Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Photos
For the first batch of photos, check out www.photobucket.com and in the search box put "michaelkoppel" - it should direct you to my album. I still have a lot to put up, like the zoo and the aquarium but it literally takes forever to do it. Bear with me. A bigger update will come later.
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Having Internet is Amazing!
I finally have internet! It might not be the best and it's limited, but it definitely makes life 1000x better here. Not being able to communicate lately has been a killer but this is definitely a big help! So now everyone can Skype me and I can answer and hear your voices!
I WILL have pictures up soon. I promise! I just think it's gonna take up too much memory to do it here so I'll have to on campus or something.
I went into Sydney today for the first time with my friend Caryn and it is soooo nice and clean. Saw the bridge... saw the Opera House - now I really feel like I'm here. Being at the beach is amazing but getting into the city was definitely needed to feel like I'm really in Australia. We took a ferry to the Taronga Zoo and it was amaaaaazing. I took so many pictures of everything, including a bear going to the bathroom in mid-air. It was pacing back and forth across a log and I realized it was just like Teddy and Kolby before they're about to explode. Anyway, that was fun - so was seeing the middle of a ridiculous gorilla fight. Saw kangaroos and koalas for the first time here - along with the apparently "cuter-than-cute" Bilby - and the usual lions, tigers, zebras, and the most photogenic giraffes in the world.
I'll definitely update more later - although there hasn't been so much going on - or maybe there has and I've just had too much to drink and forget it all. That's happening way too much in too little of a time period but I'm sure things will slow down once classes start.
I WILL have pictures up soon. I promise! I just think it's gonna take up too much memory to do it here so I'll have to on campus or something.
I went into Sydney today for the first time with my friend Caryn and it is soooo nice and clean. Saw the bridge... saw the Opera House - now I really feel like I'm here. Being at the beach is amazing but getting into the city was definitely needed to feel like I'm really in Australia. We took a ferry to the Taronga Zoo and it was amaaaaazing. I took so many pictures of everything, including a bear going to the bathroom in mid-air. It was pacing back and forth across a log and I realized it was just like Teddy and Kolby before they're about to explode. Anyway, that was fun - so was seeing the middle of a ridiculous gorilla fight. Saw kangaroos and koalas for the first time here - along with the apparently "cuter-than-cute" Bilby - and the usual lions, tigers, zebras, and the most photogenic giraffes in the world.
I'll definitely update more later - although there hasn't been so much going on - or maybe there has and I've just had too much to drink and forget it all. That's happening way too much in too little of a time period but I'm sure things will slow down once classes start.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
It's Hot As Hell Down Here!
G'day everyone! It's 5pm here on Wednesday. I've missed American Idol and am trying to cope with that but I think I'll make it. I still don't have internet yet but hopefully will by this weekend. I am seriously going insane without it! I do have a cell phone though, so if anyone ever has a phone card and wants to call, my number is... 416813538 - but you have to put the country code and all before that. I think you add something like 01161 before but don't trust me with that. My mom knows and the internet probably knows, too. So get at them.
It's so damn hot and humid here but I'm having a great time. Monday I got in and got my classes situated. Then got home and passed out. Yesterday I got up, met some friends at the Study Abroad Office and bought phones. Then I went out with my housemates to one of their friends' houses and had a lot of fun and met some really nice people. Granted I drank way too much and had not eaten since about 11am - it wasn't pretty. We headed out to a bar called The Palace, which apparently is the hot spot for students here. (I can't believe I just said that - I sound like I'm 90.) I don't remember much there... except sleeping next to the toilet and then throwing up over a wall onto the beach. I probably shouldn't talk about that but it was pretty funny. Then we all sat on the beach for a little and went home. Today I went to the beach and laid out for a while. It's so nice there! I have pics and will post as soon as I get some damn internet!
That's basically what I've been up to so far. Tomorrow is orientation so hopefully I'll meet a lot of people. I don't remember if I mentioned my house yet, but people are still moving in. Everyone so far has been great, though, even if our house is a beast. Dirty as hell... dead (mostly) cockroaches laying all around. We actually did get a brand new fridge today which is great. The other one was covered in mold.
Hopefully my next post will come from my room (which has a TV in it - randomly - the only one besides the one in the common room) with pics and all. As much as I love it here, I miss everyone so so so so so so much and love to hear from you. So comment here, email me, text me (i can get them on the cell phone number i wrote before - i might not always be able to respond because it costs like 25 cents a text but I'll definitely try).
By the way - I have yet to see any kangaroos or koalas. I thought they were supposed to be at every corner! What's up with that?!?!?!
And another thing: this is the hilliest place I have ever been. I swear if walking as much as I do every day does not get me in shape, the world is against me!
Until next time!!!!
Michael
It's so damn hot and humid here but I'm having a great time. Monday I got in and got my classes situated. Then got home and passed out. Yesterday I got up, met some friends at the Study Abroad Office and bought phones. Then I went out with my housemates to one of their friends' houses and had a lot of fun and met some really nice people. Granted I drank way too much and had not eaten since about 11am - it wasn't pretty. We headed out to a bar called The Palace, which apparently is the hot spot for students here. (I can't believe I just said that - I sound like I'm 90.) I don't remember much there... except sleeping next to the toilet and then throwing up over a wall onto the beach. I probably shouldn't talk about that but it was pretty funny. Then we all sat on the beach for a little and went home. Today I went to the beach and laid out for a while. It's so nice there! I have pics and will post as soon as I get some damn internet!
That's basically what I've been up to so far. Tomorrow is orientation so hopefully I'll meet a lot of people. I don't remember if I mentioned my house yet, but people are still moving in. Everyone so far has been great, though, even if our house is a beast. Dirty as hell... dead (mostly) cockroaches laying all around. We actually did get a brand new fridge today which is great. The other one was covered in mold.
Hopefully my next post will come from my room (which has a TV in it - randomly - the only one besides the one in the common room) with pics and all. As much as I love it here, I miss everyone so so so so so so much and love to hear from you. So comment here, email me, text me (i can get them on the cell phone number i wrote before - i might not always be able to respond because it costs like 25 cents a text but I'll definitely try).
By the way - I have yet to see any kangaroos or koalas. I thought they were supposed to be at every corner! What's up with that?!?!?!
And another thing: this is the hilliest place I have ever been. I swear if walking as much as I do every day does not get me in shape, the world is against me!
Until next time!!!!
Michael
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Australia!
I'm here! But I don't have a phone or internet... I don't know when I'll get it. I'm at the Study Abroad Office where they have a 10 minute limit so I gotta rush, but I hope to talk to everyone soon!
By the way, it's HOT here!
By the way, it's HOT here!
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Pre-Departure
In just a few days I'm shipping off to Australia! I have not yet begun to pack and am kind of freaking out over everything I still have to do. I have NO clue what to expect, but I hope to keep in contact with everyone while I'm gone! I'll try to post here as much as possible with pictures and info of what I've been up to!
In the meantime, anyone can always write to me at:
202 Oberon Street
Coogee UNSW 2034
Australia
My SKYPE name is: michael.koppel (i needed a break from gramkracka). For those of you who do not know what Skype is, it's just like AIM but it's a free way to actually speak to other people online. So, if you have a microphone or a webcam, you could download that and talk to me. (Click the link to go to the download page!)
Otherwise, I bought a number which allows you to use any phone - house/cell/whatever - to call my computer and we can talk that way. It's a PA number, so whatever it would normally cost you to call a PA number, that's how much it'll still cost. It won't give any sort of international fee. Plus, if I'm not there, you can leave me a message, which I would still love! That number is: (215) 764-6324. Call me all the time! I need to hear what everyone is up to! (And basically... I doubt I'll ever be able to actually call anyone myself.)
I'll still try to get on AIM as much as possible!!! (and if I'm on Skype I'll most likely be on AIM at the same time...) And I'll eventually post a photo site because I know I won't be able to post them all on here. (For those who have facebook, they'll all be there too!)
I leave this Saturday and arrive in Sydney the morning of Monday, February 19th. Remember, it's 16 hours ahead there! And just in case any of you feared for my safety travelling all alone (I know... I would, too!) I found a friend online named Caryn who's on my flight. (Honestly, she made me add this part.) I will refer to her in later posts as Cookie --- as in, "Cookie made me hold her hair back as she puked all throughout the 24-hour flight."
So, until I hear from you all next, I hope you have a great... 4 months without me? Comment, email me (gramkracka@verizon.net), IM me, Skype me, call me, write me!
Michael
(By the way, do NOT keep me updated on TV shows. First off, I'll never speak to you again. Harsh, but true. Second, I hope to keep myself updated online. I'll initiate the TV talk! And lastly, if you throw out a "CAN YOU BELIEVE ____ GOT KICKED OFF SURVIVOR LAST NIGHT?!?!" just to be funny... I think I'll come home and kill you.)
In the meantime, anyone can always write to me at:
202 Oberon Street
Coogee UNSW 2034
Australia
My SKYPE name is: michael.koppel (i needed a break from gramkracka). For those of you who do not know what Skype is, it's just like AIM but it's a free way to actually speak to other people online. So, if you have a microphone or a webcam, you could download that and talk to me. (Click the link to go to the download page!)
Otherwise, I bought a number which allows you to use any phone - house/cell/whatever - to call my computer and we can talk that way. It's a PA number, so whatever it would normally cost you to call a PA number, that's how much it'll still cost. It won't give any sort of international fee. Plus, if I'm not there, you can leave me a message, which I would still love! That number is: (215) 764-6324. Call me all the time! I need to hear what everyone is up to! (And basically... I doubt I'll ever be able to actually call anyone myself.)
I'll still try to get on AIM as much as possible!!! (and if I'm on Skype I'll most likely be on AIM at the same time...) And I'll eventually post a photo site because I know I won't be able to post them all on here. (For those who have facebook, they'll all be there too!)
I leave this Saturday and arrive in Sydney the morning of Monday, February 19th. Remember, it's 16 hours ahead there! And just in case any of you feared for my safety travelling all alone (I know... I would, too!) I found a friend online named Caryn who's on my flight. (Honestly, she made me add this part.) I will refer to her in later posts as Cookie --- as in, "Cookie made me hold her hair back as she puked all throughout the 24-hour flight."
So, until I hear from you all next, I hope you have a great... 4 months without me? Comment, email me (gramkracka@verizon.net), IM me, Skype me, call me, write me!
Michael
(By the way, do NOT keep me updated on TV shows. First off, I'll never speak to you again. Harsh, but true. Second, I hope to keep myself updated online. I'll initiate the TV talk! And lastly, if you throw out a "CAN YOU BELIEVE ____ GOT KICKED OFF SURVIVOR LAST NIGHT?!?!" just to be funny... I think I'll come home and kill you.)
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