The Woolshed!

Hello everyone! Im sorry i havent written to everyone in awhile but we have been so busy these last couple days! Let me start with Sunday...We woke up and went to 10 mass at St. monica's which was very nice, but the church doesnt have air conditioning so they leave the doors open and today is the first day it has not been misting. After church we went to lunch and i wrote some postcards and then we got on a bus to go white water rafting! We went on the Barron River and i was lots of fun! Our tour guide's name was Rowan and he was really cool! We had a group of seven in the raft-Kim, Courtney, Jess, a couple that was really nice, a girl from Israel and I. We talked a lot with the girl from Israel, and she was telling us how she just finished her mandatory service as a medic in the army which i found so interesting! She is now taking a few months off for vacation (or holiday as the aussies say) and then she is off to med school! We started our rafting trip with a pretty smooth start, and Courtney was the only one to fall out previous to the rooster's tail when everyone got flipped out of the boat except Kimbo! It was crazy fun and our guide even taught us a new Aussie word, Sepo, which is what they call Americans...it comes from yanks to tanks to septic tanks to just sepo which is just lovely! After rafting we had a small dinner and went to bed because we were up and moving at 7 the next morning! The day was a lot of fun, we went on a bus tour through the oldest rain forest and it was wet! We got to swim under the waterfall where the herbal essences commercial was filmed, which was so pretty except the water was freezing! We saw some platypus in the wild, and a whole bunch of plants that can cause great discomfort at the least! Our bus driver, Cousin Paul, was really nice and he taught us a really fun Aussie song that i have had stuck in my head all day! After our bus tour was over the 4 of us decided to go out with the big group and we ended up at the woolshed. The night was lots of fun- at the bar they encourage people to get up and dance on the tables and there is actually a rafter going along the ceiling where you can place your drinks! I also had a dance off with an English girl at another bar called the rhino haha! This morning we got up and went to James Cook university to hear a presentation on heat exhaustion. We are going to have a big group dinner tonight on our last night and then we will start our long day of flying tomorrow morning around 9. Im happy and sad about leaving Australia for now, but i know that one day i want to come back! I will see most of you soon! I cant believe the trip is over-it flew by so fast!
LOVE and LIOB!
em

Chunda!

Hi! It is Saturday night at 6:55 and we are heading out to eat dinner and possibly pub crawl which may mean we will be out until the wee hours of the morning!(by this i mean maybe we wont be asleep by 10 tonight?) Today was lots of fun-we took a 2 hour bus ride down to daintree to see some crocs in the wild! It was almost like being at home on a swamp tour except our tour guide had an Australian accent! I made it through this boat trip without having to chunda (Australian slang for vomit) so it was a way better start than yesterday! We saw about 3 crocs and then were supposed to go up into the rainforest but it was too foggy and Craig was worried that we would get stuck in some poisonous tree or something so instead we went down to port douglas for lunch and then headed back to the hotel. On our way back we passed a big open field with over 150 kangaroo, so Craig let us get out and chase them which was a lot of fun! Ever since we got back we have been singing in our hotel room because our TV only gets 4 channels... I hear that yall have a tropical storm coming your way? Hope that she doesnt get too bad! I am hoping that finding a church for tomorrow goes much better today than it did yesterday! Miss you all!
LOVE and LIOB,
em

Man Over Board!

Hello everyone! I am now writing to you from Cairns-i think i misspelled it in he last post-but it is still pronounced like cans! Yesterday once we arrived we took a bus into the AU rain forest! We watched a group of aboriginal dancers, learned how to play a digeredo and how to throw a boomerang...im not too great at the boomerang-mine went straight in the air did a bunch of turns then came down and stuck straight in the ground. I dont think i could have killed anything with a shot like that unless a worm happened to be in the grass where my boomerang speared in! After that we took an army duck tour through the rain forest and it was really interesting! The whole time we were riding through i was thinking about BIOL 1209 and the time i went to my room mates grandparents house and her papa showed us that slide show on plants (Caroline i took a lot of pictures in case papa wants to see!) After the army duck we went on the sky rail over the rain forest which is the longest gondola ride in the whole world! I was only kind of scared and along the way we got to see a really pretty water fall and a big tree that i made Courtney get on the ground to take a picture of! I also stole a rock from the rain forest to bring back for the Craig Family-i couldn't remember if it is just places that yall have traveled or if friends count too? After our very long day we arrived at the hotel we are staying in-The Koala and pretty much crashed! This morning we woke up early to get on a boat to go explore the great barrier reef! The boat was really rough and i got sea sick for the first time in my life...which wasn't pretty, but at least im with a lot of athletic trainers who aren't bothered by throw up! We took a short dive which was a lot of fun and then we did snorkeling for awhile! I got in trouble because Courtney got a second dive and i was following their group out of the snorkeling area and i watched Courtney stick her hand in one of those giant clams and then it closed on her! After their group i followed this big sea turtle and thats when i realized how far i had gotten because a couple people back on the boat were blowing whistles and yelling at me...i made it back safe ok but i have never been more happy about being back on land than i was this afternoon! After the tour Kim, Jessica, Courtney and I went to get Domino's because we have been craving pizza! We had to go to domino's because all the other pizza we have tried to get while were here has been awful-they like to put BBQ sauce instead of marinara, which is my favorite part! Our pizza was delicious! Tomorrow we have a lecture in the morning and the afternoon off so we will probably do a little more souvenir shopping! I hope all is well back home and i hope my family has fun on the cruise! Be safe and i will see you guys when you get back! Shout out to Sarah(baby girl)!
LOVE and LIOB!
em

I stole a kangaroo!

ok not really...but i wish i did! This morning we got up to leave surfer's paradise at 8:30 to head to The Australia Zoo! I was so so excited on the way there i could hardly wait! Once we got off the bus and into the park there was a huge gold tribute statue to Steve Irwin! It was awesome! First, we went to the crocodile show where we got to see a bunch of birds and snakes and crocodile do weird trained things that always kind of creep me out! After the Crocodile show we went to see the tasmanian devil but it is apparently a nocturnal creature...so we went to go and see the dingoes! After the dingoes we stared at and photographed the koalas for nearly 45 minutes! There was a little baby koala attached to a mama koala and we could probably make this koala a family photo album just from the 45 minutes because we caught it from every angle and we have pictures of it eating and pooping and climbing and just about everything koalas do! After we said goodbye to our koala friend we went to see the kangaroos! Their cage was just a big open field that allowed you to feed the kangaroos and loved the kangaroos it was soooooo fun! We have pictures of everything we did with the kangaroos and i decided that i would really like to lay down to snuggle with one so i did and it loved it...or at least it didn't get up and run away! Courtney Jessica and our new friend Kim did the same lay down pose with the kangaroo! the best part was when Courtney was feeding one and it reached up and held her hand! Around 2 we went to have our pictures taken holding a koala! The one i got a picture with was name kramer, and while the lady was explaining how to hold it she told me its just like a baby with claws, and it kinda was! he smelled funny and in my picture with it i am so excited i am cheesing so hard you can see all my teeth and gums! After our photo op we went to see the tigers in the tiger temple! They were precious and there were two people in their cage with them, one guy playing with them on the land with what looked like an enormous cat toy, and the girl was up to her neck in the pool with a fishing rod type toy with empty milk jugs fastened to the end! After the tigers we fed some elephants and i got elephant snot all over my hand-it was great! We went back to see our kangaroo friends for a little while and i really really wanted to take one with me! We also saw other animals like the comoto dragon, some pigs and otters, sheep....they weren't as cool as the ones we got to touch, but they were still cute! After the zoo we got back on the bus to go to our hotel in Brisbane where we are staying for one night because it is close to the airport we are leaving out of in the morning! Tomorrow morning we will be on our way to Cairnes (pronounced like cans) to see the rain forest and the great barrier reef and the outback! I have been looking for a sweatshirt all trip and i finally found one in a little souvenir shop on my way home from dinner. In Australia they call a sweatshirt a jumper! Only a few more days of my adventure-i can't believe its flying by so fast! i will be home before i know it! I miss you all!
LOVE and LIOB!
em

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMA!

Cheers everyone! Let me just start with Sunday night, after i got off the computer i went upstairs and we got dressed to go to dinne. We ended up walking down the street to the Hard Rock Cafe here in Surfer's paradise. It was packed so we sat at the bar. our bartender was from Cali so we chatted for awhile about home. He went around in a circle for high fives unding with me and i totally faked him out with a jellyfish! After hard rock we went down to one of the bottle shops (liquor store) and got some beer for the few days we are here. We went to sleep fairly early so we could have an easy wake up Monday. Monday we walked down to one of the local life saving clubs here and listened to a few stories on saving people. We didn't hear every story because apparently this year alone the live saving club had over 3500 rescues, quite impressive! After out lectures in the morning we were going to head down to the beach, but there were too many clouds and no sun made it much too cold to be in our suits, so instead we went out exploring for a little while! Last night we had a big group cookout downstairs by the pool where 20 of us grilled hamburgers and hotdogs. We went to sleep early so we could rest up for our surf lesson today! In the morning we went to a bowling alley which is completely different from the ones back home. It's like lawn bowling but apparently there is an age requirement of about 65 to be a member! There were all these little old people with their custom lawn bowling balls and gloves with different colored balls who were really intense! W epaired up with some old people to learn how to play! After bowling we ate lunch and then went out to the surf! Jessica was a pro-she stood up on one of her first tries! I think i won the award for tanking it! The surf instructor was very nice , and she was trying really hard to help Courtney and I, but we just couldnt get past drifting in on or knees. We think if we would have had a little more time maybe we could have mastered it! I got stung by a jelly on my neck, but im fine....i decided i didnt really want anyone to pee on it being so close to my face! We leave tomorrow for Steve Irwin's zoo which should be awesome! I have put on more lotion than you can imagine over these past few days because i think my skin is so used to humidity that it dries out so fast here, and the salt water makes me feel like a lizard! I hope everyone is doing grea back home! Happy birthday mama-have an awesome 50th! Love you!
LOVE and LIOB!
em

Manly Beach!

G'day mates! It is around 4 on Sunday afternoon and it's already beginning to get dark here...Yesterday was a free day for us so we started off our day in Paddy's Markey in sydney where i bought many many souverniers! After Paddy's we got kind of lost lookinf for the ferry to get down to manly beach...and yes thats the actual name of it! We stopped in circle quay (pronounced like key) ate lunch and finally found the ferry over to manly! The beach was so pretty! I have been collecting stickers everywhere we have gone and decided yesterday i was going to stick them all on my water bottle so i need a few more before its covered! The beach was too cold to get in the water yesterday so we just played aroud\nd in the sand. Before we took the ferry back Courtney and i were going to stop at St. Matt's church (and yes it was Saint Matt's on the sign not St. Matthew) but we misread the sign for the vigil mass at 6 that said they only took place on the first saturday of every month! woops! On the way over to the ferry we stopeed at chocolate by the bald man for "dinner" haha! It was delicous we had hot chocolate and a waflle covered in chocolate with strawberries, bananas and ice cream! I got back to the hotel and did some laundry before our 5 am departure! This morning was a mess because three of the boys were out all night and passed out so we were 20 minutes late for leaving to the airport, then one of the boys threw up on the bus which was lovely! We did make it to the airport on time to catch our plane but i think it was only because they were missing a significant number of passengers. The plane was only an hour ride and then we arrived in surfer's paradise! The weather is wonderful here! Courtney and i went to find a church here but apparently they dont have mass after 10 am anywhere near us so hopefully yo all will just say some extra prayers for us this weekend. We got in our suits and went straight down to the beach! The sand is so soft here and the water is completely oil free!! There were a few jellyfish in the water but they were nothing compared o the rip current and waves! I was so exhausted by the time i actually made it to the shore i took a 2 hour nap! Good thing i applied that 65 spf :) After my nap we went to subway for lunch and the cookies just arent as soft here...We wen back to the beach and i got buried in the sand...they made me into a mermaid, it was a real group effort! After the beach we went to the pool to get all the sand off and now i am taking a quick break to update all of you before we go be social somewhere! Your aussie word for the day is too right-which means an enthusiastic yes! I miss you all very much! Hope all is well back home!
LOVE and LIOB!
em

Flat out like a Lizard Drinking!

G'day mates! it is currently Friday night 10:00 pm, it is a cold 12 degrees and i am sleepy! So sorry i haven't kept you updated but the last two days we have been flat out!(Flat out is a shortened term for flat out like a lizard drinking used by the Aussies to let you know they are really busy-when they told me i was like oh like being swamped and then got made fun of yet again...followed by questions of if i live by a swamp)Yesterday morning, Thursday morning, we were expected downstairs at 6 am sharp, we then started our 3 hour journey to the Australian Institute of Sport. Our bus driver over here in Sydney is named Kevin and he has the most interesting balding pattern i have ever seen! After a looooong bus ride we got off the bus and started our tours. The first room we went in had gaming devices to simulate typical AU sports like skeleton, cricket, Australian rules football, netball, etc.. We got to play around for awhile before we moved on. The AIS trains its athletes for the Olympics and Paralympics. One of our first stops was the pool and one of their paralympic athletes was swimming in the pool with only one arm which i found incredible! I can't imagine working with someone who is missing a limb at such an advanced level-i was very impressed. We also saw the soccer, basketball and gymnastics facilities. The youngest athlete they are currently training is a 9 year old gymnast who lives on site with a full scholarship! We then went on a sports medicine specific tour of the bio mechanical and physiology labs by two of the interns. We had lunch in the athletes dining room, which was probably the healthiest dining hall I've ever been in! After lunch we went for a presentation with one of the nutritionist which is where i really learned a lot about what is best to eat pre and post activity and a whole heap of hydration facts i wont bore you with. We then went to the gift shop, and i got you a prize dad! After the gift shop we met back up with the sports management group and got back on the bus! We saw some wild kangaroo then I read my kindle and slept a little! Once we got back Courtney, Jessica and I decided to go out and got dressed to head downstairs for a little dinner! We got a bowl of chips(which is french fries) and some delicious bruschetta and were on our way! We walked down the road to the closest pub and found ourselves at scruffy murphy's. It was an interesting stop! I accidentally held eye contact with the crazy guy going nuts on the dance floor which made him come by to our table. I could hardly understand a single word he was saying but he tried to tell me he was on the Dragons which is an ARL (Australian Rugby League) team for St. George, his name was Bailey and he told me he was number 3...I found it highly unlikely because he was way too small to play rugby professionally, but we decided to humor him because he was hysterical. After we left the pub we walked back to the hotel and went to bed, after i lost 3 dollars gambling. We were down at breakfast for 9 and found out one of the boys, Thomas, was brought to the hospital. He was apparently sleep walking and tripped (keep in mind the rooms are tiny and most people moved the furniture in their room to the closet just to have room to walk) He hit his head on a nightstand and split his ear open. He doesn't remember falling but woke up at 4:30 in extreme pain with a lot of blood. He got 5 stitches and we are all fighting about who gets to take the out in 5-7 days! After breakfast we headed out to Olympic Park. We got a tour of NSWIS (New South Wales Institute of Sport) and then headed over to ANZ Stadium which was the main site of the 2000 Olympic Games. Next door to one of the side stadiums was Disney on Ice and there were tons of little girls dressed up like princesses. I also have discovered that the razor scooter has most recently made it's debut, because every little boy is on one over here! We had a presentation on event planning and how everything comes together for an ARL match and then we had a long tour which ended in the ARL game of the Rabitohs (which is owned by Russel Crowe) and the Dragons (which is the team our friend claimed to be on). The Rabitohs won which was the home team and a big deal because apparently the Dragons are ranked number 1 at the moment. Tomorrow is a free day and we are very much looking forward to it! The plan as of now is to head over to Paddy's Market, another flea market, then over to Manly beach and vigil mass because we have another early morning flight on Sunday! I will make sure to steer clear of the poisonous things at the beach tomorrow dad! Tell the puppies i miss them!
LOVE and LIOB!
EM