March 25, 2013

Ahh.. I have no time. We'll be going to the Temple soon; yes we're staying very very very busy. I still haven't taken too many pictures, we can only use the cameras on p-days and their usually too busy to think about pictures. And no we don't really do fun things on p-day, most of it is getting everything together for the week.

Thanks for the article (Pub Crawl in Adelaide) and yes we know about those streets and that’s why Rundle is strictly off limits to all missionaries, along with a couple of other streets. Those guys party harder than we preach. I have to go.  It’s good to hear from you and I can't wait to talk more next week.

March 21, 2013

UNIVERSITY students charged into one of Adelaide's busiest intersections, stopping traffic and jumping on a car trapped in the scrum during one of Australia's largest pub crawls.  Video has emerged of thousands of students on the annual Adelaide University Engineering Society pub crawl converging on the intersection of Rundle and Pulteney streets in a huge flash mob about 9pm last night (Saturday).

The video shows some of the students - among an estimated 5000 wearing Boozing Bad' t-shirts - stopping traffic and jumping on the bonnet and roof of a dark-coloured sedan trapped in the throng.  The footage was recorded by Sydney resident Catherine Greenhill on her phone from her bedroom at the Quest Mansion apartments on Pulteney Street after hearing roars from the crowd.  "It was pretty out of control," Ms Greenhill said.  "My heart was racing. I just thought - I'm going to hear one of these kids hit the deck."  Organisers promote the annual event on their Facebook page as the world's largest `shirted' pub crawl. Ms Greenhill said the flash mob occurred "many, many times" and decided to call the police at 9.30pm.

"I saw two police cars and two policemen in the centre of the intersection, but the next time the red light came sure enough everyone ran in the middle again," she said.  Police arrived soon after and dispersed the crowd. A police spokeswoman said officers were viewing CCTV footage from the intersection to investigate whether this and other offences had been committed.

More than 30 bars and nightclubs were listed on the event's Facebook page, where the AUES promises "a night so memorable you'll wish you hadn't forgot it".  "The AUES has lined up 30 venues ... with an additional four venues where you can get your craving fix by the ounce or pound," it reads.  "You own this town."

A university spokesperson said the university did not sanction the event but would be following up with the student society involved in the event. AUES president Maxim Dupree said: "We expect all students to demonstrate positive, responsible behaviour on and off campus with respect for people and property as members of the University and wider community.  "We certainly do not promote or support any form of binge drinking."  Pub crawlers and others took to Facebook and Twitter yesterday to both defend and condemn Friday night's antics. "The AEUS have a lot to answer for," Andrew Christ posted on Twitter.  "Cars got swarmed."  

March 18, 2013

Good to know everything is going well back home. This week was pretty normal, not a whole lot to report. The weather finally got nice this week last Wednesday; we're hoping it stays like this for as long as possible before cooling down too much.

Most of this area is pretty much just like the States. It’s really not all that different besides driving on the other side of the road and a whole lot more immigrants and people who don’t speak English.

It was good to hear from everyone, I'll see if this next week is any more exciting than the last.

March 12, 2013

Monday March, 11th was a holiday in South Australia so we didn't get Colin's email until Tuesday.  Not much news from him...I guess I'll have to start making stuff up. -- the mom

Hello family,

This week has been pretty normal I guess, even though it’s my first week here and I don't really have much to compare it to. It’s hot (mid 90's), and yes we are exclusively on bikes. Mine is brand new, but it won't be by the time I'm finished with it. Bikes are nice though, I don't feel as bad about not being able to run so much, and we get to shower twice a day. And yes, I'm always in short sleeves. I don't like them at all. The shirts are actually all too big for me, but if I got any smaller of a size then the top button wouldn't fit around my neck. All my pants are going to be ruined pretty quickly too, I mostly just wear the black pair right now; I figure I'll move on to one of the other ones in a couple of weeks. We don't really ever get fed by members, but that’s actually a good thing because dinners take a couple hours out of our day that we can't get any numbers from, so it’s kind of a waste of time. My companion cooks though so we do better than I would if I was living alone.

Take care this week, maybe I can write more next week. Talk to you soon. 

March 3, 2013

Yep I'm still alive. I'm in the Mawson Lakes area, we're on bikes, and yes it’s pretty hot here. My arms are already sun burnt  It’s still quite a bit like the states, and it’s kind of a nicer area. There are only four member families in our area of the Ward. Most of the people we talk to are students at South Adelaide. Most of them are immigrants rather than traditional Australian. We taught an Iranian family yesterday, and we're talking with a Chinese guy, Philippians, Malaysians, and a family from Azerbaijan. We're always busy.

There are three stakes in the Adelaide mission, all three here in town. The other two areas they send missionaries to is up in Darwin and Alice Springs. Usually 10-20 missionaries in both I think. There are less than a hundred missionaries here. The Alice Springs Elders teach the aboriginals, so they are the ones that live in tents.

I'll probably be here in Mawson Lakes/Modbury for quite a while though. They just opened up Kangaroo Island too so maybe I'll spend some time there later. I haven’t seen any kangaroos yet. My trainer is from Brisbane, but he might as well be American. I have almost no time at all so I need to get off, thanks for writing. Good luck and take care this week. 

February 24, 2013

So I'm leaving today to go to the Mission Home in the afternoon and have dinner with the President.  So he might have me call tonight I'm not sure.  After that our flight leaves San Jose at 7:40 and later I'll leave LA at 11:40.  It’s a 15 hour flight to Sydney and then another three (I think) to Adelaide. My MTC Companion will be coming with me. He's been in my Zone here in San Jose so we see quite a bit of each other still. 

I haven't taken hardly any pictures at all. It’s too much trouble to get the camera out. Maybe that'll change in Australia. 

This week has been alright, just killing time before I leave. I had to say goodbye to all the members and my former arms merchant and everyone else. Packing is weird, that big suitcase is a hassle because it’s got plenty of space but I need to keep it under 50 pounds so it'll probably end up being only half filled.  I don't have too much stuff though so I don't think it'll be an issue. 

I tried to cuddle a kitten this week.  It had other plans. I got scratched, right across the face.

Not much else going on though. I'll probably get to call soon, we'll see. Take care this week, if anything I'll let you guys know how everything is going next Monday. 

From the mom:  He didn't get to call.  We are hoping he made it to Australia alright.  I guess no news is good news.