A respite from winter's cold

Let me just say it. 

Not having summer for a year really blows. My timing with this move was impeccable! 

Therefore, it was high time for a quick holiday to a warm destination.

Enter: Hamilton Island, located in Queensland in what is called the Whitsunday Islands.

I'd been wanting to go there since Will started teasing me with pictures of it two years ago. To me, it looked like absolute paradise. 

I wanted to cry with happiness when we got off the plane and stepped into WARMTH and HUMIDITY. My god, I never thought I'd be so happy to encounter humidity again!

Ok, so, picture the mountain resort from Dirty Dancing. Now transplant it to an island instead. That's pretty much the best way I can describe Hamilton Island. It's a resort island with one main street where the shops and eateries are, and the rest is accommodation. Fun fact: Julia Roberts has a house there! And Pit Bull. Random.

There are also no cars, aside from service and official island vehicles. Everyone gets around by foot or by golf cart. Bonus: the golf carts had the steering wheel on the left side! 

Except for a couple super swanky, exclusive places, everyone on the island has access to all the hotels and their pools and restaurants. So basically it's a relaxing [not so] free for all. We stayed in very nice-sized apartment right across from the beach, which was my main objective in seeking a place to stay.

It was such a magical, relaxing weekend, and we did quite a few fun things. More posts to come!

In my new life, I go to things like the Sheep and Wool Show

Sheep are big business in Australia. 

They're cute, they bah, and they're yummy. 

They're such big business, in fact, that there are whole shows dedicated to them! Imagine a rodeo, minus the actual rodeo part. But there is indeed a shearing competition!

My favorite part was the huge building filled with row after row of show sheep. Not dirty, out in the paddock sheep. Show sheep. Perfectly coiffed, regal, GIANT. And all available for patting! 

Baah ram ewe.

4th of July in another country

Living in another country can suddenly turn the most averagely patriotic person into a full God-bless-America-let's eat ribs-and-wave-a-flag patriot. 

Let it be known: I don't own US flag shorts. I love the USA, but I also think there are a lot of other great countries out there. 

However, spending 4th of July in Australia had me wishing I owned a ballgown made out of the US flag. 

Or at least some novelty shorts.

So what was there to do, other than throw an epic 4th of July party?

Always one to welcome other cultures, it became an Aussie-style USA party. It was held on a cold winter's night out at the drinking hut on the farm. And let me just say, some of these Aussies were way more prepared for an American party than I was. 

There were giant "AMERICAN STYLE" hot dogs with Heinz ketchup and French's mustard (thanks, Costco!) , a cake with a flag on it (you're welcome), and even some buffalo wings with FRANK'S HOT SAUCE (thank you, friends who regularly go to the US and love Frank's hot sauce as much as I do. Beer pong and flip cup were played, though I was told I took it way too seriously. To this I say, how can you not?! "Party in the USA" and other American themed songs were sung loudly and badly. There were "American costumes" worn.

All in all, an excellent night. America was celebrated well, and I think we did her proud.

On becoming a "sports person"

It is a widely known truth that I am not a sports person.

I don't like watching them, and I certainly don't like playing them. 

Case in point: In elementary school during our baseball unit, I once ran behind the batting cage after hitting the ball instead of running to first base. 

Second case in point: During my time in Houston, I refused to sign up for any sort of "fun" intramural league because the thought of team sports and ultimate failure was too terrifying for me.

My one exception is the San Antonio Spurs because come on, five time NBA champs. 

Did I watch the finals even though they came on mid-day here? Yes.

Did I cry at my desk when we won? Yes.

Did I proceed to read every article and watch every video in the following days and also cry over those? Yes.

Is Patty Mills Australian? Yes.

Via

Then I moved to Melbourne.

People in Melbourne are OBSESSED with AFL [Australian Rules Football/footy]. I mean, Texas A&M football-level obsessed. 

Upon meeting someone new it is customary to ask each other what footy team you support, and the answers could make or break a relationship.

Will supports the Richmond Tigers, which is an unfortunate team to support. As a comparison, it's kind of like supporting the Houston Texans- lovable, yet so tragic. But I am a supportive girlfriend, so I support the Tigers too. 

I've been to a few footy games over the past two years, and must admit they're not awful. 

There's a lot of action and no annoying, constant timeouts [I'm looking at you, football].

The winning team all gathers to sing their club song at the end, which is both weird and endearing. Richmond's is called "Tigerland", and it is not heard enough. Poor tigers.

Plus, the food of choice is a meat pie. Hand me a meat pie and I'll be happy with anything.

Rugby is also wildly popular here. 

Maybe I was just unaware, but I'm pretty sure rugby is not a thing in the US. I mean, I know it exists, but it just isn't a popular sport to keep up with, to my knowledge. But we already know my sports knowledge is limited. 

In my time here, I have watched two rugby games in full [on TV]!

Granted, I watched because the boys in my home had invited friends over for two big games. However, my watching was also rather willing, as I felt it would be a good cultural experience. 

I'd be remiss if I didn't also add that there was food involved.

My assessment of rugby is as follows:

Violent. Impressive. Weird backwards passing. Massive thighs. Fights. Glorious lack of time outs. They  need protective gear.

Via

Now for the real clincher. The thing you will find hard to believe.

I, Alex, hater of playing sports, have started playing a sport.

Netball is a traditional sport for women to play here. Because it definitely doesn't exist in the US, I had ZERO idea what it was upon arrival. 

Will plays on a social, mixed team, so I went  once to observe this curious sport that upon googling, seemed sort of like basketball but with weird robotic stop-start motions.

After watching a game, I was firm in my assessment.

Then, as fate would have it, the team needed extra players.

Guess who was forced into playing?

Guess who looked like an idiot for the first quarter?

As someone who hates confrontation, playing a defensive position was not a good idea for my first foray into an unknown sport.

Will said I looked like a deer in headlights, and I know he is 100% correct.

BUT! Over the next three quarters I started to get more comfortable as I was placed in a position that just involved running and throwing + catching a ball. 

I may not be sporty, but I can do those things! 

I now play every weekend, and remarkably, I really look forward to it!

It's a good chance to hang out with friends and get some exercise while we're at it.

A lack of Pure Barre plus my ability to lick a Nutella jar dry means I am in serious need of activity, and this makes me feel better about the horrible eating/drinking decisions I most certainly made during the weekend.

So there you have it. My sports transformation, thanks to a cross-world move.

Maybe I'm still high on the Spurs victory, or maybe I'm just glad that my Facebook timeline is blessedly free of all things football during the off season, but I'd like to think I'm more sports-tolerant these days.

Ask me again when the US fall rolls around.

At least the TV will be gloriously freeeeeee of any games! Ah, the perk of living in a country where [American] football is not king :)

I'm a bad Texan, I know.

Throwing a party in another country

...is just like throwing one in the US. 

Except this one was with 30+ people in an apartment overlooking Melbourne. And it was the first party I've thrown in my own place of residence since uni [please excuse me as I use words to sound like the people I interact with every day]!

The occasion was a SURPRISE birthday shindig for our wonderful housemate, Veri, complete with hiding, jumping out of the dark, and toilet paper streamers. 

Saying it was a fun night would be an understatement. Any party that has margaritas, guacamole, AND Tim Tam cake balls is bound to be a good time.

Next party: 4th of July hut party. Words cannot express my excitement. 

The Great Ocean Road

My BFF/grandma, Queen Elizabeth, had a birthday earlier this month and was lovely enough to give most of Australia a holiday (sorry boutcha, WA)!

For us this meant fishing, catching up with friends, and a gorgeous road trip down The Great Ocean Road. The first time I partook in this iconic drive we were on a bit of a time crunch, so I didn't get to see very much of it. This time we went allll the way down to the Twelve Apostles, something I've really been wanting to see before they all fall down. 

Though it was a bit chilly, we were set on doing some fishing in a pretty town pretty much right at the start of The Great Ocean Road (Barwon Heads). 

There may or may not have been zero fish caught.

Then came the veryyy scenic drive. 

There are about 500 pictures that look something similar to this one, so I'll spare you all the repetitiveness.

One of my favorite stops was Apollo Bay. The views were stunning, plus I got to eat. Win win.

Does this remind anyone else of the wall in Free Willy that he gloriously jumps over in the end?

Australia likes to impress people with views at every turn. Mountains + farms + ocean. Stop it.

AND THEN SOMETIMES YOU SEE KOALAS IN TREES, AND YOU AND ASIAN TOURISTS SQUEAL OVER IT AND TAKE WAY TOO MANY PICTURES!

A few hours later we were at our destination- The Twelve Apostles. What a stunning natural wonder! It's too bad that "twelve" is actually incorrect. The apostles are crumbling.

This beautiful country continues to amaze me. There are so many different types of scenery to see in Victoria alone, and I've only scratched the surface!