Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Horses and Cricketers

hello friends and family!

Sorry it has been so long since an update, I haven't really been up to much. School has actually gotten a little busy so its just been uni, uni, uni. Last weekend I did find time to go on a horse-riding adventure that I booked when I first got to Australia with a couple of my friends, and that was really fun (picture of me and my horse, nugget, are below). We had billy tea and damper, which are Australian words for tea and bread cooked on an open fire. I bonded with my horse nugget, who was fidgety like me and very old and stubborn, but unfortunately I don't think he bonded back with me. We got to trot a little, which I had never done before and was great fun. We went through the forest and the mountains and even through some water. It was a good day.


In other news, I have tried out for my college's cricket team for a tournament this upcoming weekend. I am mostly trying out for a laugh, since (a) I have little to no hand/eye coordination (b) I don't have the slightest idea how to play cricket. However, just appearing at the trials appears to have given me a relatively high chance of getting on the team, so you never know. Also, they never actually asked whether or not I knew how to play lol. So I'll keep you informed. Things I have learned about cricket:

1. the ball is made of red leather, and it is very heavy and hurts a lot when it slams into your body.
2. games can get really really long (based on the fact that games in the tournament are being limited to two hours)
3. the bowler (ie pitcher) can't bend their arm when they throw the ball
4. the bowler is trying to hit the wicket (i think); the batter is trying to get them to not hit it...and at some point the batter gets to run...I haven't figured that part out yet.
5. there are only two bases.

My spring break is about a week and a half away. I have booked myself on a sort of hiking adventure type trip that starts in Sydney and ends in Melbourne, as well as an extra night in both Sydney and Melbourne so I can hopefully get out and see the cities a little bit. The trip also goes through Canberra, which is (believe it or not) the capital of Australia, so I will get to see that too. I am really excited.

In Australian popular culture class we just did the music unit, so as a final note I leave you with a list of bands I (sadly) had no idea were from Australia:
AC/DC
Maroon 5
Savage Garden
INXS
Jet

6 comments:

Jenelle said...

Sadly, my number one thought when viewing this was that you had a deprived childhood if you'd never trotted before. Wait till you get to cantering.
Your life sounds pretty awesome! Have lots of fun hiking through Australia! And when you have a spare minute (maybe over winter break, read "Tomorrow, when the war began"--it's not a difficult read but I think you will be entertained by my referencing it now...) Send me an email once in a while, eh? miss ya!

Reid said...

Awesome! You probably almost killed your horse. It looked a little old to be trotting.

Erin said...

I like cannot get over you trying out for cricket. That is SUCH a kate thing to do. It makes me happy everytime i think about it.

Thanks :-)

roommate

Anjali said...

Are you going to be able to get out into the Northern Territory at all? It might be too expensive, all things considered, which is understandable. I am jealous that you get a spring break. Apparently the concept of a break has not made it to Kenya yet.
Also, don't know if you are at all interested, but my host mother in Sydney told me to extend an invitation to all of my friends in AUS to come visit/be toured around the Sydney area at any time, so if you had any interest I could give you her email. She's a fantastic tour guide.

Anonymous said...

Maroon 5 is from Aus? No wonder Adam Levine is so hot.

Watch out for poisonous creatures on the hike please. leave the platypi alone lol.

Rachel said...

Um.. Kate Drake playing cricket!! that is probably one of the funniest things i have heard!! I LOVE IT!! you sure seem to be having a blast!!

and thanks for the Band update, i had no idea!!

Have fun!! Miss you!!