Tzatziki!

I successfully made some tzatziki today! It. is. delicious. --the Greeks have it goin on. I also cooked some salmon for dinner today---pretty good too! It was nice to have something other than the college kid staple (noodles) for once :D

It was another rainy day full of attempts at homework! Almost finished with my Indigenous Australia paper--yippsta! git-r-done...one more paper and one more presentation to go before a break! I did get to pretend to be an Aussie politician today- I was the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure at a fake Cabinet meeting. I pretended like I knew what I was talking about--lots of BS--so i guess that's close to political reality right???--okay maybe not. I now know for sure that my future is most definitely not in politics--yuck!

I did get to skype my best bud Syd! So that was a plus for my day :) I miss her and hope she has a wonderful time on her upcoming mission trip to Mexicali! Talking with Julie D. on skype tomorrow! what would I do without it?

What else? I'm counting down until spring break! (even though I'm basically already on it :)) I got a book lined up to read on my beach days---I'll have to practice control so I don't start it earlier!

Two new Aussie words:

Fresh= cold weather "whoa its fresh today"
Flash=  rich--famous? something like that-- "that's a flash name"-- my chain smoking quirky prof said it one day

ohhh and a birthday shout out to Jenna and Samantha! <3

Looks like more of the same for tomorrow! Kinda boring to read about..i know! Back to work...

Parliament building in Melbourne

Library deck---fav part of campus!

 Okay these next ones have absolutely nothing to do with Australia---just randomsss



squid and i at the Switchfoot concert! i believe at this point we could hear Jon warming up!



gets me every time--james at his finest-

  







  okay enough!

The Great Ocean RoadTRIP

Had a wonderful morning today! Went to Mooloolaba early (despite the rain) to get a coffee, write a bit of mail, and find an atm. It was a short trip before class, but how great is it to go to the beach and have a coffee before a long day of class? That's something I could really get used to! Oh, I tried a new coffee shop today---its a local one--they put chocolates on top of the coffee lid. That deserves some brownie points in my book.

The Great Ocean Road was beautiful! Just like I wanted it to look like :) Big cliffs with a curvy road carved through it overlooking the blue blue ocean! We saw Koalas in the wild and fields of a million sheep! I was really excited to see Bells Beach, which is home to the RipCurl Pro...a lot of good waves! The Twelve Apostles, were also a highlight. Theyre a bunch of rock formations randomly sticking out of the ocean. They won't be around forever with the constant water pounding the bottoms of them. One has already fallen down. Super pumped I got the chance to go! Melbourne was a pretty cool city, but we didnt get a ton of time in the city because we spent an extra day on the ocean road :)

One more presentation and two more papers before Easter Break! yippeee! Less than a month left of being 20 for me! Looks like a whole lot of rain this week--maybe the sun is headed to michigan! Lots of time to do homework I guess!



Bells Beach



View from the lighthouse we stopped at---GORGEOUS

at the top of the lighthouse

wild koala!

The Twelve Apostles

...and again

Wilson traveling tradition!

Port Campbell--where we stopped for the night :)

Melbourne at night!

sunrise on the airplane ride home ☼

Over and Out!

Beach Marathon ☼

Well another day spent at Mooloolaba! It was 90 degrees again! YAHOO! I was there for approx six hours, got there at ten thirty! The beach is so pretty in the morning :) Basically I tanned, slept, read, slept, and cooled off in the ocean. The beach is getting ready for a big triathlon tomorrow--no thank you!

At the bus stop there were two adorable little boys--they were brothers--and the younger one was drilling his brother with multiplication problems just to be annoying--and eventually the conversation came to, "Oh ya! Well what's ten times skateboard?!" or "or whats 109084028 x car!" The older one always had an answer...it was real entertaining with their cute little accents! And every school here has uniforms and sun hats--it sooo funny, but cute :)


Just finished my packing for the ocean road tomorrow! We leave at 2:15pm for Melbourne. I'm really excited for a good road trip, hope all goes well! This trip will probably require some serious patience and flexibility--i can manage that i think :D

Well not much else going on! I think the plague of flying cockroach beetles is over--although there were still a TON at the beach...ah well!

Over and OUT for a few days! To Melbourne!

The aftermath of the beetle attack-- dey all squished

the black dots are ALL beetles!

☼ My usual dwelling place ☼

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" Psalm 119: 105-106

"Direct my footsteps according to Your word; let no sin rule over me." Psalm 119: 133

PLAGUE!

its like the plague here...there are beetles raining from the sky. Its digusting! They were everywhere at the beach today in the sand, but that didnt stop me from soaking up the sunshine. obviously.

To make things better, my brilliant roomie left the door wide open for a long time. Therefore, I had to sweep, and kill, a ton of bugs tonite. This was the one and only time I was for letting a gecko into our house!

oh and just so you know...Its been a really long time since I've looked under my bed for snakes and geckos before I go to sleep at nite. I'm getting so much better! I still shake out my sheets tho..baby steps. baby steps.

As usual, today was a gorgeous day. I spent it at Mooloolaba reading for classes. I predict tomorrow will be the same :D SWEET. To add to the greatness, I saw an EPIC farmer's tan today. This guy must have done it on purpose because he was proudly flaunting his whiteness in a speedo...he was white from mid arm to his knees= hilarious. I almost had to put my sunnies on to look at him. Then I had a sunset swim in da pool..which is SO warm and lovely. Sorry--that might hurt to read for you cold cold michiganders-ill send the warmth! PLUS i had a dark choc tim tam iced coffe--two thumbs, and two toes, up! 1 more thing: Willy(the french guy) made us nutella crepes tonight! yummmm

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to mi madre tomorrow my time, and 14 hours later michigan time! woohoo! MISS YOU!

okay--off to bed maybe--as long as there are no beetles in my room. I can hear them smacking the roof below me..AHH

Melbourne---1 1/2 days! oh and my new favorite song right now http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGx-xU6TnU8 good stuff



XOXO




ya nastyyyy




pretty clouds at da beach

 

sunset



and again..

The Great Unknown

Relief. Registered for GV classes--got everything i needed :) Now i just have to wait on my class permit for a biomed class where I dissect cadavers, that could get interesting. Ill embrace the challenge---sorry if that grosses you out. Its going to be a busy busy final year of undergrad!


Today was wonderful. I got up to swim and then laid by the pool until class..what more could ya want? It was SO hot out today (yesss!)...the kind of humid where everyone else is whining--except me. I think its supposed to be like this for the next couple days, so to the beach I go...bring it sun! I also rode my bike to Wooly's. I was outta bread and tomato---its a nice little ride I must say.

I've checked two presentations off my list of assessments for classes this semester...feels good :)

Oh and I had THE greatest dream last night...
     Jon Foreman and I were basically best friends, and he came all the way to Brisbane to play a special show of his solo stuff; just because I'm missing it when he's in Michigan. (tears)  So I got to hang out with him the whole dream and play guitar together. I think the whole switchfoot band was there too and some friends and family in this grungy little dive (that I think was at one point a coffee shop), but I dont remember that well. Case and point; Jon and I were buddies... :D I wish you could record dreams. ( I hope he never reads this)

Weeellllll...all thats left to say is: 2 days till the Great Ocean Road...wahooo! (pleeeease be nice out--crossin da phalanges)

I still have to pinch myself

favorite quote of the week from the wisest of wise: Eric Matthews (aka: plays-with-squirrels) "lifes tough, get a helmet" (thats from boy meets world If ya dont know) haaa
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQpTMQCI7Vg

okay...peace

That's the Sound of Sunshine ☼

Suns out! horray!!!! the skies have cleared for the day! Just like clock work...the sun is always out on monday when i have classes, BUT i still soaked some up afterward..so its all good :D

I'm posting early because i'm about to erase my first batch of pictures from my memory card...and that freaks me out! I backed them up on a USB, but its still scary...so here. goes.... EEEEK done. I need some space for the upcoming moments!

I had to present my first round of pictures for photography class today. I was a bit intimidated because my prof is real picky. But he really liked them! he even said well done! phew...

I have to register for GVSU classes tomorrow..its my senior year! how?! The 'big' question is--- do i take an art class with two gym classes. ( its a lot of work, but i love painting) OR do I take a few more gym classes  so i can concentrate on conquering physics and biochem? I have until tom nite to decide..i think art will trump. Rough decisions i have to make there, I know...haaa

now that ive bored you---im off to make some chow and then go to a new bible study I found out about!

later.

My current theme song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ecGNmWLZmE


OH..i found the BEST BOARD EVER.

TRACTORS--someone must know me since they combined two of my favorite things...If only Jon Foreman was on it somewhere

i guess its more of a bulldozer thing, but you must be pickin up what im layin down

YO

My bad, no post in long time! I haven't been up to much, just getting homework done and hoping this rain turns to sun soon! I did go to Noosa Heads beach on thursday! There was supposed to be a surfing contest, but the ocean was flat as a pancake. ("Dude there's no hope") Luckily it was super sunny and warm for a few hours, so the hour bus ride was not for nothing! My hair is getting really bleached out..yippeee!

Other than that, I'm just chilling today (with some guac)...trying to be productive.

Melbourne next weekend woohoo!..hope for good weather!

over and out.


a couple nights ago...pretty :)



Noosa Heads

"You know my thoughts even when I'm far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I'm going to say even before I say it Lord. You go before me and follow me."    -Psalm 139:2-5

"...But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from You, and we give you only what you first gave us!"   -1 Chronicles 29: 14

Part Two:

two posts today!

I actually finished a book and started a paper at the beach today---im impressed with myself. It didn't take long though for me to retreat to the beach to walk around, take pictures, and have some one on one time with God. It was a great great day---I even made it to church and got free dinner with bonus tiramisu! I arrived just as the carpool was about to leave--perfect timing :D

on other news---my bathroom drain stinks---must 'de-smell' asap.

otay--off to bed, another week starts tomorrow! Enjoy your sunday michigan people! Sending the sunshine!





not a bad place to hang out



some kid?



some lovebirds--



Turned around in Kondalilla

Well the rain might be leaving, but im hesitant to say that because everytime i do it rains again!...I cant complain though--Im sitting at my favorite coffee shop getting some "studying" done----there's a breeze and I can see the ocean--so rain or shine this is nice..

A few of us went back to the waterfalls yesterday to jump off and take a swim in the refreshing rockpool. Hannah's sister was visiting so they rented a car for the weekend---5 of us packed in the little red hyundai  and headed to the falls. For some reason the mapquest would only give us directions for the way back so we were reading the directions backwards (brilliant i know)-

--lesson: dont do this in another country you've only ever ridden a bus in ( we did have a map though)--

--it took an hour (and a million U-turns) to reach a park that is only twenty minutes away---unfortunately, we ended up at the opposite entrance. This forced us to head back up the extremely steep hill with a car that has no get up and go--however, little red did make it up the hill and we did get to jump off the falls--the ride home was much more successful-
-the positive side to getting lost was getting to take the scenic route, and it was great to be in a car with windows and radio rather than a bus!

buttttt i  suppose i should crackin on the homework i came here to do---sigh---peace out!

SNAP this was good day :)

Yay for getting internet back! I haven't written in 6 days...ooops!

But I have a ton to say because today is the ULTIMATE for a lot of reasons:
  1.) Its my month anniversary of being in australia! woohooo :)
  2.) I got to download the new Passion 2011 cd yesterday---loveee it
  3.) I got to open a brand spankin new jar of peanut butter tonight! (its my third jar this month---that seems excessive I know)
  4.) but mostly this day rocked because I GOT TO SEE KELLY SLATER SURF AT THE QUIKSILVER PRO!

I am--turn around, clap your hands, squeal like a girl, jump up and down, shake what cho momma gave ya----happy about this!
My day started at 4:20am when I got up to catch the early train to the Gold Coast at Snapper Rocks Beach. It took a 4 1/2 hour train/bus ride to get there only to find out that the competition was put on hold until 1pm so the waves could get better as the tide came in. This was initially a bummer because we got up so early, but it ended up being a great advantage in the end. We got to see the semifinals and the finals which we most likely would have missed had it not been delayed! ( shout out to the man upstairs). It also gave us plenty of time to walk around and explore surf shops, swim in some GIANT body crushing waves, and eat a super delicious guacomole burger. It was awesome because everyone just stands in the water for the competition, so we were super close! (there were thousands of people=nutzo)  Thankfully Kelly Slater made it to the finals so i actually got to see him surf...checkin that one off the bucket list! ( for those who dont know, Kelly Slater is considered by many to be the greatest pro surfer in the world--he's been world champ ten times---no one gets world champ that many times in surfing--no one) I wasn't sure if hed been a little over hyped by the media or not, but I was quickly convinced otherwise when he pulled this wicked drop move thing right in front of us and the biggest aerial i have ever seeeen. Taj Burrow, the runner up, got a really nice barrel ride. Another thing I have always wanted to see! Next on my list, I have to the be the one to get the barrel ride! The ocean at the Gold Coast is the bluest water you can imagine...crystal clear..and teal blue!....Anyway---ill stop now--im just real pumped about this day!

In other news...its the weekend! And I have a ton of work to get done for classes because In a couple weeks we are heading down to Melbourne to drive across the Great Ocean Road---right up my alley. The name alone makes me excited.

Conclusion: After an extreme bummer of a weekend full of rain and lameness---a barbie at the beach last night and a rockin day at the quiky pro>> I am non stop smiles :D

I think thats it in a nutshell...

Peace ☼

dats me...yay!

coolest swimming hole ever!

A section of the crowd

Kelly going for one...it was tough to get  good picture with all the people in the way--and I was mostly just watching---half trying to take  pictures

new peanut butter! yum

Crispy

I'm clearly not good at putting sunscreen on, i'm burnt in random splotches---Oops! no worries though--it will all be tan in a couple days :) GLORIOUS beach day today--cloudless sky with some serious humidity and a slight breeze ( mom you would have HATED today)...the water is the same temperature as the air here--feels nice ☼ I've discovered that reading for classes isn't as bad when you're working on your tan (or burn in my case) at the same time! And then, when you finish off the day with a dark chocolate tim tam iced coffee you find bliss.....honest...try it.

I've decided that all my family and friends should move here so i can stay! Or at the very least, lets all just re-locate to a warm tropical place---say, Hawaii?? fiji?? SoCal?? I'm cool with any--just let me know where to meet up with you all :)

There's talk of surfing competitions, Australian Football League games, and Rugby games in the near future. SA-weet dogg.

okay--off to bed so i don't sleep in!

over and out.

P.s. i've graduated to 15spf sunscreen--it works wonders when I don't miss spots :)

oh and watch this--and laugh (link below) or search youtube-- "100 times and I still laugh"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZBbtk47vZw

Surf's Up! But back to work :(

Stinkin beautiful day today! Started off with a good swim in the morning and ended with a grocery shopping excursion and a 5 dollar pizza night! Off to the beach after class tomorrow and the Mooloolaba Wharf for 50 cent wing night!

On another note, mojo surf camp was GREAT! ( it wasn't actually in Byron bay, but at Spot X--south of Byron) I had such a blast surfing all weekend long. I was a little worried when the bus that picked us up made sure to  pit stop at the BottleShop so us campers could stock up on alcohol for the weekend, but I've quickly learned that that's just what they do here!

The first day they started us on baby waves, but those got boring real soon and Hannah and I moved on to the bigger ones :) (not 10 footers or anything, but some decent sized waves) Turns out our boards were a little too big to handle the bigger waves, so the surfer dude instructors helped us out so we didnt nose dive every time---talk about wipe out. If I had a dollar for every time I sank the nose of my board I would be filthy rich. Beyond mastering the art of falling, i also learned how to turn pretty well! We definitely took our fair share of beatings by the waves, but it was so worth the giant board rash (that board basically ripped the skin off my thighs) and the swollen knee. I definitely wish i had my board here now! Can't wait to head to the Quiksilver Pro this weekend!

When we weren't surfing there were bon fires, volleyball (with a soccer ball, OUCH), sunrises, and star gazing on the beach!....I saw the biggest shooting star of my life! it was super bright, long, and slow-so. cool. We also had the chance to spend about an hour in Byron Bay on the way home. It had to be one of the prettiest beaches I've ever seen! I would loveee to get back there for at least a good beach day!

But now--its back to classes! git-r-done i suppose. At least i can get all my reading done on the beach and by the pool!

Went to music practice at church again. Having iffy feelings about it--there so picky and not laid back about it. I guess its b/c of the amount of people that sing on stage or the sound system they said?  I miss music team at grand valley SO bad! I do realize, however, that I'm pretty bad about change and differences in things like that--so I shall see how it works out.

Sunrise ☼

Byron Bay <3



The bridge to the beach at Spot X



Home Sweet Home

The whole group!

Off to do my politics reading--at least some of it! Cheers! Sorry this was too long!

P.S. the call the toilets the dunnie here---haa