Pictures from yesrerday at the beach!
-Liz & Liz
-Jake & I in our sand seat
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Saturday 2-19-11
Slept in after a loooonngg hike yesterday! Getting out of bed was quite interesting and I never thought the 2 stairs into my cottage would be so hard. We all relaxed around our cottages before hanging out at the beach doing homework. The ocean was really weird, the rip tides were strong enough that they pulled the sand to the sides and back out creating a sand island in the shallow parts. A rip is when the water comes into the beach through a wave and has no where to go, so the access water begins flowing perpendicular until it pulls enough water to flow to the ocean. The rip is really strong, like the current and can pull you from shore to back behind the waves. People die from fighting this instead of relaxing swimming along with it, the letting a wave to you back to shore. It looks really scary but cool to look at.
After the beach we had a quick snack, went to the lake for a few mins. On our way into town we ran into a few students chatting with teen Aussie girls. It was really neat because they were asking questions about America. They basically think America is Gossip Girl and other TV shows & movies. They were saying that in school they watch movies about America that say that we sleep with guns under our pillows, that a typical house has bars on the windows, and that we can buy guns at the bank. We corrected them saying- definitely not! We talked about the language differences. They don't say Good'ay Mate, like we think they do. They had so many questions about Americans in America and what things are like. Most Aussies seem to be very interested in where people are from and enjoy learning about us. They really want Jake & I to visit their school to show us around and tell their teacher that he was wrong about America.
After talking with the girls J and I rode into town, went to the ATM (finally got money out, after having some troubles before!) and to the grocery to get a few items for dinner.
After the beach we had a quick snack, went to the lake for a few mins. On our way into town we ran into a few students chatting with teen Aussie girls. It was really neat because they were asking questions about America. They basically think America is Gossip Girl and other TV shows & movies. They were saying that in school they watch movies about America that say that we sleep with guns under our pillows, that a typical house has bars on the windows, and that we can buy guns at the bank. We corrected them saying- definitely not! We talked about the language differences. They don't say Good'ay Mate, like we think they do. They had so many questions about Americans in America and what things are like. Most Aussies seem to be very interested in where people are from and enjoy learning about us. They really want Jake & I to visit their school to show us around and tell their teacher that he was wrong about America.
After talking with the girls J and I rode into town, went to the ATM (finally got money out, after having some troubles before!) and to the grocery to get a few items for dinner.
Climbing Mt Warning
Last night we left camp in a bus to Mt Warning cabins. We all slept in cabins for a few hours before we woke up at 3:30AM to begin hiking up Mt Warning for the sunrise. We had to start out on the road that was basically an uphill incline, it was a rough way to start the morning! After an a little over an hour of walking up the road we finally reached the pathway, consisting of some sidewalk, mud, and rock boulders. The hike was intense but really glad we got to do it! The last portion of the hike was by hanging on to a chain while pulling yourself up boulders. We rested at the top and took a ton of pictures of the view. The way down was a ton easier & took a lot of pictures of misc things! For not being a huge outdoors girl- I did really good! I even lead a good portion of the way back down the mountain/volcano! Our feet hurt pretty bad once we got to the bottom making the walk down the steep road very difficult! The hike up the mountain was 9 kilometers and the walk on the road was 3 kilometers, approximately. This was about 7.5 miles all together! Quite the work out & I will def feel to tomorrow. I already hate the 3 stairs into my cottage! Just relaxing/homework
for the rest of the weekend!
for the rest of the weekend!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
2-17-11
Wednesday, I don't have class and most people do, so I had a nice long day to myself to work on homework.
Today, we went to the grocery at 8:15 and got back around 10:40ish. Then World Lit at 11. Today's class a was a bit better than last week. Quick lunch & nap before Events Management. In Events we talked about some of the places that we are going to be going or volunteering at. We are going to the Dog Races and a football (AU soccer) and then volunteering at a rugby tournament local event. Then our class plans a End of the Term event for our study abroad group, so we were coming up with ideas on what kind of event we would like to do! Interesting class!
Now, getting ready to leave to go to Mount Warning- volcano! We will get up at 3/4ish tomorrow morning and hike up the volcano! We heard that it was a pretty intense hike, parts you have to pull yourself up by rope. It will be interesting for me! I'm sure I will not be able to move by the time we get back! Will share & post pics when we get back later tomorrow!!
Today, we went to the grocery at 8:15 and got back around 10:40ish. Then World Lit at 11. Today's class a was a bit better than last week. Quick lunch & nap before Events Management. In Events we talked about some of the places that we are going to be going or volunteering at. We are going to the Dog Races and a football (AU soccer) and then volunteering at a rugby tournament local event. Then our class plans a End of the Term event for our study abroad group, so we were coming up with ideas on what kind of event we would like to do! Interesting class!
Now, getting ready to leave to go to Mount Warning- volcano! We will get up at 3/4ish tomorrow morning and hike up the volcano! We heard that it was a pretty intense hike, parts you have to pull yourself up by rope. It will be interesting for me! I'm sure I will not be able to move by the time we get back! Will share & post pics when we get back later tomorrow!!
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
It's been a while!
By the end of the day, when I usually do my blogging, I'm exhausted and dozing off at my computer!. Let's see, the last time I wrote in, I had just completed my first 2 dives in the Open water at Julian Rocks, just about 10 minutes out of Byron Bay.
Sunday, we did the last 2 of our 4 dives to complete for certification. This time I got to see an octopus. Our Instructor could see the legs/arms (?), stuck his fingers down by it and a leg wrapped around him. Josh, the instructor tried pulling him out but he only came out a little until quickly going back in! I got to see a good part of him though! It was awesome! We dove about 18 meters, which Jake found out was about 45 feet! We completed our skills, taking our mask off underwater and putting it back on, practicing an emergency recovery, and other little things. SunDive brought us back to Lennox because the buses had stopped running by the time we were done. When we returned we ate dinner and went to bed! Today was also our professor/director's birthday.
Monday we had our lecture portion of the Australian life & culture course, focusing on the Aborigines in Australia. We learned how when the Europeans arrived in Australia they took over and pushed away the Aborignies. Build and cleared over sacred places and began slaughtering and killing Aborigines, sometimes for no reason at all. After lecture & lunch we took off on our 2nd field trip. We first went to a site right in Lennox that was a sacred place for aboriginal ceremonies. It is no longer used, but in respect is prefered that no on walks on it. Because this site was behind a neighborhood, I noticed a mailman. He was riding a little motorized scooter through yards dropping off mail. We must get a LOT more mail then Australians because he somehow had it all in his jacket or scooter.
After the site we went to the Naval and Maritime Museum. It had part of ships, and aboriginal boat, along with records of each war- documenting how many Australians were in listed , injured and killed. It was really neat to see everything in there. Then we went to a Tea Tree Oil Plantation called the Thursday Plantation. It was business that started in a trailer making tea tree oil and has grown into a big business making a variety of products and shipping to over 32 countries. This is really cool because we have a tea tree lake where we stay that feels amazing and makes our skin feel super soft. So these products were all really good!
After the plantation we went to the Byron Bay Lighthouse. It was really pretty since it so high up on the rocks! Looking down we could see sting rays and sharks swimming around, some even saw sea turtles and dolphins. We took some amazing pictures that I will post!
After the lighthouse we went back to Lennox and we have a group that makes dinner for everyone. So we made breaky- french toast, canadian bacon, apple sauce, and muffins (thanks to Mrs Avila). I made the french toast on the flat top grill outside & didn't even burn them!!
Tuesday, wasn't a very busy day. I had marketing class from 9-12 then worked a little around the cabin, went to the beach, then had a group meeting reviewing the up and coming weekend trips then out to dinner with Jake for a late Valentine's day dinner. We had dinner at Quattro, again the food was amazing! Then got ice cream & did a little grocery shopping before heading back to camp!
Today/Wednesday, is a catch up day. Most everyone but a few of us are in Marine Biology. They have lecture & fiels trips, so I get a few hours to catch up on things here and have some time to myself!
Sunday, we did the last 2 of our 4 dives to complete for certification. This time I got to see an octopus. Our Instructor could see the legs/arms (?), stuck his fingers down by it and a leg wrapped around him. Josh, the instructor tried pulling him out but he only came out a little until quickly going back in! I got to see a good part of him though! It was awesome! We dove about 18 meters, which Jake found out was about 45 feet! We completed our skills, taking our mask off underwater and putting it back on, practicing an emergency recovery, and other little things. SunDive brought us back to Lennox because the buses had stopped running by the time we were done. When we returned we ate dinner and went to bed! Today was also our professor/director's birthday.
Monday we had our lecture portion of the Australian life & culture course, focusing on the Aborigines in Australia. We learned how when the Europeans arrived in Australia they took over and pushed away the Aborignies. Build and cleared over sacred places and began slaughtering and killing Aborigines, sometimes for no reason at all. After lecture & lunch we took off on our 2nd field trip. We first went to a site right in Lennox that was a sacred place for aboriginal ceremonies. It is no longer used, but in respect is prefered that no on walks on it. Because this site was behind a neighborhood, I noticed a mailman. He was riding a little motorized scooter through yards dropping off mail. We must get a LOT more mail then Australians because he somehow had it all in his jacket or scooter.
After the site we went to the Naval and Maritime Museum. It had part of ships, and aboriginal boat, along with records of each war- documenting how many Australians were in listed , injured and killed. It was really neat to see everything in there. Then we went to a Tea Tree Oil Plantation called the Thursday Plantation. It was business that started in a trailer making tea tree oil and has grown into a big business making a variety of products and shipping to over 32 countries. This is really cool because we have a tea tree lake where we stay that feels amazing and makes our skin feel super soft. So these products were all really good!
After the plantation we went to the Byron Bay Lighthouse. It was really pretty since it so high up on the rocks! Looking down we could see sting rays and sharks swimming around, some even saw sea turtles and dolphins. We took some amazing pictures that I will post!
After the lighthouse we went back to Lennox and we have a group that makes dinner for everyone. So we made breaky- french toast, canadian bacon, apple sauce, and muffins (thanks to Mrs Avila). I made the french toast on the flat top grill outside & didn't even burn them!!
Tuesday, wasn't a very busy day. I had marketing class from 9-12 then worked a little around the cabin, went to the beach, then had a group meeting reviewing the up and coming weekend trips then out to dinner with Jake for a late Valentine's day dinner. We had dinner at Quattro, again the food was amazing! Then got ice cream & did a little grocery shopping before heading back to camp!
Today/Wednesday, is a catch up day. Most everyone but a few of us are in Marine Biology. They have lecture & fiels trips, so I get a few hours to catch up on things here and have some time to myself!
Saturday, February 12, 2011
2-12-11 Open Water diving (dives 1 & 2)
While Scuba Diving: got stung by 2 jelly fish and saw schools of fish, beautiful coral, eels, giant sea turtle eat, tons of sting rays & touched a leopard shark!! Awesome day & no freak out moments while diving! So excited! Another day of the same thing tomorrow!!
Friday, February 11, 2011
2-11-11 Day 2 of Diving Certification
I really surprised myself today- I did good actually scuba diving! The 2nd half of the certification group did their pool session today from 8-3. 6 of us woke at 6 to get to Byron Bay by 8 to scuba for about 7 hours! It was a long but exciting day! We worked and practiced many drills having to do with our gear, masks, equalizing ourselves, helping others in need, etc. It was really cool. I was anxious because I get worked up when I can't see, breath or move. I was thinking that those things would be struggles to get used to but I did fine! THe biggest & most helpful advice I have been given was to relax and take long/slow breaths!
After diving, we shopped around at local shops until our bus came. The clothes are very expensive here. We walked into shops where clothes were on SALE for anywhere from $30-$150. I also noticed that not every person is on their phones talking or texting! Of all the people I see walking or driving, I saw ONE person talking on their phone!
Yet again tonight, I plan on doing homework and going to be early. Tomorrow we do our first 2 Open water dives in the ocean. We don't have to be there as early but it will probably be even more exhausting!
After diving, we shopped around at local shops until our bus came. The clothes are very expensive here. We walked into shops where clothes were on SALE for anywhere from $30-$150. I also noticed that not every person is on their phones talking or texting! Of all the people I see walking or driving, I saw ONE person talking on their phone!
Yet again tonight, I plan on doing homework and going to be early. Tomorrow we do our first 2 Open water dives in the ocean. We don't have to be there as early but it will probably be even more exhausting!
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