What the hell are netball and footy?

(View of the Hopkins River from the jetty)

So the last week has been relatively hectic and most of my downtime was spent either sleeping, studying, or hanging out with my friends. I hadn't realised how long it had been since I had written until I read back through my blog, something that I often enjoy doing to remind myself that I am actually here in this magnificent place.  Recently it has been raining quite a bit, and after every rain a rainbow always shines. (This statement can be taken metaphorically or literally, your choice). My housemate, Sarah, and I have also taken up yoga. Just wanting to clear our chakras, namaste. ✌ 

 I recently purchased a set of Tarot cards because I have always found them quite interesting but never was able to find them anywhere. If you think that witchcraft is easy, you have another thing coming. I also may have gotten immensely bored in Marine Biodiversity class and decided to draw instead...oopsies.

Nights like these are definitely something that I will miss when I return home. Being able to just walk over to NRAS and hang out with my friends is so nice and I wouldn't trade it for anything. They're absolutely the type of people that you just want to surround yourself with all the time.

On Friday, we took a field trip for Marine Biodiversity to where the river empties into the ocean at the Merri Marine Sanctuary. We collected nekton and benthic samples from the river and recorded the organisms that we found after sifting through the sediment. It was a great example of the kinds of hands-on experiences that I can get here that I would never be able to get back in Iowa.

This Saturday, my housemate and a lot of my friends played netball and footy against East Warrnambool. Our team, the Deakin Sharks, definitely kicked major ass in most of the games. 

Because they ended up winning, the netball team got to do the "Shark Shuffle." Just a "Remember the Titans"-esque ritual. 

The Footy boys did extremely well in the first game, stomping them 100-something to 30-something. They were able to do the "Shark Shuffle" as well.

Today I had grand privilege of taking my first test here at Uni. I mean, I would have used another word to describe it, but this is a positive blog... It wasn't as difficult as I was expecting it to be and my worrying was all for not. Afterwards, we got to show off our swag during the prac.

Sarah and I then went into town for a "girls" day of sorts, although I think that term is extremely pretentious. I found a Diet Coke in a glass bottle, which, of course, I kept. I also kept getting followed by this extremely handsome guy in a only a towel, creepy or no?

We finished the day by going to the local aquarium store and pining over the cutest little fishies and one single adorable ray. 

Australia Bucket List

Here are just a few things that I am hoping to do while I'm here in Australia. If you're Australian and would like to help me achieve some, just let me know ;)

• Go to a surfing comp and meet all of my idols
• Camping!!
• Road Trip? (Even just for a day or two)
• Learn to skateboard
• Ocean/Beach trash clean-up
• See a kangaroo, koala, platypus, tasmanian devil...and any other native animal (very cliche, I know)
• Eat kangaroo (Sorry...)
• Find a graduate school 
• Hike a trail
• Go to a Music Festival
• Go to a Pro Footie Game
• Watch the Sunrise
• Go to Phillip Island
• See Ayer's Rock (Uluru)
• Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef
• Get a tattoo (*wink* Stace & Gabby *wink*)
• Eat a meat pie and a sausage roll (Georgia & Dayle...if I don't like it, I blame you).
• Drive on the opposite side of the road, even if it's just in the car park

Although some of these things won't be able to be completed in this trip, unfortunately, I am definitely planning on returning to Australia. I love it here more than I've ever loved a place in my entire life. The told me that the "honeymoon phase" would fade out after about a month and I'd hate it here, but I honestly don't see that happening any time soon. Thank you to everyone who has made this an amazing trip so far. I couldn't have done it without you. <3

J's on my Feet... (and by J's I mean jellies)

Here are three random photos that make me happy. The first is of the best shoes ever created that are very popular here. The US tried to recreate jellies for adults but they were just uncomfortable plastic thong sandals. These are jellies and I may just have to buy a pair for all my cousins back home, seeing as they were the shoe of all of our childhoods. Also, at the dollar store (Cheap as Chips) they were advertising for Easter mugs...some words (assorted) shouldn't be shortened. And finally, you'll see one of the sample sweatshirts sent to us to try on before we order our resi jumpers. Why anyone thought that putting that on a sweatshirt was a good idea, I'll never know.

There was also a pre-season AFL (Australian League Football) game going on at the oval the other night. Don't confuse AFL with rugby or soccer, it's neither and you will never hear the end of it. I still don' t quite understand the game, but it was intriguing to watch.

And lastly, Happy St. Patty's Day! They go all out for this holiday here, I almost thought I was in Ireland. We had a great night at The Seanchai Irish Pub where there was a live band playing, who performed Wonderwall/Champagne Supernova by Oasis per my request. 

    

Moustache men, Eric and Evan. 

     

Three of the best girls; Gabby, Jacinta, and Stacey.

Gabby had to make herself shorter for Charlie and I....

Boys will be boys? Jared, Kettle in his homemade box outfit, complete with a built in cup holder, and Jake in a morph suit, I knew someone would be in one last night.

 

And here we have two of my favourite pictures from last night; Jared, Kettle, Stacey and I with Jacinta's accomplished photobombing attempt. And Jesse, Eric, Bree, Tim, and I looking classy as hell.