Aussies and Easter

Well the Easter holiday weekend is a big deal here in Australia. My weekend was "heaps" of fun.

Good Friday was nice. We had a fish dinner, fried and baked, and then I went to "The Footy" aka Rugby. Apparently there are three types of footy in Australia. Rugby League, Rugby Union (same game different rules) and Aussie Rules AFL. AFL is the best in my mind, but is mainly played in the Melbourne area. It's intense and there are lots of points scored, some matches ending with a 151 point spread (I went to that game last time I was in Australia. The Richmond Tigers were beat by 151 points, they are my team, too. It's like being a fan of the Mets, they are good, but always seem to disappoint.  Needless to say, Rugby is dumb. The team I went to watch, (Manly Sea Eagles), won 22-16. It was like a high school football game feeling except everyone was drunk. (Oh wait, unfortunately, that actually sounds just like a high school football game!)

Saturday was nice, we went to the Royal Easter Show at the Sydney Olympic Grounds. What a facility. I could just picture the US teams running around with their gold medals on in 2000. Quite spectacular. It was rainy when we went but they day before, 120,000 people attended the show at $35 a pop. It's the equivalent of Maine State fair, add $30,000 to everyone's individual income, and throw in Seaside's boardwalk events and Show Bags. Show Bags, by the way, are GENIUS. They are marketed for weeks before the show and are these plastic bags that either have your favorite candy, a toys with candy, whoopie cushions, or any other combination imaginable in them!  It's like cheap candy and crap at the boardwalk in bags for a low price! Every kid wants 1-10 of them but they trick is, they are at the end of the show. So kids have to be good the ENTIRE day or else they don't get a show bag. I saw one kid cry at 6:30pm. Like I said, GENIUS.

Saturday night I went into Manly with Roz's kids and friends. We had a good time and there was this great band who played awesome hits. I almost felt home. I realized I wasn't when I was talking to some Brit and he asked me where in North America I'm from. I told him New Jersey and he got all of his friends around and made me tell them all about the Jersey Shore. Who would have thought being in the same bar as JWoWwW would make me cool on the other side of the world?!

Sunday morning I got up early and went to church with Roz. Apparently we went to a "modern mass". I wore black pants (since its technically the beginning of winter here, I would have worn white home) and a nice top. People showed up in jean, and even worse, jean shorts, plain t-shirts, mini skirts and very casual attire. I didn't see a single Easter outfit. Then there was this little terror of a boy. He was about 3 and half, had a nook and was laying on the ground, rolling around and throwing a tantrum. We never said the Nicene Creed, there was a baptism in the middle of mass and a bit of chaos during Eucharist. It made me miss St. Peter's mass, to tell you the truth.  At least after mass, we had a massive brunch, a couple nana naps, and movie day. It was a relaxing day for sure.

Monday, was ANZAC day. This stands for Australia New Zealand Army Corps. During WWI, the ANZAC's played a game called Two-Up. You put three pennies on a ruler and flick them in the air, there are bets going on and if you want to bet heads, you hold your money between your fingers and put your thumb on your head like a chicken, and if someone wants to bet you tails, you give them your money. When the announcer in the ring yells out the call, the money is given to the proper person. It is only legal to play on ANZAC day and it is soo fun. I played once, bet $20, and won, therefore winning $20. I then went to the slots (this all takes place at the local Diggers, Diggers is also a synonym for Veteran, which is each town's high class version of a VFW/Elks lodge.) I then took a few dollar coins and put it in a slot. I ended up winning $35. It was my lucky day! $55 bucks! This country might turn me into a gambler, but...probably not!

Since ANZAC Day fell on a Monday, Tuesday was a public holiday so everyone had off. We had an Easter Roast Dinner of lamb and roast pumpkin, sweet potatoes, and broccoli. It was delicious and a nice ending to a big weekend. Alana (Roz's daughter) then took me to a Chris Brown concert. It was fantastic. He is such a good entertainer, but I did find it funny how many times he told the audience he loved them. Really CB? You say that too much that we soo don't believe you.

Overall, it was a wonderful weekend. I hope everyone in Jersey enjoyed it as well.

Cheers!

ROBBED!

But I was robbed last night.

I know what you're thinking, and it's not that kind of robbed.

The past two days I have been busy at home working and only left the house to go for a jog or to get my laundry off the line. So last night after reading the local rag, I saw the movie Something Borrowed was playing. Now since I read the whole series by Emily Giffin, and really enjoyed the books, I thought it would be a good excuse to get out of the house to see it.

I took the bus for $3.30 down to Warringah Mall. I couldn't find the theatre, but ended up asking a lady on a bench where it was (after walking around the building to the dodgy loading dock!). She directed me inside the mall and up the escalator 3 floors. 

Now I totally forgot you can 1) Buy booze at the cinema here. 2) Can bring your own booze or beverage to the cinema (and not have to smuggle it). 3) Over pay your entrance.

When I went to buy my ticket, the prepubescent pipsqueak at the counter said, "Twenty-five dollars ma'am."

(SIDENOTE: REALLY?! MA'AM!!) 

I just about up-chucked! 25 bones to see a movie I know how it is going to begin, the plot, AND the end. I told him I wanted a regular ticket and he said because its a premier all seats were $25. He said regularly they are $17. He also said, "It comes with a bag full of things, like magazines..."

I quickly interrupted and went Jersey Girl on him, "MAGAZINES! I better get a beer and a hot dog for that price! I want to speak to your manager." 

The poor kid got on the phone and the manager got on the phone. The boy said told him it wasn't advertised in the paper. The boy didn't let me speak to the manager. The boy got off the phone and told me that he was sorry but the movie would have to be $25. I could always see Rio for $17. (I almost spoke in my best Staten Island accent and asked, "Hun, I'm not 12." But refrained. 

Now I'm fuming. I was so worked up I was now hungry and thirsty. So I sucked it up and bought the ticket. I went down to where the theatre was and went to get a drink out of the vending machine. It $3.50 for a SODA! My bus fare was cheaper! I was given my little bag before I got to my seat and it had a Marie Claire from February, a stick of lipstick (not my color) and a coupon for Myers (Macy's over here) for $15 off and expires Wednesday. Funny thing is today is Holy Thursday, Friday is Good Friday, Sunday is Easter, Monday is ANZAC Day (Memorial Day), and Tuesday is public holiday. So technically I only have Saturday and Wednesday to shop at this stupid store for a louse $15 off. 

Needless to say, the movie was good, the bag was bad. I got my $3.30 out of my pocket to get back on the bus.  

Now you know, a night out at the movies cost $31.30 in Sydney. I will never complain again about a $9.00 ticket, especially not when I use my Maine student ID to get $1 off! I guess it kind of worked out though, I got a $99 ticket today to Chris Brown for only $33 at the Sydney Olympic Events Center. So I'm going to say, I guess I'm still on top!

Sydney

I went into Sydney yesterday. It was incredible! I took a bus from down the street from my house and got a day pass to take public transportation which includes the train, the bus, and the ferry. I took the bus into the center of the city (the bus went over the Sydney Bridge with a great view of the Opera House.) I met a friend from college (whom I found out would be in Sydney on holiday from teaching in South Korea) we went and saw some red kangaroos, koalas, snakes, crocs and spiders at a museum in Darling Harbour. We also got some lunch on the harbor and walked around the city a bit. I took the ferry back and the view of the harbour was unreal.

 I also picked up some fun pamphlets of things to do in Manly, which is the town in between where I live and Sydney. I'm looking forward to doing a bike tour or two around the towns!

We have a game tomorrow night at 5. I'll keep this updated on stats.

Cheers!

Getting Settled

So I made it...Yayyy!

I'm all caught up on everything. I arrived Saturday at 6:30 am, got a little tour of the city, took a nap, and went to the Youth League game then found out I was cleared to play in the ABA game. The girls won by 30, and I was tired so it worked out I didn't play. After the game the team went out for Thai food and then into Manly (a northern Sydney beach local spot). 

We had a good time getting to know each other. It was an early night for all and came home at 12. Funny story though:

So I left my house key in my duffle bag which was in my coach's car. I met the daughter of the lady (Roz) whom I'm staying with out and she had told me where the spare key was. When I got home, the key wasn't there. Roz had taken the key to get copies made for me earlier in the day, and had forgotten to put the key back. She had also been locked out that night, but she wound up having a spare in her purse. 

Needless to say, since Roz got a new couch in the living room this week, the old couch was under a the patio roof awaiting pickup from St. Vincent de Paul. Roz is a really heavy sleeper, so knocking was futile. I wound up camping out on the couch under the stars. It was a gorgeous night and the definitely saw some shooting stars. Then I woke up and saw the sunrise. It was GORGEOUS. 

Sunday I went to the beach. (Go on, be jealous!)  However, I have never been so pale in my life. I'm sure I blended in with the sand. Good thing I was laying on a towel or else the lifeguard on the 4-wheeler most definitely would have run me over!

Today we figured out how to get wireless internet on my computer and I got a cell phone. I also mastered public transportation (the bus) by getting to the mall.

Come to find out, all the girls here, upon asking me where I'm from, I tell them 45 minutes south of NYC on the beach. Then they ask if I'm from the Jersey Shore. HAAHAH! I love it! I told them none of my friends look or act like them, but there is some truth to the Guido and Guidette thing. Then I show them a picture I have on my phone of me in front of the house taken last July. Everyone here loves Snooki. Apparently when you go out in Sydney, there is alot of the same kind of crowd there, as well. Who knew?! 

Talk soon all! 

Cheers!

Hello Land of the Stars!

I flew into LAX and was dying for a night cap, so I ordered a tall Sam Adams Boston Lager (like) and a cheese and bean burrito (lets face it, Mexican food isn't as good on other continents!) Just about ready to board my flight to Sydney. It's been quite the long day starting by leaving at 10 am, driving to Newark (sidenote: if your international flight has three stops in the US, its not an international flight and you can arrive 1 hour before you need to takeoff!) 2 hours to Atlanta, and 5 hours to LAX. Now on for 14.5 hours to Sydney with a total of 28.8 hours in the air (but it's SOOOOO WORTH IT!)

I get to meet my team tomorrow so I'm pretty pumped. I'll let you know how it goes.

CHEERS!

Go Time!

2 Bags packed....Check.

2 Bags under 50 lbs...Check.

1 Carry-on bursting at the seams...ABSOLUTELY!

So I get to hop on a couple of planes for an estimated 28 hours and 53 minutes total (YES!) in less than 12 hours...("WINNING!!!"). 

My reading material is: Born to Run (recommended read for anyone looking to run more than 5 miles at any given time). Lincoln Lawyer - I heard Matthew McConnaghey was going to be in the movie (I <3 him and loved his serious role in We Are Marshall, so I'm going with it.) I'm also bringing 7 Events That Made America. I like history, so it will be a good refresher. 

I was going to bring Decision Points by W. , Leadership by Rudy G. and Going Rogue by Sarah P. (I'm halfway through it), but...NAH. There's also a book (believe it or not) on Obama around my house somewhere, but let's be serious folks, I'd probably get the boot from the plane three pages into the Preface. (All I can see are peanuts taking out eyeballs and the term Bloody Mary taking on a whole new meaning.)

I have Eat, Pray, Love on top of the stack, but c'mon now...I haven't met a single person who made it through Italy (including myself). India and Indonesia would be pure torture. Plus, there is a slight tear out of the binding from a family member who wanted to rip the book up because it was so bad, SOOO needless to say, I'll leave it here to collect dust!

See you again soon Jersey Shore. Stay "tantastic!"

Cheers!

G'day!

"Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today." -James Dean

Hi All!

Welcome to my blog. I plan on keeping this page so anyone who wants to follow, can see what I'm up to while I'm "Down Und' " in Australia. I'm really looking forward to this opportunity and I know it will be an unbelieveable experience.

Since I never plan anything too far in advance, I know most of you weren't surprised. But this time is a little bit harder emotionally. I think it was best when I would leave within a couple days notice versus two weeks. Regardless, I will be saying "See you later" like always because goodbye is far too definite of a statement. (Plus, you'll have the blog!)

Before I leave, please make sure you all have Skype, gmail video chat or iChat set up. This will make communicating with me a BREEZE! I will also post basketball info, stats, and hopefully a little video here and there :)


Cheers!