3&4

Lets see...

Yesterday started off at Curtin Uni with a talk concerning Australian and international public health. I thoroughly enjoyed the lecture as it went over Australian health and integrated it into the worldwide perspective. It was decided that malnutrition and global warming were the biggest health crisis in the world at the moment, which I was very surprised to hear. However, it does make sense, given that so many in the world are at below-poverty levels and/or don't have ready access to a nutritious meal on any given day. With the impact of global warming causing rising water levels, crops will and have been affected that supply millions of people in places such as India and China. Their was also talk on the Swine Flu and its affect on Australia as a whole. The state of Victoria (don't quote me on it) has had the most affected with something like 200+ having come down with the virus. The number is huge compared with every other state in Australia and thus officials have implemented mandatory quarantines for those traveling around the country that have visited Victoria. Apparently this was a move in order to starve the virus and allow time for a proper vaccine to be produced.

After lunch and a 40 minute car ride we arrived at the Western Australian Institute of Sport. It was a huge complex, with different fields and stadiums as well as a huge swimming/gymnastics center. It can be equated to our own American Olympic Training Centers, as the WAIS trains Australian olympic athletes as well as elite WA state athletes. It was a great experience to be there and I was looking forward to it after having wanted to visit an Olympic training center since I was young. We toured the faclity with Australian olympic team member and worldwide top-ten Javelin thrower Kim Mickle. Kim was really down to earth and genuily interested in our group and why we were in Australia, as well as showing us around the complex and answering our questions. I'll definitely look for her on TV when the world track and field champs are on in a few months!



We came home and immediately headed out to get some dinner and walk towards King's park for the sunset and views of the city at night. I will sum it up in one word...beautiful. The city was gorgeous and the views of the skyline and surroundings were spectacular under the night sky. I now understand why so many pictures of the city of Perth are taken from King's park at night! I then totally crashed into bed and (hopefully) slept off the remaining jetlag.

Today we were at the South Fremantle football game to watch and observe their trainers and PT. I was more interested in the game after having figured out the rules and will definitely check out the supposed American aussie rules football clubs! Tomorrow is a free day and I will spend it surfing at Leighton beach then browsing the Sunday markets at Fremantle. G'day!