you know what you are getting into. Please do not email me with your tales of woe of where you live and how often the busses run - I don't care and will not waive the rules for you. I look forward to seeing you at 9am next Thursday morning. Set those alarms early!!
Cheerio Cheryl

Uhh honestly..I like the bit about not being fagged walking in until 9.20..never heard that one before..guess I best to not go out ever on a Wed. night so I can make it in by 9am on Thurs.

I Fought the Reef and the Reef Won

Hey all, just back from a 3 day sailing trip on the outer great barrier reef. So pretty out there. I got my leg all scratched up and ripped a nail off my toe in a mishap with some coral..ouch!! Other than that though it was fabulous when snorkeling lots and saw some great islands and just sailed heaps. I was on one of the racing sailboats you know the ones that go competeley sideways when they are sailing, it was so much fun and also everyone on board had to help in sailing so lots of raising sails and holding ropes and sailory type stuff. I got some awesome pictures from the trip I'll be sending out in the next few days. It was crazy living on the boat for 3 days, no shoes, no showers and lots and lots of rocking, I've just now been able to walk straight 2 days later. I'm definetly gonna sail again as soon as I get the chance, there's honestly no greater feeling than sailing into a beautiful sunset..one of my best moments ever!! Also met some awesome people on my boat, nothing to do for 3 days but chat to people to keep yourself entertained so get some good bonding time in..great trip all and all..can't wait to do it again!!