I cut out the shirts and sewed the main part together, but Mom helped me do the edging (well, she basically did it). And now I can enjoy my vet med shirts forever! Thanks Mom!
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Vet med t-shirt quilt
While moving out of Kansas, back in Aug 2013, I had to go through all my clothes and figure out what to keep and what to donate (or throw). I had a ton of tshirts from my Vet Med days, and though some of them were really worn out, I couldn't bear to part with them. Mom was kind enough to help me make a 2-sided t-shirt quilt!!
I cut out the shirts and sewed the main part together, but Mom helped me do the edging (well, she basically did it). And now I can enjoy my vet med shirts forever! Thanks Mom!
I cut out the shirts and sewed the main part together, but Mom helped me do the edging (well, she basically did it). And now I can enjoy my vet med shirts forever! Thanks Mom!
Saturday, May 17, 2014
The Great Ocean Road
Something on every Victorian visitor's list is to visit the Great Ocean Road. I've been fortunate enough to live 30 minutes away from the beginning. Two weeks ago, I set out on my last road trip to enjoy the GOR.
All attempts to fully describe the road fall short, but Wikipedia has a good summary:
When Dad visited for Christmas, we did a full day on the Great Ocean Road, with a midday hike in Lorne as well. The scenery was just so gorgeous throughout the drive.
Not only was the scenery spectacular, the roads were also really dynamic. There were some long stretches with tree cover that were very windy. I couldn't help but think that it would be a perfect spot for motorbiking. Check out this video I made of the roads:
If you ever find yourself in Australia, a trip to the Great Ocean Road is certainly warranted. And later on down the road you can see the Twelve Apostles, of which only 8 are left due to erosion. Along the drive, be sure enjoy the beautiful beaches!!
All attempts to fully describe the road fall short, but Wikipedia has a good summary:
"The Great Ocean Road is an Australian National Heritage listed 243 kilometres (151 mi) stretch of road along the south-eastern coast of Australia between the Victorian cities of Torquay and Allansford. Built by returned soldiers between 1919 and 1932 and dedicated to soldiers killed during World War I, the road is the world's largest war memorial. Winding through varying terrain along the coast and providing access to several prominent landmarks, including the Twelve Apostles limestone stack formations, the road is an important tourist attraction in the region."
When Dad visited for Christmas, we did a full day on the Great Ocean Road, with a midday hike in Lorne as well. The scenery was just so gorgeous throughout the drive.
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| Visiting the Great Ocean Road with Dad over Christmas |
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| View from the road |
Not only was the scenery spectacular, the roads were also really dynamic. There were some long stretches with tree cover that were very windy. I couldn't help but think that it would be a perfect spot for motorbiking. Check out this video I made of the roads:
Driving along the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia
http://youtu.be/l3e971GOGuQ
If you ever find yourself in Australia, a trip to the Great Ocean Road is certainly warranted. And later on down the road you can see the Twelve Apostles, of which only 8 are left due to erosion. Along the drive, be sure enjoy the beautiful beaches!!
Friday, May 16, 2014
Day of Geocaching in Melbourne
I spent an entire day enjoying the sights of Melbourne (detailed story here), and during my walking around and exploring, I found some geocaches!!
For those that aren't familiar with geocaching, it's quite addictive, cheap, easy and a great family activity. I read a very accurate (albeit unofficial) description on a blog once: "Geocaching is when people use multimillion dollar satellites and expensive personal equipment to find tupperware in the woods." Truth.
Geocaching is a great way to experience a new area as well as enjoy the outdoors with your family on a mutual quest. If geocaching is new to you, I highly recommend looking into it here: http://www.geocaching.com/guide/ I paid $9 for the app on my iPhone and haven't spent a cent since on the hobby! Adventure awaits!!
(Key: Cached means cache was found and logged. DNF means "did not find")
My adventure in Melbourne:
#1 Found: Southern Cross the age of the wave (GC30J6X) - This cache was just outside the Southern Cross train station - a central area of Melbourne. This was a difficult cache to find/retrieve because it was in the middle of one of those metal median pieces in center of the road. It was extremely difficult to try to find the cache without being hit by a car, but also while not drawing too much attention. Sadly it took me nearly 15 minutes to find it, but not after some Indian businessman offered help "Are you ok, lady?" So much for being inconspicuous...
#2 Found: Carlton Cache Series #2 Mother Ursula's Mission (GC4CKA4) - This cache was in a lovely residential area of Fitzroy. Very quite neighborhood, but unfortunately the large building across the street from the cache was undergoing heavy construction, so lots of people were hanging around available to stare at me. Luckily I was still able to retrieve/log/return the cache without difficulties.
#3 Found: John Woods (GC2V78E) - Another easy one to find but very difficult to extract without drawing attention. Throughout the day it became more and more apparent that metropolitan caching is a whole 'nother ballgame (I'm more used to caching out in the bush/fields). But as luck would have it, I swiped the cache quickly, took a stroll to sign the log and then quickly returned it as stealthily as I could. Very good location right at the Royal Exhibition Building to bring people near the Melbourne Museum.
#4 DNF: The Queen of Harlotry (GC342A7) - This cache was centered around an area of brick cottages in a row of 6 built in the 1850s. The area was referred to as a "Slumdown" and nearby was the domain of Madam Brusels, "the Queen of Harlotry" who ran 8 brothels in the area. I had no luck finding the cache due to high muggle activity, but previous logs were all DNF so I think it might have been muggled. Still, a fun place to visit, both because of the historical significance but also because it's a hotspot for the business folk during the lunch hour.
#5 Evans Lane (GC3038R) - This was another great cache due to historical significance. Lots of these little laneways have been around since the 1850s-1860s, and some of the original brick is still visible. I love geocaching for many reasons - both for the excitement of "the find!" but also in that you are brought to secret spots in the city that you would not otherwise visit without seeking out the cache. This particular laneway was covered in really artistic graffiti (not gang graffiti but actual art). After nervously sticking my hand into a dark hole in the brick wall - success! Cached and onto the next one.
By this point in the day (and due to my location), the streets just kept getting busier and busier. I'm used to caching in the country or public parks. These caches have hazards listed like "dangerous animals" "ticks" "tree climbing" "snowshoes" "significant hike" "watch for livestock." But these Melbourne CBD caches had hazards like "stealth required" "public transport available." Quite nutty for my experiences.
#6 DNF Melbourne's Lanes #7 Artemis Lane (GC2XK7T) - Again, high muggle presence. There was literally no looking for this cache during this time of day. I have a hard time imaging that this area is ever deserted.
#7 DNF Welcome to Melbourne (GC2GVR5) - High muggle area in Chinatown. And of course I found the spot but couldn't "properly search" due to an Asian man taking his smoke break in the alley. I mean, c'mon.
#8 Found: Drewery Alley (GC30AK1) "Drewery Alley, along with Drewery Lane and Drewery Place, were named after chemist Thomas Drewery, who was elected a City Councillor for Gipps Ward in 1851" More lovely historic laneways. There was some really cute graffiti in this alley (monkeys below) but it was still kind of a creepy alley. Glad to finally find the cache and leave.
#9 DNF: Men of Harlech (GC10GBZ) Last cache of the day was nearby an old church. I didn't have to worry about muggles because the entire alley was blocked off for constructions. Super disappointed as a last cache, but I was happy to have the 6 finds that I did.
All in all, a good day of caching (and tons of walking) plus a great tour of some of Melbourne's more historic districts. I look forward to getting home and logging more Kansas caches!
For those that aren't familiar with geocaching, it's quite addictive, cheap, easy and a great family activity. I read a very accurate (albeit unofficial) description on a blog once: "Geocaching is when people use multimillion dollar satellites and expensive personal equipment to find tupperware in the woods." Truth.
Geocaching is a great way to experience a new area as well as enjoy the outdoors with your family on a mutual quest. If geocaching is new to you, I highly recommend looking into it here: http://www.geocaching.com/guide/ I paid $9 for the app on my iPhone and haven't spent a cent since on the hobby! Adventure awaits!!
(Key: Cached means cache was found and logged. DNF means "did not find")
My adventure in Melbourne:
#1 Found: Southern Cross the age of the wave (GC30J6X) - This cache was just outside the Southern Cross train station - a central area of Melbourne. This was a difficult cache to find/retrieve because it was in the middle of one of those metal median pieces in center of the road. It was extremely difficult to try to find the cache without being hit by a car, but also while not drawing too much attention. Sadly it took me nearly 15 minutes to find it, but not after some Indian businessman offered help "Are you ok, lady?" So much for being inconspicuous...
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| Southern cross station |
#2 Found: Carlton Cache Series #2 Mother Ursula's Mission (GC4CKA4) - This cache was in a lovely residential area of Fitzroy. Very quite neighborhood, but unfortunately the large building across the street from the cache was undergoing heavy construction, so lots of people were hanging around available to stare at me. Luckily I was still able to retrieve/log/return the cache without difficulties.
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| Fitzroy area, but not near the cache |
#3 Found: John Woods (GC2V78E) - Another easy one to find but very difficult to extract without drawing attention. Throughout the day it became more and more apparent that metropolitan caching is a whole 'nother ballgame (I'm more used to caching out in the bush/fields). But as luck would have it, I swiped the cache quickly, took a stroll to sign the log and then quickly returned it as stealthily as I could. Very good location right at the Royal Exhibition Building to bring people near the Melbourne Museum.
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| John Wood cache at the Royal Exhibition Building |
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| John Woods GC2V78E |
#4 DNF: The Queen of Harlotry (GC342A7) - This cache was centered around an area of brick cottages in a row of 6 built in the 1850s. The area was referred to as a "Slumdown" and nearby was the domain of Madam Brusels, "the Queen of Harlotry" who ran 8 brothels in the area. I had no luck finding the cache due to high muggle activity, but previous logs were all DNF so I think it might have been muggled. Still, a fun place to visit, both because of the historical significance but also because it's a hotspot for the business folk during the lunch hour.
.gif) |
| Lt Lonsdale circa oldtimes |
#5 Evans Lane (GC3038R) - This was another great cache due to historical significance. Lots of these little laneways have been around since the 1850s-1860s, and some of the original brick is still visible. I love geocaching for many reasons - both for the excitement of "the find!" but also in that you are brought to secret spots in the city that you would not otherwise visit without seeking out the cache. This particular laneway was covered in really artistic graffiti (not gang graffiti but actual art). After nervously sticking my hand into a dark hole in the brick wall - success! Cached and onto the next one.
By this point in the day (and due to my location), the streets just kept getting busier and busier. I'm used to caching in the country or public parks. These caches have hazards listed like "dangerous animals" "ticks" "tree climbing" "snowshoes" "significant hike" "watch for livestock." But these Melbourne CBD caches had hazards like "stealth required" "public transport available." Quite nutty for my experiences.
#6 DNF Melbourne's Lanes #7 Artemis Lane (GC2XK7T) - Again, high muggle presence. There was literally no looking for this cache during this time of day. I have a hard time imaging that this area is ever deserted.
#7 DNF Welcome to Melbourne (GC2GVR5) - High muggle area in Chinatown. And of course I found the spot but couldn't "properly search" due to an Asian man taking his smoke break in the alley. I mean, c'mon.
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| Asian man, I need you to finish your smoke and leave so I can grab the cache!! |
#8 Found: Drewery Alley (GC30AK1) "Drewery Alley, along with Drewery Lane and Drewery Place, were named after chemist Thomas Drewery, who was elected a City Councillor for Gipps Ward in 1851" More lovely historic laneways. There was some really cute graffiti in this alley (monkeys below) but it was still kind of a creepy alley. Glad to finally find the cache and leave.
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| Cute monkey graffiti in the alley |
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| Alley had a super creepy aura |
#9 DNF: Men of Harlech (GC10GBZ) Last cache of the day was nearby an old church. I didn't have to worry about muggles because the entire alley was blocked off for constructions. Super disappointed as a last cache, but I was happy to have the 6 finds that I did.
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| Damn construction |
All in all, a good day of caching (and tons of walking) plus a great tour of some of Melbourne's more historic districts. I look forward to getting home and logging more Kansas caches!
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Bucket Lists are a BAD lifestyle choice
My time here in Australia has been winding down, and I've had a lot of people ask me about what's on my "Australian bucket list". At 29, I am far from being a wise old woman, but I am really annoyed at how much weight people put on so called "bucket lists". I am adamantly against bucket lists - because if you wait until the last minute to do all these great things, what the hell have you been wasting your time on in the interim? Why are you saving everything for a bucket list? Get out there and do it, dammit!
There is really only one "bucket list-worthy" item that I'd like to do - visit and experience the Great Barrier Reef. Now that would be a great trip. Unfortunately I can't afford the flight/accommodation/etc required to do the trip. And if I'm going to do the GBR, I'll want at least two weeks to really take it in. A two-week vacation to the GBR isn't in my "time-budget" here in Australia. After all, the reason I came here was to study/learn/train at the lab I'm currently at, not to extensively vacation around Australia.
Google (yeah a great source, I know) defines a bucket list as "a number of experiences or achievements that a person hopes to have to accomplish during their lifetime" or in my case "to accomplish during their time in a certain part of the country/world". You shouldn't make a bucket list 6 months before you die, or 2 months before you leave your location - no, you make your bucket list TODAY. And tomorrow, you start on it!
The GBR is a long-off trip to be planned. But everything else - during the first week after my arrival in Australia, I immediately started doing things, going places, attending festivals, trying restaurants. If you don't start on the things you want to experience on day one, then you'll never give yourself the chance to try it all. I've done a ton in Victoria, seen lots of the tourist places and historic sites. I've been to quite a few museums in the area to learn about the culture, as well as made a small number of friends that have helped me with/taught me about local traditions and customs.
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| Do fun stuff! Do it! |
I've done this before on a smaller scale - I did short 3-week trips around the country during my 4th year of vet school. My trips were mainly to visit/work in labs around the country, but also to experience the culture in that region. I got to live in Connecticut for 3 months after first year of vet school, and I did my best to experiences as much as I could during that internship. I'd make great friends, do fun things, and then have to say my goodbyes.
"Bucket list" items (seriously, I hate this term) don't just include food/locations, they also include people. For each trip I've taken, I've been lucky to meet great people both at work and outside of work. I was only there for a short time, so I made the most of the time I had with them. And dammit if there wasn't always that one person who brushed me off for two weeks straight, but then during my last week "Aw! You're leaving soon! Let's get coffee together everyday this week and spend the entire weekend together!" NO... that isn't how it works people. Spend time with people when you can, and one last hurrah is appropriate for a send-off, but it is completely inappropriate to guilt someone into feeling bad for not spending lots of time with them right before they leave.
I'm not naming people, but this has happened to me four times now: Connecticut, Louisiana, Iowa, and Kansas all had culprits. Kansas was by far the worst one. I loved spending time with the people I knew back home - some of them for years. But seriously, I lived in Manhattan for ten whole years before moving to Australia. Yet a few individuals couldn't be bothered with me until *just* before I left. It's insulting. Enjoy the long weekends with friends when they come. Go out for dinners/coffees often - do it for no other reason than "just because".
I've had some friends lose friends/parents this year, and I apologize if the following paragraph sounds flippant. Death is no small matter, and I don't consider it something to be trifled with. My "leaving" locations was temporary for Kansas, but not really for CT, LA, IA. I'll likely never see those people again, maybe I will, who knows. So saying goodbye was semi-final (but not as final as death of course). PEOPLE LEAVE! People move, people start new jobs, lives change. So if they are important to you - SPEND TIME WITH THEM WHILE THEY ARE HERE. They may move, they may get sick, they may end up in a terrible car accident. Ok, I'm being dramatic, but really. Spend time with the people who are important to you.
Ok, back to the traditional "bucket list". "Oh but M, I have kids, I can't experience all the things going on in my location because I'm busy with kids" Yeah that's another bucket list you can tick off everyday - each day is a gift, but especially with kids because they grow so fast and in a blink of an eye they're teenagers! Experience as many activities as you can with your kids, but it doesn't have to be an award-winning restaurant or a huge cultural festival. Moments during a tea party or playing in the sprinkler in the backyard can be more precious than any event you have to pay for. Friends with kids - you probably already know this, I'm preaching to the choir. You know, because I have so much "experience with kids", haha.
In summary.... man this post ended up much longer than anticipated, sorry about that. I'm not really a fan of editing.
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In summary... visit the historic places in the area you live, go to a few cultural festivals, go to that restaurant you've been "dying" to eat at. Stop waiting to do that "thing" or that "thing" will be closed/over and you'll have missed it! If you have kids, you can reduce this list as you like, but you're not getting off on the next point.
Spend time with the people who are important to you!!! For me, that's my family. Living overseas has been really rough in that respect, but being so far away from my family has made me appreciate how lucky I was to have them nearby when I lived in Kansas. If it's your buds - spend time with them and don't wait until the week they leave to hang out with them. (They will end up resenting you if you treat them like that)
If you have enjoyed my post, please comment! Really, I think I am the only person who visits this blog anymore....
Friday, April 18, 2014
KSU Article about Geelong
I received a bit of an early birthday present this year. I was contacted by one of the people in the public media department of Kansas State University to talk about my time here in Geelong working at AAHL. I was excited to be able to share stories with him and even more excited to see the final article come out this past week. I think it turned out really great, and I've already received a few emails from people commenting on the article and asking more questions. Have a read below.
Birthday Down Under
I had a birthday!! My birthdays have always been family-oriented, but that's quite hard while living in a foreign country. But even still - it was a great birthday spanning about three days (due to Easter scheduling as well as time conversions).
My pseudo-birthday was Wednesday (because things were nutty on Thursday). I organized a bit of pool and ping pong in the secure area along with Easter sweets to enjoy. There was a great turnout, about 10 of us enjoyed a long lunch playing pool and other games in the secure area lounge. Now how many people can say they enjoyed their birthday playing pool in PC3? It was an awesome way to break up the day, though I'll willingly admit to a terrible stomach ache at 4pm. Too much fun and sugar, but totally worth the stomach ache.
Later that evening was Dodgeball. Wednesday was the first evening we all wore coordinating tie-dye shits made by a fellow PhD student's friend. It dunno if it was the magic of tie-dye or a phase of the moon buy everyone was ON FIRE! I've never played a better game of Dodgeball. Not only did we win, but we won honorably with awesome plays and some slick catches/throws. Bangin' night and great way to end the day of my pseudo-birthday.
Thursday came, my actual birthday, but I didn't make any plans because people were leaving for Easter vacations and such so it was too difficult to organize. Regardless, I had a very peaceful day in the lab and got to leave a bit early (due to the holiday I wasn't the only one). That evening, I went out for tea with a few PhD-mates at a nearby hotel. And "going out for tea at a hotel" really means "having dinner at a bar". Such confusion with nouns at times, but I'm catching on. It was a terrific end to my real birthday day.
Good Friday was enjoyable as well. Like I said, birthdays are very family-oriented for me, so I got to Skype with my parents as well as my sister. When they called it was Thursday evening, my real birthday, in the states. I had a nice hour-long talk with both my folks via Skype and then with my sister afterwards. It was really great to hear from home, but it kind of made me more anxious to get home. I miss my family a lot so it was super great to hear from them on my birthday, as well as motivate me to get things done to organize my travels home.
Tomorrow I'm hoping to head to Bell's Beach for the famous pro-surfing competition held annually at Bell's Beach - we'll see if I can get in or if it's too busy. All in all, a great birthday week!!
My pseudo-birthday was Wednesday (because things were nutty on Thursday). I organized a bit of pool and ping pong in the secure area along with Easter sweets to enjoy. There was a great turnout, about 10 of us enjoyed a long lunch playing pool and other games in the secure area lounge. Now how many people can say they enjoyed their birthday playing pool in PC3? It was an awesome way to break up the day, though I'll willingly admit to a terrible stomach ache at 4pm. Too much fun and sugar, but totally worth the stomach ache.
Later that evening was Dodgeball. Wednesday was the first evening we all wore coordinating tie-dye shits made by a fellow PhD student's friend. It dunno if it was the magic of tie-dye or a phase of the moon buy everyone was ON FIRE! I've never played a better game of Dodgeball. Not only did we win, but we won honorably with awesome plays and some slick catches/throws. Bangin' night and great way to end the day of my pseudo-birthday.
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| Dodgeball Champs in tie-dye! |
Thursday came, my actual birthday, but I didn't make any plans because people were leaving for Easter vacations and such so it was too difficult to organize. Regardless, I had a very peaceful day in the lab and got to leave a bit early (due to the holiday I wasn't the only one). That evening, I went out for tea with a few PhD-mates at a nearby hotel. And "going out for tea at a hotel" really means "having dinner at a bar". Such confusion with nouns at times, but I'm catching on. It was a terrific end to my real birthday day.
Good Friday was enjoyable as well. Like I said, birthdays are very family-oriented for me, so I got to Skype with my parents as well as my sister. When they called it was Thursday evening, my real birthday, in the states. I had a nice hour-long talk with both my folks via Skype and then with my sister afterwards. It was really great to hear from home, but it kind of made me more anxious to get home. I miss my family a lot so it was super great to hear from them on my birthday, as well as motivate me to get things done to organize my travels home.
Tomorrow I'm hoping to head to Bell's Beach for the famous pro-surfing competition held annually at Bell's Beach - we'll see if I can get in or if it's too busy. All in all, a great birthday week!!
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Australianisms: Episode 3
"Walkabout"
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| "Gone walkabout" |
Honestly, I hear people say "walkabout" and I know it's an historical Aboriginal reference but I can't help but think of the kid in the movie "Australia" with Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman. The kid goes "walkabout" as part of his heritage. When something disappears in the lab, it goes "walkabout". I don't hear it much, but I've hear it enough to have it stick in my mind. "Walkabout" refers to things that seem to disappear forever, not temporarily (like the constant problem of pens going "walkabout" and disappearing into the abyss).
"A rubber"
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| Rubber ducky, you're the one! *quack quack* |
I think this is another Englishism that has become an Australianism. A rubber in Australia is an apparatus used to remove pencil marks. Yet in the States, a rubber is an item used to avoid pregnancy and STDs. Which becomes quite awkward in the lab when someone asks you for a rubber.
"You want a rubber?"
"Yes, toss it here quick"
"A rubber? What?
"It's sitting right there, pass it over"
"Oh, an ERASER, made of rubber"
"Yes, a rubber, pass it here"
I think it may have been more awkward if the individual had been male, but regardless, it caught me off guard and gave us a good laugh.
"Rock up"
To rock up is to show up, be present. I'm really curious as to where this one originated. Is it a bastardization of "walk up", to rock up? I can't find any reason why the word "rock" is involved in this saying. It always makes me think of rock climbing when I hear it. Definitely haven't heard this one come out of my own mouth...
"Flash"
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| Not that kind of flash |
Another random Australinaisms is "flash", which means high-end/fancy/fantastic. I often hear "flash" referred to when talking about nice cars, but I've heard it applied to a few non-automotive items as well. A new stereo, a motorbike, jewelry... I'm quite sure it's another term that has just been shortened, as in the Australian way. "Flashy" is now "flash".
Random other things I've discovered/heard/read about (mostly from Buzzfeed Oz):
- In 1975, Australia had a government shutdown, which ended with the Queen firing everyone and the government starting again.
- Despite sharing the same verbal language, Australian, British and American sign language are all completely different languages. Thank goodness I don't have hearing problems...
- Kangaroos and emus cannot walk backward, one of the reasons that they're on the Australian coat of arms. In addition, Australia is one of the only countries where they eat the animals on the coat of arms.
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