Glitter-be-gone.

The build up for Cromwell ball and recovery began before we even set foot on Australian soil. Ball started with a day of primping for most girls, nails, hair, makeup, the works. For me, however, I began the day with a lazy morning, going out to eat with some friends for Friday lunch, and then having Mussels do my hair while listening to some MJ. Cromwell folk had “pre-drinks” in the dining hall, mingled, and had a look at the beautiful outfits that everyone pulled out for this formal affair. After taking the classy coach buses to the venue (a huge change from our rickety buses with lots of chanting), we arrived at one of the swankiest places I have ever been. I cannot remember the name, but that doesn't really matter. There was a live band and then a real DJ later in the night. The place was overlooking the Brisbane river and the huge ferris wheel. And the dinner, freaking delicious. The evening included a bit of dancing and some nice bonding with some of my corridor friends, but otherwise was very similar to a high school prom (w/ unlimited booze). Most of my friends and I decided it would be best not to kick-on (and keep partying at a club) and just go back to bed and have pleasant dreams about the wonderful recovery that was to come.

At Ball with Megan, Nacho (Kate), and Skreet (Jessica)


And by recovery, I do not mean a hangover. Saturday morning, all of Cromwell woke up early to put on some crazy outfits and get keen to drink all day. After convening on North Lawn to have a few pre-drinks and pictures (at 9:30am) we all took the walk down to the bus stop to meet our transportation. It was quite the sight, a sea of drunken neon in the early morning. We traveled on to our destination which was none other than the famous Down Under Bar. This is one of the most fun and least classy places to go for nights out, and for Cromwell recovery, it was perfect. We had an open bar with a tab rumored to be $10,000. There was great dancing, lots of drinking, good music, drinking, water guns, greasy and delicious lunch food, and yes, more drinking. Did I mention our costume involved glitter (everywhere) and there was a legitimate flood of sparkles throughout all of college because of us? I think we might have been blacklisted by the cleaning staff. I still find stray sparkles in my bags, closets and ears. Regardless, it was one glorious day.

Mussels (Niki) and I on the way to recovery:


The next day, Phil, Taylor, Mussels and I departed for the Gold Coast and continued an amazing weekend! We spent two and half days at the Ward's residence in a gorgeous section of the Gold Coast. This alone could have made the adventure worthwhile. We got to take a Zumba class with Mrs. Ward, who is truly wonderful and has more energy and spunk than anyone I have met here so far. Zumba, for those of you who do not know, is a work-out/dance class that has a Brazilian theme to it. It is a lot of fun, especially if you get to watch old(er) people and Phil and Taylor dance. We also had some good food, FINALLY, including a roast which was to die for. While at the Gold Coast we got to visit a national forest. There we had a delightful picnic lunch, walked beneath a waterfall, saw some Antarctic Beech Trees (which are very rare), and almost got eaten by a snake. Okay, so we did not almost die, but a snake did slither straight across the footpath while we were bush-walking. CRAZY.

We checked out the beach and boardwalk areas along the coast to do some touristy stuff. The boys got autographed calendars and pictures with the “meter maids” who were scantily clad girls who kindly put 10 cent pieces in the meters when they are about to run out of time. They are an icon on the Gold Coast...kinda slutty if you ask me, but that's tourism. We met up with some fellow Cromwellians for coffee and took an elevator up to Q1, the tallest residential building in the southern hemisphere. It had a great view of the coastline and surrounding city.