Boats & Bridges

The weeks are really starting to fly by as I realize that I have less and less time here. I had to say good-bye to my Hong-Kong classmate at the clinic, last week, and couldn't believe how fast his five-weeks went by.  This week is my last week with my Norwegian classmate because next week I'm heading to the Great Barrier Reef and couldn't be more excited!! Although, it sucks to already have to say good-bye to another friend.

Anyways, last week, I went to another footy game for field coverage through my internship and I have never ever ever in my life felt so confused. There was no scoreboard, so I never knew the score and I could never understand why sometimes things counted as a score and other times they didn't, oops! Luckily, there were no injuries so I could just sit back and relax while I tried to figure out the game. During the game, I noticed that High School rivalries are a little bit different here than back in America (from my experience). Predominantly because, from my high school experiences, the two team's fans are usually attacking the other team or players with insults or taunts, whereas here, both sides are just as passionate as in the US, but the fans are not attacking the other fans or players. Instead they are cheering for their own team and keeping up their own teams spirits with encouragement and support. Rather than hearing how ugly or bad the other teams players were, I just heard chants of positiveness for the players. Of course there were a couple "scoreboard" chants (ironic in the fact that there was no physical scoreboard), but the game appeared much more respectful than any championship US HS game I've ever seen. It was definitely different.

Roommates on the boat!

Later that night myself, and some of the CAPA group did the Sydney Harbor Bridge Climb, and it was awesome. We had a really good climb guide who told us all about Australia and the Sydney area, not to mention the views were absolutely incredible from the top. We also got to wear some pretty good looking suits (see below).

Killer Suits & View

Friday, I interned until about five and got home, and headed back out to the Sydney Harbor to celebrate some 21st birthdays! Both of them were incredibly surprised and seemed to have an awesome night. We booked a boat cruise around the harbor for 3 hours, and it was a ton of fun. When we got back it was still early so some of us headed to another bar afterwards. It was kind of underground and seemed like a jazz club with the music and drinks it had. Super different from anywhere I'd been before but it was still a really good time. Me and a friend had a long walk back afterwards so we didn't have to pay a cab and my feet weren't happy with me for that the next day.

Birthday People!

The weekend was pretty relaxing, a few of us just had a girls night with some movies and dip, which was exactly what I needed. We watched Silver Linings Playbook, and About Time (MUST SEE). Rachel McAdams is my lady crush, she kills it in every movie. I don't know what it is with her and time travelers though? It kinda stunk missing Mardi Gras because of how big it is here, but it was pouring anyways so I'm really not all that torn up about it.

Australian Footy (in a bowl?)

Sunday I went to Paddy's Market and go-figure the one time I don't put my travel-pass back in my wallet it disappears. There goes $60 I could have spent better. After that I was just mostly relaxing, finishing up homework and reading the Mortal Instrument Series (still can't put it down). To my surprise, one of my roommates came out in crying pain and all of a sudden I had to figure out where and how to get to the closest hospital. I don't think I did too bad in a crisis but going to the hospital just reminded me how much anxiety I get from them. Man I hate being at hospitals. She ended up having to stay the night and she's been there since. She'll be okay, they flushed out her kidney stone now, but it was still terrifying before we knew what was going on.

PowerPoint.

Monday and Tuesday were the usual, class all day Monday and I interned today. Tuesday nights are my favorite, knowing I have all day Wednesday for whatever I want, which unfortunately never means sleeping in because I still can't do that here! I can't imagine I still have jet-lag, so I've just kind of accepted it.

USA (with a backwards S whoops....)

Cheers Mates!

One Month Down, Only 2 Months Left

Two months from tomorrow I will be on a plane back to America. If these next two months go by as fast as the first one did, it's going to feel like a blink of an eye. I'm really worried that I'm not making the most of my time here. I haven't really travelled or gone anywhere or done anything too crazy yet. I did buy a skydiving groupon, so I know I'll be doing that, I just don't know when. Hopefully this week I'll plan some trips so I can see more of Australia than just the greater Sydney area.

Last weekend was quiet, which was a really nice change of pace. Since we've gotten into a schedule here, I've felt super busy all week long and barely had any time to relax. So last weekend I relaxed on Bondi beach most of the day Saturday and had a chill night just watching an Australian movie, which was horrible, by the way, with friends. On Sunday I had to get some homework done but afterwards, my roommate Abby and I went down to Sydney Harbor to get dinner and sight-see the touristy stuff like the bridge and the opera house.

Yesterday was my typical Monday with class all day, but we got out a little early. In my afternoon class we had a tour of China Town, and got let out early. The Chinese culture is incredibly interesting, but their food prep in the restaurant we saw, was super gross. I never want to see the inside of a pig or duck again..

Today I was in Botany for my internship and we had 5 patients before the day wrapped up. I'm trying to imagine myself doing this for the rest of my life and I still can't so here comes my anxiety again... AH! I'll probably just spend the rest of the day doing a little homework and reading. I've recently become engrossed in the Mortal Instruments series and just can't put them down; it's gotten very distracting.

Excited to climb the Sydney Harbor Bridge later this week! Cheers!

The Weekly Grind

Even though you can't see them, these pants are awesome

I've officially been here for a month! It's kind of crazy, I feel like I just got here and a third of my time in this beautiful country is already up. I have so much to look forward to still while I'm here, but it's hard to not be wishing for it when I know I'm wishing the time away. It's been really nice to just be enjoying day to day life.

This week was a bit more relaxed than previously because I didn't have to wake up at 5am on Thursday and Friday (hallelujah!) Tuesday was a regular day at the practice at Mike's* house. We had three patients and then a little lesson on the lumbar spine. It was someones birthday so a few of us went to a bar down the street that night. Syd and I played pool and absolutely killed it. Just kidding, we were awful, but I mean we won two games because other people scratched on the 8 ball and a wins a win!

The weather here has been kinda eh this week and Wednesday was no exception, it absolutely poured most of the day. I had gone to a little cafe to use the WIFI and work on homework but the WIFI there stunk too, go figure. But it was raining and I wasn't walking home in the rain so after I struggled through some homework on that awful connection I just read  for most of the afternoon, it was really relaxing and a nice change of pace. Later that night, we got sushi, and I finally learned how to use chopsticks!! Jackie you're the best. That was probably my biggest accomplishment of this week. 

Even pretty when its raining

Thursday and Friday, instead of going into the practice, Mike* was running a course on getting your Level 1 sports trainer certification at ACU. We helped out during it but still, it was boooooring. And it actually got me to thinking, "hey do you really wanna do this stuff forever?" And ya know what, I dont! So now I'm having a mini life crisis because when I go home I'm a senior in college... let me repeat that, A SENIOR IN COLLEGE! As if that isn't enough to give me major anxiety, now I dont know what I want to do afterwards. I was planning on apply to PT school this summer but now I'm not so sure. Ugh, don't make me be an adult.

On a happier note, Thursday night a bunch of us went to Ivy for Kaitlyn's 21st birthday and it was ton of fun. I've been feeling majorly gross from living off pasta the whole time I'm here, so it was good to get moving and dance and hopefully burn off some of the calories. We finally don't have anything planned for us this weekend so it was awesome to sleep in and have a whole weekend for whatever I want to do! It's really hard to have me time here, we're always going going going, so resting this weekend is going to be glorious :).

Cheers Mates!