Oz Wintertime

As people I've met here would say, winter is pretty "full on" here now. I'M FREEZING.

I think this weather is supposed to keep on until about September, but literally every single person I ask tells me something different; some say July is the worst and everything after is fine, some say it's completely awful until the end of August, and some people have told me that the weather we've had recently (about 45-50, gloomy, windy and rainy) is the worst it gets. So... I guess we will find out shortly since July is next week!

It's pretty weird being in a completely opposite season than everyone back home, but I guess now I know how all my friends felt when I was posting beach pictures in January - sorry, guys! Anyway, we at least have a decent amount of sunny days where it's still around 50, so it's still really beautiful at times. Honestly, the way I feel about living here is 90% 'super surreal I can't believe I actually made it here, this is awesome' and about 10% the mood I was in when I wrote my last blog - 'holy shit what were we thinking, I'm so lost here and so sick of people telling me I have an accent'. Hahaha. But hey, life experiences, right?

Also, the occasional warm weather plenty of time for hooping in Albert Park, which is right across the street.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention I've been taking hula hooping classes since around February. It's so fun! My term ended, so I might take private classes to brush up on some stuff I want to learn eventually. I have actually been hooping for quite a while, but could only do a few basic things and mostly kept it to our old living room so I wouldn't embarrass myself publicly. Moving basically flipped a switch in me - now I could care less! It's not like I know anyone, right? Here's a link if you want to see what it actually is I'm doing. There's more to it than expected and it's an awesome workout. That video is NOT me, it's just a good video that shows some fun hoop stuff!

I haven't really been on my bike too much, besides last Saturday after my hoop session, the wind is pretty cold and I struggled to make it as far as I did! My game plan is to start biking to work once it's warm - it will supposedly only take around 30-40 minutes, which isn't bad at all. The point of my ride Saturday was to do a trial run to check the distance and directions. The entirety of the ride is along the beach, which will definitely not be a bad way to spend my mornings and evenings! Plus, hopefully it will make up for my weekend beers!

Speaking of beers, we recently had a housewarming party to have our friends we have met so far come over and try our second batch of beer! It's the first time we have had people over and we had a really good turnout - around 10-15 people! Everyone that tried our beer loved it and I'm 99% certain they weren't just being nice (mostly because all of it's gone except for the ones Regis stockpiled in our cupboard beforehand)! I've coined it "St Kilda Squeeze" because of our neighborhood we live in and all of the oranges I excruciatingly squeezed by hand. Also, one of my favorite beers is Harpoons Big Squeeze, so I guess I kinda stole a little of that as well! Anyway, here it is in all its glory.

It pours pretty nicely, but it's a little under carbonated - we're thinking it's because it's been fermenting in a cooler climate than the last batch since we don't use our heat when we aren't home. It tastes like a nice pale ale with some citrus tones. I'd like it to be a tinge sweeter because I wanted it to be almost shandy-like, but it's super drinkable and we're pretty proud of it. For the next batch we are doing a Christmas in July beer! Since it's cold, it'll be pretty appropriate. I'm sure we'll keep you all posted.

Anyways, I'm going to go cook something super warm for dinner (or maybe order my new favorite - pho!) and chill on some Netflix. Seriously, if any of you guys want to Skype (my username is Lacijallday) or video message via Facebook or WhatsApp, just let me know. The time difference isn't too bad!

-L

I Wouldn't Call it Homesick But...

I know, I know.

It's been about a month and a half or something since I've taken the time to update this with what's been going on.

I have what I consider to be a couple decent reasons:
1 - I haven't really been up to much outside of the work/social life/staying alive realm
2 - I've been generally kind of bummed out about some things I sort of miss and can't put them into definitive or entertaining, blog post-worthy phrases

THIS DOESN'T MEAN I WANT TO MOVE AGAIN, so just get that idea out of your head right now before I get into this! ;)

Moving this time was definitely a different experience for me. When I left Ohio, I was so damn happy to get out of there I didn't (and haven't!) looked back since. Most of my good friends had moved away, I had goals to leave there forever and it is generally somewhere I'm not too thrilled to go back to.

I consider Charlotte to be my first real home - it's the first place I made true friends with similar interests (not people I just hung out with because we happened to work at the same place or go to school together). I felt like I truly made it to where I wanted there and really loved it. I just didn't want to stay there because of the limitations that come with living in a smaller city in the US nowhere near the coast (or really anywhere else that matter).

There are just certain things about being somewhere familiar that are very comforting - unfortunately, when you move to the other side of the planet, you kinda lose pretty much all of that! I would love to do any of the following right now (please keep in mind it's winter here and I am going crazy from it getting dark at 5pm and being inside all the time!!):

• Go on the Plaza Midwood Tuesday Night Ride and chat it up with two of my closest friends all night.
• Walk to Wooden Robot Brewery and drink $5 beers all day with friends (oh - and actually having friends to text to hang out on the weekends is pretty sweet too).
• Play sand volleyball at VBGB with my friends I used to work with there.
• Go to an electronic music show at the Fillmore that I can walk to from my apartment and get in for free because I used to bartend for the security people.
• WALK TO WORK. BUT SERIOUSLY, THOUGH.
• Know where the hell specific items are in the grocery store without having to walk around like three times like a clueless idiot.
• Know how to get effing anywhere without using my phone. 
• Not to be basic, but Trader Joe's was a way nicer grocery store than the ones here.
• PUMPKIN BEER.
• Fried pickles, Chick-fil-a, glorious Southern Food, etc. Also, if you live close to a Chipotle please go for me and eat a mountain of guac. The Mexican here is basically non existent. :'(
• Music festivals!!

Sorry if it seems like I'm bitching, but I miss all of the above and a whole lot more - and it's going to be a minute before I can enjoy any of it again (if ever!). Positive upbeat people need to vent/complain sometimes too! 

I'll post something better soon, but I'll leave you all with some cool memories I had from Charlotte:

Seriously, if we were friends at all there, I miss and love you guys all so much. 

<3

Until next time (I'll be back to my chipper self, I swear).

-L

Footy!

Well we are fully in winter now so it seems reasonable to dawn a tank top and some short shorts and go run around outside.  Thats right, I've picked up a new sport and it's called footy.  In order to properly tell this story I'm going to have to take you back a couple months.  Back in mid April I decided that I wanted to give footy a go, so I started looking to see if there were any clubs near our house.  I was in luck, there are 3 teams that call Albert Park home.  So I sent each of them an email expressing my interest and only one got back to me.  The club was the South Melbourne District Football Club.  They said "come on down and give it a go", so I did.  I showed up to the Tuesday night training session with a brand new pair of footy boots and no idea what the fuck I was doing/getting into.  I learned very quickly that its not very easy to kick this stupid ball and that even though I'm in pretty good physical shape, I was by far at the back of the pack.  I had greatly underestimated the game that I showed up to play, but I was not discouraged.  I showed up to every training session (Tuesday and Thursdays) eager to learn, improve, and almost puke my guts out from exhaustion.  Bruises, muscle pain, general aches, these have been the norm for me now for almost two months and honestly I wouldn't have it any other way.

So what is footy?  Well its short for Australian Rules Football but it would be easier to call it Australian No-Rules Football.  It truly is a game that you learn what you can't do rather than what you can do.  I think of it like a combination of American football, hockey, and soccer.  There are no pads, no helmets, brutal tackles, fast pace play, and lots of running.  Its said that some midfielders run a marathon every game.  Its Australias biggest professional sport and Melbourne is home to 10 professional teams.  It has an absolutely massive following and attendance to some of the games at the MCG reach upwards of 95,000 people.  Thats college football numbers in the states.

MCG - Richmond vs Essendon

Etihad Stadium - Richmond vs Western

I have now been playing for just over 2 months and have actually played in 5 league games.  I'm still learning and improving my skills but I have made great strides at a quick pace.  Most of my teammates have been playing since they were about 10 years old.  To put that into perspective, imagine someone trying to play baseball on a league team who has never thrown a ball.  I am actually quite astounded at how nurturing and supportive my team has been of me.  They don't look at is as "this kid sucks, has no idea what he's doing" but rather they help me learn from my mistakes and truly want me to become a better player and bring value to the team.  So for the moment I have hung up the hockey skates and dawned a pair of neon green footy boots at least until the season ends in mid September.