Its been about a week and time here is already flying by!
School is officially underway and my teachers are already discussing mid-term papers and projects! But I am enjoying my subjects and I really think I will learn a lot from them.
Last Sunday, Lauren's friend from high school, Tim, who's living here for 2 months, has a car and we decided to take a day trip out to the town of Nimbin. Nimbin is in northern New South Wales and about a 2-hour drive from Gold Coast. Scott, Lauren, Lauren's friend Tim, Sarah, Our friend Tim (from AustraLearn), and I crammed in to a Toyota Somethingorother and headed to Nimbin. I have to say, I've seen my share of weird places and strange people, but this definitely tops anything I've ever seen. The downtown is really small and is known for its 'creative' and unique atmosphere. The locals were dread-lock wearing hippies who hung out on benches downtown. It was a really vibrant and interesting place and I'm glad we went, but I don't think I will ever make the trip to Nimbin again...three hours is more than enough time in the bizarre town. But all of the colorful art made for some great pictures!
So, I've been wanting to learn to surf REALLY bad since I have been here. I've been surfing a few times but I haven't gone enough to actually progress. And what better place than Surfers Paradise?! I didn't want to keep renting a board because if I did that everyday, I'd be able to buy my own board! Last Monday, Lauren and I took the bus from Griffith University down to Surfers, from Surfers to Palm Beach, Miami Beach, Broadbeach, Burleigh Heads, and Coolangatta on a mission to find me a inexpensive used surfboard that I could learn on while I'm in Australia. Even though we were looking in surfboard shops all around the Gold Coast for hours, I unfortunately had no luck in finding what I needed.
On Tuesday, I went to the beach with Sarah and the boys told us about this cheap surf store called Sideways Surf Outlet, a couple blocks down on Surfers Paradise Blvd that had really cheap bathing suits. We decided to check it out. I didn't find any bathing suits but I was telling the employee Cam about what I was looking for in a used surfboard and out of nowhere he pulls out a board that he had just bought off a kid selling his board. Its a 7'2" longboard (which is long enough to learn on but not too long) by Jacks Surfboards. Its thick and buoyant. I took some pictures because I wanted my guy friends, who know a ton about surfboards, to see it before I took the plunge. I told Cam I would be back in the morning to possibly buy it. After I went back, I showed the boys, they said "you'd be an idiot if you didn't buy this board," so I woke up early the next morning and bought my board! I'm so excited to finally have one! Although the weather has been awful the past week so I haven't had an opportunity to ride it yet. But I'm looking forward to learning on the White Rhino.
My friends and I finally booked our Spring Break trip! We bought our flights to New Zealand, where we are staying for 8 nights, 9 days! We fly in to Christchurch and then we are renting a 10-passenger van and roadtripping around the south island of New Zealand, stopping at all the cool places and touristy spots. It should be a great time and its right around the corner!
Today was really fun. Rob, Greg, David, Collin and I took the bus to the train station and then the train to Skilled Park for a Gold Coast Titans rugby game! I have never seen a rugby game so it was a really interesting experience and every fan was decked out head to toe in Titans gear. I guess it was a pretty game because the Titans played the New Zealand Warriors. It took me a while to get my bearings but I finally got the hang of all the rules in rugby. The GC Titans were down for a majority of the game but we came back at the last minute and beat the Warriors 24-18. It was really fun and I'm glad I got to experience it!
My brother is coming out to Australia for his Spring Break and he arrives this Friday!! I can't wait to see him and show him around this beautiful place- I know he's going to love it just as much as I do!
That's all for now, more when the sun hits the Goldie<3
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