Week 2: There's free food

Another week down, in St Louis! And it's been quite the week. Uni in America feels a lot like high school, especially when everyone calls it school and says they have homework. My international friends and I have been meeting the American law students all week at shindigs the law society has put on; the kind where the main incentive is the free food and drinks. All the first year JD (the American version of an LLB) students seem to be either nervous wrecks or peacock-ing around the place but the 2nd and 3rd years seem to know how to have fun. 

One of my favourite events of the week was visiting the St Louis County Jail. Apparently their policy is to try and bring a sense of coherence and freedom within the jail, amongst officers and inmates so they don't have barriers and bars, just doors. Our tour guide took us into the housing pods and casually just told us to walk through. 

You know in the movies where you see inmates sitting around watching tv and playing checkers - that's where we were. It puts you so far out of your comfort zone, that you don't even know what a comfort zone is. Especially when you hear, "MmmmHmmmm" as you walk past. 

But truly, it was quite an amazing, eye-opening experience, because you realise that they are just people like you and me (ok so that's debatable in circumstances but I'm not going to get into that). Another highlight was visiting the City Museum on Friday night. Sounds raging, I know. But if you google City Museum, you'll realise it isn't a museum at all. I spent a good couple hours climbing, crawling and sliding down the 10 storey building that is pretty much an excuse for adults to be kids again. 

ps. boys in Brisbane, I just want to thank-you for knowing how to dress yourselves nicely. Apparently American guys haven't discovered fashion here in St Louis and can't get enough of the cargo shorts and sport shoes combination. 

see photo spam for more fun things! 

Getting cosy with the Dean at the networking reception - me exuding so much awkwardness 

My Teti! 

 Or (that's a name, I don't mean 'or') threw a Mexican night on Thursday. Friday was not my friend.  

Sangria in the park

Sara and I riding home 

Self-explanatory 

Teresa and I, pt 2.

City Museum

Alright so you may need a tetanus shot after going to City Museum. 

My new wheels - courtesy of Walmart. 

Taking care of myself nom nom nom

Teresa, Jess, Sara and I at the law schools final orientation event - $1000 tab at an Irish pub where drinks are less than $4.

Don't be fooled by Buzz Westfall, this is the St Louis County Jail. 

sneaky skype snaps

In keeping with the "irrelevant nonesense" theme 

Week 1: Where are you from?

So it's been a whole week of living here in St Louis, and normally this would be the part where you say, boy, time has flown by. But it hasn't. Its summer here so the days have been long and exhausting haha. My first four nights in my apartment were as a lone wolf, but luckily one of my housemates has moved in now and I have someone to talk to about irrelevant things that happened during my day. 

I've been at law school orientation all week sitting through fundamental classes, like "Active Reading", "Study Skills" and "Touring the Law Library" where they teach us to become comfortable with being uncomfortable and not to use our English translation dictionaries all the time. I mean, how am I going to survive without my translation dictionary? 

Luckily I've met some pretty awesome people this week from all around the world and the cultural differences have provided endless conversation topics. For some reason, about 80% of our international cohort are girls, so it sort of feels like I'm at an all girls high school. 

People have tried to figure out where I'm from and whenever I say Australia, I have to respond to the puzzled faces with, "But I'm Chinese." Then the most common proceeding question has been, "Are both your parents from China?". I guess there must be some lack of coherence between my accent, appearance and personality lol.

I don't want to write too much so I'll let the pictures do the rest of the talking. 

My street: Wash Ave

 These rascals are everywhere!

Law library dungeon style lighting 

Homeboy's hometown 

Cheaper than Sunnybank - $6.50 for two nights worth of Chinese plus leftovers for the bin. 

I've got a locker! It really is like high school. 

legit. 

The beautiful Charlotte and Sara from The Netherlands and Portugal 

Wash-U's favourite building  

 Not sure about this one. Only in America. 

Maria, Teresa and I at the ice-cream social that the law school held for us in Forest Park. 

Teresa's best angle haha. 

Charlotte and Sara.  

 My new European friends :) 

My french housemate Edouard with our haul from the international student free furniture giveaway. 

The pineapple cup was a good thrift. 

They took us to Forest Park in one of these, for the "full American experience". I guess I can sleep at night now. 

Welcome Home

The surreal has become real. I'm sitting here typing on the floor of my apartment (I have a desk but no chair for some reason) in St Louis, Missouri. 

After 13 hours from Brisbane to LA, 6 hours of trying to stay awake in LAX and 3 hours from LA to St Louis, I was beyond exhausted. I tried to convince myself that it was just like a big night out after a day of work, in order to keep my sanity. But I mean it just does not compare. 

So far, St Louis' impression on me has been pretty much what I expected. I guess google maps and wikipedia will do that to you. Except the people have a tendency to be short and sharp, which can be quite intimidating when you're just a lost and lonely Ju. 

Although, I just bought a new sim card from T Mobile and the two salespeople in the empty store were overjoyed to see me (probably their first customer in who knows how long). In fact, they both gave me their numbers. Maurice, because he thought I was "fly" and Keya, in case I wanted to hang. Too kind. As to whether I'll call them, I don't know. Not sure if I have enough swag for these kids. 

My apartment 

Newly renovated and furnished ^_^

Everything smells like paint. The water tastes a bit like it too. 

Home decorating. 

Self-portrait. 

Went to Walmart and bought more than I can carry (took me 3 trips up the 3 flights of stairs). 

New number one rule: only buy what I can carry. 

Killing time on photobooth at LAX. 

6665 Washington Ave. 

No joke, drive through bank near my place. 

Jetlagged Ju in a hotel room built for 4 after half a cup of coffee*.

*if you know me, you know I don't drink coffee.  

2012

It really does feel like the world is ending. 
My upcoming departure this Saturday has meant that I've spent every waking hour of this week saying my farewells to those who matter most to me. 
And it's left me feeling quite bipolar.

Sharing animated conversations over what I'd describe as last suppers, and getting more hugs (the genuine-squeeze-and-never-let-go kind) in the past 4 days than in the average month. 

But fighting to realise that I will soon be alone in a strange place breaking the number one rule from my childhood; never talk to strangers. 

I wouldn't say I'm scared. I'm just sad to leave behind what has been my favourite year out of school, filled with the most supportive family and friends and not to mention craziest nights out, in search of something else, across the pacific ocean. 

Actually, I lied. I'm absolutely terrified of coming home chub, like the general American population. 

GYPSY

Seeing as I will be away from my dear Brother for the next 5 months, I thought I'd sew one last piece, since I still had fabric left over from my law ball dress. 

At first, I hated the pattern. I thought it was hideous. But now it's grown on me and I'm finally understanding the tribal/gypsy/maybe Indian vibe it gives off. 

What I love about sewing is never knowing what it's going to look like when it's done. 

It's like creating art. 

Not using pattern pieces means I have to measure, adjust and alter as I go. 

I get to see what makes the fabric flow and kink. 

I can make it fit me, and me only. 

But the best part is knowing that I've made it myself.