Day 100 (LaTrobe University) - Bendigo, Victoria Australia

Well it's been 100 days in Australia. Amazing how much has happened in 100 days, a third of a year. Crazy. 100 days away from family, friends, support systems, broadcasting, normalcy, solid internet, my doggies, and Central. I feel like it's been forever.

Another first: I failed my first assignment…at Uni. I don't remember the last time I completely failed an assignment. And this was the interpretational analysis paper that I did on swimming with the dolphins…that was worth 50% of my grade. Yep, that's right, got a 48% on the assignment that was worth 50% of my grade. A little surprised, yes, but what am I going to do? Be upset ?Why? First off, life's too short. Secondly, this was the first assignment that I turned in for the class, so how was I going to know what my lecturer wanted?What style? Apparently getting 50% in the Outdoor Ed program at least, is passing. I know can understand why we have so many assignments at home.With multiple assignments you are getting consistent feedback which gets a student to improve or get better. Here it's two or three assignments and that's your grade.I think it's crazy. I'm definitely not used to this style. I also believe they purposely grade tougher here. I don't know why, seeing good grades inspires and motivates students to continue to do work. One of my flatmates recently got a good grade and she was ecstatic, telling me how she wanted to go do more homework. No joke. I'm not too worried about the grade though, as long as I pass, that's what counts. But a little positive reinforcement would make the journey easier and more fun. I guess I now know how to write my last paper that's worth 20% of my grade…everything's a learning experience…

On another cultural note, this article stopped me in my web surfing tracks:

Roadside bomb kills two Diggers
NICK BUTTERLY and SHANE WRIGHT, CANBERRA, The West AustralianJune 8, 2010, 6:47 pm

Two Australian Diggers have been killed while on patrol as part of a Taliban offense across Afghanistan.
Acting Defence force chief David Hurley said the two Brisbane based soldiers, Jacob Moerland and Darren Smith, were killed by a road side bomb yesterday while they were on a foot patrol in the Mirabad valley.
It is the first time since September 1971 when more than one Australian soldier has been killed in active service on one day. One of the soldiers was killed instantly by the bomb while the second was evacuated by helicopter but later died of his wounds.
An explosive detection dog was also killed.
Lt Gen Hurley said an investigation would be carried out into the incident. He paid tribute to the two men.
"I speak for the entire ADF and defence community when I tell you I am deeply saddened by the loss of these two brave Australian soldiers," he told a press conference in Canberra.
"The role is a dangerous one, seeking out explosive devices and other threats to keep their colleagues safe.
"They are fighting a determined enemy in the Taliban whose aim is to kill and maim coalition soldiers and Afghan security personnel."
The deaths were part of tragic day for coalition troops in Afghanistan.
Five American troops were killed during an improvised device attack, while a US police trainer died as a result of small arms fire.
A French soldier was killed from an anti-tank missile France President Nicolas Sarkozy confirmed, while three other French soldiers were injured during the same reconnaissance mission.
In Washington, the US condemned a deadly attack today at the Afghan national police's regional training centre in Kandahar.
"The United States will continue to stand with our Afghan partners to fight terrorism and help the Afghan government provide security, safety and prosperity to its people," State Department spokesman Philip J. Crowley said.
The bloodshed came as Taliban insurgents ramp up bombings and attacks on NATO forces ahead of a major operation in the southern Taliban stronghold of Kandahar that Washington hopes will turn the tide of the war.
In the worst single incident on Monday, five American service members were killed in a roadside bomb blast in eastern Afghanistan, the US command said.
Two more US soldiers were killed in separate attacks on Monday - one a bombing in the south and the other by small arms fire in the south.
In addition, an American contractor died in a suicide attack against the police training centre in Kandahar city, the US embassy in Kabul said.
The American contractor, who was not identified, and another person were killed when a team of three suicide bombers attacked the gates of the police training centre.
Afghan officials said one bomber blew a hole in the outer wall, enabling the other two to rush inside. But they were killed in the gunbattle that followed.
Afghan officials said three police were wounded.
The violence came as President Hamid Karzai's spokesman defended his decision to remove two of the country's top security officials.
Sunday's dismissals drew fire from some political figures linked to the alliance that helped the US oust the Taliban in 2001 and who fear the shake-up will play into the hands of the insurgents at a critical point in the war.
Karzai last week won endorsement from a national peace conference, or jirga, for his plans to offer incentives to lower-rung militants to lay down their arms, and to formulate an approach to Taliban leaders. Washington is skeptical talks should be opened with the Taliban until they have been weakened on the battlefield.
For their part, the Taliban call Karzai a US puppet and say there will be no talks while foreign troops are in Afghanistan.
The two officials who resigned each had deep backgrounds as strong opponents of the Taliban.
Intelligence chief Amrullah Saleh was a senior figure in the Northern Alliance that helped the US oust the Taliban regime in 2001.
Interior Minister Hanif Atmar served in Afghanistan's Communist-era intelligence agency and fought mujahedeen opposed to the Soviet occupation.

The title on yahoo read: "Deadliest day since Vietnam."I'm used to hearing and seeing America's military lose so many more lives on, what sometimes feels like, a daily basis. Crazy stuff.