Why Rangaroo?

Ranga – the term that Aussies call red-heads

Roo – short for kangaroo

Hence the name Rangaroo

Semi – Permanent Tourist

I have gotten to see many things living in Sydney, both on the tourist level and the local one. But let’s start off at the very beginning:

Upon arrival back in Sydney (from a short vaca in Newcastle, Australia), I had a very stressful morning moving all of my 130lbs of luggage from Central Station onto a bus, onto campus (in order to pick up my apartment key from the study abroad office), down 2 blocks, up 3 flights of stairs into my apartment. I was the first of my four roommates to arrive so for for the three days it was quite scary at night. But I stayed strong and managed to kill my first cockroach (an experience I will never forget) and conquer the washing machine (a very angry appliance that literally sounded as though it was going to blow up or kill me). Once my roommates Courtney, Jess and Verena arrived, the apartment was instantly more fun and homey. We spent most of the first week at the Orientation activities on campus – partly because of all the free food.

The first day of classes was exciting at first but after my first 3-hour Management and Practice lecture my excitement began to fade. The most important thing I learned that day was not to show up to lecture 10 minutes early – the Australian students arrive 10 minutes late and the class begins then.  My first day of Studio was quite a rush. I arrived and immediately ot an assignment due at the end of class that day worth %5 of my grade. Being new to the buildings and without my computer it added some difficulties to finishing the project. However, in the end it went fairly well. Since that first week, I have been working hard at trying to keep up with all of my assignments and projects while trying to see Australia as well. This week alone I have 7 assignments due for my 4 classes.

In March the weather was beautiful and on the sunny days we could spend some time at Sydney’s beaches. I got to visit Bondi, Coogee and Maroubra Beaches, my favorite being Maroubra as it was less touristy. On the rainy days – and there were plenty – I put my umbrella and raincoat to good use.

Our apartment is very close to campus, about a 5 minute walk, which is very handy as some students travel over an hour to get to class everyday. There are two bedrooms, a kitchen, bath, living room and washer room (I say that because there is no dryer – hello balcony) Courtney and I share a room that has an added bonus of one desk and no chair. In addition to the four of us residing there, a few cockroaches like to stop by and say hello… we don’t let them stay long.

Island Hopping Across the Ocean

Before  landing  Australia four other KU students and I traveled to Hawaii and Fiji.

In Hawaii we stayed at The Holiday Surf Hotel  near Waikiki beach. The hotel was small but perfect for our group of five. We spent time at the beach and took a catamaran out into the ocean to snorkel. We also went to the International Marketplace to buy lais and other souvenirs. The next day after bailing out of a Hawaiian bus (a cramped, hot, sickening expereince I will never forget) we ended up at a beautiful place called Magic Island. Then we continued on and toured Pearl Harbor.

Hawaii

Because our group had so much luggage between all five of us, it was cheaper to rent a limo to drive us to the airport the next morning to catch our flight to Nadi, Fji.

As soon as we got off the plane in Fiji the hot, humid air hit us. But that wasn’t the only thing coming are way – a musical group of Fijians serenaded us as we arrived in the airport. After collecting our luggage we took a van to Smugglers Cove Hostel. We stayed in a room of about 30 beds with no AC. The hostel was literally on

the beach but because of recent flooding in Fiji, it was a tad undesirable to swim there. But, we could sit by the ocean and enjoy a legal fruity drink. The next day we took a boat tour around to other islands. It was fantastic – food and drink were included and as well as snorkeling off one of the islands.  After lunch, we participated in a traditional Kava ceremony. Kava, a drink made from a ground-up tree root mixed with water (hence the nickname “muddy water”) is a traditional Fijian afternoon drink to help relax from a long day. There was only one downside to the day – I got possibly one of the worst sunburns I have ever received! The sun around these parts was just too strong for this ginger skin.

The following day we booked a tour of a Fijian village. After a long, very bumpy, van ride and a forge across a stream we met Andrew, our Fijian village guide. He led us up a mountain trek through dense forests and mud to stunning waterfalls. The water was chilly but so refreshing. Andrew showed us a certain ledge where we were able to stand above the pool of water directly under the falling water. We hiked back down the mountain and enjoyed perhaps the most fresh meal I have ever eaten. We had fried eggplant, grilled sausage and papaya. Next up were the mud baths. I never would have guessed that I would have voluntarily covered

myself in mud and stood out in the sun but when in Fiji! We washed the mud off in a pit (filled with more mud and some water). The next morning we unexpectedly got an email that our flight to Sydney had been moved… 3 hours early! We scrambled to collect our things, grab two taxis, get to the airport, through security and to the gate on time!

And the next thing I knew I could see the Sydney skyline out my window!

Pre-Departure

It’s hard to believe that I leave for Sydney in 15 days!

I have been planning the details of the trip for a while now but there’s still much more to do! I am attending the University of New South Wales for a semester – or about 5 months. I am waiting on information on my housing but know that I will be living near Coogee Beach and the suburb of Ranwick. Coogee Beach is near the popular tourist beach of Bondi.

Other KU students and I are traveling to Hawaii and Fiji before landing in Australia. More travel plans are in the works for New Zealand and the Great Barrier Reef.

I chose to study abroad at  UNSW because of their well-respected Industrial Design program.  I will be taking four classes: three ID studios and one arts elective course that I have yet to find out. I am excited to work with design students at another university and learn through new perspectives.

More details to come!