Speaking Strine

What follows are an assortment of updates on Rugby, my 21st Birthday, and the Food here fleshed out from e-mail, Facebook and instant messaging. Lame, I know, but it’ll highlight some of the events and opinions that didn’t get more updates or a dedicated post.

Rugby

Match 1: Played my first real, full contact rugby game today. Just an exhibition match, but my butt is disabled. I can barely chew my jaw hurts so bad. Without question, I was the smallest forward on the field, just like playing the line in football. At least rugby evens the playing field more than most games. I actually get the ball. If only I didn’t have to run for an hour straight. 

Oh and let me warn you, rolling around fighting for a loose ball like you would naturally do in American gridiron football is a big no-no in rugby. I got some bad looks and cleats to the chest for it.

Match 2: Another Bandicoots rugby game against old dudes. The average age we’ve seen so far can’t be under 35. And these guys just relish the opportunity to punish you. We’re clearly not the most fundamentally sound team, so their expectations are a little high and they get frustrated.

Also, I got my eyebrow split open in rugby today. Hospital. Glue. Scar. Gory pictures to follow.

A break: Practices continue, but a cancelled game and a weather warning have given us a two week break from action.

This hasn’t however, prevented team meetings at the local pubs and a house party that excalated quickly. Team bonding at its best, this won’t be the last time one of these comes up. 

Match 3: The Bandicoots are back! And this time we scored. That’s right, until now, we have had zero offense. I rotated between three positions so I have a bit better understanding of what else is going on around the field. Front line is made for people who like to punish their shoulders and shins, by the way. It doesn’t look like we have much of a chance of winning a match considering we keep playing teams that recruit higher level players to fill their roster on gameday, but I guess I’ll just have to learn faster.

Again, they overestimate our understanding of the game and pick fights with us. Chill out and let us learn! Just because Jules did a flying spider-monkey tackel doesn’t mean you have to make a big deal out of it!

I took a few minutes the other day and researched what kind of rugby culture there is in Kansas and found heaps of Lawrence and Kansas City area teams, but all of them limit their seasons to Fall and Spring strictly. No Summer play at all. There’s even a popular pitch (field) between Overbrook and Lawrence!

21st Birthday

What I expected the day before: So my 21st birthday will fall on one of the school’s theme parties, which have so far been heaps of fun. I think some of us will go out for a drink at midnight Wednesday (karaoke maybe?) but call it early and have a birthday dinner on Thursday night. The Date Auction school party ends at 11 when we’ll descend upon Henry Afrika’s and dance, dance, dance. There’s also a rumor going around that I’m getting married, so my friends Tim and Marcus are going to try to turn it into a “Bachelor’s Party” just to see what happens. I don’t expect anything to come of that, though. Maybe a free drink… It’s also my friend Chris’ birthday the night before and my friend MJ’s half-birthday (October 3rd) as well, so there are just two more reasons to have a good time.

Mid-birthday day update: My simple midnight birthday bar-run turned complicated. I got hit with a dozen congratulatory drinks and shots by 1:30. Straight up the hill and into my bed. And that was from my American friends. I fear that my Aussie mates are going to be a bit harsher. Lachy in particular could be bad news bears. No thanks.

We’re getting Chinese food on the Wharf tonight before the night starts. This is a perfect birthday since I didn’t have any classes today and I only have an afternoon one tomorrow. I’m having so much fun.

The foggy reality: Ohhhhh my birthday. Let’s just say that my night started at six with two bottles of wine at dinner and finished with me being politely asked to leave two bars. (Yikes. For the record, it is rediculously easy to be denied at bars here. Something about “responsible drinking”) But I had the time of my life. What a 21st. All day long and for the next few days I don’t think I’ll stop smiling…

Food

Fast Food/Late Night: Hungry Jack’s (Burger King) has equal footing with Mackars (McDonalds) around here. And they always seem to push the “Aussie Burger” on people. It’s two quarter pound patties, cheddar cheese, sliced beet root, egg, and extra b-sauce (barbecue sauce). The fast food quality here is even lower than back home. Except I hear rumors that Aussie KFC (which I wholeheartedly hate in the US) has some kind of Asian influences. That’s probably just a rumor. Luckily there are heaps of good local places.

The real fast food down here is found in local bakeries with their hundereds of varieties of meat pies (Ned Kelly is favorite) and sweet, sweet kebabs. While meat pies are at least recognized as an official food of the nation, kebab shops are the omniprescent eatery stuck in every street on every corner. Wrapped with lamb, chicken or beef and heaps of onions and veggies, these things are greasy goodness late at night.

What they don’t have: S’Mores, Real Pizza, Real Barbecue (Sausages and Sweet B-Sauce only), Hot Wings

What I’m bringing back: Dipping fries in Sweet Chili Sauce and Sour Cream, Pumpkin, BYO, Tim Tams, Tea (but you already knew that)

Passing on: Veal. I never had a problem with veal before this trip. It was just something different from time to time, no big deal. But here… here at this school… eight of twelve hot meals each week… all we get is veal goulash, veal on rice, veal pie, veal with gravy, veal on noodles, veal roast. It’s like Tony Henry has a veal farm or something and cuts the school a deal.

Best Meals: Chinese at my Birthday dinner, Steaks at my friend Scotty’s house, The Fish & Chips at Circular Quay, Beaches pizza (closest I can get to Wheat State Pizza), and all the great sushi trains