2018 brings on my third year of studying Marine Biology at the University of Adelaide. I am thoroughly enjoying life in Adelaide. The effect of the changing seasons is still a novelty to me, having grown up in the tropics. Being able to enjoy a fire and red wine in winter is fantastic. The chill immediately set on after a shower is, however, less enjoyable. I began by solely catching public transport when I moved here but after being caught in the rain in winter, on my way to/from uni, one to many times - I bought a reliable little Holden Astra. Now when it is to cold or hot for public transport I can attend my classes with much less hassle.
My degree is taking a path based on evolution, geology, and marine organisms. The common focus for my colleagues is conservation, botany, and chemistry, but I've found little interest in these areas. Over the winter break I am taking on an intensive course which takes us camping at Kangaroo Island, and inland to underground limestone caves where extensive research is taking place.
I went snorkelling in southern waters for the first time last weekend. The water is stunningly clear at the beaches here, and the lack of seaweed on the beaches deceived me to think that it was mostly rocks off the coast. The dark patches off my beach do seem to be mostly seaweed however. There were some small jellyfish that looked suspiciously like Irukandji - which do not occur this far south. However the Olindias jellyfish sting is a similar sensation to that of sea lice, annoying but not serious.
