Everything is now feeling very close. Christmas has now passed and, as indicated by the title, there are less than 3 weeks until I leave. I must admit, I feel a little under prepared. I’m not sure I could communicate anything of great importance in Norwegian (though I am beginning to figure out how to put words together to make key phrases) and I still don’t have a suitcase…..

Nevertheless, I am sure I can overcome these problems in the next 20 days.

Before I leave, though, there are still a number of things on the calendar. I’m going to another two Big Bash League games at the SCG, including one the night before I leave. I have to go shopping to get some somewhat last minute items. I have to clear out my room so that it can be occupied by an exchange student and I still have a few more goodbyes to do.

As my departure date grows increasingly close I have begun to think about what I will put in my presentation about Australia- if given only 5-10 minutes to speak, what are the most important things to share about Australia?

I like to think that my family and I are ‘typical Australians’ ( especially because my Dad is a New Zealander).  On Christmas ( even though it was raining) we had a fairly ‘Aussie’ Christmas. We had salmon, squid, lamb and for dessert, pavlova and trifle and my brother continuously mowed our back lawn to create the ultimate cricket pitch.

That brings me to another iconically Australian thing:  cricket.

Cricket is a pretty major part of my Summer. Whether I’m playing or watching or reading about it, cricket is something that I live and breathe. However, it’s kind of complicated to try and explain it to people who have never seen it. You get runs if you hit the ball but you also get runs if you don’t hit the ball and run, you can even get runs without running. Try as I might, I have been unable to identify a Norwegian equivalent to what is a very unique sport.

If I’m going to try and explain cricket then I should really also try to explain AFL. I’m an avid AFL fan although I’ve never actually played but I am fully aware just how important it is to Australians. I guess one major idea I will have to try and convey is that we are a nation that is virtually obsessed with sport.

Hopefully the next time I write it will be to inform you of my purchasing of a suitcase.

Until then,

Alicia