I’M GONNA BE ON TV! (Wednesday, June 3, 2009)

So we got up this morning for an early snorkel on the Reef, and Glenn informed us that a camera crew was going to be following us around for a popular Australian children’s show called “Totally Wild.” Of course, no one was opposed. They got some sweet footage of us walking out to the beach in our snorkeling gear, setting up transect lines for project work in the ocean, and even a little of us learning during lecture in the classroom.

I recently joined a new research group when we came to this island, and the show’s producers chose me & my new group to do an interview! We had to sign a talent release form and everything, and they told us that they’ll email us 2 weeks before the show airs! Since we obviously won’t be in Aussie when it airs, they told us they’d mail us each a copy & everything. Pretty awesome!

We spent the rest of the day basically doing research. Our project for Heron Island is to explore the density & diversity of reef fish in three different areas on the island. There are some really cool fish out there! I really like the damselfish because there are such a wide variety of them; they come in so many colors and patterns!

Later, we were scheduled to have lecture after dinner. When it came time for dinner, Glenn said “Lecture tonight has been cancelled. We’re going over the resort for a very important experience in your Australian education.” What kind of educational experience could be present at an island paradise resort? Turns out it was the first game in the State of Origin rugby tournament, and he just really wanted to watch it, lol. So he taught us a little about the game, which is similar to American football. They don’t use padding, but they still get just as rough as in football. The ball can only be passed backwards, not forward. Everything else pretty much went over my head. Surprising. So we were “barracking” for the Queensland team, which was up against New South Wales. The reason I say barracking is because “rooting” for a team (as we would say in America), in a nationally accepted way of saying “sexual intercourse.” My Uncle Roger taught me this before I left on the trip, and I never thought I would have to use such advice. Hahaha but I’m sure glad he told me! Anyways, so we ordered fancy (& expensive!) drinks at the resort bar while we watched a bit of the game. Queensland ending up winning (yay!). I really love that my crazy professor considers a rugby game more educational than a lecture. This rocks!