Reality sets in...

Sorry I haven't written for a while!

I've reached that point where reality is setting in and I feel like there is less to report. Now that we are three weeks into the semester its starting to set in that OH YEAH I'm here for school.

Sounds strange but its true. Until now everything has been about finding friends, learning my way around, and getting comfortable here in Australia. But now its down to business!

I've been keeping up with all the readings for my classes (Which is impressive since I slacked so bad on reading at home last semester) but what's harder here is you only do 1-3 assignments per class and maybe one test and that all that makes up your mark. (grade)

I definitely like ECU much better than Sac State or should I just say the 'American Way' of learning.

ECU prides itself on being a school that balances 'school' and 'practical learning' in a way that makes people enjoy the UNI experience, graduate in 3 years, and be properly prepared for the workforce. The teachers are strict but approachable and really concerned with your success in their units (classes). Rather than focus on keeping students in lectures they don't want to be in, or memorizing text in books they will forget instantly after (and before) the test they focus on practical learning here.

For example, it is NOT required that you go to lectures. You could miss every lecture but if you do your assignment correctly you will pass. The teachers record all their lectures and put them online for you to listen to (attendance has no effect on the grade) buying the book is optional, reading it is optional, and tests are not on the content of the book, but rather the skills you learn to be effective in your future occupation.

Its a really mature style of learning that some people can't handle. Everyone makes fun of me here for going to lectures (I wont pay attention if I try to listen online) and actually reading my book,  but I get SO MUCH more out of the classes when I read. It also helps that the books are very well-written and on subjects that I enjoy.

Offender Profiling seems like it is going to be the hardest class followed by Family Law. Tons of critical thinking and research involved. I hate research.

Forensic science remains to be my favorite class. I was going to devote an individual blog post to it but I'm just going to write about it now instead.

This week was "Fingerprints and Tyre Impressions" (Yes it's spelled tyre) and we got to listen to a guest speaker from the Western Australia Police Force. His name was Sergeant Gary Hyde and he is the biggest expert (top dog) in Western Australia for Forensic Science and is an expert in tyre impressions. He's worked for the police for 25+ years, 18 years in forensics, 15 years on tyre impressions and physical evidence. He was a super awkward lab geek dude but hey... he's the best and spends all his time in a lab so what did you expect?

(If you remember I am pretty sure that when I wrote about Forensic Science I told you guys that the most exciting thing about it is the connections that my teacher has and the guest speakers we would have who would expose us to really cool things that we wouldn't get exposure to elsewhere)

SO! With that in mind after listening to a RIVETING lecture about tyre impressions for about an hour and a half Gary let us do some hands on work that was SUPER exciting (seriously-- not sarcastic this time) He gave us the shoe print and tire track tests that are given to the people testing to become forensic scientists. HOW COOL IS THAT?! We even had to practice cutting open evidence envelopes and writing our initials on the tape to preserve chain of custody.

We got into groups of 6 or more and looked at all the evidence pictures and compared them to suspect shoes and cars and had to determine if they were a match or not, and use the skills and techniques he taught us in the lecture. It was really exciting!

Then after that, he showed the class a technique that they use to enhance dim footprints. He stepped on a piece of paper with his shoe and showed us the small trace it left on the white piece of paper. The he placed a foil looking sheet on the paper and a weight on top of the foil looking sheet. He used a small machine to suck out all the air between the foil looking sheet and the piece of paper and once all the air was out he lifted the foil sheet and turned it over and the footprint was enhanced probably about 10x as the opposite side of the foil side was dark black, and when the air was removed the dust from the print clung to the black side of the sheet, enhancing the print. It was amazing!

To close the lecture he told us that the majority of time evidence like that is missed because people either:
1. Don't notice it
2. Don't think to process it that way.

Next week is Blood Spatter analysis. I can't wait! (Especially because I just started Dexter season 8)

Back to the original subject of the blog now that all that excitement is out of the way...

Reality is setting in that I need to start doing my work for school! Research and reading! It's a little nerve-wracking since I dont know their writing styles and academic systems here but I will figure it out.

Otherwise I have been hanging out with friends and relaxing. Everyone went out tonight but its so expensive to go out here I didn't feel like it (You can pay up to $24 for one drink!) I went grocery shopping again today and it was $100 for three small bags. I don't know why that bothers me so much but it does!

So tonight I am curling up with Hobbes and Harry Potter on my iPad :) Time to relax.


I realise that's ironic since I just said I have so much to do but its 11pm and I know my academic brain wouldn't work right now anyway!

Love you!