Bus Sunburn

It seems that I am pale enough to get sunburnt through a bus window. Note that I was only on the bus for about fifteen minutes. Maybe it was just magic? Maybe Katie graduated from Hogwarts and used her witch abilities to burn me internationally.
Unlikely.

On better and more interesting news, I am officially going to do the WildMob Brampton Island conservation project. I AM SO STOKED. It's hopefully going to be epic. The people who are going seem really really nice, and overall I am hoping that it will be a really positive experience. It is a chance to get out in the wildlife away from the phone and internet and connect with sand. Sand, turtles, the reef, and some cool plants. It's like every little biologists dream. Anyway, I will probably post tons of photos and full descriptions after my trip which starts on the 26th and ends on the 1st. So, in case anyone wants to get ahold of me during those days, just know that you can't, and I'm not trying to ignore you.

Also, it seems that I have the opportunity to run around in the wilderness more often now that the sun isn't going to fry me alive, so chances are my blog posts will be less frequent and discuss more interesting things like trees, rocks, and decaying plant matter (aka dirt). Be excited.

Bare Feet, Ice Cream, Mosquitoes Like Cheese

Evidently it is totally normal, acceptable, and common to be barefoot at all times in Australia. In fact, you can walk into a store, or restaurant without a shirt or shoes and nobody even notices. Now, considering most people dress up and wear dresses everyday, or slacks, it is a bit funny to see them without shoes. But it happens. A barefoot man across the grass from me is wearing a tie. This phenomenon is messing with my brain. Perhaps this is what they mean by culture shock...

Now, another interesting note: all fancy drinks here contain ice cream. And yet, there are a bunch of skinny people. But the fruit smoothies have ice cream, not yogurt. The iced coffee is more like a coffee-ice cream float. It's glorious. Maybe espresso injected ice cream makes better for you? I'm not sure, but I like it.

To continue with interesting facts apparently you can make a mosquito trap with cheese, because some of the bacteria that is on your skin causing body odor, is closely related to the bacteria that ages cheese. The mosquitoes are attracted to your skin, and like-wise they can be attracted to the cheese. Bizarre, but true.

XXXX

The XXXX brewery is conveniently located in Brisbane. While Ryan was here with me we went on the tour and tasting which I had also done with Mom. Luckily we had a different tour guide, so I actually listened to a whole different set of information. At least it's good to know that they aren't working off a set script, and are telling you what they think is most interesting to them. It makes the experience much more personal.
When you start the tour they show you a video about the history of beer, which claims that beer is the reason that civilization evolved. Now, although this is probably far from the truth, I think it is interesting to know that beer was the more sanitary alternative to water in many parts of the world a few thousand years ago.
After the video is a tour of the brewery with informational boards throughout. It's really very interesting to see the whole process on a large scale, after my cousins and I made beer in a bucket. The brewery itself has massive tins that hold the beer as it's being brewed, as well as hundreds of kegs being carried around the facility.
At the end of the tour they take you to the tasting room and let you "taste" four full sized beers. Ryan and I had to split some food to enable us to get through the beers. We ended up only finishing three because I had to rush off to class (bad idea). In my opinion all the beers that we tasted were good, but the XXXX summer beer is my personal favorite so far.

A World Without Graham Crackers...

...is a sad world. Mostly because this means that it is also a place without s'mores.
Australia has no s'mores. None. They have no graham crackers.

How could we let this happen? I feel like they are deprived of a campfire necessity. I was really surprised when I found this out. It's a little bit upsetting to think about all the little Aussie kids running around that have never had a s'more.

All Wrapped Up

In sushi. Australians eat sushi like it's going out of fashion. And not just the asians who live in Australia. No, the white (well, tan) BBQ loving australians are the ones who buy it for lunch everyday. Although, this may be because people who are actually asian know that this aussie sushi isn't real sushi.

For instance, mine was smoked salmon and avocado rolled in rice and seaweed. It was so good. But hardly authentic. Likewise, they have California rolls here, although nobody has been to California, and they don't look or taste the same. Maybe they just couldn't think of another name? I am not sure. 

And their fish sauce? It's soy sauce in little plastic fish containers... no actual fish sauce. You can get fish sauce... but it doesn't come in a little fish. I find something wrong with this. Perhaps this sushi addiction can account for all the skinny people here?

My Friends Rock

In the last two days I have gotten a postcard from Cameron that was two donkeys, and a postcard from Leigh that was a gnome. My host family seemed to find them odd on both occasions, but they brought be great happiness.
You guys are so great. All my friends are great, and I feel so lucky to have all of your support. What with the friendly emails, facebook messages, postcards, letters, and skype sessions I feel so much love! So this is me letting you all know how much I appreciate your friendship. You guys are all wonderful.

Marsupial Cows

Once upon a time, tens of thousands of years ago, there were marsupial cows. They are now extinct. Along with the majority of all marsupial species to exist.
Now, you may be thinking to yourself "Wow, how fascinating!" but chances are you don't care about the marsupial cow, hippo sized or not. In fact, personally, reading about this cow made me fall straight asleep... at 8 pm. Thrilling.
I will admit that although this class started out being really interesting, it has gotten progressively more dull. I really would rather learn about bugs. Luckily I have a whole class devoted to that topic. It's what's keeping my brain alive right now. Bugs are fascinating.
Marsupial cows are not.
Stinging plants: Also interesting.
Extinct marsupial dogs: Not so much.
Sadly the most interesting things about the Australian environment are those which I am not learning in class, and thus have no reason to study. Something is wrong with that picture. Oh well, I doubt it's a problem that can be solved within the limits of "education".

Goodness Me

I have now been in Australia for 42 whole days. I don't know where the time has gone. Away.. somewhere.
However, to make myself feel like I haven't been wasting time I realized that I have 89 more days to explore this country and make the most of my time here.
Don't worry everyone, I will come home eventually. Mom can stop worrying that I will just want to more here and stay. I am beginning to miss things like Apple Fritters (WHICH THEY DON'T HAVE HERE), and all my friends that I love <3
Plus, I think I may be getting fat on BBQ...

Roos and Koalas

That is a kangaroo. That is a kangaroo who was very interested in my camera. She followed me around hoping that I would give her all the food that I had. It was adorable. She lives at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary where Ryan and I went Thursday. Now, I had just been there a few short weeks ago, but let me tell you, playing with kangaroos just doesn't get old. Imagine that.
I was in love.

Ryan too had very much fun petting them, feeding them, and otherwise admiring them. We also saw the koalas and he got to hold one, which was pretty epic. Unfortunately it started pouring rain in the middle of the day, and we both got very wet. Particularly because Ryan happened to lose our umbrella the previous day.
We dried off at the cafe that's in the sanctuary, and I attempted to get some homework done on my phone as Ryan went off too look at more animals.
I never thought I would hear myself say this, but I think that seeing little reptiles running across my path has actually lost is novelty. It's just not exciting anymore. Cool, yes, but not exciting.

After we went to the koalas we came back to the city, got a coffee, and headed home. Overall, a wonderful day spent in Australia.