Dolphins and Friends
It's been a while since my last post, but with good reason because I've actually been hanging out with friends! Yes it seems that my requirement for making friends with people is about two weeks- I've become part of the hostel clique to an extent, and it is just a wonderful feeling. Now for the past few days:
Tuesday I went to the theater workshop as planned. It was fairly interesting, although it turned out to be partly structured for artists interested in bringing their show to the fringe in the future. Still, a fine educational way to spend the afternoon. In the evening I went to volunteer and actually got to be on headset for an hour (the girl whose job it is to be on the headset wanted to watch the show and decided I was responsible enough to take over). So that was all good.
Wednesday I woke up before dawn to go on a swim with the dolphins trip. Unfortunately, it didn't work out as well as I had imagined. First of all, the boat was filled with couples- mostly from the Police and Fireman Games that are happening in Adelaide this week (its a big event where policemen and firemen from all over the world come and compete against each other in various sports). Because of this, I was the only one in the boat on my own, which is never very fun. But worse then that, we just had really bad luck with the dolphins. We saw lots of them, which was nice, but when we would get into the water for a "swim" they didn't come up and play with us like they usually do. The way that we could swim with them, to keep them and us safe, was that there would be long ropes dropped off the back on the boat, and we would hold onto the ropes and sorta float there in the water. We had snorkel gear on (and wet suits!) but the water was not very clear and the dolphins never got close enough to see underwater. It looked kinda silly, all of us hanging off the boat on these ropes, waiting for the dolphins to swim up to us. I got a better look at them in Monkey Mia and all I had to go was stand on the beach! At the end of the trip, the company gave us vouchers to come back again for free- but they're booked till Tuesday and I'm leaving Monday, so that won't be happening. Maybe next time...
Fortunately, the day got much better after I got back to the hostel. From about 3pm to midnight I really just sat around and talked to people- especially to Anke, who has become a good friend in just the past few days. There are also two British guys, Paul and Dennis, who have been living here for a few months and were chatting with us all evening. At one point we all started making our own little dinners- which is always slightly depressing to cook just for yourself I think- and we decided that we really should cook something together the next night (which was also going to be Anke's last night), and so we planned this Mexican feast. Its hard to describe in a blog how much fun it can be just to sit around and talk to people, but it really was great.
Yesterday was yet another friend filled day. It was also the hottest day I've had in Adelaide so far. We thought about going to the beach, but decided we were too lazy. Instead I went to the Botanic Gardens with Lot, and we just lay on the grass for a while. When we got back, I did laundry and then went grocery shopping with Paul and Anke. Paul did most of the cooking- we had beef and chicken fajitas, nachos, and very un-Mexican potato wedges just because Paul wanted to make them. We were also joined by a newly arrived Canadian girl, Moya, who seems very nice. After eating we went to the pub next door, but Anke and I left after one drink because she had to get up at 6am this morning. We were so sorry to leave each other though, and we stayed up drinking tea for a while longer.
As for today, I've been on my own most of the day now that Anke is gone. I did some errands and some shopping, and went to visit the Haigh's Chocolate Factory for the free tour and tasting. Fortunately I got back home before it started to pour! The first rain I've seen in Adelaide- good for everyone who lives here, but not so good for walking around. Ah well. I guess that's about it for now. Tonight I'm volunteering and tomorrow I may visit the Aborigional Cultural Center. I've got to hurry up and see everything in Adelaide before I leave on Monday- so soon!
Love,
Emma
Tuesday I went to the theater workshop as planned. It was fairly interesting, although it turned out to be partly structured for artists interested in bringing their show to the fringe in the future. Still, a fine educational way to spend the afternoon. In the evening I went to volunteer and actually got to be on headset for an hour (the girl whose job it is to be on the headset wanted to watch the show and decided I was responsible enough to take over). So that was all good.
Wednesday I woke up before dawn to go on a swim with the dolphins trip. Unfortunately, it didn't work out as well as I had imagined. First of all, the boat was filled with couples- mostly from the Police and Fireman Games that are happening in Adelaide this week (its a big event where policemen and firemen from all over the world come and compete against each other in various sports). Because of this, I was the only one in the boat on my own, which is never very fun. But worse then that, we just had really bad luck with the dolphins. We saw lots of them, which was nice, but when we would get into the water for a "swim" they didn't come up and play with us like they usually do. The way that we could swim with them, to keep them and us safe, was that there would be long ropes dropped off the back on the boat, and we would hold onto the ropes and sorta float there in the water. We had snorkel gear on (and wet suits!) but the water was not very clear and the dolphins never got close enough to see underwater. It looked kinda silly, all of us hanging off the boat on these ropes, waiting for the dolphins to swim up to us. I got a better look at them in Monkey Mia and all I had to go was stand on the beach! At the end of the trip, the company gave us vouchers to come back again for free- but they're booked till Tuesday and I'm leaving Monday, so that won't be happening. Maybe next time...
Fortunately, the day got much better after I got back to the hostel. From about 3pm to midnight I really just sat around and talked to people- especially to Anke, who has become a good friend in just the past few days. There are also two British guys, Paul and Dennis, who have been living here for a few months and were chatting with us all evening. At one point we all started making our own little dinners- which is always slightly depressing to cook just for yourself I think- and we decided that we really should cook something together the next night (which was also going to be Anke's last night), and so we planned this Mexican feast. Its hard to describe in a blog how much fun it can be just to sit around and talk to people, but it really was great.
Yesterday was yet another friend filled day. It was also the hottest day I've had in Adelaide so far. We thought about going to the beach, but decided we were too lazy. Instead I went to the Botanic Gardens with Lot, and we just lay on the grass for a while. When we got back, I did laundry and then went grocery shopping with Paul and Anke. Paul did most of the cooking- we had beef and chicken fajitas, nachos, and very un-Mexican potato wedges just because Paul wanted to make them. We were also joined by a newly arrived Canadian girl, Moya, who seems very nice. After eating we went to the pub next door, but Anke and I left after one drink because she had to get up at 6am this morning. We were so sorry to leave each other though, and we stayed up drinking tea for a while longer.
As for today, I've been on my own most of the day now that Anke is gone. I did some errands and some shopping, and went to visit the Haigh's Chocolate Factory for the free tour and tasting. Fortunately I got back home before it started to pour! The first rain I've seen in Adelaide- good for everyone who lives here, but not so good for walking around. Ah well. I guess that's about it for now. Tonight I'm volunteering and tomorrow I may visit the Aborigional Cultural Center. I've got to hurry up and see everything in Adelaide before I leave on Monday- so soon!
Love,
Emma
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