Playing in the waves.

The best day activity was when Ben quite literally DRAGGED us into the ocean. I swear the titantic sunk in water around the same temperature. The waves were around 2 meters or so high (6 feet ish) and were just crushing. It was so fun to be taken out by the waves and even cooler that my camera is waterproof and I could capture it on film. Sarah even lost her glasses because the waves were so large. I was so nervous that I was going to lose my favorite sunglasses and be glass-less throughout the rest of the tournament. I have never been so scared of a wave before! It was by far one of the most fun times in Perth and something I do not think I will ever forget. There was nothing you could as a wave came crashing towards you but scream as loud as you can. Then you dive under the water and grip onto your sunglasses and camera for your life. I prayed I wouldn't lose anything of mine, especially after Sarah lost her glasses. Luckily they were cheap ones that were replacement. Regardless, it was the perfect way to spend the afternoon with the teammates playing in the waves.

Our intense athletic games

We had volleyball games every day. Mostly against our motivation and excitement. Our game schedule looked something like
Monday: 9 am and 2 pm
Tuesday: Noon
Wednesday: 2:30 pm
Thursday: 10 am and 1 pm
Friday: Noon
As you can see we had VERY intense volleyball matches especially since most games lasted around 30 minutes with a maximum of a 45 minutes match.

In between matches we had an even more intense schedule full of practices and training. not. We laid out, went to the surf shops, and ate at the local fish and chips and kebabs places. This was seriously a holiday with a few volleyball games in between.

The way our competition went was that we had pool play for the first three days, and then a tournament to decide places on Thursday and Friday. We won one game during the pool play. That placed us 4th out of 5 in our pool. The one team we beat had never played beach volleyball before in their lives. The problem with us playing was 1. we had never played all together before. 2. The wind was absolutely crazy sometimes and took the ball everywhere 3. We could play REALLY REALLY WELL during the really hard teams, and then play absolutely horrific against teams we could have really easily beaten.

The tournament went about the same way. We played really well against the 1st place team in the other pool, but when it came to teams that were still drunk or really bad, we would lose it and fall apart. I guess it is what to be expected for a team that was there more to party than to actually play volleyball. We finished 7th out of 11 but we claim we came in 1st and they just forgot to get us medals. Or we never received our medals which was weird for a tournament.

The best part of the games was the ridiculous-ness that we encountered while playing. For incentives to play well during the games we had drinking rules. If we didn't get a serve in, it was a shot/drink for yourself. If you let a ball drop to the ground without at least ATTEMPTING to get a hit on it equaled a round of jager bombs for the entire team. With 4 jager bombs costing around $48 dollars, it was everyone's incentive to not let a ball drop and at least try. The best example of these rules in effect was when Sarah and I quite literally collide and smashed into each other in order for us not to pay for a round. The rules stated that if it was an equal distance away from two people... BOTH parties bought a round for everyone. As long as we didn't have to buy rounds for everyone, then we were happy.

We progressively got better as the week went on. If we would have had more training together I honestly think we could have won our division easily. A lot of the time we were messing around so much we forgot our form and how to play the game. Libby was nicknamed "Liability Libby" because we never knew how she was going to play that game, or even from serve to serve. I am sure she got sick of Ben telling her this all the time but it was all in good fun and team bonding.

Our rides to and from the hotel included a 45 minute bus ride to the beach and back everyday. Luckily, Ben was from Perth originally so he ran home and grabbed his car. His car was named El Rodeo because it was a a tank. It was a shift truck and when it rained it we slid all over the place, especially when Ben tried to burn it out. It was these truck rides where we figured out what happened the night before, what we were going to wear that night, and all other funny things that have happened during the day. It was these car rides we got close as a team and created all too many inside jokes

PERTHection. The Uni games begin!

The time to wake up came all too quickly. I literally took a nap instead of having a night's sleep. I got dressed in my huge ghetto track suit, grabbed my crumpet and bags, and left Queensland for Western Australia. After an hour bus ride, an hour check in, a 5 and a half hour flight, an hour baggage arrival, and a half an hour bus ride, we arrived at the Comfort Inn in East Perth. I spent the majority of the flight sleeping or reading for class to the disapproval of my airplane partner Charlie. Otherwise I was in a drowsy daze the most of the day traveling.

On the bus on the way to the hotel, I had my first experience with Killer. Michael Kilmartin is a 27 year lawyer, that does not actually take classes at Bond, yet is on the Rugby 7's team. Our chat on the bus ride including his life story, my dietary habits, and his convincing works to get me to eat meat by the end of the trip. News flash Killer, you will not convince me. I thought I was just being tired and awkward for the fact I was having a hard time understanding him, and following the logic behind his conversation. But, I realized quickly that it was Killer and not me. Killer ended up being the highlight of the trip. If we were bored and needed to be entertain quickly, Killer was our guy. Granted, I think he is a little slow (Even he admits he doesn't have all of his light bulbs screwed in correctly) and most of the time you want him to be quiet. But he tries to fit in and be funny. And it is the thought that counts.

Our hotel room can only be described at a sardine house for 3. It was three small beds next to one another with a meter in between, 3 chairs, one table, a closet, and a bathroom. Needless to say it did not stay clean for very long ever. We made a quick trip to the bottle-o and supermarket for the week and had to get ready for the opening ceremony. Libby's bag got lost on the way and I was happy at least one of us had a bag to share clothes and toiletries until her bag finally arrived. The theme for that night's club hopping was "Team Colors" so we quite literally wore our track suits out to the clubs with leggings and shoes. We went to the opening ceremony where some team bonding and cheers where occurring all over the place. After the mascot dance and us getting antsy, the best thing happened. Killer was being an odd ball as usual when all of a sudden he flipped the adorable Asian photographer over his shoulder. He threw the photographer to the ground, placed a foot on his chest, pulled his legs back and looked like he was going to break his neck. It took two teams and all of us to pull him off of the photographer. But is was by far the funniest thing. When we asked him about it the next morning he replied, "I thought he was a roo that I just shot. I threw him over my shoulder, pulled his legs from his face, and was about to crack his neck so I can grill him for dinner." Way to go Killer, you yet again made a fool of yourself.

Libby almost didn't get in because her shoes didn't have backs but after some convincing the bouncers let her in! The club was called the Library and it literally looked like an old library. It was sweet. After lots and lots of team bonding drinks and dancing we headed home for night in preparation to start domination the beach volleyball court in the morning.

Trying to have a quiet weekend.

Continuously running around as usual for us here in Queensland, we are always running to do the next thing, or meeting, or training. We had our "pre-departure for Perth" meeting before sprinting off to the bus to catch the rugby game. We FINALLY received our track suits and Bond Gear! It consisted of: a zip-up grey hoodie (my favorite), the most comfy grey sweat pants, a Bond tee, a water bottle, a hat, and a bag! Just enough stuff to rub it in everyone's face, without looking like Bond threw up on me (okay, I'll still look like that but oh well!) I am so excited so Perth and can't wait to leave now!

I am still unaware of how Libby and I found our way to the rugby game. I guess following the crowd isn't too bad of a thing at this moment. Where ever we saw Gold Coast Titans fans, we followed. Our nose-bleed seats were still pretty good and we tried to follow along on a game that we knew none of the concepts. After a half trying to piece together the information, we finally broke down and asked the kids around our age sitting next to us. Then the violence of the game kicked in. They are so brutal and I know I would end up in different pieces if I played. So I will stick to watching. Something I can do very well. Rugby Men are so attractive!! Especially in their little shorts with overly huge muscles, I can get use to this sport...

The game was so much fun! But unfortunately, our ride back was not. So many people were crammed on one train we had to stand the entire hour and 30 minute train ride back. Not to mention that there was this kid that WOULD NOT stop talking. Really loud. obnoxiously, and about nothing. For starters he ruined all the Harry Potters. I HAD NOT SEEN/READ THE LAST ONE KID SO THANK YOU. and about his cousin's birthday party, and Lord of the Rings. It was quite possibly the most annoying kid I have ever met. And of course, he got off at the stop before us, so we were with him the entire time... Luckily he was far enough from me where I still had to hear everything he said, but didn't have to look at him unless rendered necessary.

Saturday, was no different of course. After getting ready for volleyball training no one showed up... Until a half an hour later when Shanon our trainer/coach showed up. He gave us our uniforms and told us to go watch the AFL (Australian Football League) (footy) finals. The finals are comparable to our Superbowl and a really big deal along with the NRL (National Rugby League) finals which are the following weekend. Considering we have never seen footy, he gave us a quick description and told us to stop playing and go catch the second half of the game. So we went to our common room to watch it. A nice boy from New Jersey understood the game a little more than we did and helped us watch it by explaining things along the way. We decided to root for the underdog and got really happy when they starting winning. But, by the time the buzzer went off, it was a draw. Tie Game. So instead of going into overtime, they play another match the following week. People who bought tickets had to by another set, another pre-show and halftime show, more money for the AFL and more weekends of footy. I couldn't believe that overtime doesn't exist! (well it does... but not until after the 2nd game). Apparently this has only happened like 3 times in the history of the AFL and a really big deal that we even got to witness it.

That night the girls and I decided on a quiet little dinner at a Hibachi place with Stephen and a movie for the night. The movie theater was the nicest thing I have ever seen. You have assigned seats and people get really mad if you sit in their seat. So the entire time before the movie Libby and I were panicking because we wanted to sit in the middle and not in the aisle... It was very nerve racking but luckily we didn't get caught. The food court in the movie theater was ridiculously nice too... There was ice cream stations (as in more than one) candy stations (as in more than one) food stations (like dinners) coffee stations, and so much more. Then, for a mere 30 dollars you can buy a Gold member seat. Which a different theater, with reclining chairs, foot rests, massage chairs, air conditioning and seater heaters, a waitress who will bring you a dinner, drinks, or anything else you may need so that you don't need to get during the movie. They pretty much do everything for you except pee for you... I am debating when this will be part of my budget... maybe for the next Harry Potter?!

After it was around 11:40 and we still hadn't packed for Perth which we were leaving for a 5 am the next morning. A quick call to the taxi and we should be on our way. 45 minutes and around 34238 calls to the taxi service... we were finally on our way home. And after about 30 minutes of procrastination... I finally start packing. By 2 am I finish packing and take a cat nap until 4:15 when I wake up to embark on the trip I would have never imagine called Uni-Games...