Happy Anzac Day!

This past Wednesday, April 25 was Anzac Day. This is a national holiday Australia has much pride in. All offices and schools are closed, but the bars remain open as people wake up at the butt-crack of dawn to begin their drinking festivities and participate in games of two up. But before I get into that, let me explain what exactly Anzac Day is.

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 Anzac Day celebrates the landing of the Australian troops on Gallipoli in 1915. Australians celebrate the spirit of Anzac Day as marking Australia's sense of national identity. The day is in honour of all Australians who served and died in war, and the day focuses on the Aussie's valued characteristics of courage, sacrifice, and most importantly, mateship! Services are held all across Australia, and lucky for us Newcastle students, we had the opportunity to attend the Anzac Dawn Service held at Nobby's Beach.

So at 4 am, we walked our sleepy heads to the bus stop and headed to Nobby's Beach. However, Danielle, Tori, and I found it completely unnecessary to even sleep. Maybe if we weren't scheduled to leave until 5am, it would have been worth getting a few hours of shuteye, but since we were leaving at 4am, we stayed up watching movies. After a nutritious brekky of movie theatre popcorn at 3am, we bundled up, but not enough, and got an EARLY start to our day.

Photo credit: Danielle

As we huddled together for warmth, since it is no longer warm here (very, very sad), we waited for the service to begin. Special board members came out and lit a torch that illuminated the stage area. Then we waited in silence as Australian troops made their march to Nobby's Beach. We listened to the chorus sing certain celebratory songs traditional to Anzac Day, and finally they sang the National Anthem. Different speakers gave memorial speeches and read certain poems in remembrance of the day. Finally, flowers were laid by various soldiers in honour of family members who were killed in the line of duty. After all of the speeches were given, prayers were said and moments of silence were held, the sun was beginning to rise. I am clearly not Australian, but it gave me chills knowing the history of the day. Just as the sun was almost up, the ceremony concluded with four gunshots from a distant hill. I am not exactly sure what they were in honour of, but it was very moving.

Photo credit: Danielle

Photo credit: Danielle

We then made our way back to the bus at around 6am and were looking forward to finally getting to sleep. However, true Australians did not have the same idea. As we were on the bus passing the apartment villas, we saw numerous residents out on their balconies at 6:15am with beers in their hands. They were clearly getting an early start to Anzac Day.  Traditionally, everyone spends the day at various pubs celebrating with mates, and participating in two up. Two up is a traditional Australian gambling game that is only legal on Anzac Day. Coins are thrown into the air, and betters basically gamble on whether the coins will both land heads up, tails up, or one heads up and one tails up. That is the basic gist of the game, and the extent of my knowledge on it, but it sounds pretty fun and is supposedly a big hit in the pubs!

I am extremely happy that Anzac Day fell within the dates I am here. It was definitely a true Australian experience that I was lucky to have. I really enjoyed being immersed in an event that holds so much meaning to such a wonderful country. I kept relating it to a foreigner getting to spend the Fourth of July in America. I still cannot believe I am in a completely different world and culture and that my time here is almost up, which leads me to more news.

I officially changed my flight home to June 9th! My last final exam is June 7th, so I will be coming home two weeks sooner. I am having the time of my life here, but one can only go so long before they really begin to miss their family and friends. I have definitely hit a point of homesickness, but am extremely thankful to have friends here to share all of these wonderful experiences with!

Oh, and before I forget, there are these wonderful Anzac Biscuits (aka cookies for my American readers) that are delicious. Here is a recipe from http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/21104/anzac+biscuits.

 Ingredients

1 1/4 cups plain flour, sifted

1 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup desiccated coconut

2 tablespoons golden syrup

150 grams unsalted butter (or about 10 tbsp)

1/2 teaspoon of baking soda

Method

1. Preheat oven to 170°C (about 325 F)

2. Place the flour, oats, sugar and coconut in a large bowl and stir to combine

3. In a small saucepan place the golden syrup and butter and stir over low heat until the butter has fully melted

4. Mix the bicarb soda with 1 1/2 tablespoons water and add to the golden syrup mixture. It will bubble whilst you are stirring together so remove from the heat

5. Pour into the dry ingredients and mix together until fully combined

6. Roll tablespoonfuls of mixture into balls and place on baking trays lined with non stick baking paper, pressing down on the tops to flatten slightly

7. Bake for 12 minutes or until golden brown

 

Hope you enjoy and if anyone makes them, let me know what you think! 

 

Cheers and G'day! 

Shall We Dance?!

Wow, it has been a while! These past few weeks have been pretty packed with interesting experiences. First of all, I was supposed to be in Bali this past week, but due to increased terrorism threats, we decided it would be in our best interest to stay in Australia. I thought it would be a good idea to take the Australian Embassy's advice to reconsider traveling to Bali at this time. I was slightly bummed that I wouldn't be refunded for my flight, but my parents so lovingly told me that my life was a tad more important than a few hundred dollars, so that made me feel good!

So instead, I filled my weekends with events held around New South Wales. Last weekend, Danielle, another Etown girl Julie, and myself went to the Sydney Opera House to see the Infinity Ballet perform. The ballet was divided into three sections, and let me tell you, ballet is rather difficult to understand, especially when no back story is given. The first section of the ballet was intriguing to watch, mainly because I could not fathom how the dancers moved their bodies in such intricate ways. Their bodies have this delicacy, yet enormous strength that is simply admirable. Despite being completely lost, I was mesmerized. The second portion was rather comical. The ballet company performed a satirical performance of Swan Lake. There was actually talking and comedy that really captured the audience. The final section involved tribal music (I think) and the dancers replicated animal movements. It was like a sophisticated, grown-up version of The Lion King. Even though they did an amazing job, no one can stand close to Simba. Sorry, Sydney Dance Company.

Oh! I forgot to mention the delicious meal we indulged in beforehand. We put our fancy pants on and headed to our reservation at the Waterfront Restaurant for dinner. The restaurant overlooked the harbour just as the sun was beginning to set, and it was absolutely gorgeous. We even saw two weddings take place. These lucky brides got their wedding photos taken right there at the harbour. It was so magical!


When our meals finally came out, I dove into my delicious pasta and fish with asparagus cream sauce. And we couldn't resist the Cosmopolitan jug to share. It was very yummy! The ballet was definitely a cultural event worth experiencing. Once again, I have fallen in love with the city of Sydney. We were surrounded by exciting nightlife, classy people, and most importantly, good friends.

P. Sherman 42 Wallaby Way, Syndey...does not exist!

Photo compliments of Danielle

Sydney Harbour Bridge... check!
Sydney Opera House.......check!
Botanical Gardens............check!
Staring at top-notch business men all day and not being discrete at all, Danielle.... check, check!
P. Sherman 24 Wallaby Way, Sydney... Sorry all of you Nemo fans. It doesn't exist!

I know, I'm as bummed as you are, too. But, despite the nonexistence of one of the most famous addresses in the history of movies, I had such an AMAZING day in Sydney. Gina, Danielle, my new awesome friend Yoshua, and I started the day off bright and early this past Friday and caught the two and half hour train ride to Central Station! As always, Danielle did not fail us with her healthy obsession of picture taking. "You're going to thank me one day, children when you have hundreds of photos to look back at!"

Upon arrival, Gina and I were thankful to have two Sydney pros with us to guide us through the massive Central Station. We caught the next train to Circular Quay and began our day of adventure.

Danielle and Yoshua had reservations to do the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb, which is something I will be doing before I leave here. I mean if Oprah and Gale did it, then I find it extremely necessary to do it as well! We walked down George Street, the main city road through Sydney, and dropped Danielle and Yoshua off to make the climb. That's right, I'm quoting Miley Cyrus! Also, kudos to Danielle for making the climb. She's afraid of heights, and kept tripping the whole way there. I'm just glad she didn't trip and fall off the bridge! Who would have been there to take pictures of us for the rest of the day?!

The climb took three and half hours, so Gina and I ventured off for lunch and to view and take pictures all of the "touristy" landmarks. Our first stop was the Australian Art Museum. Neither of us are interested in art whatsoever, but felt the need to prove we had the chance to actually see the museum. We walked in and Gina took a picture. The creepy smiling woman jetted over and told us there was no flash photography inside of the museum. We simply smiled, turned off our flashes and kept walking. Two seconds later, the same woman is right behind me telling me that backpacks are not to worn on the back. I could hold it at my side or in front, but not on my back. Hmmmmm? We took this as a sign to leave, and just take a picture from the outside of the building. I'm still surprised they didn't make us sign a release or agreement for that photo opportunity.

We then had lunch at the adorable Rossini Cafe. This Italian restaurant sat right on the harbour and had a wonderful view. In Australia, waiters are paid a flat hourly wage of about $20 an hour, so there is no tipping over here. This is great for the waiter, but not so great for customers. Being used to American waiters who are at your table side every twenty seconds ready to take your order, see if you need anything else, or ask for the hundredth time how you meal is, the laid back mentality of Australian waiters takes a bit to get used to. After being seated for about twenty minutes, I finally forced eye contact with the Italian/Australian waiter (talk about a confusing accent to understand) and he came over, but needless to say, we didn't see him again for awhile. But, it's all a part of the culture here and our food was delicious, so there is no need to complain! I had a scrumptious bowl of minestrone soup and Gina had a gourmet margherita pizza.

Photo compliments of Gina

After lunch, we headed to the peaceful and serene Botanical Gardens. The gardens were huge with different paths every which way. There were four statues representing the four seasons: winter, spring, summer, and autumn; little temple looking huts; benches; fountains; picnic areas; fluorescent flowers; vibrant colours; and beautifully landscaped greenery at every turn! Talk about a beautiful place to have a lunch break! It was such a funny, yet neat sight to see heaps of business blokes and sheilas dressed in suits and ties, lounging around on their backs, taking a nap in the grass or having their lunch.

 I even saw one woman doing yoga over in her own little corner while another man was passed out on the other side of the bush. Of course I took a picture, which probably completely disrupted and violated her yoga zen, but hey, I'm in Australia! Young school children were even picnicking during their lunch break, which I thought was too cool! I could totally see myself picking up and moving there! Don't worry mom, dad, and Elyse, you can come, too!

At the end of the gardens was the Sydney Opera House! What a memorable moment. I've seen this landmark on every travel advertisement, seen it on Oprah, and have always heard about it, but standing right there on the stairs was just incredible. The architecture and design is magnificent. All of the different wedges fit perfectly together and the overall design was inspired by an orange. Pretty cool, right?
 Next weekend I will be going to the ballet, Infinity at the Opera House, so check back to hear about that!

Gina and I then made our way to the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Back to you Nemo fans, this is where Nemo's dad winds up! The whole time I kept thinking of those darn seagulls saying, "Mine, mine, mine." No one can do it like you though, dad!

The Harbour was magnificent! The sun reflecting on the water was lovely. It was such a classy atmosphere as well. That night I got chilly and put on my hoodie. I was probably the most ghetto/dressed down person there, which really goes to show you how sophisticated everyone is! People tend to compare Sydney to New York, but they are in no way, shape, or form alike!

We finally met back up with Danielle and Yoshua and trekked to Paddy's Market. Talk about an overwhelming amount of discounted items! I bought a rugby sweatshirt-- originally $70 in the souvenir shops-- for $10. Talk about a super steal! After the market we went to Cold Rock, which is Australia's version of Cold Stone, but with about half the amount of sugar, and the portions are actually manageable, unlike Cold Stone! I got a scrumptious cup of Aussie Vanilla with cookie dough, and 100s and 1000s, which are just rainbow sprinkles. Yummmm!

We finally made our way back to the Harbour to see the bridge and the opera house at sunset and it was spectacular! The night life was amazing. There were jazz players lining the harbour playing saxophones and violins.

After a long day of walking, climbing, staring at business men, and laughing, we worked up a huge appetite and found an Italian restaurant tucked away. The food was amazing and it was the perfect way to end a wonderful day! We made our way back to the train station and took the longgggg train ride back. The whole time we had to listen to a group of fifteen year old girls squealing about the One Direction, which is an Australian boy band, concert they just went to. They also all got new hair extensions while in Sydney, so they were a big hit for the ride, too. They took them out, then put them in, then took them out, and put them in a different way, but took them out so they could put them in yet again in a way that would let them put their hair up into a pony tail. To be honest, the extensions didn't even match their hair! It was quite comical.

At midnight we finally made it to the next train; however, it was not scheduled to come for another hour and a half. Then a drunk guy came running through the train station, yelling and staggering everywhere. About a minute later, two undercover cops with guns came strolling through and casually asked us if we saw the Aboriginal fellow wandering through here. We all just shook our heads and pointed in his direction. I found this so interesting though, because in the states, there is no way a police officer would have pinpointed someone's race like that. That's a big difference I've noticed. Australia is not half as worried about being politically correct all the time, which is kind of a relief. Well, ten minutes later the cops came back, without the Aboriginal fellow, and told us to have a good night. By this point we were exhausted so we decided to catch the bus. We got on and at the next stop, guess who shows up? That's right, the Aboriginal fellow! He hopped right on without paying, then there was a scene while the bus driver kicked him off. It was quite amusing.

But after a long, fun-filled day, we made it back to Edwards Hall and fell fast asleep. Sydney was absolutely amazing and I cannot wait to go back! My words and picture cannot describe how beautiful it is there, so if you ever hit the lottery, or rob a bank, I suggest making Sydney one of your top destinations!

Cheers, mate!

Photo compliments of Danielle

Attack of the jumbo prawns

So our lovely friend Gina celebrated her milestone 21st birthday last week, Aussie-style!

She picked a beautiful restaurant that sat on the harbour called Scratchley's on the Wharf. http://www.scratchleys.com.au/.
We had an amazing time, but lets just say the dinner was quite the experience. First of all, we were all rather excited to have an actual GOOD dinner, so we had been looking at the menu for days, evaluating every available option. I personally decided on the Mahi Mahi-- my favorite-- and I must say, I was pretty excited. Well, when we arrived, the Mahi Mahi was not on the menu! I then decided that you cannot go wrong with shrimp, so I decided instead on the Prawn Salad. Prawns are the equivalent to our shrimp. It sounded like a normal meal to me. We all ordered, Gina and Danielle played it safe with the chicken schnitzel, but Tori and I went for the prawns. We had to do it.

Our meals finally came out, and needless to say, there were some looks of horror. As the waiter laid my entree in front of me, I found myself staring face to face with four jumbo prawns! Their little beady black eyes were taunting me and their mile-long antenna things (aka feelers) were going in every direction. Being a rather picky eater, and new to seafood might I add, I tried to hide my panic. I simply asked my Aussie friend, Jess what this was. She blatantly answered, "your meal." I told her I ordered prawns (for some reason I thought they were baby lobsters), and she said those are prawns. I then frantically asked what the heck a prawn was and she lost it.

Luckily, my best mate Tori stepped up to the plate, being the motherly figure she is. She timidly offered to switch meals with me, because lucky for her, her prawns were peeled and not staring back at her! After much discussion, I decided to switch with her, but only if Jess peeled the prawns for Tori. In my defense, Tori was just as freaked out by the meal as I was. After Jess peeled them and they looked like normal American shrimp, I told Tori she could have her dinner back. We switched back and all was finally normal. This little dinner fiasco was pretty entertaining, and I honestly do not want to know what we looked like to everyone sitting around us. We were laughing so hard, I'm just happy we didn't get kicked out on Gina's birthday! Gina and Danielle loved their chicken, and after the eyes, shells, antennas, and little claws were gone, I enjoyed mine as well. However, Danielle taunts Tori and myself every night before bed, telling us the prawns are going to attack.

 After our dinner date, and Gina had her first cocktail, we walked down the harbour and climbed the Queen's Wharf Tower. It is a 30 meter high tower, containing 180 steps and we conquered it in heels. Talk about champs!

At the top of the tower, you get to look out and see all of Newcastle city and look at the stunning views the harbour has to offer.

After our little voyage, we went out to Finnegan's pub to dance the night away with Gina. We had an absolute blast and I'm so happy I got to spend a special night with a special friend!

Happy 21st birthday, Gina!

Happy Birthday, Papa Bloke!

Today was my amazing father's 49th birthday! Sadly, this is the first year I have not been home (or an hour away at Etown) to celebrate with him. Lucky for me, my family invited me to the birthday party via Skype! It was such a fun and makeshift way of celebrating such a special day from the other side of the world.

I woke up early so our times would match up.  I taped up a handmade sign on my back wall that read "Happy Birthday, Papa Bloke" and my mom had the entire computer room (aka my room) decorated with streamers, balloons, and presents.

After we connected the call, we all sang "Happy Birthday" and while they cruelly ate a delicious homemade cherry cheesecake (tradition for dad's birthday), I ate an ever so appetizing bowl of instant oatmeal. Yummmmm!

After they had dessert and I had brekky, we all had a cup of coffee together and went straight into presents and cards. I graciously volunteered to be the "Skypographer" for the event and was able to capture all the excitement, just as if I were there! Luckily, the card I sent home made it there before today so he was able to read it on his actual birthday. I was so excited about this card, too. It had a kangaroo with a beer and it said, "Cheers, Mate!" So Australian and festive, right?! After that, it was a Nike extravaganza as he opened Nike shirts, pants, and socks! Flashbacks to your Vera Bradley birthday huh, Elyse?!

After presents, Elyse had a special performance. Talk about bringing on the tears! This Skype party turned into a waterworks show. Elyse merged together Have I Told You Lately that I Love You, Hero, Drive, and Daddy's Hands and sang it to dad. Well, needless to say, we are all emotional wrecks by this point. I had to run out of my room and grab tissues from the bathroom. People probably thought I was a looney bin! I had to explain they were happy tears! After that, we reminisced by reading the Alphabet Birthday Book I made for my dad about five years ago. This is another tradition for my dad's birthday. We can never forget the pool men, Christmas tree shopping, soccer, and all our other memories!

Despite the tears, it was an amazing day and experience! I will never forget dad's birthday of 2012. It goes to show how strong the family unit really is. Even half way around the world, a family can connect on such a level that it seems like I was there celebrating my dad's birthday with him. Even though I didn't get to eat a giant slice of cheesecake, I was able to get a giant slice of home that will satisfy me for awhile!

So here's to your 49th birthday, Papa Bloke! I love you more than the cherries on your cake, and more than the miles we are apart. Cheers, mate!

Signed, Sealed, Delivered!

It has been way too long! I have been super busy lately and finally have the chance to catch up a bit. I haven't been on any extravagant trips lately; however, I have been enjoying every minute of good ol' Newcastle!

Our little group of Americans booked a holiday to Bali from April 18-25, so needless to say, we are pretty excited! We are staying in a lovely hostel in Ubud for only $12 USD a night, but I'll spill all those details in my Bali post.

As for the past few weeks, one of my biggest highlights was receiving my package from home. Seeing Jarrettsville, Maryland on the return address almost made me cry! I woke up bright and early, sprinted to the mail room, and ran back to my dorm while hugging a giant box. So American, right? But anyway, my family sent me HEAPS of junk food. I cracked open the berger cookies and shared them with my friends.Represent, Baltimore! Everyone was basically amazed at their deliciousness. My parents also threw in a pack of Big Red gum for my Australian friend, Jess. Apparently, it's one of the things she misses about the States, and she ate the whole pack in one day. I also got my own lifetime supply of Trident gum -they don't have it here- red dollars, peanut butter M&Ms, and a chocolate Easter bunny. I think I'm pretty set for the rest of my time here; however, I do miss those homemade chocolate chip cookies! (wink, wink, nudge, nudge, Elyse)

 Lets see... What else have I gotten up to recently? (Throwing in some more Aussie lingo) Our lovely friend, Rachel, hosted an Alfredo, wine, and movie night for us last week. She cooked up a delicious homemade alfredo sauce, sauteed chicken breast, and we enjoyed a wonderful meal for once! Tori brought peach wine, which is much, much better than the every so popular goon. Then we all snuggled up on the couches and watched/cried/laughed at The Help. It was such a relaxing evening with great company. Tori and I have also become known foosball champs of the Cutler Rec Room! We hold an undefeated record and are pretty darn proud! Other than that, I have actually been getting my homework done and being "mostly" studious, except for the days I choose the beach over lecture, but hey, I'm in Australia. That has become the ultimate excuse for everything we do. We're in Australia!

But now, I am going to throw a little local news your way, too. Back in the quiet town of Jarrettsville, my amazing little sister got her license! I am so proud of you, Elyse. When I saw her post I was literally dancing all alone in my room. Now if only she could drive herself over here to visit me =) Also, my lovely Papa Bloke will be turning the big 49 tomorrow! I'll miss ya, daddy, but I'll be there in spirit aka Skype! I'll be missing your cherry cheesecake, mom. Save a piece for me... or feel free to send it over. I'm sure customs would appreciate it!

Well, I don't want to bore anyone with my everyday occurrences, so I'm gonna sign off, but check back soon to hear about any Easter break adventures I embark on, and to hear all about Bali!

Talk to you soon, and Happy Easter everyone! I'll be missing you Mom, Dad, Elyse, Grandma, Poppy Bug, Aunt Jenny, Uncle Dave, Noah, Emma, and Uncle Chris at the Easter dinner table this year. Eat heaps of mashed potatoes and goodies for me! I reckon you can Skype me into the dinner conversation! Hope the Easter Bunny treats you well, kiddos!

G'day!