Last Tuesday we went to the snow! Nick, Eli, Rachel and I headed north to Mt. Buller around 5:30 am. It took us about three hours to drive all the way up there and we were going to have to stop in town to rent ski and snowboard gear and buy lift tickets, etc. Realizing about an hour into the trip that I completely forgot to bring my camera, I was extremely let down, but Nick snapped a few that I hope to get a hold of before I leave the country.
Rachel and I decided to rent skis- I am pretty experienced on skis from my past family vacations in Park City, Utah, but Rachel had only skied once before. In fact, this trip was the second time Rachel had ever even seen snow! Nick and Eli are both pretty experienced skiers, but they decided to try their luck on snowboards this time around. We were all fairly tired from the drive when we first arrived on the mountain, but it was amazing to see how we all perked up once we saw the snow.
As always, it’s impossible to capture the beauty that surrounded us up on that mountain, but I spent the day soaking it all in. After spending a bit of time on the bunny hill, Eli and I explored more of the mountain, finding a few blue (intermediate) runs that we could ride pretty well! I was impressed with how quickly I picked back up the sport, but I was more stunned by how well Eli taught himself to snowboard. We explored a massive amount of the area- even making it up to the summit a few times. Avoiding the black diamonds wasn’t too hard- and the snow conditions were a lot better than I expected. The morning snow was beautiful and full of powder, but by the end of the day it was definitely more challenging snow- icy at the tops of the runs and slushy at the bottom—it became quite a workout at some points! But, I was very proud of myself- I only fell a handful of times the whole day!
My favorite moment I brought home from the snow was during one of my last runs down my favorite blue, called Shaky Knees. There was only one other person on the run with me- a bloke who was pretty far down the slope. I saw him stop fairly abruptly and it made me slow my speed and open my eyes- and what did I see? A bumbling wombat slowly lumbering across the snow. I stopped a few yards away and both my viewing partner and me stood in awe of the spectacular nature in which we were surrounded. We let the creature pass by us and watched him head for, what we assumed to be, home. Heading back to civilization from the snow was a bit of a melancholy experience, but I was so lucky to spend my day in such an amazing place.
Saturday we headed to Phillip Island, south of Melbourne to see something I only ever expected to see in snow: penguins!!! Phillip Island is home to fairy penguins that grow to be about 30 cm tall. Eli, Brayden, Shelby, and I spent an hour or two on the sand before heading to the Penguin Parade. We walked the beach and although it was a little chilly, the waves Bass Strait (a part of the Southern Ocean) were stunning.
While at Phillip Island we also had a chance to stop by the Chocolate Factory- a scrumptious little adventure. We took the tour of the chocolate museum- which was fantastically interactive- we even got to make some of our own treats! It was a calorie-filled adventure that I think we all enjoyed a little too much.
So after the sand and the sweets, we headed to the main attraction- scheduled for sunset. The Penguin Parade consisted of watching the adorable fairy penguins make their way home from their day at sea. Every morning at sunrise the penguins leave their burrows that are all around the beach and the surrounding bush and head out to the ocean. Then, every night at sunset they return home. It was unbelievable to watch about 600 penguins make their way out of the water in sets of 50 or so. We were able to sit just a few feet from the little creatures and it was unbelievable to see them so close up and personal! Unfortunately, we weren’t allowed to take pictures, but I will never forget the mental images! I feel so lucky to be able to experience something that happens every day! This world sure is a breathtaking place.
And, this lucky girl gets to experience even more of it as I head off to New Zealand for spring break with my friends Chris, Brian, Laura, Ana, and Silvia. I cannot wait for what is to come!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Dance, Dance - Fall Out Boy
Sitting in the second row to watch the Australian Ballet was incredible. To hear the ballerina’s feet hit the stage and to hear them breathing so heavily proved what amazing shape the dancers really have to be in.
Laura, Ana, and I decided to have a girls’ night on Thursday while all of our friends went to the Swinburne Residences Ball. (The ball tickets cost $80 each and we would have had to buy dresses… we decided it wasn’t worth it). So, we headed to the ballet. Just a block or so from Flinders Street Station in downtown Melbourne is the State Theatre. Ana learned that they had a student rush- where if you went 2 hours before the show began, students can get tickets anywhere that is available for $32. Hence the reason why we were sitting in an area that normally costs about $180 a person.
The ballet was called “Edge of Night” and featured the music of Handel. It was split into three parts titled: At the Edge of Night, Halcyon, and Molto Vivace. Unfortunatly, we arrived 15 minutes late and missed the title piece, but we were let in for the second two and were blown away. Halcyon was a beautiful love story that was portrayed with flowing movements and a classic ballet performance. It was exactly what you would expect to see out of a fabulous ballet piece. Molto Vivace on the other hand, was absolutely fabulous in a completely different way—it was HILAIROUS! In a surprising twist, Laura, Ana, and I found ourselves cramping from laughing so hard. Colorful, adorable, full of life, spark, and personality—Molto Vivace was by far my favorite ballet- and probably one of my favorite performances I’ve ever seen.
Friday night Laura and I went out with a friend of mine from one of my classes. Matt wanted to take us to the classy part of Melbourne and we ended up at a bar called “Silk Rose” where the average age was probably around 35. It was… interesting… especially watching the cougars hit on Matt and watching how older people dance with each other—it was a little glimpse of what I might be like in about 10 or 15 years. After Silk Rose we headed to the casino for a bit and Laura gambled for the first time—and lost $5. It was pretty upsetting for her. Overall, it was a pretty casual, but entertaining evening.
Saturday was another casual night on campus at my friends’ Chris and Brian’s apartment with Ana and Laura. Laura and I had been fighting with technology all day—both of our phones decided to go on the fritz and we had hopes that Chris could fix all of it. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case, but a relaxing night with close friends was just what the doctor ordered.
Sunday (last night) was the celebration for my friend Brayden’s 19th birthday. We went to a bowling alley downtown Melbourne where, if you buy a drink for $6, you get a free game. Well, after 7 hours of bowling, it’s needless to say some of the group was a little messy. But, I think we accomplished a pretty solid birthday celebration for Bray.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
This Side- Nickel Creek
"Only the curious have something to find..."
This weekend Eli and I went camping outside of Whitfield, Victoria in the Alpine National Park. To give you an idea of where that is: close your eyes and picture the middle of nowhere. We were a little further out than that.
It took close to four hours to reach the campgrounds. The drive was along the same route it took to get to the Healesville Sanctuary, and although the countryside was slightly more familiar this time, it was no less astounding. When we got to the mountain range my ears kept popping and I had to constantly yawn to keep the pressure to a minimum. There was also a moment when both Eli and I both thought we had lost our minds because the moon was to the right of us, and suddenly it was in front of us. Then we remembered: we were going in circles around a mountain. The small moments like that were the best parts about the weekend.
We woke up shortly after the sun- around 7am. I was surprisingly awake and very excited to start our trip. I cleaned up the car and Eli made breakfast- bacon and egg sandwiches. Once we had everything put back together we headed out to the power lookouts. Eli said this was a great area for pictures, and he wasn’t kidding! Even the drive over had a view to die for. I made him pull over so I could get out and take a picture of the valley below us that had a cloud sitting right inside of it. It was unbelievable.
Set on the side of the mountain, the lookouts had a spectacular view of the valley below and the mountains in the distance. Nothing could capture or justify the beauty in this area. I tried to take pictures, but they don’t do the scenery justice. Eli scared me half to death with his daredevil antics. He decided to climb over the barrier and out onto on of the overhanging rocks to get a better view- I don’t think I took another breath until he had safely returned to the proper side of the rail.
Next we hiked down the side of the mountain to find a waterhole that a famous old bushranger had used in the 1700s or 1800s when he was running from the police (a bushranger is Australia’s name for a cowboy). The slope was rainy, muddy, and slippery and I lost my footing a few times, but made it down eventually. We found the waterhole and saw there was a cave in the mountain just above it- so we climbed some of the rocks and made our way inside. The cave was empty, but Eli assumes a feral dog sleeps there at night, so I quickly made my way back down.
Our next stop was Paradise Falls. It was about a 15 or 20 minute walk down a set of winding, stone stairs until we suddenly turned a corner and saw the two rushing waterfalls in front of us. Absolutely breathtaking- the falls lived up to their name. I was astounded and speechless. The falls were massive and so powerful. This time, I initiated the boundary breaking so we could get a better look. I stood behind and directly underneath the waterfall- close enough to feel the spray and looked up to the heavenly sight. If it was warmer, I probably wouldn’t have thought twice about jumping in the water in front of me to play in the unbelievable beauty- it was the kind of beautiful you want to be a part of- you want to fold yourself into it like a blanket and feel at peace with it. I think I simply stood and stared at the picture perfect sight for 15 minutes. I wanted the beauty to be seared into my memory. Some of the walls were a yellow tint and I asked Eli about it- he told me about how the tint turns into paint when you get it wet and the aborigines used to use it for art and storytelling. He told me yellow and red are the two colors most common in Victoria, but there is also green, white, black, blue, and many other variations. We climbed and explored around the falls for a bit and finally, begrudgingly, started our hike back up to the car.
The rest of the weekend we spent trekking through the wilderness, either on foot or in Eli’s truck. There were a few scary moments where I wasn’t sure if we were going to make it up or down a certain area, but the 4-wheel drive always pulled through. At one point I saw a track off the side of the road that went almost directly up, I pointed at it and asked if we could make it up- Eli decided we should find out. We made it to the top and found ourselves on the peak of a very steep drop. We both got out of the car to see how impossible it looked- and it was an intimidating drop- probably quite a bit steeper than 45 degrees. But, fearless, we got back in the car, put our seatbelts on, and went for an adventure. We ended up driving the track and it took us, basically, over the top of a few mountains. It was a spectacular experience. On our way back to our original campsite we stopped and took pictures of a dozen or so wild kangaroos that were just across a field- I was so excited to see some in the wild!
We stopped and had a hefty lunch of Australian sausages at our original campsite and then made our way into the bush to find Eli’s favorite spot- a campsite right on the edge of a secluded lake. We gave ourselves plenty of daylight to make it in, which I am very happy about. It took us about an hour to travel about 5 kilometers because we were in such dense foliage, mud, and water. If there was a tree in the way (which we ran across a few fallen trees in the processes), it didn’t really bother Eli, he simply drove off into the woods/grass/wilderness next to the track and we forged our way around. We made it to our campsite, which had a marvelous view, started a fire and set up camp for the night.
Sunday morning we did some exploring in the secluded area around the campsite. While driving a few kangaroos jumped out right in front of the car and took off in front of us- almost in a teasing way. I startled and laughed out loud—it was certainly a sight I don’t see very often. The track we chose was terrifying and we didn’t make it too far before we decided to turn around. We ran into a part of the ground that was almost completely caved in and, thankfully, Eli decided we probably shouldn’t risk falling into a huge pit in the middle of the outback. On our way out of the bush wallabies and kangaroos dashed across the track in front of us—every time I was so excited I would burst out a little yell like a child on a rollercoaster.
We headed home after making our way out of the bush and although I was sad to leave the beauty of the jungle-like Victorian outback, I know we will be back (hopefully in warmer conditions as well!) Now I really have to focus on some school work that is due later this week—something I am not looking forward to as much as the adventures that I’m sure are to come.
This weekend Eli and I went camping outside of Whitfield, Victoria in the Alpine National Park. To give you an idea of where that is: close your eyes and picture the middle of nowhere. We were a little further out than that.
It took close to four hours to reach the campgrounds. The drive was along the same route it took to get to the Healesville Sanctuary, and although the countryside was slightly more familiar this time, it was no less astounding. When we got to the mountain range my ears kept popping and I had to constantly yawn to keep the pressure to a minimum. There was also a moment when both Eli and I both thought we had lost our minds because the moon was to the right of us, and suddenly it was in front of us. Then we remembered: we were going in circles around a mountain. The small moments like that were the best parts about the weekend.
We woke up shortly after the sun- around 7am. I was surprisingly awake and very excited to start our trip. I cleaned up the car and Eli made breakfast- bacon and egg sandwiches. Once we had everything put back together we headed out to the power lookouts. Eli said this was a great area for pictures, and he wasn’t kidding! Even the drive over had a view to die for. I made him pull over so I could get out and take a picture of the valley below us that had a cloud sitting right inside of it. It was unbelievable.
Set on the side of the mountain, the lookouts had a spectacular view of the valley below and the mountains in the distance. Nothing could capture or justify the beauty in this area. I tried to take pictures, but they don’t do the scenery justice. Eli scared me half to death with his daredevil antics. He decided to climb over the barrier and out onto on of the overhanging rocks to get a better view- I don’t think I took another breath until he had safely returned to the proper side of the rail.
Next we hiked down the side of the mountain to find a waterhole that a famous old bushranger had used in the 1700s or 1800s when he was running from the police (a bushranger is Australia’s name for a cowboy). The slope was rainy, muddy, and slippery and I lost my footing a few times, but made it down eventually. We found the waterhole and saw there was a cave in the mountain just above it- so we climbed some of the rocks and made our way inside. The cave was empty, but Eli assumes a feral dog sleeps there at night, so I quickly made my way back down.
Our next stop was Paradise Falls. It was about a 15 or 20 minute walk down a set of winding, stone stairs until we suddenly turned a corner and saw the two rushing waterfalls in front of us. Absolutely breathtaking- the falls lived up to their name. I was astounded and speechless. The falls were massive and so powerful. This time, I initiated the boundary breaking so we could get a better look. I stood behind and directly underneath the waterfall- close enough to feel the spray and looked up to the heavenly sight. If it was warmer, I probably wouldn’t have thought twice about jumping in the water in front of me to play in the unbelievable beauty- it was the kind of beautiful you want to be a part of- you want to fold yourself into it like a blanket and feel at peace with it. I think I simply stood and stared at the picture perfect sight for 15 minutes. I wanted the beauty to be seared into my memory. Some of the walls were a yellow tint and I asked Eli about it- he told me about how the tint turns into paint when you get it wet and the aborigines used to use it for art and storytelling. He told me yellow and red are the two colors most common in Victoria, but there is also green, white, black, blue, and many other variations. We climbed and explored around the falls for a bit and finally, begrudgingly, started our hike back up to the car.
The rest of the weekend we spent trekking through the wilderness, either on foot or in Eli’s truck. There were a few scary moments where I wasn’t sure if we were going to make it up or down a certain area, but the 4-wheel drive always pulled through. At one point I saw a track off the side of the road that went almost directly up, I pointed at it and asked if we could make it up- Eli decided we should find out. We made it to the top and found ourselves on the peak of a very steep drop. We both got out of the car to see how impossible it looked- and it was an intimidating drop- probably quite a bit steeper than 45 degrees. But, fearless, we got back in the car, put our seatbelts on, and went for an adventure. We ended up driving the track and it took us, basically, over the top of a few mountains. It was a spectacular experience. On our way back to our original campsite we stopped and took pictures of a dozen or so wild kangaroos that were just across a field- I was so excited to see some in the wild!
We stopped and had a hefty lunch of Australian sausages at our original campsite and then made our way into the bush to find Eli’s favorite spot- a campsite right on the edge of a secluded lake. We gave ourselves plenty of daylight to make it in, which I am very happy about. It took us about an hour to travel about 5 kilometers because we were in such dense foliage, mud, and water. If there was a tree in the way (which we ran across a few fallen trees in the processes), it didn’t really bother Eli, he simply drove off into the woods/grass/wilderness next to the track and we forged our way around. We made it to our campsite, which had a marvelous view, started a fire and set up camp for the night.
Sunday morning we did some exploring in the secluded area around the campsite. While driving a few kangaroos jumped out right in front of the car and took off in front of us- almost in a teasing way. I startled and laughed out loud—it was certainly a sight I don’t see very often. The track we chose was terrifying and we didn’t make it too far before we decided to turn around. We ran into a part of the ground that was almost completely caved in and, thankfully, Eli decided we probably shouldn’t risk falling into a huge pit in the middle of the outback. On our way out of the bush wallabies and kangaroos dashed across the track in front of us—every time I was so excited I would burst out a little yell like a child on a rollercoaster.
We headed home after making our way out of the bush and although I was sad to leave the beauty of the jungle-like Victorian outback, I know we will be back (hopefully in warmer conditions as well!) Now I really have to focus on some school work that is due later this week—something I am not looking forward to as much as the adventures that I’m sure are to come.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Happy Birthday- Patty and Mildred Hill
My birthday celebration began around 12:30 Friday the 13th. My friend Laura woke me with a chocolate cake, streamers, 2 balloons and confetti. While she normally has a beautiful voice, she walked into my room singing “Happy Birthday” in an extremely creepy male voice… I’m not quite sure what she was trying to accomplish, but it definitely work me up in a bit of a fright. I made my wish and blew out my candles and took a look at the balloon she had toted along with her. One she had dubbed as “Sassy Steve” and she drew a face on one side, and a butt on the other. I was ordered to “smack sassy Steve’s butt” in order for my birthday wish to come true. The other balloon was much more sentimental on it, she had written the following:
21 Reasons I Like You as a Bestie
1. You’re sassy
2. You’re sweet
3. You’re funny
4. You’re gorgeous
5. You got sick dance moves
6. You’re friendly
7. You love to have fun!
8. You smile a lot
9. You make me smile
10. You make everyone smile
11. You’re loud
12. You’re crazy
13. You are wise
14. You are youthful
15. You like boys a lot
16. You’re an amazing friend
17. I love spending time with you
18. You are selfless
19. You’re adventurous
20. You’re spunky
21. I haven’t met anyone as lively, loving, sweet & saucy, pretty, entertaining, bad-a, & giving, caring, inspiring, cute & funny altogether as you!
So if that’s not a midnight ego booster, I don’t know what is. After taking some unflattering pictures and storing the cake in the fridge, Laura and her host brother went back home and my roommates and I went back to sleep, but it was no where near the end of the birthday festivities.
Friday morning I had class and had a list of errands to run, so nothing too exciting went on until afternoon tea with my roommates. One of my roommates, Millie, had made a Lamington Cake for me. This consisted of two vanilla cakes stacked on top of each other with cream and jam in between, covered in chocolate and coconut. As can be imagined, it was delicious! We devoured almost the entire thing and washed it down with a bottle of champagne. They gave me a card with adorable notes from each of them and Millie gave me a necklace that she had made me- a beautiful wooden flower charm painted blue and white. Laura came over a little later and we started to get ready for the formal welcome drinks that were planned by a group called Swinmates. We had known about this event for a few weeks now and thought it would be a great experience to have on my birthday.
Ana, Chris, Brian, and Trent (Brian and Chris’ Australian roommate) showed up around 5:30 with presents, flowers, and warm wishes. The girls bought me a super cute bag that has cities of Australian written all over it, along with a scarf. The boys brought me a beautiful bouquet of purple and yellow flowers and a Smirnoff Ice with which they “iced” me. Pretty typical.
We headed down the road to the Hawthorn Pub to meet with the rest of the international students for the formal welcome drinks. I had a 21 badge on that my roommate Daniella had gotten for me. When you hit a button on the back of it, it lit up in a festive manner- prefect for a 21st birthday celebration.
After a few hours at the Hawthorn a group of us jumped on a train and headed to downtown Melbourne (or the CBD- Central Business District). There we grabbed a late dinner and headed to a club called La Di Da. The most eventful trip was trying to get home from there. The trains stop running at midnight, but we didn’t leave the club until around 2:00am. Laura, Eli, and I had to try to find a Night Rider bus and take it back into the suburb of Hawthorn, in which we live. Wandering the streets of Melbourne at 2:00 in the morning is surprisingly safe and unintimidating. Of course, we did have Eli the Aussie with us who knew the area a little bit better. We jumped on and got home around 3:30 am. An overall successful birthday celebration if you ask me.
The next morning (Saturday) we woke up fairly early and headed to a footy game. Footy is Australian Rules Football which is extremely different from American Football. The ball is bounced on the ground and carried; the only way to pass the ball is to “handball” it or kick it and you must kick the ball through the specific poles to score. It’s entirely too complicated to explain on here, but it was super interesting to watch. Also, the game was largely a Victorian sport for a long time (Victoria is the state in which Melbourne resides) and 80% of the footy teams are from the state of Victoria. Australians also have a tendency to be very passionate about their footy teams. There was a section in the stadium we were not allowed into because you have to be a member of the club to get in. Their seats were nothing special, the only thing different was they had a great location, but it was explained to us that people need to put in an application to have seats in the section and often can wait up to 20 years to get approved. Not only does that process need to take place, but also they need to pay thousands of dollars a year to keep their placement. Very passionate, indeed.
We were not so invested. We paid $13 and found a nice group of seats on the 4th tier, which was surprisingly okay seating—the stadium is so huge (because the field is so large) that each tier can fit an astounding amount of people. The Richmond Tigers lost horribly to the Carlton Blues- a final score somewhere around 50-136 or something crazy like that.
The group headed back to Hawthorn for a feast of kangaroo meat made by the lovely Chris and Brian and a relaxing movie. It was a great birthday weekend, made even better by my fabulous friends. I received dozens (if not hundreds!) of “happy birthday” wishes via my facebook friends and a heartwarming card from my Grandma! My parents sent me adorable gifts and that I received a few days later. Overall, I felt very loved and a lot less lonely than I was expecting to be. It feels great to be 21!
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Take My Breath Away- Berlin
And that is exactly what the picturesque Yarra Valley did for me. With rolling hills, unbelievably green foliage and vineyards for miles, the bus ride to and from the Healesville Sanctuary was absolutely breathtaking. But first, let me digress, for getting to the Sanctuary is a story in and of itself…
A company called “The Real Experience” came to the international orientation on Monday to tell us all about their exciting tours and opportunities they offer all around Victoria. The first of which was a trip to the Healesville Sanctuary, an up-close-and-personal zoo where you can interact with many of the animals. They encouraged all 150 international students to sign up and go, because no one would want to miss that experience. I was included in the many students excited to participate, but unfortunately I didn’t have money in my Australian bank account yet to pay for the excursion. The company never mentioned a cut off date for sign up, so I figured once my wire transfer went through I would have no problem signing up. I was wrong. It turns out the team had capped the number of people allowed to attend at a mere 103. So, those spots had obviously filled up very quickly and many of us were left without a spot. I found this out Wednesday night (the trip was on Friday). I was so upset that I would be missing this experience so I e-mailed the company, desperately asking for any sort of solution—I even offered to pay extra! But, to no avail. The Real Experience was not going to budge on their number.
Frustrated with our situation, my friend Laura and I sought our own solution. With a little research and elbow grease we discovered there was a way to reach the Sanctuary by public transportation (of which they have a great system here in Melbourne). A train and two buses would get us to the Yarra Valley location in a little under two hours! Granted, this was slightly longer than the one-hour bus ride our peers would be taking, but our trip would be about $30 cheaper—a fair trade if you ask me! So, with our collective group of 5—the people Laura and I knew who were in the same boat as us, headed off around 8 am Friday morning to hop on the train (and two buses) that would take us through the countryside and to the zoo.
Get ready for this: we saw… Emus, koalas, echidnas, a platypus, a goanna lizard, wallabies, bats, pelicans, wombats, Tasmanian devils, Australian birds, rodents, and reptiles, dingo puppies, adult dingoes, and… my favorite… we got to feed and pet kangaroos! It was an amazing opportunity. We fed the kangaroos corn and carrots and they would eat right out of your hand. We were told not to pet them on their head or chests, mostly because that is what they do if they want to spar with each other- and no one wants to get kicked or punched by a kangaroo thinking you want to fight!
So, on our way home, while the rest of my traveling companions slept, I watched the landscape go by, so grateful for all the experiences I have had so far. Sometimes I need to take a step back from reality and say to myself, “wow, I’m in Australia!” because it all just seems too surreal.
Other than this exciting trip to the sanctuary, most of my time has spent simply assimilating and making friends. I went shopping with my roommate Millie yesterday and classes start (for me) on Wednesday (I don’t have classes Mondays or Tuesdays). I am still extremely homesick, but I am doing my best and being an independent “big girl”… but it is a challenge.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
A New World- Songs for a New World
“A new world calls across the ocean… a new world waits for my reply… a new world, louder every moment… time to fly- time to fly”
A wave of loneliness washed over me as I spent my first Friday night in a foreign country alone. I gave myself little wiggle room in the expectancy to make new friends and start my adventures. I was upset I didn’t have 17 new friends who wanted to go out with me, regardless of the fact that it was my second day in this new world. And a new world it is!
After wallowing in self-pity for a night, I woke up early Saturday and decided to explore a little on my own. The area around campus is bustling with activity on the main drag “Glenferrie Street”. Shop after little shop, boutiques, countless numbers of coffee stops and pastry kitchens. Too many bakeries to count! And so many people… just swerving in and out of each other in a beautiful waltz. I was very proud of my awareness and assimilation as I remembered to walk on the left side of the sidewalk when passing others. I took myself down side streets and through the suburbs that surround campus. Every house has some sort of intricate detail in the architecture- I can’t help but stare (an obvious tourist). Almost every home has a gated fence to walk through, a faux sense of privacy- seeing as the houses are literally spaced a mere few feet apart. Fruit trees hang over the sidewalk and the crows (which sound much different from the crows back home) squawk, annoyed with my presence. I walked for almost two hours- and managed not to get lost (another feat I hold pride in). Just a simple act of exploring opened my eyes up to the world of which I am now a part.
Saturday night was another night of firsts. I bought alcohol for the first time- and didn’t even get carded! I was so nervous I forced my fabulous roommate to accompany me- she laughed at my butterflies, but was sympathetic and patient. I went over to a friend’s apartment where a bunch of international students were. I met a number of new faces- and by the time we headed to the pub (at the early hour of 9pm!) we had a crew of about 20- most international, but a few Aussie tour guides we had recruited. We had a great time at The Hawthorn—three girls and I decided to play pool (of which none of us can do very well) and they had a live band along with a DJ and dance floor. Too bad we started so early- two of the girls and I headed home around 11pm—apparently we need to work on keeping up with the Aussies!
Today (Sunday) was a glorious day of exploring downtown Melbourne. With my roommate as my tour guide, we jumped on the train and headed into the city. She showed me an adorable side street filled with cafes on either side- and down the middle rows of umbrella covered tables to sit, people watch, and drink coffee. And what I’ve forgotten to mention is how absolutely stunning the city truly is. Just stepping out from the train station, the architecture and diversity is overwhelming. Immense churches loom over you as you walk on the sidewalk, like a protective shield- and yet then you turn a corner and are the midst of a gigantic shopping center. It’s utterly incredible.
Millie and I walked through Federation Square to investigate the Tim Burton exhibit that is being shown. The art and artifacts in the exhibition were simply breathtaking—there was so much information about his life, his history, his art, and his mind. Millie and I have decided we need to have a Tim Burton movie marathon very soon.
Another thing that is crazy in this “new world” is the weather! Raining buckets (or as Millie says… “pissing rain”) this morning, opening up to a blue sky and shining sun, a mid-city exploration drizzle, and hail by the time we got back to Hawthorn (the suburb in which I am living).
I’m getting the hang of things, even if it is a slow process. I have yet to take a single picture (whoops), but I know I will soon! I have the start of orientation tomorrow, so that will certainly be an experience and hopefully I will meet more people and get to know the campus, the city, and the Australian atmosphere a little bit better day by day.
A wave of loneliness washed over me as I spent my first Friday night in a foreign country alone. I gave myself little wiggle room in the expectancy to make new friends and start my adventures. I was upset I didn’t have 17 new friends who wanted to go out with me, regardless of the fact that it was my second day in this new world. And a new world it is!
After wallowing in self-pity for a night, I woke up early Saturday and decided to explore a little on my own. The area around campus is bustling with activity on the main drag “Glenferrie Street”. Shop after little shop, boutiques, countless numbers of coffee stops and pastry kitchens. Too many bakeries to count! And so many people… just swerving in and out of each other in a beautiful waltz. I was very proud of my awareness and assimilation as I remembered to walk on the left side of the sidewalk when passing others. I took myself down side streets and through the suburbs that surround campus. Every house has some sort of intricate detail in the architecture- I can’t help but stare (an obvious tourist). Almost every home has a gated fence to walk through, a faux sense of privacy- seeing as the houses are literally spaced a mere few feet apart. Fruit trees hang over the sidewalk and the crows (which sound much different from the crows back home) squawk, annoyed with my presence. I walked for almost two hours- and managed not to get lost (another feat I hold pride in). Just a simple act of exploring opened my eyes up to the world of which I am now a part.
Saturday night was another night of firsts. I bought alcohol for the first time- and didn’t even get carded! I was so nervous I forced my fabulous roommate to accompany me- she laughed at my butterflies, but was sympathetic and patient. I went over to a friend’s apartment where a bunch of international students were. I met a number of new faces- and by the time we headed to the pub (at the early hour of 9pm!) we had a crew of about 20- most international, but a few Aussie tour guides we had recruited. We had a great time at The Hawthorn—three girls and I decided to play pool (of which none of us can do very well) and they had a live band along with a DJ and dance floor. Too bad we started so early- two of the girls and I headed home around 11pm—apparently we need to work on keeping up with the Aussies!
Today (Sunday) was a glorious day of exploring downtown Melbourne. With my roommate as my tour guide, we jumped on the train and headed into the city. She showed me an adorable side street filled with cafes on either side- and down the middle rows of umbrella covered tables to sit, people watch, and drink coffee. And what I’ve forgotten to mention is how absolutely stunning the city truly is. Just stepping out from the train station, the architecture and diversity is overwhelming. Immense churches loom over you as you walk on the sidewalk, like a protective shield- and yet then you turn a corner and are the midst of a gigantic shopping center. It’s utterly incredible.
Millie and I walked through Federation Square to investigate the Tim Burton exhibit that is being shown. The art and artifacts in the exhibition were simply breathtaking—there was so much information about his life, his history, his art, and his mind. Millie and I have decided we need to have a Tim Burton movie marathon very soon.
Another thing that is crazy in this “new world” is the weather! Raining buckets (or as Millie says… “pissing rain”) this morning, opening up to a blue sky and shining sun, a mid-city exploration drizzle, and hail by the time we got back to Hawthorn (the suburb in which I am living).
I’m getting the hang of things, even if it is a slow process. I have yet to take a single picture (whoops), but I know I will soon! I have the start of orientation tomorrow, so that will certainly be an experience and hopefully I will meet more people and get to know the campus, the city, and the Australian atmosphere a little bit better day by day.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Horse Races- A New Brain
"And their off... and they move in a herd, like a four letter word... and their off"
I was promptly turned away from the Red Carpet Club as I meandered in through the concourse. Which, I suppose, is a toast to myself- I don’t come off as the lonely, lost little girl that I fear I appear. Instead, I must show off (at least a slight) air of confidence, or else I would hope that the mean old lady behind the nice wooden desk would have taken a little sympathy upon me. So instead, I tried to make my way through the United terminal and finally found myself posted up against a wall where I could people watch (my favorite to watch being a little girl, not more than a year or so, tottering away from her parents at every chance, running into people and fearlessly exclaiming “Hi!” at each of them, giggling, and moving on to her next victim—my Dad made the forecast that this adorable, bite-sized, little piece of heaven would soon be a screaming baby on my plane- and, like most times, he was right. The adorable, bite-sized, screaming banchee sat directly behind me and I continued to receive fairly constant abuse via the back of my chair) and plug in my computer for some quality Skype time with Mom and Dad. Not too long after I found my spot, I had a companion.
Matt had quickly and madly fallen in love with the girl he had driven out to L.A. They had taken a road trip from Virginia Beach where he is a bartender and she was a waitress—she needed to get away and L.A. was her pick. She broke up with her boyfriend and left her job, friends, and any life she had to move out to Cali, where the only person she knows is her brother. He detailed their love affair, leaving out most details (thankfully), but I couldn’t help but “ooh” and “ahh” at their story and feel a little twinge at their necessary split. Although, he did hint at a possible move of his own. I never nabbed his last name, so I can’t keep tabs via Facebook, but I wish him (and her) all the best.
Aside from the tiny terror seated behind me, the flight wasn’t all bad—simply long. I did manage to meet a very nice woman originally from Phoenix who, six years ago, married an Australian man (whom she met on a Christian dating website) and moved a few hours north of Melbourne. A total doll, she gave me tips on living in Australia and even gave me her card if I ever “needed some American support”. Downright adorable.
We were supposed to stop off in Sydney before heading to Melbourne, but the fog at 5am was too dense and we were sent straight to Melbourne. For a while the airline told us customs would not let us deboard in Melbourne- instead we were simply there to refuel and we would have to sail back to Sydney, only to be taken again to Melbourne’s airport. That illogical situation did not happen, thankfully. Instead, we simply sat at Melbourne Airport for three or four hours waiting for something, anything, to happen. Eventually it was announced the Sydney flight was cancelled and all the passengers would be getting off in Melbourne. I silently cheered, even though I did pity the Sydney passengers who were left to find alternate flights to their destinations.
By this time it was around 9 am Australian time. I was picked up by the complimentary airport service and had to wait about three hours to actually get picked up. There were about 10 of us who were driven to our residences. The driver decided to drop me off at the wrong building and I spent a good 15 minutes hauling my luggage from place to place trying to find where to check in (it was a grand old time).
But here I am. “Home” for the next few months. My closet is empty, the immense desk is empty (save for a few books), and my bedding is lavender and maroon (the only colors in my bed size that I could find on such short notice). The room echoes it is so empty, but I have started to put pictures up on my bulletin board and the familiar faces help make me feel at ease.
I have made a few friends- the boys from California, the girl from Mexico, and the girl from Texas… my roommate is great and all of the people I have met are very helpful so far. I guess I can just keep my fingers crossed that I can make some lasting friendships so my fear of being alone for the next few months will subside.
I was promptly turned away from the Red Carpet Club as I meandered in through the concourse. Which, I suppose, is a toast to myself- I don’t come off as the lonely, lost little girl that I fear I appear. Instead, I must show off (at least a slight) air of confidence, or else I would hope that the mean old lady behind the nice wooden desk would have taken a little sympathy upon me. So instead, I tried to make my way through the United terminal and finally found myself posted up against a wall where I could people watch (my favorite to watch being a little girl, not more than a year or so, tottering away from her parents at every chance, running into people and fearlessly exclaiming “Hi!” at each of them, giggling, and moving on to her next victim—my Dad made the forecast that this adorable, bite-sized, little piece of heaven would soon be a screaming baby on my plane- and, like most times, he was right. The adorable, bite-sized, screaming banchee sat directly behind me and I continued to receive fairly constant abuse via the back of my chair) and plug in my computer for some quality Skype time with Mom and Dad. Not too long after I found my spot, I had a companion.
Matt had quickly and madly fallen in love with the girl he had driven out to L.A. They had taken a road trip from Virginia Beach where he is a bartender and she was a waitress—she needed to get away and L.A. was her pick. She broke up with her boyfriend and left her job, friends, and any life she had to move out to Cali, where the only person she knows is her brother. He detailed their love affair, leaving out most details (thankfully), but I couldn’t help but “ooh” and “ahh” at their story and feel a little twinge at their necessary split. Although, he did hint at a possible move of his own. I never nabbed his last name, so I can’t keep tabs via Facebook, but I wish him (and her) all the best.
Aside from the tiny terror seated behind me, the flight wasn’t all bad—simply long. I did manage to meet a very nice woman originally from Phoenix who, six years ago, married an Australian man (whom she met on a Christian dating website) and moved a few hours north of Melbourne. A total doll, she gave me tips on living in Australia and even gave me her card if I ever “needed some American support”. Downright adorable.
We were supposed to stop off in Sydney before heading to Melbourne, but the fog at 5am was too dense and we were sent straight to Melbourne. For a while the airline told us customs would not let us deboard in Melbourne- instead we were simply there to refuel and we would have to sail back to Sydney, only to be taken again to Melbourne’s airport. That illogical situation did not happen, thankfully. Instead, we simply sat at Melbourne Airport for three or four hours waiting for something, anything, to happen. Eventually it was announced the Sydney flight was cancelled and all the passengers would be getting off in Melbourne. I silently cheered, even though I did pity the Sydney passengers who were left to find alternate flights to their destinations.
By this time it was around 9 am Australian time. I was picked up by the complimentary airport service and had to wait about three hours to actually get picked up. There were about 10 of us who were driven to our residences. The driver decided to drop me off at the wrong building and I spent a good 15 minutes hauling my luggage from place to place trying to find where to check in (it was a grand old time).
But here I am. “Home” for the next few months. My closet is empty, the immense desk is empty (save for a few books), and my bedding is lavender and maroon (the only colors in my bed size that I could find on such short notice). The room echoes it is so empty, but I have started to put pictures up on my bulletin board and the familiar faces help make me feel at ease.
I have made a few friends- the boys from California, the girl from Mexico, and the girl from Texas… my roommate is great and all of the people I have met are very helpful so far. I guess I can just keep my fingers crossed that I can make some lasting friendships so my fear of being alone for the next few months will subside.
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