A Letter from Sydney. A fantastic month in Australia !

Thursday, August 29 th, 2011.

Dear Julie,

It's been ages since I was last in touch ! That's why I send you this letter, telling you what I did during these vacations.
As you already know, I went to Australia for a month with my family.
It was WONDERFUL ! We discovered so many things there aren't in France !

We decided to settle in a little flat, in the centre of Sydney. My mother took this decision because she wanted to discover the Opera, in this city. And we visited it three times, (in the big despair of my brother) !! To me, this choice was perfect because there were so many shops. Besides, I brought back a little present to you.   :)

People were so welcoming to us, we got on well with an Australian family, the Andersons'. They had three sons : the eldest, Med, was nineteen, the second, John was eleven (like my brother), and the little baby Jerry was two years old, SO CUTE !

We met them in a park around a cookout. Indeed, Australians make available to all some barbecues in public places. I found it so friendly, didn't you ?

The first week, we decided to discover the landscape in our little car. In the middle of the day, we met a kangaroo, taken out from nowhere which literaly destroyed our poor car. Fortunately, the kangaroo was safe and sound and it continued to jump over the forest.

We had to wait for the breakdown truck for 3 hours !!

But during that so long time, we met a koala with its baby, and my brother succeeded in feeding them with bamboo shots.

So, finally we didn't get bored very much.

When we went back home we finished our week lazing in the sun on Australian beaches. The climate is semi arid in here so, imagine, we were so hot !

Well, we had to rent a 4x4 with a big bumper, to discover the landscape well (that's what we did the third week).

Kangaroo

My brother, who is fascinated by wild animals was right, Australia is full of them, but there are also dangerous animals !

The last week, we were playing on a golf course, when something incredible happened to us.
I was sitting with my mother on the grass, next to a lake, when suddenly, she shouted. She said she caught a glimpse of a big shark in the water. Of course, we laughed at her ... until we really saw a big fin appear.
I ran out and someone filmed that incredible moment (here).

Didgeridoo

By the way, I couldn't forget you when I was walking in Sydney. I know you're fond of music, and I saw people playing the didgeridoo ! It's made of bamboo and it makes a strange sound I had never heard before.

I hope everything is all right for you, even if you miss me (;

See you soon !

Lot of Love <3

Justine

Top tips for freshers

One of the most important tips i could give is meet as many students as possible.

To my mind, the more you'll meet people, the more you'll learn about your new life at the university.

So, try to be as sociable as possible.

You can joins sports associations on the campus, it's a good way to talk to other students.

You should also often go to a student place called EVE.
There, you'll be answered all the questions you may wonder. The new in EVE, is PL@TINE, a website for students and associations to make your commitment to the University easier.

If you live in one of the rooms of the university, it will be easier to bump into new people.
You could cook in the common room and have breakfast and dinner with the other students living on the same floor.
Don't hesitate to ask them who have been here for two or three years. They'll glady talk about their experience, follow their advice and you'll fit well to your new life.

Ready for shopping ?

        Here we are !
          It's cold and wet, autumn is back !

In the place I suggest you, you can go shopping and be hot : it's Grand Place.

To go there, you have to take the A tram or buses number 13, 23, 26 or 32 and stop at Grand Place.

It's a huge shopping mall opened from 9.30 a.m to 8.00 p.m. 

Imagine that, there are a hundred and twenty different shops and restaurants !

First, why don't you go into beauty shops, to be perfumed and made up. The saleswoman have got good business sense and will give you good advice.

Afterwards, how about going into clothing stores, trying on nice tops and above all warm clothes !

Did you know there were excellent chocolate shops in there ? So, what about buying some ? Then, you could go and have a large cup of tea in a bar and don't forget to taste the chocolates you've just bought.

Enjoy your week end in Grenoble ! And hope you have money to spend !