By: April Kessler
This morning we woke up very early to leave Melbourne and head to Sydney. It was raining as we left, so we all shuffled quickly into the bus and from the bus to the airport. We checked into the Jetstar desk as a group, and enjoyed some café breakfast food in the airport before departure. I had a delicious slice of banana bread, which I have found to be one of my favorite things in Australia: you can find it everywhere! In the US it is not uncommon to see banana bread, but it is not as greatly enjoyed as in AU. Close to boarding time, we gathered together and chatted at the gate. The gates in the Melbourne airport are somewhat strange because there is no place to sit except a few handicap chairs, so as passengers gather they must block the way. Eventually the attendants began boarding passengers, and they weighed the carry-on baggage of people who brought large or multiple bags. Becs and I had to check our larger bags before we entered the plane, but it didn't take too long so we made the flight and found our seats in good time. The flight was fairly short and we were soon in Sydney!
In Sydney we loaded up in another travel bus (I should add that these were also a different style to US buses: instead of undercarriage compartments for luggage, the buses were smaller with a covered wagon hitched to the back for luggage). The bus driver, along with Professor Burton, gave us a tour of Sydney. We saw eclectic architecture just like in Melbourne, drove by Darling harbor, passed Pancakes on the Rocks (a yummy local pancake house), and went to a lookout called Lady Macquarie's Chair where we could take pictures of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbor Bridge.
After the tour we drove straight to Bondi to see the Icebergs Swim Club. This swim club is one of many like it along Australia's coast, with an infinity pool meeting the water, and members that come out to swim in all conditions. Icebergs however, stands out as one of the best (if not the best), and is well renowned in the area.
To become a member of the club, one is required to do a timed fifty meter swim, take a pledge, and swim a minimum of three out of the four "Sunday Swims" during Winter swimming season (May – September), for 5 years. Luckily, the man showing us around the Club(Mr. Alan Gow) was kind enough to let us go for a dip in their pool even though we aren't members:) It was so cold! The water was about 16 degrees Celsius, or 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
After the swim, we were treated to a rest in the sauna, and a scrumptious lunch for all. I had fish and chips for the first time and was not at all disappointed. In fact, it is making me hungry now just to think of it. Mr. Gow gave us some of the history of the club while we were eating, told us about the Surf Life-Saving community, and answered our other questions.
Following lunch, we walked around Bondi for a bit, picking up little treats and desserts. Bondi is a town with small shops surrounded by beautiful living spaces which arch around the beach inlet.
We all met back at the bus to leave Bondi and head to the Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning at the University of Technology, Sydney. The rooms in this building were pretty neat, and catered to alternative learning styles, with big couches, classrooms set up to promote discussion, and vibrant colors. Here we met Dr. Craig Longman, who talked about criminal justice issues in relation to Australia's Indigenous communities. He was very knowledgeable about the pervasive conflicting issues that these communities face, and told very emotional stories of children being taken from their family, but the family not being taken seriously when they tried to report, look for, and save the missing child. This was my favorite lecture of the class.
After the lecture we checked into The Great Southern Hotel, tired from the eventful and fun filled day, and ate dinner all together at the downstairs restaurant and pub. This was a memorable, serendipitous day.