Something New

What’s the #1 goal of studying abroad? Is it to see the world? To meet new people? To party hard? Who knows… it’s different for everyone. But I think it’s most important to try new things! On my list of things to try while I’m in Australia are:

- Bungee jumping

- Sky diving

- Holding a koala bear

- Eating new FOODS!

It’s a short list, I know. And I can probably think of more but let’s face it: it’s a Sunday night and I’m exhausted. However, I have eaten some delicious food while I’m here. This includes….wait for it….emu, crocodile, and kangaroo! I mean they had a deal for a sample platter at the night market for $7 so of course I had to have it. 

The emu, shown in sausage form, wasn’t bad. I probably would have preferred it in a filet because the sausage made it pretty chewy, but it tasted like a chicken sausage pretty much...nothing too crazy. The kangaroo, which was a patty, was really good. It’s apparently one of the leanest meats you can eat and since they’re shot in the wild (sad, I know) it’s completely organic. The crocodile (the white meat) was by far my favorite! I tried it first thinking it was going to be the worst of the three and it was definitely the best. Tastes kind of like chicken but with a much more rich flavor, and it was the perfect texture. I’m a big fan of crocodile, who knew!?

Another food I’ve fallen in love with: Pho. I’m still trying to figure out why I’ve never tried it until tonight. In Vienna we have a really popular place people always talk about but I guess I never got around to stopping in for some delicious noodles. Eileen and I went down Swanston St. (by far the best street for shops, food, bars, and of course people watching) to a Vietnamese restaurant and got some cheap but huge bowls of rice noodles with chicken, sprouts, and mint leaves all in chicken broth. Oh my god it was so yummy. It was the kind of meal where I left feeling healthier. I’ve been losing my voice and now I feel like the pho has nursed my vocal chords back to life…it’s like chicken noodle soup on steroids. Oh and fun fact from the sign on the front of the restaurant, “President Clinton had 2 bowls…how many can you have?” I highly recommend to whoever has never tried it to go get some!