New Australia Blog

Once we arrive in Australia we will have plenty to blog about. Angie has created her own awesome blog so she can document all of our adventures. Now you can read her "Aussie News" and see some different Australia pictures.



Check it out @

http://www.freewebs.com/angiebsu/index.htm

Jack Hanna Visits BSU

Jack Hanna visited BSU on Wednesday, November 8th!

He brought a dingo from Australia, a clouded leopard, a Jackass Penguin, a Leopard Tortoise, a Three Banded Armadillo, a Bearcat, a Red Tailed Hawk, some Hissing Cockroaches, a Boa Constrictor, and (my favorite) a cheetah!

Steph and I went to the program with some of our friends and barely got seats! Emens was sold out for the show! I tried to get some pictures but the auditorium lights were dimmed low. Here are the some pictures of the event.

1. Jack Hanna on stage



2. Jack Hanna Talking about the Dingo (from Australia)



3. The Crowd as Jack Speaks about our Endangered Species



4. My Favorite Animal of the Night: The Cheetah!

Cook Islands?

We had our 1st Australia Meeting on Sunday. One of the questions that was brought up involved the possibly to extend our study abroad time......



At the end of our Australia Study Abroad opportunity we have the option to travel to the Cook Islands.....



We would be on our own....in charge of everything: transportation, lodging, food, entertainment etc. etc.



These islands are not traveled by tourists very often and we might not get the chance to visit these remote islands agian....



10 days on our own? So many decisions to make.....

SCUBA Diving in Phillips Quarry

SCUBA diving is offically over!! All three of us are certified divers!! Over the weekend we completed 4 dives in Phillips Quarry here in Muncie. We had a skills test and skin dive on Sat. morning. On Sunday we completed two recreational dives with our dive master. All three of us were relaxed and had successful dives!



There are all kinds of thing on the bottom of Phillips Quarry. There is a mirror, 5-6 boats, Christmas tree, a big tire that you can swim through, Jet Ski, fake shark, vodka bottles, and Halloween decorations.



Gary McMillan came up Sunday morning and took some pictures of us three in our scuba attire. The pictures are awesome although the video recording could use some work! HA!

Australia in Indiana

Last spring we took a road trip to the Indianapolis Zoo. Who knew Australia could be so close to home?



Scuba is almost over!! One more lecture and pool session, a "Transfer of Knowledge" test, and the Open Dive and Mike, Angie and I are certified divers!!



Homecoming back home in Jay County this weekend! Go Patriots!

Birthday Pictures

These pictures have nothing to do with Australia but I enjoyed my birthday so much that I had to post them!
Scott and Kristyn sent the puppy dog ears and the "Birthday King" and "Birthday King's Friend" crowns. Although a few of my friends thought it was a bit wierd that my aunt and uncle would send me dog ears in the mail, they enjoyed taking these pictures!! The Dairy Queen Oreo Blizzard Icecream Cake was delicious (and devoured within 2 days)! Thanks for everything guys!!



Also, the weekend at home was awesome. Birthday shopping, home cooked meal, party with the grandparents, church, lunch at El Camino, Colts game and homework....who could ask for a better weekend??

Scuba Week #5 + Birthday Weekend

Week 5 of Scuba Diving was eventful in many ways. First, we all had to descend to the bottom of the deep end. When our instructor pointed to us we each, individually, had to remove our scuba gear, pull out the regulator, and swim to him. We signaled we were out of air and he let us get a few breaths. Then we had to swim back to our gear, find the regulator to get a breath, and put everything back on. After a couple tries I completed this excercise and moved on to SCUBA rescue techniques. We learned out to save a diver that was struggling on the surface and a diver that was unconscious on the bottom. A final test for the night involved descending to one side of the deep end with all your scuba gear on, removing your mask, swimming to the other side of the pool, putting your mask back on, and finally clearing your mask of water. All and all, session #5 wasn't bad but I still have a ways to come before I am completly comfortable with scuba gear in the water. Open water dives are approaching in 2 weeks!!!



Finally, we get to the fun stuff!! I'm turning 20 this weekend!! Fall Semester is nearly half way over with midterms in the next couple of weeks!! This means Fall Break, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are getting closer. Australia: Spring 07 will be here before we know it!!

Snorkeling Pictures

Apparently, a few people thought the pictures of scuba diving in the previous posts were of Mike, Angie, and I. Those are random scuba pictures off of the internets (inside joke) but we did get some real snorkeling pictures.



Week 3 of SCUBA is over and we learned the proper ways to enter the water with scuba gear. The three ways to enter the water involve 1) taking a giant stride off the boat, 2) squatting down and doing a complete flip into the water, and 3) facing backwards and falling back onto your tank.



Happy first day of fall here in the states.............come January we will get to experience the late summer/early fall season all over agian!!

A Wal Joins the Adventure

The three of us have convinced Ashley (better known as Awal) to join the study abroad opportunity in Australia! Now the girls out number the guys! After A Wal decided that she was going, a few of us sat down and discussed what classes we thought we might take in Australia. I've thought about it and I have my classes narrowed down to Australian Life & Culture and Marine Biology in Australia as well as Astronomy 100 and EdPsy 351: Adolescent Psychology online. Should be an easy schedule so I can enjoy everything!!



The second night of SCUBA has been completed. Mike, Angie and I actually got to "scuba" last night with the full buoyancy compensators and tanks, regualtor, fins, and mask. Even though the tank and all the accesories weigh well over 60 pounds, you are completly bouyant in the water. It's a really cool feeling as you roll around or flip in the water while watching everything around you.



Crikey! I think it's appropriate to end this post with a tribute to Mike's Australian Idol, Steve Irwin: The Crocodile Hunter. R.I.P. Mate!

Pictures of Australia

When you think of Australia you might think of.....


The Famous Sydney Opera House!

The Australian Outback!

Australia's Famous Marsupial...The Kangaroo!

This is where we will be staying! Lennox Head

The Great Barrier Reef!

Australia: The Beginning

September 8th, 2006

Last year, during the spring semester, the idea of studying abroad was brought up in conversation in one of our many late night discussions. Everyone thought it was just another fun idea that we would all talk about but never really pursue but after looking at our long term schedules, talking with our parents, and visiting the Center for International Programs three of us knew this was something we wanted to do. We all had to way the pro's and con's.....sure traveling abroad would set us a little behind in our studies, cost a little bit more than a regular semester, and keep us away from home for a semester but traveling and studying in Australia was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Beaches, Warm Weather, Kangaroos, Snorkling, Surfing, Scuba Diving in the Great Barrier Reef, the Outback...etc. etc. Who could pass this up??

Now its September and Australia Spring07 is official! Mike, Angie, Tracy (Angie's friend from California) and I are going to study abroad in Australia for about 3 months from January 21st - April 16th. Yesterday we started SCUBA diving classes at the Muncie YMCA which should be interesting. I have literally zero experience with a mask, snorkel and fins but I guess you have to start somewhere, right? In 8 weeks (hopefully) we will all 3 be certified in scuba diving and ready to tackle the open waters.

On behalf of the many family and friends who have requested pictures of Australia and Kristyn's famous blogging ability I will try to keep this blog up to date as Australia draws nearer. For now, possibly a scuba picture or two will have to do but there is plenty to look forward to!