This Friday (April 25th) was Anzac Day in Australia. Anzac Day is held every year in memory of the combined forces of Australia and New Zealand that fought during WWI. It is a huge national pride holiday because it is considered to be one of the first elements that really pulled the Australian people together as a group and separated them from their ancestors in Europe. There is a movie called Gallipoli (the place of the ANZAC troops greatest battle) that really captures the pride that Australia has in the day.

Every year there is a dawn service held at sunrise in Perth’s King Park. (To read more about the park and see some pictures check out my “A Day in Perth” blog) The service is only about 15 minutes long but thousands of people gather on the lawn in front of a huge war memorial and stand completely silent as the sun rises. Then they have a ceremony and an old army general spoke for a few minutes.

This is the war memorial in King’s Park. The inscription on it, blocked by two of my friends, reads “Let silent contemplation be your offering”

There is no school or work on Friday so the entire country has an extended weekend (something that Australians hold very dearly). Somewhat like the US’s memorial day many people have picnics or go on short trips. Our group of american students had a barbecue planned for Sunday but unfortunately rain moved it inside. The cookout went on and the weekend was a nice, relaxing one. Much needed before the hell week that lies ahead. Papers and presentations are starting to pile up at this point in the semester and the weekend was a good chance to catch my breath before buckling down to do some work.