I can smell the difference in the air --- Australia is changing. As the country begins to shed its winter coat, much like a sheep sheds its wool, evidence of renewed life herald's the arrival of spring. I see trees blossoming and the winds are no longer so cold. They carry with them warmth and the unmistakeable smell of spring. Even the sun seems hotter and brighter. Temperatures are climbing and Canberra is now in the 15C-20C daytime high range, though not quite at the upper end. Today was a particularly warm day reaching 17C. Spring officially starts on September 1st and its obvious that the winter winds have fled and the new ones have not the same sting.
In my previous post, I mentioned that this was a big year for Australian sports, but I failed to mention another milestone. 2008 is also the 100th birthday of one of Australia's cricketing legends, Sir Donald Bradman. This man is held in such high regard that the name "Bradman" is protected by the government to prevent businesses trying to confuse consumers with false associations of the name. Sir Don was perhaps the greatest cricketer of all time and he holds many records but the most impressive one was his 99.94 runs average in test cricket. He died a few years ago. His renown is such that the first question Nelson Mandela asked when he was released from prison was, "Is Donald Bradman still alive?"
In footy news, I felt honoured to be given the Women's Division 1 Grand Final (Championship) to goal umpire. This morning, I woke up and went down to Ainslie Oval eagerly. The game was won by the Eastlake Football Club; I, and I'm sure many others, call them the Ladies of the Lake. It wasn't a particularly close game but I felt privileged to be chosen as one of the goal umpires. It's a mark of recognition of umpiring ability. I stayed around for 2 other Grand Finals (Men's Divisions 4 and 3) and it was fortuitous that I did. In the 3rd quarter of the Div 3 game, Angie, one of the goal umpire's assigned, pulled her calf muscle and I had to quickly get dressed and fill in. There wasn't much action on my end but the game proved exciting as the winning team overcame a considerable points deficit to win their 3rd championship in a row. I don't expect to get any more finals games simply because there are only a few left and there are more experienced umpires available.
As the footy season draws to a close, there are several umpire functions to be held, the last of which will be a dinner. I plan to attend and I have been nominated (1 of 5) for a "Bachelor of the Year" award. I can't help but wonder what happens to the recipient of the award; perhaps a date with Big Edna, the Loneliest Hun.
I have also been offered a job at ACTTAB, the territory's gambling agency, barring the unforeseen. This would pay quite well, $23.75/hr and it would not involve any truly strenuous activity. Something that must be understood about Australian culture is that in addition to sports, gambling on them is also a national pastime. In fact, when the Melbourne Cup is run in early November, the whole country gets a day off. It's quite a contrast to Canada where betting is not particularly widespread. For example, Australia is very into horse and greyhound racing and horse racing gets several pages (usually a fold-out) in the local newspaper's sports section. In Canada, horseracing only gets a few columns. And in case you think greyhound racing is cruel, it helps if you just think of them as little horses. Australians will bet on anything and there are several government sanctioned agencies that allow them to do this. Essentially, a person will go to a TAB and place bets with employees. This is what I would be doing.
I found out today that one of my favourite comic strips, For Better or for Worse, has just ended its run, something like nearly 30 years. I've been following the adventures of the Patterson family since the early 1990s and while overseas. I enjoyed it for its interesting plots and its realism. Next to Calvin & Hobbes, it was perhaps the best comic strip out there and I'm very sorry to see it end.
And lastly, in a few days time another milestone will quietly pass. September 2nd will mark the day that I have been the longest away from Ottawa. September 2nd will mark 211 days away that city, just over 30 weeks. Looking back, it doesn't even seem that long.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Sunday, August 24, 2008
The Sporting Nation
If I were to be asked to describe Australia in only one word, it would be "sports". While "Outback" would be a close contender, Australia's fascination with sports reaches back to even before the Outback was settled. Unknown to many, Australia is actually one of the world's great sporting nations. For evidence of this, one only has to look at its Olympic medal performance. Australia currently sits in the top 5 in total medals accumulated but at first glance appears to be eclipsed by nations like China and the US. However, consider then Australia's total population, about 20 million. When you consider the medals per capita, Australia is far and away the leader. I once read a statistic that when counted in this way, Australia is number 1 and roughly 3 times better than the number 2 nation, the US. And as if that weren't enough, Canada has a connection to this. Following the 1976 Montreal Olympics, Australians were so disappointed with their medal tally that they instituted the Australian Institute for Sport and poured huge sums of money into development. Australia hasn't looked back since.
2008 is a big year in Australian domestic sports as it is the 100th anniversary of the rugby league (NRL) and the 150th Anniversary of Aussie rules. When I saw the game in Gosford some months back, that was the 100th birthday. August 7th was the 150th birthday of Aussie rules and was designated as "Kick Around Australia Day" where people were supposed to go out and kick the football around or wear their team colours. I wore a Sydney Swans scarf to university that day. Aussie rules and rugby league are the 2 dominant sporting codes in the country and it is somehow fitting that they should be celebrated together.
The weeks at university are drifting by again at what seems to be an ever-increasing pace. Although nothing is due immediately, I am conscious that assignments are coming up and so I've been doing some research and thinking. An international law assignment looks particularly interesting.
Work at Cafe Pronto is just as the name suggests, at time very hectic. Friday was a particularly busy day with many orders, some quite complex. Luckily, I have 2 floormates who also work at the Cafe so we form a pretty good team. I've even picked up the Aussie tradition of a quick drink after work, though for me, a soft drink is a suitable replacement for alcohol.
2008 is a big year in Australian domestic sports as it is the 100th anniversary of the rugby league (NRL) and the 150th Anniversary of Aussie rules. When I saw the game in Gosford some months back, that was the 100th birthday. August 7th was the 150th birthday of Aussie rules and was designated as "Kick Around Australia Day" where people were supposed to go out and kick the football around or wear their team colours. I wore a Sydney Swans scarf to university that day. Aussie rules and rugby league are the 2 dominant sporting codes in the country and it is somehow fitting that they should be celebrated together.
The weeks at university are drifting by again at what seems to be an ever-increasing pace. Although nothing is due immediately, I am conscious that assignments are coming up and so I've been doing some research and thinking. An international law assignment looks particularly interesting.
Work at Cafe Pronto is just as the name suggests, at time very hectic. Friday was a particularly busy day with many orders, some quite complex. Luckily, I have 2 floormates who also work at the Cafe so we form a pretty good team. I've even picked up the Aussie tradition of a quick drink after work, though for me, a soft drink is a suitable replacement for alcohol.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Occupied
I have found myself more occupied than have in the past. I can report that I have been doubly lucky in the past week. I was selected to goal umpire 2 playoff matches in the Women's ACTAFL and I have found some part-time employment.
The first stroke of luck I was informed of last Tuesday at the umpires' training session at Manuka Oval. Being selected to do playoff games is something of an honour as it is an acknowledgement of good umpiring skills throughout the year. I'm very thankful for the opportunity and hope to get more playoff games in the coming weeks. It was this Saturday that the games were played, one after the other. The problem with women's sport is that it is not taken as seriously as men's sports so the quality of play is not of the highest caliber. Nevertheless, the games were interesting. The second game ended in a forfeit after one team, already short a few players, suffered injuries which put them below the minimum amount required. The last injury was fairly serious and the poor girl was knocked out. The play was clean and it just happened to have unfortunate consequences. Luckily for the losing team, the playoff scheme is such that they get a second chance next week. Hopefully, with many playoff rounds left to play, I'll be selected for a few more games.
As mentioned, I've managed to find some part-time employment at a Cafe Presto, a little restaurant not far from where I live. It may be cliched, but I'm making pizza, among a few other duties. I don't know why, but I feel content when making pizza. It's something about creating something with some skill, rather than putting a couple beef patties on a burger. Interestingly, I don't think that there's a single Italian among the staff. The chef is a rather quirky German named Gunder who's travelled the world and has a very interesting sense of humour. I found this job because one of my floormates works there and mentioned that they had lost quite a few staff. One day, I agreed to go down and fill in for his shift since he's been sick. I filled in and got a job. Wages are pretty good in Australia and I'm looking forward to making a little disposable income.
I was also delighted to hear that Canada earned it's first Olympic medals today, among them a silver in rowing. Although Canada produces many champion rowers (think Silken Laumann for one), I think few realize just how long a tradition this is in Canada. Canada's first international championship was in rowing. In August of 1867, Canada being only a few weeks old, 4 fisherman/rowers from New Brunswick rowed in Paris against British and French teams. The Canadians wore pink caps and overalls that must have seemed absurd to the spectators. Believing in them, their home town had bet a large sum of money on the race. Undaunted, the 4 rowed and beat the competition. From then on, they were known as the "Paris Crew" and remained undefeated for the rest of their careers together.
The Paris Crew had one advantage over the competition in that they rowed with no coxswain and they were fishermen. With no coxswain, the boat was considerably lighter allowing them to be faster and more manoeuverable. It's good to see Canadian rowers carrying on this tradition of excellence.
Also, I added a few photographs of my Melbourne trip on my blog last week. Be sure you take a look.
The first stroke of luck I was informed of last Tuesday at the umpires' training session at Manuka Oval. Being selected to do playoff games is something of an honour as it is an acknowledgement of good umpiring skills throughout the year. I'm very thankful for the opportunity and hope to get more playoff games in the coming weeks. It was this Saturday that the games were played, one after the other. The problem with women's sport is that it is not taken as seriously as men's sports so the quality of play is not of the highest caliber. Nevertheless, the games were interesting. The second game ended in a forfeit after one team, already short a few players, suffered injuries which put them below the minimum amount required. The last injury was fairly serious and the poor girl was knocked out. The play was clean and it just happened to have unfortunate consequences. Luckily for the losing team, the playoff scheme is such that they get a second chance next week. Hopefully, with many playoff rounds left to play, I'll be selected for a few more games.
As mentioned, I've managed to find some part-time employment at a Cafe Presto, a little restaurant not far from where I live. It may be cliched, but I'm making pizza, among a few other duties. I don't know why, but I feel content when making pizza. It's something about creating something with some skill, rather than putting a couple beef patties on a burger. Interestingly, I don't think that there's a single Italian among the staff. The chef is a rather quirky German named Gunder who's travelled the world and has a very interesting sense of humour. I found this job because one of my floormates works there and mentioned that they had lost quite a few staff. One day, I agreed to go down and fill in for his shift since he's been sick. I filled in and got a job. Wages are pretty good in Australia and I'm looking forward to making a little disposable income.
I was also delighted to hear that Canada earned it's first Olympic medals today, among them a silver in rowing. Although Canada produces many champion rowers (think Silken Laumann for one), I think few realize just how long a tradition this is in Canada. Canada's first international championship was in rowing. In August of 1867, Canada being only a few weeks old, 4 fisherman/rowers from New Brunswick rowed in Paris against British and French teams. The Canadians wore pink caps and overalls that must have seemed absurd to the spectators. Believing in them, their home town had bet a large sum of money on the race. Undaunted, the 4 rowed and beat the competition. From then on, they were known as the "Paris Crew" and remained undefeated for the rest of their careers together.
The Paris Crew had one advantage over the competition in that they rowed with no coxswain and they were fishermen. With no coxswain, the boat was considerably lighter allowing them to be faster and more manoeuverable. It's good to see Canadian rowers carrying on this tradition of excellence.
Also, I added a few photographs of my Melbourne trip on my blog last week. Be sure you take a look.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
So They Say
They say it might snow. An interesting concept for a country so associated with heat. Snow is one thing Canadians are very familiar and comfortable with, even if it does give us problems occasionally. Sometimes we even hope for a deep fresh coat to give us some time at home. I wonder how Australians cope with it? Do they see snow as winter's occasional gift, or as some terrible menace from the mountains? I may find out soon. So far, even though spring is only a few weeks away, August has produced the coldest weather this year.
I recently took a look at the calendar and realized that I'd spent more than half a year away from Canada's shores. So far, I've spent 187 days away from Ottawa though only 173 days actually in Australia. It doesn't feel like all that much time has passed and yet Ottawa seems something like a distant memory; a dream only half-remembered. It's as if I've always lived in Australia yet I know that I'm a newcomer. Maybe I'm slowly beginning to see Australia as my new home.
On Friday, I took in a spot of culture in the form of the ANU Law Review. This is a sort of variety stage show that the Law Students Society puts on every year with skits written by students and acted by them. Essentially it's a chance to satirize the university, the faculty, the University of Canberra and the politicians. The broad focus was on Kevin Rudd and his government, though the larger portion of the show was devoted to poking fun at the faculty. Barrack Obama was not spared and even he was the subject of some more than gentle ribbing. The whole affair was very entertaining and humourous. Perhaps, I'll write a skit for next year. I have two really "good" Heath Ledger jokes.
Friday night, the whole of Fenner Hall was mesmerized with the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics. I went down to the ground floor where TVs were tuned to the event and there were free refreshments. I was generally impressed, as was everyone else, I think, with the performance. Let's hope the competition of the 29th Olympiad itself lives up to the expectations the opening ceremonies created. I remember thinking that it's amazing what you can do with unfettered power and the near-unlimited resources of the state.
A bit of bad news, though, as I found out that I didn't get the Public Affairs Section job at the Canadian High Commission. The brief e-mail didn't outline the reasons I didn't make the cut, but I have a feeling it was mainly because I am a full-time student. The interviewers hinted that they expected a full-time commitment to this program, which is something I could not give. But there is still hope. I have not heard anything yet about the second internship, the Canada Education Centre. Hopefully, I'll have more success with that one.
I have been following my brother's adventures in New Zealand with a great degree of interest. He has a very engaging writing style, as well as some great photographs on his blog, http://www.bloggingmiddleearth.blogspot.com/. I thought today just how appropriate it is that I'm in Australia and he in New Zealand. Australia is often thought of as New Zealand's bigger brother but New Zealand has great charm. I'm sometimes envious that my brother is in that country and I here. I've been there before and ever since, New Zealand, especially the South Island, has had a special place in my thoughts. I look forward to visiting my brother there and we're planning on travelling to parts of the South Island I haven't seen. I'm sure it'll be a great trip.
I must mention 2 things I forgot to in my previous post. The first is about the trivia game a few Sundays ago. Unfortunately, my floor came in 3rd so no prize for us. I hope there'll be other chances to test our knowledge.
The second item was the injury I caused to a player while goal umpiring 2 Saturdays ago. It was completely unintentional and depending on how you want to look at it, he ran into me, I ran into him or we both ran into each other. The way it unfolded was there was a kick towards goal but the ball fell short and hit the ground. I expected it to bounce fairly low towards the goal area without any possible obstruction from any player. However, the ball took an unusually high bounce and this necessitated a change of position on my part as it meant that players would be able to interfere with the ball before it crossed the goal line. It was while changing positions that the other player and I collided, both of us falling to the ground. Nevertheless, I managed to keep my eye on the ball and I was able to signal the correct score, a goal. I got up and dusted myself off but the player stayed down clutching his stomach. The best I can guess is that he impacted with my elbow and got a little winded. It wasn't too bad and he was up and on his feet in short order. It would seem we umpires are made of sterner stuff.
I recently took a look at the calendar and realized that I'd spent more than half a year away from Canada's shores. So far, I've spent 187 days away from Ottawa though only 173 days actually in Australia. It doesn't feel like all that much time has passed and yet Ottawa seems something like a distant memory; a dream only half-remembered. It's as if I've always lived in Australia yet I know that I'm a newcomer. Maybe I'm slowly beginning to see Australia as my new home.
On Friday, I took in a spot of culture in the form of the ANU Law Review. This is a sort of variety stage show that the Law Students Society puts on every year with skits written by students and acted by them. Essentially it's a chance to satirize the university, the faculty, the University of Canberra and the politicians. The broad focus was on Kevin Rudd and his government, though the larger portion of the show was devoted to poking fun at the faculty. Barrack Obama was not spared and even he was the subject of some more than gentle ribbing. The whole affair was very entertaining and humourous. Perhaps, I'll write a skit for next year. I have two really "good" Heath Ledger jokes.
Friday night, the whole of Fenner Hall was mesmerized with the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics. I went down to the ground floor where TVs were tuned to the event and there were free refreshments. I was generally impressed, as was everyone else, I think, with the performance. Let's hope the competition of the 29th Olympiad itself lives up to the expectations the opening ceremonies created. I remember thinking that it's amazing what you can do with unfettered power and the near-unlimited resources of the state.
A bit of bad news, though, as I found out that I didn't get the Public Affairs Section job at the Canadian High Commission. The brief e-mail didn't outline the reasons I didn't make the cut, but I have a feeling it was mainly because I am a full-time student. The interviewers hinted that they expected a full-time commitment to this program, which is something I could not give. But there is still hope. I have not heard anything yet about the second internship, the Canada Education Centre. Hopefully, I'll have more success with that one.
I have been following my brother's adventures in New Zealand with a great degree of interest. He has a very engaging writing style, as well as some great photographs on his blog, http://www.bloggingmiddleearth.blogspot.com/. I thought today just how appropriate it is that I'm in Australia and he in New Zealand. Australia is often thought of as New Zealand's bigger brother but New Zealand has great charm. I'm sometimes envious that my brother is in that country and I here. I've been there before and ever since, New Zealand, especially the South Island, has had a special place in my thoughts. I look forward to visiting my brother there and we're planning on travelling to parts of the South Island I haven't seen. I'm sure it'll be a great trip.
I must mention 2 things I forgot to in my previous post. The first is about the trivia game a few Sundays ago. Unfortunately, my floor came in 3rd so no prize for us. I hope there'll be other chances to test our knowledge.
The second item was the injury I caused to a player while goal umpiring 2 Saturdays ago. It was completely unintentional and depending on how you want to look at it, he ran into me, I ran into him or we both ran into each other. The way it unfolded was there was a kick towards goal but the ball fell short and hit the ground. I expected it to bounce fairly low towards the goal area without any possible obstruction from any player. However, the ball took an unusually high bounce and this necessitated a change of position on my part as it meant that players would be able to interfere with the ball before it crossed the goal line. It was while changing positions that the other player and I collided, both of us falling to the ground. Nevertheless, I managed to keep my eye on the ball and I was able to signal the correct score, a goal. I got up and dusted myself off but the player stayed down clutching his stomach. The best I can guess is that he impacted with my elbow and got a little winded. It wasn't too bad and he was up and on his feet in short order. It would seem we umpires are made of sterner stuff.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
The Root of All Evils
It began sometime last Sunday, a nagging pain in one of my molars. At first I thought it might be a slight inflammation or infection and that it might pass in a few days. However, as the week progressed, the pain became more acute and throbbing. I finally decided to go see a dentist on Friday as the pain was beginning to interfere with my comfort. I couldn't get to sleep for more than a short period of time as the pain kept me up. The dentist, who was very kind, agreed to see me on short notice immediately. A few minutes and an x-ray later, we had the answer to my pain --- the pulp in the root of my tooth was infected. On whatever bright side there may be, at least it wasn't an abscess, which I first suspected. The dentist immediately put me on a full antibiotic regimen, complemented with occasional doses of Nurofen Plus. All that remains to be seen now is if a root canal will be necessary. I'm not looking forward to one if it is necessary. Whatever may happen, the regimen is working and the pain has all but disappeared.
I did have one bit of good fortune this week, other than seeing the dentist right away, and that was an interview at the Canadian High Commission. It is offering 2 internships, both of which I have applied for. The one I was interviewed for was the "Public Affairs Section" internship, which, as I understand it, is mostly PR. I think I went alright but the fact that I'm a student may work against me as it looks that they may require a full-time commitment. I have yet to hear about the second internship, the "Canada Education Centre". This one appears to involve informing Australian students wishing to study in Canada about various things, talking with academics and other educational institutions. I think that as a student who has studied in Canada, Australia and already been on an exchange, I have a unique perspective on the facets of this internship. We shall see what comes of it.
Tonight, I went to a pub for a little while just to soak in the atmosphere. That may not sound very exciting, but if you know me, it's a pretty rare occurrence. I hope that my tooth problems go away and that I'm hired for one of the internships. We all live in hope.
I did have one bit of good fortune this week, other than seeing the dentist right away, and that was an interview at the Canadian High Commission. It is offering 2 internships, both of which I have applied for. The one I was interviewed for was the "Public Affairs Section" internship, which, as I understand it, is mostly PR. I think I went alright but the fact that I'm a student may work against me as it looks that they may require a full-time commitment. I have yet to hear about the second internship, the "Canada Education Centre". This one appears to involve informing Australian students wishing to study in Canada about various things, talking with academics and other educational institutions. I think that as a student who has studied in Canada, Australia and already been on an exchange, I have a unique perspective on the facets of this internship. We shall see what comes of it.
Tonight, I went to a pub for a little while just to soak in the atmosphere. That may not sound very exciting, but if you know me, it's a pretty rare occurrence. I hope that my tooth problems go away and that I'm hired for one of the internships. We all live in hope.
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