Australian Sports and Shenanigans with my Favorite Aussie

I'm in the middle of week 12 in school right now, with 4 1/2 weeks left here in Fremantle. At the beginning of the semester I made a little bucket list with about 20 things I wanted to do while being here, and there are still a bunch I've yet to do. One thing I really want to do is get on the train and get off at every stop between Freo and Perth. So far I've been to Claremont (a favorite spot for Thursday nights), West Leederville (where the Dockers play), City West (Harbour Town Shopping Centre...naturally), North Fremantle (Leighton Beach), Cottesloe (a favorite beach, also where we do run and swim with the Bakers and friends on Sunday mornings). That probably leaves about 10 more stops and places to check out in the next couple of weeks! 

Last weekend I went to an AFL game for the first time. Western Australia has two AFL teams, the Dockers and the Eagles. The Eagles seem to be the favored team among Australians that I have gotten to know, but we went as a house to see the Dockers play Adelaide. The Dockers, who don't have that great of a record came out with a Win, so it was a fun game to watch. Tai and I were sitting front row and got to meet Johnny Docker(:

Lauren, Tai, and I went over to the Baker's and had a BBQ. They made some sausages and lamb on their Aussie shaped BBQ. We got to meet one of Martha's older sisters, Gabby, and her husband Simon. We watched an Australian movie called Red Dog, which just came out about a year ago. It's about a dog who hung around one of the mine sights and how he became a town hero...it's a true story, I can't do justice explaining it. It's so good! We also started to watch Priscilla Queen of the Desert, but didn't get to finish it. I definitely will before I leave though. It is about 3 drag queens who go on a road trip through the desert...and that's about as far as I got, but as you can image, with 2 drag queens on a road trip, something funny has got to happen. In the morning, Mumsy made us egg and soldiers for breakfast. It was the best feeling to be in a home with such an amazing family. The Bakers are the greatest people I have met here in Australia and I'm so blessed to have them taking care of me while I'm away from home (: Martha is leaving tomorrow for America! She had a going away party at her house with some friends and family. We got to meet some of her Aussie friends and have pizza cooked in the famous fire breathing dragon pizza oven. We also played a game called Goon of Fortune. It involved pinning a wine bag to the clothesline and spin it; whoever the bag landed over had to drink from it as long as the could...and you just keep spinning til the bag is gone. Mumsy even joined in and it was hilarious. I can't wait to see Martha in August when she comes to Portland to stay with Tai and me for a couple weeks!

We said our last goodbyes to Martha last night. We met up with her and some of her friends from the Norfolk at the Orient for some drinks and just hanging out. She stopped by Cleos while I was in class today, but I had just missed her):

Last weekend, Friday I went to the Attic (our favorite coffee shop to do homework at) for a couple hours, then went shopping in City West with some of the girls before Martha's going away party. On Saturday all of Cleos went over to the Campus Minister, Tom Gannon's, house. His wife Liz and him, both being from Portland, had us Northwesterners over to celebrate his favorite holiday; the anniversary of Mt. St. Helens erupting. We had a BBQ and a fire in the backyard and all just hung out for the night. Sunday I went to my first Rugby game! I thought footy was exciting, but rugby was just as intense. We went to see the Western Force, but they lost to the Melbourne Rebels. Footy and rugby were kinda similar, and just so different than sports I'm used to watching. I've never sat at any sort of sporting even and not understood what was going on (thanks Dad), and I felt so awkward not knowing what was going on or what calls were being made. I can't even say I got it all by the end of the game. My favorite part about rugby is when the players lift each other up on throw-ins (or whatever the call them...). It was just so graceful and I was caught so off guard when I saw it the first time. Both rugby and footy made American football look sort of lame.

Yesterday I turned in my last essay of the semester! It was a research essay for Children's Literature. I'm so glad to be doneeeee, until finals...
Today, Children's Literature lecture was cancelled, and instead we had to go see Morris Gleitzman speak. He is an Australian children's lit author, and happened to be the author of one of the books I chose to analyze in my research essay, so that was pretty cool to get the chance to see him speak in person.

Oh, and shout out to OKC for defeating the Lakers today...I miss watching basketball. Now cheering on my boy Patty Mills and the Spurs, reppin Australia in the NBA.
And thank you Mom for the lovely package, the chocolate covered berries were a nice touch. And Em for the surprise letter I got in the mail today. You guys are the best and I can't wait to be home! (In my new house with Erin Flynn of course!)

I feel like I always leave so much out of these blogs...buuuuut, here is my to-do list for the next week or so in case I forget:
Go to Cottesloe and get fish'n'chips to eat on the beach at sunset.
Walk to the lighthouse that you can see from Bather's Beach.
Go to the Pickled Fig cafe near South Beach, and explore South Terrace.

Anzac Day, Uni Ball, Cinco de Drinko, and moreee!

 ANZAC Day

25 April 2012

King's Park Anzac Day Memorial
Sunset during the Dawn Ceremony 

ANZAC Day (Australian New Zealand Army Corps) is celebrated in Australia in memory of the fallen soldiers from World War I. A ceremony is held in every city throughout Australia at a memorial site. A group of us decided to go into Perth and attend the dawn ceremony at King's Park. We took the 12:15 am train into the city and wandered around for a couple hours before walking to King's Park. We were the 2nd group of people there and got a spot right along the gate in front of the monument. The ceremony began at 4am with a video/documentary/slideshow of Australian soldiers at Gallipoli. Around 6am the actual ceremony began and many veterans were present. Throughout the ceremony the sun was rising over the city in the background. It was gorgeous! About 40,000 people attended the ceremony at King's Park and it is the largest ceremony held throughout Western Australia. It was really amazing being able to be a part of this Australian ceremony and  see how the Australians remember and honour those who are have and are currently serving their country. 

On Anzac Day Eve (a new holiday started by Cleos this semester), the Quad made an Australian meal for the whole house. With the help of Ian and Nicole we made damper bread(slave bread), kangaroo meat pies, anzac biscuits, and sticky date pudding. I'm not really a fan of meat pies, but overall it was a success. 

Uni Ball at the Esplanade

Clara, Me, Elliot, Cat, and Ashley at the Ball

Later that week the University held a Ball at the Esplanade Hotel. It's a short walk from Cleos, however, it was POURING down rain. We all ran through the flooded streets in  our dresses with rain jackets over them, and were soaked by the time we got there. We had a constant flow of beer, wine, and champagne before, during, and after dinner. Naturally, Phil and I got the dance party started before desert was even served. I met a lot of people that night, some Americans and domestic students from the other dorms, as well as some Australian nursing students. We had a fantastic time dancing all night and enjoying our 'free' alcohol. By about midnight the part ended and we all headed to the Metros, a club not too far away. The after party didn't last long for some of us. Kelsey got a glass dropped on her toe and had to go to the hospital for stitches, and most of us just left pretty early. 

CINCO DE DRINKO!
The holiday only Americans celebrate...

The Quad outside the Mexican Kitchen

Our Cinco de Mayo started out very nicely. We went to The Hillary's where the Aquarium is and spent an hour or so there, then explored the shopping center right around there. The Aquarium was super cool. My personal favorites were the jellyfish and the blue ringed octopus, both of which I guess are super poisonous. So other than the little jelly that stung me at Cottesloe earlier in the 

semester, hopefully I won't run into any more. After the Aquarium we went out to lunch and shopping for a little bit. We had lunch at 'Grill'd' which is the best burger place I've ever been to. In the spirit of Cinco de Mayo I got the 'Hot Hombre' chicken burger. After that I got myself and early birthday present, a little pearl necklace. Broome is known for their pearls and that's where this one came from. 

Later that night, most of Cleos went out for a Mexican dinner. The one and only Mexican Restaurant in all of Freo is the Mexican Kitchen, located on the Cappuccino Strip/Liquor Lane. Tai and I shared a quesadilla. It wasn't bad Mexican food, but waaaay over priced and the portions are not like back home. Although I HATE tequila, we wanted cheap drinks and it's the only proper way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Walking around Freo with a sombrero was super fun. None of the Australians even know what Cinco de Mayo is so I looked a bit out of place, but I think I pulled it off pretty well. Outside of the Mexican Kitchen we met a group of European people who were probably the only other people in Freo celebrating.

After dinner, Lo and I went out to the Newport. Saturday nights in Freo are not always hopping. We were hoping since it was a holiday (or so we thought), that people would be out partying. We ended up running into some creepers and leaving pretty early. 

Sunday Beach Run/Swim with the Bakers 

Before the swim

We did it! 

Tai and I have made good friend with an Australian family, the Bakers. They go to Church at the Notre Dame chapel every Sunday and that is how we met them. We heard about a Sunday morning group Jack put together many many years ago. His family, some of his army buddies, and other Australian families from Freo meet at Cottesloe beach every Sunday morning to walk/run and go for a swim before going to coffee and catching up about their week. Jack and Martha came to Cleos Sunday morning to pick up a group of us to join them. It was a cold, windy, rainy morning, but that didn't stop (some) of us from jumping in the ocean! It may have been cold, but it was actually really refreshing. After the swim we drove  to Bookcafe, a nearby coffee shop and just hang out for an hour or so chatting. I'll definitely be going every Sunday from here on out til I leave. 

Random...

Some more things I love about Freo...
I have found the place to go when feeling a bit homesick-Gloria Jeans. It is a coffee shop on High Street on the way to Cole's (the grocery store). Tai and I went there about a week ago. We've been trying a different coffee shop every Friday afternoon. There are so many in Freo that we have been able to try a different one every week since being here. Gloria Jeans is nothing special, however, it tastes just like Starbucks. None of the other coffee shops use any flavourings and the coffee is much stronger and not very sweet. But Gloria Jeans tastes like home and we love it.

A couple weeks ago while out with Martha, Tai, Kelsey and Rachel...we were walking down the Capp Strip towards the Clink and heard some music coming from an alley way. The alley led to a restaurant that happened to have like 10 belly dancers in the middle of it. Rachel and I found the need to run into the middle of the dancers and join them. We were a big hit, the diners all loved us, I don't really remember but I'm sure we got a standing ovation.

I was invited to play Netball with Ian and his team again, and we won! This is the first victory we've had with me playing...success.