Meet Mr. S

Meet Mr. S
Originally uploaded by sub29.

Welcome to the 2nd installment of the 'Winter at the Beach' series!!! I would like to officially introduce to you to, Mr. S. As you can see, he is a very happy Sandman who is optimistic that his species will one day take over the popularity of the sand castle regime.

The S man must have a fort...

The S man must have a fort...
Originally uploaded by sub29.

Since sandmans are limited in this country, we had to take extra care of Mr. S. He insisted that a fort be built for him so who was I do argue with the S man.

It's like a complete shut down of the city...

I went out with my teammate on Friday night to go watch the Western Australia softball finals. I rode my bike to her house and I should've known that it was a bad idea when I kept going to wrong way. The signs are horrible here, especially at night.
Anyways the game didn't end till after 11pm and I still had to ride back home, which is like a 40 minute bike ride. I was almost to the city when I realized that I had a flat tire. It couldn't have happened at a worse time because I wasn't really sure where I was or how far away from the city I was. I ended up walking to the city and locking it up in a tourist district. Then I figure I would take the bus back home but apparently the bus station closes at around 11pm. Then I walked to the train station and all the buses there were closed too and there aren't any trains that go towards my suburb. I wanted to ask someone for help but the whole city was shut down except for the clubs, which were starting to close at midnight. The whole city was dead quiet except for drunk people wandering around. I don't think it would've been a good idea to approach loud drunken people. I finally found a security guy and he told me that my only option was to take a taxi home. Even trying to find a taxi was quite difficult. Whatever, I got home safely and yay no one stole my bike. I definitely learnt a lot about the city in those 2 hours...

Oh how I love playing ball...

This has been a week full of nice surprises. Just when I thought I wasn't going to find a team to play for this "winter", something pops up. I've been playing Baseball for the last 3 weeks and it's definitely different from Softball. I find it slower because the field is so much bigger and you can get away with making little mistakes. However, the lead off rule is amazing. Definitely a runner's dream...I hate throwing the smaller and lighter ball though. I can't seem to control it...

Anyhow, a few days ago, I received an email from a coach inviting me to try out for the Softball State team here. I couldn't believe it and he promised that he would find a team for me to play for. On top of that, he was actually the assistant coach of the Australian Women's Olympic team. To learn and play for an Olympic coach...Wow!!! I'm just worried that I may be way out of my league. Whatever, it'll be a great experience even if I don't make the team.

Then at practice tonight my pitcher, who currently plays for the Baseball State team, told me that the coach for the State team was actually the coach of the team we were playing against. He supposedly thought that I had a lot of potential as a Baseball player. He told her that he would be willing to train with me if I wanted to play for the State team next year. Sweet, that means I will probably make the team if I wanted to convert to baseball...

What to do???? It's a great delimma to be in eh!!!

'Winter at the Beach' Premiere...

Welcome everyone to the premiere of the 'Winter at the Beach' photo series. This one's simply called 'Sand Angel'. Hope you all enjoy your Sand Angel. Stay tuned for the next edition...

sand angel
Originally uploaded by sub29.

A reflection of my time in Australia so far...

It's been a little over two weeks since I arrived in Perth. It actually feels like I've here for a lot longer than that, probably because of the crazy pace of the classes. We're literally in class from 8-4pm everyday. What ever happened to all those breaks in between classes?? I'm definitely getting my money's worth with this program. They're making us do 4 weeks of pre-term studies before the term actually begins. Right now, we've completed 2 weeks of anatomy and the next 2 weeks will be basic physiotherapy skills. Then comes the fun exams before the commencement of the term.

So in the past two weeks, we went through the origin/insertions, innervations, actions/functions, arteries, bones, and joint of the entire body. For anyone who has ever taken anatomy or even high school biology should realize how insane that is. It's incredible how much information we were fed in a day. Don't get me wrong, it was great but at times a little overwhelming. Now I just have to remember everything, sorry "understand" everything for my exam in 2 weeks.

I haven't really had the time or the opportunity to see the city yet. I've gone to the beach once on Australian day and I definitely have to go back. I went to the city this past Friday and bought myself some wheels. Oh yeah, red hot wheels. I got an amazing deal on it. It definitely pays off to do a little price comparison before settling on one. By Tuesday afternoon, I'll be cruising along the river with my 18 speed bike. What? Did you think I was talking about a car??

For the past two weeks there was only one other person living in my unit, a damn Yankee. He's alright to talk to in short spurts, anything longer and I feel like I'm going to kill him. All he does is complain about how everything is so inefficient here and how much better the system is back home. Every time he gets groceries, which is basically every other day, he makes it seem like he has to climb Mt. Everest to get there. It's only like a 15 minute walk, stop complaining. Geez, now I know why I dislike so many Americans. It always about them and how they think they're better than everyone else.

This past weekend, a new housemate moved in and I really like him. He seems really nice and extremely social. This will be his 5th year living in this rez so he knows his way around and is actually the senior RA this year. That'll be good because then I'll get the opportunity to meet a lot more people. I've only talked to him for a little bit but he seems like a fascinating person. He's in a band called 'La Foule', french for "crowds". They called themselves that because there are always people joining and leaving the group because of all the different students coming and going over the years The core never changes though. They're not bad actually. I don't know how to classify their style but they sound pretty good. If you're wondering where he's from since he speaks french, he's from a country called Mauritius. It's part of Africa but Mauritius is actually on an island, on the Indian Ocean side. The official language there is English but everyone speaks French there because they were originally a french colony. Pretty cool. Oh funny thing...ever since the new housemate arrived, the Yankee guy have kept his door shut. In the past 2 weeks, he has never kept his door shut when he was home. All of a sudden, he's like anti-social or something. I'm not complaining because now he doesn't come talk to me when I'm home. Honestly, I don't know why he's here so early. He doesn't have class for another 3 weeks and it's not like he makes any effort to tour the city. He claims that he wants to do all these things but doesn't because the bus system sucks or because I don't have this or that. Alright, enough complaining about the guy. He's really not that bad....

The only other people that I have met are the people in my class. There's only 30 people in my program and since our program is so structured, we will get to know each other extremely well. Everyone's really nice so far.

What else?? Well I joined the University Baseball team. I was walking home one day from the grocery store and I saw a group of girls playing what I thought was softball but it turned out to be baseball. I figure, it's close enough. I'll take what I can. I've played two games with them so far and it's been a lot of fun. The game is definitely a lot different than softball. I'll have to explain it in another entry.

So everyday I seem to discover something different or something new about Australia so it's been exciting. Overall, I'm really enjoying myself. Sunny weather everyday, fascinating classes, meeting new people, learning about a new country, what's not to like right?? Ask me in a month or two and I'll probably be extremely homesick.

Mobiles...the greatest invention ever??

When I was back in Canada, I thought people were too obsessed with cell phones but that's nothing compared to Australians. Now, I realize that a great Canada invented the telephone but Australians have taken this whole cell phone craze to a whole new dimension. I'm starting to wonder if they have actual land lines here. Originally I thought cell phones, or mobiles as they call it here, were just extremely popular with the students. It made sense because Canadian students are like that too. Students usually sublet a place for a year or less and travel back and forth from home. So getting a mobile instead of a land line makes sense. That's what I figured was happening here. But people don't even ask for a phone number, they always ask specifically for a mobile.

The other day, I was telling one of my new baseball teammates that I wanted to go watch some softball. She plays softball on Saturdays and there was suppose to be a top level softball game before hers. So I told her that I was going to try to get a bike by then and hopefully head down to the field on my own. She asked for a mobile and I told her I didn't have one but I do have a house phone number. Then she was like, oh too bad you don't have a mobile because then I could pick you up. In my head I was like what?? What's wrong with calling me on a house line?? Whatever, I'll let it go...I should stay and get some studying done anyways.

The next day, I went with my friend to get some info on this bike package that the school was offering. She had gone earlier that week and left them her house phone number to contact her with the details. When we got there, they kept telling her that they had tried calling her a couple times but the number she gave them didn't work. Whatever, if you hear the phone ringing that means it's working. Just because no one picked up it doesn't mean the phone isn't working. She decided to get the package and they again asked for a mobile. When she said she didn't have one they turned to ask me for one. Why are you asking me?? I'm not getting the bike. Just because I happen to be with her then, it doesn't mean I would be around to relay her messages on my mobile. There's nothing wrong with her land line. Geez....

So I'm wondering what is the craze with mobiles?? I understand that it's convenient but it shouldn't replace a land line. When I call someone, I usually call to see if they're at home first before I call their cell phone. Come on, when someone's not home it usually means they're busy. They're usually out and about. For myself, if I'm not at home it usually means that I'll be in class so I wouldn't pick up my mobile anyways. So why does it matter if I have one or not?? Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against mobiles I just don't understand the craze here. It's like you must have one. I'm getting asked so much about it that I'm starting to feel bad about not having one.

Do I embarrass my friends???

I'm starting to wonder if I embarrass my friends. Over the years I have learnt not to care too much about what others, like strangers, think. If you think about, so what if you're embarrassed for a couple minutes. The chances of you seeing them again or them remembering is quite slim. At least that's what I keep telling myself. Not following the norm makes things so much more fun and entertaining for everyone.

So, as most of you know, I decided to take a few pictures at the grocery store. The pictures were meant to be funny and to entertain everyone. I'm still laughing about it. Anyways, I asked my friend if she wanted to come along with me and she thought it was a good idea at the time. When we got there, I started to have second thoughts because of the stares I got just from holding a camera. When I did take the pictures she was always standing or walking around from a distant. I think she felt embarrassed just watching me do it and thought it was quite entertaining as well. Admit it, you all would've done the same thing she did. Now she claims it wasn't too bad but she wasn't the one holding the camera or getting the looks.

Yesterday, I decided to go into the city to look for deal on a bike. The same friend came along with me because she's never been to the city. I know what you're all thinking. Yes, I don't have many friends here yet and it's because the term doesn't start for another 2 weeks. At least, I'm going to keep telling myself that that's the reason. So when we finally got to the city (that's another story for another time), we were walking around the city and while we were waiting at a set of lights, I see the ugliest school uniforms. They were absolutely hideous. The pattern and colours looked like something from a table clothe. Of course, being the obsessive tourist/photographer I have become I wanted to take a picture of them. Since she already had a camera out, I told her to take it. She absolutely refused but allowed me to use her camera so I did. However, the picture I took seemed so far away and I asked her how where the zoom button was. She then took the camera away and wouldn't let me take another one. Geez, I'm almost positive that they wouldn't have none that I was taking a picture of them. And it's not like I'm making it obvious that I was taking a picture of them. I would've told them the truth if they noticed.

Then today, she insisted that I go to find the server who was in the kitchen of the restaurant because "I've done everything else"...So true, I have no shame some times.

My question is, do I really do things that embarrass my wonderful friends??? Thinking back, I do recall always being the person voted to do the things that others refuse to do. Oh well, you're just going to have to live with it. Becks, you've known me for 4 years now. When have I ever taken the boring, unexciting route?? You should be use to it by now...It's just magnified because we're in a new and different country.