So much has happened since my last post! I have fallen into the rhythms of university life, going to lectures and practicals, going to the uni club, and studying, and I suppose writing fell by the wayside. But things have been very exciting nonetheless! Lets begin with Fisher-shield.
Fisher-shield is an inter-collegiate competition on the university (remember, colleges are like dorms here) covering various sports. I joined the touch team. Touch is a derivation of rugby which contains no tackling, lots of running, and a lot of technique (if you are curious about the rules go here). Where as in the States Touch is a game that many rugby players retire to, or use for training only, it is quite popular with every age group here. After about 3 weeks of practice around 2x a week, we competed in a "carnival" aka tournament against the other colleges. It was lots of fun, though we lost in the semifinals and came in 4th.
During those touch practice however, i met a girl who plays for a rugby league team. Upon explaining to me that rugby union (here) is what we think of as rugby and rugby league (here) is a combination of touch and rugby union, she asked if i would like to play. I replied with an enthusiastic yes and was told to report to the main uni field after first day of the touch tournament to meet the team and coach for the first game. Having never played this version of rugby I was rather apprehensive about simply jumping into the game with no experience under my belt, but I had little to fear. As it seems to be with all ruggers, i was immediately welcomed and invited into the group, who gave me a quick rundown of the different rules and some of the basic plays. It was a lot of fun and i managed to only make a fool out of myself once. :-)
I have also started rowing! Maddie, my lovely friend from home, convinced me that getting up at 6am is actually worth it (I was sceptical) and took me to the local boat house. Its a lot of fun, and really sheds the extra pounds. ;-) I am almost finished the Learn to Row program and will be a full member for 6 months afterward, during which I will be able to take out boats independently. I am thoroughly enjoying it.
On a non sports related note, I was invited to visit a lab on campus. Geoffrey Dobson, whose research you can see here, a professor at JCU, met my father at a conference in Florida, where upon hearing that I am studying at JCU, sent me an e-mail to come see the work going on the in his lab on the JCU campus. Dr. Dobson is working on developing a drug that has the potential to take patients out of shock long after it should be possible, sustaining disembodied organs for transplant for significantly longer than currently conceivable, and much more. His work barrows from the concept of hibernation, which allows the body to regulate itself very differently than when in a non-hibernating state. The lab was fascinating, and the research has the potential to create a wonder drug that could save thousands. The best part? I am welcome back anytime. Its very exciting.
Fisher-shield is an inter-collegiate competition on the university (remember, colleges are like dorms here) covering various sports. I joined the touch team. Touch is a derivation of rugby which contains no tackling, lots of running, and a lot of technique (if you are curious about the rules go here). Where as in the States Touch is a game that many rugby players retire to, or use for training only, it is quite popular with every age group here. After about 3 weeks of practice around 2x a week, we competed in a "carnival" aka tournament against the other colleges. It was lots of fun, though we lost in the semifinals and came in 4th.
During those touch practice however, i met a girl who plays for a rugby league team. Upon explaining to me that rugby union (here) is what we think of as rugby and rugby league (here) is a combination of touch and rugby union, she asked if i would like to play. I replied with an enthusiastic yes and was told to report to the main uni field after first day of the touch tournament to meet the team and coach for the first game. Having never played this version of rugby I was rather apprehensive about simply jumping into the game with no experience under my belt, but I had little to fear. As it seems to be with all ruggers, i was immediately welcomed and invited into the group, who gave me a quick rundown of the different rules and some of the basic plays. It was a lot of fun and i managed to only make a fool out of myself once. :-)
I have also started rowing! Maddie, my lovely friend from home, convinced me that getting up at 6am is actually worth it (I was sceptical) and took me to the local boat house. Its a lot of fun, and really sheds the extra pounds. ;-) I am almost finished the Learn to Row program and will be a full member for 6 months afterward, during which I will be able to take out boats independently. I am thoroughly enjoying it.
On a non sports related note, I was invited to visit a lab on campus. Geoffrey Dobson, whose research you can see here, a professor at JCU, met my father at a conference in Florida, where upon hearing that I am studying at JCU, sent me an e-mail to come see the work going on the in his lab on the JCU campus. Dr. Dobson is working on developing a drug that has the potential to take patients out of shock long after it should be possible, sustaining disembodied organs for transplant for significantly longer than currently conceivable, and much more. His work barrows from the concept of hibernation, which allows the body to regulate itself very differently than when in a non-hibernating state. The lab was fascinating, and the research has the potential to create a wonder drug that could save thousands. The best part? I am welcome back anytime. Its very exciting.
