'Toots'

What a funny word that is - 'toots'. Actually it is short for 'tutorials', the madatory 1 hour small group meeting session I have for each of my classes in addition to lectures. I assume they are spelled 'tuts' if someone were to write it out, but if I wrote that I remind myself of the Egyptians for some particular reason. Oh, and they are pronounced 'toots' in a cool Kiwi accent. I bite my tongue to keep from giggling with professors say that.

On to the next topic to prove I am older than 8 years old. Oh yes, walking. I walk everywhere here. That is something I have grown to appreciate about other countries - they don't complain, they just do it. And they get used to it. I walk nearly everywhere here. I've nearly used an entire box of Band-Aids trying to mend my blistered feet. Even though I think it is practically cold enough for my tongue to get frostbite, I sometimes entertain the idea of simply taking them off and carrying them.

I feel like I am finally belonging here. The city has finally gotten to a maneagable size in my mind, so much more in perspective. I know the right way to look before I cross the street, know all of the 'hole in the wall' spots to get a good cappuccino, and even know how to give some directions. Very, very basic directions. I have stopped stressing over food (Vegemite is not THAT bad), put earplugs in if the music is too loud (by the way, I cannot fit any sort of ear plug in my left ear), I don't think much about trekking up the numerous hills on a regular basis, and am sleeping through the entire night without having to get up and go to the bathroom. Dad, you can keep your sweet leg bag at home.

I have already been to one of my classes today - a journalism class. Media, Society, and Politics is what it is called, and despite the fact that the title does have potential for a CNN special report, I really enjoyed it! We spent most of the time analyzing a news report on Michael Jackson's death. Why the reporter here was dressed this way. Why he has a paper in his hand he is clearly not reading off of. Why the logo is in that particular place. Why they used a helicopter shot. Why they explained this. I could go on and on and on. Oh, did you know that Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, and Google almost crashed when the news of MJ's death came about? There were so many hits the websites almost went down! The whole class was very amusing to me because I love details. It's one of my favorite words actually - and I am actually pretty darn good at seeing them too. Oh, and whenever a prof ends a class by saying 'cheers', you know you have a fun ride ahead. Speaking of 'cheers', I have to run now. Cheers mates!