Tennis Live is Awkward - 1-16-12

Center court nosebleed, baby.

"You'll be sorry you hit me, you f***ing Communist a**hole." - McEnroe on getting hit with a ball by a Czech opponent.



The next few posts are going to be a bit droll as we are basically just touring several various job sites - interest for such things by the general population may be low to null.

Getting back into the swing of it, RMIT University of Melbourne is taking us under their wing as their foreign guest to show us around for the majority of the week at several job sites and completed buildings.  With very similar major programs founded on a working man's college, they will make a perfect asset for us to learn the particulars on construction, architecture and engineering methods and practices throughout Australia and specifically in Melbourne.

Nothing like a couple beers on the job, haha.

We started off at the RMIT Building which was recently renovated to a state of the art education complex where all of the school's classrooms for the Construction College are located.  Makes one realize, having attended a small college town, how different and strange it would be to go to school in a city setting such as this.  I sure would miss streaking through the quad, that's for sure.  After several briefings, question sessions, lunch and a look at several sets of plans, we were off to the first of 2 sites for the day, a 22 story apartment complex right next to the rugby stadium in the docklands neighborhood.  It was interesting to see similar practices, material utilization and safety rtegulations, but what is even more shocking to me is the difference and overall impact on the prevalence of unions throughout the industry.

In a roughed out apartment with the PM.

These unions give laborers and management 3 weeks of vacation over the holidays, 28 days of allotted days off, pay almost double our similar salaries back home, ridiculously spacious and nice kitchens and break rooms, and most importantly, it seems that guys over here can drink on the job as we stumbled upon several Carrlton bottle caps and more than a few empty boxes of beer in trash carts.  My kind of labor force: drunk.  Oh, and they can also wear tank tops and shorts on most sites.  From the beach to a job site, few things really change in respect to wardrobe and drinking habits around these parts.

After another very similar, but earlier on in the construction process, site tour, we took some time off to get changed and grab a bite before heading to the Australian Open to watch Federer annihilate the competition.  Turns out tennis matches have a no stand rule meaning you can't leave your seats at any time other than between sets.  This creates some serious liquid flow issues from a beer drinking and personal relieving standpoint.  We made due, however, and waited patiently for our time to visit the bar or restroom.  Or, in Andrew and Steele's case, visit the pie shop for your 13th pie of the day.

Level of current completion.

Happy union worker Matt

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Anyhow, we watched Federer dominate in what I saw as a very awkward environment where if one sneezes the entire stadium will likely hear you and probably point.  This gave us ample opportunities to yell our approval - or disapproval - of the play, bug situation, weather, or whatever else we deemed fit to share with some 50,000 other spectators.  Good times, but I don't think I will be a very consistent tennis match attendee.  The general fan base doesn't seem to share my same excitement and associated boisterousness in all things competitive.  I'll stay at home where I can stand when I please and yell all I can, thank you.  Nonetheless, this one was a memory and experience of a lifetime.

Cheers.

Watching tennis is hard work.

Hands down greatest tennis stache of all time.

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