The End

I am leaving Adelaide tomorrow for Queensland tomorrow morning where I will spend two weeks at the Great Barrier Reef. Studying in at Adelaide Uni has been an interesting experience, not one that I would necessarily endeavor to repeat. I've realized that students here just try to pass their classes, instead of trying to get A's or high marks.

I've made some really great friends in Adelaide and that is honestly what I will miss the most about Australia. Unfortunately, I haven't really gotten to travel around the country much, but what made my experience great was the people and all of the events that I have gotten to share with them.

Australia in general has been incredibly expensive, and lately has gotten extremely hot. Lately, the weather has reached the 30s and will be hotter in Cairns. Right now is rainy season there and it will probably rain every day.

Things I will miss about Australia:

The people!

Tim Tams

Bubble Tea/Chinatown

The Beach

Frisbee/Tennis

Goon/Passion Pop

Mass produced college food

The long trek to Uni every morning

The beautiful roses that bloom in abundance

Morse code with Sophie

The cleaners busting into my room at 7 in the morning and vacuuming while you are in bed

Paying 8$ a week for 1 gb of internet

Riding kangaroos to uni

Arts Evening

Click here to view this video

This piece is Rhapsodie Mignonne for four hands by Carl Koelling.

Mid-Semester Holiday

It's been a while since posting because we just had out mid-semester break. New Zealand was easily one of the most beautiful places I've ever had the pleasure of being. I took a bus pass that took us to various cities around South Island. It was nice because it was a hop-on-hop-off type thing so they drop you off at the city and you stay as long as you want and then continue the route. I went to nine different towns, stayed in not so bad hostels and met many people from all over the world.

If I had to describe New Zealand I would have to mention the sheep. There are approximately 4.4 million people in New Zealand and 40 million sheep. Everywhere you look there are snow capped mountains flanked by deep blue seas and rolling green hills dotted with grazing sheep. It truly is magestic. Much of New Zealand is influenced by its indigenous people the Maori, which makes up the largest minority. Linguistically, it was difficult for me to pick up any significant differences between a New Zealand accent and an Australian one but the kiwi's say "sweet as" following many phrases.

We had the opportunity to do a couple of activities including peninsula hikes to seal colonies, glacier hikes (which ended up being cancelled mid way because of an avalanche that happened above us), bungy jumping, wildlife tours (I saw an elephant seal, crazy sea lions and many many penguins), brewery tours, cruises through fiords (Milford Sound is supposedly the eighth wonder of the world), and a variety of random activities.

During our adventure I ended up having many close encounters. On a peninsula hike in Kaikoura, we visited a seal colony and I got a little too close to one of the male seals and was attacked. Luckily, I can outhop a seal. I already mentioned the avalanche during our glacier hike. We had literally hiked all the way until the base of the glacier across the glacial valley in conditions of high wind, pounding rain and hail just to have an avalanche crash down. On a hike in Abel Tasmen National park, I dramatically slipped off of a rock and cut my chin. At a hostel in Nelson, I was nearly crushed by a large German falling off of a ladder from his bunk. It was a good trip.

Floor Crawl

Wednesday night was floor crawl, which is sort of like a pub crawl but on our floor. People get in groups of three's and make a themed room with a game and the entire floor goes from room to room. The theme this year was party so there was an office party, children's birthday party, shower/rave party, supernatural sacrifice party with a fog machine and our Alice in Wonderland tea party. The game we played involved having a partner, walking in a big circle until I would yell out two different body parts. After I did that, you have to find your partner and touch those body parts together, for example: nose to elbow. The last partners to find each other is out of the game and skulls some tea. After floor crawl was mystery pub night where the Gassie, the large blue truck that is sort of like a wagon in the interior collects everyone and takes them to a mystery location. We take the Gassie to sporting events and to various functions. The record number of people stuffed into it is 56!

Tomorrow is Alpine Day, the greatest kept secret at St. Marks. Many say it is the best day of all of college. The day involves hunting Yeti's and drinking their blood after the kill. In past years, people have gotten sent to the hospital for various ailments. It is an all day outdoor event, but after tomorrow, when I find out what it actually is, I still won't be able to share. Wish me luck.

Update

I'm back in Australia and I apologize for the lack of posts lately.

Since I've come back I've had a lot of catch-up work to do and a lot of soccer to practice for. I filled in for some girls during a netball game last week and decided to never play that sport again. The first quarter I played, literally every time I touched the ball I got a call. The rules are dumb in that you can't move your feet when you catch the ball and you have to be at least 3 ft away from the person with the ball.

Today was our last soccer day. We played two games and didn't win but it was still a lot of fun. The weather was shit in that it poured all day. at the end many of the girls did a mudslide.

I got bullied into trying out for the volleyball team and have been extremely busy with that as well.

Music night is coming up soon and I am playing a duet with a fellow collegian.

I will post netball pictures when I get a chance.

I am leaving for New Zealand in a little less than two weeks and it just happens that I start in Christchurch, where the massive earthquake was. I hope that doesn't affect our travel plans.

In 2010, I have flown over 65,000 miles. That's enough to circle the earth 2.75 times!

Homeward Bound

Tomorrow morning I leave for Sydney-Auckland (NZ)-LAX-Cincinnati and finally to Indy. It will take me 40 hours of traveling time but I will get there eventually. I really look forward to being home, even if it's only for a couple of days.

The first picture is of Christmas in July and the second is Barefoot Benefit. I am very much enjoying my time here. There is a lot less work involved in the classes here and I haven't had too much other work to do. One thing that I have noticed is the amount of essays that are used as assessments here. Many of my classes replace essays with exams.

I had Australian sushi for the first time today. Sushi is sort of a really casual affair. You just stroll into a store and they have sushi pre-made and you order them piece by piece. I'm pretty sure I'm starting to get used to the customs here.

Some more Aussie words to add:

dero (derived from derelict, "He's so sleazy, such a dero)

dag (dowdy, I reckon I am looking pretty dag today)

esky (cooler)

keen (I'm keen to play some footy)

starkers (naked)

chunder (vomit)

rockmelon (canteloupe)

reckon (I reckon....)

I was incorrectly informed about the usage of sleazy, apparently, the word is seedy (hungover).

Hopefully this turns into a series...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlKZOMlOR8g

Thursday night was pub night and before we left a couple of girl's here decided to "borrow" a life-size paper mache tree from a room on my floor that had been left open. We put the tree in my room because I had the most space and left for the pub. I returned later that night, entered through the balcony and proceeded to trip over an unknown obstacle in my room. I stumble towards the light switch, turn on the light and see my room lovingly trashed and my entire bed missing from my room. Notice my boots stuck on the ceiling fan. I look around and someone locates my bed in the bathroom. After replacing my bed and putting everything back together I go to sleep. The next morning all of the toilet seats had been taken off of the toilets. Retribution will be swift and imminent.

Last night was Barefoot Benefit which was an annual cocktail charity event that raises money for the impoverished. Cocktail attire, no shoes and cheap drinks makes for a sticky night...will post pictures later. It also looks like most people got a case of food poisoning..

Today was my second day of work at a Vietnamese/Thai restaurant called Beyond the Red. Unfortunately, it looks like I will be quitting tomorrow for many reasons. It is much easier to find a job in Australia and the pay is excellent. Minimum wage is $15 an hour if you are over 18 and on average around $20 if you are over 21. I am in dire need of a job.

This week I booked my plane tickets to New Zealand for two weeks at the end of September. I am looking forward to a series of adventures or misadventures.

Oh so I accidentally had a wrong setting on my blog that didn't let anyone that wasn't a follower make a comment. It is fixed now, go crazy.

Settling Down

Things have gotten in a routine for the time being. I am attending all of my classes (missed my first one this morning) and on the hunt for a job.

I have decided to join the soccer team at St. Mark's and so far it has been a delight. Our first game is on the 29th of August. All throughout the year every sports activity that is won scores points for the college. There are 5 colleges total that compete with each other, our main rival is Aquinas, the college just up the hill. The college at the end of the year that has the most points will win the High Table Cup, sort of like a huge trophy and massive bragging rights. As of now, we are down by eight points with 70+ left to earn this semester so things are looking bright. I am feeling very much like I am at Hogwart's competing in the Triwizard Cup.

If you get a chance, look up netball (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netball). It is a strange sport that is sort of like basketball that is played here. I saw my first game yesterday and it was weird. I don't think I'm a fan of no-contact sports.

Looks like I will be in the states between August 20th and August 27th. What a pain to have to fly back for such a short period, but nevertheless, I am looking forward to it.

Some lingo or phrases I have picked up:

Uni (university)

Heaps (a lot, i.e. Last night was heaps fun)

Bugger (this is versatile, I've stepped in a hole, bugger)

Mucked up (messed up)

Loose (tipsy, I had such a loose night)

Sleazy (tipsy, I was so sleazy last night)

Dodgy

Bogan (sort of like red-neck)

Dinner (lunch)

Tea (dinner)

Brekkie (breakfast)

Barbie (barbecue)

Mate (good friend)

Port-a-loo

When greeted, most people say "How you going?"

Everyone wears Uggs here, EVERYONE.

Ball and Formal Dinners

Ponding: you may be ponded by your peers for the following offences.

1. Ponding is only to occur when one or other of the following College practices or traditions have been violated:
   1. entering the dining hall without footwear
   2. rising from table during Formal Hall before the JCR President, or his/her representative for that evening, has risen
   3. not wearing an academic gown to Formal Hall
   4. wearing baseball caps or other headgear at Formal Hall
   5. team members not turning up for sporting events in which they are due to participate.
   6. to have a mobile phone ring or make any such sound entering or from within the dining hall (excludes members of administration)
   7. showing kneecaps or shoulder caps during Formal Hall
   8. entering the dining hall wearing pyjamas
2. The personal rights of a pondee must be respected. No-one may be ponded without their consent.
3. Pondees must be allowed to remove any items (e.g. clothing, watches, jewellery) before being ponded.
4. No-one may be ponded who has a cold or is in any other way ill or disabled.
5. Pondees must be placed in the water, slowly and carefully, not thrown and not dropped. Care must be taken to ensure they do not hit themselves against the sides of the pond, or any protruding objects.
6. Ponding must not take place if the water appears to be polluted in any way.
7. As a general rule ponding should only take place where ponders and pondee are personal friends.
8. No ponding is to be undertaken by parties under the influence of alcohol.
9. No pondings may take place after 8.00 p.m.
10. A member of the College Club committee or a Senior Resident student must be present at all pondings. If a resident of the College breaches any of the above, the matter may be referred to the Dean, who may then call the Board of Conduct to consider the case. Penalties to apply will be those deemed appropriate by the Board.

    Conclusion

    Ponding is a valuable tool for ensuring the continued respect of College traditions. Whilst it is a novel and often fun form of discipline, the personal rights of individuals must be considered first priority.

    
    

    Formal dinners are Monday through Thursday at 6:25. Robes must be worn at all times during Formal Hall (Harry Potter).

Re-O' Week

Classes began on Monday, I am taking Musics of the World, Marine Ecology, Immunology and Virology and Pop Culture: Passion, Styles and Vibe.

Rode a kangaroo to Uni this week. No big deal.

One thing that I'm crazy about here in Adelaide is the awesome Chinatown. Last week I went to a fabulous dimsum place and then afterwards had bubble tea. No tipping or sales tax here!

This last week has been tumultuous, to say the least. Since I'm new to St. Marks (my residential college), I'm considered a freshman so I have to participate in all of the freshman activities. Monday was Pub Crawl, Tuesday-Christmas in July, Wednesday Freaks and Geeks Quiz Night, tonight was floor night where we went out to a buffet (they are evidently rare here). Re-O'Week ends on Saturday with a black-tie ball. I am feeling like I am in a fraternity.

Victor Harbor

Today we took a trip an hour south to Victor Harbor, a beautiful beach town in South Australia. We took an amazing hour hike along Granite Island, saw penguins and visited the bluffs where whales frequent this time of the year.

Afterwards we drove to an open range wildlife reserve where there were kangaroos, koalas, wallabys, dingos, wombats and other silly looking animals. I saw and fed my first kangaroo in Australia and held a koala. We also saw a crocodile try unsuccessfully to eat a bird. Overall it was a pretty amazing day.

Monday, July 19th

This morning we had orientation with many other international students. There were a large number of Americans but I met a lovely German girl. There are many events held through the orientation week and one of those is a trip to Victor Harbor on Thursday.

This is the time of the year when there are many whales, seals and koala's off of the bluff.

This is the cathedral next to my college. It is a nice landmark that can be seen from anywhere in the city in case I get lost.

Wednesday night is international student pub night where we meet all of the other students that are living at the college (230 of them) and have a good time. It will be intense.

Fun fact: Koala's eat primarily eucalyptus leaves which has phenolic and terpene compounds that are powerful natural disinfectants and can be toxic. Their liver breaks down the toxins and they have huge hindguts in order to absorb as many nutrients as they can. They know what to eat by smelling the phenolic toxins.

Day 2

This is the view from my window above Fiji and associated islands.

I am settled in to St. Mark's College and my first impression is that it is much like Hogwarts.

I have seen a wild possum, parrots, pelican and black swans roaming around. All of the pigeons are even larger.

The weather is freezing here, 50-60F during the afternoon but super cold at night.

So far all of the Australians that I have met have been super friendly and helpful. I look forward to meeting many more when 'holiday' ends in a week.

Adelaide as a city reminds me a little of Indianapolis, but everything is very accessible. There is a beach nearby, many conservation parks with kangaroos, wallaby's and koala's.