Day 15: A Day at the Beach, Rugby Fun, and an Exciting Sharks Game

Today was packed with activities and a ton of fun. We started off with a 45-minute drive from our hotel to the beach, full of excitement for what lay ahead.

Once we got there, we jumped straight into the water. It was freezing at first, but after a while, we got used to it and had a great time swimming. After that, we decided to bury our friend Sean in the sand, which was hilarious and made for some great pictures.

Feeling hungry, we grabbed something to eat from a nearby café. The food was just what we needed, and we enjoyed eating while looking out at the ocean.

In the afternoon, we listened to a presentation about the local surf club. It was cool to learn about what they do and how they help people get better at surfing and stay safe in the water.

Next, we headed to the Sydney Sharks rugby facility. There, we got to learn how to play rugby. The staff was super friendly and taught us the basics, which was really fun. We even got to try out some drills ourselves.

After that, we sat through a lecture by the Sharks’ staff. They talked about the team, their strategies, and what it’s like to be part of the rugby community. It was really interesting to hear about the behind-the-scenes stuff.

The day ended on a high note with an exciting Sharks game, which was about an hour away from the rugby facility. The atmosphere was incredible—fans were cheering, and the energy was off the charts. The game was intense and really fun to watch.

By the end of the day, we were tired but happy. From the beach to learning rugby and experiencing a live game, it was a day filled with awesome memories.

Day 18: The last day

 Unfortunately, our time in Australia together has reached its conclusion. 

Most of us had morning flights between 9:00 – 11:30, which meant waking up earlier than we would have liked, to begin our journey back to the States. Some of us chose to wake up even earlier and watch the UEFA Champions League Final, in whichLa Liga side Real Madrid defeated Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund by a score of 2-0 at Wembly in London to win their fifteenth European Cup. However, most of us elected to get as much sleep as possible prior to our flights home.

These last few weeks as a group have flown by, and most of us are left feeling that it all ended too soon. However, there is no doubt that the learning experiences we have shared and thememories we have created together will be with us for the rest of our lives. Most of us came to Australia as strangers to each other, but we all left as a family.

Day 17: One Last Adventure

 After an unforgettable two weeks, the final day had arrived. Fortunately we had had another free morning, which gave some of us the chance to fit in one last adventure, and others to catch up on some much needed sleep. I had previously found out that not only was June 1st the first day of winter, it was also the first day of whale season. All of the humpback whales would begin a great migration from Antartica up the coast of Australia in search of warmer waters. I figured that whale watching would be a great way to go out on a big splash. After making my daily morning stop at Krispy Kreme to get some doughnuts, I made my way down to stunning Darling Harbor. At 8:00 the boat was on it’s way. Once we made our way into the ocean, it didn’t take long to find some activity. A few whales were splashing around, and swam over to the boat to show off their skills. I thought the whales would be sacred of the boat, yet I learned many whales are incredibly curious creatures and often approach boats. One family on board had a crying baby, and tried to quiet it down. The captain encouraged the baby to keep crying, because the noises actually attract whales. Sure enough, that baby kept crying, and the whales stuck around. The whales said farewell by leaving us with a few incredible jumps, which unfortunately I didn’t record in time. Meanwhile, the journey back to the harbor was anything but smooth. The rain started ti pick up, and the swells on the ocean were mammoth sized. As any sane person would, everyone went under the canopy and sat down in their seats. Except for one person, the kid whose loved a choppy day on the water since he was seven years old. I asked the captain if I could go out on the bow for the bumpy ride home. He said he didn’t recommend it, but I could as long as I held on. I spent the next fourty five minutes going up and down, getting soaked by the waves crashing over the board, and enjoyed every second of it with a smile on my face. When we got back to the harbor, everyone looked at me like I was a lunatic, and rightfully so. Once I got off the boat I was greeted with a torrential downpour. After a quick regroup at the hotel, Liam and I voyaged down to the main port, Circular Quay, for a cruise throughout the Sydney Harbor. This time the tour was in much calmer water, and under a roof. Unfortunately we didn’t get to see much because of the conditions, but we improvised and played some card games. We finished off the trip with one final group dinner at the Great Southern Bar. We reflected the on our favorite moments of the trip, and took one final group photo. All of us couldn’t believe how fast these last few weeks went by. We made memories that will last a lifetime, and bonds that will last forever.