The Beach and My House

                So classes technically started today, but for some reason two of my classes aren’t starting until next week!  So I had today off, and get tomorrow off, too!  Honestly, I’m ready to get started with classes.  All this free time is kind of getting to my head.

                Today I headed back to the beach in search of calmer waters and good snorkeling spots.  I’ve been kind of obsessed with the beach since I’ve been here, which is a little concerning.  It means I have to shower away ocean water and sand (so much sand) every day, and I’m tanning at an alarming rate.  I feel like I’m at a July level of tan right now, and I’ve only been here just over a week.  I reapply sunscreen every few hours, don’t worry mom, but the sun here is very aggressive.  I hope people will still be able to recognize me when I come back!

                Anyway, I walked from Coogee to Clovelly, which is a little beach about a 20 minute walk down the coast.  I’ve heard so much about Clovelly, so I was really excited to try it out!  It’s a sandy beach that gives way to rocks about 10 meters away from shore.  Rocks means lots of plants, and lots of plants means lots of fish!  The beach is also protected from waves on either side by big rocky cliffs, so the water is pretty calm there.  It’s perfect for snorkeling!

 I was lucky enough to see a ton of colorful fish today, and even followed a school of gars for awhile.  Honestly, I could have stayed down there all day with my face in the water, but towards the afternoon it started getting really cold and windy, and I had a long way to walk back.

                Tonight was also the Master’s open house at International House.  The masters of the house, Bob and Susan, live in a little apartment just down the hall from me.  Tonight they opened up their home for residents to visit and socialize!  Bob and Susan are beautiful people; such goodhearted and pure souls.  They love this house with all their hearts.  They have made it their life’s work to bring nations together under this roof by housing and feeding students from all over the world, and do it all while keeping the rent amazingly affordable.

                However, tonight they announced that the University wants to take over International House, which is currently an independent organization.  Because UNSW is currently in debt, Bob and Susan fear that if they took over, they would raise prices dramatically, and break up the beautiful little community we have.  So far, no lawyers have been hired and nobody has initiated a fight, but both of them said that they would be willing to do anything to protect this house.  And sitting there in their little, outdated apartment, looking around at an entire globe of faces, I could see why. 

                International House is far from state-of-the-art, but the community within it is the most amazing thing I’ve ever had the privilege to be part of.  The people here are so exceptionally kind an open, in a way that I’ve never experienced before.  Everyone accepts and cares for each other, whether they’ve been living here for 6 years or 6 days.  I am so so so blessed to have gotten a chance to live here, because it’s made my transition to a new life abroad so much easier.  Everyone says hello to each other in the hallways, regardless of if they even know their names.  Meals are eaten at huge tables, with different people at each one every day.  Everyone is just so happy to get to know each other and learn from one another.  Even from the first day, I could feel that I would have a home here, without judgment or.  Honestly, without International House, I would probably still be the anxious mess I was on day one. 

                Okay, so I got a little emotional tonight.  I love this community and the people who run it, and even the worn down old house that it lives in.  I haven’t been here very long, but even I would stand up for this community if necessary.  I’m not sure if or when we might have to fight, but if it comes down to it, I know without a doubt that this community would band together to keep our house safe from the University’s hands. 

                So I’m going to bed happy and grateful tonight, for all the people I’ve met so far and will continue to meet.  Goodnight!