G'day Mates!For you regular readers out there (both of you), you should be pleased to know that the Blog you have faithfully been reading is now becoming famous. It made it's first appearance in the press, with many more to come, I'm sure. Here's the link: http://clause.apu.edu/april22/arts_culture/article4.html After the fame I've received from this article, I'm sure there will be some band-wagoner readers (Maybe 1?), but I vow to you original faithful, I won't forget you.
Anyways, I'm officially 2/3rds of my way through my trip. It's weird, Studying Abroad was something I was looking forward to for such a long time. Although coming here this semester came about as a rather last minute thing, I knew I was going to study abroad at some time during my college career since probably my Junior year of high school. Now it's weird to actually be living in something that I have looked forward to for such a long time.
After returning from our Easter Break trip, I went to class for two whole days, and then went out to see more of Australia. During the month of April, I sat in class for a total of three days. Ahh, what a tough life! On Friday the 24th our group of 27 Americans, 3 leaders, and one bus driver departed in search of the "Outback." It was the time of my life! We spent all day Friday traveling, slept in a hotel, traveled most of the Saturday and arrived at Trilby Station Saturday evening. Trilby Station is a sheep farm of 220,000 acres. Because Australia has been going through a severe drought recently, Liz and Gary, the couple that owns the farm decide to expand their revenue stream and opened it to tourists. They had cabins for all of us and Liz cooked absolutely delicious meals. There were very hospitable, welcoming and patient as they continuously answered questions from a bunch of ignorant Americans. We were there Saturday evening, Sunday, Monday and departed Tuesday, arriving back in Sydney Wednesday afternoon. I could easily have spent the rest of my semester in the Outback without any hesitations. It is a land vast beyond description. There are places where if you stand on your tip-toes, and look far enough, you can see the back of your own head. 
We were staying right by a river, but once you got a little distance away from there, the dirt turned red and it was stunning. Because it was technically class, we did spend some of the time learning about the land, but we also swam, told life stories around the camp fire, went kangaroo chasing, had amazing mud fights, and slept under the stars. While we were there, I also picked up a new addiction: playing Settler's of Catan. The last night we even stayed up until 4 A.M. playing and then woke up at 6:30. But it was worth it because I won the final two games, so I went to bed a happy man!Last Saturday Charlie, Becca, and I (fellow Americans) went out to Emma's house (the one who generously let me experience my first Australian car accident) and had a great time celebrating her 21st birthday! We spent the night there and after eating a delicious breakfast returned to the city.
Although a few of us spent quite a bit of time together before, during the Outback trip it seemed that the group grew much closer as a whole. As a result, pretty much every night since then a big group of us congregates at someones home stay and we all hang out, watch a movie, play cards, any excuse to spend time together. It truly is a beautiful community.
This weekend the Indigenous film festival is being held at the Sydney Opera House. Friday night many of us went to see (I went to nap through) a series of 8 short, ten minute films. It was definitely one of my favorite times spent in Sydney: being together as a group hanging out, being/napping in the Opera House, and the best part about it was that it was free! As an added bonus, they had an after screening party where they served appetizers and drinks, also free. Woohoo!! Saturday ten of us spent the day at the beach, and then headed back into the city to see more of the film festival that evening.
The rest of the month should be pretty busy with school projects, yuck! Oh wait, that's the whole reason I'm here. Sometimes it's easy to forget, don't tell my Dad! Australian classes are much different than classes in the U.S. College courses in America often are full of busy work, small papers, and many assignments. Here, classes are completely different. In my Romans class, we have three papers due the entire semester. One being 20%, one being 30%, and one being 50% of my grade. In my Theology class we have two exams throughout the course, each worth 25%, and then a paper worth 50%. So there is not as much to keep me busy during the semester, but a lot more effort has to go into the papers, because that is the only thing my grade is based on. It is weird to think that everyone else at APU is already finished for the summer when I'm really just getting into the heart of my projects.Well since it is 8:45 P.M. here Sunday night and 3:45 A.M. there on Sunday morning it is officially Mother's day both in Australia and in America so, Happy Mother's day Mom! Thanks for bringing me into the world, I guess I should thank Dad too, because it couldn't really have happened without him. Anyways, hope you have a great day, sorry I'm not there to celebrate with you! Love you lots!
Just to put your minds to rest I’m still alive and kicking. Haven’t found the love of my life, I haven’t gotten anything pierced and haven’t injected ink into my body.
Love to all!
-Ben
