So after an entire day of rain yesterday we woke up this morning happy to see that the rain had finally cleared and that it was just a tad overcast. So we got up and around for our 9am lecture on acupuncture, not knowing what we were getting ourselves into. The lecture began with a brief introduction to Chinese medicine and a description of what acupuncture could be used for. Then the fun began. The two acupuncturists then asked Dr. Jutte to come up so they could take a number of pulses to find how much "chi" (which is sort of like energy in the body) she had throughout her body. From those readings and a brief look at her tongue the acupuncturists were able to tell her that she is a "spleen", which apparently means that her body is "damp". Now, I'm still not sure what the heck this means, but apparently I have the same problem. Then the two ladies had us form a circle and began to walk around, sticking a needle in each of us. Some were a little sceptical at first but everyone gave it a try and found it to be quite painless, and I think this was everyone's favorite lecture by far.
Now before we left for Australia I had made a mental list of things I wanted to do while I was over here. One of the activities on the top of that list (second to finding a koala and smuggling it back into the States) was to go snorkeling in the Pacific ocean. So for the past week I have been trying to organize a snorkeling excursion for any group members that were interested. After days of searching for the best place to snorkel, planning around the bus routes, calling to make appointments for a group of 12 and listening to Mike and Jared tell me that it was all my fault that the snorkeling trip didn't happen the first time around, we had finally found a time that worked. So this afternoon after our lecture we set out for our walk to the bus stop to ride the bus into Byron Bay. After finally finding the place, we walk up to the counter, excited that we had actually made it there, only for the gentleman at the counter to tell us that they had actually been trying to call us all day to inform us that our snorkeling excursion had been cancelled due to the bad weather.
Now this might sound like a pretty awful day, from getting stuck with needles to taking a half hour bus ride that cost $12 only to find that our plans were ruined. But I must say, I would still take a day like today in Australia over most days back home.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
Cricket the Sport of Kings
So Sunday we all woke up excited and ready for round two of our surf lesson. Especially all of us that went out then night before. This time it was only 10 of us. We started out with a brief review of our extravagant techniques and learned also about the rip tides which happened to be a little stronger then they were the first day we surfed. We were all so excited to hit the water and start shredding it up, until we actually got in the water and it felt like it was 40 degrees and the waves felt like we were in the movie the perfect storm. So after getting bashed around for a couple hours it was time to carry the boards back to town and hit the cricket fields. We met up at the field at 12:45 and started out with a presentation on the wonderfully smelling equipment. We then all learned how to become professional bowlers. We didn't exactly meet the criteria when we tried though. It's pretty difficult i must say to through at ball without bending your elbow and then attempt to hit 3 golf club size poles about 90 feet away. We then got a diagram of what the field set up was suppose too look like. It was basically like giving a 5 year old a calculus problem. There was no way any of us could figure it out until he set us up. It a pretty difficult game to play and to understand but got easier after a few practice runs. I felt like a penguin trying to run with all the equipment on. your also suppose to run with the bat and its pretty hard to do when its 2nd nature for most Americans to drop the bat and run. After two hours of hitting, catching, running, and switching in and out of smelly equipment we were all pretty pooped. We split up after that and some continued their sporting adventures to play lawn bowling and the rest of us went and practically inhaled lunch. we were all pretty sore the next day but it was still an interesting game to learn and play. I also found out that the game can last up to 6hrs and they play 5 day tournaments. We all agreed our attention span isn't quite that long.
It's raining in the rainforest
Today I woke up to the first sound of bad weather in Australia. Rain. It rains in Australia!?!? This was the beginning of my first bad day. I proceeded to drop all of my makeup in the toilet and then burned a section of my hair off with my straightener, which could have completely been avoided since it got wet from the rain about 2 minutes later. Anyway, we all got up and listened to the most intriguing and interesting lecture we've had so far. Alternative medicine--thats all I have to say about that lecture. Afterwards, we had a rainforest walk scheduled so we allowed ourselves to fall victim to groundskeeper Phil's driving. On a side note, every Australian I've been in the car with since I've been drives like a maniac...and I'm from New Jersey so you know that's serious. After we all recovered from numerous motion sicknesses (seriously, it was that bad), we began our journey through the rainforest with our guide named Hans! It was really something else. The rainforest was beautiful. There were trees and plants and views that you would never see on the Northern Hemisphere. Apparently the best day to be at the rainforest is when it's raining because you can see all the rainforest colors. Hans lied. You know what comes out of the woodwork when it rains? Leaches. Yes, these blood sucking creatures ruined our rainforest experience. We had just gotten to the original rainforest (the plants and trees that started it all) when the attack began. It started with Laney. We had all forgotten that these things existed until Laney had one on her ankle and then we all looked down. Screaming, jumping around, slapping our legs, and ripping off our shoes followed. A few of us just tried to keep walking (they only crawl on you if you keep standing still) but some of us were a bit more freaked out than the rest so we had to turn around and walk back. We walked back a different way on a boardwalk, where the leaches couldn't get us. It was just as beautiful though. We stopped to watch for a platypus but he didn't come :( Just knowing we were in a rainforest was a feeling all in itself and we all got plenty of great pictures. After we were done, we picked our leaches off, thanked Hans and braced ourselves for the ride back with Phil where the leach attack was still in full effect. Those things are sneaky. You think you've conquered the war but really there are numerous battles left to fight. They followed us all the way back to Lennox Head where Megan found two more on her feet. On the way home we stopped to see a waterfall which was amazing because the lookout point looked down on the rainforest too. Again, another breathtaking view. We all got back on the bus and stopped again at the Macadamia Nut Castle (i know, we thought the same thing). So we picked up some nuts and got on our way again. It was a long and eventful day. It seemed like we would never make it home, but we did and we're finally all leach free, but the rain is still coming down. Despite the rain, my burnt hair, motion sickness, and leaches, me and Australia are still getting along. I'm loving it here :)
Sunday, May 17, 2009
A day and night in Byron Bay
Despite it being our least scheduled day in terms of lectures or instruction, this Saturday was undoubtedly our busiest day yet. We slept in today until about 7 o'clock (the latest I've slept since I've been here). I woke up and wandered around the cabin in a daze for a few minutes, as I usually do upon getting out of bed, then had my standard breakfast of two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. My culinary habits have grown increasingly stranger since I got down here. We caught the 9:30 bus from Lennox Head to Byron Bay. While the rest of the group spent the day touring shops and stores around the town, Jared and I went with Tamara, Sarah and Megan to hike to the lighthouse in Byron Bay (the Eastern most point in Australia). After a short hike we were there, and by there I mean we were at the beginning of the ascent to the lighthouse. We went at least a mile down the beach and up stairs before reaching a sign telling us we only had 700 meters to go. It was no easy climb but it was well worth it once we got to the top. The views were breathtaking. The descent was not quite as difficult on the legs but I really could've used an elevator down. We then went into town and grabbed some souveneirs then caught the 3:20 bus bake to Lennox head so we could rent some surfboards for sunday morning before the shops closed. Mike, Tom and I each grabbed a board and walked from town back to the cabin. Sarah, Megan, Jared and Tamara followed. The day was fairly eventful already, so I grabbed a snack, headed to the gym and figured I would be tired and go to sleep when I got back. Ohh was I wrong. While in the gym, Jared poked his head in to alert me that some people were getting a cab back to Byron Bay to go to a bar called the cheeky monkey. Why not? I hustled through the workout and showered just in time to catch the ride. Nine of us in all took the journey out the Bay. Everyone was relieved to get out Lennox Head and take in some Australian nightlife. I think everyone really enjoyed themselves. Danielle and Sarah really submersed themselves in the culture, and I participated in and won a dance contest. Megan, Deanna, Mike and Jared also had a good time, trying some of the local brews and reveling in each others company. Tamara and Alan were the glue that held the crew together and should be commended for their cab organizing and making sure no one got lost and/or kidnapped. Bravo!
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Fabilicous
Before coming to Australia I would definately not classify myself as being a drug addict. On May 13, 2009 that all changed. We were taking a trip into town to do some grocery shopping and by some food when I stopped in the IGA to look at some of the food. I just so happened to stumble upon the candy isle when I saw it. Starring up at me from its multicolored Wonka box was a candy I had never seen before. It was called the Fabilicous. The package sold me when it said it was sour because that happens to be my favorite. I bought it and took it outside and took it out of the package. Its a long red tube of taffy like material with a green center. Without thinking I took a bite. As soon as the delicous candy hit my mouth there was an orgy of flavors in my mouth. I was hooked. The next day I bought another one and then the day after that. I made the mistake of sharing it with others and now they are buying up all of my delicous candies. I hate them. I find myself having trouble getting to sleep at night when the Fabilicous is sitting in the store waiting for me. Recently, I have been sneeking out at night to get my fix. I run franticly to town in search of them. I bought about sixty and threw them on the lawn out front our cabin and rolled in them. It was glorious. Unfortunately the other day I went to buy more but there were only a few left. I bough as many as I could but I fear they may be out. I dont know what to do. Im so scared. I tried other candies like the Zombie chew but its not the same. I hope they have more soon or Im not going to make it.
Friday, May 15, 2009
May 15, 2009
Friends and family members,
Today was our surf day where everyone learned how to surf, even Dr. Jutte and Tonya. We were all very eager to get our lesson for the day started. First, we learned the basics of the surf. Then we stretched. Finally, we learned how to surf which we were all very proficient at until we got into the water.
Once in the water, some of us seemed to be born to surf while the others, not so much. However, we all had fun in our own ways. We had even more fun once we took a look at the pictures that were taken of us.
After our surfing lesson, we then went on a nature walk with one of the locals. He showed us a variety of plants and birds. Some of the plants were edible while others could be used for medicinal purposes. Some were just plain poisonous. Nevertheless, we all had fun on our nature walk.
To cap off our day, we had a lecture which was about the role of exercise physiology in the sport of surfing. The roles of exercise physiology in surfing, from our lecture, included: physical characterization, performance testing, research, surf specific fitness training, surf specific rehabilitation exercises, competition, training statistics, and travel support. Quite an interesting lecture to say the least.
Tomorrow, we are all planning to go up to the peek here in Lennox head at, yes, 4:30 am with Dr. Jutte and Tonya. Everyone is so used to waking up at 5 or 6 am that 4:30 am seems like a breeze. We want to see the sun rise and possibly some humpback whales. The gang also plans on going to Byron Bay to do a little more sight seeing, shopping, and a few more fun, exciting, and different.
Fun, fun, fun.
Today was our surf day where everyone learned how to surf, even Dr. Jutte and Tonya. We were all very eager to get our lesson for the day started. First, we learned the basics of the surf. Then we stretched. Finally, we learned how to surf which we were all very proficient at until we got into the water.
Once in the water, some of us seemed to be born to surf while the others, not so much. However, we all had fun in our own ways. We had even more fun once we took a look at the pictures that were taken of us.
After our surfing lesson, we then went on a nature walk with one of the locals. He showed us a variety of plants and birds. Some of the plants were edible while others could be used for medicinal purposes. Some were just plain poisonous. Nevertheless, we all had fun on our nature walk.
To cap off our day, we had a lecture which was about the role of exercise physiology in the sport of surfing. The roles of exercise physiology in surfing, from our lecture, included: physical characterization, performance testing, research, surf specific fitness training, surf specific rehabilitation exercises, competition, training statistics, and travel support. Quite an interesting lecture to say the least.
Tomorrow, we are all planning to go up to the peek here in Lennox head at, yes, 4:30 am with Dr. Jutte and Tonya. Everyone is so used to waking up at 5 or 6 am that 4:30 am seems like a breeze. We want to see the sun rise and possibly some humpback whales. The gang also plans on going to Byron Bay to do a little more sight seeing, shopping, and a few more fun, exciting, and different.
Fun, fun, fun.
I will punch a shark in the face
Today we learned how to surf. This means that I now have one more thing in common with actor Paul Walker, besides the uncommonly good looks and successful movie career. (Wait...what?) You could tell that in the back of everyone's mind (and in the front of some, and coming out of my mouth) were worries about sharks. You may have heard once or twice that Australia has a bit of a shark problem. They are everywhere and they are nasty. I am here to tell you all that sharks are not that bad. They are boring. Not one shark in an entire day of surfing. They were scared and I can't blame them. We're Americans. We're crazy.
I looked around trying to figure out which person was our surf instructor. There was the lady with the two kids chasing around a bird. Doubtful. A young couple, both draped in dreads, that pulled up on bicycles. Possibly. A middle-aged balding man in a polo. God, I hope not. It turned out to be a sun-baked bleach blonde Aussie who's name until right before the lesson I thought actually was Mojo. Turns out Mojo was the name of the surf company. Who knew? Everyone but me.
After getting over the intial disappointment that I wasn't being taught by surf master Mojo, we began our suf lesson like I imagine many do: with a light stretch, some calistenics that I'm convinced he made us do just to see how stupid we were willing to look in public, and some brief instructions on how to get onto the board. We also got some kind of lecture over riptides and drowning, but most of us found it far more important to pay attention to how good we looked on the boards. And we did. Finally, it was time. I'm paddling and I'm in the zone and I pop up and land on the board perfectly. I am riding the board flawlessly. First try. I am amazing. I could do this blindfolded. I am the LeBron James of surfing. I'm feeling so good that I think I'm even ready to try it in the ocean.
It proved far more difficult with actual waves. Crazy, I know. Many of us spent the next twenty minutes being lured in by waves only to be smashed down into the ocean floor over and over again. I think many of us began feeling like dogs chasing cars when it came to the waves. We wouldn't even know what to do if we caught one. Just when it seemed like all was lost and I was about to go John McEnroe on my surboard ("You can't be serious!") it happened. I caught a perfect wave, didn't slip, popped up and rode it all the way into the beach (Though I have to admit it took all the strength I had to keep from channeling my inner Ninga Turtle, screaming "Cowabunga" or "Surf's Up, Dude!", and in doing so embarrassing every single American and offending every real surfer within earshot). Don't believe it happened? There was a professional photographer there. And he took pictures. Which I now have. Boom. How's your mind? Blown? Watch out Kelly Slater.
Since the majority of the group at least caught one wave I am sure they can back me up when I say that catching that first wave is kind of like a first kiss. You're shaky, you have no idea what is going on, it happens way too fast, it is a little more wet than you'd prefer, but at the end you can't wait to do it again.
Now I just have to hope the ocean doesn't have wi-fi.
I looked around trying to figure out which person was our surf instructor. There was the lady with the two kids chasing around a bird. Doubtful. A young couple, both draped in dreads, that pulled up on bicycles. Possibly. A middle-aged balding man in a polo. God, I hope not. It turned out to be a sun-baked bleach blonde Aussie who's name until right before the lesson I thought actually was Mojo. Turns out Mojo was the name of the surf company. Who knew? Everyone but me.
After getting over the intial disappointment that I wasn't being taught by surf master Mojo, we began our suf lesson like I imagine many do: with a light stretch, some calistenics that I'm convinced he made us do just to see how stupid we were willing to look in public, and some brief instructions on how to get onto the board. We also got some kind of lecture over riptides and drowning, but most of us found it far more important to pay attention to how good we looked on the boards. And we did. Finally, it was time. I'm paddling and I'm in the zone and I pop up and land on the board perfectly. I am riding the board flawlessly. First try. I am amazing. I could do this blindfolded. I am the LeBron James of surfing. I'm feeling so good that I think I'm even ready to try it in the ocean.
It proved far more difficult with actual waves. Crazy, I know. Many of us spent the next twenty minutes being lured in by waves only to be smashed down into the ocean floor over and over again. I think many of us began feeling like dogs chasing cars when it came to the waves. We wouldn't even know what to do if we caught one. Just when it seemed like all was lost and I was about to go John McEnroe on my surboard ("You can't be serious!") it happened. I caught a perfect wave, didn't slip, popped up and rode it all the way into the beach (Though I have to admit it took all the strength I had to keep from channeling my inner Ninga Turtle, screaming "Cowabunga" or "Surf's Up, Dude!", and in doing so embarrassing every single American and offending every real surfer within earshot). Don't believe it happened? There was a professional photographer there. And he took pictures. Which I now have. Boom. How's your mind? Blown? Watch out Kelly Slater.
Since the majority of the group at least caught one wave I am sure they can back me up when I say that catching that first wave is kind of like a first kiss. You're shaky, you have no idea what is going on, it happens way too fast, it is a little more wet than you'd prefer, but at the end you can't wait to do it again.
Now I just have to hope the ocean doesn't have wi-fi.
Kodak Momements! from Lennox Head
The view of the beach
Laying on the Beach
Low back stretches
Our frist speaker, Danielle, who is an Exercise Physiologist
Where all 20 of us stay, Ocean View
Our big screen tv/living room area
Our kitchen where we all eat and make our yummy meals
Sara showing off our table/dinning area
Walking on the beach to supper the first night in Lennox Head
Landscape view from the drive from Brisbene to Lennox Head
Our first meal in Australia after traveling for 24hours
All 20 of us in LA
The Indy Crew at the Indy Airport
There are more photos to come! Like the Aussie say "No Worries!"
Tam
Thursday, May 14, 2009
5:30 AM?
Hi everyone!!
So today has been another interesting day here in Lennox Head, as you can see by Mikes post earlier we all learned to stay away from that terrible substance that will not be named... Also, because of the time differences some of us are still having trouble adjusting and end up going to sleep around 8 at night and thus waking up around 6 in the morning with nothing to do. This hopefully will get better the longer we are here. Besides laying out on the beach, exploring around the area, and walking around town we had two lectures today on Physiotherapy and on Surfing Injury. We learned that physiotherapy is a very competitive career choice here due to the fact that it is in high demand. With this profession you can work at numerous places with many different populations. We also learned about what to expect tomorrow when we have our first surf lesson, which is apparently that we will all fall and as they say get "dumped on". That did not go over well with some of us and as we went over the different ways we can be injured, the words of advice we got were to protect our face. This is because we might fall off and bounce right back up excited because we still are in one piece but due to the recoil fact of the board being attached on a cord to our leg it will rebound and hit you in the face if you are not careful. None of us want this. Also, some stretches were learned to help us stretch certain body parts before surfing. These will come in handy for tomorrow. Right about now we are about to head into town and enjoy some dinner, most of us are heading to a little pizza place which should be fun! Then its back to our cabin, hopefully tonight we can stay up a little later then 8 and help fix the problem of waking up so early and having nothing to do! Thats all for now! Talk to you again soon!!
So today has been another interesting day here in Lennox Head, as you can see by Mikes post earlier we all learned to stay away from that terrible substance that will not be named... Also, because of the time differences some of us are still having trouble adjusting and end up going to sleep around 8 at night and thus waking up around 6 in the morning with nothing to do. This hopefully will get better the longer we are here. Besides laying out on the beach, exploring around the area, and walking around town we had two lectures today on Physiotherapy and on Surfing Injury. We learned that physiotherapy is a very competitive career choice here due to the fact that it is in high demand. With this profession you can work at numerous places with many different populations. We also learned about what to expect tomorrow when we have our first surf lesson, which is apparently that we will all fall and as they say get "dumped on". That did not go over well with some of us and as we went over the different ways we can be injured, the words of advice we got were to protect our face. This is because we might fall off and bounce right back up excited because we still are in one piece but due to the recoil fact of the board being attached on a cord to our leg it will rebound and hit you in the face if you are not careful. None of us want this. Also, some stretches were learned to help us stretch certain body parts before surfing. These will come in handy for tomorrow. Right about now we are about to head into town and enjoy some dinner, most of us are heading to a little pizza place which should be fun! Then its back to our cabin, hopefully tonight we can stay up a little later then 8 and help fix the problem of waking up so early and having nothing to do! Thats all for now! Talk to you again soon!!
A Global Warning
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Every person on the planet, whether they be tall/short, fat/skinny, all races, religions, and creeds all think of the five same things when they think of Australia. These things are the wildlife (kangaroos, koalas, baby-eating dingos, etc.), surfing, Crocodile Dundee, Foster's (which they actually don't sell down here), and vegemite. In our current global situation everyone is trying to find a way to help the planet in their own little way. This blog post is my effort to help the world. I need to warn you all of a very real issue down here in Australia. Vegemite is terrible.
This is no laughing matter. Vegemite is legitimately the worst thing I have ever tasted in my entire life. We found some tucked away in our food pantry and after seeing the expiration date was not until December of 2010 (meaning it was probably made in 1973) it was only a matter of time before curiosity got the best of us. After our morning jog/walk (mostly walk) we came back all ready for some breakfast. After a bowl of cereal and cooking toast over the oven we wondered what to do next. There it was. The vegemite was looking at all of us. It was then that Tom, Jared, and I stepped up to the plate and decided to smear some of this topping on a piece of bread and dive in.
Before I continue, I feel a need to describe vegemite to those of you out there who have never seen or heard of it. It has been made since 1923, which I find incredible since this stuff is still around yet I can't find Dunkaroos in the states anywhere. It comes in a regular looking container like peanut butter or jelly would. Once you open it you are met with a substance that looks like what I imagine ear wax would look like if you cooked it over an open flame. It has the consistancy of tar and the smell alone causes dogs and other small animals to flee from the room. It has a few hard to pronouce chemicals and then lists among its ingredients both "colours" and "flavours". I feel this is meant to be a warning, saying that anyone who is too stupid not to avoid eating something without knowing what "flavors and colours" are in it deserve what they are about to get.
The first bite was not too bad, although I admit it was mostly bread. Then it hit. The vegemite touched all of our tongues at the exact same moment and the look on their faces, as I imagine was on mine, was one of pure terror. The taste is one which is hard to put into words, much like it is hard to describe a sunset and convey the full effect of its magnitude. The taste of salt was overwhelming, followed by a taste unlike anything I had ever tasted. It brought to mind licking the bottom of a construction worker's boot after a long day of reshingling a roof. Our eyes went wide, a cold sweat broke out, and we immediately began frantically looking for the door. Tom and Jared both made it to the trashcan with their piece of pre-chewed vege-bread, but in desperation mine ended up leaving my mouth and sailing into the yard, where I imagine it will stay for all eternity because no animal will go near the stuff. We all then stormed back into the kitchen looking for anything that could get the taste of this out of our mouths and out of our lives forever. Tom tried furiously chugging water, jared dove into a bowl of Fruit Loops, and I decided to try my luck with a glass of orange juice, or as they call it here "orange fruit drink" (one part water, one part sugar, one part orange).
Thinking that was the end of it, we vowed to never taste the stuff again and went about cleaning it up and making sure it never saw the light of day again. Then the headaches began. We all began feeling the same headache in the same spot of our foreheads. Being that we are on a Sports Medicine field study, we decided to coin the phrase "vegemite hangover" and will look to have it published in a major medical journal soon.
I write this to warn you all. Vegemite is the source of all evil. If anyone ever offers you vegemite, your response should be an emphatic "No" and then you may feel free to punch them in the face, stomach, or groin for trying to subject you to the perils of vegemite consumption. As we look to enter a new age on this planet, I feel a major step in this process is the destruction of all vegemite and vegemite-related products. Disposal may be difficult as burning of the vegemite would lead to toxic fumes, burying of it would inevitably lead to ground water pollution, and locking it away together somewhere would only give it time to regroup and devise a plan for escape. I will leave these plans to the suits in Washington, but I emplore you all to write your local Congressman and plead that he draft a bill making trying to smuggle vegemite into America a crime on par with trying to sneak in any other weapon. If we cannot destroy it, then it needs to come with a warning label similar to those on cigarette cartons: "Warning: Vegemite may lead to nausea, vomiting, dizziness, cotton mouth, birth defects, spontaneous combustion, leprosy, and sudden death. Use at your own risk."
That's all for now. Keep checking in for updates. Remember, a vegemite-free home is a happy home. G'day.
Every person on the planet, whether they be tall/short, fat/skinny, all races, religions, and creeds all think of the five same things when they think of Australia. These things are the wildlife (kangaroos, koalas, baby-eating dingos, etc.), surfing, Crocodile Dundee, Foster's (which they actually don't sell down here), and vegemite. In our current global situation everyone is trying to find a way to help the planet in their own little way. This blog post is my effort to help the world. I need to warn you all of a very real issue down here in Australia. Vegemite is terrible.
This is no laughing matter. Vegemite is legitimately the worst thing I have ever tasted in my entire life. We found some tucked away in our food pantry and after seeing the expiration date was not until December of 2010 (meaning it was probably made in 1973) it was only a matter of time before curiosity got the best of us. After our morning jog/walk (mostly walk) we came back all ready for some breakfast. After a bowl of cereal and cooking toast over the oven we wondered what to do next. There it was. The vegemite was looking at all of us. It was then that Tom, Jared, and I stepped up to the plate and decided to smear some of this topping on a piece of bread and dive in.
Before I continue, I feel a need to describe vegemite to those of you out there who have never seen or heard of it. It has been made since 1923, which I find incredible since this stuff is still around yet I can't find Dunkaroos in the states anywhere. It comes in a regular looking container like peanut butter or jelly would. Once you open it you are met with a substance that looks like what I imagine ear wax would look like if you cooked it over an open flame. It has the consistancy of tar and the smell alone causes dogs and other small animals to flee from the room. It has a few hard to pronouce chemicals and then lists among its ingredients both "colours" and "flavours". I feel this is meant to be a warning, saying that anyone who is too stupid not to avoid eating something without knowing what "flavors and colours" are in it deserve what they are about to get.
The first bite was not too bad, although I admit it was mostly bread. Then it hit. The vegemite touched all of our tongues at the exact same moment and the look on their faces, as I imagine was on mine, was one of pure terror. The taste is one which is hard to put into words, much like it is hard to describe a sunset and convey the full effect of its magnitude. The taste of salt was overwhelming, followed by a taste unlike anything I had ever tasted. It brought to mind licking the bottom of a construction worker's boot after a long day of reshingling a roof. Our eyes went wide, a cold sweat broke out, and we immediately began frantically looking for the door. Tom and Jared both made it to the trashcan with their piece of pre-chewed vege-bread, but in desperation mine ended up leaving my mouth and sailing into the yard, where I imagine it will stay for all eternity because no animal will go near the stuff. We all then stormed back into the kitchen looking for anything that could get the taste of this out of our mouths and out of our lives forever. Tom tried furiously chugging water, jared dove into a bowl of Fruit Loops, and I decided to try my luck with a glass of orange juice, or as they call it here "orange fruit drink" (one part water, one part sugar, one part orange).
Thinking that was the end of it, we vowed to never taste the stuff again and went about cleaning it up and making sure it never saw the light of day again. Then the headaches began. We all began feeling the same headache in the same spot of our foreheads. Being that we are on a Sports Medicine field study, we decided to coin the phrase "vegemite hangover" and will look to have it published in a major medical journal soon.
I write this to warn you all. Vegemite is the source of all evil. If anyone ever offers you vegemite, your response should be an emphatic "No" and then you may feel free to punch them in the face, stomach, or groin for trying to subject you to the perils of vegemite consumption. As we look to enter a new age on this planet, I feel a major step in this process is the destruction of all vegemite and vegemite-related products. Disposal may be difficult as burning of the vegemite would lead to toxic fumes, burying of it would inevitably lead to ground water pollution, and locking it away together somewhere would only give it time to regroup and devise a plan for escape. I will leave these plans to the suits in Washington, but I emplore you all to write your local Congressman and plead that he draft a bill making trying to smuggle vegemite into America a crime on par with trying to sneak in any other weapon. If we cannot destroy it, then it needs to come with a warning label similar to those on cigarette cartons: "Warning: Vegemite may lead to nausea, vomiting, dizziness, cotton mouth, birth defects, spontaneous combustion, leprosy, and sudden death. Use at your own risk."
That's all for now. Keep checking in for updates. Remember, a vegemite-free home is a happy home. G'day.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Day 2- May13th
Today was our first full day in Lennox Head, most of us started our day at 6:30am because we are still a little messed up with the time change. A lot of the time today was spent at the beach or exploring town. At the beach it seems like every person walking has a dog, which is great because that meant that we got to play with the dogs! The town is a pretty small town but has a lot of little shops and some cute places to eat. Jenna and I tried the local fish place, fishy fishy, and the fish and chips there was amazing!! We have been eating other meals, breakfast and dinner, as a big group because we pooled our money and are cooking in the kitchen.
We had our first lecture today and learned about exercise physiology in Australia. It is recognized here as an allied health care which means that they can practice on their own and doctors can refer patients to them. We also learned a little bit about the Australian healthcare system and how doctors can refer a patient to a variety of health care professionals and they all will work together as a team to get the patient back on the right track. Also did a participation part of the lecture and learned all of us needed to stretch more!! Tomorrow is filled with another lecture and more exploring!! Have a great night/day!!!
Cheers,
Beth
We had our first lecture today and learned about exercise physiology in Australia. It is recognized here as an allied health care which means that they can practice on their own and doctors can refer patients to them. We also learned a little bit about the Australian healthcare system and how doctors can refer a patient to a variety of health care professionals and they all will work together as a team to get the patient back on the right track. Also did a participation part of the lecture and learned all of us needed to stretch more!! Tomorrow is filled with another lecture and more exploring!! Have a great night/day!!!
Cheers,
Beth
Keeping Dr. Jutte off dateline
Hi!
Well we are finally here - everyone is still alive, accounted for and not in jail, so that's accomplishment #1 for Dr. Jutte. And to think that only 2 days ago we were sitting in Detriot, Michigan waiting for our flight. We're in Lennox head right now and it is awesome! The beach is perfect, the weather has been awesome and the town is so cute and small! The cabin we are staying in is a little small seeing how all 20 of us are staying in the same one, but it works. So far we've just been enjoying the beach and listened to one lecture on exercise physiology and we can't wait to see what else the week brings!
Cheers!!
Danielle & Jenny
Well we are finally here - everyone is still alive, accounted for and not in jail, so that's accomplishment #1 for Dr. Jutte. And to think that only 2 days ago we were sitting in Detriot, Michigan waiting for our flight. We're in Lennox head right now and it is awesome! The beach is perfect, the weather has been awesome and the town is so cute and small! The cabin we are staying in is a little small seeing how all 20 of us are staying in the same one, but it works. So far we've just been enjoying the beach and listened to one lecture on exercise physiology and we can't wait to see what else the week brings!
Cheers!!
Danielle & Jenny
We made it to Aussie Land!
Hello All,
We made it here to Lennox Head safe yesterday afternoon. It was a looong trip down but it is definitely showing it's rewards, beautiful weather, great temperatures, and the gorgeous ocean view and beach! It's my first time seeing the Pacific Ocean and pretty much the first time I've been anywhere West of Illinois, or as Dr. Jutte asked "Are we East?" I claim it to be West because that is the way we traveled :) I loved the plane from LA to Auckland, New Zealand!! It was really comfortable and had an awesome entertainment system with movies, TV shows, games, music (Make your own play lists) pretty much amazing and I did sleep, a lot. What to do with 13 or so hours.....lots of things #1 SLEEP. We walked down the beach last night into town and got Subway (buy one get one free on Tuesdays!) for dinner then walked around some more. We all were asleep by 11pm I believe last night. I went to bed at 9 and boy was I out when I hit that pillow. We all got up early today and some went into town to explore while the rest stayed on the beach. I went to town and it was definitely different in the daylight. This afternoon we had a exercise physiologist come and talk to us. She was really cool. She talked about the profession and even did a few activities with us! I really enjoy it here and wish it could last forever, well maybe not forever I would like to see home again, but it is beautiful!
No Worries! :)
~Angie
We made it here to Lennox Head safe yesterday afternoon. It was a looong trip down but it is definitely showing it's rewards, beautiful weather, great temperatures, and the gorgeous ocean view and beach! It's my first time seeing the Pacific Ocean and pretty much the first time I've been anywhere West of Illinois, or as Dr. Jutte asked "Are we East?" I claim it to be West because that is the way we traveled :) I loved the plane from LA to Auckland, New Zealand!! It was really comfortable and had an awesome entertainment system with movies, TV shows, games, music (Make your own play lists) pretty much amazing and I did sleep, a lot. What to do with 13 or so hours.....lots of things #1 SLEEP. We walked down the beach last night into town and got Subway (buy one get one free on Tuesdays!) for dinner then walked around some more. We all were asleep by 11pm I believe last night. I went to bed at 9 and boy was I out when I hit that pillow. We all got up early today and some went into town to explore while the rest stayed on the beach. I went to town and it was definitely different in the daylight. This afternoon we had a exercise physiologist come and talk to us. She was really cool. She talked about the profession and even did a few activities with us! I really enjoy it here and wish it could last forever, well maybe not forever I would like to see home again, but it is beautiful!
No Worries! :)
~Angie
Day one in the books
So after thrilling day/days of traveling we have arrived in Australia. The flights all went well, with no major hang ups until we arrived in New Zealand. Evidently US airport security is not as tight as we had imagined. Our own Mandi Thelen was caught bringing a 3 inch blade into NZ via her carry on. Luckily she was not arrested, though it would have made for a better story. In the wee hours of the morning towards the end of our flight from LA to NZ we fly over a thunder storm which look amazing from where we were at. At one point I thought we were flying over a couple of islands but it turns out that is was just the engines on the wings of the plane (it was a bit dark when I was looking out the window). We arrived in Australia during the morning and with the time change from NZ was very hard to get used to. It seemed like the longest morning ever because we kept being set back a few hours. Customs and immigration were quite easy to get through then we had a 2 hour bus ride to Lennox Head. We stopped on the way for dinner at a food court of sorts. The food was pretty decent and there were these large birds hanging around which the bus driver fooled me into believing you could, can you say gullible! Anyways, we are all in a large cabin for the next few days until we move to smaller cabins were we are going to be broken up into smaller groups, mainly by gender Mom don't worry no girls in our room. We saw a python up in a tree and we explored the surrounding bush as they say. The beach is amazing and probably one of the highlights of our trip thus far. For being winter here it is quite nice and light years from a typical Michigan winter.
Cheers Mates,
Tom
Cheers Mates,
Tom
yay we made it!
So we made it to Australia safely. I may or may not have been stopped at customs because I had pre-wrap in my bag... oh well. Lennox head it beautiful, the beach is awesome and there are tons of dogs to play with. The time difference is still freaking me out, but I did make it until 8pm last night before passing out. Tomorrow I think we may wake up to see the sun rise and possibly spot some whales. So far Beth and I have figured out that we do NOT like their burgers but we do enjoy their fish and chips. Things are going great.
- Jenna
- Jenna
DOWN UNDER!!
Hey Everyone,
So after countless hours of travel and a decent amount of computer struggles, not only am I in Australia but I finally can post a blog. It is beautiful here and I am so anxious to get going with different activities and just getting to know the culture. It seems to be a small town (Lennox Head) but hopefully we have some time to explore it over the past 9 days. We just finished our first lecture and not only do I love Australian teaching methods but they only have to go to school 4-5 years in comparison to my 7!!! Shocking and heartbreaking all at the same time. Well hopefully everyone else loves it as much as I do and our parents don't miss us to much, 1 day and counting =)
-Sarah
So after countless hours of travel and a decent amount of computer struggles, not only am I in Australia but I finally can post a blog. It is beautiful here and I am so anxious to get going with different activities and just getting to know the culture. It seems to be a small town (Lennox Head) but hopefully we have some time to explore it over the past 9 days. We just finished our first lecture and not only do I love Australian teaching methods but they only have to go to school 4-5 years in comparison to my 7!!! Shocking and heartbreaking all at the same time. Well hopefully everyone else loves it as much as I do and our parents don't miss us to much, 1 day and counting =)
-Sarah
We made it to Lennox Head Safely
Good day mate,
Just wanted to let everyone know we arrived in Lennox Head yesterday. Students should have access to the internet later today.
Lisa Jutte
Just wanted to let everyone know we arrived in Lennox Head yesterday. Students should have access to the internet later today.
Lisa Jutte
Monday, May 11, 2009
Indy airport
Hello! This is Tom, Al, Mandy, and Tam; and we're sitting in the Indy Airport waiting for our flight, with every one else that's going with us. We are looking forward to the long fights ahead of us. We were amazed by the x-ray machine and how how-tech the checkpoint area is. Plus it was speedy for all 13 us to get through in a timely fashion, which is not all of us. We are meeting more in LA. As we are sitting here waiting for the plan, we will catch you up to date on what has happened before all we all meet up. Tom and Mandy are both from Hope College and traveled to the airport together. Al and Tam are both from Ball State University. We all meet up at the airport this morning. As we got all our bags checked, it took Tam forever to get her's checked, just because she was the first to check her bag. Every thing worked out okay, and all our bags are checked to LA. Now it's time for a quick group photo every one in Indy. After our amazing photo it was time to say our goodbyes to our families. Then off to the checkpoint. As we sit here at our gate, we are all getting to know each other, by playing games and chatting. Its offical time for us to board our plane. Next time we blog we'll be down under.
Good day Mates!
Tom, Al, Mandy, Tam
PS... Happy Mother's Day.
Good day Mates!
Tom, Al, Mandy, Tam
PS... Happy Mother's Day.
Going Down Under
Sooooo...Laney, Marie, and I are sitting here in the airport in Indy. Going through security was interesting. Laney and Marie had to go through the body scan thingy. Meanwhile I had to halfway undress to go through security. We're all worried about the long plane ride, but it will all be worth it once we get there. We're excited about seeing all the different wildlife in Australia. The thing that we're most worried about is going on the bush walk. We're not big fans of snakes and bugs. Overall, it will be a good experience. Can't wait!
Lauren, Laney, & Marie
Lauren, Laney, & Marie
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