Finally in Oz

Flight attendants, prepare for landing

So, I've been in beautiful Australia (Oz)-the world's largest island and smallest continent- for almost a month now, and I can't believe it!

Thanks to Stewie and his famz,I quickly recovered from the effects of jet lag; nothing's worse than feeling like you're going to pass out at 5pm (during classes )and then being forced to stay up until 10 or 11pm "to get into the swing of things". Damn, that was hard! But, after about 2 weeks, I was jet-lag free and sleeping like a normal person again!!

Doing a semester abroad is probably one of the best decisions I've made in life: the exposure to different cultures and ways of life is truly amazing and quite beneficial to understanding the complexities of human interaction.

One of the most striking features of Brisbane is the diversity of people within the city . Simply trek outside and you'll be surrounded by people from all over the globe: Asians, Africans, Indians, Europeans, Americans, West Indians, the list goes on and on.

I think Brisbane is one of the most beautiful cities I've visited and lived in. Hospitable, honest people, great tropical weather, breathtaking views from high-rise buildings, (almost) litter-free streets, breathable air, and great botanical gardens and beaches.

The nightlife in Oz cannot be left out either: a myriad of clubs line the streets of the CBD and the city pulses to countless genres, a testament to the diversity of my fellow clubbers and pubbers . And when it's party time in Brisbane, it's really party time--clubs will typically keep patrons rocking to world beats till the wee hours of the morning as I've seen in my three weekends here.

One great aspect of city life here is the Busway- a specially-designated stretch of road for buses. The 12+ km provides a stress-free and relatively quick alternative to commuters wishing to get around and beyond city limits. The Busway is ingenious because of it's convenience in the city atmosphere; taking a bus to work or school never had so many benefits. Since there are no other vehicles to deal with, there's no congestion, no waiting, no road rage ...just a smooth ride into and out of the city! The Busway's so efficient that ads challenge automobile drivers to "Just try and beat the bus!"

Classes are also great here. Since they only meet once a week for two hours (plus a 1hr tut), it frees up alot of time to do homework and study, as well as to do stuff not related to academia.

So, this, my first blog ever, just brings you guys up to speed on life in Oz and how I'm doing. Look out for more!

On approach to Brisbane