Hello from Melbourne, Australia!
I arrived down under yesterday morning at 11 am East Australian time. What a different, yet amazing place that I will be living in for the next three months!
This is my first step back into organized competition after a line drive struck my right temple on July 2nd. Its an experience that I have long been waiting for and I know that I am fully capable to be everything I was before the tragedy. It's quite hot out here (106 degrees yesterday) and the air is very dry.
I've picked up on one key thing since I've been out here. The lingo out this way is much different than that in the US. Its a mate not a friend, a bloke instead of a person, cheers means thank you, and g'day should be said instead instead of hello. Everyone is really friendly and welcoming to Americans. The team has been great to me so far - they've hooked me up with an outstanding car to drive around in, a comfortable pad to live in with two other players, some cash to get started, groceries, and an Australian cell phone.
It was pretty tough to leave all of my family and friends in the United States on December 28th. Getting on that plane from BWI to LAX and seeing the smiling faces of my loved ones was definitely tough to leave behind. Thanks to prepaid phone cards and Skype I can still talk to them everyday. Miss you guys!
I threw my first bullpen yesterday at Essendon's field. The field features a turf infield and is deep to the alleys. The infield looks like it might be a little slow - which is good for ground ball pitchers like myself. The U-16 national team was practicing out on the field and I had a chance to introduce myself to them and their coaches.
Thanks to everyone who has followed along with my blog in the past. My experiences in Australia will be documented through this blog for the remainder of my three months out here. I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I do writing it. I love you all.
God Bless.
