Shark Bay: An Aboriginal excursion....'like a Briddiya!'

So, again this has taken me waaayy too long to write and keep up. Soooo, since I have a lot more information to share I'm going to split up my posts (how they should be) and there will be a few posts in a short time. Here we go:::.... WOOOOO

Still taking in the sunsets!!!

First of all I am writing this while watching the Office, which of course is an amazing show, so be prepared for random jokes or extra 'Haha' moments. =) 

After an all-nighter trying to finish two papers before we left, we finally left for our week long excursion.  This was the big trip that all the St. Bens/St. John's kids go on, except instead of going to Broome we drove (34 of us) in a bus on a big road trip! It was amazing, to say the least! The first two days were spent at a convent that used to be an old school, and it was haunted!! With random phrases of "Help Me" and "Revenge" on the wall, we knew it would end up being an eventful experience.  Just think about it, 24 girls and ghosts mentioned... people are gonna freak! Also, a tiny mouse kept running around our beds and shoes so there was screaming all around the place! SOOO humerous! Quick little bugger, too!... During the two days we ate hot crossed buns, did Aboriginal art paintings, learned how to throw boomerangs and spears, played some basketball (with our teacher too) and even went on a bush walk where we ate a bunch of stuff grown on trees and whatnot. One was this plastic-tasting sap stuff, it was kind of gross. (And also made me really crave a bacon cheeseburger)... We talked with a few of the monks that live in the town and one of the guys was mentioning that he's actually been to America and visited a friend in a small town in Nebraska called NORFOLK! NO WAY, right!!? How much of a coincidence is that a monk in Australia has been to the small town that I was born in, in Nebraska! AWESOME!! At this moment, there was no doubt in my mind that I am supposed to be here! We listened to an elder about his life experiences and went through some pretty strong feelings as a group.  Each night we reflect on the day and talk about different things. It's a pretty amazing experience to have 34 people open up about themselves. Our group gets stronger and closer together each and every day, I love it!

Don't worry, I am STILL practicing my golf game!.... <---(exhibit A. to the left) maybe not with all the essential equipment, but my form is still spot on! Get ready for the summer! ;)

And, alrighty, well I've realized if I continue with details then I will basically have to write a book...so I'll try to skim it up a bit. All of you are welcome to ask me more details as well as see all of my pictures when I get home, so I hope you understand!

We woke up about 5:45 or 6 am everyday.... got old, but it helped us do a lot more!  We saw our first wild kangaroos and emus, as well as a bunch of sharks, sting rays, sea turtles, birds, dogs, sheep, and even some cows! Being Pre-Vet I LOVED the wildlife!!! Yeay animals! =) We visited the HMAS Sydney II Memorial, Eagle Bluff lookout, Aboriginal rock art, living stalagmites, shell beach (no sand, all shells, awesome), more beaches and lookouts....too many places with more than enough memories at each! Also, we would have like 8 meals in a day. (I don't know if they thought since we're Americans that we'd like extra food or what, but we were never starved)...okay actually its tradition to have many 'tea times' throughout the day. So we'd have brekky, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, then supper, and sometimes an extra Milo (like hot cocoa) before bed. Lotso food! =)

Our bus ride was awesome too! Just imagine, 34 people on a bus, some sleeping, but lots of time to really get to know people. There was usually music going, a movie, and lots of stories being told. Some of these memories I'm not going to ever forget....someone had a black neck pillow that I put on my head, I put on some aviator sunglasses, and took a picture doing the Elvis lip-curl. New impersonator, right here! haha.. Most of us would also stay up at night gossiping about random stuff or sharing more stories or body-talents. Things got funny REAL fast! With many more inside jokes invented!

The day before our long drive back, was BY FAR the best day!!!! We spent the whole day at Shark Bay going sea kayaking, net fishing, bush walking, and hanging out with a baby joey named Nikki.---> Adorable. I want one, and I think I could pass it off as a really hairy baby....maybe. But we sea kayaked over massive sting rays and sharks, as well as big sea turtles and stopped in an area to snorkel and find pearl shells and cockels, which we later ate as part of our supper. Along with kangaroo tail stew, yummy! It was thee best day ever!! We even got in kayak water battles, which of course we won....like there was doubt! ;) Just kidding, little too high of myself there! Haha The Aboriginal man that brought us decided to make me the leader of the group. He from there on out called me Briddiya which means 'boss.'  It was an honored title, and it made the day even better for me =) ....like a boss! That afternoon we went fishing, which meant we basically swam with the sharks, fish , turtles, and rays. Pretty sure they wanted to eat my roommate Sydney at one point. But we all lived, and can live to tell the frightening stories. We listened to the two men tell about their live and their tribe. It amazes me about the attitudes people can have when they have gone through so much. They talked about how much they appreciated the land and really got us all thinking. It was, wow, can't really describe it, sorry... That night I got to witness the most perfect scene: on a beach, sunset, waves slowly washing on the shore, man playing the didgeridoo, campfire, and the most spectacular view of the stars. It was breathtaking, and a moment that no picture could even begin to capture..... You should be here to see this! (just sayin')

The final day was a long bus trip back. 4 movies, a couple stops, sleeping, and more talks. As well as a Diabolic sudoku completed. Boom! Done! I also didn't mention that the bus we were on had a locked toilet. So we had to wait (sometimes hours) before the next stop....made it interesting sometimes. Those bumps really got ya!  The Outback was amazing. The red iron dirt was such a sight! I took plenty of pictures, and brought back many memories. That week changed my life in more ways than one...