Feels Like Home to Me

After approximately 9 weeks of living in Australia it's feeling a lot like home. The scenery, the people, the general way of life has swallowed me whole and I'm more than okay with that. I can be worry-free and not have a care in the world and the Aussies would most likely high-five me on that accomplishment alone. In fact, back at home I was always in a big worry-debate about something. Have to finish that paper, work til 11, time to study for that test, have to make a trip back home, get in some quality time with friends, orchestra rehearsal tonight, pencil in a time to call my best friend in Florida. Not this time! Aussies take it one day at time, they go with the flow and never look back. And this cultural norm has me hooked. Why can't we play a little more and freak out less? Life in the U.S. had me speeding around in my Escort (oohh how I MISS that car and driving with the music cranked up!) trying to get from one place to the other. Heck, even if I had my arm chopped off I think I would barely even notice with all the things on my plate. I know once I'm home again it's back to my speedy reality but for now, I will relish in this country and in this moment to slow down and enjoy life. My life.

This week I am off to Sydney and Melbourne for the Easter holiday with two of my good friends! Can't wait to get out and see a big city and definitely lots of action for us to get into. Have a very

Happy Easter everyone!

(my American friend Brittany and I, St. Patty's Day)

Here's to you, Australia! Thanks for showing me another good side to life.

Conversations with an Australian, Pt. 3

Australian: "This is this first time I've ever had a bagel."
Me: "Wow, really?"
Australian: "Look at me, I'm an American- I love bagels!!"

Meebun-bia: The Australian Bush

My first camping trip in Australia. 3 days and 2 nights. 20 SCU students, one teacher, and 2 camp guides. One of my favorite camping trips to date.

All of our things: food, clothes, rain gear, sleeping bag were carried in backpacks while we hiked around the bush. The bush is more like a huge forest. We had many activities including challenge courses in which we used harnesses to walk along wires tied to trees. Lots of climbing and making our way across makeshift bridges and ladders while being suspended 20-30 feet in the air. Intense!

Two of my favorite challenges that I accomplished while in Meebun-bia was the "Flying Fox" a.k.a ziplining. I ziplined across the Australian bush for over 300 ft at a height of atleast 60 feet. As soon as I jumped off the platform I yelled out over the bush (and my fellow campers), "GIRLS SCOUTS OF AMERICA!!!" Because ziplining and I have had a history throughout Girls Scouts and in particular Troop 1586. I thought of you girls the whole time and was wishing the people I camped with knew the words to "Hey Josephine" or "There Was a Great Big Moose" Don't worry, I sang to it by myself :) My other favorite challenge was the free fall, where I was attached to a rope through my harness, climbed a gum tree, and fell backwards from 40 feet in the air. It was so exhilirating!

All in all, it was extremely physical but so worth it. The possums kept getting into our food and literally hung out with us around the campfire. The possums here are a lot cuter and fuzzy but nonetheless I had trouble sleeping knowing the possums could crawl in any time looking for food. Our tents weren't possum-proof, just a bottom and top tarp with open sides.

Below are some photos I snapped between navigating through the bush and doing challenge courses (I wish I had photos of the challenge courses but no worries, our teacher, Steve a.k.a Chuck Norris, videotaped our entire trip and will be posting it online at the end of the semester) The sunset was incredible. We hiked up a hill, which in my opinion was more like a mountain because it was sooo steep, and took in the view. Our camp guides, Hollie and Feeney, told us to sit by ourselves on the hill to have quiet time to take in the sunset. Sitting there- I had no thoughts, no worries, no complaints. My sense of self got quiet and I prayed a bit- taking in all that was infront of me. In that moment, I felt truly blessed to see, feel, breathe, smell this beautiful land. Thank You (You know who You are!)

Surfer's Weekend

Academic update- okay, before I go into my weekend of learning how to surf, I thought I'd let everyone know that yes, I am still going to class! Contrary to popular belief, I am actually taking some challenging courses. I am currently trying to start my first paper in my class Australia, Asia, and The World. This class talks about Australian culture and how it is connected with other parts of the world. It is very interesting especially since we have such a diverse group (ages 18-50 something, Chinese, Americans, Australians, Kiwis, religious, non-religious, etc). We have a lecture once a week and then a small group recitation (they call it tutorials down here) once a week as well. The tutorials are extremely entertaining because we talk about religion, thought process due to cultural awareness, politics, nothing is off limits! I am also learning a lot from my 3 other classes- Communication in Organizations, Outdoor Education (we are taking a field trip this weekend to Meebun-Bia- for 2 nights/3 days in the Australian bush!), and Management in a Global Context. I am only allowed to take 4 classes as part of the study abroad agreement. I will be coming back to K-State with 15 transfered credits which is awesome. :) Now, onto the surfing...

Yes, that is me surfing!!

Went back to Byron Bay this weekend with my Canadian friend, Ashton where we both took two 3 hour lessons Saturday & Sunday. I was able to stand up on the board after my third try and it was an incredible feeling. Our instructor, Ainsle, has been teaching people how to surf for over eight years and she has been surfing for a total of sixteen years. My muscles are so sore from surfing. It exercises your arms, back, legs, everywhere! If I could, I would go surfing every weekend (might end up living by the ocean at some point after graduation... hmm). Byron Bay is a great place to get away to surf, relax on the beach, people watch, and eat some really good sushi.

Doesn't that look good?

After lunch, we were able to meet up with some friends and relaxed on the beach complete with beach towels, snacks and SPF. Our second day of surfing we were taught some tricks to move faster on the surfboard and trying to turn the board. Ashton and I thought it'd be a good idea to catch a wave together to get a great photo for the scrapbook (Note: will have several pages to make once I'm back home).

Ashton and I getting up on our boards

Looking good on our boards!

Ashton starts to lose her balance...

She bellyflops into the water right next to my board, but I decided to keep going!

My amazing surf instructor, Ainsle!

*Be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the website, I posted a YouTube video of Byron Bay so you can really see what the beach looks like!

What does Lismore and SCU look like?

Well, I'm glad you asked. Here are some pictures I've taken over the past 5 weeks (have I really been here that long already?) and I will post more over time!

Looking down the street, downtown Lismore

Walking down Ballina Road towards the shopping centre and downtown

The share-house that I am living in for the semester, about 10 minute walk to Uni

Walking down to Uni from Orion College (Orion is actually campus accommodation for students) Killer trying to climb this thing back home!

Walking onto campus now. Library is at bottom right.

At the very bottom of the hill and still on campus is the Plaza. A lot like the K-State Union. Both have places to eat, book store, and student center. This is the middle of the Plaza where local bands play during O-Week (orientation week) and a great place to hang out with friends.

Conversations with an Australian, Pt. 2

Australian- "So, are you from America then?"
Me- "Yes, I'm from Kansas. It's in the middle of the States."
Australian- "Oh, isn't that where Dorothy's from?"
Me- "Yeah," (sighs loudly)

Truth Hurts

I would not recommend talking about politics to Australians. They will give their pro's and con's about Obama and ask who I voted for. One Aussie that I talked to said, "I give the black fellow 12 months before he drowns himself in the river." And another says, "Obama will change the world." Either way, they will tell you how they feel! Of course, I always tell them I voted for Obama and I looked at both McCain's and Obama's websites, comparing important issues and seeing what I most agreed with. Truth- not everyone in Australia likes Americans. In fact, a lot of people will completely write me off once I say that I'm American. I don't want to generalize because just like Americans, each Australian is completely different. But I have often been asked if I'm Canadian and I was told the reason people do that is because if they ask if you are from the US and you are not, you could be deeply offended.



We Americans are constantly being judged by other countries. We don't see it because we get so wrapped up in US issues that we tend to ignore the other cultures. I believe you have to be well-educated to understand another culture as well as spend a significant amount of time in another country to develop a sense of awareness of other cultures. I wish that all people could view a person as exactly that-- an individual. You can't look at where a person was born or what citizenship they have, it can't describe their personal characteristics or what their personality is like. I wish people, regardless of nationality, would judge me by my character- not by my citizenship. (Oh boy, I think I feel a MLK Jr. quote coming on...)



Not a bright and shiny post like I've been doing, but I wanted to let the folks back home know the whole truth about living here. I think my cultural awareness is showing!



To end this on a happy note, I went out with a few friends to Mary's, a local pub. Pictured with me below is Ashton from Canada and Jess from the Bahamas! Never thought I'd be having drinks with a Canadian and a Bahamian but this is the Aussie life, no worries. :)