Lomo

A new chapter

I'm back home after an incredible 5 months spent living and exploring the States. 

It's tempting to say it's time to go back to reality, but I feel like that would be wrong, because it has been reality all along. 

Every friend made, food tasted, emotion felt, was all real. 

St Louis, Chicago, Memphis, New York City, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Los Angeles.

A trail of cities that I have been fortunate enough to experience and embrace with an open mind of curiosity and wonder.

 

    

Week 13 & 14: Love Me Tender

Last Friday I went on my very first road trip! Even though it was only for one night, it was 36 hours of good times shared with good friends. We ventured down to Memphis, Tennessee, the home of the king, Elvis Presley (hopefully you've made the connection with the title of this blog now and realised I am not in love). Driving through midwest country isn't the most exciting thing in terms of the view but crazy songs, conversation about our different homes and a lunch stop at a redneck McDonalds makes it worthwhile. 

After dinner on the famous Beale St, I watched my very first NBA game, Memphis Grizzlies vs. New York Knicks and we won! And when I say we, I mean the Grizzlies. The free flag at the entrance door was enough persuasion to gain my support. We were lucky enough to stay at the DoubleTree Hilton for an amazing price, courtesy of Sanjay's mum and devoured the buffet breakfast the next morning. It was one of those times when you become so excited that you consume your daily intake within half an hour. So we decided to make use of the calories and found a putt putt park. After that it was on to Graceland, where Elvis lived. Decked out in our audio guides and with cameras glued to our hands, we played the part of the overzealous tourist. 

Did you know Elvis bought his first house at 21, and his second house at 22? By his standards I should have bought a house by now. On the drive home, we stopped at the Outback Steakhouse for lols - toilets labelled "Sheilas" and "Blokes" and a dessert special called "Chocolate Thunder from Down Under". 

Besides Memphis, it's been business as usual. Studying, walking due to lack of a car, gymming, trivia night (free food as usual), another birthday (Or's 23rd), going to a party in the basement of the building next door, watching the new James Bond movie and so on. 

Edouard told me we were getting a Kia Rio. Turns out it was a Chevy. 

At our McDonalds pitstop. We all laughed for a good 5 minutes after taking this photo.... (I won't explain why)

Beale Street. 

The game - I zoomed in on this shot. We were actually about 5 rows from the roof. 

Dinner!

Our live entertainment at dinner. 

Outside the stadium - FedEx Forum

Charlotte and I going for the Grizzlies!

Putt Putt - Charlotte and Edouard are both golfers, so needless to say who won our mini golf tournament.

Having a go at the batting cages - coordination optional

Elvis' mansion - Graceland

The pool room

Apparently even Elvis had one of these!

The King

SSSSSkype IV

My favourite part of skyping my parents before they go to work in the morning. 

Ecstatic to see me! 

Saying hi to Erin and kitty ^_^

Precious

He bought a new t-shirt 

My whiteboard in my bedroom back home :O 

Pups <3 p="p">

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.