Saturday Morning

I did not take this picture! Google Yegor Korzh for more Newcastle shots.

The above picture is of the Mereweather ocean baths, a free swimming pool to the people of Newcastle! It's been around since the 1930's and sees hundreds of swimmers and splashers everyday. It's an ocean water bath (pool) that is drained bi weekly to keep the water fresh. It's only about 1.5 miles away from my house so it's easy to jog over to in the mornings.

Around eight this morning my friends Stefan (Germany) and Sebastian (Tasmania) ran with me from the boarding house over to the baths, had a swim then ran back. Hopefully the waves will be nice and we can all go surfing in this arvo (Oz slang for afternoon).

City council clean up day

Yesterday I celebrated my favorite semi annual Australian holiday, city council clean up day. On this excellent day the residents of Newcastle put their unwanted bulk junk out in front of their house to be picked up by the garbage men on an allotted day. The CCUD is poaching season for poor college students looking for furniture, I'm told it's not uncommon to see cars with trailers attached driving around hunting for goods.

After a college church service on sunday I jumped into Jacquie's (Kieren's [future roommate] girl friend) toyota and took to the streets. After "sussing" (Oz slang for acting suspiciously) around a few neighborhoods we hit the jackpot. We found a new bedside set of drawers for Jacquie, some tables for Kieren, and a surprisingly nice desk for myself. Tristen (other future roommate) and I sat out of the back windows and held the desk on the top of the car to take it home, illegal? Who knows, I'm a foreigner, things are different back home! < I use this often

After an accomplished evening I wished everyone a "happy city council clean-up day" and retired to my quarters.

I move into a house down the street from my current Accommodation at the end of the month. It's less expensive, only has 3 roomies instead of 50, larger room to myself, unlimited internet, cleaner, and everyone surfs, bonus.

Newcastle/Living Quarters

Newcastle has been treating me very well, the weather has been great and the people have been friendly. This is the beach down the road from the boarding house, I walk here almost everyday to surf.

My room is on the small side (If I stretch out I can touch both walls near my desk) but being that I didn't bring much, it works out. I've reorganized since the picture and have moved my bed under the window, this gives me room to do handstand pushups and other oddities.

Since my last update I've started surfing everyday, and completed a motorcycle training course granting me a license on the streets of NSW. I'm still looking for a postie bike (http://www.postiebikes.com/faq.htm#1.%20What%20is%20a%20Postie%20bike?), the ankle express isn't what it used to be and my bike lock is stuck in the locked position on my bike, dang.

Other points of interest:
I bought a fan off the internet, things are much cooler these days!
I've been thinking it would be really cool to try out for pararescue after I finish my degree. Here's a link to the Wikipedia Pararescue Jumper page if you're curious. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Force_Pararescue

Epic Battle

I spent what felt like the whole day at the university trying to upload pictures to shutterfly. After attempting this feat on 4 different computers, I found one that worked, at least for the most part.
I had to curse and slander the computers, network, Australian internet, and the university dozens of times to bring you this, all of the pictures I took while in SE Asia.

As an added bonus I put up the pictures from my trip to Macedonia, note the dodgy facial hair!

http://ramblingsofadventure.shutterfly.com/

Surfboard

Yesterday I bought a surfboard from a general store down the road and immediately proceeded to the beach to give it a go, unsuccessfully. Being from New Mexico and lacking beach knowledge, I spent the majority of the time in the water fighting the current and paddling around.

That night I chatted with a surfer (from Tasmania) who is living in the boarding house, after a few tips and pointers I felt more confident and took to the beach first thing this morning. After a series of nose dives and comical wipe-outs, I finally caught my first wave! Walking home bruised, sore, slightly burnt, and exhausted, I felt victorious.

After catching a wave, or more likely being dominated by a wave, it's tough to get back out to sea, seriously, its really hard! Every wave encountered pushed me back towards shore or turned me over with it, spending the majority of the time tumbling around the ocean floor.

Dan the Bike Man

Yours truly now owns a bicycle, the best part? Its free.

(As the picture suggests, I also got a library account)

In Newcastle there is a bike activist named Dan who loans out bicycles. Dan gets bikes donated for free, fixes them/helps you fix them, and then loans them out to anyone who wants them. I put down $50 bucks and got a bike, a lock, and helmet, when I return the bike in about a year, I get the money back, amazing!

I've been riding around town for a few days now and eventually will attempt a trip to campus. Newcastle isn't as bike friendly as Albuquerque, but I haven't been hit yet so I guess things are going smoothly.