Friday, March 7, 2014

Catching the Wave

Hey all! As you may or may not have assumed from the title of today's post, I have had my first surfing lesson! I would like to say that I now know how to surf but to be honest.... I still cannot surf to save my life. I don't feel toobad because usually first-time surfers don't even get into the standing position successfully and I did TWICE! Woohoo! For the next two Friday's we will go out and continue to practice and just have fun attempting to surf. :) This is a part of a class that international students are offered at CQU called "Outdoor Pursuits".  This class meets every Friday from 8 AM until about noon to do various... outdoor pursuits. :) Honestly, taking this class in no way helps out my college degree but hey, I figure why not? I'm getting to do fun activities that otherwise might not have been an option for me during my stay!

(Photo Credit: Ai Yoshimura)


Yesterday a few friends and I went to the shoreline in a town called Yeppoon (where we also learned to surf today) for a beach day! Yesterday was the type of day that I had dreamed about while I was in Aberdeen running from building to building trying to escape the bitter temperatures.

 
 

One thing that I did not dream about was the wicked sunburn. Ouch! Let's just say that today I am doing a remarkable impression of a tomato (if I say so myself). Yes, I've invested in both sunscreen and aloe. Combined with my bruises from today's adventure, I am looking quite colorful overall!

Now moving on to the more boring yet necessary stuff, classes started last week and are going pretty well. A main difference here is that classes only meet once a week instead of the two or three times that most U.S. universities meet. I am not a fan of this style of teaching because when I go to a class here, I sit in the same chair for two hours watching a professor on a T.V. screen and listening to a droning lecture with an equally enthralling PowerPoint to accompany it. Not my cup of tea! But, with a good amount of study time, I should be alright in my classes.

The other day I utilized Rockhampton's city bus system for the first time! This was the first time I had ever gotten on a city bus. It went a lot smoother than expected haha :) As soon as I sat down at the campus bus stop to wait, it started downpouring! Luckily I was under an eave so my spirits weren't too downtrodden yet! After going grocery shopping at the local supermarkets, I hopped back on the bus with only one questionable character insisting on helping me with my bags. I only had to tell him "no thank you" about twelve times before he got the hint that I was perfectly capable of being on my own. It was just my luck that as soon as I got off the bus to begin the mile or so walk back to my dorm that it, once again, started raining. I'm talking about the heavy raindrops with a combination of wind that seemed to make rain fall sideways right into your face. And.... here I am trekking through campus with 6 grocery bags barefoot in the pouring rain. (barefoot because my it was too slippery to walk with flip-flops on uneven ground- I kept sliding out of my shoes anyway!) Long story long, it was an interesting first solo bus trip!

I think that pretty much wraps it up for the last week! I am starting to miss so many people from back home and also Taco Johns. I miss tacos. They don't have them here! I think I'm going to have to go on an expedition to try and find out where I can get some good quality Mexican food! Until next time....

After a while crocodile,

Tina

2 comments:

  1. I'll treat you to a six pack and a pound from TJ's when you get back! :)

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    1. Date night sounds amazing Abby! ha when it comes to tacos we can really put them away... we're champs:) Miss you!

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