Smoky Mountains

Some of Smoky Mountains National Park

What a beautiful place!

And what a great weekend. After the craziness of our Friday morning, everyone got a well deserved break. Five hundred beers, forty people, eight bedrooms, and a spa bath later, and everyone was having a good time.

The first night, obviously, consisted of a lot of partying. Drinks were spilt, people danced on tables, games were played, and other crazy party things happened. I won't get into too much detail but lets just say it was a good night for all!

The next day however, was probably even begtter than the night before. A group of us jumped in a car, and took to the Smoky Mountains. We hiked Laurel Falls, drove around the park, and shopped in Gatlinburg. And, luckily enough, we even saw the Smoky Mountain's famous black bear! It was an amazing site, and our American friend said we were very lucky to see it in such a populated area so early in the day.

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The bear we were lucky to see!

That night, we ate dinner at a diner - which is exactly like the movie by the way - and went back to the partiers at the cabin. Although the second night wasn't as wild, everyone had a good time and the weekend was, overall, a total success.

And then it was back to uni work. Which i really should be starting!

Erin P xx

The Day Trippers :P

“Eat a live toad the first thing in the morning...

...and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day!”


I almost wish I ate a toad, what a crazy morning!

Today a girl on my floor set off the fire alarm.

At 6am in the morning.

We all went downstairs and didn't know it was the girl that did it, but my roommate Lauren and I saw her moving a sign onto the road and moving some witches hats, and she'd been missing the night before, so we were worried and went to ask what was up. She was trying to get a dog out of a car, we asked her if she was ok. She said she just liked stirring stuff up. Then Lauren, my roommate, said something about the alarm and the girl said "Well I probably did it." And I asked why she did it so early, jokingly, and she said "I had to send a message," and mentioned something from a sign on 8th floor.

So Lauren and Stephanie stayed with her while I went to find someone to tell. Turns out she'd been odd for a few days and this was like a build up to the "finale." Some police took her to the hospital, we had to make statements, it was crazy. They even found pills.
Hopefully it all works out, but I suppose only time can tell!

Beautiful... I'll be here this afternoon!

On a LIGHTER note. I'm going to the Smoky Mountains this afternoon! All the international students, plus a couple of Americans, are packing up and heading to a cabin in the mountains for two nights. It should be amazing! And check out the cabin!

Anyway, I better get changed a do some packing, have a lovely weekend everyone!

Erin P x

P.S. I had a POP TART this morning, my life is complete, again.

Yum! But oh so baaaaad.

You're pretentious, this club sucks, I have beef.

Let's fight.

Saw Scott Pilgrim vs. The World last night with my friend Aslynn. And now I really want the graphic novel and the game. And I also want to live my life like a video game, goodness an extra life would be magical he he. Also went to a wonderful place called the Knoxville Pearl. It's a cold tea and cereal bar. And you have no idea how awesome that is. I had Count Chocula and a caramel milk based tea - brilliant! Definitely recommended. As is driving around down town, some is scary and some is beautiful, lock your car doors, Aslynn did!

Apart from that, my weekend has been very lazy. Since starting classes, which have been pretty good mind you, I've gotten into the bad habit of staying up late, then having to wake up at 6.30 in the morning, which has messed with my body clock and left me sleeping in till about 11am this weekend. But at least I'm not as tired now! Anyway, back to the books tomorrow, wish me luck.

AND I found a song about Knoxville girls!!! I'm in heaven:



My life is complete.
Erin P xx

Water Inception

Been an exciting couple of days. Got a bank account, a mobile phone, and visited the wide world of WALMART. Crazy central. It's like 5 times the size of Big W and Woolworths combined. And the people who work there.... well let's just say they know very little about their store or area. Luckily I had my friend Kirsten, my saviour! A two hour trip and about $140 US dollars later, and I was mostly set for the semester!

Yesterday afternoon was a wonderful movie trip and an even better dinner! We first went to the Regal Cinemas in downtown with my roomies Stephanie, Lauren, their friend Nate, my other international roomie Kristin (different one, note the i instead of e!), and our friend Janneke (another international student) to see Inception. All I can say is that it was one of the best movies. But I refuse to be a pessimist with the ending, and that's all I will say, no spoilers!!!

After movies, Stephanie took Kristin, Janneke and I to a lovely asian restaurant Wok Hay. I had the Sesame Chicken. It was fabulous. An interesting fact about America I think I should mention, everywhere you go, when you purchase a drink, you get free refills. And I mean everywhere. Also, it's not like Hungry Jacks where you have to do it yourself, because, waiters keep a close eye and when you're near the bottom, they come and fill up. It's splendid!

After an eventful night, and a short sleep, classes began. Imagine a typical American classroom in a movie, and you'll be where I was this morning. I think it'll be a lot of fun here, and I can't wait to share more with you!

Erin P xx

P.S. Swimming here is lovely. The weather is beautiful for it! Like an Aussie summer hehe.

Taken by the wonderful Janneke

Underground Caves and Hot Rain

Some tips in Tennessee (or at least Knoxville!):

1. Southerners are either conservative, or crazy. Be careful what you say to either type.
2. Everything is big, except for America's largest underground lake, which was surprisingly smaller than expected.

3. Knoxville has some of the friendliest people, but they still don't carpool.

4. Heat and rain often come together, the worst of both world's can combine in TN.

5. Sweet tea is a southern favourite!

6. Public transport in Knoxville, and a lot of Tennessee, is sh*t.

7. Fresh food is hard to find (hence the largeness of not only objects, but people too.)

8. Enjoy every moment and take every oppurtunity, you don't wanna miss out on an adventure :)

And all of this I learnt in the last 24 hours! Life here is for the most part spectacular. I've made some fabulour friends and been on some fun adventures, in less than one week! I miss everyone at home insanely but I'm also very distracted and it often heads toward the back of my mind.

Our steed: American school bus!

Janneke, Jieun, and I at The Lost Sea lake

Sorry for not having more, it's only been a day! I just wanted to add a few things :)

Anyway, dinner time!!

Erin P xx

First Week at UT

America is a vast, multicultural, growing, and forever entertaining country. Sometimes it's beautiful and sometimes it's grotesque, but for me, it is always interesting and new. In this blog I will be telling you - most likely a friend or relative - about my journey through the University of Tennessee and my trips in and around it. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I will hopefully enjoy writing it!

So, almost one week down and everything I was worrying about I should never have worried about. I survived the plane trip (don't get me started on LAX!!!) I've made many friends (a shout out to them) and I haven't gotten too homesick - yet. Tennessee, or at least Knoxville, has some of the friendliest people I have ever met. Smiles and questions come from every direction. International students are even better. Unlike many a first class in school or uni, when we are faced with talking to strangers, we are all pretty good and even enjoy it! Personally, I'm impressed and love the company of such happy and talkative people.

Onto the weather. Ranging between 30 and 40 degrees (Celsius) is insane. When you have to walk around a uni campus the size of a small town with the sun beating on your tired, culture-shocked, jet-lagged back, the heat is nearly unbearable. But it is dropping by a few degrees everyday, so joy ahead! (as long as I get a few swims in before then - the TRECS sport centre is amazing!)

Well, that's all for now, it's getting late and I'm much too lazy to write too much more, so until next time, good night America, g'day Australia, and see ya later to everywhere else :)

Erin P xx

The colours of Knoxville - GO VOLS!