End of The Road Beach Party, Studying and First Exam

Last weekend started off with a bang. Thursday was fairly uneventful other than footy training. After training we went back to our place and just hung out. The next day was the finale to our Mexican friend Chico's parties. Before the party we had a great barbecue on the deck of out building. In the place where I am staying on the third floor there is a common area which contains a large tv, a pool table and an outside deck-ish thing. On this deck-ish thing there are some electric barbecues that anybody can use for free! Its such a good idea because barbecues are one of my favorite things in the whole world. Its sweet because you put a little money together, get some beers and some food and then go hang out outside while you cook the food. Its like a really laid back party where you can just hang out and talk with your friends. Anyways, we had about 20 people over to our building and had a barbecue before this great party. Chico's parties seem to get bigger every time. the first one was probably 20 people or so, the next one about 40 and they have just kept on growing until this one was probably over 100 people. I was really excited for this one too because I hadn't really drank for about two weeks so I was ready for it! Anyways, it was a great time with plenty of ridiculous things going on.

On Saturday I started studying for my Structural Mechanics test which took place yesterday. I studied for probably or 5 hours each day after that and I was still feeling pretty nervous. The test was last night at 6 and was to last 3 hours. It was both the longest and most important test of my college career because it was worth 70% of my grade in a class that I was not doing great in. Well I got the test and I was pretty confident because I had seen all the material before. Come to find out 3 hours is apparently not enough time to complete this test for me though. ugh. I left a few answers blank so needless to say I am a little nervous about the results.

Next on my plate is a paper I have due Monday and a Thermodynamics test next Wednesday. and then I am out of here...

Mornington Peninsula, Going to the Country, Stitches round II, Preparing for exams

So since classes ended on the 29th I've pretty much been bumming around waiting to start studying. So in order to put off studying Mike, Scott, Will and I went to Australian Will's house in the country. We boarded a train to Will's hometown of Colac at 8 in the morning which was pretty early for a Saturday morning. Will's dad picked us up and drove us to there house where we had some great home cooked food which included fresh tomato soup, chocolate chip muffins and grilled cheese, tomato and ham sandwiches. It made me really miss the home cooking of my mom.

After they fed us we took their car and went and saw some of the sights of the great ocean road. Mike and I had already been there but Will had not. We also managed to see some things that I had not seen before which was pretty cool. The weather was also a lot better than the last time I was there so we had a great time. When we got back to Will's house we were treated to another excellent meal including potatoes, a lamb roast, carrots, and some amazing cake afterwards. I really really need to learn to cook. I think when I get back to the states I'm going to pick up a cook book of some sort because I am getting a bit sick of the stuff that I am currently capable of cooking.

The next day we relaxed around the farm and slept in. When we woke up we played games in their pool room and then took a drive around the farm. It reminded me a lot of what I thought the midwestern U.S. would have been like 20 years ago. They owned a small amount of cattle(four or five hundred), grew a lot of their own food, the house had been passed down from the father's parents and although they weren't that far from a small town it felt like we were in the middle of nowhere. It was great to get out of the hustle and bustle of Melbourne and into the country side. We returned from the country at night and promptly relaxed for the entire week. I really should have started studying but I couldn't muster the strength of will to do so. On Tuesday we went on the last Swinmates trip to the Mornington Peninsula and the hot springs. It was great and as usual the Australian coast did not dissapoint. It was very rocky and sort of reminded me of Ireland or Scotland with its green pastures running almost directly up to the edge of the ocean when all of a sudden it dropped down in steep black volcanic rock cliffs into the ocean. The sunset was a bit of a dissapointment due to the clouds but we still had fun.
The hot springs were great because they were like a series of hot tubs minus the nasty chemicals.

Thursday was another night of footy training and then Friday morning I finally was rid of my stitches. Last Friday the 29th when I went to get my stitches out the doctor said that a part of my skin had overlapped. The result was a need for the current set of stitches to be removed and 4 more to be put in. Anyways after another week I got that set of stitches out yesterday. Last night a bunch of us got together and had a really fun barbecue beforea really great party at one of our mexican friends place Chico. It ended up being one of the best nights I've had in Australia so far. I am definitely missing home at this point but at the same time I am extremely reluctant to leave my life here. I have made some great friends that I doubt I will see regularily if at all when I go back to the States. I also have started playing an amazing sport that I already love and will miss playing it as well as watching it on TV when I go back to the states. Anyways, must go watch the Carlton game and then to bed before waking up and studying tomorrow!