World Cup 2010 South Africa

Pride in your country...I may live in Australia and the USA may not be the bigger lover of Soccer AKA Futbol but the World Cup is the most exciting month long sporting event to watch. I have so much pride in my country had I held a small watch party at 4am so that me and my fellow americans Emily (Ohio) and Christine (Cali) could watch USA take on power house England in the first game of group play. I will say I was happy with the outcome, 1-1 for those not living on planet Earth but deep down inside I would have love to smell victory and steal 3 points for them as we did with our goal. I look forward to their next game on Friday night against Slovenia where I will predict a 2-0 win for the Red, White and Blue!! I know our chance will be slim but I will be wavin my flag proud all the way in Australia!!

As the saying goes..Don't Tread on Me...

If you get a chance to watch the game..look out for an up and coming super star in Edson Buddle...he is named after the one and only Pele (world best soccer player) and he just happens to share the same birthday as me May 21, 1981!! Doesn't get any better then that :)

Happy World Cup soccer watching!!

Cheers,

Theresa

Semester 102...Third and final semester of Grad school

As I am writing this blog I am about to start Week 5 of my third and final semester of grad school..Which means that it is going to be over before I know it. I will say it is going to be bitter sweet when I get on a plane back to the USA and know that I am not going to back to Australia at least for awhile!! But I am happy to get back to something that I love which is working in college athletics and to be happy to be closer in time zone, drive a car and attend all those wonderful american holidays that I have missed out on!!

This semester I am taking my last four classes: Strategic Sports Management, International Sports Business, Sports Marketing and Sports Econ and Finance. So far all of the subject have overlapped each other a little bit so its like taking one BIG class throughout the week. I will say it has been really hard trying to get back into the swing of things but I really need to focus as the rest of the semester is going to be super busy with assignments, papers and projects.

I am going to try my hardest to enjoy my time here in Australia as well as focus on the task at hand which is the reason behind this journey..Get my masters degree!!! I can see the light at the end of the tunnel but just wish it would come faster!!

On a side note, this weekend in the states will be fathers day and I just wanted to let my father know that he is the most wonderful father one daughter could ever ask for. I just wish that I could have told him my plan of going to Australia to get my masters degree. I know he is looking down on me and he would be very proud of me as he has been with everything I have done in my life. If someone could pass along this note for me to him (for those living in WA) I would greatly appreciate it. I love you Dad :) miss you each and everyday.

I hope you have enjoyed reading my blogs as I plan to do at least a couple more before my journey is over!!

Cheers,

Theresa

Fiji and my 29th Birthday

My friend/dance partner in the village

Island dancers

Fire dancer on the island

Sunset...amazing!!

Waterfall...

Village dancers

Lunch time...Fiji Style

Sunset from the resort

My Fijian hut

For my 29th birthday I decided that I wanted to spend it somewhere exotic because Australia wasn't exotic enough for me ha ha!! After spending 3 weeks in states I need a vacation from my vacation so I decided that I would go to Fiji for 5 days. The whole point of going on this is trip is to explore another country and cross that off my bucket list. Well I don't really have a bucket list but if and when I get a chance to visit another I do. Fiji is only a quick 3 hours and 30 minutes from Australia so it actually quicker to fly there as opposed to fly within Australia from Brisbane to Perth..just to show how big Australia actually is!!

I really didn't have any expectations about Fiji so I really didn't plan anything until I arrived. My first day in Fiji was just spent relaxing on the beach and getting to bed super early since I have been traveling none stop for around 3 days or so. The next day I checked out the local town of Nadi..nothing real exciting but I was able to find a tour company where I was able to book two full day tours to keep me busy for the rest of my vacation. The following day I was picked up bright and early for a 3 hours bus trip to a local town where we got to see how the Fijian people live in the villages. They preformed a local Kava ceremony, served us a wonderful lunch and sang me a wonderful birthday song. Even though I wasn't with the ones I loved the most I felt very loved by the local community as well as the people in my tour. Overall I would say it was a wonderful 29th birthday. My last full day as spent on another tour to a place called Robinson Crusoe Island. Once again there was a Kava ceremony, a wonderful feast, fire dancing and just a good old time. Overall Fiji was a nice place to visit and I was glad I was able to support the local economy as it is very important to them. The people were very friendly and I would say everyone should plan a trip out there!! BULA FIJI!!!

Cheers,

Theresa

2 weeks in Washington State...not DC!!

Cousins Lisa and Theresa

Benny and Olivia

Me, Benny and Erin at Farmers Market

Olivia ridding on Auntie Theresa's shoulders

Auntie Theresa and Benny!!

After spending a wonderful time in Cali with the Van Houten, I headed up north to spend some quality time with the rest of my family for two weeks. The two weeks were filled with a lot of time with Olivia and Benny!! Oh how I missed them so much...

During my time spent in Washington I was able to once again celebrate my birthday with my mom, Erin, Gary, Olivia, Benny, cousin Lisa, cousin Darice, Scott and Baby Brody!! Nothing like a good drink and steak dinner!! I also the the chance to become a "mom" for a week watching Olivia and Benny while Gary and Erin took off for a week in the DR...I my niece and nephew but man it was hard work!! I would rather be an Auntie then a mom...sorry!!

I was also able to fly over to Spokane to see some old co-worker and friends. I was so happy to see Judy, Troy, Lisa, Wes and Krysta from EWU as well as Lisa's family Mark, Mason and Maria. Thanks to the Westlake family for housing me for a couple of days and the wonderful food :) was kindy sad I missed out on the pool but I will come visit again next summer. I can' t wait to see how it all turned out.

The 2 weeks in Washington was well spent and just what I needed a whole lot of loving from my family!!

Miss everyone so much and soon I will be done and back in the states :)

Cheers!

Theresa

Visiting the Van Houten Family in Cali

Me and Kris...Sisters

Surprise b-day cake for me!!

Clara and Andrew playing in the water

Auntie Theresa with Clara and Andrew at Chuck E Cheese

Andrew and Clara...

I was very fortunate to be able to come home while on school holiday this semester. My first stop was to Modesto to visit with Kris, Mike, Andrew, Clara and of course Cooper!! I really didn't care what was going on I just wanted to be around everyone, playing, laughing and enjoying the moments. It is surely amazing how much you miss when you are halfway around the world. The week I was in Cali was spent playing with Andrew and Clara outside playing tennis, the new water table I bought the kids, attending Andrew's basketball class and having family dinners. Kris and I were able to spend some quality sister time together getting pedicures, watching a movie and having lunch. I was also able to take Kris Starbucks everyday to work. This may sound silly to a lot of people but to be able to drive a car was something I was really excited to do since I depend on my bike, my feet or the bus.

The biggest surprise of the week was the birthday cake that they surprised me with. I didn't really expect anything for my birthday I was just happy to spend it with my family.

Overall my time in Cali was just what I needed...quality time with spent with Kris, Mike, Andrew, Clara and Cooper!!

I look forward to seeing them again very soon..

Theresa