Orientation/Jet-Lag Camp

2/10/09

Welcome to the land of kangaroos, emus, wombats and cockatoos; welcome to the land of Oz! The 14 hour flight was super comfy and actually quite short. I think I slept for most of the flight but then watched classic movies like “Clowdy with a chance of meatballs” and District 9”.

When I landed, me and the 34 other IFSA Butler students gathered just outside Customs for the tour bus to take us away to a Northern suburb of Sydney Australia: Panoberra. We arrived at Sydney Sports Academy, a place where athletes and community members alike can train for footie sports, swimming and tennis. It’s the home of the “Manly Sea Eagles”. Yes, they are manly, and no, there are no women manly sea eagles. Anyways, I was bunked with three other Tassie girls! They are the nicest people. There is Becky, Temi, and Lisa (the UPS girl).

The first day spent in Sydney was filled with wild, exotic and venomous animals at the Torongo Zoo. It was a gigantic zoo with some pretty steep hills. My new group of girl friends and I toured around in the 80 degree, intensely humid animal park. We got so sweaty…well, okay. I got so sweaty. But we were tehn rescued because the second activity was a two hour cruise around the Sydney harbor! Though I didn’t throw up, I did feel a little woozy with the swell. Fun fact: Sydney harbor is the largest natural harbor in the world!

After the harbor boat trip (around 4pm) we returned back to the Sports Academy and my SSC (basically my Tassie camp counsler) Dara, suggested we go for a Bush walk adventure. I was foolishly and ambitiously curious what this bush walk would entail, so I enthusiastically signed up for the trip. Well. Let me tell you. Dara is like the enigizer bunny on crack. We hiked up steep hills, through water, over rocks, and my favorite, through poisonous spider/snake infested bush. Dara, our pack leader, walked straight through a massive spider web. I almost peed myself from laughing so hard. She shrieked bloody murder and threw off her shirt.

Mom and Dad, my instincts are fantastic. I should be afraid of spiders. Every and all spiders. Espcially here. American spiders have nothing on these Aussie babies. These spiders are at least 3 times the size of the average American spider AND bonus! They make MASSIVE spider webs that you only notice until you walk through them.

Anyways. After our epic 2 hour bush walk, we had some dinner and then watched a local Aussie band play for us. They were a blue grassy/cowboy band who taught us some very fun square dances. Thanks to my years of Israeli dance (haha) I could recognize and identify that most of the dances included variations of “Slide down the middle”. It was very fun, but my body had never been so tired.

I passed out only to quickly awaken to the sound of Lisa’s alarm. We devoured a delicious breakfast of watermelon, other various fresh fruits and cereal. We have the BEST food on this trip. Really, we get out money’s worth. Dad you would be happy.

This day was the day of the surfing adventure.. My group was the first to go. We had two surf instructors: Bryce and Shane. We hopped on some crappy foam boards and went through the ABC’s of surfing and dove into the water. The water was clear as can be. You could see the fish! (kind of nerve wracking just because there are Man of War jellies, Portugese Blue Bottled Jellies, sharks, sting rays, and snakes). I caught some waves. I am a very bad surfer. Sorry brothers. But I am a professional wipe-outter, and I am not scared of bigger waves. The water was so lovely and refreshing, I could not get over it. Plus, the instructor, Bryce, told me that my tattoo was the nicest tattoo he has ever seen. He said that he has seen many and that mine was his favorite by far. Really, it made my day.

After the beach extravaganza, my group had a meeting about Tassie, then went for another Bush walk adventure with Dara. This one was supposed to be our short one because we had a footie game (rugby) waiting for us at around 4. At 4, Dara noticed that we weren’t back yet. Oops. Short? Psh. Not with the energizer bunny. During the bush walk, Dara and I got into a huge debate over US politics and the Mexican US border and the drug wars. I think I may have upset her, but she promised me that she enjoyed debating and wouldn’t have continued voicing her opinions if she didn’t like the conversation. I think I won because the only thing she had to say to me at the end of the talk was that she loves how college students cant think outside the box and pigeon hole everything they learn in college into a single, narrow opinion. I countered back with: “Im an art major. I everything we talked about today was from me reading the paper daily and research.” Really? Narrow minded?

Oh! That reminds me! Dad, if you are reading this, this is very important for you! So, in Australia, insults and mockeries are just different ways of showing affection! So for instance, when one of the SSC’s told my friend Becky that she looked like a train wreck, smelled, and needed a shower, easily translates to the American: “Hi, Im Joe, you seem like a nice person, can I be your friend?” So that man who told you that your shirt was the ugliest he had ever seen? He was just demonstrating his affection. YOU probably hurt HIS feelings by not insulting him back. Stupid Americans ruin everything.

Following the debatably pleasant bush walk, we had dinner (it was Italian mmm) and then watched an Aboriginal dance. It was so awkward. I did not know how to act. It was very interesting and beautiful, however at the end, everyone wanted a group picture. I am not sure how, but I got stuck in the way front with the men. I did not want to be in the picture. I think it was because I felt that I was exploiting those men? I don’t really know. The whole situation just made me feel uncomfortable.

Honestly, I am very sad that I am leaving my orientation camp. I have made friends with so many people whom I really love and I cannot believe that it has only been three days. Part of it is that I don’t want to start all over in Tassie, but apparently, that place is so spectacular that I just cant pass it up. We Tassie students had a meeting about what to expect with out living accommodations and what have you…Christ College has hazing. We have an entire “O-Week” in which we have hazing activities which includes serious hikes, sunbaking (sunbathing but for me, sun burning), drinking, dancing, kareoking, and ghost hunting. IMPORTANT TASSIE FACT The entire island is HAUNTED. Really very haunted. Ghosts everywhere. This island is like a giant Alcatraz; a place where only the worst of criminals found themselves. During this entire weeklong initiation, we have an international student orientation. I do not understand where these Aussies get their energy! I am so tired and I am about to be exhausted.

Honestly, it is very reassuring to me that Lisa, Becky and Temi are all as anxious and nervous as I am about leaving our new safety net of Sydney and traveling to Tasmania. These girls are what keeps me sane and calm. We talk about going exploring and shopping together so we don’t have to find hangers for our closets alone. We live next door or across the campus from each other so we can dine together. It’s nice to have them as a support group. Though we have only known each other for three days, we have done so many trust building activities with each other that I feel as though we have been friends for years. I know this sounds ridiculous, but it is incredibly hard for the average person to dance, sweat, surf, and sing with random strangers. The girls told me that even if Dara forgets about the Shabbat dinner, that they would come with me to the Synagogue to have a good hearty meal and a fun night out. I know we may eventually find other friends but I have to say I am glad I have met them. I am only sad that I wont see my other friends that I have made at this camp. There is Allison and Judy and all these other wonderful people that I wont be able to be great friends with because they will be in different parts of the country. However, I will hopefully be given the opportunity to visit these girls and see what their new environments and schools have to offer them.

Family and friends, I miss you! You all come up so often in conversation. Ben, the sea urchin story is a hit. Dad, the “is crystal letting you down?” mugs is a personal favorite. Everyone knows that Sam is going to be the next president of the United States and just moved to DC and my friends love the fact that Mom bought the smartest fluffiest puppy in the world. I have yet to have time to get home sick but I am sure one day it will hit. I do love New South Wales, and Dad, I am all for us moving here. Just be prepared for some humidity. Hope you all enjoy the pictures! Hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,

Alie the Tassie Aussie