Alicia’s Journal: Rams Cheerleader Tours Australia
From StLouisRams.com
G’day mates! I was fortunate enough to spend Super Bowl XLIX weekend in the Outback of Australia with our U.S. Service men and women! While away for a week I kept a journal to bring back and share all of my favorite experiences with my fellow Rams fans. Enjoy!
Day 1:
After 27 hours of traveling I have finally arrived in Australia and in none other than the beautiful city of Sydney! Fortunately we had the entire day to ourselves to relax and do some sightseeing. Joining me on my Military ProTour are fellow NFL Cheerleaders and Players from around the league! Darrel Young #36, Shawn Lauvao #77, and cheerleader, Tiana are all here representing the Washington Redskins, Karen is here representing her hometown, Minnesota Vikings, and Heather is here for the Tennessee Titans. Together the 6 of us explored Sydney all day in the warm, summer weather Australia currently has to offer. Typical tourist we are, our first stop had to be the famous Sydney Opera House! After having lunch on the Sydney Harbour, we took a scenic ferry ride to the Taronga Zoo. I’ve only been Down Under for 12 hours and I can already say I’ve seen koala bears and kangaroos! (Fun fact: koala bears sleep 17-22 hours of the day.) I’ve had such an incredible experience already, and it’s only day 1. Wheels up again tomorrow, we’re headed to Alice Springs!Day 2:
I have officially seen what Australians refer to as the Outback! Alice Springs is located in the very center of Australia, where the weather is about 20 degrees warmer and the flies here know no boundaries. We got to spend the day with the Australian Army, where they took us off-roading in their heavy duty vehicles and sightseeing at Anzac Hill Lookout. This city completely differs from Sydney, but scenic-wise it is just as beautiful, with mountains, hills, and desert covering every angle. Have I mentioned I’ve gotten the Aussie lingo just about down already? The Australian Army men were kind enough to give us some vocabulary to use while we’re here so we’re not completely lost during conversation and I’ve been dying to share with fellow Rams fans! Take a look below:breakfast = brekky
hungry = peckish
photos = happy snaps
the bush = the Outback
maccas = McDonalds
‘straya = Australia
joey = a baby kangaroo
Day 3:
I know yesterday I said I had officially seen the Outback, well I OFFICIALLY saw it again today! Our U.S. Air Force showed us today what it’s really like to go off-roading in the bush. After about 20 minutes of nothing but bumpy rock roads we made it to the top of a plateau overlooking Alice Springs’ Outback. From that point, as far as the eye could see was desert from every corner. I even saw a full grown kangaroo hopping it’s way through the wild! After about ten minutes of taking in the incredible view the flies won and we got right back into off-roading and doing some more sightseeing of this quaint city. The Air Force men even showed us a little of the work they do and a gave us a tour of their base. While there, I felt home away from home after I found a signed football on display by our very own Marshall Faulk and Tory Holt! They had visited that same base this past summer!Day 4:
We spent today doing what we love – interacting with fans! We made sure today was all about the 70 U.S. service men and women that are apart of the Australian base. Although no one was from St. Louis or even Missouri for that matter, I did end up meeting a man who had completed his basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, a base that I had recently visited with the Rams and NFL’s Play 60 this past summer – what a coincidence! Later in the evening we had the chance to meet with our military’s families. It was a blast! Myself and the 3 other cheerleaders taught dance routines and cheers to girls ages 5 and up while the players ran drills and workouts with anyone else who wanted to participate. The kids all did so great! It was so much fun getting to know everyone, I also learned all about the different places these families have lived just to serve our country. The people there were the sweetest and made tonight one I’ll never forget! They even bought us all our own Tim Tams, a famous Australian cookie/biscuit brand that Americans are crazy about. Among Tim Tams, I can also say I’ve tried kangaroo steak during my time here in Aussie. (Another fun fact: Australia is the only country that eats and serves their national animal in just about every restaurant!) When in Australia…Day 5:
Happy Super Bowl Monday! We made it to the Alice Springs Cinema at 9am to watch Super Bowl XLIX live along side our U.S. Military. After getting to know everyone yesterday, it made watching the big game fun and feel like I was back at home watching it with a big group of friends – only difference, it was Monday morning and I’m 9,000 miles away from home!We ended our time in Alice Springs with a trip to the Kangaroo Sanctuary. A place where Brolga Barns created to raise orphaned baby kangaroos. He gave us all a personal tour of his grounds and we even got to meet some of his furry friends! It was the absolute perfect way to end our time in Australia, all thanks to Master Sgt. Dover, our personal history teacher and tour guide all in one for the last few days!
From Sydney to Alice Springs I got a true, once in a lifetime, incredible Australian experience and I am so honored have represented the St. Louis Rams along the way!
Xoxo Rams love,
Alicia
