Departure draws nearer!

I received my orientation packed from GSE last week. Reading through it gets me so excited!

I'll be staying in the Macquarie Parklands. Apparently, they are a bit run down, but sufficient for exchange students. I'm not too picky--I made it through Pacelli Hall...
The apartments are adjacent to campus as well as a 5 min walk to the Mac Center, which is essentially the "college town" with entertainment and shopping. Very convenient! Unfortunately, the apartments do not have internet. I don't know if they are equipped for it or not. Depending on where I'd have to travel to in order to Skype, it may be worth paying for if the apartments are set up.

Anyway, it appears that my roommate is a girl named Lillian from Texas. I've talked to her on facebook a few times, and she seems like a lot of fun. We've already planned a hat shopping day! We will have 2 other roomies (at least I'm pretty sure we will), as the apartment accommodates up to 4. It'd be kind of neat if Ryan lived across the hall. Lillian says she's bad at cooking haha.

Within the packet is a program calendar. GSE organized excursions, as well as cultural events for us. I figure that I'll list what GSE has planned for us here, plus any other dates set!

*Feb 12 DEPART from Chicago!
*Feb 15-18 Welcome/Orientation/Enrollment
*Feb 22 Class starts!
*Feb 26 Coogee Beach BBQ - one of Sydney's most popular destinations for locals & tourists. Beautiful beach, vast choice of lovely cafes/restaurants, & lively nightlife
*March 6 NSW Waratahs vs South African Sharks Rugby Union Match
*March 12 Celebrating Lillian's bday!
*March 13 Royal Randwick Horse Races - Men = Blazer & tie, women = dress & fancy hat
*March 19 Port Stephens - Dolphin Tour & four wheeling over the largest sand dunes on the east coast of Oz
*March 26 Nielsen Park/Bay - Sydney Harbour National Park
*April 2 Classes end, mid-semester break begins!
*April 3-6 Cairns excursion - Great Barrier reef, whitewater rafting
*April 19 Break ends
*April 30 Sydney Opera House tour - I want to actually see an opera there, too...
*May 15 Hunter Valley - known for famous wine exports. Visiting various wineries and cheese/chocolate factories
*May 22 AFL Swans Match - Australian football
*June 7-25 Exams......oh nooo
*June 5 Blue Mountains excursion
*June 10 ICE BAR for Ryan's bdayy!
*June 18 GSE Farewell Dinner :(
*June 26 Depart for the states

Sometime in May, we're going to New Zealand to meet up with Jen, Szafran, and Slouber!

There are like a million and one things I want to see/do while I'm in Australia, but I know I can't afford/don't have time to do all of them! So I figure I'll pick my top three that aren't included above, and do my best to make them happen.
1) Uluru - The true outback!
2) Melbourne
3) Fraser Island


I've been reading a lonely planet: australia book that my professor gave me. I don't think I've ever been more excited about culture shock! I am grateful that GSE organized cultural events because it is very important to me to learn about the place I'm spending the next 4 and a half months at!

I am excited, and equally as nervous. I have everything laid out, I just have to pack it. My shopping is done, aside from a pair of comfortable dress shoes (is that possible?) Just counting down the days until the time of my life, and the plane ride from hell. 11!