My weekend adventure!

I'm still in love with being here...it has now been two weeks since we left the States and I wish everyone could come visit so you all could experience the beauty of Australia! Friday I relaxed on the beach and went into town to get some ice cream...and let me tell you that the ice cream here tastes soooooo much better than it does back at home. It is most likely the fact that it is in the 80s and 90s almost everyday and we don't have air conditioning...but ice cream is my favorite treat after hanging out on the beach all day :) In the evening we all played volleyball...like usual, and I stepped on something that bit the bottom of my foot. :( At the time it just hurt but the next morning my lymph nodes were swollen and the bottom of my foot had a good sized welt. I took some antihistamine's and that seemed to do the trick! Still not sure what it was though...

Saturday I went to Byron Bay to shop! It was a blast and I got some really good finds! Presents for a few people, and some awesome post cards! Cant wait to send them out :) But I need every ones addresses first!


Byron Bay is the best place to shop that's close to Lennox Head. We just take a bus for a small fee and 15-20 min later we are there! This is where we learned to surf and the scuba diving company we dove with is here.




Clock tower in Byron





My roomie on our fun filled shopping day!

Today we went to NIMBIN!!!! Before I tell the story of Nimbin let me disclose that Marijuana is illegal in New South Wales. lol however...the cops just look the other way because they cant stop it anyways...that's what the locals say at least! The trip started out with a big rainbow bus picking us up!


Our bus...and did I mention we were on this all day and it didn't have air conditioning!

 The bus went around and picked up everyone that was going on the trip...17 BSU students but about 40 people total! The bus was full. Then we headed off to Nimbin where we were briefed and warned about Marijuana being an illegal drug. Our driver also informed us that if we should get any cookies while in Nimbin...we should only eat half of it...but if we are heading to Sydney-that's a three cookie trip!



Finally made it to Nimbin and first thing we see is a sweet sign!




The whole town had hippie signs with rainbows or weed symbols




Nimbin Museum!!!...It was kinda strange but I enjoyed all the quotes




One of my favorite quotes in the museum!




Marijuana signs everywhere in this town!




Love this quote...you are the only person holding you back




though this was cool!




It was a very little museum...not sure why they needed a map but there ya go!




It amazed me how open they were about selling paraphernalia




artsy door :)...I though it was amazing!




One of my life motto's!




The town of Nimbin




Read thorough the street codes...they are very interesting




Being silly with some free standing art work in the town!

 Our next stop was a market with tons of vender's that we got to walk around and do some more shopping! We got to see a lot of local artists and try sugar cane juice!



Driving to the market we kept the bus door open...highly illegal and unsafe but it kept us a lot cooler!!! and nothing on this trip has been legal so far...why start now!





We were even allowed to drink on the bus...haha hard cider for me and the roomie!!!




at the market there were horse and buggie rides!




the market was a huge circle of vender's...this isn't even half of it but you get the idea




Raw Cane Juice with ginger and sugar equals delicious!





it looked a little like lemonade...

 


and tasted better!




to save money...four of us shared the drink :)




here is the machine used to make the juice...you run the raw cane sugar stocks through one side and it flattens the cane and squeezes all the juice out...its pretty interesting


 

It was super hot outside...so we found some shade and a bench to sit and wait for the rest of the group to be done shopping



The group that waited in the shade for the rest to catch up at the market!

BSU group and the bus!

After spending some time walking around the market and shopping we headed to a barbie! We had hamburgers, hot dogs, and salad...not very Australian but nothing tastes American here. The Barbie was out at the Rocky Creek Dam and we got to go on a hike! Took some beautiful pictures and also got to see some wildlife up close.


Here is a map of the area and the finger is pointing to where we are at!




The Guana we saw right when we got to the Rocky Creek Dam




A view on our hike in the woods




another view of the swamp




Our hike was beautiful!




The group of hikers!




The dam





The world is so big! I am so happy and lucky to be able to travel the ends of the earth :)




multiple Guana's came back while we were eating...they are fascinating animals to watch




Chillin in a tree :)

On our way back to Lennox Head we stopped off at the waterfall again to cool off...the only problem was we only had fifteen minutes because some of the travelers with us needed to catch another bus back in Byron. We are hoping that we will get the time to spend an entire day at the falls but we have to talk to our professors about that first!

In the end it was a fun day! I enjoyed exploring new places and learning that every place is unique!

I'm not a hipster but I flip it like a super pimpster!

My first World Literature class was interesting to say the least. My professor seemed a little on the odd side, but is a pretty funny guy. His idea of an American greeting was "I'm not a hipster but I flip it like a super pimpster" haha, I'm pretty sure he was joking...at least I hope so. Another thing that is different here is the grading scales. In America we go by A, B, C, D, F (A being the best grade and F being to worst...of course) however, in Australia they go HD, D, C, P ,F (and here a C is a high grade...so our teacher basically told us we had no chance of getting an HD ( our A) and had to work EXTRA hard to get a D ( our B)...its nearly impossible...no one in the last class got above a C...not cool!

After class I headed to the beach for a bit and then the lake to cool off from to 90 degree weather! After all of that I did the P90X Ab Ripper workout with a group of girls! It wasn't as hard as I expected it to be...but we will see how I feel in the morning :) We have a few people who are personal trainers and are studying physical conditioning in the group. These individuals are organizing a workout routine in order to get and keep us in shape while we are in the land down unda! I cannot wait to get started...working out and staying fit has and always will be important to me and it makes it more exciting to do it on the beach!

This weekend will be spent going to Byron Bay and on Sunday heading to Nimbin! Where we will be picked up in a Hippie van and taken to the waterfall again and then to Nimbin NSW where we can shop in hippie stores and explore the town!

Loving Life Down Unda!

Aussie Lingo and My Days Off

I never thought I would have trouble understanding an Aussie until I was submerged in their culture. I have learned that just because a country speaks English doesn't mean its the same English I'm use to. Aussies have their own phrases and slang on top of the accent that makes communication a challenge at times. Most of the time the natives realize we are Americans the moment we walk in the door...the amazing thing is that they change how they communicate in order to accommodate us. They talk a little slower and clearer...which helps us out tremendously! But after being here a week now...we are catching on fast! Some of the Aussie lingo that we hear and use on a regular basis is...

• G'day (which means hello or hi)
• No worries or Bob's your uncle (which usually means its okay...but we have learned it means something is wrong...for example, no worries, but we missed the last bus home lol)
• Good onya (say it fast and mush the word together, this means well done)
• Mate (friend)
• She'll be right or she'll be apples (it'll be okay)
• Bloody (very)
• Beaut (great)
• Amber fluid (beer)
• Stoked (very pleased)
• How are you going (how are you)
• Ace (very good)

It amazes me how quickly we have adapted to life here and the layed back attitude we have all started to pick up. I still cannot fathom that we will still be here in three months! If I had the choice I would move here in a heart beat. Now that we have explored the surrounding areas (for the most part) and classes have begun, we are settling into our daily routines and responsibilities.

On my days off...such as today :) I head out to the beach! Today my roomate and I had lunch in Lennox Head and explored the town...after that we walked on the beach and played in the sand! I love Australia more and more everyday!!

Ocean, Sea Birds, and a Bearded Dragon...AMAZING PICTURE!

Bearded Dragon...up close!

Beautiful Lennox Head Beach View!

Love walking on the beach everyday :)




Australia is the place to be...I would move here in a heart beat!



Rainforest Field Trip!

Today was my first class! Australian Life and Culture :) it was a three hour lecture and after class we headed out for our first field trip. In class we learned all about Australia's history, national anthem, and what is going here now. We also compared Australia's history with the United States history.

ADVANCE AUSTRALIA FAIR

(Australia's National Anthem)

Australians all let us rejoice,

For we are young and free;

We've golden soil and wealth for toil,

Our home is girt and rare;

In history's page, let every stage

Advance Australia Fair

In joyful strains then lets us sing,

Advance Australia Fair

Beneath our radiant Southern Cross

We'll toil with hearts and hands'

To make this commonwealth of ours

Renowned of all the lands;

For those who've come across the seas

We've boundless plains to share;

With courage let us all combine

To Advance Australia Fair.

In joyful strains then let us sing,

Advance Australia Fair

After class we headed to Dorroughby Environmental Educational Centre...here we learned about the history of the environment in the surrounding area, indigenous people, and of course the rainforest! Then we got to visit the amazing Minyon waterfall in the Whian Whian state rainforest where we jumped off 25 foot boulders into the water! It was absolutely beautiful!!!

Preserved animals such as a baby kangaroo and different kinds of snakes...used to teach the children who come to the center to learn about the rainforest.

Old school house

boomerangs  that we were able to play with!

My first try! :) and I didn't to to bad :)



My lunch plate...a little bit of everything :)

Eating my first bite of KANGAROO!!!! Yummmmmmmm

Me at the waterfall!!!!!

Getting ready to jump...I was sooo nervous haha

ahhhhh I jumped!!!!

On the way home we stopped off to see fruit bats hanging from the trees...it was a sight to see!



Fruit Bats!!!


When we got back to the cabins we had a Superbowl party!!! Our professor taped it and we grilled some food and all watched the game before talking to anyone from back home who had already seen it...we had a blast! Most people were Green Bay Packer fans...so the crowd was pleased with the win :)



P.S. Don't forget to check out my flicker account...I upload more pictures on there and they have captions explaining them! There is a link to the right :)