Soon after arriving in Australia, I attended an Australian Football League, or AFL, game with a couple of my friends. Australian football has a huge following down here. In fact, I believe it has one of the largest followings of sports in the world. Australian football is quite similar to American football actually, with some differences obviously. I didn’t then, and still do not, have a good understanding of the rules, but the stadium was huge and the atmosphere was very fun. The people were very lively and certainly characteristic of the typical idea of a rowdy Australian. Unfortunately, I was traveling in New Zealand during the AFL final which takes place at the Melbourne Cricket Grounds, affectionately abbreviated the MCG. This game is actually a holiday in Melbourne and the Australians that were unable to get tickets to the game take to the bars to watch. In addition, the Melbourne Cup, Australia’s most prestigious horse race, took place the day prior to one of my final exams so I was also unable to attend.
While traveling in Fiji, I was able to attend a kava ceremony. Kava is a drink made from the powdered root of the pepper plant. The ceremony is very simple and the people talked the participants through it. After making the drink, it is offered to the chief in the group and then the executive head. Then everyone in the room drinks. One must clap before receiving the drink and yell, “Bula!” After drinking, one must clap three times. I remember the kava making my mouth feel numb and it tasting like muddy water.
