June 30, 2008

Today was the first day of class. We have our elective class, mine is kinesiology, on Monday and Tuesday for 4 hours and then our history of Australia class on Wednesday and Thursdays. It wasn’t too bad today but I really had no idea what she was talking about but I think it will be ok or at least I hope. We have a quiz tomorrow and our first test on Monday. YUCK!

We also had our first training session today. It was really good. It was just the soccer players from the group and we had a session with the guy who helped put us with our teams It wasn’t too bad because I thought I was going to struggle a lot more than I did. I know it was only drills but I thought for the most part I could keep up. Tomorrow we are going to meet with our team. We are playing with University of Sydney’s team. So hopefully it goes ok. Because I know that physically I always struggle but then when I actually play I think I can hold my own for the most part. I mean Lindsey Tarpley did shoot on me once so I think I can handle it (She is on the national soccer team for those that don’t know).

So just to talk about the things that are different here or things that I have noticed:

1) They say cheers instead of have a nice day. I try saying it also but I feel weird saying it.

2) Their outlets obviously look different but they have switches on them and I think it is really cool because you can turn it off so it doesn’t waste energy.

3) On the toilets they have two flush buttons- one for pee and one for poo. It apparently saves water but I think it is really funny. And the toilets are deeper so the water sits lower and it’s different.

4) I constantly look the wrong way when crossing the street when I am trying to walk and the sign doesn’t say I can. THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE.

That is all I have right now but there will probably be more.

June 29, 2008

So today I woke up and went to Bondi Beach with Steven, Toni, Jordan, Liz, Alex, and Katie. I had a really nice time. Alex is Liz’s boyfriend who is from Sydney and he is really nice. He has showed us around a bit so it is nice to have someone here that knows what to do. We were basically at the beach all day and then I came home to eat and Timur and Derry asked if I wanted to play basketball. So 7 of us went to go look for a court but we didn’t have a ball and needless to say it turned out to be one of the most ridiculous experiences of my life. We were gone for 2 ½ hours walking around University of Sydney’s campus and I was so tired when we got back. I think I went to bed at 9 or 9:30.

June 28, 2008

Today we went to Paddington’s which is a really nice market. There are so many nice things and I ended up buying two pictures of Sydney and paying a lot for lunch. I am hoping to not spend a lot of money but we will see what happens. The market had a lot of things that were nice to look at and if I had more money and another piece of luggage I would buy a lot more. It was interesting because a lot of the jewelry was the same but it was different at the same time. I feel like I saw colors in jewelry that I had never seen before. There was also a lot shops by there, on Oxford street, and we went into a few. I bought a big purse for $40 and I really like it. We rode the bus there and back.We then went to Paddy’s market and it was interesting. They had a lot of cheap things and I am kinda frustrated because I want to get things that are Australian but they are all things I feel like I can get at home so I am not sure what I am going to do. Today just reinforced how much I really want to live in a big city because there are always people around and things to do.

June 27, 2008

Today we went back to NSWIS and had this really boring presentation. Then we played Rugby at lunch and it was so much fun. It was pretty hot out too and Australians keep saying it is cold so it is really funny. After Rugby we got a tour of Olympic Park. It is really cool how they built the area to be eco friendly from Solar powered energy to tiles that soak up water that help water the plant life. The volunteer poles are really cool. There are over 400 of them and everyone that volunteered at the 2000 Olympics has their name on a pool. They also have replica’s of things like the long jump and triple long jump. There is a pole that has a line leading from it that is marked with the distances that were jumped that won medals. Then we went to see “the fastest swimming pool”. That was really neat how they built the floor to be lower so there wouldn’t be as much friction and then they have drains on the side so waves don’t occur. We took the train there and then had to find our way back.

I went running around Sydney and got lost but it was fun and really nice to kind of go around town.it was a good day.

June 26, 2008

Today I woke up at 4 am and thought it was 7 am. I even tried to get the internet key but they guy told me you couldn’t get it until 7 am so I was very confused. I watched Reba, Maury, and the Tyra Banks show because they have something similar to Bravo but it is called Arena. We went to NSWIS (New South Wales Institute of Sport) and that is one of the places they train their Olympic athletes or anyone that competes at a high level. We left around 8:30 and took the bus there. We had a few slide presentations which were interesting, and then we did this circuit in two groups that involved medicine balls at one end and at the other it involved weights. I met an Olympic athlete that won silver at the 2000 Olympics in swimming. And we had a tour of the stadium where they had the torch lighting ceremony at the 2000 Olympics but they still use it today for other things. The circuit we did was really interesting and it was cool to see what athletes might do there. When we got back we went grocery shopping and it is interesting because the portion sizes are different and it is expensive. I only spent $55 though so hopefully it will last me like 2 weeks. Me and Tamika went to a sushi place for dinner and it was cool because it was sushi on a conveyer belt but it wasn’t too bad as far price goes. Then we just came back and I got a phone card and then went to sleep.

Something I wanted to say is that is seems as if Australians have their stuff together. They build things to be eco friendly and they tax things that are bad for you like alcohol. I just think it is really cool how they live their lives and make decisions that are good for everyone not just a certain group of people.

June 25, 2008

Today we arrived at the Sydney airport at around 8 am. We lost a day traveling because of the time difference. The flight wasn’t too bad and I met two really nice people on the plane. I saw 50 Cent, Beyonce’s Dad, and the girl from wildfire at the airport in Los angeles. In Sydney their roads have these underground tunnels to help control pollution from the cars and one of the major tunnels had a malfunction or something and it shut down so we waited at the airport for about an hour and a half. Then we left and came to where we are staying which is the World Tower Building. Sydney reminds me of London with a mix of Chicago because of all the tall buildings. Some said it reminds them on San Francisco and others NYC. The building we are staying at has over 70 floors and is the middle of downtown Sydney. I am living with Jenna, Laura, Laurel, Molly, and Tamika. I am going to take pictures so that I can remember what it looks like. And our view is amazing! We are in 6303 and we can see Olympic park and out to the ocean and Kings Cross. It is really nice. There is also a shopping center downstairs that includes a grocery store so that is really convenient.

After taking showers and sort of unpacking Russ took us on a tour of Sydney. We went to Hyde park to eat our lunch, which was Subway, and as soon as we put the food down and homeless man came up to us and to diffuse the situation Russ just gave him a sub. There is this bird, the Ibis, and it is really weird looking but they are all over the city. We went inside a war memorial that was built in the 1920’s (?) and it was interesting to note that there was a woman on the outside just as there were men and there was a statue inside of a man that was being held up by women. Even back then they gave women equal treatment. We then walked through Hyde Park, past the museum, through a shopping center, up past the hospital, to the art museum, through the botanical gardens, down by the harbor, and past the opera house. At the Botanical garden I held a bird and it was really fun. We then took a fairy to Darling harbor where we had dinner. I had Kangaroo meat. I liked it but i didn't like the sauce.

I am really tired though because of the time difference and all that we did today. I looked at my pedometer and I took 17000 steps and walked about 6.5 miles