TMNT Episode 34: Michelangelo Takes On Australia

What I learned this weekend: Australian's really like to party. On Thursday night, Cromwell had their Cultural Dinner. This is basically an awards ceremony for people who have made great achievements in cultural events, such as oratory (speech), chess, and one-act plays. The guest speaker was a comedian who was slightly off-color, but very funny. Most of you know that I love live entertainment of any kind, comedians, singers, bands, all that stuff, so it was especially awesome (And yes Terri, I did laugh so hard that I started kicking my feet). My friend Mussels cleaned up shop in the awards department and came home with 3 trophies! I was very proud. She even managed to make a fool out of herself in front of our president, which was also hilarious. This was mostly due to the fact that the college provided everyone with alcohol. I wish we did this at home, it made the awards ceremony so much more fun. After the dinner, everyone kicked on to a club in South Bank.

Friday night was King's Conclusion and the theme was Heaven and Hell. My friends and I had waited to the last minute to get costumes and had to run out Friday morning to get the supplies. I think I've already mentioned how Aussies get really really into their themes, so I did not want to disappoint by having a sub-par costume. I managed to pull together a devil costume for $3! The party had two sections. Heaven was outside with a great live band playing music and hell was in a carpark with fog machines and strobe lights. It began to downpour about halfway through the night and everyone either went to hell (haha) or decided to dance in the rain. At one point a whole bunch of Cromwellians were dancing together in a circle to some great music while getting drenched to the bone. It was glorious. There's also a group of people called the Red Frogs who come to events where there is heavy drinking and they hand out water and donuts. I thought it was a really neat idea, but I don't think they'd ever bring something like that to America. I ended up getting a free ride home and then took a nice warm shower so that I would not get pneumonia.

Me....drenched.


I woke up nice and early the next morning to begin suiting up for ICC Recovery. Now I have already written a post about Cromwell recovery, but here's the difference between the two. ICC recovery is open to all college students and is held in a field for an entire day. They serve goon and juices, UDLs (mixed drinks in a can), and beer and lunch about halfway through. Music was going constantly. The theme was Incredible Cartoon Characters and Hannah, Liz, Megan and I dressed as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. We made masks out of ribbon and got green briefs to wear. Megan and I created shells out of the package her mom sent her (cough hint hint mom) and then painted our entire bodies green. This was one of our best decisions because had I not put paint all over I would have gotten the worst sunburn of my life, like Phil. Instead I just got a stupid looking burn on my face and the back of my neck. The greatest part of ICC Recovery was the tradition of spitting colored alcohol at each other. Yes, this is disgusting and unsanitary, but it is SO MUCH FUN. You bring colored food die with you to the event and then pour some in every drink you get. Then, you spit. Or pour, or dump out entirely on your friends. It was great, a typical Australian afternoon.







The last few days since recovery I have been trying to get all of the green off of my arms and legs as well as get back into work mode. I allowed myself a day or so to do nothing but sit around and watch movies and let my body re-cooperate. The sun has finally come back out. Elections are going on Cromwell so there are posters literally everywhere for people running for every position. Unfortunately I will not be able to vote. This is because I will be leaving Thursday morning (at 4am- AHH!) for Mixed Nationals in Bathhurst!! It should be a 12-14 hour drive, but we are staying in cabins (not tents thank goodness)! I'm really excited. After that it is the last week of classes and then Byron Bay!

I officially have 34 days left. WHAT