Only In America...

In the Perry-Castenada Library students are studying intensively for upcoming mid-terms, group assignments, papers or doing the usual homework. Little would you know that just over 2 weeks ago it was home to a major crime scene that caused fear, panic and university lockdown.

It is always one thing to read about a campus shooting in the news and another to actually be in one. 20 minutes into my first class of the day, Japanese, students receive a text message alert from the university.

"Armed subject reported last seen at Perry Castaneda Library on 9/28/2010. Details to follow." 

What?

Oh. 

And then it hit me that someone was carrying a gun in the library across the street. We barricaded the door, turned off the lights, closed the blinds and continued on with class. Then the next text message came. 

"Again, armed subject reported at Perry Castaneda Library. Shelter in place. Stay where you are at. More information to follow." 

The university alarm went off and everyone moved indoors and into shelter. 

Things just got serious. 

All I can say is thank goodness for modern technology. We were able to Facebook, Twitter and listen to radio to find out what was happening. There was a man dressed in black armed with an automatic weapon and shooting on campus who then shot himself on level 6 of the PCL. Then, there were suspicions that there might be a second shooter on campus. There were police, SWAT teams, reporters everywhere and there was even a tank. We were evacuated and the campus was eventually given the "all clear" but classes were cancelled and the university remained sealed off. Luckily nobody was injured or hurt. It was definitely a hectic morning but I'm very impressed by the way the police and university handled the situation. 

Now, two weeks later, everything is normal again thankfully.

Unluckily, another first time has been added to my list.

HOWDY Y'ALL!!

WARNING: SUPER LONG AND IMAGE HEAVY POST AHEAD!!!

Howdy from Austin, capital of Texas, a city known for its live music, university, liberality, heat and diversity. It is hard to believe that I've been here for almost 4 WEEKS now! The people here are very friendly and helpful (they will hold the door open for the next person even if they are far away) and very much not what I had expected. Fast food is abundant everywhere (although I have yet to try McDonald's) and food servings are indeed much larger with free drink refills. It has been très hot for the last few weeks heating up to 40C and 50+% humidity constantly that i can feel my face melting off everyday and I have definitely become more tanned (by Lisa standards).

The university campus is huge and cars give way to all pedestrians on campus. The facilities are really good as almost everything is newer, better and shinier. The UT Tower sits in the middle of the campus and is lit up orange when we win a football match. Football is HUGE here and people fight for a seat in the 100,000 people stadium to see the match live. Our mascot is Bevo XIX, a real steer, and our slogan is Hook'em Horns (comes with a hand sign too). The slogan for Austin is Keep Austin Weird (haha). 90% of the students are from Texas (most are from Dallas, Houston or San Antonio). I'm living in an off-campus dorm (with my lovely roomie Riki-Ann) but many students stay on campus or off-campus in co-ops and apartments because it is cheaper. The campus life is amazing and there is so much UT pride in the students. I am so glad to have come here. 

Lingo Differences:
Thongs = flip-flops (lesson learned #1 - do not say "that guy's thongs" in public)
Bubbler = water fountain
Uni = university/college
Autumn = fall
Timetable = schedule
Shout = treat
Soft drink = soda
Entree = main
Arvo = afternoon
Capsicum = pepper
Jam = jelly
Power point = electrical outlet
Pool = billiards
Tomato sauce = ketchup

That is all I can remember for now. 

Anyway enough of my blabbering, it's photo time!

How adorkable is this??

They make the yummiest bagel sandwiches I've had by far.

Potbelleez salad with Potbelleez sauce!

Fried green tea ice-cream. It tasted better than it looks. Really.

Alaskan Salmon Salad.

Beef, bacon and cheesy goodness. Perfect for blocking your arteries and inducing obesity, diabetes and strokes.

Giant toe-may-toes. Perfect for La Tomatina!

Original founders of Apple.

Yellow sunburst tomatoes!

Lamb with hummus and salad.

Swirll Fro-Yo. Very yummy :)

But if you're feeling particularly peckish, perhaps you should try these Sour Cream & Onion flavoured crickets.

Or the Mexican Spice larvaes.

Or the Scorpion Lollipop.

Or the Onion Ring Mints.

Or babies.

More babies.

All found in the Toy Joy shop.

Mount Bonnell.

View from Mount Bonnell.

UT Campus.

UT Tower in the background.

Squirrel! You can find them everywhere on campus! They come out during the day but don't like people much.

This is what happens when you park your bike and then proceed to forget about it.

The New York Stock Exchange Trading Post No. 5 (1929-1981) now stands at the entrance to the McCombs School of Business.

UT Tower lit orange for Gone to Texas!

UT Tower lit with the Longhorns sign and the Lone Star Flag.

Students practicing their fire-extinguishing skills.

The road home.

My home for the next 10 months.

More newspaper dispensers.

Austin Aztex Soccer Team. Didn't think there'd be one. We won too!!

The mascot, Sergeant Pepper.

The band, which played for as long as the soccer players.

Midnight Rodeooooooo!! Shed-turned-bar with live music and dance floor for square dancing and two stepping if you're game.

With Hans and Sung.

With Candelle. Aussie pride!

:OMG! CHINATOWN! IN AUSTIN!

Steak n Shake. Authentic American diner.

I think this is self-explanatory.

The bestest mint cookies and cream milkshake I've ever had. Definitely going back.

Tomomi, Courtney and Tabitha at camp.

With the just-turned-21-years-old Edna. Happy Birthday!

With Tomomi.

With Coach and Jiajing.

Bumper Pool! Much harder than ordinary pool in my opinion.

With the Master (at pool).

The egg that lived.

With Tabitha.

Becky's car group. Thanks for giving us a ride!

And finally, with suggestion from the lovely Helen, I leave you all with a photo of me with one of my many future husbands. The one, and only, Leo.