Another very long stretch of time between blogs as I spent the two weeks in New Zealand on a holiday between semesters and since returning I have been all but consumed by school work. But to start, New Zealand is a magnificent, beautiful country with lots to see and do. I would think a month at a minimum would be needed to immerse oneself into New Zealand and all it has to offer but in my short two weeks, I accomplished a lot.
I flew from Brisbane, Australia to Christchurch, New Zealand and made my way through customs and to the hostel I would be staying at for about a week. I dropped my backpack and spent the day wondering around the city and collecting pamphlets to sift through to decide what I wanted to experience while in New Zealand.
I spent my first afternoon sitting in a coffee shop sipping a delicious mocha, writing in my travel journal and making a list of the activities I planned to do, as well as a budget for my time in New Zealand since some of the activities looked rather expensive. That evening I immersed myself in a Maori tribe for a cultural performance and tribal knowledge over a meal representative of typical Maori foods. I learned so much about the Maori people, their traditions and culture but I also learned a bit about the importance of easy access to the indigenous populations of any country. I wrote an article for my home university newspaper regarding the importance of allowing non-Indigenous people to experience the indigenous traditions the country is based on. This holds true for Australia and the United States as well, in my opinion. I also got a good picture of a kiwi bird while with the Maori tribe, which was a fabulous way to start my New Zealand adventures.
The rest of the time I spent in Christchurch was spent in the great outdoors hiking, with a little tourist shopping in between. As a country girl, I love the outdoors and I couldn’t pass up the chance to get in some good, challenging hiking in New Zealand. Catching the bus to Queenstown was an early morning adventure, almost crisis. We had to catch the bus around 6:30am in a specific location. We asked the hostel front desk where it was we were supposed to meet the bus and they told us, what we assumed was the right location. After hanging around there for a few minutes, we decided to ask a passerby who looked like a local and he pointed us in a different direction. On our way there we stopped by a tour bus just loading up and asked the driver. He had no idea but my gut was telling me I was going in the wrong direction yet again as I saw the bus we were supposed to be on drive through the square and turn the corner. I finally went into a hotel concierge and asked them to call the bus company since it was obvious I had missed the bus, luckily they had not left the inner city so they came back and picked me up, thank God. So after a lot of exercise lugging my backpack up and down the city in the early morning, a bit of stress, I sat down in the only available seat and fell asleep.
The bus ride was uneventful and between dozing and reading I saw a beautiful countryside framed by snow-capped mountains. It was simply breath-taking and I couldn’t get enough of it. My poor camera was getting a work-out already and I wasn’t halfway through my New Zealand adventures.
Queenstown was by far my favorite spot, though it was quite touristy. The first full day in Queenstown I hiked all morning and early afternoon and then spent the afternoon relaxing in the hostel common room chatting with some new found friends. That evening I went on an organized pub crawl with some ladies from the hostel. I had a fabulous time meeting people from around the world.
Skiing had been on my list since I had decided to visit New Zealand as I am an avid skier back in the United States. After getting the low-down on snow and weather conditions from people who had been skiing all week, I decided Caldrona had the best conditions so I packed up early in the morning and caught the bus to the ski resort. I was surprised that there was no snow until right at the summit and not a tree to speak of, compared to the Cascades that are covered with snow about 45min from the summit and trees cover the slopes. It was a perfect day for skiing, sunny, warm, no wind and relatively empty slopes. I met a lovely family on the chair lift and ended up having lunch with them before heading back out for some more fun. I skied from 9am-3pm with a half hour lunch break. It was a gorgeous view everywhere I turned and I didn’t want to leave, it was so serene and peaceful.
The next day I spent the morning resting and relaxing. Had a mocha and coffee at Starbucks and sent a couple emails home at an internet café before spending the afternoon on a working sheep farm. I hadn’t planned on working on a sheep farm but since New Zealand is known for their sheep and wool industry I thought it would be a good experience and wow, was I right. The farmer picked me up in his 4wd and drove out to Glenorchy, about 45min from Queenstown. Glenorchy is where a lot of the Lord of the Rings was filmed and he pointed out specific spots along the way. Upon arriving at the farm, he showed a couple short videos on the history of sheep farming and shearing. Then he told me to go out into the lower paddock and herd the sheep up towards the shearing shed so I ran around clapping like a chicken with its head cutoff but I was laughing the whole time. I got to hold a 3wm old lamb and I didn’t want to let go, it was so soft and docile, just lying in my arms. Then I sorted the sheep out of a chute depending on if they had a blue marking on their back or not. After that, he took me into the shearing shed and showed me how to hold a sheep and how to shear. I was nervous as he put the heavy metal shearer in my hand but after a couple strokes with him guiding my hand, he let go and I did it all on my own. He half-jokingly offered for me to come back when it was time to shear the herd since I had done a fantastic job. If I wasn’t confined by school, I would have taken his offer in a heartbeat.
The second to last fill day in Queenstown was spent hiking and souvenir shopping for family and friends back home. The weather had been perfect the entire trip, a bit chilly but bright and sunny with a light breeze. Had lunch at the edge of the lake and took some time to reflect on my surroundings and adventures.
Bungee jumping was definitely on the list to do but I wanted to save it for the end of the trip, even though every day I got closer to doing it, the more nervous I became. I chose the Kawarau Bridge, which was the first original bungee jump at 43 meters. I’m not afraid of heights or of falling yet something about this had me a bit nervous but in the end I conquered my nerves. I had decided to make the most of the jump and asked to get wet. The guide strapping me into the harness became really excited and had a sly smile on his face, which made me a little weary. He asked me if I just wanted to get my hands wet or get dunked; I hesitated and said, ah why not, getting dunked sounds good. He said I had made his day and week, that he hasn’t dunked someone in a few weeks. Afterwards, I realized why…getting plunged into freezing mountain water in the middle of winter in New Zealand is definitely a shock, but I am really glad I did it. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience and when I’m 90 with grandkids, this will be a great story to tell them.
The next morning I caught the bus back to Christchurch as I flew out early the next day. I spent the evening writing in my journal, looking back at pictures I had taken and doing some leisurely reading. The trip back to Brisbane was uneventful and the bus from Brisbane back to Armidale, where I attend university was a long one. I got into Armidale about 2:30am and shared a taxi with another student. I was extremely happy to be back in my own room in my own bed but a part of me was sad that my New Zealand trip flew by so fast. I have so many memories that I will never forget but it is impossible to say which activities were my favorite as they all offered something different; cultural experiences, thrill-seeking, nature, it all was fantastic. I hope one day I can return but for now it’s back to Australia and a new semester of seemingly interesting courses, but more on that later.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
End of Semester
A month since writing and there really hasn’t been many exciting events. The most exciting event was Austin College Bierfest. This annual event run by the Austin College Committee is a themed night of hanging out and dancing. The theme of Nursery Rhymes and Fairytales provided an array of costumes; some of the more popular ones being Queen of Hearts, Pirates, 3 Little Pigs and Jack and Jill. I went as The Muffin Man and dressed up in a bakers outfit, complete with a chef’s hat and apron. I also carried a basket of mini muffins to hand out; most people were very excited for a free muffin. As the souvenir from the event, every person received a pint-sized glass Bierfest mug. I immediately took it back to my room so as to make sure I would be able to take it back to the United States with me. It was a great night of taking pictures and socializing.
The following day was Recovery. Most people rotate between sitting and chatting with friends and dancing on the lawn. The perfect weather of warm and sunny made the day that much more enjoyable.
Over the last month, we have had a block (or floor) dodgeball tournament. 6 to a side, no more than 3 guys and 3 gals on each team, playing in our courtyard making for a relaxing study break. With a couple strong guys with 'guns' for arms led our team to a third/fourth place victory, out of eight positions.
A couple relaxing evenings of open mic night and a girl’s night out to watch Sex and the City 2 were a great way to end the semester. Luckily, I only had one final, which wasn’t hard to begin with as we were provided with all the questions ahead of time. I finished my last couple of lingering assignments and studied for my exam, took it and am now done. The semester doesn’t end for a couple more weeks so I am home free, just relaxing and catching up on writing and some leisurely reading.
The soccer World Cup has begun and thus I am pretty intent on watching as much as possible. Sadly this requires staying up into the wee-hours of the night, as the games are televised live from South Africa and with the time difference, means games are televised in Australia at 9:30pm, midnight and 4:30am. Both first games for the US and Australia were at 4:30am consecutively so I am just now recovering from my lack of sleep, but it was worth it. The US got lucky with the England Goalie mistake but Australia got creamed by Germany. I wanted the US game alone as no one could be convinced to come watch it with me at 4:30am but about 25 of us watched the Australia game, with Socceroos banners, flags and horns. As more RF’s finish exams, I am hoping I will have more soccer buddies to watch the tournament with.
For the upcoming holiday, I am planning on spending the first half of break with Tahnee, the Australian exchange student who was on staff with me at WSU. I am excited to see her and sightsee around her town. Then Myrtice and I will spend the last half of the three week holiday traveling around New Zealand. I plan on bungee jumping, doing lots of hiking and taking lots of photos as I hear New Zealand is absolutely gorgeous. I will not be taking my laptop on holiday with me as it is a liability and quite heavy to carry around so I will borrow Tahnee’s once or twice while I am at her house but I will not be able to write from New Zealand so a blog update will take a while.
When we return for semester two, there will be a busy month ahead of us as it is a new semester which means new classes and a lot of events, such as disorientation week, parent’s weekend and ball. Busy yet fun! Please check out updated photos and my weekly Daily Evergreen columns!
The following day was Recovery. Most people rotate between sitting and chatting with friends and dancing on the lawn. The perfect weather of warm and sunny made the day that much more enjoyable.
Over the last month, we have had a block (or floor) dodgeball tournament. 6 to a side, no more than 3 guys and 3 gals on each team, playing in our courtyard making for a relaxing study break. With a couple strong guys with 'guns' for arms led our team to a third/fourth place victory, out of eight positions.
A couple relaxing evenings of open mic night and a girl’s night out to watch Sex and the City 2 were a great way to end the semester. Luckily, I only had one final, which wasn’t hard to begin with as we were provided with all the questions ahead of time. I finished my last couple of lingering assignments and studied for my exam, took it and am now done. The semester doesn’t end for a couple more weeks so I am home free, just relaxing and catching up on writing and some leisurely reading.
The soccer World Cup has begun and thus I am pretty intent on watching as much as possible. Sadly this requires staying up into the wee-hours of the night, as the games are televised live from South Africa and with the time difference, means games are televised in Australia at 9:30pm, midnight and 4:30am. Both first games for the US and Australia were at 4:30am consecutively so I am just now recovering from my lack of sleep, but it was worth it. The US got lucky with the England Goalie mistake but Australia got creamed by Germany. I wanted the US game alone as no one could be convinced to come watch it with me at 4:30am but about 25 of us watched the Australia game, with Socceroos banners, flags and horns. As more RF’s finish exams, I am hoping I will have more soccer buddies to watch the tournament with.
For the upcoming holiday, I am planning on spending the first half of break with Tahnee, the Australian exchange student who was on staff with me at WSU. I am excited to see her and sightsee around her town. Then Myrtice and I will spend the last half of the three week holiday traveling around New Zealand. I plan on bungee jumping, doing lots of hiking and taking lots of photos as I hear New Zealand is absolutely gorgeous. I will not be taking my laptop on holiday with me as it is a liability and quite heavy to carry around so I will borrow Tahnee’s once or twice while I am at her house but I will not be able to write from New Zealand so a blog update will take a while.
When we return for semester two, there will be a busy month ahead of us as it is a new semester which means new classes and a lot of events, such as disorientation week, parent’s weekend and ball. Busy yet fun! Please check out updated photos and my weekly Daily Evergreen columns!
Thursday, May 13, 2010
The End of Holiday and Back at Uni
My final week of holiday was spent in the tiny town of Coolah, population 900. I always thought myself a country girl and my time in Coolah definitely reaffirmed the love I have for small country towns. Driving down Main Street, the only grocery store has groups of people chatting outside, the butcher is next door and down the street is the post office. Across the street is the local news shop, the bank and a café. Trees line the division between the sides of the road and it becomes the typical picturesque town as the leaves turn a golden color.
It was great to spend some time there, getting to know some people. One of the best things about the small town is how friendly everyone is, even to complete stranger and foreigner. Everyone has a smile and a “how’s it going”. Old friends catch up in the dry goods aisle while the check stand operator talks about the party next weekend.
By far the most exciting time in Coolah was Uncle Donny’s 5oth birthday party. It was a 60’s theme and Chantel and her brother Reece, sister Tiff and Tiff’s boyfriend Bronson went as the Scooby Doo gang while their mom and dad went as the couple from The Adam’s Family. I went as I Dream of Genie and unintentionally granted a older gentleman a wish. Thinking a spare room was empty, I had planned to change into PJs there instead of taking up the only bathroom. As I sat on the bed to undo my shoes, I quickly realized I was not alone as someone was in the bed. I quickly grabbed my clothes and high-tailed it out, though I was the laughing stock of the party the following day. Yes, the party went for two days and I can say I was quite hung over the whole next day but it was great fun.
Well now I am back at uni and back into the work that comes along with it. I didn’t realize that the reason my first half of the semester was so slack was because it would all come at once this half. Eight assignments in six weeks makes for a very busy second term. I am also writing for the summer edition of WSU’s student newspaper, the Daily Evergreen, so while it is wonderful experience and will broaden my journalism skills, it is one more thing to add to my plate.
Last weekend I played Nerf, which is the female version of AFL, which is a type of rugby football. Nerf is a full tackle sport but the tackles are more equivalent to giant bear hugs rather than the tackle style I first thought of, which is NFL. While I walked away with many bruises and scrapes, those are the signs of a good day. I also have started playing netball, which is one game a week for the season. It is a bit complicated. There are some similarities to basketball but some significant differences such as not being able to step with the ball and there is no backboard to use. The team has weekly training sessions which I desperately need but I feel I am starting to get the hang of it. Youtube netball sometime and see what I’m up against! This weekend is netball and water polo. Water polo will be an experience for sure as I am not terribly interested in swimming and have never played netball. The girls said I’d be alright so it will be another weekend of sports adventures.
Sorry for another long stretch of not writing, I hope to get into a routine now that I am back at uni for a while. We are coming up on final exams so time is getting scarce. Luckily I only have one exam so once my assignments are done; I’m not too far from vacation #2. Please check out my photos and my column at the links below.
http://picasaweb.google.com/KaseyCrawford9
http://www.dailyevergreen.com/story/31874
It was great to spend some time there, getting to know some people. One of the best things about the small town is how friendly everyone is, even to complete stranger and foreigner. Everyone has a smile and a “how’s it going”. Old friends catch up in the dry goods aisle while the check stand operator talks about the party next weekend.
By far the most exciting time in Coolah was Uncle Donny’s 5oth birthday party. It was a 60’s theme and Chantel and her brother Reece, sister Tiff and Tiff’s boyfriend Bronson went as the Scooby Doo gang while their mom and dad went as the couple from The Adam’s Family. I went as I Dream of Genie and unintentionally granted a older gentleman a wish. Thinking a spare room was empty, I had planned to change into PJs there instead of taking up the only bathroom. As I sat on the bed to undo my shoes, I quickly realized I was not alone as someone was in the bed. I quickly grabbed my clothes and high-tailed it out, though I was the laughing stock of the party the following day. Yes, the party went for two days and I can say I was quite hung over the whole next day but it was great fun.
Well now I am back at uni and back into the work that comes along with it. I didn’t realize that the reason my first half of the semester was so slack was because it would all come at once this half. Eight assignments in six weeks makes for a very busy second term. I am also writing for the summer edition of WSU’s student newspaper, the Daily Evergreen, so while it is wonderful experience and will broaden my journalism skills, it is one more thing to add to my plate.
Last weekend I played Nerf, which is the female version of AFL, which is a type of rugby football. Nerf is a full tackle sport but the tackles are more equivalent to giant bear hugs rather than the tackle style I first thought of, which is NFL. While I walked away with many bruises and scrapes, those are the signs of a good day. I also have started playing netball, which is one game a week for the season. It is a bit complicated. There are some similarities to basketball but some significant differences such as not being able to step with the ball and there is no backboard to use. The team has weekly training sessions which I desperately need but I feel I am starting to get the hang of it. Youtube netball sometime and see what I’m up against! This weekend is netball and water polo. Water polo will be an experience for sure as I am not terribly interested in swimming and have never played netball. The girls said I’d be alright so it will be another weekend of sports adventures.
Sorry for another long stretch of not writing, I hope to get into a routine now that I am back at uni for a while. We are coming up on final exams so time is getting scarce. Luckily I only have one exam so once my assignments are done; I’m not too far from vacation #2. Please check out my photos and my column at the links below.
http://picasaweb.google.com/KaseyCrawford9
http://www.dailyevergreen.com/story/31874
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Central Coast
So my week on the Central Coast is coming to an end as it is my last full day here. The week flew by, being occupied by a whole host of different activities and adventures. The first day I went with Jess and her mom to visit her aunt at Anna Bay and the nearby Nelson Bay. We ate lunch on the water, saw dolphins on a dolphin watch cruise, and took some beautiful pictures. We watched the sunset over Newcastle and it was breath-taking. Bright orange, red and yellow painted the sky like watercolors, blending together at times yet boldly distinct and separate at other times.
One of the highlights of the week was watching a pro rugby league game. Footy is a popular sport, comparable to soccer in Europe. The teams were the South Sydney Rabbitohs versus the Newcastle Knights. Fans sported their team’s jerseys and waved huge flags and banners in their team colors. While I still do not fully understand all the minute details and rules of the game, I understood the general happenings and I had an absolute blast.
I spent a few afternoons at the beach swimming and sunbathing. It is the most relaxing activity and I love it. The warm sun beating down as the waves crash, the light ocean breeze and the taste of salt, it is paradise. Fishing is popular here; most people just fish off boats or off the beach. Seagulls and pelicans also frequent the beach which adds to the atmosphere.
The other major highlight was doing a Treetop adventure high ropes course in the Ourimbah State Forest. You start on the lowest level, the easiest, and progress on to harder parts of the course as you feel comfortable doing. There were zip lines, rope swings, cargo nets and other obstacles to cross. I’m not afraid of heights so it was a blast but definitely a bit of a work out. It requires pretty good flexibility and upper body strength but I survived the course and had a blast. This holiday has been such an adventure and been a wonderful time with friends.
I am now transitioning from the city to the country, which I cannot wait to experience. As a country gal at heart, I am eager to experience Australian country life. I’m not sure if it is considered ‘the outback’ but it is a small town called Coolah and I’ve been told it is very small. The internet and phone reception is said to be scarce at best so I will be posting, most likely upon my return to college.
One of the highlights of the week was watching a pro rugby league game. Footy is a popular sport, comparable to soccer in Europe. The teams were the South Sydney Rabbitohs versus the Newcastle Knights. Fans sported their team’s jerseys and waved huge flags and banners in their team colors. While I still do not fully understand all the minute details and rules of the game, I understood the general happenings and I had an absolute blast.
I spent a few afternoons at the beach swimming and sunbathing. It is the most relaxing activity and I love it. The warm sun beating down as the waves crash, the light ocean breeze and the taste of salt, it is paradise. Fishing is popular here; most people just fish off boats or off the beach. Seagulls and pelicans also frequent the beach which adds to the atmosphere.
The other major highlight was doing a Treetop adventure high ropes course in the Ourimbah State Forest. You start on the lowest level, the easiest, and progress on to harder parts of the course as you feel comfortable doing. There were zip lines, rope swings, cargo nets and other obstacles to cross. I’m not afraid of heights so it was a blast but definitely a bit of a work out. It requires pretty good flexibility and upper body strength but I survived the course and had a blast. This holiday has been such an adventure and been a wonderful time with friends.
I am now transitioning from the city to the country, which I cannot wait to experience. As a country gal at heart, I am eager to experience Australian country life. I’m not sure if it is considered ‘the outback’ but it is a small town called Coolah and I’ve been told it is very small. The internet and phone reception is said to be scarce at best so I will be posting, most likely upon my return to college.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Holiday Break Adventures in Sydney
Well I am halfway through my three week mid-semester holiday break and I have kept plenty busy. I spent Good Friday and Easter Sunday with my friend Ally Croker and her family. On Good Friday, we attended an Angelican church service with one of Ally’s friends. It was a small, close-knit community church and they served a light dinner after the service, which consisted of three different types of soup. I had a pumpkin-based soup that was delicious.
We left the following day to the Corkers’ holiday house on Lake Macquarie, which was said to be one of the largest salt water lakes in Australia. The house was a short drive away from multiple beaches which offered great swimming areas as well as surfing and body-boarding. As my first experience in Australian surf, I fell in love with the warm sand molding to my feet, the bright sun reflecting off the damp sand and the crashing waves as loud as thunder. It was such a peaceful place where I could lose myself laying in the sun and witnessing God’s creation. At one beach there were caves, which have been slowly and continuously filled by sand over the years, making it more difficult to crawl through. The best way to describe it was as a nature-mad maze within the rocks, carved by the ocean wind, water and sand.
The evening before Easter Sunday, Ally, her parents and grandparents and I put together an egg hunt for her younger brothers. We hid dozens and dozens of chocolate eggs throughout the house, some in challenging spots. The boys missed some and we continued to stumble upon hidden eggs throughout the day.
Ally, her dad and brother took me on a tour of the lake on their boat. We spent a couple hours admiring the massive boats and houses while having some fun speeding through the lake, hitting some pretty rough waves at times and being bounced around, it was great fun.
After a few days relaxing at the beach, we returned to Sydney where I watched one of Ally’s brothers play soccer in the rain. Though it was raining, the game was exciting as the boys were playing girls two years older than they were, and they won! The parents were cheering on their team but it was a bit interesting to listen to the parents because every so often a parent would say something a bit negative about their child, for instance “oh come on, you should’ve gotten that”. This was a little shocking, coming from a family that was always supportive and offered constructive criticism in private.
Ally, Kate Murton and I went to the Sydney Easter Show. This is a yearly event that goes for two weeks during April. It is similar to a fair with rides, barns full of livestock to look at, a cow milking demonstration and performances such as dance schools, pig racing and wood chopping. We saw some awesome fruit displays made of fresh fruit and grain. There was also a phenomenon called Showbags. They are plastic bags that you buy for various amounts of money which contain candy, toys and costumes, depending on which Showbag you bought. Apparently everyone buys them and it was apparent by all the people holding fistfuls of bags. Each of us bought a show bag, I bought a Freddo Frog chocolate bag and included was an awesome swirly straw cup, which will be great for college events.
I’m on the Central Coast now with Jess Sluyter and I will write about my adventures here soon. Also, check out my photos at
http://picasaweb.google.com/KaseyCrawford9
We left the following day to the Corkers’ holiday house on Lake Macquarie, which was said to be one of the largest salt water lakes in Australia. The house was a short drive away from multiple beaches which offered great swimming areas as well as surfing and body-boarding. As my first experience in Australian surf, I fell in love with the warm sand molding to my feet, the bright sun reflecting off the damp sand and the crashing waves as loud as thunder. It was such a peaceful place where I could lose myself laying in the sun and witnessing God’s creation. At one beach there were caves, which have been slowly and continuously filled by sand over the years, making it more difficult to crawl through. The best way to describe it was as a nature-mad maze within the rocks, carved by the ocean wind, water and sand.
The evening before Easter Sunday, Ally, her parents and grandparents and I put together an egg hunt for her younger brothers. We hid dozens and dozens of chocolate eggs throughout the house, some in challenging spots. The boys missed some and we continued to stumble upon hidden eggs throughout the day.
Ally, her dad and brother took me on a tour of the lake on their boat. We spent a couple hours admiring the massive boats and houses while having some fun speeding through the lake, hitting some pretty rough waves at times and being bounced around, it was great fun.
After a few days relaxing at the beach, we returned to Sydney where I watched one of Ally’s brothers play soccer in the rain. Though it was raining, the game was exciting as the boys were playing girls two years older than they were, and they won! The parents were cheering on their team but it was a bit interesting to listen to the parents because every so often a parent would say something a bit negative about their child, for instance “oh come on, you should’ve gotten that”. This was a little shocking, coming from a family that was always supportive and offered constructive criticism in private.
Ally, Kate Murton and I went to the Sydney Easter Show. This is a yearly event that goes for two weeks during April. It is similar to a fair with rides, barns full of livestock to look at, a cow milking demonstration and performances such as dance schools, pig racing and wood chopping. We saw some awesome fruit displays made of fresh fruit and grain. There was also a phenomenon called Showbags. They are plastic bags that you buy for various amounts of money which contain candy, toys and costumes, depending on which Showbag you bought. Apparently everyone buys them and it was apparent by all the people holding fistfuls of bags. Each of us bought a show bag, I bought a Freddo Frog chocolate bag and included was an awesome swirly straw cup, which will be great for college events.
I’m on the Central Coast now with Jess Sluyter and I will write about my adventures here soon. Also, check out my photos at
http://picasaweb.google.com/KaseyCrawford9
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Holiday Break
I have had a busy couple of weeks here at college but it has been good and pretty productive. Assignments are beginning to be due, which is a bit stressful because essay formats are different than at WSU. And in my history class, the lecturer specifically asked any exchange students to note that they are exchange students so she doesn’t accidently mark off points for ‘miss-spellings’ as they use British English where in the United States we use US English. Luckily my computer can automatically change the document.
We are heading off into our first holiday or break period. It is 3 full weeks and I am definitely ready for a break from the normal college life. I am spending each week with a different friend and will be seeing a different part of Australia. I will be spending some time near Sydney, some time in Sydney and then some time in the rural country. I am looking forward to seeing the rural country, as I am a country girl at heart. I might even visit a working sheep farm; sheep here are equivalent to our cattle in terms of a meat staple. I am also planning on going to a professional rugby game, which I am stoked about. Rugby is as big here as our NFL.
It is becoming autumn here and the leaves on the trees are turning from a deep, luscious green to burnt orange and canary yellow. The university is beautiful this time of year and the sun is still shining most days which brings about a nice warmth. We had a decent rain storm last week and even it was great. Coming from Seattle, I know rain and definitely get enough of it but here it comes and goes so quickly. The weather can change on in an instant from a warm, sunny day to a cloudy wetness. The only give-away of this change are the gray-toned clouds that roll in.
During the holidays, I am not sure how often I will be able to write but I will try to keep the blog updated as much as possible. If for some reason I fail at keeping it updated, I will have a long post after the holidays. The start of term 2 will be a blast. The college is having a big event at the end of April called Beirfest and the theme is Nursery Rhymes so I am going to some research and try to make a kick-ass costume without spending too much money.
Money goes fast here, everyday items such as groceries and clothes. I have to work a little at sticking with the budget. I knew all my years of saving would come in handy but Australia might deplete my savings account if I am not careful.
Well, I need to finish packing before we leave on holiday tomorrow morning but I will try to update on my holiday adventures as much as possible.
We are heading off into our first holiday or break period. It is 3 full weeks and I am definitely ready for a break from the normal college life. I am spending each week with a different friend and will be seeing a different part of Australia. I will be spending some time near Sydney, some time in Sydney and then some time in the rural country. I am looking forward to seeing the rural country, as I am a country girl at heart. I might even visit a working sheep farm; sheep here are equivalent to our cattle in terms of a meat staple. I am also planning on going to a professional rugby game, which I am stoked about. Rugby is as big here as our NFL.
It is becoming autumn here and the leaves on the trees are turning from a deep, luscious green to burnt orange and canary yellow. The university is beautiful this time of year and the sun is still shining most days which brings about a nice warmth. We had a decent rain storm last week and even it was great. Coming from Seattle, I know rain and definitely get enough of it but here it comes and goes so quickly. The weather can change on in an instant from a warm, sunny day to a cloudy wetness. The only give-away of this change are the gray-toned clouds that roll in.
During the holidays, I am not sure how often I will be able to write but I will try to keep the blog updated as much as possible. If for some reason I fail at keeping it updated, I will have a long post after the holidays. The start of term 2 will be a blast. The college is having a big event at the end of April called Beirfest and the theme is Nursery Rhymes so I am going to some research and try to make a kick-ass costume without spending too much money.
Money goes fast here, everyday items such as groceries and clothes. I have to work a little at sticking with the budget. I knew all my years of saving would come in handy but Australia might deplete my savings account if I am not careful.
Well, I need to finish packing before we leave on holiday tomorrow morning but I will try to update on my holiday adventures as much as possible.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Classes, Sport and Winter Olympics
Another long stretch without a blog update. This can be attributed to the lack of reliable internet here at college but hopefully the internet is fixed for good now so blog updates should begin to be more frequent.
Classes are very interesting here. I’m taking Colonial History of Australia, Australian Film and two Australian politics classes. The material is fascinating, especially the colonial history and how European occupation of Australia began as a place to dump convicts from the overflowing prisons in Britain. The struggle between Europeans and the Aboriginals is also intriguing because it is relatively similar to the struggle between the British and the Native Americans in the development of the American colonies.
Politics is another story. Most students here have had basic politics lessons going through the school system so they have a basic understanding of the different parties and the main issues common in election debates. Being from America, I have no real knowledge of Australian politics so I’m playing a bit of catch up. For one class I am writing a paper comparing Kevin Rudd, the Australian politician in power with Barack Obama. It requires a lot of research but being able to compare it to the United States is helping me to get a handle on the basic political structure.
To add to the computer issues, I had to purchase a new hard drive for my laptop last week. Luckily my computer had been giving me warnings that there was a problem so I was able to backup everything before it crashed. Since replacing the hard drive, I’ve had to re-download everything. It is such a daunting task. I went to listen to some music only to realize I hadn’t reinstalled iTunes so I couldn’t listen to any music. And with the sketchy internet, downloading programs has been a challenge and a chore. All is working well now and the new hard drive is a lot bigger so I have more room to download so that is nice.
I played touch footy here a couple weekends ago. Sports here are really confusing because there are different leagues of rugby, sometimes called footy while football can refer to American NFL or soccer. I am constantly trying to keep them straight. Touch footy is a version of footy (rugby) where a rugby ball is used and the goal is to score a tri. The ball is moved either by running it or passing it but you are not allowed to pass the ball forward. The defense’s goal is to touch the person with the ball to stop play. Each side is allowed 5 touches before the ball changes possession. It is a little bit confusing but a lot of fun and a very good workout.
It was interesting to watch the winter Olympics from another country and to see the difference in coverage and broadcasting. One of the most controversial events, from an Australian viewpoint, was the ice dancing routine that supposedly represented Aboriginal culture. When the couple performed the routine at the World Championships previous to the Olympics, the guy was in “blackface” but after an uproar, they eliminated the “blackface” part of the costume but the costumes, body paint and music was still supposed to be representative of Aboriginal culture. The general understanding here was that the music was not traditional Aboriginal music and the costumes were offensive and unauthentic. Australians here were upset and angered by the misrepresentation and the insensitivity and lack of research that went into developing the routine. This controversy received significant coverage and discussion throughout the entire Olympics here in Australia.
Classes are very interesting here. I’m taking Colonial History of Australia, Australian Film and two Australian politics classes. The material is fascinating, especially the colonial history and how European occupation of Australia began as a place to dump convicts from the overflowing prisons in Britain. The struggle between Europeans and the Aboriginals is also intriguing because it is relatively similar to the struggle between the British and the Native Americans in the development of the American colonies.
Politics is another story. Most students here have had basic politics lessons going through the school system so they have a basic understanding of the different parties and the main issues common in election debates. Being from America, I have no real knowledge of Australian politics so I’m playing a bit of catch up. For one class I am writing a paper comparing Kevin Rudd, the Australian politician in power with Barack Obama. It requires a lot of research but being able to compare it to the United States is helping me to get a handle on the basic political structure.
To add to the computer issues, I had to purchase a new hard drive for my laptop last week. Luckily my computer had been giving me warnings that there was a problem so I was able to backup everything before it crashed. Since replacing the hard drive, I’ve had to re-download everything. It is such a daunting task. I went to listen to some music only to realize I hadn’t reinstalled iTunes so I couldn’t listen to any music. And with the sketchy internet, downloading programs has been a challenge and a chore. All is working well now and the new hard drive is a lot bigger so I have more room to download so that is nice.
I played touch footy here a couple weekends ago. Sports here are really confusing because there are different leagues of rugby, sometimes called footy while football can refer to American NFL or soccer. I am constantly trying to keep them straight. Touch footy is a version of footy (rugby) where a rugby ball is used and the goal is to score a tri. The ball is moved either by running it or passing it but you are not allowed to pass the ball forward. The defense’s goal is to touch the person with the ball to stop play. Each side is allowed 5 touches before the ball changes possession. It is a little bit confusing but a lot of fun and a very good workout.
It was interesting to watch the winter Olympics from another country and to see the difference in coverage and broadcasting. One of the most controversial events, from an Australian viewpoint, was the ice dancing routine that supposedly represented Aboriginal culture. When the couple performed the routine at the World Championships previous to the Olympics, the guy was in “blackface” but after an uproar, they eliminated the “blackface” part of the costume but the costumes, body paint and music was still supposed to be representative of Aboriginal culture. The general understanding here was that the music was not traditional Aboriginal music and the costumes were offensive and unauthentic. Australians here were upset and angered by the misrepresentation and the insensitivity and lack of research that went into developing the routine. This controversy received significant coverage and discussion throughout the entire Olympics here in Australia.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
First 3 weeks in Australia
Well this is the long overdue update that should’ve come three weeks ago. Since I’ve arrived in Australia, so much has happened but I suppose I will start at the beginning. I arrived in Sydney in the early morning on a Tuesday and had no trouble getting my luggage and getting to my hostel. After checking in to the hostel, I walked around the city for a few hours, and stumbled upon the Anzac Memorial.
The Anzac Memorial is a tribute to all the men and women from New South Wales who have gone to war. It originally commemorates 120,000 people, represented by bronze, plaster stars covering the top. The memorial is located in a vast, beautiful park full of native Australian flora and fauna. At the other end is a giant fountain, where I walked into a Christian rally to raise awareness of Christian persecution. I made sure I didn’t get involved but it appeared to be a peaceful rally.
The next day I did a hop-on-and-off bus tour all around Sydney, which was a great way to see a lot of the city in a short period of time. I saw the largest fish market in the southern hemisphere, which had nothing on Pike Place Market. I walked along Darling Harbour and one of the main highlights was the Sydney Wildlife Park where I saw lots of native wildlife, including kangaroos and rock wallabies. My favorite part was when I got my picture taken with koalas and got to pet one. They are super soft on top but a little coarser closer to the skin. The other highlight was the famous Sydney Opera House. We walked right up to it and the architecture is amazing. It is such a unique design and is framed perfectly with the harbour and bridge. I then noticed a bunch of police blocking off an area in front of the Opera House and I became a bit nervous. I had stumble on a Christian rally the day before, what trouble did I find now? After asking a local, I found out that Prince Edward was making an appearance so I hung out there for a few minutes until he arrived.
As I walked through the Botanical Gardens, I noticed an interesting contrast between the beautiful, peaceful gardens and the modern, busy city skyline above the trees. Sydney has a lot of different contrasts weaved into its culture. It has the modern atmosphere of a major, international city yet within it, quiet, restful places such as parks. Buildings vary between modern, progressive design and Europe-inspired vintage structures.
The following day was an 8 hour train ride to Armidale (where I’m going to school). It was a beautiful train ride from the city out into the country and I saw my first wild kangaroo! My senior resident fellow (boss, mentor guy) met me at the train station and took me back to college. Here they refer to the university as uni and as the specific residence halls as colleges, which still confuses me from time to time.
Resident Fellow training (RF) was an experience for sure. Drinking is such a significant part of the college culture here, so unlike WSU. WSU gets a bad rap for being a drinking school but they look like a conservative, private school from here! Plus, I don’t enjoy beer or wine that much at all yet so it limits my drinking a fair amount. I’m working on starting to like “bins” though. Bins a literally a garbage can with a clean liner filled with an assortment of vodka, cordial (juice) and goon (cheap boxed wine). Depending on the strength, they are ok.
So our orientation week is coming to a close and I can say that I am eagerly awaiting the start of classes tomorrow. This last week has been fun but every night involved tons of drinking (for most people, not me). I still do not like beer yet and that seems to be the main option here because it is cheap. They also drink boxed wine (they call it goon) mixed with juice. It isn't bad but I'm definitely a fan of the fruitier, girly drinks.
I went on a hiking excursion all day yesterday (my Saturday) with the international center here at the university. It was through Dorrigo Rainforest National Park. It was really beautiful and it was great to get out of the university for a bit. About halfway into the 5k hike, it started to rain a little, which most people were not happy about but it was still fairly hot and humid and I enjoyed the misty rain. I told them that the mist wasn't really rain, compared to Seattle! There were also a fair amount of leaches around, and no matter how much bug spray I put on, they still got my ankles. I had to pull three separate leaches off me and my socks were covered in blood so I just threw them out. I'd never had a personal encounter with leaches so it was definitely an adventure. All in all, it was a great day. I'm working on posting pictures online soon and I will email you the link as soon as I do.
On campus, there are wild kangaroos in a fenced in park so I see them daily and I’ve heard rumors that there are also the rare koala that can frequent some of the trees in the university, but they are hard to spot. There are also a fair amount of spiders and a variety of colorful birds, whose names I am still trying to figure out.
Well that’s the short version of the last few weeks. Now that the university internet finally seems to be working consistently, for the most part, updates should be much more frequent. I’m also working on posting pictures so everyone can see Australia as I do.
Updates to the blog will happen on a weekly basis, as much as possible.
The Anzac Memorial is a tribute to all the men and women from New South Wales who have gone to war. It originally commemorates 120,000 people, represented by bronze, plaster stars covering the top. The memorial is located in a vast, beautiful park full of native Australian flora and fauna. At the other end is a giant fountain, where I walked into a Christian rally to raise awareness of Christian persecution. I made sure I didn’t get involved but it appeared to be a peaceful rally.
The next day I did a hop-on-and-off bus tour all around Sydney, which was a great way to see a lot of the city in a short period of time. I saw the largest fish market in the southern hemisphere, which had nothing on Pike Place Market. I walked along Darling Harbour and one of the main highlights was the Sydney Wildlife Park where I saw lots of native wildlife, including kangaroos and rock wallabies. My favorite part was when I got my picture taken with koalas and got to pet one. They are super soft on top but a little coarser closer to the skin. The other highlight was the famous Sydney Opera House. We walked right up to it and the architecture is amazing. It is such a unique design and is framed perfectly with the harbour and bridge. I then noticed a bunch of police blocking off an area in front of the Opera House and I became a bit nervous. I had stumble on a Christian rally the day before, what trouble did I find now? After asking a local, I found out that Prince Edward was making an appearance so I hung out there for a few minutes until he arrived.
As I walked through the Botanical Gardens, I noticed an interesting contrast between the beautiful, peaceful gardens and the modern, busy city skyline above the trees. Sydney has a lot of different contrasts weaved into its culture. It has the modern atmosphere of a major, international city yet within it, quiet, restful places such as parks. Buildings vary between modern, progressive design and Europe-inspired vintage structures.
The following day was an 8 hour train ride to Armidale (where I’m going to school). It was a beautiful train ride from the city out into the country and I saw my first wild kangaroo! My senior resident fellow (boss, mentor guy) met me at the train station and took me back to college. Here they refer to the university as uni and as the specific residence halls as colleges, which still confuses me from time to time.
Resident Fellow training (RF) was an experience for sure. Drinking is such a significant part of the college culture here, so unlike WSU. WSU gets a bad rap for being a drinking school but they look like a conservative, private school from here! Plus, I don’t enjoy beer or wine that much at all yet so it limits my drinking a fair amount. I’m working on starting to like “bins” though. Bins a literally a garbage can with a clean liner filled with an assortment of vodka, cordial (juice) and goon (cheap boxed wine). Depending on the strength, they are ok.
So our orientation week is coming to a close and I can say that I am eagerly awaiting the start of classes tomorrow. This last week has been fun but every night involved tons of drinking (for most people, not me). I still do not like beer yet and that seems to be the main option here because it is cheap. They also drink boxed wine (they call it goon) mixed with juice. It isn't bad but I'm definitely a fan of the fruitier, girly drinks.
I went on a hiking excursion all day yesterday (my Saturday) with the international center here at the university. It was through Dorrigo Rainforest National Park. It was really beautiful and it was great to get out of the university for a bit. About halfway into the 5k hike, it started to rain a little, which most people were not happy about but it was still fairly hot and humid and I enjoyed the misty rain. I told them that the mist wasn't really rain, compared to Seattle! There were also a fair amount of leaches around, and no matter how much bug spray I put on, they still got my ankles. I had to pull three separate leaches off me and my socks were covered in blood so I just threw them out. I'd never had a personal encounter with leaches so it was definitely an adventure. All in all, it was a great day. I'm working on posting pictures online soon and I will email you the link as soon as I do.
On campus, there are wild kangaroos in a fenced in park so I see them daily and I’ve heard rumors that there are also the rare koala that can frequent some of the trees in the university, but they are hard to spot. There are also a fair amount of spiders and a variety of colorful birds, whose names I am still trying to figure out.
Well that’s the short version of the last few weeks. Now that the university internet finally seems to be working consistently, for the most part, updates should be much more frequent. I’m also working on posting pictures so everyone can see Australia as I do.
Updates to the blog will happen on a weekly basis, as much as possible.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
T-Minus 1 Week
Officially one week until I board the plane and start the Australia chapter of my life. Until now, I have been excited and nervous but it hadn't really hit me in a noticeable way. Little things stirred emotions, such as packing up my room at WSU and making the long drive back home, knowing I wouldn't be coming back for a year. My residence life friends starting spring training while I was at home starting to pack was another event that had mixed emotions. But so far, the moment that has really affected me the most was church this morning. It was a sermon about how important youth are to the church. At the end of the service, the pastor had all the youth stand and the congregation prayed over them, for strength and direction. A general prayer at my last church service at home finally caused some tears. Knowing my mom was experiencing similar emotions next to me only seemed to make the emotions stronger.
I am leaving my family, my friends, my church, my university and my life as I know it to begin a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. While I am beyond excited, I am also nervous and scared. Nervous to leave everything I know and am comfortable with to travel and live in a new place, a new country. I know, deep down, this is something I have to do, I need to do. I will grow so much, in confidence, in assertiveness and as person in general. I can only imagine what God has in store for me in the coming year, I do know, however, that it will be greater than can be imagined.
I can not guarantee how often I will write, at least once a week unless I am traveling. Stay tuned as I begin the adventure...but first, I need to pack!
I am leaving my family, my friends, my church, my university and my life as I know it to begin a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. While I am beyond excited, I am also nervous and scared. Nervous to leave everything I know and am comfortable with to travel and live in a new place, a new country. I know, deep down, this is something I have to do, I need to do. I will grow so much, in confidence, in assertiveness and as person in general. I can only imagine what God has in store for me in the coming year, I do know, however, that it will be greater than can be imagined.
I can not guarantee how often I will write, at least once a week unless I am traveling. Stay tuned as I begin the adventure...but first, I need to pack!
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