What an incredible week so far! The Australian experience has really picked up a notch, Queensland-style. On Thursday we arrived at Hervey Bay at the Palace Backpackers Hostel (which was the best so far, with our own kitchen, common room, and a dorm pretty much to ourselves). We had the afternoon free, so we grabbed some lunch at the nearby Woolworths grocery and then headed out to the beach for some fishing and frisbee. Didn't catch anything unfortunately since the tide was low, but had a great time anyhow, and talked about our travels to a few of the friendly locals.
The next day kicked off a trip to the best destination so far: Fraser Island, the largest sand island in the world, and a world heritage site made of 95% sand with rainforests and heavy vegetation growing on it. We made it to the island by ferry and began our Cooldingo tour on a 4WD bus. The ride was a thrill in itself; with steep hills and rugged sandy trails, the rocking and jumps we felt could be easily compared to a roller coaster ride! We headed through the bush to a clearing called Makenzie Lake, one of the largest perched sand dune lakes in the world. The cloudy weather slightly cleared enough for us to enjoy the bright white silica sand and go for a dip in the clear blue water. It was spectacular, but there was so much more to come.
In the afternoon we went on a bushwalk through a temperate rainforest, taking in the lush and diverse vegetation and blue lakes. We then settled into our cozy lodge dorms, ate at a buffet and hung out with the other travelers at the bar playing pool and cards. The next day was cloudy and rainy, but that didn't stop us from enjoying the exhilarating ride along the 75 Mile Beach. We waded through a crystal-clear creek and marveled at the coloured sands. My favourite places on the island were the Champagne Pools and Indianhead with nice rock formations and a beautiful view of the ocean, whales and sea turtles from a 60m high cliff. The day ended perfectly with a stunning surprise sunset from an outlook.
Yesterday we arrived in Agnes Water and the Town of 1770 (named after the date Capt. Cook landed in Oz). Our driver insisted we try out Scooter-Roos, which looks pretty much like a small Harley chopper. We figured, why not? In the end, I'd have to say it had to be one of my all-time favourite experiences. We rode on these mini bikes at up to 80kph through forested areas, the towns, and along the beach at sunset. What a blast it was!
I'm now on the bus headed for the Kroombit Cattle Station with country tracks and hilarious Aussie folk and drinking songs playing. The driver tells us crazy stories about his drunken friends and unfortunate mishaps with kangaroos. No sign of civilization anywhere. It's awesome :)
Cheers,
Sean
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
East Coast - Day 3
We're finally on our way through the East Coast. I'm travelling with two others; Joseph (from McGill) and Aftab, a friend from class. The tropical humidity hits you like a wave as soon as you walk off the plane on to the tarmac in Brisbane. The fiight took about two hours, which seemed really short compared to the last flight I had taken!
Once out of the airport, we took a short taxi ride to downtown CBD and our first hostel, Base Brisbane. The hostel is on top of a bnnch of busy bars/pubs. Most rooms have about 6 bunk beds, which means that guests sleep amongst other travellers and backpackers. Everyone shares the bathrooms and common kitchen. I'll admit that sharing a room with random people takes some getting used to, but you meet plenty of people along the way, especially from Europe.
Yesterday consisted mostly of travel on the Oz Experience bus, which is a flexible hop on / hop off transport with a hilarious and ever-helpful driver and tour guide. It's a shame our itinerary is a little rushed... We would have loved to stay in Brisbane to explore some more. We stopped at the Glasshouse Mountains, a nice lookout of huge mountains. We also stopped at Noosa, a wealthy tropical town with a gorgeous beach and palm trees everywhere. We stayed over night at Dingo's hostel at Rainbow Beach, where we enjoyed a delicious chicken parmiagiana dinner, a moonlit stroll on the beach, and relaxing at the bar with pool, ping pong, and Wii.
We're now at the Palace Hostel in Hervey Bay, ready for our major stop: Fraser Island, the world's largest sand island, with 99.9% white silica. Should be awesome!
Internet is hard to come by, I'm now writing this on my Palm. I'll try to post every few days if I can!
Cheers,
Sean
Once out of the airport, we took a short taxi ride to downtown CBD and our first hostel, Base Brisbane. The hostel is on top of a bnnch of busy bars/pubs. Most rooms have about 6 bunk beds, which means that guests sleep amongst other travellers and backpackers. Everyone shares the bathrooms and common kitchen. I'll admit that sharing a room with random people takes some getting used to, but you meet plenty of people along the way, especially from Europe.
Yesterday consisted mostly of travel on the Oz Experience bus, which is a flexible hop on / hop off transport with a hilarious and ever-helpful driver and tour guide. It's a shame our itinerary is a little rushed... We would have loved to stay in Brisbane to explore some more. We stopped at the Glasshouse Mountains, a nice lookout of huge mountains. We also stopped at Noosa, a wealthy tropical town with a gorgeous beach and palm trees everywhere. We stayed over night at Dingo's hostel at Rainbow Beach, where we enjoyed a delicious chicken parmiagiana dinner, a moonlit stroll on the beach, and relaxing at the bar with pool, ping pong, and Wii.
We're now at the Palace Hostel in Hervey Bay, ready for our major stop: Fraser Island, the world's largest sand island, with 99.9% white silica. Should be awesome!
Internet is hard to come by, I'm now writing this on my Palm. I'll try to post every few days if I can!
Cheers,
Sean
Monday, September 20, 2010
Finally a vacation... It’s Spring Break!
I’m sorry it’s been so long since I’ve last posted on my blog. This past month has been incredibly hectic for me, and a reminder that I’m not just here in Australia for fun and games. School kicked into high gear, with many mid-semester assignments, projects, and essays that took up most of my time. My major group design project in particular was massive. As a group we had to design a gearbox for a wind turbine, and you wouldn’t believe how complicated such a design could be! The final report ended up being over 70 pages long, and we spent a few nights working together at the university late until past midnight!
I also wrote a 1500-word essay about what I think of as a fascinating topic: the legend of Anzac. During the Great War Australia fought on the front lines at Gallipoli in Turkey, pretty much because of their imperialist ties with Britain. The Battle of Gallipoli was a complete military failure, with huge losses of life on the Aussie side. Strangely enough, Anzac Day is highly celebrated in Australia, since it apparently symbolises nationalistic values of mateship, strength and courage. I thought that such a celebration was no longer significant and discussed the reasons why in my essay. I haven’t written a university-level essay before (being an engineer), and it was quite tough, but I’ve learned a lot in the process. (Kudos to Kelly!)
I’ve still been having a great time here, even though the partying and exploring has calmed a bit. The Cat Empire concert was incredible and one of my favourite nights so far. This invigorating and unique group has become one of my new favourite bands! My first attempt at Paintball was exhilarating, and not as painful as many people claim it to be (although I still have a slight bruise from a nasty shot to my leg!) Nothing feels more satisfying than sniping someone in the face from over 20m away :P
I have made so many amazing friends while I’m here, and I’m trying hard not to think about what it would be like to part with them months from now. We’ve done so much together; movies, dinners, deep conversations about life, bar-hopping, music practice, sight-seeing... And of course dancing! I’ve never been much of a dancer, but living here in Melbourne has certainly helped me break of out of my shell, and I’ve had a great time on many a night.
Now I can finally relax a little, because it just so happens to be SPRING BREAK! Even better, the break will be two weeks long, and I’m actually headed to the east coast tomorrow. My itinerary basically includes a trip from Brisbane to Cairns, with stops along the way such as Rainbow Beach, Fraser Island, a cattle station at Kroombit, Arlie Beach and sailing in the Whitsundays, Magnetic Island, and of course the Great Barrier Reef. I’m very excited for this latest adventure, and I’m sure I’ll have many stories to tell and pictures to post! I just hope the weather will improve, as of now it looks like we can expect warm weather but rain all week... We’ll see what happens!
I’ll try to keep up to date with what’s happening as we travel, stay tuned!!!
Cheers,
Sean
I also wrote a 1500-word essay about what I think of as a fascinating topic: the legend of Anzac. During the Great War Australia fought on the front lines at Gallipoli in Turkey, pretty much because of their imperialist ties with Britain. The Battle of Gallipoli was a complete military failure, with huge losses of life on the Aussie side. Strangely enough, Anzac Day is highly celebrated in Australia, since it apparently symbolises nationalistic values of mateship, strength and courage. I thought that such a celebration was no longer significant and discussed the reasons why in my essay. I haven’t written a university-level essay before (being an engineer), and it was quite tough, but I’ve learned a lot in the process. (Kudos to Kelly!)
I’ve still been having a great time here, even though the partying and exploring has calmed a bit. The Cat Empire concert was incredible and one of my favourite nights so far. This invigorating and unique group has become one of my new favourite bands! My first attempt at Paintball was exhilarating, and not as painful as many people claim it to be (although I still have a slight bruise from a nasty shot to my leg!) Nothing feels more satisfying than sniping someone in the face from over 20m away :P
I have made so many amazing friends while I’m here, and I’m trying hard not to think about what it would be like to part with them months from now. We’ve done so much together; movies, dinners, deep conversations about life, bar-hopping, music practice, sight-seeing... And of course dancing! I’ve never been much of a dancer, but living here in Melbourne has certainly helped me break of out of my shell, and I’ve had a great time on many a night.
Now I can finally relax a little, because it just so happens to be SPRING BREAK! Even better, the break will be two weeks long, and I’m actually headed to the east coast tomorrow. My itinerary basically includes a trip from Brisbane to Cairns, with stops along the way such as Rainbow Beach, Fraser Island, a cattle station at Kroombit, Arlie Beach and sailing in the Whitsundays, Magnetic Island, and of course the Great Barrier Reef. I’m very excited for this latest adventure, and I’m sure I’ll have many stories to tell and pictures to post! I just hope the weather will improve, as of now it looks like we can expect warm weather but rain all week... We’ll see what happens!
I’ll try to keep up to date with what’s happening as we travel, stay tuned!!!
Cheers,
Sean
Sunday, August 15, 2010
This One Time at Band Camp...
I started attending band rehearsals during the first week of the school semester. The club is called the Engineering Music Society, or EMS. I had found out about the group a couple of months earlier while I was looking up different clubs at Melbourne Uni, and I was particularly intrigued by EMS because of its large size (a 50-person orchestra, 35-person concert band, stage bands, and a choir) and the fact that they welcomed all musicians to join regardless of their academic background or musical ability. There aren’t even any auditions required to participate; all you’ve got to do is show with an instrument, pay a small member fee and play!
I haven’t really played clarinet since high school, although I do own one. My music classes in school were pretty lousy to start with since most of my peers at RHS didn’t care much for the class and never really practiced. I personally loved to play, but despite being first clarinet in all our performances, I wasn’t challenged because our level of skill as a band was very low. You can imagine how excited I was when I found out I could finally play again in a real serious band! McGill doesn’t have anything like the EMS as far as I know.
In the first week I tried out the orchestra and concert band. I was immediately hooked to the concert band; the people were cool, the music was challenging and lively, and there was free food! I committed to stick to the band and try to improve my skills so I could reach the level of the other musicians in the band. Some pieces we’re playing include Forbes Street (Aussie), Cajun Folk, March Slav by Tchaikovsky, and my personal favourite, selections from the musical Les Misérables (including I Dreamed a Dream, as recently made popular by Susan Boyle :P )
The orchestra, however, was WAY over my head. The music they played was very impressive, with epic orchestral pieces such as the Barber of Seville and Sheharazade. Just sitting and listening to the cellos, violins, violas, brass, and woodwinds was an experience in itself. I just couldn’t bring myself to play a single note, I was much too intimidated by the difficulty of the piece and the extraordinary talent of the musicians. So I had to give up on it, but we will be playing in the same concert in the last week of the semester at a grand hall.
Band Camp is EMS’ highlight of every semester besides the concert itself, organized by the executives of the club. And what a camp it was! After about 40 or 50 of us arrived at Candlebark Farm in Healesville (in the middle of nowhere about 90 minutes from Melbourne), we began the traditional “Happy Happy Fun Games”. We were previously broken up into colour teams, and were encouraged to come to camp wearing our colour (I was red). It started off with everyone tying balloons to their ankles, with a free-for –all of us chasing each other trying to pop each other’s balloons in a very small space. Pretty hilarious, and an effective icebreaker. The rest of the night included name games, races, and Bang!, culminating in a huge boat race face-off. The typical chant before the beer-chugging begins is as follows: “Thumbs on tables, chins on tables, face the amber... SKOL!”
By the way, no one uses the word “chug” here. The proper term is apparently “skol”.
The party that followed continued late into the night. Suffice it to say that many people had a hard time to get up in the morning, especially to rehearse with a slight hangover!
Unfortunately (or fortunately), the concert band had the whole morning free, since despite the excellent organization of the camp, the execs had somehow forgotten to bring the sheet music to camp! I made the most of it by meeting the professional conductor and having some private clarinet lessons. Not only did I learn some valuable tips about fingering and playing, but I was also lucky enough to have my clarinet serviced by him for free! I was more than prepared to give it my all during the afternoon rehearsal, which lasted for quite a few hours until the delicious dinner (spaghetti, garlic bread, lemon cordial, and peach cobbler with ice cream). The night continued with trivia night followed by yet another party.
Some interesting things I learnt at trivia:
- Australia invented the dual flush toilet.
- Canada, the US, Brazil, China, and Russia are all geographically larger than Australia.
- There is presently an election going on in Australia, with the possibility of Julia Gillard becoming the first female prime minister. Her opponent, John Abbott, is often made fun of for running marathons in “budgie huggers”, which are short and tight red bathing suits.
- At one time, members of EMS somehow stole traffic lights and crosswalk lights. They then re-programmed them to flash to the music. I was amused by these at the parties.
- EMS consistently wins the majority of Prosh events, and has often won the massive week-long frosh-like competition event. This year’s Prosh actually starts today. I’m quite looking forward to seeing some of the ridiculous events, which include Billy Kart Racing, Slime Wrestling, boat races, a huge scavenger hunt, the Amazing Race, lecture stunts, and the Long Drive.
In short, the camp was a lot of fun, and I really enjoyed it. As for this week, besides Prosh, I’m looking forward to the Cat Empire concert. Cat Empire is one of the biggest bands in Australia, and is known all over their world for their unique indie/big band sound. Apparently they are spectacular live performers.
Until next time, cheers!
Sean
I haven’t really played clarinet since high school, although I do own one. My music classes in school were pretty lousy to start with since most of my peers at RHS didn’t care much for the class and never really practiced. I personally loved to play, but despite being first clarinet in all our performances, I wasn’t challenged because our level of skill as a band was very low. You can imagine how excited I was when I found out I could finally play again in a real serious band! McGill doesn’t have anything like the EMS as far as I know.
In the first week I tried out the orchestra and concert band. I was immediately hooked to the concert band; the people were cool, the music was challenging and lively, and there was free food! I committed to stick to the band and try to improve my skills so I could reach the level of the other musicians in the band. Some pieces we’re playing include Forbes Street (Aussie), Cajun Folk, March Slav by Tchaikovsky, and my personal favourite, selections from the musical Les Misérables (including I Dreamed a Dream, as recently made popular by Susan Boyle :P )
The orchestra, however, was WAY over my head. The music they played was very impressive, with epic orchestral pieces such as the Barber of Seville and Sheharazade. Just sitting and listening to the cellos, violins, violas, brass, and woodwinds was an experience in itself. I just couldn’t bring myself to play a single note, I was much too intimidated by the difficulty of the piece and the extraordinary talent of the musicians. So I had to give up on it, but we will be playing in the same concert in the last week of the semester at a grand hall.
Band Camp is EMS’ highlight of every semester besides the concert itself, organized by the executives of the club. And what a camp it was! After about 40 or 50 of us arrived at Candlebark Farm in Healesville (in the middle of nowhere about 90 minutes from Melbourne), we began the traditional “Happy Happy Fun Games”. We were previously broken up into colour teams, and were encouraged to come to camp wearing our colour (I was red). It started off with everyone tying balloons to their ankles, with a free-for –all of us chasing each other trying to pop each other’s balloons in a very small space. Pretty hilarious, and an effective icebreaker. The rest of the night included name games, races, and Bang!, culminating in a huge boat race face-off. The typical chant before the beer-chugging begins is as follows: “Thumbs on tables, chins on tables, face the amber... SKOL!”
By the way, no one uses the word “chug” here. The proper term is apparently “skol”.
The party that followed continued late into the night. Suffice it to say that many people had a hard time to get up in the morning, especially to rehearse with a slight hangover!
Unfortunately (or fortunately), the concert band had the whole morning free, since despite the excellent organization of the camp, the execs had somehow forgotten to bring the sheet music to camp! I made the most of it by meeting the professional conductor and having some private clarinet lessons. Not only did I learn some valuable tips about fingering and playing, but I was also lucky enough to have my clarinet serviced by him for free! I was more than prepared to give it my all during the afternoon rehearsal, which lasted for quite a few hours until the delicious dinner (spaghetti, garlic bread, lemon cordial, and peach cobbler with ice cream). The night continued with trivia night followed by yet another party.
Some interesting things I learnt at trivia:
- Australia invented the dual flush toilet.
- Canada, the US, Brazil, China, and Russia are all geographically larger than Australia.
- There is presently an election going on in Australia, with the possibility of Julia Gillard becoming the first female prime minister. Her opponent, John Abbott, is often made fun of for running marathons in “budgie huggers”, which are short and tight red bathing suits.
- At one time, members of EMS somehow stole traffic lights and crosswalk lights. They then re-programmed them to flash to the music. I was amused by these at the parties.
- EMS consistently wins the majority of Prosh events, and has often won the massive week-long frosh-like competition event. This year’s Prosh actually starts today. I’m quite looking forward to seeing some of the ridiculous events, which include Billy Kart Racing, Slime Wrestling, boat races, a huge scavenger hunt, the Amazing Race, lecture stunts, and the Long Drive.
In short, the camp was a lot of fun, and I really enjoyed it. As for this week, besides Prosh, I’m looking forward to the Cat Empire concert. Cat Empire is one of the biggest bands in Australia, and is known all over their world for their unique indie/big band sound. Apparently they are spectacular live performers.
Until next time, cheers!
Sean
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Melbournian Delights
I love Tim Tams.
I promise to bring back a few packages of them when I return, because they are quite simply the most delicious little chocolate biscuits I’ve ever had. They’re a typical Aussie snack; a chocolate wafer with chocolate filling covered in chocolate. They also come with caramel, or nuts, or double chocolate, or marshmallow. The best part of all is that Aussies like to bite off both ends of the biscuit, and drink milk or tea through it like a straw. It is absolutely heavenly, and I’m addicted. Lemingtons, which are basically sponge cakes dipped in chocolate and coconut, are also incredibly good.
When internationals think of Australia or Melbourne, they think of the typical boomerang, crocodile dundee, and kangaroos. Melbourne should be known for its vast multicultural identity and odd little European quirks which make it such a lively city to live in. The Australian dedication to the delight of Tim Tams is only one small example, but there are so many other things that I love about Melbourne that most people wouldn’t know about.
I’ve already mentioned that Melbourne has a huge café culture, and that coffee is in general more expensive than in Montreal. The interesting thing is that you can’t simply ask for a black coffee, or a coffee with two creams and two sugars (my personal preference). They’ll just look at you funny. Believe me, I’ve already experienced this a few times. Here’s a typical list of coffees that are offered in pretty much any café that you simply have to memorize:
- Espresso: the obvious one.
- Short black: small black coffee or espresso
- Long black: large black coffee or espresso
- Macchiato: espresso and a little steamed milk
- Flat white: half espresso, half steamed milk
- Caffé Latte: espresso, steamed milk, and milk foam
- Cappuccino: espresso, steamed milk, and a lot of milk foam
- Caffé mocha (my favourite so far): espresso, chocolate syrup, steamed milk, and whipped cream
Every café place I’ve been to has made each coffee I’ve tasted absolutely delectable. It’s also very common to find the steamed milk and cinnamon on top to be tastefully shaped into a heart, flower, or smiley face. Those who have been to ArtJava near McGill will be familiar with this, and it really makes having a simple coffee an experience in itself!
The pub and bar scene is also a massive part of Australian culture, like in Montreal (if not more so!). What’s interesting is the names used to describe your order to the bartender. Forget about asking for a pitcher of beer to share with friends; the bartender gave me a funny look as well and asked me what I meant for wanting a “picture of beer”. My Aussie friend was also a little confused. I’m serious. Here are the common terms for ordering beer, or any alcohol:
- A pot: a small glass, about 10 ounces
- A schooner: 15 ounces
- A pint: self-explanatory, 20 ounces
- A jug: a pitcher
Finally, Aussie rules football (AFL, or Australian Football League) is uniquely an Australian invention, although apparently it has been played by a few other countries as well. This game is huge around here. There are games played on TV all the time, and most Aussies follow the season with zeal. I’d have to describe the game as literally a combination of almost all field sports. The rules are very detailed, but I’ll have a go at describing it.
The game takes place on a huge circular field, with goal posts at two ends. There are two tall posts and two short posts per side for each team. There are 18 players on the field at any given time, with about 9 referees and a few random people running around in florescent shirts giving water to the players. The point of the game is to score between the posts by kicking the rugby-like footy ball through them from any distance away. If the ball flies through the tall posts, a goal is called worth 6 points. If the ball strikes the post or goes between a tall and short post, a goal is only one point.
Players are allowed to run with the ball, but must “dribble” the ball or touch the ground with it every 10 yards, or they surrender the ball. They cannot simply pass the ball by throwing it. They can only pass the ball to other players by kicking it or bunting it in a way similar to volleyball. Tackling is always allowed (and it gets very aggressive). The ball is always in play (even after a tackle) unless it is out of bounds or two players are having a tug of war with the ball for quite a while and the ref finally ends it.
I’ve been to two games at the MCG so far, and I’ve loved it. I particularly enjoy eating a traditional meat pie with tomato sauce (which is what they call ketchup here) while watching the game. It’s very exciting to watch, especially when both teams are equally good. The footy fans here could give the Habs fans a run for their money when it comes to dedication to their teams!
As for me, classes have been going well, although I’m a little concerned with the difficulty of my engineering courses. They aren’t really what I had expected, especially since my Design class apparently has two final exams! I’ve enjoyed exploring new bars and cafés, including the cozy E-55 café with delicious and cheap pizzas and the Ice Lounge downtown, which is a bar made entirely of ice, kept at about -10ºC. I’ve also had the opportunity to attend a delicious high table dinner at JCH, the residential college. I’m looking forward to the band camp this weekend, a possible hiking trip the week after, a couple of concerts, an upcoming faculty ball, and maybe some indoor rock-climbing. Awesome.
Cheers!
-Sean
I promise to bring back a few packages of them when I return, because they are quite simply the most delicious little chocolate biscuits I’ve ever had. They’re a typical Aussie snack; a chocolate wafer with chocolate filling covered in chocolate. They also come with caramel, or nuts, or double chocolate, or marshmallow. The best part of all is that Aussies like to bite off both ends of the biscuit, and drink milk or tea through it like a straw. It is absolutely heavenly, and I’m addicted. Lemingtons, which are basically sponge cakes dipped in chocolate and coconut, are also incredibly good.
When internationals think of Australia or Melbourne, they think of the typical boomerang, crocodile dundee, and kangaroos. Melbourne should be known for its vast multicultural identity and odd little European quirks which make it such a lively city to live in. The Australian dedication to the delight of Tim Tams is only one small example, but there are so many other things that I love about Melbourne that most people wouldn’t know about.
I’ve already mentioned that Melbourne has a huge café culture, and that coffee is in general more expensive than in Montreal. The interesting thing is that you can’t simply ask for a black coffee, or a coffee with two creams and two sugars (my personal preference). They’ll just look at you funny. Believe me, I’ve already experienced this a few times. Here’s a typical list of coffees that are offered in pretty much any café that you simply have to memorize:
- Espresso: the obvious one.
- Short black: small black coffee or espresso
- Long black: large black coffee or espresso
- Macchiato: espresso and a little steamed milk
- Flat white: half espresso, half steamed milk
- Caffé Latte: espresso, steamed milk, and milk foam
- Cappuccino: espresso, steamed milk, and a lot of milk foam
- Caffé mocha (my favourite so far): espresso, chocolate syrup, steamed milk, and whipped cream
Every café place I’ve been to has made each coffee I’ve tasted absolutely delectable. It’s also very common to find the steamed milk and cinnamon on top to be tastefully shaped into a heart, flower, or smiley face. Those who have been to ArtJava near McGill will be familiar with this, and it really makes having a simple coffee an experience in itself!
The pub and bar scene is also a massive part of Australian culture, like in Montreal (if not more so!). What’s interesting is the names used to describe your order to the bartender. Forget about asking for a pitcher of beer to share with friends; the bartender gave me a funny look as well and asked me what I meant for wanting a “picture of beer”. My Aussie friend was also a little confused. I’m serious. Here are the common terms for ordering beer, or any alcohol:
- A pot: a small glass, about 10 ounces
- A schooner: 15 ounces
- A pint: self-explanatory, 20 ounces
- A jug: a pitcher
Finally, Aussie rules football (AFL, or Australian Football League) is uniquely an Australian invention, although apparently it has been played by a few other countries as well. This game is huge around here. There are games played on TV all the time, and most Aussies follow the season with zeal. I’d have to describe the game as literally a combination of almost all field sports. The rules are very detailed, but I’ll have a go at describing it.
The game takes place on a huge circular field, with goal posts at two ends. There are two tall posts and two short posts per side for each team. There are 18 players on the field at any given time, with about 9 referees and a few random people running around in florescent shirts giving water to the players. The point of the game is to score between the posts by kicking the rugby-like footy ball through them from any distance away. If the ball flies through the tall posts, a goal is called worth 6 points. If the ball strikes the post or goes between a tall and short post, a goal is only one point.
Players are allowed to run with the ball, but must “dribble” the ball or touch the ground with it every 10 yards, or they surrender the ball. They cannot simply pass the ball by throwing it. They can only pass the ball to other players by kicking it or bunting it in a way similar to volleyball. Tackling is always allowed (and it gets very aggressive). The ball is always in play (even after a tackle) unless it is out of bounds or two players are having a tug of war with the ball for quite a while and the ref finally ends it.
I’ve been to two games at the MCG so far, and I’ve loved it. I particularly enjoy eating a traditional meat pie with tomato sauce (which is what they call ketchup here) while watching the game. It’s very exciting to watch, especially when both teams are equally good. The footy fans here could give the Habs fans a run for their money when it comes to dedication to their teams!
As for me, classes have been going well, although I’m a little concerned with the difficulty of my engineering courses. They aren’t really what I had expected, especially since my Design class apparently has two final exams! I’ve enjoyed exploring new bars and cafés, including the cozy E-55 café with delicious and cheap pizzas and the Ice Lounge downtown, which is a bar made entirely of ice, kept at about -10ºC. I’ve also had the opportunity to attend a delicious high table dinner at JCH, the residential college. I’m looking forward to the band camp this weekend, a possible hiking trip the week after, a couple of concerts, an upcoming faculty ball, and maybe some indoor rock-climbing. Awesome.
Cheers!
-Sean
Monday, August 2, 2010
Back to School... Again.
It’s only been about two months since I finished my Economics summer course at McGill, yet here I am, hitting the books once again. At the moment it’s slightly difficult to stay motivated so early in the semester, even though the raw excitement of being so far away from home in a foreign country has faintly dissipated. The four courses I’m taking now will only count for credit on a pass/fail basis, so I don’t need to worry about marks or my GPA while I’m here. That doesn’t mean I’m not interested in the courses though! The design class in particular seems cool, and Australia Now is a laid-back class about Australian history, politics, and other relevant issues. The hard part is writing the essay!
The classes are set up similar to McGill. There’s about two or three 1-hour lectures each week, with one tutorial. They call the TA’s here tutes. I haven’t had one yet, since tutorials only start in the second week, but I think they’re only for showing us how to solve problems, just like back home. The Australia Now’s tutorial is more important because attendance is mandatory, and apparently we have to actively discuss different issues. Should be fun, as an engineer I don’t usually get the opportunity to discuss much in class.
Now that I think of it, engineering is a very closed-minded and cold field... With only two restricted elective classes in four years, we don’t really learn anything but math, physics, a little bit of economy and boring engineering ethics. Hmmm...
The lectures are carried out in the same way as they are back home. You come into class, say hi to your friends, listen/take notes/check facebook/nap for about 50 minutes, then leave. Locals tend to leave class immediately and stick to themselves. Luckily I’ve already met a few people in each class.
Funny story... We have to form teams of four in our design class to complete a couple of projects together. For example, we have to somehow design a gearbox for a wind turbine. So on the first class I’m getting a little worried because everyone seems to already know each other. By fluke a guy walks up to me, introduces himself, and asks me where I’m from. When I tell him, his eyes light up and he then asks me what school I go to. When I tell him I go to McGill, he insists I join his team, which apparently won 3rd place last year. I’m thrilled to be a part of a team, but I think it’s funny that people will judge me based on my school halfway across the world! Apparently McGill does have a worldwide reputation, although I personally think it’s incredibly overrated.
There are barbecues around here all the time. The Aussies love their BBQs! It’s almost like a sport to find free food somewhere on campus, and it’s usually not hard to find. I think most students are always on the prowl for free grub, especially considering how ridiculously expensive everything is here. I have yet to try barbecued kangaroo, since a lot of locals apparently don’t like the idea of eating their national animal! I’m determined to try some, maybe at our floor barbecue next weekend...
A few highlights over the next few weeks: paintball, another footy game, band camp (EMS), a Cat Empire concert, and a hiking trip. I’ve joined the Engineering Music Society’s concert band, which is a band of about 20 people playing relatively modern music and rehearsing every week for an end-of-semester concert. I brought my clarinet with me to Australia, and I’m hoping I can improve my skills while I’m here. I’ve also joined the Mountaineering Club, which basically organizes trips throughout the state of Victoria on weekends for hiking, skiing, climbing, camping, kayaking, basically anything in the outdoors. I figured it would be a great way to discover more of the country, without spending a fortune at a travel agency.
Unfortunately I’ve been sick with a sore throat for the past few days, so I can’t say this weekend was spectacular or anything. I’ve still partially lost my voice! I did get the chance to visit North Richmond (a suburb) and the beach on the bay at St Kilda, which was cool. And I tried Vietnamese Phó (beef soup with noodles) for the first time, which was delicious!
One last thing: INCEPTION IS INCREDIBLE!!! If you haven’t seen this movie yet, what are you waiting for???
Cheers!
- Sean
The classes are set up similar to McGill. There’s about two or three 1-hour lectures each week, with one tutorial. They call the TA’s here tutes. I haven’t had one yet, since tutorials only start in the second week, but I think they’re only for showing us how to solve problems, just like back home. The Australia Now’s tutorial is more important because attendance is mandatory, and apparently we have to actively discuss different issues. Should be fun, as an engineer I don’t usually get the opportunity to discuss much in class.
Now that I think of it, engineering is a very closed-minded and cold field... With only two restricted elective classes in four years, we don’t really learn anything but math, physics, a little bit of economy and boring engineering ethics. Hmmm...
The lectures are carried out in the same way as they are back home. You come into class, say hi to your friends, listen/take notes/check facebook/nap for about 50 minutes, then leave. Locals tend to leave class immediately and stick to themselves. Luckily I’ve already met a few people in each class.
Funny story... We have to form teams of four in our design class to complete a couple of projects together. For example, we have to somehow design a gearbox for a wind turbine. So on the first class I’m getting a little worried because everyone seems to already know each other. By fluke a guy walks up to me, introduces himself, and asks me where I’m from. When I tell him, his eyes light up and he then asks me what school I go to. When I tell him I go to McGill, he insists I join his team, which apparently won 3rd place last year. I’m thrilled to be a part of a team, but I think it’s funny that people will judge me based on my school halfway across the world! Apparently McGill does have a worldwide reputation, although I personally think it’s incredibly overrated.
There are barbecues around here all the time. The Aussies love their BBQs! It’s almost like a sport to find free food somewhere on campus, and it’s usually not hard to find. I think most students are always on the prowl for free grub, especially considering how ridiculously expensive everything is here. I have yet to try barbecued kangaroo, since a lot of locals apparently don’t like the idea of eating their national animal! I’m determined to try some, maybe at our floor barbecue next weekend...
A few highlights over the next few weeks: paintball, another footy game, band camp (EMS), a Cat Empire concert, and a hiking trip. I’ve joined the Engineering Music Society’s concert band, which is a band of about 20 people playing relatively modern music and rehearsing every week for an end-of-semester concert. I brought my clarinet with me to Australia, and I’m hoping I can improve my skills while I’m here. I’ve also joined the Mountaineering Club, which basically organizes trips throughout the state of Victoria on weekends for hiking, skiing, climbing, camping, kayaking, basically anything in the outdoors. I figured it would be a great way to discover more of the country, without spending a fortune at a travel agency.
Unfortunately I’ve been sick with a sore throat for the past few days, so I can’t say this weekend was spectacular or anything. I’ve still partially lost my voice! I did get the chance to visit North Richmond (a suburb) and the beach on the bay at St Kilda, which was cool. And I tried Vietnamese Phó (beef soup with noodles) for the first time, which was delicious!
One last thing: INCEPTION IS INCREDIBLE!!! If you haven’t seen this movie yet, what are you waiting for???
Cheers!
- Sean
Monday, July 26, 2010
Settling In, Exploring, and School Orientation
Another action-packed week! There seems to always be something to do, a place to see, or an event to attend around here. It’s really quite exciting, although I admit I’m looking forward to having an hour or two to myself to just sit back and enjoy my Stephen King novel!
I’ve settled in pretty well at the Unilodge and I know my way around the main city areas. I love walking along Swanston Street or strolling through the campus. Grocery shopping’s become a surprisingly fun experience in itself, especially when I try different shops and stores to find some cheap food. I usually go to Woolworth’s (a major chain here), although I plan to visit Aldis soon. My personal favourite is the Thresherman’s Bakery, a quaint bakery/café/resto about two minutes away with super cheap baked goods, bread, and sandwiches after 4PM. And people who know me know I love my baked goods.
Yesterday I visited the Queen Victoria Market, which is a HUGE fresh produce market as well as an enormous flea market-like area. I’d say it’s even bigger than the Mathers flea market in St Eustache! It’s become one of my favourite places in Melbourne so far, and I think of it as a cultural experience in itself. They’ve got rows and rows and vendors and shops selling everything you can think of, including delis, bakeries, butchershops, liquor shops, a huge area filled with stalls of vegetables and fruits, and then an entire separate section with stalls for clothing, electronics, souvenirs, you name it! You can spend hours walking through the stalls with vendors everywhere calling out their special prices and offering you to try some of their food. I’ve actually bought some food to make a beef stir-fry tonight, I’ll see how it turns out. I’ll have to go back again next Sunday.
I’ve also had the chance to explore a suburb of Melbourne called Moonee Ponds, about 20 minutes by train from downtown. I was invited by some new friends to a delicious BBQ at their share house. The area is probably more representative of a local neighbourhood, with shops and trams that run along the major streets. The houses themselves are designed differently than those in Montreal, I’ll be sure to post some pictures of them eventually.
Another highlight of the weekend was Brunswick Street. It’s a trendy main street away from the downtown core, loaded with boutiques, bars, clubs, and cafés. I had a great time at Perseverance, a club/bar with a dance floor. The 90’s music theme was neat, although the Spice Girls tracks were a little unnecessary! Bimbo’s is another one of my favourite hotspots, with an inviting atmosphere, couches on the main floor, an outdoors terrace with hanging lanterns, and delicious $4 pizzas (including the Belgian chocolate pizza!)
On a more serious note, last week was Week-O, or Orientation Week. We were given more opportunities to meet other international students, explore the campus, and enrol in our courses. Unfortunately the uni has started using a new system, and everyone has been having problems with the student ID card and fixing their timetables. Some people still can’t register in their classes, even though today was the first day of school. Luckily I’m not one of them, although I had to wait in a queue of about 100 people a couple of times…
A few other fast facts (this is getting long and I’m getting lazy :P ) :
- I’ve now met people from Finland, Germany, UK, Malaysia, France, China, Mexico, many different states in the US (the majority), Norway, Belgium, locals from all over Australia, and even a few Canadians from McGill
- I visited a restricted medical museum with a large collection of perfectly preserved human body parts (the ones in silicon were especially creepy, especially the hands and faces)
- I plan on joining the Mountaineering Club, Ultimate Frisbee Club, and the Engineering Music Society
- The cheapest 6 inch sub at Subway is $5. No $5 footlongs here.
- Starbucks is considered to have poor quality coffee. An average price for a coffee here is $3.
- There are no pennies or 1 cent coins in Australia.
- There’s an AC/DC Lane downtown. I am serious. If that’s not epic I don’t know what is.
- The courses I’m taking here are called Fluid Dynamics, Design and Processes 2, Dynamics of Machines, and Australia Now.
I’ll try to post more soon! In the meantime, you might be able to catch me online some days around 10-12PM (12-2PM local time)
Cheers,
Sean
I’ve settled in pretty well at the Unilodge and I know my way around the main city areas. I love walking along Swanston Street or strolling through the campus. Grocery shopping’s become a surprisingly fun experience in itself, especially when I try different shops and stores to find some cheap food. I usually go to Woolworth’s (a major chain here), although I plan to visit Aldis soon. My personal favourite is the Thresherman’s Bakery, a quaint bakery/café/resto about two minutes away with super cheap baked goods, bread, and sandwiches after 4PM. And people who know me know I love my baked goods.
Yesterday I visited the Queen Victoria Market, which is a HUGE fresh produce market as well as an enormous flea market-like area. I’d say it’s even bigger than the Mathers flea market in St Eustache! It’s become one of my favourite places in Melbourne so far, and I think of it as a cultural experience in itself. They’ve got rows and rows and vendors and shops selling everything you can think of, including delis, bakeries, butchershops, liquor shops, a huge area filled with stalls of vegetables and fruits, and then an entire separate section with stalls for clothing, electronics, souvenirs, you name it! You can spend hours walking through the stalls with vendors everywhere calling out their special prices and offering you to try some of their food. I’ve actually bought some food to make a beef stir-fry tonight, I’ll see how it turns out. I’ll have to go back again next Sunday.
I’ve also had the chance to explore a suburb of Melbourne called Moonee Ponds, about 20 minutes by train from downtown. I was invited by some new friends to a delicious BBQ at their share house. The area is probably more representative of a local neighbourhood, with shops and trams that run along the major streets. The houses themselves are designed differently than those in Montreal, I’ll be sure to post some pictures of them eventually.
Another highlight of the weekend was Brunswick Street. It’s a trendy main street away from the downtown core, loaded with boutiques, bars, clubs, and cafés. I had a great time at Perseverance, a club/bar with a dance floor. The 90’s music theme was neat, although the Spice Girls tracks were a little unnecessary! Bimbo’s is another one of my favourite hotspots, with an inviting atmosphere, couches on the main floor, an outdoors terrace with hanging lanterns, and delicious $4 pizzas (including the Belgian chocolate pizza!)
On a more serious note, last week was Week-O, or Orientation Week. We were given more opportunities to meet other international students, explore the campus, and enrol in our courses. Unfortunately the uni has started using a new system, and everyone has been having problems with the student ID card and fixing their timetables. Some people still can’t register in their classes, even though today was the first day of school. Luckily I’m not one of them, although I had to wait in a queue of about 100 people a couple of times…
A few other fast facts (this is getting long and I’m getting lazy :P ) :
- I’ve now met people from Finland, Germany, UK, Malaysia, France, China, Mexico, many different states in the US (the majority), Norway, Belgium, locals from all over Australia, and even a few Canadians from McGill
- I visited a restricted medical museum with a large collection of perfectly preserved human body parts (the ones in silicon were especially creepy, especially the hands and faces)
- I plan on joining the Mountaineering Club, Ultimate Frisbee Club, and the Engineering Music Society
- The cheapest 6 inch sub at Subway is $5. No $5 footlongs here.
- Starbucks is considered to have poor quality coffee. An average price for a coffee here is $3.
- There are no pennies or 1 cent coins in Australia.
- There’s an AC/DC Lane downtown. I am serious. If that’s not epic I don’t know what is.
- The courses I’m taking here are called Fluid Dynamics, Design and Processes 2, Dynamics of Machines, and Australia Now.
I’ll try to post more soon! In the meantime, you might be able to catch me online some days around 10-12PM (12-2PM local time)
Cheers,
Sean
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