So here I am in Melbourne! Actually, I've been here for almost 2 months so this is a litte late, but I want to keep one of these to remember my trip :)
Australia, or what I have seen of it so far is nothing like I expected. More on that later, but the one thing that seems to be constant whereever I go is ultimate frisbee players! I joined the team at my uni here and it is amazing because its like I am playing with people back in San Diego, except they have Australian accents. We have the same plays (zone, stack, forces), drunk people heckle on the sidelines, and everyone just seems like they should be playing frisbee.
In ultimate back home, spirit of the game is a big deal and comraderie and friendly competition, etc., but here they take it to the next level. I kid you not, after each somewhat informal, pick-up league type game we played, both teams would huddle together in a circle and each side gives a speech about the game, then does three cheers for the opposing team- yes as in [hip hip, HOORAY]x3- then the captains on each side vote for the male and female MVP of the game on the other team.
Oh, but how crazy is this?- I have met two people here who I am randomly connected to in San Diego. First, there is this girl from UCSD here on an internship for 2 months who was basically living with her childhood best friend from Thailand, who happens to live on my floor in the on campus halls. I actually met her randomly in San Diego through a crazy coincidence when I went with Bret to play Hawaiian (a smashball like ping pong game...) with her secret admirer. Second, during one of the ultimate frisbee games, I met a girl who is here on exchange at another uni who plays for OSU back in the U.S, whom I definetly remember playing against. Small freaking world!
Anyway, I guess I should give a little background on where I actually am. My campus is about an hour and a half by public transport from the Melbourne CBD. Basically this means I am in the middle of endless SUBURBS. Like even more endless than anything in the Bay Area or San Diego. In all my attempts to run or bike OUT of suburbia, the results have been really bad- from failure to near death mishaps. Its kind of frustrating since I'm used to being able to just ride to Mount Diablo or run to Torrey Pines or use any number of escape options.
Since this is supposed to be a learning experience, things I have learned thus far:
-The hardest accent to understand is drunk-Indian-Australian.
-I have an accent!
-Dorm life doesn't really change much no matter where you are.
-American culture is inescapable.
-I can't do without sports.
-There is some truth to 'you don't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you might just get what you need.'
-Flip flops aren't actually apropriate for living in.
-Melbourne coffee is amazing.
-Australians like to shorten words and add -y. For example:
Uni= university
Tassie= Tasmania
Brissy= Brisbane
Brekky= breakfast
Maccas=McDonalds
Trainy= triathlon trainer
Footy= football = australian rules football in Melbourne, = soccer or rugby in Sydney and other places
-Australians use 'go' in a whole range of awkward ways:
How you going? = How are you?
How'd you go? = How did you do?
Have a go! = Have a try!
Much more about slang to come, its like a whole different language!
Alright, its bedtime.
Goodnight all!
