Real quick today, just a few things I wanted to get down before I forgot.
Australia won before the lunch break on the 5th day. Sri Lanka only got 300 something wickets to Australia's 500 something, so for some reason Australia was allowed to force the Sri Lankan team to play their second inning first. All ten batsmen were taken out before they could catch up to Australia's score, so Australia declared without batting once in their second inning. As I said before, weird game.
I also have finalized our itinerary in New Zealand! In case you are interested:
28th November. Arrive at Chch airport at 1.50pm
Coach transport from airport to Geraldine.
Stay overnight at Geraldine Motor Camp.
29th November Full day Lord of the Rings tour with us (Wilderness Adventures 4x4NZ)
Overnight Geraldine as above
30th November. River rafting
Overnight Geraldine
1st December. Travel by coach to Queenstown, arriving early afternoon
Stay overnight at Queenstown Resort Lodge (Twin share room)
2nd December. Hike and Fly paragliding
Overnight Queenstown
3rd December. Jetboat ride Queenstown This leaves plenty of time on these 2
days to explore Queenstown and do luge/gondola rides
Overnight Queenstown
4th December depart Queenstown, arrive Christchurch
Stay overnight Christchurch
5th December.Own transport to airport for flight departing 2.50pm.(lots of
shuttles available)
It looks like it will be a lot of fun. Anyway, less then a week till the final I know nothing for (Physics) and a little over a week till the final I thought I would know nothing for (Data Structures). After that, about one more week till we jet off to the land of the Kiwis, then only one more week till home. See you all soon!
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Cricket
Hey everyone. I am halfway through my finals now, and looking forward to the end. Both my drawing assessment and my Australian Studies final seemed to go well, but I really cannot tell how they will be graded. The courses are just too subjective. Up next is a week of no finals in which I shall attempt to teach myself solid state physics (because the second lecturer was so poor) and brush up on my algorithms for my c course.
Yesterday after I got back from COFA, I went to the TV room to relax a bit. Apparently, yesterday was also the first day of the Australia v. Sri Lanka test match in Cricket. Cricket is an interesting game, and even after watching for about an hour yesterday and 2 today, I am not entirely sure how I feel about it.
For anyone who is not familiar with the sport, think of Baseball. Now take away the four bases and replace them with two wickets. Move these into the centre of a circular field. Take away the fielders gloves and replace the ball with a larger red one. Also, strikes? Those are gone too. And finally, put two batsmen on either wicket at all times who must both dash to the other in order to get a run. There you have the gist of Cricket.
Cricket has a multitude of different types of matches too. A test match, the one I am watching, consists of 4 innings played over the course of 5 days. So each team gets to bat twice and bowl twice (that's right, I forgot to mention: replace the pitcher with a bowler who bounces the ball at the batsman's shins). To turn over play, the batting team has to have all of their batsmen taken out (ten outs) or they need to declare, which means they just decide they have had rather enough, thank you, and take the field instead of continuing to bat. The reason they would choose to do this is simple: if all the innings are not done by the end of the fifth day, the game is a draw. It doesn't matter how big of a run discrepancy there is, the game is a draw.
So far, the Australian team is doing really well apparently. When I left around 2 today (a little before the Tea break I think) we had 2 players who had scored a centurion (one hundred runs) and only 3 outs on the first inning. I expect that by now we have likely declared and the Sri Lankans are batting now.
If it seems rather drawn out and a bit odd, that is because it is. I think I like it though. at the very least, the laid back pace of the game is soothing after an assessment.
Yesterday after I got back from COFA, I went to the TV room to relax a bit. Apparently, yesterday was also the first day of the Australia v. Sri Lanka test match in Cricket. Cricket is an interesting game, and even after watching for about an hour yesterday and 2 today, I am not entirely sure how I feel about it.
For anyone who is not familiar with the sport, think of Baseball. Now take away the four bases and replace them with two wickets. Move these into the centre of a circular field. Take away the fielders gloves and replace the ball with a larger red one. Also, strikes? Those are gone too. And finally, put two batsmen on either wicket at all times who must both dash to the other in order to get a run. There you have the gist of Cricket.
Cricket has a multitude of different types of matches too. A test match, the one I am watching, consists of 4 innings played over the course of 5 days. So each team gets to bat twice and bowl twice (that's right, I forgot to mention: replace the pitcher with a bowler who bounces the ball at the batsman's shins). To turn over play, the batting team has to have all of their batsmen taken out (ten outs) or they need to declare, which means they just decide they have had rather enough, thank you, and take the field instead of continuing to bat. The reason they would choose to do this is simple: if all the innings are not done by the end of the fifth day, the game is a draw. It doesn't matter how big of a run discrepancy there is, the game is a draw.
So far, the Australian team is doing really well apparently. When I left around 2 today (a little before the Tea break I think) we had 2 players who had scored a centurion (one hundred runs) and only 3 outs on the first inning. I expect that by now we have likely declared and the Sri Lankans are batting now.
If it seems rather drawn out and a bit odd, that is because it is. I think I like it though. at the very least, the laid back pace of the game is soothing after an assessment.
Monday, October 29, 2007
And the last week is here
Hello everyone, quick post this week. This is the very last week of lectures, and it seems that everyone has remembered at once that they need something to assess us on. Because of this, I have a huge C project, 2 physics online quizes, and a Physics lab report all due on Friday before close of business. I also need to make sure my 10 best pieces from drawing are completely done by next Thursday and get my notes in order for my Australian Studies final on Wednesday. All in all, a pretty busy week.
I am getting the New Zealand portion of our trip in order as well. We are hopefully gonna get in some rafting, hiking, and tandem hang gliding while we are there, so that should be fun.
Today was the very first truly hot day since I have been here. I am sure it probably fits better academically if you study abroad in the spring for Australia like everyone suggests, but weather wise this was definitely the way to go.
I am gonna try and get pictures of everyone I talk to on a regular basis, but I am trying to wait as long as I can in case they think I am a freak for just taking random pictures of them. Oh, and I keep forgetting to do it. That too.
Anyway, enough stalling. This ADT ain't gonna write itself!
I am getting the New Zealand portion of our trip in order as well. We are hopefully gonna get in some rafting, hiking, and tandem hang gliding while we are there, so that should be fun.
Today was the very first truly hot day since I have been here. I am sure it probably fits better academically if you study abroad in the spring for Australia like everyone suggests, but weather wise this was definitely the way to go.
I am gonna try and get pictures of everyone I talk to on a regular basis, but I am trying to wait as long as I can in case they think I am a freak for just taking random pictures of them. Oh, and I keep forgetting to do it. That too.
Anyway, enough stalling. This ADT ain't gonna write itself!
Friday, October 19, 2007
About the photos
Yes, I realize they are not exactly in order, and yes I realize there are no words to accompany them. The task of both uploading all of them and molding them into a blog update was just too daunting. I shall go through and add comments in the future, possibly tomorrow, so until then enjoy!
You asked for photos...
Ok, it is actually rather hard for me to edit this post, seeing as how none of the UNSW computers seem to have the proper plug ins for me to see the pictures while I am typing. Suffice to say we had a lot of fun, took a lot of pictures, and ate a frozen banana in front of a really big (I think the world's largest) banana. Also, those penguins are fairy penguins native to Australia, and I got to feed them.
Oh, and the Eric's Mint Bushwalk pic at the bottom is not named after my brother as the image may lead you to believe, but rather a large Crocodile that until July of this year was the star of the reptile park. The bush walk is his memorial.
Also, the Farm kicked @$$, but for some reason the old guy (his name was bob) who was helping during the horseback riding part didn't want to let go of the horse Eric and then I rode. I managed to get him to release me for the last quarter of my ride though. Apparently he was an old race horse and Bob was afraid he would bolt. Also, Bob is a bit deaf, so it was hard for me, Eric, or the farms owner to get his attention, let alone indicate that the tether was not necessary (I am reasonably confident on a horse. I think Eric is too, but I don't want to speak for him).
Oh, and the Eric's Mint Bushwalk pic at the bottom is not named after my brother as the image may lead you to believe, but rather a large Crocodile that until July of this year was the star of the reptile park. The bush walk is his memorial.
Also, the Farm kicked @$$, but for some reason the old guy (his name was bob) who was helping during the horseback riding part didn't want to let go of the horse Eric and then I rode. I managed to get him to release me for the last quarter of my ride though. Apparently he was an old race horse and Bob was afraid he would bolt. Also, Bob is a bit deaf, so it was hard for me, Eric, or the farms owner to get his attention, let alone indicate that the tether was not necessary (I am reasonably confident on a horse. I think Eric is too, but I don't want to speak for him).
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