It's 73 degrees (Fahrenheit) and it's the middle of winter. Oh yeah babe, I'm in Australia.
Things are going well. I have a week of activities to catch you all up on, but I'll do my best to make it as interesting as possible as well as including as much "Aussie speak" as I can.
Arrival
After about a total of 20 hours of being en route to Sydney I finally arrived around 9am on Thursday morning. I left the 9th of July (Tues) and arrived on the 11th (Thurs), so I completely missed Wednesday which is weird to think about.
Donned in my yoga pants and Corolla sweater, I feel I arrived in true American style. Getting to church wasn't difficult at all and there were lots of current students to greet me. It was a very welcoming atmosphere and I was able to connect to wifi to let the "immediately important" people know I arrived safely. After traveling about 13500 km and being completely exhausted, you know who you need to talk to and the list is very very very short. Please don't feel offended; you know what and who I mean.
I then paid my fees (about $550 AUD) and then was taken to my flat (Aussie for "apartment"). I'm located in the Atarah building of the Meritan. It's about a three minutes walk from church, which as I visit friends' flats, I realize how lucky I am to be so close.
My flat was completely empty.
When I say "completely" empty, I mean empty. The only thing in it, besides my roommate's bags, were 6 mattresses and the bed frame boxes. No refrigerator, microwave, tables, chairs, washer, lamp, etc.
NOTHING.
And it was frigid!
Needless to say, homesickness was in full swing and I began to sob.
OK...sob is an understatement, I went into a full on ugly cry. Probably for a good two or three hours. I was miserable and ready to come home.
But the Lord is good always and after I fixed my face, my roommate walked in and was super kind. Her name is Kendall and she's from Texas. The more time we spend together, in and out of the room, I really just enjoy her. She has such a kind heart and is so smart; not the smart that makes you want to hate her, but the smart that makes you really appreciate her being around. She's great. So we did the get-to-know-you sort of questions and then left for a new student dinner.
Having that dinner was such a gift from the Lord. I met a bunch of new students (or "intake") and it was nice to have free food. Everything in Australia is wicked expensive! For example, 1 post card and 3 stamps cost me $8 AUD or roughly $10 USD. It's crazy.
So don't expect letters :) #jokingnotjoking
And let's be praying for a job!
Activities during the week
Pretty much everyday has had something going on and the new intake group has been able to hang out together. Our group has been meshing so well that it feels like we've known each other for years. We took an IKEA trip the day after I arrived (fun fact: I've only ever been to IKEA in other countries. Austria and now Australia, never America). That's really where the intake bonding began. I'm really loving everyone, but oddly enough, I haven't met that many native Australians who are attending college. We're in the middle of Winter holiday so I'm sure a lot of them are at home and will be back next week when school starts. But I've met people from everywhere around the world: Finland, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Vietnam, Peru, Mexico, Columbia, Canada, Germany, Russia, Domican Republic, Brazil, Indonesia, South Africa and of course America.
Other trips during the week have included the Opera House, harbour, Botanical Gardens, East Gardens (shopping mall), laser tag, bowling, and random dinners. By far my favorite was today when we went to the Botanical Gardens right by the Opera House. Sunshine all day and only the pastoral students went since today was worship student placement auditions. It would have been fun to have everyone, but the scenery was so beautiful nothing could dampen my enjoyment.
I am regularly finding myself in awe that the Lord who created such breathtaking places also created me. And even more awesome is that He finds me more beautiful than even the best view. His love is crazy. I love it :)
Flatmates
My flatmates are very cool. There are 6 of us in a 3 bedroom, 2 bath flat. Kendall and I share a room with a bathroom (benefits of arriving first). Joanna and Sara, both from Sweden, are in another room. And Emma, from Norway, and Koriena, from California, share the third room. We are also getting along swimmingly. Everyone is on the pastoral stream except Emma, who is studying worship. I'm learning little bits of Swedish! That's always fun. We're having a lot of fun together...when we're all there :)
General Hillsong College Info
The school is broken up into 2 campuses: Hills and City. I am at the City campus located in Waterloo, a little suburb of Sydney. Hills is out in Baulkham Hills, about which I know nothing except that it's in what Australia considers the country.
Size wise the difference is MASSIVE!!! For a Virginian college comparison, Hills is Virginia Tech while City is Longwood.
At City, only 2 streams (or fields of study) are available, worship and pastoral. So immediately it cuts down on the size of intake group. Hills has all streams: worship, pastoral, dance, production, and TV/media. Both have their pros and cons, but I'm beyond grateful that the Lord has me at City. I didn't even know the difference between the two before I came so I didn't know I would like City better, but of course, the Lord knows me and what's best for me. Hence, me being in Waterloo at City campus.
Missing home is still a thing, but like I said, I haven't cried since the third day. I've been able to FaceTime and Skype with a few people, but they've done my heart such good. The Lord is constantly pouring out His favor on me. I am completely undeserving and humbled that he considers me and takes care of me in ways I still don't understand.People. That's not the word I want to use...
Blessings have come into my life I didn't even know to pray for. Very specific blessings. God reminds me everyday how great and deliberate His love for his children is. So intentional and aware of my needs. Indescribable.
Prayer requests are still mostly the same as before: job, financial provision, fridge, stream decision (youth versus social justice), and continued assimilation in the culture.
Thank you again for your prayers.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
I wrote this yesterday and am more than happy to announce that we have a fridge!!!! The Lord totally delivered and with haste!! Praise be to Him! I can finally store food. And just in time for the commencement of free dinners. What a blessing!
Also, my address is as follows:
Veronica Grosso
11/28 Crystal St
Waterloo 2017 NSW
Australia
Please send me lots of letters, pictures, peanut butter, and anything else you'd like :)
Things are going well. I have a week of activities to catch you all up on, but I'll do my best to make it as interesting as possible as well as including as much "Aussie speak" as I can.
Arrival
After about a total of 20 hours of being en route to Sydney I finally arrived around 9am on Thursday morning. I left the 9th of July (Tues) and arrived on the 11th (Thurs), so I completely missed Wednesday which is weird to think about.
 |
| Pretty sick view on the plane. |
Donned in my yoga pants and Corolla sweater, I feel I arrived in true American style. Getting to church wasn't difficult at all and there were lots of current students to greet me. It was a very welcoming atmosphere and I was able to connect to wifi to let the "immediately important" people know I arrived safely. After traveling about 13500 km and being completely exhausted, you know who you need to talk to and the list is very very very short. Please don't feel offended; you know what and who I mean.
I then paid my fees (about $550 AUD) and then was taken to my flat (Aussie for "apartment"). I'm located in the Atarah building of the Meritan. It's about a three minutes walk from church, which as I visit friends' flats, I realize how lucky I am to be so close.
My flat was completely empty.
When I say "completely" empty, I mean empty. The only thing in it, besides my roommate's bags, were 6 mattresses and the bed frame boxes. No refrigerator, microwave, tables, chairs, washer, lamp, etc.
NOTHING.
And it was frigid!
Needless to say, homesickness was in full swing and I began to sob.
OK...sob is an understatement, I went into a full on ugly cry. Probably for a good two or three hours. I was miserable and ready to come home.
But the Lord is good always and after I fixed my face, my roommate walked in and was super kind. Her name is Kendall and she's from Texas. The more time we spend together, in and out of the room, I really just enjoy her. She has such a kind heart and is so smart; not the smart that makes you want to hate her, but the smart that makes you really appreciate her being around. She's great. So we did the get-to-know-you sort of questions and then left for a new student dinner.
Having that dinner was such a gift from the Lord. I met a bunch of new students (or "intake") and it was nice to have free food. Everything in Australia is wicked expensive! For example, 1 post card and 3 stamps cost me $8 AUD or roughly $10 USD. It's crazy.
So don't expect letters :) #jokingnotjoking
And let's be praying for a job!
Activities during the week
Pretty much everyday has had something going on and the new intake group has been able to hang out together. Our group has been meshing so well that it feels like we've known each other for years. We took an IKEA trip the day after I arrived (fun fact: I've only ever been to IKEA in other countries. Austria and now Australia, never America). That's really where the intake bonding began. I'm really loving everyone, but oddly enough, I haven't met that many native Australians who are attending college. We're in the middle of Winter holiday so I'm sure a lot of them are at home and will be back next week when school starts. But I've met people from everywhere around the world: Finland, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Vietnam, Peru, Mexico, Columbia, Canada, Germany, Russia, Domican Republic, Brazil, Indonesia, South Africa and of course America.
 |
| We're all quite fond of jumping pictures. |
Other trips during the week have included the Opera House, harbour, Botanical Gardens, East Gardens (shopping mall), laser tag, bowling, and random dinners. By far my favorite was today when we went to the Botanical Gardens right by the Opera House. Sunshine all day and only the pastoral students went since today was worship student placement auditions. It would have been fun to have everyone, but the scenery was so beautiful nothing could dampen my enjoyment.
 |
| No filter. Just God :) |
Flatmates
My flatmates are very cool. There are 6 of us in a 3 bedroom, 2 bath flat. Kendall and I share a room with a bathroom (benefits of arriving first). Joanna and Sara, both from Sweden, are in another room. And Emma, from Norway, and Koriena, from California, share the third room. We are also getting along swimmingly. Everyone is on the pastoral stream except Emma, who is studying worship. I'm learning little bits of Swedish! That's always fun. We're having a lot of fun together...when we're all there :)
General Hillsong College Info
The school is broken up into 2 campuses: Hills and City. I am at the City campus located in Waterloo, a little suburb of Sydney. Hills is out in Baulkham Hills, about which I know nothing except that it's in what Australia considers the country.
Size wise the difference is MASSIVE!!! For a Virginian college comparison, Hills is Virginia Tech while City is Longwood.
At City, only 2 streams (or fields of study) are available, worship and pastoral. So immediately it cuts down on the size of intake group. Hills has all streams: worship, pastoral, dance, production, and TV/media. Both have their pros and cons, but I'm beyond grateful that the Lord has me at City. I didn't even know the difference between the two before I came so I didn't know I would like City better, but of course, the Lord knows me and what's best for me. Hence, me being in Waterloo at City campus.
Missing home is still a thing, but like I said, I haven't cried since the third day. I've been able to FaceTime and Skype with a few people, but they've done my heart such good. The Lord is constantly pouring out His favor on me. I am completely undeserving and humbled that he considers me and takes care of me in ways I still don't understand.
Blessings have come into my life I didn't even know to pray for. Very specific blessings. God reminds me everyday how great and deliberate His love for his children is. So intentional and aware of my needs. Indescribable.
Prayer requests are still mostly the same as before: job, financial provision, fridge, stream decision (youth versus social justice), and continued assimilation in the culture.
Thank you again for your prayers.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
I wrote this yesterday and am more than happy to announce that we have a fridge!!!! The Lord totally delivered and with haste!! Praise be to Him! I can finally store food. And just in time for the commencement of free dinners. What a blessing!
Also, my address is as follows:
Veronica Grosso
11/28 Crystal St
Waterloo 2017 NSW
Australia
Please send me lots of letters, pictures, peanut butter, and anything else you'd like :)
I miss you Lynne! I am excited for you and I can't wait to read more... xo Nicole
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