My first Rugby match

Last night I attended the Brisbane Broncos vs. Melbourne Storm Rugby League game.  I am definitely a new fan!  Melbourne won by one try (try=touchdown).  It is quite a bit different than our football, which Aussies call "gridiron".  It is fast paced.  No timeouts.  One guy from the Storm split his head and a trainer bandaged him up on the field, without anyone ever stopping the game.  They wear no protective gear or cups.  They get 6 tackles per run and can only pass the ball backwards.  I wanted to chant "Boomer......Sooner" on my way out, but refrained ;)

9 days until Europe!

The BIG news........

For those of you who don't know I am taking a vacation from my vacation!

European Vacation countdown..................10 days!

I am flying out of Australia May 17th.  I will arrive in Paris and stay about a week.  I see shopping and Champagne in my future ;)  Then, May 27th Brett and I will go to a wedding in Brussels, Belgium.  From there we have a flight booked to Kiev, Ukraine to visit some friends of Brett's.  We will then work our way from East to West, making our way to Croatia, Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, Italy, Spain, and wherever else the wind takes us.   The rest of the story of Europe will be plan as we go so I am sure there will be some exciting stories to come!  I will be in Europe for 2 months before returning to Australia mid-July.  I am so excited I want to keep doing the Sarah Jessica Parker squeal from Sex and the City!  

Weekends at the beach

I am still loving being an Aupair in Brissy!  I have the ideal work schedule of only working one day a week giving me the freedom to take trips on the weekends.

I met a French Aupair, Helene, who has become a good going out buddy.  On Easter weekend Helene, Mylene (her friend visiting from France), and I went to the Gold Coast!  It was fantastic!  Our first day we went to DreamWorld.  We acted like kids and had a great time riding the roller coasters in the rain.  

Mylene and I being rained on in line for a roller coaster

Rainbow over DreamWorld

Saturday was a beach day.  The water was clear and we swam and jumped waves for hours.  We stayed at a Hostel called Trekkers.  It was small, but welcoming.  The man that worked the front's wife and daughter came in on Sunday morning and brought everyone staying at the hostel homemade Easter treats!  How sweet!  The 'Frenchies' and I did a "big night out" with our hostel after spending the day at the beach.  This consisted of getting on a party bus with people from 6 other hostels.  We went to 4 different clubs/bars and got a free drink of choice at each.  We were given glow sticks and cowboy hats which became great dancing tools later in the night.  

Helene, Mylene, and I at Surfer's Paradise, Gold Coast

Big Night OuT!

Drinking wine from hostel mugs 

Guess which egg is mine. ;)

I stayed at the Gold Coast for 2 nights and came back in time for Easter lunch with the family I am living with.  They are Greek and so I got to experience a bit of their culture.  A few differences for me were eating lamb, homemade Greek bisquits (cookies), and playing a Greek egg game......All the eggs are died red and everyone, in a circle, hits each other's eggs.  Whoever's egg is uncracked at the end wins.  I WON! I also came home to a great surprise from the Easter Bunny!  He found me all the way in Australia.....although he replaced my chocolate bunnies with a chocolate bilby and a chocolate wombat! 

The Bilby and the Wombat