Crocodile Dundee hat

AIS ~ June 14, 2012

Last full day in Canberra! Can't wait to get to the warm, sunny beaches of Cairns! Today wasn't bad though, we had very interesting lectures all day. We had ones on coaching techniques, strength and conditioning, and finished with my favorite yet, biomechanics! I think I've found my dream job. The technicians test the performance of athletes using high speed cameras and other equipment to help the athlete improve technique and also determine how much power they are producing through a specific motion. One student working in the lab was a mechanical engineering student working on finishing up his sports engineering degree (such an awesome degree!!).

Special indoor track with sensors under the mat for testing

More cool testing equipment at the AIS in the Biomechanical lab. This particular video was from a test done on an athlete shooting in field hockey.

 

Australian Institute of Sport ~ June 13, 2012

Today we got a tour of the AIS. Their training pool is one of the most technologically advanced I've ever seen. They had sensors on the starting blocks to measure the force generated from the athletes and windows around the bottom to get a good view of technique from under the water. That's just to name a few of the cool things it had to offer.







Next, we got to watch the women's gymnastic team train for a few minutes. This included gold medalist, Lauren Mitchell. We also got to see the volleyball and strength training area.
After lunch we had a training session with two of the girls from the women's basketball team. They were so down to earth and kind, and I had an amazing time. They ran us through drills and then we got to scrimmage.



This guy was shooting around while we were playing in the gym

Later, we got to talk to the setter from the men's volleyball team, who just qualified for the olympics! He was 6'7" and one of the shorter ones on the team. He talked to us about how he lives 8 months out of the country playing for professional clubs and 4 months in Canberra playing for the national team. Each year he plays in a new country and only gets to see his family 2-3 weeks out of the year.  He told us funny stories and how he deals with training and traveling virtually all year long. I think its cool how humble and nice all of the athletes I've met here at the AIS are. He still says hi to us when we see him in the dining hall, its safe to say I'll be cheering for him and his team in a month :).  I still can't believe I've been having dinner and watching the NBA finals with olympic athletes!

Brumbies vs Wales Rugby game ~ June 12, 2012

Hey guys, sorry I'm a few days behind for anyone that is actually reading them. We had a few lectures at the University of Canberra and got to see the campus.
Later, we went to a Brumbies vs Wales rugby game. It was a little hard to follow and keep track of where the ball was, so I personally enjoyed the AFL game much more, but it was good to see what it was all about. I couldn't even begin to tell you all the rules but I can tell you it is COMPLETELY different from AFL. Its a little more like American football, which is not popular at all here in Australia. The guy that explained rugby to us actually made fun of American football quite a lot. I think it is very interesting how different cultures and places (even cities within countries) have very different views on sports. Even in Australia there are different forms of "footie" that are the most popular depending on the city you're in.  In Melbourne AFL was the dominate sport, in Canberra its rugby.  There are also 2 different forms of rugby played in Australia, Rugby Union and Rugby League, that each have their own set of rules.

June 11, 2012

Hey, so today was pretty boring. The city of Canberra is not only very cold right now (40s), there's not much to do. The students at the University of Canberra are on winter break, so there don't seem to be a lot of people around either. My friends and I decided we would take a bus to see a war memorial, but never got there. Somehow we ended up at an outlet mall and went shopping instead.

Later that night we played pool and ping pong with some boxers that are here to help the Olympians train. They were young, just out of high school, if that. They explained that in Australia there aren't really sports in college or uni, which is what they call it here. When you're done with high school you either begin working, go to uni, or in some rare cases train to be an elite athlete through clubs and places like the AIS. They also said that going to uni is not as expected as it is in the United States. The kids I talked to train to be elite athletes and have full time jobs.

College is also different here, in the fact that its essentially free to attend. You pay it back later through a fee that is built into your taxes after you graduate and have a fulltime job.

Well, that's about all for now. I'll try to think of more interesting things I've learned while over here :)

AIS & kangeroo chasing ~ June 10, 2012

Today we left the rainy city of Melbourne for the sunny, mountainous town of Canberra. We are staying at the Australian Institute of Sport, where many of the nation's Olympians train. Then we ate lunch in the dining hall with the Australian men's basketball team, while watching the Heat defeat the Celtics in game 7 of the series.

After lunch a few of us decided to explore the city and while making our way downtown we spotted a group of kangaroos in the park. They didn't seem to care as we creeped towards them snapping pictures. I'll post some pictures later because it was pretty cool how close we were able to get. 

Essendon vs Swans AFL game ~ June 9, 2012 continued

The AFL game was awesome! So much better than American football. The team I went for (root for= having sex with) was down by almost 40 points at halftime and came back within one goal, which can be scored in a matter of seconds, in the 4th quarter only to have time run out literally milliseconds before kicking the winning goal. One of the most thrilling parts of the game is that the fans at the stadium don't know exactly when time will run out! Each quarter is 20 min long, but the scoreboard only shows a running time of the game without stops for goals, etc.
Our tour guides got us amazing 3rd row seats at the equivalent of the 50 yard line and right behind the Essendon bench!
One tour guide turned out to be an engineer and a successful one at that. He is a structural engineer, who helped design many well know buildings in Melbourne. He was also on the team to design a few of the major sporting arenas in the area. He now owns his own business designing houses and some $5 million mansions on the coast out of the comfort of his home.  We had nice conversation about what I want to do and gave me ideas of things I could do with my degree. It really is pretty amazing the people you meet when on a journey like the one I'm on now. Its already been more than I could ever ask for and we've only completed the first week! Next stop Canberra for 4 days, then off to the warm, sunny beaches if Cairns (pronounced "cans"). The best may still be yet to come :)

Before the game with Anthony, one of our awesome tour guides

Love cider! Like beer, but so much better

circular field

 This is how awesome our seats were, right down by all the action! If you run the ball you have to bounce it ever few meters, so that's what this guy is doing in the picture

Go Essendon!

Victorian Market ~ June 9, 2011

Hey! Today we went the the Victorian Market and I spent just about all the money I brought with me.  The market was amazing! It had everything, including fresh produce, meats, prize winning wine, homemade jams, Aboriginal artwork, sportswear, resaurants, and so much more. Practically anything you could think of, they had it. We met the owner of an Aboriginal store, where they sell authentic pieces decorated with beautiful designs and colors.  I could have bought everything in the store, my friends had to drag me out.  The owner was of Aboriginal decent and one of the nicest people I've ever met.  She was so proud of her heritage and was truely grateful for the support we gave her shop.  She explained how things had been hard and she had prayed this day would come.  We promised her that if we ever came back to the city, we would be sure to visit her at her store once again.

Fresh produce at the market

Tonight we are going to an AFL game to watch the Essendon Bombers take on the Sydney Swans.  I am cheering for the Bombers because of the warm hospitality they showed us while attending a practice earlier in the week.  Their coach, who we all met and talked with, is a hall of fame player and it is still amazing to me how genuine and humble he was. We have prime seats for the game, so I will be sure to post lots of pictures from the game!

Great Ocean Road Tour ~ June 8, 2012

Hey everyone! Last night was fun, we went out for dinner and then pub hopped around downtown Melbourne. We started at a gay bar with a stripper pole and some squashed frogs (they have the best names for shooters/shots here). We ended at the casino where a random guy with dreads gave Megan and I $25 each to roulette. Megan turned hers into $200 on the first round while mine was gone in under 10 min. Its much more fun to play with someone elses money. After a few ciders, we bet our leader that if we could make the hour long trip back to our hotel in under 12 min he would buy us rounds for the rest of the trip. Needles to say we ran. Of course the guys pussed out and walked, but us girls made it.

Squashed Frogs







Random facts of the night:

• Construction workers make at least $100,000/ year
• Shooters = shots
• they don't tip because waiters/bartenders make $42,000/year
• "Skull! skull! skull!" = chug
• A 6 pack of beer < 6 pack of water ($18!!)
• Vegemite is what's leftover after making beer
• toilet not restroom/bathroom
• Maccas = McDonalds
• Average beer at the bar = $10/pint

...more to come
Today we are going on the Great Ocean Road Tour. (Google Image the 12 apostles) On our way there, I'm finally feeling like I'm in Australia!! The southern coast is by far the most beautiful place I've ever seen. I found green sea shells on the beach and sipped cocoa from a cliff overlooking the coastline.

I can't believe I actually took this picture myself, such a beautiful place :)
 

 First beach stop on the Great Ocean Road Tour







Just saw my first kangaroos, koalas, and surfers of the trip!! We stopped and fed Rosellas (colorful Australian parrot) out of the palms of our hands. Really starting to feel like I'm halfway around the world now :)

My roomie, Katie, with the Rosella









Just got done walking though the rainforest filled with the 2nd tallest trees in the world. Got soaking wet (only day I didn't bring a raincoat and we go to the rainforest?) But totally worth it. Now we're traveling through the rolling green hills of Australia listening to the most fitting music...AMAZING. Well except for the fact that I've never felt this car sick in my entire life, apparently there are no speed limits on the twisting backroads through the mountains of southern Australia??
12 Apostles were beautiful, but freezing cold. Next stop was the Loch Ard Gorge, where we went down to the beach and found a dead blowfish, took pictures with it, then found out they are extremely poisonous :o good news is none of us are hallucinating yet. Then we saw London Bridges, which ironically half of it really has fallen down. The story goes that when it happened a couple got stranded out in the middle. They got rescued by a news helicopter but when the report went to get the story, the couple had ran off. Turns out they were both pulling a sicky and both married but not to each other.

  Macy and her cute little blow fish
Loch Ard Gorge

MCG ~ June 7, 2012

June 7, 2012

Hey guys! Today we toured the MCG, which is one of the largest arenas in Australia (holds about 100,000 people).  On the lower level there is a sports museum where we learned a little more about cricket (sort of like baseball, but not really at all) and the history of sports in Australia. On our way to lunch we took a little tour of the Grand Prix course here in Melbourne and then ate lunch overlooking the field that we'll watch the Essendon Bombers take on the Sydney Swans on Saturday. 

Outside the MCG, largest stadium in Melbourne

Inside the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Circular field, holding AFL games in the winter (right now is winter in Australia) and Cricket in the summer.

 View from the balcony of the MCG

 Cricket balls

Cricket bats

My roomie and I on the balcony overlooking downtown Melbourne at the MCG

Australian Open & Flemington ~ June 5, 2012

Vegemite! I've heard its disgusting from the few brave souls that tried it today. 

The group inside the locker room at the Australian Open

Walk of Champions

Venus and Serena Williams messages on the player message board

Where all the press conferences take place after matches.  All of the greats have sat in this seat!

Next, we took a tour of Flemington, home of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, which is a premier horse racing event.

There were beautiful roses everywhere and it was winter. During the summer there are thousands more.

Later, we went out for some drinks for the first time in Melbourne.  This is my roommate, Katie :)