Of Groceries & Thinking Stairs

How ya going!?
(Aussie greeting--similar to our "hey what's up" or "how's it going")

Because there is so much to absorb, and so quickly at times, I've been keeping a running list of everything I want to write in my posts. I'm going to try and knock a few off of the list this morning, providing the most entertainment possible for my wonderful audience. Whoo!

One of the most interesting things about restaurants and bars here is that many of them are Bring Your Own Beverage facilities. And I mean that literally. There'll be big signs posted outside of the place, informing customers that they do not serve beverages, regardless if they are alcoholic or not. The reasoning for this? Alcohol permits are very hard to come by, and pretty expensive too. So, restaurant owners made it simple by not serving nay drinks at all. We went bowling a couple of weeks ago, and the group of guys in the lane next to us show up with red cups, soda, and a handle of rum. I was quite amused! You could get arrested for that sort of thing in the States.

Another fascinating thing is ordering groceries online to be delivered to your front door. How about that! It's a 30 minute bus ride to the closest store, and then the bus only comes twice an hour, and then it's usually late. So having to carry multiple heavy bags with cold items on a public bus that costs 2.20 roundtrip is no fun. So my flatmates and I just order them online, for a $5 delivery fee. Between the 4 of us, that's cheaper than each of us riding the bus. And yet, I'm not quite sure if this makes me lazy or if they grocery delivery man thinks we're too old to leave our house...? Hmm...

I've also noticed that all of the tall buildings over in Surfers Paradise are not actually office buildings. They are hotels! All of the sky scrapers. Or they are holiday apartments, which is just a fancy/bigger hotel. Just goes to show how much of touristy town this is. Also. Gay Australian Accents. I'll let you picture that one on your own.

And for those of you who greatly appreciate Lolli Cup, they serve it on campus! Another reason for you to visit.

So I think I'll wrap up this lovely update with an insight into the structural fascinations of Bond Uni. The campus is split in two by a gorgeous waterfall/fountain thingy. On either side of it, there are staircases. It's the only way to get from one side to the other, so one must take the stairs. Well, these aren't your ordinary stairs. They're the kind that are too small for little steps, and too big for regular steps. Know what I mean? So for the first two weeks we're all so frustrated by these damn stairs, and trying to find alternative routes. Then this past monday, an Aussie in one of my classes who has been here at Bond for a year or so explained the purpose of the stairs to me. "They're called Chinese Thinking Stairs," she says. "They're purpose is to frustrate you, forcing you to use your brain to figure out the most natural step-to-step-ratio." Well then.

Bring it on, stairs. I'm ready for the challenge.

Love.