Adventures in Aussie Rules Football

So I found something worthy of writing about. I finally got up enough courage to go to a Women's Australian Rules Football practice for the ANU team. I was absolutely terrified. On the way there, I was trying to decide if the stomach ache and headache I'd had earlier in the day were bad enough for me not to go. When we pulled up to the oval and I looked around, I really didn't want to be there. But I got over my initial terrifiedness, and decided to sneak over and sit next to a girl who looked like she might know what to do.  It turns out I sat down next to the girl I'd been calling for the last week asking about the team! As I talked to her for a bit, I realized there were only 5 girls, and over 2o guys. I quickly understood why we were training with the guys as its really a numbers game. 

Another girl taught me how to kick the football properly. Apparently years of soccer proved to be good background, and kicking came semi-naturally. It felt pretty great. The ball handling is a bit tougher, but I think I'll be able to get it eventually. Its sort of like an under hand volleyball serve, but you're hitting a football, and you're holding your hands differently. Anyway, its hard, and I've got a lot to learn there.  Something else that contributes to my confusion is trying to get through the lingo of the game, and understand the Aussie accent. Its really not that difficult to do in normal conversation, but when listening to instruction in a game you're just learning makes things just that bit more difficult. The drills were tough, mostly because we were training with boys who run really hard and have been playing the game for years and years. One of the first drills I tried to do ended in disaster when I got a ball in the face, knocking my glasses off, and ended up spinning around in circles looking for the ball. I didn't fall over which might have made it the most embarrassing thing to happen to me, but still turned a very lovely tomato red. I took a quick break and watched how things were going from there. So we ran, did more drills, and as things got a bit harder, I watched, got taught some more things from one of the injured girls, and learned a lot. Its a weird game, but I think I'm already starting to really enjoy it. Now all I have to do is figure out the rules, and I'll be set! So I didn't die. There is really something about playing a sport, running around on a really green field (Its February! I love this country!) that makes me feel human. It was pretty sweet to sweat, and I'm looking forward to the next practice. 

That's all from me for now. I think I'll be complaining about pain and bruises next time I write, but whatever, I'm happy for the time being!