It is amazing how much our technology and electronic gadgets have become a part of our lives.  Without them we feel isolated and alone.  With them we have a sense of security and being connected to what is familiar somehow.  It's like you take your home with you.  This hit home very vividly for us after arriving in OZ.  We have had difficulty getting our internet connections up and running - particularly the wireless.  After a number of unsuccessful attempts to get things working when we first got here we hit the holiday weekend (Australia Day) so there was no IT available until Tuesday.  The local McDonalds does have free wifi so on several occasions we trudged to Macca's with our devices in hand to sit over a very expensive drink and feel reconnected.  A sad sight I think.

Today I was able to get to the IT desk, get my Uni id and password and get us all connected in the appartment.  What a relief for us all....  we feel connceted to the world again.  I have to admit that it is something - Graham (sitting in Melbourne Australia) is able to use his IPod to face-time with his grandparents in Louisiana, seeing their faces and talking directly with them in real time on the otherside of the world.

All of that said we are in our second week, learning our way around, more settled by the day and adjusting very well.

 Apartment 5 in La Trobe House.  Our home for the next 24 weeks.

 There is a nice yard outside the apartment with alot of shade - good place for drinks in the evening.

 We are on the northern edge of campus. Across the road there is a wildlive sanctuary and yes there are kangaroos in the area although we haven't seen any yet.