After a couple of quick flights the Australian 21/U team has arrived in the Cook Islands! We touched down just after midnight on Thursday morning and were welcomed onto the island by a group of 50 or so enthusiastic supporters.

 

Every team has been aligned with a school, and we have been given St Joseph’s School. Lucky for us, they were more than happy to get out of bed and greet us with heaps of flower leis and some very loud chants of AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE! Whilst we had an amazing reception, the New Zealand team, who were also on our flight, didn’t have anyone at all. The competition may not have started yet, but technically already, Australia is 1 to New Zealand 0.

 

So we arrive at our accommodation at around two in the morning, after the five minute drive from the airport. (Rarotonga is 35km the whole way round the island. Around a 45 minute drive). We are dropped off at the villa’s we are to stay in, with six people staying in each. As the two of us (Gilly & Sharni) aren’t the quickest off the block, not only did we miss out on the two double beds, and the master bedroom with the walk in robe, we ended up in the “princess” room. Yes. We do have princesses on or single bed doona covers. So what? We thought the shooters should have had these rooms… but oh well. And then we were blessed with the draws that wouldn’t open, the second time around. So when we awoke the following morning to get ready for training, Gilly was unable to remove her undies and sports bra from her draw.

 

Sharni found this quite hilarious. Our first activity on the island was an easy walk along the beach. We started off with 16 in our group, but came back with 17. Sharni had found her first man! He had four legs and was hairy, and we named him Barry (Barry’s a dog. Just in case you didn’t click on earlier). He has been our watch dog ever since.

 

The place we’re staying at is amazing. It’s the games village so all 20 teams will be staying here. Our villa’s are a 100m walk to the beach (not that we will be spending much time there!) and the water is crystal blue. But you do need water booties if you wish to enter as the floor is covered in coral.

 

The rest of the resort is set up kind of like a caravan park, and every country is allocated their own area. All in all we have settled in well. Our villas are well decorated in the green and gold, scrofty (aka Sophie Croft) designed a lovely tailless kangaroo. We may have been playing pin the tail on the kangaroo in our spare time. It has proven to be quite difficult.

 

Not as difficult but just as much fun is the dance zone we also made. It is compulsory to dance when in this area. So far it seems everyone has settled and is enjoying their time here. Hopefully being adjusted and relaxed will help when it comes to the crunch at finals time!

 

Sharni and Andrea