Photography Project

"Oooooo.....Ahhh......."

I have my first major assessment due for my photography class tomorrow. We were told to pick a theme, and my theme was "Water" Each photo had to fit certain criteria. Criteria that I won't bore you with. Instead... just enjoy the pictures:

^This is a view from a hill behind campus^

^My friend Casey jumping into the river^

^Preparing the Water Balloons^

^Destroying the Water Balloon^

Until next time...

My Room

"Wow, this will probably be the cleanest it will ever be."

I completely rearranged my room tonight. At first I was just going to pick up the clothes.

Then I was just going to take out the trash.

Then I decided it would be a good idea to just move my desk.

Then I wanted to move my bed.

Then it was imperative that I hang up this Australian flag that I bought.

One thing led to another, and here is what my room looks like now:

Another Weekend at the River

"Look at this crazy bloke!"

I went to the river three times this weekend, and got some really cool pictures. Here are just a few:

*Remember, clicking on the picture opens the better quality version.*

^Superman^

^Huge Tree-Jump^
Picture does not do it justice.
It's easily a good 10 meters (30 feet if you're American.)
Quite possibly the most insane thing I've done since being here.
I screamed like a little girl the first time I jumped. I've done it over 5 times now.

These next three obviously go together and they need no caption:

I hope to start updating the blog more regularly. I have a few things on the blogging agenda: Australian money, pictures of my room (once I clean it), pictures of campus. I'm also open to suggestion. So, if you want to know about something, put it in a comment and I'll see if I can answer it in a blog post. Until next time...(hopefully very soon)... Cheers!

Switching Deodorant... It's a Big Deal!

"I hope this stuff works!"

One of the funny things about being on this trip is coming across things that I never thought would be an issue. For example, I thought every place in the world (Especially Australia) would have the Old Spice deodorant that I used. However, here in Australia, the main type of deodorant is the kind that you spray. No Old Spice Red Zone for me. Goodbye trusted old friend...

^My Retired Deodorant^

When we arrived in Cairns at our program introduction we were told that "Australia has no ozone layer." However, when I tried to do my own research I found that the hole in the ozone layer is actually over Antarctica. Only a small portion of the hole sometimes reaches the far southern part of Australia.

So, what does the hole in the ozone layer have to do with deodorant? Well think I remember something from high school about how aerosol products help contribute to ozone depletion. Now I'm no scientist, but it looks like all these Australians using their spray deodorant is why the hole in the ozone layer is getting larger. One of the closest continents to Antarctica is Australia, so it makes sense to me. :-)

So anyway back to the nerve racking event that involves picking out a new deodorant. Switching types, brands, and smells. This is a big deal people! I was ready to replenish my deodorant reserves, and when I was at the store and I was confronted with several types of spray deodorant. I did not recognize a single brand. So decided to start smelling ones that looked cool. After about the fifth bottle, they all started smelling the same. And then I saw it... on the bottom row was a familiar logo and can:

Now it may have had something to do with the previous five deodorants I had already smelled, but the Brut didn't smell as much like an... um I mean... like I had remembered. It actually smelled halfway tolerable. So I decided to give it a try.

When I got back to my apartment, I asked my roommate what he thought was the best deodorant. Ya know, the stuff that makes the ladies go crazy. He told me, "The chicks like this stuff called Lynx." And he showed me the stuff he used. The scent he has is called, "Africa."

Now when I think of Africa, the first thing that comes to my mind is not something that smells nice. I think of lions, elephants, and exotic safari creatures of the sort. And I'm no Steve Erwin but last time I checked, elephants didn't smell very nice. Anyway, I digress. Back to the story.

Asked my roommate if that was the scent the ladies liked, and he said, "Oh yeah the chicks go crazy for it." I then showed him my purchase in the green can. He responded with, "Mate, you need to just throw that stuff into a fire, that's the only thing that it's good for." So I was sure to go back to the store as soon as possible to buy this "Lynx" and buy the "Africa" scent.

When I got back to the store, I had to choose between the "Deodorant Bodyspray" with the "Improved Fragrance" or the "24-Hour Anti-Perspirant." It was way too much pressure, so I just bought them both.

^My roommate says it makes the chicks go crazy...^