G'day Freeze, et al: 
Ever think Minnesota could be warmer than Australia?  Well when I was back a few weeks ago, the warm Minnesota weather was a treat.  As Tiger stated in his previous post, it’s getting cooler, the autumn is here and winter is around the corner.  Last week we had about 4 full days of rain, which sounds like it is needed in Minnesota more than here.  People here say they have never seen snow, but last week’s storms brought us some BB-sized hail too! Footy is becoming interesting with the addition of the bad weather, our evening trainings under the lights are reminiscent of the USFooty National Championships in Colorado Springs this last fall.  Unfortunately the weekend day games will equal last year’s tournament as winter rolls in.  Welcome to Denmark, Western Australia! Read more »

Wow, some things in life occur suddenly. Although I made this decision before I decided I was interested in going to Australia for a year, it’s weird to think I am going home right now for my Grandfather’s funeral. When my mother called 19 hours ago, when it was 4am back in Minnesota, I knew the news wasn’t going to be pleasant. Basically, she said, “Grandpa passed away”. Read more »

The job is going well, working hard (or hardly working) into my seventh week at Supa IGA here in Denmark. I have got to say it has exceeded expectations, although I don’t know if I had any expectations before arrival because I was not too informed. I just knew I was going to be ‘doing accounts for the Albany Supa IGA while working in Denmark’. Since I have begun and learned what I AM doing for the next year, let’s see if I can put this into perspective for you. Read more »

G'Day,

So, I was just cleaning out my inbox and found Tony Fairhead's response to this email, and read it through about four times now.  I find it interesting looking back to my first thoughts of this unknown adventure, at a time when I was only expressing interest in the opportunity. Read more »

 
G'day,
 
4 hard weeks of training have finally culminated, and I have my first game today! I am more than excited, moreover, I am getting the start on the Seniors team as Ruck. We’ll see how we go. From weekly kicks at SJU beginning in January, to a first week up in Fremantle where Tiger and I took a 9-mile RT run to Cottesloe Beach and had 5 trainings between the Yankaroos and CBC Fremantle Football Clubs, to three intensive weeks of training down here with my team the Denmark-Walpole Magpies…I hope I am ready!
  Read more »

 
Hey Freeze,
 
Back in Melbourne Friday afternoon was a great tour of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) where we got a chance to step into the clubhouses, locker rooms, press conference room, the prep room for the cricketers and ultimately we stood on the lawn of the MCG (should have stole a blade of grass)! As well, we took a moment while touring the Long Room to have a seat in the leather couches. Quite the photo opportunity it was, to sit in a seat where only Cricket Club members who have been a member for over 50 years can sit to watch a game. Not planning on paying $99,000 a year for membership, I decided to take a picture! So do a little math, 50 years X $99,000 or a $15 tour of the MCG to sit in the Cricket Club’s leather couches, I choose the latter.
 

Heya All,

Sorry for the delayed posts, this one was written 23 of March, 2009. MANY more to come this week as I am finally settled into my house and am beginning to find consistency in my schedule…

All the way over to Freo (Fremantle, WA) now! I had a great and exciting time in Melbourne and The Great Ocean Road! Tiger and I spent 2.5 days touring the south shore of the State of Victoria. We ran the flat beaches of Torquay, the host of the World Pro Surf Championships, which are in two weeks. Driving the Great Ocean Road from Torquay to Apollo Bay was crazy – many turns that were a suggested 35KM’s an hour with the cliff walls to the right and the crashing ocean waves below to the left. Read more »

Heya Mates!

First and foremost, a big thanks to everyone that has been a part of this great Australian opportunity I will be experiencing! Without CSB/SJU Study Abroad trips, my Study Abroad Director Wendy Sterba, previous director Stephen Saupe, Tony Fairhead, USFooty, WACFL, Minnesota Freeze, Dale Ballantyne, my new team, the Denmark/Warpole Magpies and many others; support from my family, teammates and friends…without all of you I wouldn’t be doing this! Thank you.