Temporarily Leave of Absence

Photo thanks to weheartit.com

Some mates and I are off starting tomorrow very early morning on a road trip highlighting
Karijini National Park:



Photo thanks to
www.roebourne.wa.gov.au

Please excuse my temporarily leave of absence from my blog
but be rest assured that I will have more adventures
to share upon my return!

Cheers, a camping gal

P.s. wish me luck for driving on the wrong side of the road

A Spartan Shout Out

No matter where I am, I am still a Michigan State Spartan!
Super excited about making it another year to the Final Four
Woot Woot!
So here is a little shout out to last years travels to the NCAA Regional Final and Semi finals.

Besides friends and family I have to admit being in touch with sports is what I miss most.
There's something about games being on at 2am here and not having ESPN or BigTen Network.
Granted Brandon and espn.com does do a great job of keeping me up to date.



Cheers to Tom and next year!
Becca

p.s. missing my Spartan buddies : Lee and Ash

One dark and stormy night...

On the 22nd of March a storm swept through Perth and surrounding cities damaging homes, taking out power, hail the size of golf balls destroying cars and roofs.

Many schools and buildings were flooded, evacuated and shut down for the week's remainder.

The storm, now coined a natural disaster was also a blessing : on one hand many setbacks occured but on the other, with 48 millimeters of rain, the storm ended on of Perth's longest recorded dry spells.

And now I will let the photos speak for themselves:







and on a lighter note..


All thanks to WAnews.com

Where was I? In my bathing suit doing cartwheels..
That picture soon to be uploaded!

Cheers, a drenched Becca

A Little Left of Center

Lachy

I forgot to mention that I made friends with two fun-loving Aussies on Saint Patty's day : Ash and Lachy. Who ended up introducing me to a whole new style of diving.

Dancing along the Swan River across from King's Park is a series of eroded rock or perhaps you would call them cliffs. That is up to you.

Remember in toy story when Buzz finally admits he doesn't fly, but rather falls with style?
Well, today I fell, with style (smile)

So here I am, first 10m high, then 15, and finally close to 20 m from the water.
I peer over the edge to ensure that I will clear the rock, I let Lachy go first
and
then
I jump!
Falling from
the rock's high
safety into
refreshing
water.
Splash!


Photo thanks to weheartit.com

Ejected into water
next to jellyfish
and caves.

(no worries, didja know that not all jellyfish sting?)

To return to the top, rock
c l i m b i n g
is required..
And the exhilaration begins again a little higher then last time!


A wooden ship, I sort of fell in love with

Upon my return I discovered a quote that match my day's adventure:

"Experience. Dream. Risk. Close your eyes and jump. Enjoy the freefall. Choose exhilaration over comfort. Choose magic over predictability. Choose potential over safety. Wake up to the magic of everyday life. Make friends with your intuition. Trust your gut. Discover the beauty of uncertainty."

Be bold, wild, crazy and gloriously free.

Cheers, from a free spirited Becca

A long way from home..

Based on the book, Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence by Doris Garimara, this Australian film is a true story based on three mixed-race Aboriginal girls who were captured by Australian authorities and placed into re-education camp under the pretense that citizens of Aboriginal decent should be breed out of existence.

With guidance from an Aboriginal film class, Elizabeth rented the film and I found it very moving and desiring to know more.

Perhaps it also had a small bit to due with my history concentration with special highlighting in civil rights...

I found connections between the mistreatment of Aboriginals to Native Americans. From the period of 1830 until recently, (despite occupying Australia for at least forty thousand years) Aboriginals were separated from their families and placed into institutions or reserves that resulted in many not knowing their family origins. Similarly to the film, many were children and have become known as the " Lost Generation ".

Due to cruel treatment in history relationships between white Australians and Aboriginals today are strained and are painted with negative stereotypes.

Saint Patty's

Even though Australians on a whole do not celebrate Saint Patrick's Day as whole-heartedly as we do in the states (can I just give a shout out to Chicago Festivities?) a whole gang of us from the Village still ventured into the city to enjoy the Irish festivites at O' Brady's pub however the line was too long and discovered The Mustang instead!

Photo thanks to the lovely Stevie

No matter where I am in the world I will always simply adore Saint Patrick's Day!!
I only have a very little Irish blood in me from my mother's side but that never stops me from diving in on the celebration!
This year I was introduced to the Irish game of hurling, good fun!

An Irish Cheers, Becca

The hound dogs are at it again...

I have received my second letter of communication from the hound dogs! Let's follow the same format as last time eh folks : below is the original letter and I have inputted my responses.

Hello Becca!
Here is our second set of questions for our Becca Blog. We really enjoyed the response you posted last time. We also enjoy reading your Blog, looking at the pictures of the beaches and your mates, learning about Perth, and the experiences you are having. The hound dogs here in Muskegon, Michigan would like to ask:

1. Have you been homesick since being there?

I must explain that I have been traveling from the moment I was born and I have been told that I seem to "not let the grass grow very long under my feet". In short I have a suitcase heart. Throughout my travels I have people that I miss and would've liked to pack along with me. Then there are the cultural differences that I notice but I don't think I've ever been homesick in my life. I reckon though if this was my first time away from home it would be a whole different story!

2. Have you been to McDonald’s or Hungry Jacks yet? If so, as claimed, is it better than American fast food?

I'm not really that interested fast food in general so I have yet to indulge in Mickey D's or Hungry Jacks. Kate, the other girl from my University, has expressed disappointment in the breakfast menu at Mickey D's though!

3. Are public schools in session right now since it’s summer? We are confused about that.

The school year here is from February until October. February is just on the tail end of summer down under and Autumn is already here. If it helps think about how we (Americans) head back to school at the end of summer just before the leaves start changing because remember the Southern Hemisphere follows the opposite seasons from us! Do you know why?

4. What’s playing at the movie theater right now? Are the same movies playing in America?

I just posted about the Alice and Wonderland film which explains how I originally thought I would be watching films way after everyone back home got them, but instead I actually get to see them two days prior! The same main screen shows are out right now : Alice in Wonderland, How to Train a Dragon, Dear John, Remember Me, Green Zone, Avatar, The Bounty Hunter, etc. Then there also weekend outdoor showings in the park that are more artsy films such as : The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (watch out! It was a little too mature, even for more (smile) ).

5. What do public school students wear for their uniforms?

There are different uniform styles to allow for personal choices as well as to match the season! The uniform reflects a school's colors and emblem. Currently most girls are wearing a collared dress, or a polo shirt and skirt and boys are wearing a polo shirt with cargo shorts. Toe covering shoes and a sun hat are required as well. I'll have to post some pictures from my school !

6. What are tim tams and tiger toast?

Hrm.. how to describe a tim tam... There are two layers of malted cookies surrounded by chocolate. I think I best just put a picture up of the chocolate delight:

Photo thanks to Arnotts.com.au

Have you heard to the yeast spread, Vegemite? You can get it at some grocery stores in the states because it was bought out by Kraft. Perhaps you can persuade Mrs. Fitzpatrick to bring some in for a taste test! Disclaimer: spread it really, really, really thin. Tiger toast is when you spread Vegemite on toast and then top it with melted cheese. Not my cup of tea but others find it quite tasty!

7. Were you good at surfing? Have you gone back?

I did catch a few waves!! Which is a really good sign for a beginner but I haven't had the chance to go back. I have been keeping my eye out for surfing friends to tag along with though.

8. Why can’t you wear shoes in church or is it just church at the beach?

Shoes are welcome everywhere! My feet fell constricted in shoes especially during the summer so I was delighted when I saw some of my fellow church goers slipping their shoes under their seats during the service and tying them up again after wards. I didn't mean for it sound like shoes weren't allowed... Sorry!

Photo thanks to weheartit.com

9. Where’s the strangest place you’ve been since being there that made you feel like you weren’t in America?

This has been your trickiest question yet... Let me ponder...
Besides the first day of my arrival where I felt a little bit helpless with not being familiar with the city, friends, transportation, etc I would say the first day I went grocery shopping! Sounds lame, but imagine going to a store, say for a package of cookies (hey we all have our cravings!). If you asked a worker where they were, you'd sound realize they are called something else (biscuits) then directing to the right aisle. Once you find the section, you can't find graham crackers, or those delicious ginger snaps you are accustomed to , in fact you might not see a single brand you recognize! Hrm, now what? Oh! I spy some oreos... I usually don't buy those in the states but at least I know that they are. What? Only one kind of oreo? Then, you notice the price, two dollars more expensive then what you pay for them. So you try to remember how much they were back in the States, ponder the conversion, and wonder if they are worth it. After calculating it out, you think "maybe I can't be bothered to buy Oreos after all." Now repeat that cognitive process for everything else on your grocery list : exhausting!!!

10. Are all the holidays the same, such as St. Patrick’s Day?

The ten public holidays celebrate in Western Australia include : New Year's Day, Australia day, Labour Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, ANZAC Day, Foundation Day, the Queen's Birthday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

ANZAC day is day of remembrance
Photo thanks to globalvoicesonline.org

St. Patrick's Day isn't really celebrated here but I assure you that didn't stop my mates and I from having a great time!! Halloween is casually celebrated here on an adult party level, so no trick o' treating (bummer!). Thanksgiving is the other main holiday in America that isn't recognized here but that makes sense since it was Columbus coming to America not Australia :). They also have a Labor day or should I spell it, Labour Day which is similar context to us but celebrated on a different date from us!

We are celebrating St. ‘Fitzpatrick’s’ Day today with beads and lots of green! Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Hound dogs

Dear Hound Dogs,
I hope that St. Fitzpatrick's Day turned out very well. Did everyone wear their share of green? Maybe you even enjoyed a little Irish Hurling (a game a little bit like Cricket)? I hope I can continue to keep up with my adventures and that you continue to think of thought-provoking questions!
Cheers, Becca

Mundaring What?

Mundaring Weir. Mundaring What?
Basically a dam that was built between 1898 and 1902 to store water to be pumped as part of the Water Supply Scheme.

As then, the Mundaring Weir still provides ample of water to the surrounding areas. The weir has only been known to overflow twice and now seems highly unlikely to ever occur again.
Mundaring Weir has become part of the Perth Hills National Park Center.
Which is also home to a bit of the Bibbulmun track (approx 1,000 Km long).

Thanks to meeting up with my newly found friend, Asten and her delightful friends I now know the dark secret behind tremendous engineering project.

You see, Mundaring Weir was a proposed solution by Charles Yelverton O'Connor to aid in the lack of water systems (resulting in a plethora of deaths human, animal, and plants as well as rapid spread of disease e.g. typhoid from lack of fresh water). O'Connor devised and proposed a simple solution using hydraulics and steam that would pump water a whole 560 Km. Due to cost and vast distance the plan was viewed with harsh criticism.
O'Connor took the the criticism to heart, became flustered and then took his own life.

Shame, since the plan was built less than ten months after his death. Just goes to show you where there is a will there is a way, and to always hold faith.

Speaking of faith, having lived in Australia for six weeks and still not seeing a kangaroo; I, myself, had to continue to hold faith that one day I would indeed see a wild kangaroo.

Low and behold, after walking the Weir and before our picnic, I spot an entire mob of kangaroos!

Fun fact : the ratio of kangaroos to humans in Australia is 3:1.
Way to dominate, kangaroos!

Another fun fact, when an English man spotted the aforementioned animal and asked an Aboriginal what it was called, the Aborginal responded, "kangaroo" meaning "I don't understand" your question. And henceforth has been coined a Kangaroo.

FYI :

• a female kangaroo = flyer
• male kangaroo = boomer
• baby kanga = joey

Satisfied with our kangaroo finding the lot of us enjoyed our Aussie delights with a rose garden neighboring, and "28"s (a very colorful bird) singing near by.

Cheers to the innovative O'Connor and the finally spotted kangaroos,
Becca

A Heated Hike

Another thing to cross of my list : hiking.

Taken place at Yellagonga Park also known as Lake Joonalup.

Beginning our adventure at 8 with:

• clean socks, just over two liters of water each, two carrots, a peanut butter sandwich, an apple, a camera some wasabi peas, an apple, money just in case, proper sneakers, bus pass/student card and a backpack.

Elizabeth and I began the trip with the notion the hike would be 20 Km around the lake (approx 12 miles) and considered the weather sunny, slightly breezy and not excessively hot.

The hike started light-hearted.

Adventuring by the water to find cool shelters some animal made and some man-made.

Then the trail ended.

And soon fox-trap warnings were being read.
We noted the time, and promised had we not found a more
traveled path with in the hour we would turn back.

We continued only to find we went the wrong way,

and that the trail only continues after walking
alongside the highway a bit.

So we stop for a snack and water break and noticed that through our trek (the wrong way) through sand and grasses we had become quite dirty! (note the line of dirt and not so white sock)

With reassurance from a biker, we continue to find the trail again! yay!

And soon realizing that perhaps the entire trek will have to wait for another day,
we take comfort, shade and hydration from a lovely Cafe.

What we learned after our hike :

• turns out it was actually a 104 degree day (not a pleasant day), the hike was more like 30 km around the lake (good thing we didn't reckon to continue), and that on a hot day a good five liters of water consumption is recommended (good thing we didn't continue).
• that we had only fed our appetite for more hiking! So keep an eye out for more hiking adventures.

Cheers from a hiker's heart, Becca

Oh Alice..

Oh Alice,
Sometimes I am curious how your tale was contrived but atlas a delightfully charming story none the less. Some suspect a role of "additional tools" of creativity must have been involved but for now, I'll rest believing Alice and Wonderland was born with a pure mind.
That being said, the book of course is a masterpiece and (in my opinion) rightfully, the Tim Burton's version of the film should be considered one as well.

Now onto how this applies to the Australia culture.

Well along with many other misconceptions I thought perhaps movies from America would be released at a later date here than in the U.S. of A. However, quite the opposite. Turns out I can see a new release film on Thursday, and because of the time different correlates to viewing the film two days prior than in comparison to my American friends.

So here's to being able to take a fall down the rabbit hole two days sooner,
Becca

p.s. photo credit to : http://artandghosts.typepad.com/were_all_mad_here_/

Ze Cat Empire

( a creative one of the concert, thought Brandon would like that one )

The Cat Empire is a famous Australian born band in Melbourne. I'd call them a mix between jazz, rock, ska and an arm full of fun.

The concert tickets cost 75 dollars and included two opening bands : the Beautiful Girls (who are ironically all men) and Whitley. Then between each act and after the show was DJ FDel.

If you have heard of the Cat Empire at all I bet you would have heard their song, "Sly"
Check it out on youtube (smile).

Whitley's song Poison in Our Pockets is recognizable as well.



All credit goes to the fabulous Terry for organizing the whole ordeal and putting up with our excitement throughout the week.
Thanks Terry (above )



Did I mention we had to take a ferry across to South Perth since it was a waterfront concert?



(a look back from the Ferry to Perth)

We started the evening a little early to insure a good spot on the lawn (before the mosh pit began!) enjoyed our packed dinners and a game of spoons!



Once the Cat Empire took stage, Dell was generous enough to look after our things even though we insisted he came along.....


(Dell is the tall one in the maroon)

Closer to the stage Elizabeth spent a few numbers being passed around our shoulders to get a better look.



She is a shorty (giggle).

Conclusion? I had one of the best nights so far, with good music and great company. Can't imagine a better way to spend my Friday night and here are some goofball pictures to demonstrate that fact even more :



Ze men getting a side splinting laugh in!



Love it.



Sums Kate and Tyy right up.
I swear if they don't frame this one they have another thing coming!

Our next performance in the works... maybe Cats?

A gigglehans, Becca

Tennis Anyone?

Dearest Tennis Gods,

Thank you for finding me a tennis partner!

Caroline is from Germany and although we may have language barriers the sport of tennis doesn't mind.

I look forward to close games and sweat lined tank tops.

Lots of appreciation,
Becca

p.s. I thought you'd get a giggle from this tennis version of
Napoleon Dynamite. Kudos again to weheartit.com

American Girls

So here I am, half way across the world and I find my adventure buddy to be an American.

Funny how small the world really is.

I wondered does this have to do with her being American, so we easily understand each other's slang, can recite the Pledge of Allegiance or know the exact geographic location of our home universities?

Nah. I think it has more to do with our shared love for sports, outdoors, independence and spontaneity.

So to this I say I love you Americans, but I love internationals too !

Cheers, Becca

p.s. photo kudos to weheartit.com

A Trip Fit for Royality

The American Gals (Kate and Elizabeth) and I ventured out to Kings Park, a botanical garden in Perth. Turns out Kings Park is one of the larger botanical gardens within city limits.

In the middle of the crest is a flower called the Red and Green Kangaroo Paw, the declared flower of Western Australia.

On the bus ride over we met a neat older lady with some of the coolest earrings, who works at the botanic gardens on the east side of Aussie and just "had to" travel over to Perth to check out the competition (smile).

As soon as you hop off the bus you get a glorious view of Perth (above)
and
of this massive tree (below)! The roots alone could have swallowed me whole.



The park is home to many World War One and World War Two memorials including:

this wishing well (all proceeds go to the Rotary club)

the woman's fountain (signifying the hardship of maintaining the home front and serving as nurses)

and monuments to the military such as this one with the navy's emblem on the left (note: the flags proudly waving). Another monument (not pictured) was to honor the firefighters "who run into a fire when everyone else is running out." And there were also trees lining walkways with dedication tags from parents who had lost a son.

Hidden off the beaten path was the DNA tower! 202 steps intertwining to form a double helix.

Rumor has it that you can see Rottnest island (no worries, I plan to venture there one day so more information to come) from the top...

So we climb and....
dunanannanan!

The view from the top. No such view of Rottnest Island can be found.
Trees need to be trimmed. Bummer!

Below are some fun plants :

I hope to have a post just dedicated to native plants so hold out until then!

Being studious girls, we found some shade to get some reading in before our classes the next day.
And on our way out we stopped by the gift store, and like all botanic gardens I have visited found some really neat things!
I can't tell too much though since some are gifts for back home!

Always in for a day at the park,
Becca