It's been quite a while since I've written anything and I've done some pretty special things recently you might be interested in reading about. I just got back from an overnight diving trip to the reef. We left from Cairns early in the morning on a big catamaran and arrived at the reef for our first dive after 1.5 hrs. The trip out was quite choppy and some people were beginning to get sick (I was on the verge). There were about 40 people on the boat and it w...

My Internship Experience Steffen Mirsky National Marine Science Center Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia 8/10/2007 - 3/14/2008 Reflecting back on my internship in Coffs Harbour, I realize just how much has transpired during my time here.In ways that go far beyond the internship, I have learned valuable lessons about myself and the world.I have become more informed, more perceptive, more understanding, more aware of who I am, and more conscious of what I want out of...

A long anticipated family vacation came to an end last weekend.My parents came over for 3 weeks and my sister was here for the 2 weeks we spent in Australia (missing the New Zealand portion). I flew down from Coffs to Sydney to meet all of them there.The weather wasn't all that cooperative (it's been the wettest summer in 40 years up and down the east cost) but we made the most of it.On our fist day we had an unexpected surprise.We were eating lunch at a caf&#...

Another month has gone by in paradise.I wasn't expecting the holidays to be anything special but it was better than I could have imagined. At work, we kicked off the Christmas season with a party at the bowls club.Bowls is pretty much a game for old people.It's similar to 10-pin bowling, except that it's played on a green.You roll a lopsided ball at a target and try to get the closest.I took no mercy on my supervisor.We had a barbeque and it was all good, social...

Well life continues to be as great as ever.The past weeks have brought some of the best memories of the trip so far.I met (and said goodbye to) some really nice people. I'll start with work as usual.We are finally doing some science.I went diving for the first time in the marine park and it was totally awesome.I collected urchins for my project but there was so much more to see.There was a huge blue groper trying to make friends with me and seemed to enjoy me pe...