How I Love Waking Up to a Nice Glass of Vino!

Well, the weather may not have been so great...but at least the wine was!  My latest adventure here in OZ, was a school trip, to go wine tasting in the Yarra Valley.  Yep, Deakin University is the BEST university.  Not only do we have a bar in the middle of campus, they also take you on extremely discounted wine tours.  Only in Australia, it really is the best!

Me and a few other gals signed up for this wine tour, and had a wonderful day.  Unfortunately, we have been experiencing a very weird cold front in Melbourne.  It has been absolutely gorgeous for the past few weeks, but the last couple of days have been unusually cold and rainy.  Nothing could bring down our spirits though, and the wine kept up warm!  We visited three different winery's, all of which were very nice, but I enjoyed the last one the best.  It was the Yering Station winery, which had a very artsy feel.  There was a modern restaurant on site, and the view was amazing.  The other winery's were nice as well, and they taught us a lot about how wine is made, and the correct way to taste it.

We tasted, and drank, a wide variety of wines.  I enjoyed all of them, except for one, which left a buttery aftertaste...weird I know.  There were a lot of sparkling wines, which were delish.  Fun fact, the bubbles in champagne and sparkling wine are created after the wine is created, and thus, it takes much longer for sparkling wines to be put on shelves for sale.  They were all superb and well worth the wait.  Also, it is best to pick the grapes, used to make wine, in Autumn during the nighttime.  During the nighttime, the skins on the grapes become tougher, making it harder for moisture to escape, and the grape's sugar is at a normal level. This trip was so educational...I can't wait to take more like it!

One of the most important things I learned, I can best describe by comparing fine wine to good Italian food.  I've learned from my mother, to make delicious Italian grub, you must go back to how it was originally done.  Taking shortcuts doesn't do you any good, because the end result is never as tastey as it would have been if you were to do it right the first time.  Fine wine is the same way, you must go back to the basics in order to achieve a superior result.  

I hope to go to Napa Valley as soon as I can, when I get back to the States!  Until then, happy drinking everyone!

My First Australian Football Game

Aussie Football... All I can say is it is extremely interesting, yet for the average American or any person from outside of Australia, it can be a bit confusing!  I would say it is a mix between soccer, football, basketball, and volleyball (hard to imagine, but the only way I can even come close to explaining it).  I suppose it is similar to rugby, but there are still differences.  There is really no protection, such as helmets or any sort of padding, which I found surprising, because it is a rather rough game!  The field that Aussie Football takes place on is HUGE, much like an American soccer field, but a bit larger and round in shape.  Since I am no good at explaining, I thought I'd post a website that explains a bit better, and feel free to YouTube some videos, to see the game in action!  http://www.upfromaustralia.com/ausrulfoot.html

I was fortunate enough to experience a Footie game, and went with my roommate Erika.  We met up with some other friends while at the game, and it was an all-around fun time.  It is the end of the footie season, and we went to the last game before the playoffs began.  There are many teams in the south of Australia, and especially in the Melbourne area.  It is a predominantly South Australian sport, located in the state of Victoria (the state where I reside), with only a few teams in the eastern, western, and northern Australian states.  One of the highest ranked teams is Collingwood, and they just might win it all.  However, most Aussie's I've spoken to, do not much care for Collingwood.  I think it is just because they always win, but I can't be sure.  

I am lucky enough to experience a number of things here for free, because I have a culture card.  I received the culture card, because I am here on exchange.  It is extremely nice, because they always have some fun activities either for free, or for a substantially discounted price.  We picked up our tickets for the game, by the extremely large beans cans.  It was a great experience, and even greater, because of the fact it was FREE!  Can you tell I love anything free?!  We saw Port Adelaide versus Essendon.  It was a pretty good game, because Essendon was trying to get into the playoffs.  Neither team was very good, so it was kind of fun, because both teams were on the same playing level, which made the game a pretty exciting one!  Most people have their team preferences here in Melbourne, and that is always fun to see, because being a huge Chicago sports fan, I can relate with supporting your home team! 

That's all for now, but for all you Chicago sports fans out there... BEAR DOWN!!  

And I Finally Have Internet!! -Day in Da Big Citayyy-

Blogging would definitely be easier if I had better internet.  Unfortunately, Australia is a light year behind the U.S. in internet services, which leaves my house with very slow, or not working internet.  We got it worked out today though, and have a new router, so I should be able to blog more, so that everyone can keep up with what I'm up to here in OZ, more frequently.  

The weather is getting absolutely GORGEOUS in Melbourne, and everyone is out and about, and soaking it all up!  It's sunny pretty much everyday, and the temperature is perfect.  Some of my lovely girlfriends and I decided to take advantage of the weather by getting out and exploring some of the beauty Melbourne has to offer.  We went to the Royal Botanic Gardens which are indeed beautiful, but will be even more gorgeous as the weather gets nicer and nicer.  We are in the middle of spring, and heading into summer shortly.  Spring to summer has always been one of my favorite times of the year.  Getting to enjoy it in Australia is amazing!  There were some beautiful things to see, and the company was wonderful. 

The Botanic Gardens were not far away from the city, so after we were done playing around there, we walked to the city.  In Federation Square, there is a lot to do.  It is right on the river, and features unique and modern buildings, in the heart of Melbourne.  There was a big screen telly on the side of a building, which featured a Footie game...pretty awesome!  We decided to explore ACMI (Australian Center for the Moving Image).  There was lots to see, involving the evolution of film.  ACMI included interactive activities, and I even have a splice of myself in a capsule that makes it seem like you are in 'The Matrix'.  It puts your movement into slow motion.  It is so interesting to see how far film has come, and just what they can do these days.  The possibilities are truly endless!

Finally, the gals and I went out to lunch before calling it a day and heading home.  Erika and I are roommates, she is the blond in the first photo. Amy is the brunette next to Erika, and lives down the road.  Malin and I met on our orientation trip, she is the girl next to me in the photo below Erika and Amy.  Malin, Erika, and I will be traveling together after school is out, which is sure to bring a lot of great memories and, of course, blogs!  Melbourne is gorgeous, and I can't wait to see the beauty around the rest of Australia.  Life continues to be amazing, and I am enjoying every minute of my time here in OZ!

XOXO

The Beautiful City of Melbourne

Hello Guys!  Sorry I haven't blogged in such a lengthy amount of time...this week has seriously been one of the busiest weeks ever!  Finally, on Friday when everything was complete, I felt like a zombi and all I could think about was sleep!!  Australia is definitely keeping me busy, but I am loving every minute of it.  I thought I'd show everyone the city of Melbourne.  It is a mix between classic and modern buildings, and is one of the fashion capitals in the world!

I love the feel of the city.  It is busy, but not as busy at NYC, it has much more of a Chicago vibe to it, which is why I think I enjoy it.  It is very different though.  Trams go through the middle of the street, carrying every kind of person, from people going to work, to people getting their shopping on!  It is a mix of corporate, fashion, entertainment, and residential.  Of course it is WAY expensive to live in the city, but I think that goes for pretty much any large and booming city out there.  The thing that is really nice about Melbourne, is there are these little hidden alley-ways all around.  These are the places with small cafes and boutiques.  Everything is fresh and unique, and it has a sort of European feel to it.  Within the city, there are many different parts you can go to, that all give a different feel.  It is pretty amazing, and has whatever you'd like, for whatever mood you are in.  A BIG bonus, is the SHOPPING!!  Shopping is phenomenal here, and everyone is very fashion forward!!

The other day, after work, I was doing some light shopping and wondering around the city, when I cam across a man doing chalk art.  It was pretty amazing to see what he did with simply chalk!!  I know this is not unique to Melbourne, but everyone really stopped to appreciate it, and the mans tip jar was pretty full!  That is what I love about this city.  People have a real appreciation for art, fashion, and expression.  They are all generally nice, and I've noticed, they take their time to appreciate things, or just say 'cheers' (thank you) when necessary.  I think that is important, especially in these days, when everyone is so caught up with work, and their busy lives.  Sometimes its better to slow down for a second, and appreciate all you have, and what's around you!

Cheers until next time :)

Internship Adventures!

Hey All!  Sorry I have not been able to blog for a little while.  With tons of school work including time-consuming research papers, desperately looking for a part time job, and interning...I have been pretty busy, to say the least!  Above is a photo I took one morning on my way to my internship.  I realize it is a bit hard to see, but it was just very sunny, so that is the best I could take.

I intern at Greta Donaldson Publicity, which is a publicity firm in South Melbourne.  It is pretty much in the city, (only a couple of blocks south), but South Melbourne has a bit of a different vibe to it, in that it is a bit more "hipster", fashion forward, and free spirited, than the corporate work environment that Melbourne has.  It is full of cute shops, and a great market on Wednesday & Friday-Sunday, with flowers, cheap shops, and great produce and food, for way less than you would pay at the grocery store.  The market happens to be one street over from where I work, which is pretty convenient! 

Okay, now onto my internship.  I was very lucky to be placed in this program.  Greta Donaldson Publicity is a firm that does PR for a lot of different organizations.  There is never a dull moment, and there is always a new project, or work to be done.  Greta (the owner obviously) started up a business on the side, called Prospect 360, which puts on seminars, allowing students to go and talk with well known professionals in their field, and network.  Since networking is so important these days, I think it is a really great, and helpful, idea!  I know I am enjoying the benefits of working at these events, because it allows me to get to know a wide variety of people in the field of Public Relations, which will really help me in the future!  To check out both GDPublicity and Prospect 360 here are the links: http://www.gdpublicity.com.au/ & http://www.prospect360.com.au/.  I am currently working on a project for Prospect 360.  We are putting on a Fashion and Media Seminar later this month, and my job is to work on planning the event, as well as get the word out there about the event.  It is pretty fun, and yesterday I got to go to the Whitehouse Institute of Fashion & Interior Design, to book the venue. It is pretty neat, and has a very modern feel to it. Above is a photo of the lobby in the Whitehouse Institute. 

I went to the institute with my co-worker Jo.  She is really cool, and we have a nice time working together.  We had to wait a bit to talk with the Director of Events, so we had some fun taking pictures of this interesting place.  I would have taken more, but the receptionist probably already thought I was weird!  I'll be sure to take some photos of this place when the seminar actually happens, as it will be in the same building.  It is really neat and interesting, however, in the lobby there are the most uncomfortable "chairs" EVER!  Modernism DOES NOT equal comfort I guess!

Finally, I want to express how grateful I am for this opportunity to intern for Greta.  I will learn so much working for her, and she really allows me to fully be a part of everything.  Sometimes internships are full of mindless busy work, and running errands for people.  That is not the case for me, I am so lucky to be doing an internship that will actually help me in the future!  I am learning, and will continue to learn, so much in Public Relations.  I have to wake up at 5am to commute to South Melbourne, in order to get ready and be there before 9am.  I leave work around 6pm, and get home at 7:30pm.  It is a long day, but it is totally worth the experience!  Plus, I only have to make the trip once or twice a week, so it's really not bad at all.  This is a picture of my walk to the tram station at night.  Seeing beautiful things like this, everyday, makes me feel like the luckiest gal in the whole-wide-world! 

Cheers!

Meet My Roommate Erika!

This is my amazing roommate Erika.  When coming to a foreign country, with no friends, being thrown into a new culture, and knowing you are going to share a bedroom with a person you have never met before, you become a little worried.  It is sort of like being in a dorm, freshman year of Uni.  I have had my fare share of experiences with roommates, and to be honest, I did not know what to expect.  But what I got, was much better than I could have ever imagined!  Erika and I get along extremely well, and she is one of the kindest people I've ever gotten the pleasure of getting to know.  

Erika is a gorgeous gal from Sweden.  She speaks amazing English, as well as a few other languages, including Italian and Spanish.  Coming from America, I really noticed that we are lacking in the bilingual department.  Almost all the people I meet from other countries, not only are bilingual, but usually speak 3 or 4 languages.  It's a great thing to be able to speak more than one language, I know I sure wish I could speak my second language (Spanish) better than I currently can!  Erika is teaching me some Swedish, but it is a very hard language to learn and speak!  Also, people from other countries generally are more cultured, in that, they travel and spend large amounts of time in other countries.  I know that is a goal of mine...I want to travel the world.  Erika has been to many places, including Spain and Italy.  We can relate in this way, because I have been to Spain as well, and I REALLY would like to spend some time traveling through Italy, at some point in the future.  Erika and I plan to travel around Australia for a while after the semester ends.  It will be a blast, because we are similar, in that, we love to see new places, experience beautiful sights, and try new things!

It took no time at all for Erika and I to become great friends, and in 4 short weeks we have become completely comfortable around each other.  She puts up with my craziness, goofiness, and my obnoxious cleaning habits.  She is one of the most patient people I know.  It suits her that she is studying to be a nurse, because she is extremely nurturing, and always sees the positives in life.  We have so much fun together, and we laugh with each other all the time!  I feel blessed to know and live with Erika, because she is the type of person, that makes me feel like a better person, for knowing her.  I am learning new things from her everyday.  She is upbeat, and optimistic.  We enjoy sharing our music with each other, and have found we have very similar taste in music!  I love some of the Swedish artists she introduced me to.  We also found that we have something else in common...we both LOVE horses!  Erika has been riding her whole life, and we plan to set up a day trip, to go riding somewhere here in Melbourne, or nearby.  They have really cool activities, like riding on the beach or through a winery.  It will be something that we both will have fun doing! 

 She has also introduce me to 2 other Swedish girls name Jenny and Anna (Jenny is on the left, and Anna is on the right).  They live next door, and are extremely nice as well. We have started to all spend time together, and I'm really enjoying getting to know everyone!  We recently went out for $4.00 pizzas together for Anna's birthday.  Then Jenny had her birthday, just this past Monday, but unfortunately, I had too much homework to go out for it.   Yesterday we went shopping, and I showed them Chadstone Shopping Centre.  It is this GIGANTIC mall, with so many places to buy amazing clothes!!  There is a range of stores, from high end like Prada and Gucci, to more affordable stores that we can shop at.  And let me tell you, fashion and shopping here in OZ is fantastic!! 

Erika and I had fun with photo booth one day, as you can see in the photo above :)  I am so happy I have such an amazing roommate.  To be this lucky, really shows me that there are genuine and kind hearted people out there.  Sometimes I wonder how there could be such evil people in the world, but meeting and getting to know someone like Erika, overpowers the bad people out there.  She is a gorgeous human being, inside and out!! I am so unbelievably lucky to be on this journey in my life, and even more lucky to be on it with such a phenomenal person, as Erika is just that...a phenomenal gal!