Chelsea's Australian Blog

Well, I finally missed a few days on my blog. Today is the third of March and you really did not miss much of the past few days. Sunday and Monday were both filled with homework and gym workouts. I did figure out how to print though! All right, it is not that exciting, and it is actually rather archaic the way they print here, but it is still an accomplishment.

Let me explain a little bit about the printing process here. You get on a computer in the library, hit print and whatever settings you want. It then sends the document to the network. You find a networked computer that is hooked up to a computer. You then hit refresh and look for the number of the computer you sent your document from. Then you click on the document you want to print, swipe your card (which you previously put money on), and wait for what seems like hours for your document to print. The printers and computers are somewhat old and it slows down the process like none other. To make matters worse, it costs 11 cents per page, even if you double side it (so essentially double sided printing costs you 22c per page.). I miss my Willamette printing allowance.

Another thing that is kind of weird about the technology on campus is the wireless internet. They only have two wireless networks for the whole campus. One is based in the library and the other one stretches the length of the campus. The main one is so slow it is like pulling teach with two forks. The library network is so much better but you have to be either right outside the library or in it to really get a good connection. It is just so weird for a campus with 30,000 students!

I have been able to talk to Tati, Emma, and Rachael a lot though which has been nice. I am not sure how much of my internet I have used. I look at the statistics on the little box that pops up (I know, descriptive) and I cannot figure it out. I guess when I run out I purchase more!

I have been getting really excited about my Australian Media class. I have really enjoyed the course content so far. I am only worried about the fact that I will be writing about what it means to be Australian as portrayed through the media and I know nothing about what it even means to be an Australian! If I do it correctly though, I think this could actually help me. I have chosen my final essay question:

How does Australian media construct an ‘imagined community’? Is it through content, form of address, or through other means? Illustrate your argument using at least two or three examples.

I think this one will be perfect coming from an American. Of course, there is another question I could answer that pertains to US film critics’ use of the word ‘quirky’ to describe Australian cinema but I think I would have too much of a bias.

I met up with Carrie at the mall because she was having a bad day and we tried Boost Juice. Boost is very similar to Jamba Juice but Jamba is much better. I don’t think I will be going back to Boost.

Class today was fun. The lectures go by really quickly and I went to the RevMaster cycling class after my lectures. I then went home and made my normal dinner, sat down and…SURPRISE!!! An NCIS episode I had not seen before! And that is where and how my day ended.