we finally have internet in our new place, though it is dangerously hot and i must limit use of my laptop to the late evenings when i can be more certain that my laptop will not explode. we witnessed our landlords' computer overheat and pop! just two days ago.

"How hot is it?!" (insert bad joke groan here)

Today was 38 and tomorrow's forecast calls for more of the same. no, trust me, you don't envy me. i was crying and longing for -37, thinking of alberta while fearing i was going to vomit and pass out from heat exhaustion.

uni orientation has started. i have two weeks of orientation, though each day i seem to hear the exact same things over and over and over again. the exciting part, though, is that everyone has been exceptionally friendly and i have already met many people. it is completely the opposite of my experience starting uni at mcgill. i reason that the older we become, the less we feel the need for all those pretenses and ignoring one another to seem 'cool' or something.

we may head to the beach tomorrow for some sort of respite from the heat, though i am certain it will be just as unbearable there, and moreso because of the lack of air-conditioning on the trams.

though we were able to open a bank account without too much hassle, it will be at least two months before my money gets transferred into it, thanks to poor advice from my canadian bank on the best way to transfer funds to australia. i am worried about how we will pay rent.

i have learned that i may be able to complete my program in one year instead of two due to a weird undergraduate education system the australians sport and the oh-so-fabulous qualifications my honours degree from mcgill provided me. i am awaiting a response from administration on making the switch. the professor who is the coordinator of my program is having us all over for drinks in a week.

i am excited for the beginning of my new education. i'm excited to come up with a thesis topic and begin my independent studies as much as i'm excited for the coursework i will be pursuing as well. i want to take twice as many courses as i need for the degree. i have to not get ahead of myself.

i am worrying about finances, especially since i have recently found out that i will likely not get my work visa until mid- to late-march. ryan has been talking about finding a cash-in-hand job to help him pass time until his course starts. i am praying he will to help us finance our continued living in this country.

aside from all that, i am very much enjoying my stay. i wish people hadn't worried me needlessly about bugs (haven't seen a single scary creature) or the chauvenistic men (i find them exactly the same as men from AB & NFLD). my opinions may change with more experience, but so far, very very good.