More Grocery Shopping Makes Danielle a Happy Camper

I went to the market today! Finally. It was AMAZING. I bought:
- broccoli
- onion
- garlic
- mushrooms
- carrots
- strawberries
all for under ten dollars, I think. The strawberries were the most expensive, I think, at $3.50. but I remember the broccoli, carrots, and onion all together were $1.80. WHOA that is cheap. It was awesome. I looked at some other things, like meat and fish and cheese, and I think I might have a harder time buying that sort of stuff because I am not quite sure what to look for, other than the words “bacon” and “half off”. Those I can deal with. But really, all those vegetables for that little? I can get used to this. And if I usually just make meals for myself, they will last me a long time. I think I’ll make dinner tonight. :)

also, I got these wonderful little pastries called… “bureks”… I think (?) for lunch but they ended up being really filling, so I will have to eat the one and a half left tonight sometime. They come filled with spinach and cheese, or just cheese, or beef and onion. Mmm delicious! They also have dessert flavors. I think they were Greek, or maybe Turkish. Haha I really don’t know. They have a lot of different kind of foods at the market. I also got one of the famous donuts they sell at the market. They are Spanish donuts, really crisp and lightly sugared with a little jelly filling. And only a dollar! They were SO good. Yum yum yum.

So I did all my shopping before two pm, because that’s when the market closes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Then I came back to my room, dropped my groceries off, and then walked down to Lygon Street. It really is so close. It’s very nice too. I think it’s the nicest part of the city I have been in so far. And I stopped at a little café for a tiny latte and discovered they have free wifi!!! Yaaaaay! And they are only a block away. Much closer than McDonald’s, and way less weird to hang out on your computer in. in McDonald’s it doesn’t feel right. It’s a fast food place! You don’t hang out in a fast food place surfin the net. You hang out in a corner of a coffee shop or bookstore. So I was very glad to find that place. They close at 4:30 pm though.
I also found a video store a little further down called Carton Video Dogs, or something. It was kind of sketchy, but pretty cool. They have a good selection, only movies and tv that’s actually good. And I think it was relatively cheap. Some were $4.40 for a 3 day rental. They had Agatha Christie’s Poirot, the BBC show. I thought about renting that, because those are nice and long to watch. But then I realized I didn’t really have a card to open an account with yet. I think I could have used an American one, but it might not have worked, so I set out for my new Australian bank, Commonwealth, next.
I figured since I was out, I could just stop by and see if they had a bank card for me yet and if I could transfer money from my American accounts. I would really like to have a debit card to use, instead of taking out cash. I feel weird always having big bills with me. They call debit cards here “f-pass cards.” Weird. Like fast pass? I don’t get it. But anyway, I got to the bank at about 4:45, thinking they might be open till 5, but turns out banks here close at 4. Or at least Commonwealth does. Sighhh. Why does everything close so early? Australian people must like to be home by 5 at the latest here.

So today was a really, really good day. Just fun and easygoing, and I think it made me more comfortable with the city. I can interact with the locals a little more comfortably, and I always feel safe around this part of the city and around my apartment. Everyone is so kind and funny. I am finding that practically all the guys here are attractive, even if they aren’t that attractive haha. It must be the accent. But really, everyone is friendly and funny and makes me want to like them. Even the people on the streets asking you to sign petitions and things. I think I’m ready to fulfill my role as cute new American student living the life in Melbourne. Should be pretty easy. :)

So now I’m going to go make some dinner. Just noodles and veggies with soy sauce (I got soy sauce and olive oil at my handy convenience store downstairs). I don’t have saran wrap or dish soap, but I think I can deal. I probably won’t have leftovers… : / wish me luck!