Well I figured I should update since it's been quite a while since I've done so. Things have gotten a bit more busy, though not a whole lot more. I'm not really sure what I was doing last week that prevented me from updating. Nothing I don't think. Anyway another week is gone and mainly it was a lot of schoolwork and those sorts of things. But I had an excellent day on Friday as I spent the whole day with Al. We went to the city for Harry's pies, then had some excellent chocolate and headed out to Bondi and walked along the beach. All and all a wonderful day, capped off with some excellent Mexican food. God bless fajitas, seriously. Australia needs to learn what black beans are though. Really, they're just little black beans folks. It's not that hard. They're so essential to fajita making. They were still good without them, but I did miss their presence in my little tortilla. Or should I say tortillas. I had three. I really liked them.

Yesterday Leah and I saw the Australian Chamber Orchestra at the Opera House and it was absolutely amazing. I seriously can't say anything beside that. We just walked out of there totally amazed and relaxed and just really content. I love going to things like that. I just wish they didn't cost $30. Which I guess really was quite a deal but not everything is that (relatively) inexpensive. Leah and I need to find a secret entrance into the Opera House so we can go there all the time for free. Note to self: find secret entrance.

After the Symphony we had some excellent gellato at the quay before catching the ferry back to Leah's. Soon we were off to church, which unfortunately I was somewhat falling asleep during. I haven't been sleeping very well lately, and I think the lack of sleep combined with the relaxing effects of the Symphony put me out. It was good though; it's good to be in the house of God and hear from God's word even when you don't necessarily feel like being there (or being awake).

Today was an interesting day. Last week I had just briefly met this guy in one of my classes at the Christian club meeting on campus. So today we hung out and talked a bit and it turns out we have heaps of stuff in common. So he came back here on our lunch break and we jammed and played guitars together and had a really good time. We're interested in the same types of music and knew a lot of the same stuff which made it pretty easy. He asked me to play some stuff and for whatever reason I did. Turns out he's in a band and he said if I ever want to open for them I could and it was just really cool to make a connection in that respect as well. He goes to church really close to campus so I think I'm going to check that out this Sunday and see how it goes. It's always good to make friends in classes as lectures can be a bit...wide open sometimes. Other than that, I skipped my history tut today which I think was a great decision. Maybe it really wasn't, but I'm fond of it. That's all for now.

I must say I had a lovely weekend. It was filled with things to do but not too filled. Things started off with Powerhouse at Hills on Friday night which was good. Maybe I should say interesting. I think I had Hillsong culture shock, it's a bit to get used to. An American guy spoke though and I totally forgot I was in Australia until a guy got up and said something after he spoke and I got really confused for a second. After Powerhouse there was a party which was a very good time. There's nothing better than a great party with lots of food, lollies (candy), and non-alcoholic drinks all for free! I got to meet some cool people as well which was really nice. I think I went to bed that night at 1am. Definitely my latest night here by far. Saturday I hung out and did a bit of homework, then I took the bus out to Chattie to meet up with Ali and her homies to drive out to her gig in Newtown. It was a good time and Ali did really well. There was also this amazing group there called Jenani. It's just these two girls but they're just incredible musicians and have a style all to themselves not to mention voices to die for. Plus one of them plays violin extremely well. Ahhh that was definitely my favorite part of the day. They played a long time so that made me happy.

Sunday morning I made the trek out to Leah's, which apparently can take 2 hours by public transport though she's only 20 minutes drive from me. But that's on Sunday with less routes going. I didn't care anyway, it was a nice trip out and a good chance to see some of the suburbs around here, not to mention that I love taking the ferry. I hung at her place for a few hours, then we headed out to her church where I played for worship team with her. I must say I love playing the drums and I miss being able to do it often. It expels a lot of energy, especially nervous energy that I would probably just spend figiting or biting my nails. So that was great and the service was just really good. I love Leah's church because people are really involved and take time to share with everyone what God is doing in their life and what prayer requests they have and all that. After church I went back home with Leah, where she made us extraordinary peanut butter and banana sandwiches. Leah was wonderful with her meals on Sunday, it was legendary. Not long after our meal we went to bed, then she brought me back here today on her way to uni.

I'd like to say as well that I have my most boring classes today but I decided to stick it out and go and it wasn't all that bad. Plus they're having this poster sale on campus right now and I got two great posters for $19! That's like $14US. A-ma-zing! One is black and has a bunch of Beatles album covers on it, and the other is this lovely picture of a boat with a small island in the background. In my short time here the picture of a single, small boat has come to have a lot of symbolic meaning, so I figured this picture would be perfect for my room. Not only is it beautiful, it reminds me of God's love and call on my life. Good stuff. Now it's time for me to stop typing. I've been on the internet a really long time, but it's been productive stuff so I guess that's okay. Stuff like planning my trip to Tassie. HOORAY!

Introducing http://pictureoz.blogspot.com, where you can view whatever photos I've uploaded to my computer and deemed worthy of the public eye.

I would like to say that I did something somewhat compulsive yesterday, but I'm thinking it was a good compulsive. I was checking out some tickets on virginblue.com because I've been trying to figure out what I'm going to do over my break in September. So I was cruising around, seeing if I could find any ridiculous deals somewhere, because Virginblue often does this. Well my friends, who bought a ticket to Tasmania yesterday. I'll give you a hint, she likes to sit in sandwich shops to gain free internet access. Yeah, so I bought a ticket to Tasmania yesterday for cheap as and I'm totally stoked! So today I'm going to the bookshop with pen and paper in hand and I'm going to take advantage of tourist books as if I was in a library. Good deal.

Can we say today is a new day? Yeah it definitely is. I think starting the day with a lovely mocha is the way to go. I treated myself to a muffin and mocha and the shopping centre today for breakfast. I have decided I'm going to do this once weekly as the muffins are great and it gives me a little something to look forward to. I got a Sheryl Crow compilation and the best of U2 1980-1990 for a reasonable price. Then it was off to uni for a philosophy tutorial, formal logic to be exact. Our convener for our tutorial is totally hilarious, I love that guy. Tuts are going to be really fun with him I think. Unfortunately he's only with us for the first half of the semester then we have another guy. I hope he's as cool as this first guy. So I had a lovely tutorial, after which I wandered around campus checking out the various booths that are set up this week. I found out for sure where the Christian club is meeting next week (couldn't find them yesterday) and talked to some people at the Hills booth for a while. I'm going to go to a cell group tonight run by one of the girls at the booth. While we were talking a friend from my complex came up and we all started talking about Hills and cell groups and blah blah. Long and short of it is that she's going to come tonight as well and she's a Christian and I didn't know it! But looking back it very much makes sense that she is. You can see it in her actions and the way she carries herself.

So anyway, here I am, great music to listen to, a bit of work to do, mobile phone finally working again after I sucked it up and bought a charger, and I have bible study ahead of me tonight. What else could a girl ask for? Okay well I guess if they had fresh baked cookies at this bible study that would be about the most I could ask for. Or tim tam slams. But lets not go too far with our dreaming.

Sandwich shop. These people are probably tired of me sitting here without giving them any money. I did get a mocha the other day though. And let me just say, coffee is so much better here. Aussies are so high maintenance with their drinks and it pays off.

Anyway. So we (I guess just "I") had breakdown number 2 1/2 today. I add that 1/2 because the other day I sorta had half of one before I had my whole one. Oddly enough it came for a lot of the same reasons the first one did, having to do with missing and event and feeling abandoned and alone. Imagine that, flying to another country than feeling alone sometimes. Baffling, I know. But seriously, life will be fine, but after a while I just can't take being alone anymore. I need some friends. I need to meet people. Heck, I need a venue to meet people, and I don't want it to be the pub. Answer this, why does it seem like every single time I try to do something that's going to put me with other Christians the possibilities just get smashed. Honestly, tell me it's an attack, because if it's not I'm just going to be pissed off. I can deal with an attack, at least that means something good is happening. But I don't want this to be some sick kind of game. Let's keep bringing Krystle to a breaking point. That's really not cool with me, and I'm not going to be able to handle that. It's just too much heartache.

So I spent the afternoon in my room really not doing anything because I was too emotionally drained. Luckily I can afford that because I don't have very much work to do. But really I'd rather be doing work than sitting there feeling horrible. I know it's going to pass, and I know tomorrow's a new day. God's mercy has so completely been new each morning I've been here, and I'm entirely grateful for that. I just hate these days. And I hate going through them alone and not even having anyone to bounce this stuff off of. I'm tired of listening just to my own thoughts all day long. I just hate days like these. I don't long to be somewhere else really. I don't find myself wanting to pack up and go home, I just don't want to feel like this.

I don't want to be all complaining either but I just needed to get this out. God's really using this time to do major reconstruction on my heart and I'm glad for that, it just goes along with some hard times. Hopefully in another week or two things will start to get easier. Maybe not easier, but better somehow. So I guess I'll try to figure out what I'm going to do the rest of the night. Maybe drown my sorrows in some more Tim Tams. They're good for that.

I'm at the same sandwich shoppe, different seat, and a different attitude than last time I sat here. Things are going well. Classes started this week, and it's hard to believe that it's only Wednesday and I've only gone to class for two days. Each day is so long. Not in a painful way, just in a very drawn out way. I suppose as things get busier though it won't be like that so much.

Thus far my classes here are very similar to how they are at home. The grading however, is pretty different. I like some aspects of it, and dislike others. I definitely like the fact that my history lectures are online and I don't really need to go to that class. I also like the fact that all I have to do is write one paper and take a final. I'm trying to plan and be on top of those kind of things now so I'm not overwhelmed at the middle and end of the term. Seems like all my papers are due the same day, it's pretty lame. I don't think things are going to be very hard though which is a relief.

Last night I saw Spider Man 2 with some friends from my apartment complex. It was pretty good, excellent from an artistic standpoint. In general I'm not a fan of the Spider Man story just because everything's so jaded and his life is always destined to be miserable. Drives me nuts. Anyway, it was good to be out of the house for a bit and with people. It's been hard adjusting to being alone. At home I have my family and at school I'm living with friends so there's always someone around if I need them. Not so when you're living with strangers. I'm sure I'll get used to it though, and alone time is never a bad thing.

I had a really refreshing this weekend. I spent Sunday out at Leah's and it was just a really really good day. Saturday night I took the ferry out to her house and she had The Sound of Music on when I got there. I love that movie, it's my favorite. Sunday we both spent some time with God in the morning which was amazingly good. One of the best times of prayer I've had in quite a while. We went out to lunch with a friend from Leah's church and I got to meet three of her four kids. They were totally hilarious and a lot of fun. I had my first drink since I've been here. Pretty weak and sipped it for two hours. Better to be safe than sorry when a person has ZERO tolerance. We spent the afternoon at Al's, watched Calendar Girls (funny movie) and went to church that night. Church was really good as well, and God used that time to reiterate what He had already spoke to me that morning. I came back to Uni on Monday feeling a lot more peace and a lot more strength.

Today and tomorrow I just have one lecture and it's not until 5pm. My schedule here is definitely very different than it is at home. Ali's coming out tonight and I'm stoked to see her again and hang out. I think that's all I have going right now. Hopefully I'll get some pictures out soon.