Farewell Australia

My experience in Australia these last five months has been unforgettable. I expected to love the culture and people but I never expected to feel this at home in a country that is all the way around the world. Although there are many differences between Australian and American culture, there were enough similarities that I was really able to connect with everything. Since childhood, sport has been a huge part of my life. From the time I was young my brother and I played every sport possible. Whether it was an organized team or just a game in the neighborhood, we were constantly involved. Our weekends consisted mainly of going to each other’s sports games and cheering each other on. My family never missed a game if they didn’t have to. We were always there for each other to provide encouragement and support. Going to some of the youth games while I was here I noticed the same thing. The families were all there to watch their kids. They were so proud of each of the athletes at the end of the game. Siblings also came to watch and play on the sidelines. It was so cute and amazing to see younger siblings getting advise and tips from the older kids. One day they will be so excited to follow in their footsteps. 

Supporting professional baseball, football, and basketball teams was also a central element to my upbringing. My dad is from the East Coast and regardless of the fact that I live in Colorado now, my whole family supports Boston teams. It didn’t matter whether we were watching it on television or if we were actually at the game. It brought our family together and gave us something extra to bond over. Even while I am away at University, or now in Australia, I call to talk to my parents and brother about sport. Observing the interaction between sports fans in Australia I noticed the same thing. It always sparked heated, friendly debate. People from different areas pledged their alliance to specific teams or had alliances based on family history. In the residential college where I lived, there were always people gathered in the television room to watch big games. Even if people weren’t fans of a specific team, everyone would gather together to cheer and hangout. It was a great way to take a break from university work and socialize. I couldn’t imagine my time here without the social element of sport. The St. John’s college teams also brought everyone together. Because I knew so much about Australian sport from taking this class, I could really get involved when I went to cheer on rugby, swimming, netball and rowing. It was a fundamental component of residential college life that I would never have been a part of if I didn’t have a basic understanding of the sports I was watching. 

This fundamental element to my life is a big reason why I feel so at home in Australia. Not only did I learn about the special place sport has in Australian culture, but I was able to see it and relate to it first hand. Without this class, I would never have had the full Australian experience. I might have gone to one or two rugby games but I wouldn’t have an understanding and appreciation for the game and countless other iconic sports. One of the things I looked forward to most about my time here were the weekly field trips. I was always so excited to spend the day with friends and watch sport. Without learning about the various sports beforehand in lecture, I would not have been able to appreciate the games. Once I knew more about it, I was able to get involved by cheering and playing! After learning the rules of netball in class, I actually tried it first hand. Some of the Australian girls I knew invited me to come play with them. Ordinarily I would have said no considering I had never played before. However, with my knowledge of the basic rules from class, I felt confident that I could go and play and at least know what I was doing. I had such a fun time! I was also able to try surfing. My friends at home were so jealous of this experience and I couldn’t wait to tell them all about it. I even knew enough to tell them about some of the historical developments surfing has undertaken since its origin. 

Other Americans who did not take this class did not get to experience one of the main components of Australian culture. I’m sure they went to see some rugby games and tried to appreciate the sport, but they will leave here without the real knowledge and understanding that I was fortunate enough to gain. If I ever have friends come to study here I will make sure they take this class. It truly enhanced my overall experience and appreciation for what a wonderful country Australia is. My family is coming to visit on June 12th and I can’t wait to take them to a rugby and AFL game! They already love American sport so I am excited to show them something new. Hopefully I can find a place to buy a rugby ball before going back home so I can play with my dad and brother. Instead of throwing around a football or baseball, maybe we will try to perfect the rugby toss. 

The True Blue Aussie Sport!

We started heading to ANZ stadium by taking a bus to Central Station. Once we arrived, we had no idea where to go to get to the Sydney Swans game. However, that question was answered when we saw over one hundred fans dressed in red walking out to a bus stop. We decided it would be a smart move to follow them- we were right. We ended up on a packed bus filled with Swans supporters. When we got to the stadium it was so crowded! Unlike the rugby league game, the stadium was almost full and everyone had on Swans uniforms and scarves. It seemed to be a much bigger event. As the only true and original Australian sport I couldn’t wait to see what it was like. The Swans ended up losing to the Hawks but it was a great game! I could definitely see why Australian Football League is the most popular in comparison to league and union. It was such an exciting game. It is so different to any sport I have ever watched. The skills were amazing and I could really see why some of the players go to America to become NFL punters and kickers after their careers begin to dwindle down. They were incredibly talented. Like at the Rabbitohs game, we were fortunate enough to be sitting by some dedicated fans. They helped to make sure we understood the rules and were giving us great information about the players and teams. There was a little girl around the age of 10 sitting behind us who was a huge fan! She seemed to know everything about the team and players. She was there with her dad and it reminded me of Sundays at home watching football with my dad. It was just another wonderful example of sports bringing people together in Australian culture! 

The South Sydney Rabbitohs

I was so excited for my first professional rugby league game! We took the train to Olympic Park with other excited fans dressed in the Rabbitoh’s colors- green and red. It was a beautiful stadium that was clean, well organized and huge! When we got inside we went to our section to find the rest of the class. We had great seats right behind the try-line. Although there were many excited fans in the stadium, it was not very crowded. We were able to sit right in the front row! In America, this would never happen. Especially at NFL games, the tickets are sold out and very expensive. Even if the seats aren’t full in the front row, you would not be allowed to sit there. It was really cool! The South Sydney Rabbitohs were playing the Tigers. They proved to be very good competitors! However, the Rabbitohs won! The crowd was really excited and everyone was cheering. It was a laid back and fun evening. Although I’m picking up the rules really quickly, it was helpful that we were sitting by some really intense fans. They were constantly talking about the different players, rules, and official calls. This really added to the experience because I felt like I learned even more! There were many families in attendance at Olympic Park. There were tons of little kids dressed in green and red having a great night with their families. It was a great event and we even got to meet the mascot! 

University Pride

Around the University of Sydney campus there have been flyers promoting the rugby team’s match against the North for weeks. Everyone was really excited when game time came and I headed to the University Oval with a group of my friends from St. John’s College. We got there early enough to enjoy watching the pre-game match against another Sydney team and a New Zealand team. Despite our enthusiastic cheering, New Zealand handily beat Sydney. We were hoping for better luck during the main event. It was really cool to watch the University team because three members of the team go to St. John’s College. Everyone was out cheering for them and it was a great time! Now that I have seen several rugby union games, it was much easier for me to follow and get involved in. Still, I made sure to sit by some Australian rugby players so that I could make sure I had all of the rules down. Unfortunately, Sydney lost the game. However, the team played really well and there was plenty of excitement! I can’t wait until the next game so I can go and support the University of Sydney team. 

A Family Affair

We arrived at Nagel Park bright and early on Saturday morning. The first thing I noticed was how many people filled the intimate area. There were a dozen different playing fields that were all covered in children playing rugby in various brightly colored uniforms.  Aside from the showing of youth athletes, there were over a hundred spectators made up of supportive parents, relatives, and siblings. It seemed like such a fun family event that brought everyone together for a day of iconic Australian sport. It reminded me of my time playing soccer as a kid. Every Saturday we would go to the park and it would be filled with families and teams. These are some of my favorite childhood memories. My Dad coached my older brother’s soccer team and we would all go and cheer them on before heading to my game and then out for ice cream. There was a food stand at Nagel park that attracted the athletes and spectators for a hot dog and refreshment after the game. Then, we headed just down the street to courts filled with youth netball players. This had the same family oriented feeling as the rugby did. All of the coaches and parents were there to cheer on the athletes and there was plenty of encouragement and support for all the participants. These types of youth events promote such amazing peer interaction and help to build confident, well rounded children. It also brings families and communities together in the popular joy of sport.