Monday, June 29, 2009
Girls, I need some pictures and details!!!
While Sonia was probably stressing over wedding plans Kris and I had been completing our certification to become scuba divers. We went over to Magnetic Island on Thursday morning and started the course at 8:30am. After two days of theory and pool diving we went into the ocean. The ocean dives were okay, swimming a little and then completing skills at the bottom but the best part of the four dives was when we had our two fun dives yesterday. They were awesome! While on the fun dives we saw 2 turtles, a (approx. 2 foot) crayfish, 2 large puffer fish, many sting rays, angel fish, sergeant majors etc. I could go on forever. At one point we stopped and fed the fish which was kinda cool, they eat right from your hand. One bit me but they don't have teeth so it feels like a suck on your finger.
Unfortunately the included accomodation was not so hot. We were sleeping in a large tent (containing two cots) with holes everywhere. The zipper didn't do up properly as the canvas was torn on either side of the zipper and Kristy's cot mattress almost touched the ground when she laid on it. I woke up each morning with new bites all over my body and have reached an uncountable amount from toes to ears. To give you a rough idea of what I'm talking about I have approximately 20 on my right hip alone. As they are itchy (and I have been scratching) my right hip looks like HORRIBLE! This is defintetly the worst area but my whole body seems to itch. I actually look like I have the onset of chicken pox. I'm unsure of what bug turned me into an all night buffet but have been told its probably sand flies. Great. I don't feel any better knowing what caused this. Here are a few pictures. My neck and face are pretty bad as well but as I've said to you before this internet is too slow to load too many pictures.
On top of those little vistors we had possums trying to gain access to our tent. When we first arrived we had been warned by our new friends Amanda (Scottish) and Martin (English) that possums will come into your tent at night - this did not warn us for the panicked feeling you get when they do! The first and second night we were left alone but the final night we had two possums hanging out at the top of the tent (another big hole) and I'm not quite sure what they were doing. Kris and I slammed our hands on the side of the tent walls and they eventually scurried off. They did return shortly after but we were fairly lucky as we're both light sleepers and woke up in time to scare them before they tried to cuddle. Imagine waking up with thousands of bites AND a furry cuddle buddy? No, thanks. I typically like having my bed to myself.
We arrived back to Townsville last night and chilled out watching CSI before heading to bed, a day in the water will wipe anyone out.
Today we don't really have plans. I need to get my underwater film developed and we have passes to go to Reef HQ at some point; I visited there when I first arrived in Townsville. We
will be leaving for Cairns on Thursday so we have a few days to chill out and relax. I'll keep in touch.
So you know: I will be editing these posts next week sometime to include the pictures that go with them. Right now the internet I'm on is soooooo slow that if I tried to load pictures I'd be afraid of a crash and burn.
Talk to you soon.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Today we went to Billabong Sanctuary and I was going to post pictures but the internet here at the apartment is SLOW! I'll have to post loads of pictures after my parents/Sis leave. Billabong was as successful as ever, lots of kangaroos and koalas!! I guess because of the time of year there were plenty of joeys in mamas pouches. We took tons of pictures. The joeys are quite funny - we could see their feet and their heads sticking out of the pouches.... how does that work? Joeys feet are quite large!! There was one point when the four of us (and our new friend from France) were surrounded by 10-12 of them! It was fantastic.
Tomorrow Kris and I leave to go to Magnetic Island for our scuba diving course. We've had a hell of a time today trying to get organized. We were suppose to have our dive medicals at 3pm today - we need these completed prior to taking the course. Anyhow, we show up at 'The Doctors' only to find out the doctor decided to leave at 2pm and no one was able to complete our physicals. We walked to two more doc. offices and had no luck - no doctors able to take us. I spend $5-6 calling all over Townsville trying to figure out what our options are and the guy who runs the diving course said if we're able to get to the island before 8am he can get our medicals done there. SO, Kris and I will be up at 6am tomorrow morning, on the ferry by 7am and straight to our dive course. The first two days we'll be in a pool learning basic technique and then Sat/Sun we will be in the ocean with the fishes... and sharks... and stingers. We will be living at Magnetic for the next four days, in a hostel... grrrr... not my type of accommodation. I hope it isn't too bad, Base is supposed to be a nice location. I'll let you know next week!!
I'll check in soon!
:)
Monday, June 22, 2009
Hello all,
Parents and Sis arrived Saturday morning around 10:30 - they were supposed to be here on Friday morning - which left me in Sydney on Friday night all by my lonesome. I arrived at the hotel and the room we got is awesome! It's two stories (which was little comfort for me, who is scared of basements at night time, I am Canadian!!)and the bedrooms are on the bottom floor. I was considering sleeping on the couch in the main room but the bathrooms are also on the bottom floor. I tried to go to bed at 11 but tossed and turned all night. I got up at 5:30, no point in lying in bed anymore.
After my parents arrived we walked around Darling Harbour but unfortunately it was raining. Luckily its not TOO cold and a light sweater and rain jacket are sufficient.
Yesterday we went to Paddy's Market, the Australian museum and walked around central before heading to the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. By the time we made it down there it was dark so I got some nice photos. I will post them once I"m back in Townsville.
Today we will be heading back to the Opera House to get an inside tour, Mom wants to go to the Chinese Gardens, Dad to the Imax, and we also might hit the Maritime Museum where you can walk on a naval ship and submarine. The weather still isn't ideal but its not raining!!
Sorry for the quick jot, I'm in a rush - time limits here! $3.00 for 30 minutes!!
Talk to you soon!
Friday, June 19, 2009
I am usually a pretty easy going person, laid back.... even patient, sometimes. Well, I received a call at 4:45am this morning as my parents are stuck in Hawaii and will not make it to Syndey until an entire day later than me! I'm not too pleased. I then went to the washroom and upon my return found a letter on my door informing me I have been fined for the 'noise' we made last week. Grrrr.... not in the mood. It is now 6am, I am tired and a little grumpy but thought I'd write the blog in the moment... more real, right?
Anyway, I have pasted my sweet letter to the Head of Hall in response to my 'noise.'
Grrrrrrr......
That is all.
Shaun/Krystal,
I am writing in regards to the penalty imposed letter I received for the noise on Friday June 12th during swot vac when my entire floor had gathered in our kitchen. Although I'll pay the $10.00 fine there is no way it will be paid until July as I am leaving the state for holiday. I do find it rather irksome that the letter took a week to generate and I am given four days (over a weekend and on VACATION) to pay the fine.
Also, although I understand the reasoning behind the fine I would like to say that I have been a model resident at RIH and have put up with a great deal of noise from certain RA's (more than one) on more than one occasion; once for one of my floor mates birthdays and another on International Food Night. I am not talking slight laughter and jolly behaviour at
This is fore warning that I will not be as patient in the future. As I am being penalised for my single infraction I will expect that ALL residents will be given the same treatment and I will no longer let things slide.
Final inquiry, where are we supposed to congregate during swot vac when we do NOT have exams? I pay a great deal to live at RIH and feel held prisoner at this time. We moved to the common room (where we thought the 9 of us could have a nice card game) and were told we were being too loud simply because those studying in the old common area had all the windows open and were not in the mood for any noise. We shut the windows and desperately tried to keep our voices down (we are not disrespectful people) but there were 9 of us!! And not that it makes much difference but we were only gathered together to wish our floor mate farewell as she is now gone home to the
I will be back in the state (and school) the week of July 6th and will pay the fine at this time.
Sincerely,
Jade Vincent
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Last night was Morgan and Scott's last night on the floor before going home - well, to Hawaii for a vacation!! After saying our goodbyes we went to the kitchen for some snacks and Morgan and Scott pulled out hot chocolate and Tim Tams, which are an Aussie chocolate treat of a cookie centre surrounded in milk chocolate.
So began the Tim Tam Slam tutorial..... I tried first... you bite the ends off the Tim Tam and suck the hot chocolate (or any other warm drink) through the cookie. The hot drink melts the entire centre of the chocolate creating a warm, mushy mess of chocolatey-goodness.
Elaine couldn't get it right - and try after try could not get the hot chocolate up through the Tim Tam. Through all our laughter we must have caused some disturbances and once again the RA was up to tell us to shut up. A good farewell for our dear friends.
Morgan and Scott gave another demonstration before we called it a night - I didn't want to get in trouble again!!! As it turns out the mass amount of chocolate I had just ingested stimulated by system and for the life of me I couldn't get to sleep.... darn, darn. There's nothing like tossing and turning as a result of a Tim Tam Slam.
Morgan and Scott left at 7:30 this morning - with the help of Tim lugging some of their luggage down the stairs. I completed my last exam at 1pm today and am free to travel to Sydney at 12:25 tomorrow afternoon. The Vincents will be reunited very soon. God help Australia.
Parents are officially in the air!!!
22 hours and they will be in Sydney....
Dad, remember, BREATHE!!!
xoxoxo
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
My parents are leaving home in 12.5 hours on their way to Australia. We will be meeting in Sydney on MY Friday at 3pm as this is when my flight from Townsville comes in. My parents and Sis should be arriving in Sydney at 8am on Friday morning. Not long now and we'll all be together in a great new city.
Talk to you then!!
Saturday, June 13, 2009
I've changed the look of my profile as its almost the end of the semester and felt it was time for a change.
Let me know what you think as you guys are the ones who read it!!! I'll be looking at various 'images' but right now the seagull is staying...
Not exactly the greatest bird in the world but the image is serene.
Although its exam week (Swatvac?!) our floor decided to get together and have a game of cards. Since last posting we've got a new, temporary floor mate Dave, who will only be here for another week; he's doing a two week block subject.
Anyhow, Liz, Morgan, Scott (Morgans BF from George Roberts), Elaine, Dave, Tim and myself gathered around our kitchen table and got the poker set out. As it turned out the Aussie's were finally outnumbered. There were 4 North Americans (Morgan, Scott, Liz, & Jade) versus Elaine, Dave and Tim. Luckily enough Liz had a flag just waiting for this type of occasion; I placed it directly across from the Aussie's so they could swoon at our flag! Oh, Canada!!
Canadian Liz.
Our "American" friends; that is in quotations as they are from NY and might as well be Canadian - good people; have manners and everything!! They will be leaving in 5 days to return home. They will be missed.
The game began with Morgan whipping our butts. As with me, this was her first time playing and the experienced players were giving her trouble for not betting more on her better hands.
But looking at her stack of chips she didn't need their help!
Then the game started to get really serious when Dave and Tim had a round of serious betting; black chips. If you can't make it out in the picture that is Tim glaring at Dave in his poker hat (with two aces), and his glasses with no lenses.
The suspense..... Tim lost... badly.
And I wasn't doing too much better. Elaine thought it was fantastic how awful I was doing. My bluffing sucks....
But Tim was WAY worse than me. I told him he should have used the Superman Uno cards instead of the two aces.
If only I had the camera on Elaine all night I would have more shots of silly things, but it wasn't. First she burned her mouth on her dinner, than eating cantaloupe (Aussie's call it rock melon; WEIRD) she somehow squirted it down her back! lol.... we were all tired and laughed, and laughed.
I don't know if it was the cantaloupe juice or what but my luck changed. I went all in, with the few chips I had, and WON!! A hand that is. I had 4-4's and 2-aces; not bad for a beginner. Unfortunately Liz was the only one betting against me so I only stole some of the Canadian funds. I can't bluff and as soon as I saw the cards I threw all my chips in... kinda gave it away - everyone but Liz, folded.
Plastic chips, plastic chips, plastic chips....
Then the guard came!!! Yes, as it turns out we are not allowed 'grounds time' during exams... our party was broken up and we were threatened with a fine for being 'loud' while other people were trying to study. At least in jail we'd be beat down - but a fine!!! You can't fine students... blood from a stone!!!
Also, you must keep in mind it was only 8:30pm on a FRIDAY night and we were having an alcohol-free, gambling free (no real money), poker night.
We had to close 'er down - Dave won!
We stayed at the table for a little while but heard the unmistakable sound of the RA (guard) cell phone ringing just outside our door!!! We ran!!! Luckily Liz was the only one not normally on our floor so she jumped into my room and we giggled like children... we were almost caught!!! I'm 25 running from a 20 year old with the ability to fine me!!! Elaine went as far as throwing on a housecoat, turning on a movie and putting it halfway through so if anyone knocked on her door it would look like she was in the middle of a movie night!! No one wants a fine!!!
We were all hyped up from our laughter so we moved it down into the common room. Well, it turns out we can't have fun down there either. We were given another two warnings.... Geeeezzzzzz......
We continued to play cards, switching to a LONG game of Phase 10 - we were all very tired, it had finally hit midnight.
Off to bed, way past our 10pm curfew. Unfortunatley at 7am this morning we had a fire alarm go off and our card party reconvened in the chilly Aussie morning - we were grumpy.
'This is WAY louder than our card party!!'
Sunday, June 7, 2009
No fear of being institutionalized, the doctors have left the building. As it turns out the docs are on a different school schedule and are all done their semester. As they have a month break (us teachers get 2 weeks) and then two months of 'away' practicum they have moved out in hopes that their rooms can be rented out while they are gone. I wish they weren't leaving. First off, all three were really nice guys who I seemed to get along with and second, the devil you know is better than the devil you don't. Two out of three had recently been taught to empty the garbage!!
Back to basics..... **shakes head**
The past three days I have been volunteering with the ETAQ conference; English Teachers Association of Queensland. It was pretty sweet. They didn't need as much help as they thought so I was able to sit in on some of the workshops, get free food, and chatter with experienced English teachers all while earning volunteer hours. I didn't even bother eating breakfast before I left home this morning and I didn't regret it, bacon (haven't had that in a while!!), eggs, toast, fruit (options that I can't afford), tea.... ahhhh.... I haven't had a breakfast that good in a while. Aussie's know how to eat. Did you know the Aussie population is more obese than Americans?? I learned that when I first got here and couldn't understand it, their food is so expensive (except for good old McDonalds, same price) I'm surprised they can afford to overeat. I have now learned how it happens. Aussies eat breakfast, morning tea (which is another breakfast), lunch, afternoon tea (another lunch) and then dinner. How do they do it??! You must have to practice to get your stomach used to that much food not to mention the expense. I'm sure it started out as morning/afternoon tea being just that, tea. But it has now turned into a eat-a-thon. If you are ever in an eating competition against an Aussie back out, back out right away, you will be beat.
Four days until my first exam, 11 until my second, and 12 until my parents are in Sydney!! June is going to fly by - hope its warming up in Canada!! hehehehe.....
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
On Saturday night was Jess's 25th birthday party at her and Sophie's place near the city. We met there for a nice dinner, drinks and dancing!!
Below is Bec, Jess and Sophie.
Bec, Jeff and Louise
We got Candy necklaces!!! Score!! We all had them on our necks at one point but they were sticky and got moved to our wrists. I don't think mine survived long anyway.
Jess's birthday cake with Sara and Sophie as backers!!
Jess had made sangria.... never tried it before, its pretty good. Everyone seemed to like it!!
Jess and I got a kick out of our LARGE foreheads. There's about 5 pictures of us posing our foreheads.... lol.... man oh man, that's all I got to say.
How many girls can fit on a couch??? I think the answer is how ever many want to.
Talent Show! Liz won by far!! I don't think anyone else competed.
Riff styled it up....
It was a good night out with the girls and a good way to blow off steam at the end of a semester. I ended up crashing on Jess and Sophie's couch and waking at 8am the next morning and making a LONG, long, long trudge home.... a three hour trudge. Turns out buses from the city don't run as consistently as one would like on Sunday and the walk was a lot longer than I thought. The blisters are healing.
Now we have two exams to complete and then we're done!!!! Can you believe I'm almost halfway through my time in Australia?!
Just for good measure I've added this picture of Timbo. This was a couple days before Jess's birthday - Tim was headed to an engineering party and the theme was country, can't you tell? I forced him to pose for a photo, although he was a little embarrassed he pacified me. I told you I'm a Mom.
