Living my Life

Good Morning Everyone!
I have been so very bad at updating, but I have to be honest -I'm not at all sorry. The simple reason is that I have been spending less time in front of my computer and more time out in the world.
I have given myself thirty minutes to run through the adventures of the past two weeks and only thirty, because I have GOT to study for an exam before E. C. L. A., or Emmanuel College Ladies Association, which was a club originally founded in the 20's (I think?) when it wasn't societally acceptable for women to drink. The club was founded to turn that concept onto its head. Needless to say I've been drinking lots of water, and I have a fluffy pink monster of a dress in my closet to put on. Its going to be a wild afternoon.

Speaking of which, its been a wild few weeks! Our Arcaida group went to Stradbroke island, the 2nd largest sand island in the world. You got it- the whole place is composed entirely out of dunes, soft white beaches, and hardened sandstone. Somehow beautiful rainforest has managed to grow. We spent an AMAZING weekend hiking on the cliffs, surfing, stargazing, kayaking, and snorkeling. We had a few incredible encounters with Aboriginal Culture as well. A local of the area and his family were kind enough to host us. We learned a great deal about the spirituality and the history surrounding the island, learned to appreciate when history and spirituality combine together. They taught us some painting techniques and presented each of us with our very own boomerang, which they then taught us to throw. Yes ladies and gentlemen, I can throw a boomerang. Its not as tricky as you might think, but it definitely takes more muscle than I have. Highlight for that day was Scott, who decided it was a good idea to get into a fight with a six year old aboriginal girl. He couldn't get his boomerang right and when she tried to help him he said he didn't think she was strong enough. The sweet tiny thing looked at him with shy brown eyes and said "I coulla kill yous right now with this 'ranga hea." He laughed at her and about five seconds later was sitting on the ground, rubbing his face which had been struck by a boomerang I don't think he even saw her throw. He now has a knarly scar, and perhaps a bit of common sense now too.
The family then took us to "Brown Lake," a beautiful freshwater lake on the island which is a site of strong spirituality. Before we were allowed near the water our guide had to venture down to the waters edge and introduce us to the lake, and ask the guardian, a giant python, if we may swim there. He said yes, and then we had to stand in the shallows and meet the lake, letting it "taste" us so we could "Meet 'im proper." This means if we ever return, the lake will remember us. We enjoyed a fantastic afternoon swimming, playing volleyball, and scrubbing ourselves with sand which is so soft and fine it can polish silver. In Aboriginal culture the lake is called "Woman's Lake," which means the spiritual and biological care of the area belongs to the women in the culture. As such, the boys in our group were not allowed to swim far out into the lake, because they would grow weak and perhaps be eaten by a bunyip. It was alright for the girls though. Pretty fascinating.
As amazing as everything was, I have two highlights. The first was planting mangroves. We kayaked to a small mangrove that was in danger from a sand mine up the coast. With continued development in coastal areas mangroves, one of the world's most valuable marine estuaries and organism nurseries, are in great danger. We spent an afternoon finding little seedpods and planting them into the sand. They grow quickly, and apparently by christmas will be as high as my knee. Someday I hope to see them again!
The second highlight, was sandboarding. After a wild land rover ride through the jungle up a sand dune, we hiked up the biggest dune in the world. At the top we strapped something similar to snowboards onto our feet, which we waxed thuroughly on the bottom. Then we slid down the sand dune at approximately 100000000000 miles an hour. We went standing up, on our bellies, sitting down, tandum style, everything. Even more fun than making it to the bottom was wiping out, where you would just face plant in the sand and fly head over heels down the dune. There are at least two photos of me with my head buried completely in sand, legs flying in every direction. SO MUCH FUN!

As amazing as Straddie was, last weekend changed my life. Because I got to cross of one of my greatest life dreams. I got to scuba dive on the Great Barrier Reef- the largest living organism in the world. I was there, I did it. After flying to sleepy Cairns (pronounces "Cans") and staying in a hostel featuring a wet t-shirt contest with 500 dollar prizes for the winners, we hopped onto a boat and spent the day on the reef. The water is crystal blue and the organisms erupting out of the ocean floor is a dazzling mosaic of life. We saw hundreds of colors and types of coral, fish you never thought you'd ever get to see, a turtle, and a black tip reef shark. There were several moments where I had to close my eyes, neutrally float in that Australian ocean, breathe in that compressed oxygen compilation, and thank each and every one of my lucky stars. I am only 20 years old, and I have lived one of my greatest dreams. Rather than feeling accomplished, it has only made me more appreciate the world, and realize that I am living the greatest beginning.

In two short days I am hopping on an airplane to Alice Springs, in the very middle of the Australian Outback. I have seen its ocean, I can't wait to see its desert. I'm spending "Easter Break" driving in 4WD vehicles around the Outback, visiting several wildlife parks, Aboriginal Dreaming sites, swimming holes, and of course Uluru, or Ayer's Rock. I can't wait to get into the heart of Australia. Its already found its way into mine.

Crap! I'm four minutes over time. I will write again after break and I promise it will be lengthy and juicy. I can't wait to live the stories I'll write to you. Thanks for reading. Love you!

Did you know: The Easter Bunny doesn't visit Australian children. Though the rabbit is kind of the symbol of the holiday, its the Easter Bilby that brings goodies to kids. The Bilby is a small marsupial related to the kangaroo- its the size of a big rat with long rabbit ears, a long tail with a fluff at the end, and a long pointy snout. Cutest thing ever.