End of o-week

A week since I first touched down in Gold Coast. This place is truly amazing.

A majority of the time we've been here, its been absolutely beautiful weather. I've gone to the beach a ton of times and tanning comes really easily here since Australia has no ozone layer. Lathering on 50 spf sunscreen has become and hourly routine for me. Gold Coast has an awesome bus system so I've been taking various routes trying to get more familiar with navigating myself around this area. Its been interesting and I've already seen a lot of the Gold Coast.

On Saturday, Collin, Lauren, Scott, Tim, and I took an hour bus ride down to Coolangatta to the beach Snapper Rocks where the Quiksilver Pro Competition was taking place. We stood on a mound of ocean rock near the shore break and watch the world's best surfers walk 2 feet away from us as they got on the rocks to jump into the water for their turn. A torrential downpour started the minute we got off the bus and it was pretty cold in a tank top and shorts. But it was a really cool experience.

We walked up beach-side street of the town and past all of the little shops. We stopped at a oceanfront bar and restaurant, Greenmount Beach Club, which had a second story covered balcony seating area so we grabbed a couple pitchers or "jugs" of beer as we tried to dry off somewhat. Even though I was sopping wet and freezing, it was one of those great moments where I was so content with life. Sitting back, enjoying a beer, watching the waves crash against the shore as surfers still paddled out and sheets of water pummeled the coast- it was a very comforting and relaxing moment.

Earlier today there was a huge Tsunami warning for Australia's Eastern Coast (right where I am) and Hawaii. A lot of people skipped laying out at Surfers Paradise because of the warnings but the weather has been awful and rainy the past few days anyways. Collin and David drove with some locals to a surf spot called 'The Spit'. They both said the waves were massive and rather terrifying because of the magnitude break the ocean was creating because of this developing Tsunami. The Tsunami skipped past Hawaii and as far as I'm concerned, it didn't hit Australia.

Tomorrow brings a lot of newness to my life. Its the beginning of a new month and the first day of classes at Griffith University. Fortunately, I don't have class until Tuesday. Unfortunately, its still raining. I hope it clears up so that we can go to the beach tomorrow!

Still love this place<3