Here is an extract from the diary of a BAcc student who went on Exchange to the University of Austin in 2003 ...

5 September

Well they say everyone thing is bigger in Texas, and I guess that included the University…it is HUGE, it is the biggest university in America, so it would have to be one of the biggest in the world. And to everyone that complained Sydney Uni was a mission to walk across, geesh...

I am a busy girl, I am doing a full load, which is 10 subjects...but 6 of those are 'fun' subjects like golf, tennis, scuba diving and swimming! They are still 1 credit point subjects and (unfortunately) you have to buy text books, have exams and the teachers take it all very seriously. My 'swim coach' today was yelling at all 15 of us through a loud speaker like we were out in the middle of the ocean.

My teachers here are awesome. My swimming coach and my tennis instructor are both ex-Olympians and I have PGA golf pro's teach me how to hit a ball! My PR teacher is the deputy CEO of the largest PR firm in the US. So by rights I should at least learn something over here…if I stay away from the margaritas! (which are almost better then passion pop…)

I was overly lucky to get 3 jobs, but am going to take one in a tex/mex restaurant. I almost cried and wanted to get in touch with some child labour activists when I was told I would get paid $2.14 an HOUR. But the tips are really good…it is common to get $4 for bringing someone a drink! (how stupid, he could have gotten another one for that)

I am a big college sports start already!!! I won the limbo competition on our orientation day! I got a $10 gift voucher to a Thai restaurant in town so that will keep me feed for a night...whooo hooo!

There is a big music festival on next weekend and I want to go get my tickets now. Jack Johnson, Ben Harper, R.E.M, Al Green (!), John Mayer and Norah Jones are all playing there, plus a few funky local bands...should be grouse...tix are $60 (which is just 15 drinks!) so I better go get my spot in line.

1 October

I have been having quite the adventure of late. Went to a real hollerin' honkey tonk dance hall, was just like the movies. The guys arrived in their Texas size 'trucks' (with gun racks clearly on display, kitted up in their big hats, jeans, plaid shirts, big boots and tassels to the hills). Some famous country singer was playing so they were all going nuts hottin and ye-ha'ing. Downed a few Budweiser’s and munged on some ribs and by the end of the night I was a two step queen! Was lots of fun.

Went to San Antonio and LOVED it, such a beautiful city. They had an Australian souvenir store on the main street. It was so bizarre. Inside was all the tourist crap like those 'beware of Kangaroo' signs, clip on koalas and even of course Tim Tams (even at $US4.95 I couldn’t resist!) Bought a postcard from Sydney too, just to scare mum.

I went to a true hip hop club! I was one of two white people in the whole club! There was this tank of a guy who was a DJ walking around and he comes over to me and asks me if it was my first time in a hip hop club (why...I don’t know, obviously it was not due to a lacking in dance style, I was groovin wit all my homies and sistergirls) So he yells out to about 200 people "yo, lets give it up for da white sista, this is her first time in a hip hop club" I got a bit of a roar and then for the rest of the night had people coming up and asking me what I thought of it and if I was coming back...don’t think I will.

6 November

I have really turned into a cowgirl...which my family is going to think is bloody funny since it is only when I leave the farm that I become one...actually mum will be really scared! For years I bagged my brother out for listening to country thigh slapping' tunes and now I have been to 3 country music concerts and can't get enough.

Have actually been getting amongst the celebs lately. Got to meet Lance Armstrong last week, which was amazing. He is a Austin local, and I have seen him at the grocery store since…so I guess he is a real person…not the superman you would assume from the Tour De France!

Anywho I have a 'swim meet' tonight that my crazio 'coach' has entered me in...he told me he doesn't think I have 'peaked' yet in my swimming career!!! haa. So guys expect BIG things from me tonight, I am sure you will read all about me in the news tomorrow. Stuff Thorpie, here comes alpeido!!

Gotta go psych myself up.

4 December

Well it’s all over red rover for Texas...I am trading my cowboy boots for snow boots! I got a job in Steamboat, Colorado. It is at a guest ski Ranch, which looks amazingly beautiful. I only have to work about 5 hours a day/5 days a week and then the rest is skiing!

Experienced my first Thanksgiving, which I realised is a just a day devoted to eating a lot of food. I went to a friends place in Houston for the festivities, that was kinda interesting since her family is Mexican and her mum had no idea what I was saying. While saying grace before the turkey dinner, I decided I was most thankful for the fact that I got to be in America for the day after thanksgiving aka "The biggest shopping day of the year"...was this the happiest day of my life or what??!!

We woke up at 6am to start our 11 hour straight shopping experience. We only needed to go to one place, which happened to be the number one Houston tourist destination...the Galleria...how sad is that, a shopping mall is more popular then the NASA Space centre! Tried to send me insane a few times with lines as long as 2.5hours...and that was just to pay...I decided that took all the fun out of getting a bargain (cause standing in line that long you finally come to the conclusion that it is a piece of crap and you are only buying it cause it is on sale).

Went and saw Shaina Twain in San Antonio, she was horrible...but it was a fun road trip none the less. I got to meet Hilary Clinton out of it, so that was a bit of a surprise...she is a pretty cool chick, didn't seem real interested in talking to me though.