Arriving down under

Well, 30+ hours after leaving Eugene, OR on Wednesday the 17th of September Liz and I arrived in Perth, Australia. We were greeted by about 3 families at the airport. Liz and I walked into the waiting area and saw the families nervously eying us wondering if it was us or not. Later the daughter of the president of the team, Emily, said that they could not recognize us at first because I was not making the funny face that I had on the pictures they had found on the internet of me pitching. Ha! Well all the families were so nice and swept up our huge bags and loaded them into the "boots" of there cars. We later found out they call the hood a bonnet as well.

Riding shotgun on the left side of the car, I listened to Ron (president of the club) nervously talk to Liz and I about the airport, driving, our new house, and mostly about all the guys at the "oval" waiting to meet us. They rushed us there, where they were having a "sausage sizzle" in our honor and were excited for us to see there playing grounds. The grounds were quite different from that of the Iowa cubs, Portland Beavers, Smokies, or Cubs spring training facilities. Its a grass field. That's it. A small patch of dirt cut out where they will place home plate. Soft velcro bases the attach to stakes driven into the ground. White X's painted at the different lengths for T-ball, little league or juniors as they call it, and the full length for the Provincial League, Reserve 1 and 2 teams. I will be handling all 3 of the later, as well as playing on the PL team.

We were welcomed by everyone, including some of the players I will be coaching. I mean this in the best way possible but I think I was getting ahead of myself as for what to expect. Most of the guys Ill be coaching are 18-20 years old. The drinkin age here is 18 so they were all drinkin there "full strength beers" which were corona's. A few were having Jim Beam pre mixed in a can! Hilarious! I asked them all if they were ready to start the season they all smiled and said yes and kicked the concrete around with there shoes, keeping there eyes down. They did start to loosen up though, enough to tell me that they could not hit, and pitching was a problem. Ha! I told them that is why I am here and they all became "keen" to the idea of getting better.

About that time 5-6 Kangaroos came out of the bush to greet us. It was amazing. They seemed fake. They were across the oval eating the grass and fertilizing it. They hopped so easily and gracelfully. I cannot wait to see one from a closer view. We were told that would not be a problem. I was then introduced to the fund raising supervisor of the team. He is about 6'5 300lbs. He is what they call a bikey (biker). His gang is very well known around here. He is very intimidating, and I think that is why he runs the fundraising. He owns a butcher shop, 2 tattoo parlos, a concrete business and a security business. His son Kye has the sweetest Mullet I have ever seen in my life. He is about 9 years old and has hair to the middle of his back and short and spiked on top! Ill send a picture as soon as I can get one without offending BIG BEN his dad.

Needles to say Liz and I are going to have a great time here. We have already experienced so much and I have so much more to tell. But we are off to look for some jobs and a converter to convert some electricity. Hope all is well across the ocean. We have had 2 practices and Ill fill you in on those later. Bye!