Bondi and off to Brisbane

I'm taking a quick break from the update on NZ (it's taking a long time, I know...this weekend has been CRAZY with homework).

I've turned in my essays for Queer Theory (the existence of the homosexual panic defense and why a woman can't claim she panicked and killed a man when he started hitting on her) and Theories of Subjectivity (subjectivity, surveillance, and power in Foucault's account of the prison), and now I'm working on an essay for astronomy (black holes!). It's due next Monday, but I need to write it by tomorrow morning, because...I'm going to Brisbane! This week, Critical and Cultural Studies is having an extra week's break from classes (meaning I have only Astronomy), and Wednesday is Anzac Day (like Memorial Day), so no classes for Astronomy then. Instead of doing the usual Australian tradition of getting drunk and playing 2-Up (it's a gambling game where basically you're throwing coins in the air and guessing which side it will land on) at the pubs, my friend Dave (an Aussie in my Queer Theory class, not the one from Melbourne) and I are flying up to Brisbane until Monday morning. I'm really excited, so I'll have more stories to tell when I get back!

In other news, Saturday I FINALLY went to one of the beaches here. I went to Bondi (Manly and Coogee are up next) with Derek, and it was gorgeous. The waves are huge, and you can swim under them or ride over them. I got hit in the face by the surf (not surfers, the water) a few times, but it was cool.

Derek and I saw some cool paths leading up to some lookout points, so we decided to bring our lunches up there and eat. Well, on the way there, I tripped down a flight of 5 stone stairs, and scratched my flip-flop-clad feet up. My feet started bleeding all over the place. We stopped at the nearest bathroom, then hobbled over to some grass where I sat down. Derek went to the nearest pharmacy and bought me some band-aids. After eating some food and cleaning my feet up, I felt better, so we walked around a bookshop and got a real meal (the PBJ sandwich didn't do it for me), then headed home.

I've been hobbling around for the past few days because of my foot. This incident just convinces me even more that Australia hates my feet.

Last night we went to the Aussie premiere of Half-Nelson, an indie film about a teacher who has a drug problem and one of his students finds out. I'd definitely recommend it. Apparently it came out a while ago in the U.S., so you might be able to find it in the video store.

That all being said, Happy Birthday Mom! It's the day after here, but it's your birthday at home (it's like 10 PM Monday your time). I sent you a card, which will come late, but it's on its way!

Okay, I'll continue with the New Zealand saga *soap opera music, thank you Jenny, haha* in a bit, after I actually do something related to black holes...