So, ever since I arrived in Oz I have heard so much about Australian Rules Football. It is a favorite topic of all Australians, and is especially popular here in Melbourne. (As several teams play out of Melbourne, and there are 2 stadiums the matches are held in). Everyone has their team, and is die hard faithful to them. However, AFL (Aussie Rules Football) is not at all like American Football, or soccer for that matter. It is kind of a cross between soccer, football, and lacrosse. For a start, there are lots of attractive muscular Australian men running around in short shorts and sleeveless tops. The game is similar enough, there are goalposts that you are aiming to kick the ball through. But the football is dribbled, passed and kicked, and there is tackling. Full tackling. I mean it gets aggressive, and there are no pads or helmets involved.
However, everyone gets all decked out in their team colors and paraphenalia.. scarves, hats, shirts, jerseys, signs, giant pom poms... you name it. I felt like I was at a Quidditch match. The stadium was huge, 70,000 people attended, and EVERYONE was into the game. The game I went to was the Hawthorn Hawks (Of Tasmania) and the Carlton Blues (of North Melbourne). We were going for the Hawks, and luckily they won...after a very exciting and close game.
Some friends and I at the game. Go Hawthorn!
Footy players- and the ridiculously large pom poms in the background.
Other fun activities of late have included going birdwatching with my Australian Wildlife Biology class, exploring lots of new cafes, gelatterias,tea shops, and bars. I went on a pub crawl with the University and we went to many exciting venues, including a Science Themed bar, where you could have drinks out of test tubes. It was awesome! We also went to several really neat local places, kind of the 'hidden laneways.'
School is on the downward trend, I still have 3 more weeks of class, and then a few weeks of exams..returning home in Late June. A good friend from home is coming to visit this week, and we'll be going to Sydney and New Zealand so more to come soon :)
Ok Laura when are you going to bring me back and Australian football player!? and when are we going the Science bar? Sounds totally awesome friend!
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