Brisbane, International Food Party, and Surfing

I have had too many good experiences since I wrote my last blog, so this one will be a bit long. Brisbane, International Food Party, Surfing, and more BBQs, lets do this.

Two of my friends and myself went to Brisbane for a day a few weeks ago, just to check out the city and walk around. It was a beautiful city with a lot of different things to see. The whole city is works around a river that runs right through the middle of it. We mainly stuck to the river walking around it. The city is very family friendly with BBQs and parks placed all over the place. The club scene seemed pretty cool too, but we didn’t have much time, only to go to a restaurant to grab a quick beer before the ride home. We plan on going back with a big group of people to go and catch the last Brisbane Broncos rugby game, and to go out to the clubs very soon.

The International Food Party was excellent. I mentioned in my last blog post that I started a group on Facebook so all of the international students could communicate more easily. So I put up a post about a party I wanted to throw with my roommate Trine and my neighbors. It was a complete success, and over 45 people showed up. There was so much food for everyone to eat, and overall it was a very chill party. I cooked sweet potato casserole and everyone seemed to like it, unless they were lying, but I don’t think they were. After most of the people left and most everything had been cleaned a few of us stayed around and drank for a while. Good times with good people, one of the best nights here so far!

The surf trip was ridiculous, I would recommend it to anyone that wants to learn to surf in Australia. You go to a private beach location outside of a place called Byron Bay. You get there and they immediately start teaching you. After the surfing is done you grab a quick shower and it is drinking time. That night we went to a bar and saw this guy who was really good. His name is Ash Grunwald and is semi famous in Australia I believe. He plays some dirty blues and I would highly recommend him. The next day wake up and started surfing again, I thought surfing hung-over would be horrible, but it was actually quite relaxing. Surfing is extremely exhausting, so it was good to have a good meal before and after you got out of the water. The staff at this place was amazing. They work for food, a place to stay, Internet access, and free surfing all the time. So these people have to cook for themselves, and thus the food was very good. This night we stayed at the camp, there were probably about 30-40 of us with staff included. Drinking games were set up all over the place, flip cup, card games, and beer pong mostly. Flip cup however was absolute madness.

With regular flip cup for those of you that do not know, it is a drinking game. The game involves two teams sitting at one table each team to a side. Someone starts off by drinking a cup half full of beer, goon (cheap wine), or whatever. Then you take the cup right side up and flip it to where it faces upside down. Then the next person starts, this continues till the last person on your team flips their cup and the first team to do this wins. In regular U.S.A. style flip cup the loosing team has to stand up and apologize and drink more. Australian’s play a bit differently. The winning team creates a “punishment” or dare if you will for the loosing team to complete. Needless to say many gross, perverted, and very funny things were chosen as punishments. All in all it was a lot of fun and would do it again.

The next day after we went out again in the morning to surf. After the weekend was over I was sore all over, everyone one was. Surfing is very fun, but very exhausting as well. I could tell a big difference from the first day of surfing to the third day. I am still horrible and can only stand up to ride the wave. Which is much harder than it looks I think…

So I am still having fun, no end to the BBQ’s either. It is raining here now for 2^nd time that I have been here. Very nice weather here, hence the name Sunshine Coast. I am planning on a trip to Brisbane soon, and also a trip to New Zealand. I have a new and last roommate; her name is Jen from South Korea. So now we have a house from all over the world (Danish, South Korean, and American). If you made it this far reading thank you very much, and I love to hear comments! Cheers!

BBQ, Friends, and Fun

It seems like things get more fun here by the day. Each day you seem to meet someone new that is another addition to the big group we already have. I made a facebook group that has helped organize everyone for BBQ’s and other activities such as going to the picturesque beach. The group started with about 7 people now has around 40. We had a taco night that turned out to be a much larger party than what I expected. Classes are just starting to kick in soon so that sucks, but I think I can manage them very easily.

Everyone is so nice and friendly it seems almost unreal. Open-mindedness goes a very long way here. Everyone you meet seems like they are some type of long lost friend that you have known forever. However, it is hard to memorize everyone’s name, it seems easier to remember where someone is from as opposed to their name. Trine and me are getting along great, she is trying to teach me how to cook, and she is almost like my mom away from home or big sister or something like that. Going to another BBQ get together soon so I have to get ready, a joyful Aussie cheers to all!

The beach

Went to the beach for the first time today with a bunch of good German folks. The majority of people here are German and from the United States. The beach was absolutely beautiful. It is wintertime here, but the locals say that the water stays almost the same temperature all year round. It is amazing to me that these people experience amazing weather all year round.

The waves here are bigger than any other waves I have ever seen. I swam under one and came back up facing the beach. I turned around and saw this wave that was twice the size of me. Not to say that it was scary, but when I saw that wave coming at me it was surreal. It swallowed me whole and whipped me around like a lightweight in a heavyweight fight. It is so odd to see waves twice your size coming at you, you have nothing to do but brace yourself for impact. I swam for a total of maybe 10 minutes and had to quit.

This weekend I go to Fraser Island, and I have no idea what I am going to experience there. Surely like always I will have an incredible time. I hope all is well back in the states. I will update everyone as soon as I get back!

Drinking till the end of time

So I really do not think I can hang with these people. They drink to much and party way too long. Which you would think would be my thing. But, I cannot hang with them; there is a certain mentality that makes them superior to drinking for a long period of time, which I cannot attain too. They seem to be able to be able to drink to infinity. I however cannot do this certain feat. I have to come home back to my bed to sleep so I can even function in the morning. Like I said before the locals here are crazy, but (not even to my friends) even to my standards.

There was a cocktail party tonight, but not one that I could handle. We partied in the apartment complex till about 10 p.m. I however could not keep up. I need sleep not like these other fools. I have nothing to do tomorrow but sleep, but these people will go till all end of the night. I cheer upon anyone that can make it with these people, because I cannot. But, be warned that when you reach that point of no return that I will not be there to hold you back., these people are crazy like I once said before.

I am not as belligerent as I seem, I am completely sane compared to these people. Though it is much fun to keep up with them, it is very hard in the fact that I have to drink more than I can handle. Not saying that I can drink a lot compared to the U.S.A., but here is a completely different story. They seem to have the capacity to drink till the end of time. Which is fine until you decide to join along with them. As for me, I am tired and I choose to go to sleep. Cheers too all and to all a good night. (did I use to/too right?)

Ranga's Fishing Boat

The locals here are crazy, it’s fine though I seem to fit right in. I went out for the first time two nights ago with the some folks from UT, and some girl from Detroit (forgot her name). Anyway the people from UT are about to leave when some a few local Aussies walked in. I was ordering what was going to be my last drink when this dude named Ranga ordered me a shot for free. Drinks are more expensive than blood here so this is a very kind gesture. The people from Tennessee left so I decided to stay behind with these guys and you know, do whatever it is the locals do. This was the brilliant start of the rest of the night.

After bar number one we proceed to bar number two, notice how I have no idea where in the hell I am. I try to pay these kind gentlemen back with another shot, but they refuse and buy me another. Then after spending a while at the second bar and meeting some of their friends, Ranga invites me back to his place with a few other folks. Ranga, however does not live in a house, he lives on a boat. He fishes for a living along with some of his other “mates”. His boat was very big and nice so I chilled there for a while till 4:00 in the morning. Ranga called a cab for me so I could go back home, but there was one last challenge left for me. While on the boat for 3 hours the guys said the tide picked up (or something, I’m not sure what the hell happened), but the boat had moved a good five feet away from the dock since we first got on. So to get to the ladder I had to balance on some ropes and jump and grab the ladder. This while maybe being slightly difficult sober was not the case after a few hours of drinking. Anyway I made it home safe and I got Ranga’s number so we can hang out again.

Is it cold enough for you

“Is it cold enough for you” the local Australians ask me.

What I want to say is no damnit it feels great. Their wintertime is like our springtime. They have no idea what cold really is. But, I try to be polite and say that the weather feels fine to me. I can’t imagine what the summertime feels like, I imagine like hell without all the fire. I laid out today and read a book and got a tan, in the bloody winter.

Later I met up with my neighbor Mike who is from the University of Tennessee. He and a a lot of other UT students that are here for a month. They leave in about a week, however they introduced me to some people that are staying here as long as I am going to be here. They are all good people and I very much look forward to chilling with them later on. I also found some people that are going to Splendor in the Grass. Splendor in the Grass is a music festival in Australia about 40 minutes north of where I live. They might possibly have an extra spot in their car for me to tag along with, and if so I am defiantly going.

I ran into some kangaroos today also. I was scared at first because I did not know how close I could get to them without getting the shit kicked out of me. After talking to some locals I realized I can pet them and they are relatively friendly as long as you’re not a dick to them. I have pictures that I will post on facebook, poorly taken pictures if I might add.

Australia so far

My first two days in Australia have been excellent. My apartment is small but very comfortable and quaint. I have one room mate so far, her name is Trina and she is from Denmark. I have been hanging out with her mostly and she has been helping me out showing me where everything is. The school is a very short walking distance from my apartment. The grocery store is a good 20 minute walk away, however they have people that will take you there for free. I have not been to the beach yet but plan to very soon. I went to the liquor store yesterday to buy some beer, and I asked a local which one was the best. He pointed one out that was expensive, but he was right its was bloody damn good. So far I am just hanging out trying to meet people, because I don't have anything to do till Monday. Cheers!