I Have Arrived!

    Yesterday I got into the Brisbane Airport around 5:40 local time.  There was a bit of a delay in Dallas because the bus that was suppose to pick up the flight crew broke down.  It wasn't a long delay though.  The flight actually went pretty quickly.  Each person had their own individual TV and we were able to pick from all kinds of movies and TV shows.
     About an hour into the flight we were served dinner.  I was pretty impressed by this meal.  We had the choice between fish and chicken.  I had the chicken which came with some vegetables and potatoes.  We also got a salad, roll, and key lime pie.  Later we got a snack bag which had chocolate, shortbread, potato sticks which were like potato chips, and a bottle of water.  In the last few hours before we landed we were served breakfast.  We could have a hot breakfast or cereal.  I chose the hot breakfast which included scrambled eggs, an English muffin, sausage, fresh fruit, yogurt, and orange juice.
    Other than eat I slept for about 8 hours.  It was dark almost the entire trip.  The sun had set just before we took off and it was rising as we came in for landing.
    The sunrise was so beautiful.  It was just getting light as we went over the coast.  I was sitting by the window so I was able to see the outline of the coast and the water.  I fell in love with Australia then.
    Once I got to the airport, I had to go through customs which did not take long as we were the only flight that had come in.  However, after customs I had to just wait.  The representative from SCU didn't get to the airport until 8 and after that we had to wait for other exchange students.  The last ones were supposed to get in at 9:35, but they did not get in until almost 11.  So by the time we got out of there and to Lismore, it was already after 2.
     The drive to Lismore from Brisbane was a lot of fun though. They drive on the left side of the road so it really threw us off when we looked in the car next to us and there was no one where the driver should be.  They also have some different signs.  Instead of a deer crossing sign, they have a koala crossing sign.  They drive in km/hr instead of mph so the speed limit was 100.  Also they call "passing," "overtaking."  So one sign said "Stay in left lane unless overtaking."
     While there are definitely some differences, there are some things the same.  We saw McDonalds all over the place.  Probably just as much as you see it in America if not more.  They also have a Kmart which is like their Walmart.
     Once we got to campus we were shown our rooms and then we went shopping in town.  We live in an apartment-like dorm.  I will have 5 other roommates.  One of my roommates is a girl on exchange from Pennsylvania.  The rest of my roommates I have not met yet because they are still on Holiday.
     Last night we had some pizza which is different from our pizza in America.  The sauce is sweet and more like BBQ sauce than pizza sauce.  It was good though and we definitely welcomed warm, free food.  That was probably our last warm meal for awhile as everything is so expensive.  I will probably be living off bread, peanut butter and apples for the next four months.
     Today we are going into town again.  We will have more time to shop for things that we need as well as explore the town a little.