Blog Fail. Oopss

Well, I have been back in the good 'ol USA for about three weeks now...And I haven't blogged since March 24th. Sorry for not keeping everyone up to date on the latest Australian News. But not to fear...I can assume you...I had an amazing time, and even better, I wrote things down on my calendar, and will try my hardest to fill you in with as much detail as I can.


So let me take you back...

A bloody long way, back in Australia...back when the weather was still beach material...and back when I was only about a month into my journey...


March


Every month Macquarie University Village partakes in what is called "The Intercollege Competitions," where MUV, Robert Menzie's College, and Dungmore Lang College compete in different sporting events. (Side note: Sports are organized COMPLETELY different from the US....College, first off, do not refer to different universities/higher education institution, but instead refers to dorms. Secondly, Macquarie doesn't really have the whole 'team spirit'- based campus atmosphere, like home. They have sports, but no students block off their entire Saturday to go watch their university team play.)

Anywho, the first event was volleyball. Being obsessed with the sport, I immediately signed up, and as directed, showed up at 1pm by the mailboxes to walk to the volleyball court. Well, the volleyball consisted of a turf-like floor, mixed with a little sand, and a droopy old net. Being the shortest on the team, I typically am not the not ideal hitter, but on a droopy net...I was lovin' life. By the end of the first game I was referred to as '#22.' My teammates where fun girls, some were pretty hung over from a long night out (to give you any inclination of how popular volleyball is in Australia). At the end of a hot, humid day, we ended up winning the 'tournament.'

Next I tried Netball. Australian girls LOVE this sport. Essentially, it is basketball, except you cannot dribble or travel, and certain positions can only cover certain areas. The game is all about passing, and eventually getting it to your goal scorer for them to shoot into a backboardless hoop. Apparently Netball is the 'cat fight' sports, where the girls get aggressive. Personally, I really liked the sport once I figured out the rules, except I am used to a little more contact. Again, MUV took home the victory against both teams. Throughout the semester I tried touch footy, and played quite a bit of soccer (which I haven't played since I was in 6th grade).

One day in March, while I was on my way home from the city, my neighbor Nick called me and asked if I would be at all interested in being on his team for a Village Flip Cup Tournament. Aussie's love their drinking games, and of course, went all out with uniforms...the whole sha-bang. Everyone, on our team of 6, received an Australia flag-printed baby towel, which was like a Mexican poncho with a hood. The boys wore budgie smugglers (or speedos) underneath, which made things interesting. We even had a team name...Bonnet Poppers. Unfortunately, the drink at the flip cup tournament was goon (boxed wine), which we had to skull (chug) for several rounds. But that didn't deter us too much, because the Bonnet Poppers put up a proper showing by coming in 3rd place. We were in fine form.

Almost every night we took advantage of the comfortable summer evening temperatures and sat out on our porch of 115. By the end of most nights our neighbors and fellow Villagers would join in on the conversation and story-telling. It was not uncommon for the topic to find it's way to a "What do you call this?' or "How do you say that?" marathon.


Here is the list of the interesting differences:

G'day: Hello!
No worries: Expression of forgiveness or reassurance (No problem; Forget about it; Yeah, I'll do it)
Trollies: Shopping cart
Lollies: Candy
The shits: A fit/tantrum
Swimmers: Swim suit
Jumper: Sweatshirt
Sloppy joes: Crewneck sweatshirt
Thongs: Flip-Flops
Whipper snippers: Weed wackers
Bogan: Hick/ Redneck
Bloke: Male
Mate: Friend
Heaps: A lot
Keen: Excited about
I Reckon: 'I think'
Fringe: Bangs (hair)
Spewin': Angry
Aluminum: they pronouce it 'al-u-min-yum'
Mozzies: Mosquitos
Brekkie: Breakfast
Soft drink: pop/soda
Lift: Elevator
Footy: Aussie Rules Football (AFL) or Rugby
Maccas: McDonald's
Barbie: barbeque
Budgie smugglers: Speedos
Skull: Chug
Goon: Cheap wine/boxed wine
Car park: Parking lot
Mum: Mom
Tomato sauce: (pronounced toe-mot-o) Ketchup
Hire: Rent
Aussie: Australian
Arvo: Afternoon
Bastard: term of endearment
Dickhead: Silly person, goof, idiot
Bludger: Lazy person
Bush: Unpopulated area, The Outback
Prawn: Shrimp
Jug: Pitcher
Pokies: Gambling machines
Roo/Roo bar: Kangaroo/ Bars to deflect Kangaroos
Bin: Wastebasket
Rubbish: Garbage
Aussie salute: Swatting flies
Petrol: Gas
Station: Large farm
Swag: Roll up bedding
Trackies: Track suit

Meanwhile, hanging out around the lounge gave me the opportunity to meet and get to know so many friends from all over the world: Turkey, Norway, Australia, France...to name a few. By the end of my time in Australia, I found myself able to say the Turkish alphabet and a few token phrases (thanks to Mert, Merve, Bugra, Onur, Yigit, Yasin, and Herman), like iyi geceler (good night), nasılsın? (How are you?), iyim (good), sakar (clumsy), tatali (sweet/dessert/cute), multi yillar (happy birthday), and sisko patatas (fat sack of potatoes...you know...the important phrases). It was also on the porch were I found myself trying hookah, doing the apache dance, attemping the worm, staying up until the twilight hours, listening to neighbors throw up off their porches, laughing ridiculously loud, trying new foods/familiar foods with twists (like pizza with a bbq sauce base?), and making those Australian memories.

Beach weather, by the end of March, was becoming increasingly difficult to come by, so I made the most of ooportunities when they presented themselves. I was still on a quest to visit as many beachs of the 16 in the Sydney area. One Wednesday, being the most dedicated scholar I am, I skipped Uni to head to Dee Why via several bus rides (by then I had become a master of the public transportation...and boy, did I miss driving!). Dee Why reminded me heaps of Manly, being another northern beach, but lacking the volleyball population. It was a longer beach and a lot less populated, the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. After a much needed nap, Laura and I headed on a little excursion over to the wave pools. Just beyond the pools filled with Aussie's parttaking in their swimming rituals, there were a series sandstone obstacles, weather-beaten structures, and natural pools of water remaining perfectly glass-like. We found a spot up some old stairs carved out of sandstone, past a man who looked oddly like Enrique Iglesias and an old man napping with his dog, and watched the tide roll in, crashing against the natural barriers of sandstone. And I thought to myself, there is no way I am leaving.

That was March in a nutshell, just hitting the highlights. Up next: April.

G'day