Well, it's been another long and lovely week in the land of Oz. School was school. This week was a very laid back, but very business focused week. All of the tutorial classes spoke about the papers we have to right and the ways to research a certain topic. It scared me a little considering I hadn't started anything. But it kicked me into gear and I wrote a pretty good outline for a few of them on Thursday.
I rented more movies on Tuesday. I don't know if I have mentioned, but all movies are only $1 at blockbuster on Tuesday here. So I usually go in and get 4 or 5 to last me the week. Last week the theme was children's movies, this week it was comedy. I snagged 'The Darwin Awards', 'Adaptation', 'The Darjeeling Unlimited', and 'Casanova'. I have since watched 'The Darwin Awards' and 'Adaptation'. 'The Darwin Awards' was pretty good. I remember hearing about a lot of the stupid stories they recreated. It was funny, but I think that with humor like that, it could have been WAY funnier. The way the movie was plotted though was very good. I loved the way everything was presented and set up. It gets a 3 out of 5 from me.
Movie number two was 'Adaptation'. Now, I have never seen Nicolas Cage in a comedy, so was really surprised to see his face on the cover. I was intrigued, you could say. Anyway, I am left here wondering why that movie was put in the comedy section. Arguably there is one funny character, but the movie was NOT the kind of comedy you laugh out loud at. It was the kind of Cohen Brothers-esque movie that leaves you with a sad kind of frightened laugh on your lips because it makes you re-evaluate your own life. Explanation is futile. If you want, go rent it. Favorite line: "You are what you love, not what loves you. I started telling myself that a long time ago."
My weekend was pretty typical up until Saturday. I slept, I wrote, I worked out, and went out. Saturday though was the absolute epitome of fun. I woke up and was soon called by Karlie. "Get up! Michael's coming! We're going to watch a footy game!" Ten (very rushed) minutes later I was in the truck with Karlie, Hannah, and Michael on my way to my first footy game. Now footy, or AFL, is a really cool sport. It's basically rugby with less rules, so the brutality level is WAY up. Michael is on the team, but unfortunately he didn't play. We watched the 2nd string team first, and then the first stirngs. It was absolutely fantastic. I was screaming and yelling the whole time. I was almost as into it is I am with soccer. These guys are tough too. There were a few injuries and a really awesome fight involving most of the players from both teams. It was epic.
We FINALLY got home at 6:00 and rushed to get ready to go to their weekly awards dinner with Michael. It was around this point that I realized how tired I was, but I figured I would wake up as the night went on. Boy was I wrong! We went to the footy club, saw the awards get handed out, and went to a club called 'East'. This place was the coolest club I have been to here. I don't much like going to the clubs here because raging techno music all night is not something that intrigues me. This club was very much the same, but it was a lot more upper class. The reason I thought it was so cool is that they had a show kind of aspect to their entertainment. They had hanging dancers dangling from the ceiling on those big draping ribbons and on big gymnastic stlye rings. They had live music a few different times. It was honestly really cool. But around eleven I started to fade fast and so did Karlie. So, after a fabulous day or footy and dancing we snagged a cab and headed home.
It was lovely waking up this morning and reflecting on my week. It was seemingly uneventful, but I actually did a lot of neat new things. That club was really really cool. I want to go back again. I watched some great movies I hadn't seen before. The thing I loved most was the footy though. I can not believe how much I loved that sport. I haven't been that fired up since I played soccer, which is quite the feat. I was happy to amerce myself in the biggest sport in Aussie culture. And I love it. Maybe I should find a girls team to play on? Maybe not though. I think I might get fully pummeled.
I could show my prowess, be a lion not a mou-ess, if I only had the nerve...
3/23/2009
If I Only Had a Heart
It’s been a few days since the last write up, but nothing too interesting has happened so don’t worry. School has been going pretty well. I am really starting to love my health science class as well as my photography class. They are the most interesting in regards to new information being presented to me. I feel good learning so much about the history of photography. I feel that as an aspiring amateur photographer it is really helpful to know where the process of photographing came from as well as the philosophical debates behind its different methods and practices. Along with that, I get to view an assess some of the most beautiful and famous pictures ever taken. It’s very fun to discuss the meaning or interpretation of a photo within the class. The difference in culture between Americans, Australians, French, and many more ethnicities is astounding. I am completely soaking up all of the beautiful cultures I am presented with and surrounded by.
Class seemed to end quickly, as usual, and I was ready to start a lazy weekend. And that is EXACTLY what it was. Wednesday night was quite relaxing. Hannah and I watched “The Emperor’s New Groove” and ate some ice cream. (It was very reminiscent of many of the nights Jordan and I had spent together watching children’s movies and eating junk together!)
Thursday was a lovely, sleepy, nappy day. Jayde, my photography class friend, came over to watch a movie and we landed on Chicken Run. Kid’s movies seemed to be the theme this week and it was a lot of fun laughing out loud to such a silly childish movie. After making fun of Mel Brooks’s silly voice and watching ALL of the extras on the DVD, we somehow meandered back into my room to look at pictured from our long lost high school days. I cannot believe the things that Hannah has done. She lives in Idaho and owns the only push boat in the state. She moved to Alaska after high school to be a snow dog musher with her aunt. She was community leader of her towns stilt club. This girl is NUTS! The funniest (and kind of saddest) part was that she didn’t have any baby pictures because her parents didn’t take any. They just used pictures of her older sister and told them it was her because they looked extremely similar as kids. She laughed about that, so I think it is ok to say that it is at least a tiny bit entertaining.
Friday was a very chill day. I hung out around d the house, worked out, talked to Jordan a bit, and planned out a photo shoot to do with Hannah and her friend Liam. I am really excited to get to my first photo shoot in Australia. Friday night was also very calm and cool. I went to Liam’s house with Hannah and watched “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” with him and his roommates. It was nice to go to someone ELSES house to do something. He has a really cute puppy dog that ran around all hyper all night and sat on my lap through the whole movie. I was so happy to get out of the house and do something more like back home. After the movie we came home and went to bed. Saturday was also lazy. I don’t know why, but I didn’t feel like doing anything. I was in a very despondent mood and was really missing my friends and family. I sat at home and looked at pictures and talked to Jordan until her had to go to sleep. Brittney called a little later and asked if I wanted to go to Surfers to hang out with her friend Michael and his footy pals. I wasn’t really in the mood, but considering I hadn’t done ANYTHING all weekend, I said yes. I was out for about 2 hours and then abruptly came home amongst a storm of drama. I just stayed up watching TV for a little and then went to sleep unsettled.
Sunday was a fantastic day! Hannah, Liam, and I went up to Tambourine in Nerang to see the rock pools again and this time I remembered my camera! I had such a great day following them around and taking pictures of the beautiful landscape. After our hike around we stopped in the little mountain town and had lunch. It was a pleasant little Sunday market and we stopped across the street from the German cuckoo clock store. It was such a wonderful end to a fun day. Once I got home, I spoke to Jordan, took a nap, and made myself a big dinner. Overall, the last week was a very up and down affair. My emotions were tested and twisted until I didn’t think there was much more I could go through. But I have a fabulous support system keeping me going, and I am eternally thankful for their help. I don’t even feel as though I’m here on my own. I completely live off of the energy and love that my friends back home send me.
I'd be friends with the sparrows and the boys who shoots the arrows, if I only had a heart...
Class seemed to end quickly, as usual, and I was ready to start a lazy weekend. And that is EXACTLY what it was. Wednesday night was quite relaxing. Hannah and I watched “The Emperor’s New Groove” and ate some ice cream. (It was very reminiscent of many of the nights Jordan and I had spent together watching children’s movies and eating junk together!)
Thursday was a lovely, sleepy, nappy day. Jayde, my photography class friend, came over to watch a movie and we landed on Chicken Run. Kid’s movies seemed to be the theme this week and it was a lot of fun laughing out loud to such a silly childish movie. After making fun of Mel Brooks’s silly voice and watching ALL of the extras on the DVD, we somehow meandered back into my room to look at pictured from our long lost high school days. I cannot believe the things that Hannah has done. She lives in Idaho and owns the only push boat in the state. She moved to Alaska after high school to be a snow dog musher with her aunt. She was community leader of her towns stilt club. This girl is NUTS! The funniest (and kind of saddest) part was that she didn’t have any baby pictures because her parents didn’t take any. They just used pictures of her older sister and told them it was her because they looked extremely similar as kids. She laughed about that, so I think it is ok to say that it is at least a tiny bit entertaining.
Friday was a very chill day. I hung out around d the house, worked out, talked to Jordan a bit, and planned out a photo shoot to do with Hannah and her friend Liam. I am really excited to get to my first photo shoot in Australia. Friday night was also very calm and cool. I went to Liam’s house with Hannah and watched “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” with him and his roommates. It was nice to go to someone ELSES house to do something. He has a really cute puppy dog that ran around all hyper all night and sat on my lap through the whole movie. I was so happy to get out of the house and do something more like back home. After the movie we came home and went to bed. Saturday was also lazy. I don’t know why, but I didn’t feel like doing anything. I was in a very despondent mood and was really missing my friends and family. I sat at home and looked at pictures and talked to Jordan until her had to go to sleep. Brittney called a little later and asked if I wanted to go to Surfers to hang out with her friend Michael and his footy pals. I wasn’t really in the mood, but considering I hadn’t done ANYTHING all weekend, I said yes. I was out for about 2 hours and then abruptly came home amongst a storm of drama. I just stayed up watching TV for a little and then went to sleep unsettled.
Sunday was a fantastic day! Hannah, Liam, and I went up to Tambourine in Nerang to see the rock pools again and this time I remembered my camera! I had such a great day following them around and taking pictures of the beautiful landscape. After our hike around we stopped in the little mountain town and had lunch. It was a pleasant little Sunday market and we stopped across the street from the German cuckoo clock store. It was such a wonderful end to a fun day. Once I got home, I spoke to Jordan, took a nap, and made myself a big dinner. Overall, the last week was a very up and down affair. My emotions were tested and twisted until I didn’t think there was much more I could go through. But I have a fabulous support system keeping me going, and I am eternally thankful for their help. I don’t even feel as though I’m here on my own. I completely live off of the energy and love that my friends back home send me.
I'd be friends with the sparrows and the boys who shoots the arrows, if I only had a heart...
3/15/2009
I Could While Away The Hours
Well, it has been quite the week since I last wrote things down. I had another few days of school, things really started to pick up, and it worried me a little how different classes are here. I have a new professor in nearly every class every week. They switch them out based on their credential subject knowledge to give specific lectures about different various topics. It is difficult for me to get used to. We go from week one having the hard core class convener, to week two with Fancy Pants McGee and his lecture of loveliness. I don't know how I am going to get used to the switching, but I guess I don't have a choice.
Class always seems to end quickly and it was soon time for another 4 day weekend. It is SO nice having all those days to do things. Wednesday was a relax day after class. I have been extremely tired lately and I don't know why. I am a little sick, but I didn't think it would affect me this much. Anyway! After a nice relaxing night in it was time to go out. Sort of... on Thursday during the day Hannah, Hilda, and I went to the Australia Faire mall to shop around. It was a very awesome day just taking it easy doing the one thing girls love most. :) That night, we got an invitation to go to the Parkwood Tavern with a bunch of people from our complex. I was a little shopped out, but I decided not to stress it and to go out anyway. What a shit show it was! First off, everyone but me and Hannah was drunk before we even left. THEN, once we got there at 11pm, there was a line out the door and around the corner. We thought, "hey, maybe it'll go quick", and hopped out of the car. Instantly it began to rain. Awesome. We stood in line for 15 minutes before I said that maybe we should go somewhere else. A resounding NOOO!!! For some reason we HAD to go to Parkwood. After another 15 minutes we got out of line. People were cutting us left and right and there was no way we were getting in any time soon. So, they decided to go to Melbas in Surfers Paradise. Not I, I exclaimed, I am going home to bed away from you hooligans. So Hannah and I headed back to Metro wet, tired, and with nothing to show but sore feet.
Friday came quickly after those escapades. I woke up and went to campus and got a lot done. I printed out nearly 150 pages of reading for the semester that we are required to bring to my photo and rock art classes. I felt like an eco-terrorist carrying out my huge stack of readings and resumes. After getting home I talked to Jordan for a few hours, as usual, and really got home sick. It is getting harder every day to be away from my friends and family. I miss my Chico buddies more than they know and my family as well. Jordan is a whole other story that I won't go into for lack of space and time. Anyway, after our long conversation I decided to take a little nap before venturing out with Brittney and Hilda that night.
When I woke up, I felt a lot better. I was excited to go out and have a night out on the town with my friends. We went to our friend Adrian's apartment that is 14 stories up overlooking the Circle on Cavil in the middle of down town Surfers. It was a phenomenal view. We hung out there with the Finnish kids, chit chatting and drinking, until Melbas Bar got going. Honestly, it was kind of a disaster once we left the apartment, but any night that ends with great room mates and terrible food is a night to cherish.
When I got home I called Jordan. It was 2am here so it was rounding the corner of 9am in the states. Surprisingly enough he answered and we ended up having another very long and lovely conversation. I was up until 5am and somehow, after passing out on bed contact, woke up at 10 and felt fit as a fiddle. Well, up until around 3pm. It was all down hill from there. From then on it was lazy Saturday to the max. Movies, snacks, computer. I was SO lame all day. But I was resting because Sunday was the big day we were going to the Steve Irwin Australia Zoo!!
I was so excited when I woke up this morning! I LOVE zoo's and this one is the biggest in the world! We had a heck of a time getting there but we finally made it! My day was fantastic! We saw a ton of crocodiles, alligators, koalas, echidnas, tigers, kangaroos (of course), wombats, wallabies, multitudes of birds and snakes, camels, tortoises, and SO much more! It was unbelievable! We spent the entire day trekking around. My favorite part was either hanging out with the kangaroos (which are SUPER friendly little guys) or touching an echidna on its wee little snout and having it niffle me. :) It was by far the coolest thing I have done on my trip to date. I wil post pictures shortly to show you how amazing it was.
So now I'm at home, reflecting on my day and editing pictures. I had a great weekend and I hope this week will see me through to a fabulous next one. As for tonight, I've got to study up and get some sleep before class tomorrow. I feel like having 3 days in class and 4 days out is not the best for my intelligence level. Things are just so care free here. It's hard to get smarter through books when there so much to learn from the world around me. I guess I'll just have to keep stuffing things inside my head and see what spills out in the end.
I would dance and be merry, life would be a ding-a-derry,If I only had a brain....
Class always seems to end quickly and it was soon time for another 4 day weekend. It is SO nice having all those days to do things. Wednesday was a relax day after class. I have been extremely tired lately and I don't know why. I am a little sick, but I didn't think it would affect me this much. Anyway! After a nice relaxing night in it was time to go out. Sort of... on Thursday during the day Hannah, Hilda, and I went to the Australia Faire mall to shop around. It was a very awesome day just taking it easy doing the one thing girls love most. :) That night, we got an invitation to go to the Parkwood Tavern with a bunch of people from our complex. I was a little shopped out, but I decided not to stress it and to go out anyway. What a shit show it was! First off, everyone but me and Hannah was drunk before we even left. THEN, once we got there at 11pm, there was a line out the door and around the corner. We thought, "hey, maybe it'll go quick", and hopped out of the car. Instantly it began to rain. Awesome. We stood in line for 15 minutes before I said that maybe we should go somewhere else. A resounding NOOO!!! For some reason we HAD to go to Parkwood. After another 15 minutes we got out of line. People were cutting us left and right and there was no way we were getting in any time soon. So, they decided to go to Melbas in Surfers Paradise. Not I, I exclaimed, I am going home to bed away from you hooligans. So Hannah and I headed back to Metro wet, tired, and with nothing to show but sore feet.
Friday came quickly after those escapades. I woke up and went to campus and got a lot done. I printed out nearly 150 pages of reading for the semester that we are required to bring to my photo and rock art classes. I felt like an eco-terrorist carrying out my huge stack of readings and resumes. After getting home I talked to Jordan for a few hours, as usual, and really got home sick. It is getting harder every day to be away from my friends and family. I miss my Chico buddies more than they know and my family as well. Jordan is a whole other story that I won't go into for lack of space and time. Anyway, after our long conversation I decided to take a little nap before venturing out with Brittney and Hilda that night.
When I woke up, I felt a lot better. I was excited to go out and have a night out on the town with my friends. We went to our friend Adrian's apartment that is 14 stories up overlooking the Circle on Cavil in the middle of down town Surfers. It was a phenomenal view. We hung out there with the Finnish kids, chit chatting and drinking, until Melbas Bar got going. Honestly, it was kind of a disaster once we left the apartment, but any night that ends with great room mates and terrible food is a night to cherish.
When I got home I called Jordan. It was 2am here so it was rounding the corner of 9am in the states. Surprisingly enough he answered and we ended up having another very long and lovely conversation. I was up until 5am and somehow, after passing out on bed contact, woke up at 10 and felt fit as a fiddle. Well, up until around 3pm. It was all down hill from there. From then on it was lazy Saturday to the max. Movies, snacks, computer. I was SO lame all day. But I was resting because Sunday was the big day we were going to the Steve Irwin Australia Zoo!!
I was so excited when I woke up this morning! I LOVE zoo's and this one is the biggest in the world! We had a heck of a time getting there but we finally made it! My day was fantastic! We saw a ton of crocodiles, alligators, koalas, echidnas, tigers, kangaroos (of course), wombats, wallabies, multitudes of birds and snakes, camels, tortoises, and SO much more! It was unbelievable! We spent the entire day trekking around. My favorite part was either hanging out with the kangaroos (which are SUPER friendly little guys) or touching an echidna on its wee little snout and having it niffle me. :) It was by far the coolest thing I have done on my trip to date. I wil post pictures shortly to show you how amazing it was.
So now I'm at home, reflecting on my day and editing pictures. I had a great weekend and I hope this week will see me through to a fabulous next one. As for tonight, I've got to study up and get some sleep before class tomorrow. I feel like having 3 days in class and 4 days out is not the best for my intelligence level. Things are just so care free here. It's hard to get smarter through books when there so much to learn from the world around me. I guess I'll just have to keep stuffing things inside my head and see what spills out in the end.
I would dance and be merry, life would be a ding-a-derry,If I only had a brain....
3/08/2009
The Merry Old Land of OZ
Here are a few of the pictures I have taken over the past fortnight. Not too many, but there will be more. :)
This is the top of the rock pools in Tambourine, Nerang. A multitude of waterfalls and pools form beneath this starting point for miles on end into the rain forest.
This is Surfers Paradise at night. I was on the beach around 1am and this is what it was like.
Surfers Paradise again, but a little earlier in the evening and a little higher off the ground. :)
This is the Australia Fair shopping center in the mid afternoon!
And this is where I live. The view from my front porch back into the complex.
This is the top of the rock pools in Tambourine, Nerang. A multitude of waterfalls and pools form beneath this starting point for miles on end into the rain forest.
This is Surfers Paradise at night. I was on the beach around 1am and this is what it was like.
Surfers Paradise again, but a little earlier in the evening and a little higher off the ground. :)
This is the Australia Fair shopping center in the mid afternoon!
And this is where I live. The view from my front porch back into the complex. This is how I spend the day away in the merry old land of Oz...
3/07/2009
Ease On Down The Road
Wednesday was the first day I felt sick. My throat hurt, my nose was stuffed up, and I had a monumental headache. I knew I was getting sick, so I sat around and watched movies all day after class. It was relaxing, simple, and actually very fun. Near the end of the day, Hilda asked me and Pooya if we wanted to go out with her and her friends. I wasn't feeling too great, but after being inside all day, I figured I should go to something fun. We went to Surfers Paradise and walked around for a while before we settled on a nice Irish Pub for a drink. Hannah, Pooya, and I sat around talking about where we grew up and our families back home. I can not believe the things I learned about Pooya, my room mate. He is from Iran and was explaining how different everything in Iran is in comparison to anywhere else he has ever been. We were talking about drinking and he said that in Iran, it is illegal because of the Islam religion. One time he was caught drinking and had to go to jail. Not only did he go to jail, he also got 40 lashes upon arrival. I could not believe it. ACTUAL lashes. He said he still has scars on his back from them. It was such an amazing story and it inspired a lot of very interesting conversation while we worked through our drinks.
We moved on from that bar after a little and decided to just take a walk around. We had been wandering for a while when we came upon a bar with live music. It was just one guy with a guitar and a microphone, but he was playing Jason Mraz "I'm Yours" and I couldn't resist listening on. He then proceeded to play Bright Eyes, Ryan Adams, Lucinda Williams, and M. Ward. I was super excited. During his little intermission I told him that he was very talented and that we had similar taste in music. I told him that "I'm Yours" is one of my favorite songs to sing. He said that if he had time, he would play it again, and that I would have to come up and sing it again. I told him I would and I didn't give it another thought until 30 minutes later when he began to play it again. He called me up on stage and we sang the entire song together in front of everyone. I don't really know how to describe it. I haven't been on stage for a very long time. It was somewhat liberating. It made me miss Jordan extremely bad because whenever I hear that song I think of him. I wish he could have been there to hear me sing it to him.
Thursday I woke up feeling bad again and decided to sleep, eat, and watch movies for the second day in a row. I don't know what it is about being sick in the summer. The sickness always seems to be a lot worse during the day. Anyway, Thursday was my day in and I didn't do a damn thing. Brittney went to Brisbane and told me that she would have an adventure for me.
Friday was a fairly productive day. I got to campus, printed out a multitude of class items, went grocery shopping, and bought my books for classes. Around 4pm I went to the pizza shop near our apartments to give them a resume. They had a 'Now Hiring' sign up for a female employee wanting 15 to 20 hours a week on the weekends in the evenings. I thought it was perfect because it was so close to where I live and perfect schedule/hours. But when I went to turn in the application that guy said that he had had problems in the past with the students who lived at Metro and also that he didn't really want to hire an American. Let me reiterate: he told me he wouldn't even accept my application because I lived at the apartment complex behind the store and that I was from America. I was dumbfounded. Here I am trying to get a job, wanting to do honest work as a great employee, and he wouldn't even take my application from me. It was unbelievable. I can't say I am mad, because I am not, I am just SO amazed at how it feels to be denied a job because of an odd discrimination. It really made me think.
After this, I just came home to get ready because I had been planning on going out with Brittney to see our Finnish friends down in Surfers Paradise if I wasn't feeling too sick. We left around 7:30 and got to Surfers about 8pm. It was really nice to see the guys again and meet their cool new girl room mates. We hung out at their 11th floor balcony apartment and I got some great pictures of the city. Then we went out. We went to a club called 'Cocktails and Dreams' first and there was this awesome dude (most likely on ecstasy) dancing his heart out on the dance floor alone. It was a crack up. Then we went to 'The Bedroom'. It was PACKED. It was smelly and hot and uncomfortable so Rufio and I left to get a kabob and hang out outside. (Rufio is one of the guys from Finland. He looks JUST like Rufio from 'Hook'.) I don't know how to explain, but the kabobs here are different then anything I have ever eaten. They aren't shish-kabobs on a stick, they're basically a burrito/pita that's cooked on both sides once you have everything you want inside of it. They are AMAZING. We sat around and talked about life and the difference between countries and how bad I missed Jordan despite all the amazing things in Australia. I figured he would be like everyone else and tell me to let it go because this is a once in a life time thing, but he was actually really understanding. Apparently it just made it more understandable that I wasn't big into going out. He said he wasn't a big partier at home either, but that he did it here to please his friends. The people that relate best are always people in the similar situations as you. We talked for about 30 minutes before we met back up with Brittney and headed back home. I called Jordan when I got back and told him how much I loved him and missed him and he told me the same. It was a perfect way to end my night.
Today was a pretty bad day as far as days go. I woke up really late because I got in really late with the girls and I felt awful when I woke up. My head felt like it was going to explode and I was exhausted despite my 1o hours of sleep. I called Jordan and nearly fell asleep on Skype talking. I took a nap and decided to do something with my life so I asked Hilda and Pooya if they wanted to go to a movie with me. We decided to go see Watchmen and I got really excited on the way to the theatres. I can not accurately explain the magnitude of this movie. In my humble opinion, it was absolutely fantastic. Unbelievable. The mix of visual and auditory aesthetics were in complete perfect synchronization. The sound track is glorious on its own, but in context with the movie it was intriguing and unique. The story pulls you in, the characters are well developed, and the realistic fantasy of it all is utterly flawless. (Needless to say, I really loved it.) Hilda and I spent a fair amount of time on the way home discussing our takes and clearing up some of the things she had trouble with. In an American movie like that, they speak English so quickly that it is hard sometimes for her to understand everything they are saying. Especially when two of the very important characters had accents to their voice. We talked it all out and by the time we got home realized that we were completely exhausted, and now here I am. I'm going to sleep now, and I am happy. I had a very good end to my day, which is a nice feeling.
I don't carry nothing that might be a load, I just ease on down, ease on down the road...
We moved on from that bar after a little and decided to just take a walk around. We had been wandering for a while when we came upon a bar with live music. It was just one guy with a guitar and a microphone, but he was playing Jason Mraz "I'm Yours" and I couldn't resist listening on. He then proceeded to play Bright Eyes, Ryan Adams, Lucinda Williams, and M. Ward. I was super excited. During his little intermission I told him that he was very talented and that we had similar taste in music. I told him that "I'm Yours" is one of my favorite songs to sing. He said that if he had time, he would play it again, and that I would have to come up and sing it again. I told him I would and I didn't give it another thought until 30 minutes later when he began to play it again. He called me up on stage and we sang the entire song together in front of everyone. I don't really know how to describe it. I haven't been on stage for a very long time. It was somewhat liberating. It made me miss Jordan extremely bad because whenever I hear that song I think of him. I wish he could have been there to hear me sing it to him.
Thursday I woke up feeling bad again and decided to sleep, eat, and watch movies for the second day in a row. I don't know what it is about being sick in the summer. The sickness always seems to be a lot worse during the day. Anyway, Thursday was my day in and I didn't do a damn thing. Brittney went to Brisbane and told me that she would have an adventure for me.
Friday was a fairly productive day. I got to campus, printed out a multitude of class items, went grocery shopping, and bought my books for classes. Around 4pm I went to the pizza shop near our apartments to give them a resume. They had a 'Now Hiring' sign up for a female employee wanting 15 to 20 hours a week on the weekends in the evenings. I thought it was perfect because it was so close to where I live and perfect schedule/hours. But when I went to turn in the application that guy said that he had had problems in the past with the students who lived at Metro and also that he didn't really want to hire an American. Let me reiterate: he told me he wouldn't even accept my application because I lived at the apartment complex behind the store and that I was from America. I was dumbfounded. Here I am trying to get a job, wanting to do honest work as a great employee, and he wouldn't even take my application from me. It was unbelievable. I can't say I am mad, because I am not, I am just SO amazed at how it feels to be denied a job because of an odd discrimination. It really made me think.
After this, I just came home to get ready because I had been planning on going out with Brittney to see our Finnish friends down in Surfers Paradise if I wasn't feeling too sick. We left around 7:30 and got to Surfers about 8pm. It was really nice to see the guys again and meet their cool new girl room mates. We hung out at their 11th floor balcony apartment and I got some great pictures of the city. Then we went out. We went to a club called 'Cocktails and Dreams' first and there was this awesome dude (most likely on ecstasy) dancing his heart out on the dance floor alone. It was a crack up. Then we went to 'The Bedroom'. It was PACKED. It was smelly and hot and uncomfortable so Rufio and I left to get a kabob and hang out outside. (Rufio is one of the guys from Finland. He looks JUST like Rufio from 'Hook'.) I don't know how to explain, but the kabobs here are different then anything I have ever eaten. They aren't shish-kabobs on a stick, they're basically a burrito/pita that's cooked on both sides once you have everything you want inside of it. They are AMAZING. We sat around and talked about life and the difference between countries and how bad I missed Jordan despite all the amazing things in Australia. I figured he would be like everyone else and tell me to let it go because this is a once in a life time thing, but he was actually really understanding. Apparently it just made it more understandable that I wasn't big into going out. He said he wasn't a big partier at home either, but that he did it here to please his friends. The people that relate best are always people in the similar situations as you. We talked for about 30 minutes before we met back up with Brittney and headed back home. I called Jordan when I got back and told him how much I loved him and missed him and he told me the same. It was a perfect way to end my night.
Today was a pretty bad day as far as days go. I woke up really late because I got in really late with the girls and I felt awful when I woke up. My head felt like it was going to explode and I was exhausted despite my 1o hours of sleep. I called Jordan and nearly fell asleep on Skype talking. I took a nap and decided to do something with my life so I asked Hilda and Pooya if they wanted to go to a movie with me. We decided to go see Watchmen and I got really excited on the way to the theatres. I can not accurately explain the magnitude of this movie. In my humble opinion, it was absolutely fantastic. Unbelievable. The mix of visual and auditory aesthetics were in complete perfect synchronization. The sound track is glorious on its own, but in context with the movie it was intriguing and unique. The story pulls you in, the characters are well developed, and the realistic fantasy of it all is utterly flawless. (Needless to say, I really loved it.) Hilda and I spent a fair amount of time on the way home discussing our takes and clearing up some of the things she had trouble with. In an American movie like that, they speak English so quickly that it is hard sometimes for her to understand everything they are saying. Especially when two of the very important characters had accents to their voice. We talked it all out and by the time we got home realized that we were completely exhausted, and now here I am. I'm going to sleep now, and I am happy. I had a very good end to my day, which is a nice feeling.
I don't carry nothing that might be a load, I just ease on down, ease on down the road...
3/04/2009
If I Only Had A Brain
Well, its official, school has started. My classes seem fantastic. I have a separate burning passion for each one of them that I find excitingly stimulating.
Class Number 1: Issues In Photo History
Class Number 1: Issues In Photo History
- This is the one class that I was not sure what to expect from. The course description was dense and mindless but I really wanted to take a photography class so, here I am. There are two of my really good friends from my apartment complex that are in the class as well. Hannah is a really amazing little blond girl from Idaho and Austin is... well, he's Austin and he's from Chico too. We all sat together in the front and somehow there was a girl brave enough to sit in the last seat at our table with us. Hey name is Jayde and she is from the Gold Coast originally. She was super nice to talk to! She is really into photography and is currently majoring in media arts. She says that she is trying to get into surf photography, which sounds totally awesome. We talked for 15 or 20 minutes and realized that it was WAY past the time class should have started. We decided to wait until a half hour past before we left. Right as we went to get up, our teacher bounded into the room. Let me explain this guy to you... think, Gene Wilder (from Willy Wonka) in appearance and Michael Cera in awkwardness. This guy is AWESOME. He stumbled over a few sentences trying to redeem himself for being late and THEN sent us away for another half hour so he could get his stuff! It was awesome! I was laughing about it the whole half hour before we actually had class. So, we got coffee and headed back to see what was going on and he was another 15 minutes late! I couldn't believe it. He handed out the class syllabus, we went over a bunch of admin. stuff, and then got a little into the course content. It turns out this class is basically a History of Photography class! I am so excited! It is going to be really amazing to learn more about where cameras come from and how the technology has changed as well as the themes of photography over time. Combine that with this quirky professor and BAM! Awesome class.
Class Number 2: Psychology of the Health Sciences
- This class was probably my most interestingly stimulating of the 4 I am taking, for a few different reason. First of all, it is a first year class, so everyone there is about 18 and just entered Uni. It's their first semester right now, so a lot of them looked extremely nervous but were very friendly and I think happy to talk to and relate with the people next to them. Second, this class is in a HUGE auditorium. Way bigger than any of the ones at Chico. There have got to be 300 people in this class. The third thing I found particularly interesting is the emphasis the teacher has made on how disgusting it is that the US is #1 in wealth and #24 in health care. The ENTIRE lecture was about how that is even possible or why that may be and let me tell you, they had NO shame in their answers. "They're fat!' "Bad lifestyle choices!" "Money means everything!" "Stress from greedy!" I don't think any of them new there was an American around! haha! It was all very true and very honest, but it all seemed a bit harsh and premeditated. I was surprised in a way, but it didn't phase me. :) The class itself sounds very cool. We are talking about how psychology plays a role in the medical world, further than just clinical depression and such. Topics include why people will sometimes be paralyzed but have no physical cause and how people die of a 'broken heart'. It seems really interesting and really relevant to a lot of other fields. I am excited to learn and continue being hated by this class.
Class Number 3: Lifespan Development in Psychology
- This class is definatly going to be the most challenging. We got to class, did 15 minutes of admin. stuff, and then dove right into a HUGE lecture. It is a third year class, which is where I am currently at technically, but the way they run things is a lot different here than in the US. As a third year, I am fully responsible for knowing everything I have learned over the past 2 years and to not ask about them in lectures. If I have a question, I make a note and go back later to figure it out on my own. We have a research report paper due in 6 weeks that has to be 2500 words to 3000 words in a format I have never even heard of as well as multiple chapter readings a week and online quizzes. This is more American styled, but a lot harder than the Chico State classes I have taken so far. I am really excited because instead of just child development chapters, there are chapters on development as an adult all the way up until we die. I have never learned anything about that so it is going to be really enlightening, just very hard to get through with a great grade.
Class Number 4: Rock Art in the 21st Century
- Unfortunately, this class has nothing to do with art posters or rock and roll. But what it is about seems just as amazing. We are going to be studying Rock Art of the aborigine tribes from around the world. We will learn how to analyze it, label it, read into it, and even make some of our own. We don't have any tests, just some really fantastic assignments. The class also holds an emphasis on the progression of art over time (from caves to the Louvre). The teacher is AWESOME. He's an older guy that reminds me of my 7th grade science teacher Mr. Fox. He has got a lot of really quirky Rock Art jokes, which are hilarious in their own right. He is always traveling around in helicopters and climbing rock faces and going in and out of different countries to explore their rocky areas in search of art. To me, he's like a modern day Indiana Jones. I kid you not, he showed a picture of him repelling from a helicopter onto a rock shelf over a thousand foot drop into the rain forest. And he's like, 60 year old. He is a total bad ass. He was very very nice as well. He said our final project is a creative arts assignment because he believes that art is under appreciated on all levels and that writing assessments don't do people justice to their true potential. He has a great mind set and the class is really unique to anything I have ever taken before so I am really stoked on it.
That's basically it so far. I have some fun plans for the weekend I hope but I am not feeling too hot. I want to take a lot of pictures this weekend. I may be going to Brisbane tonight and spending the night there with Brittney and Tiffany. That would be wildly fun I think. They like to have me around because as many of you know, I have a motherly tendency that usually keeps everyone safe in face of social dangers (they let me know how mommy-ish I can be). Besides that, I hope I can do something really awesome this weekend. I am craving a mini adventure.
So, I've got my brains. Now all I need is a heart, the nerve, a home...
3/01/2009
The Yellow Brick Road
Well, after a couple of days of random nothingness we finally got to have a beautiful adventure here! Today we went to the rock pools in Tambourine, Nerang. I can not even begin to describe the beauty and magnificence of this place. It's a trek into the Australian rain forest, but we somehow made our way to where we needed to be. We first walked down a long path with huge rain forest trees on either side of us. There were signs saying to be careful because there might be koalas around but unfortunatly, we didnt see any.
Then it opened up and we could see a beautiful river flowing over these huge rock faces. There was a waterfall and a pool for swimming that was riddled with people. There was a part of this first pool that had been smoothed out over time and all of the kids were sliding down it into the pool. It was so cool. Brittney and Tiffany couldn't help themselves and they had a go together down the slide while all the little kids watched. It was really funny to see all the kids so confused at why adults would be sliding down THEIR slide.
After they got their kiddie-ness out we went down past the next waterfall to another pool. This was no easy feat, mind you. We were literally rock climbing to get down to the water. I'll tell you what, rock climbing in sandals is not the best. Once we made it down without dying, we enjoyed a sun bathe and a dip in the open water. The waterfall flattened out into little shelves at the bottom near the pool and we were sitting in the water like a shower. It was the most beautiful and relaxing feeling I have ever felt. The sound of the water and the sensation of being drenched in cool running water on a 90 degree day in the middle of the rain forest was magnificent. Once we had our fill (which was a LONG time after) we took another dip and then headed up the hill to leave.
Getting up the hill was a LOT harder than getting down. I mean, it took us a LONG time to trek up those rock faces. I thought a few times I was going to lose my balance, but I managed to get up in one piece. We made it to the cars and decided to stop at a little cafe on the way out for lunch since none of us had eaten anything all day. The food was good, but they messed up EVERYONE'S order. There was even a girl who paid and then didn't get food. Despite that though, we had a great time sitting around and talking about what we had planned for the near future and what we had been doing so far. I think we are going to drive up the coast over spring brek for some sight seeing and beach time. I need to get a surf board before then so I can just go everywhere. I guess we'll see how that pans out.
When we left the cafe we decided to take the scenic route home. We drove through some wine country and up onto a hill the you can see the entire Gold Coast from. It was brilliant. The whole city where we live was stretched out before us. The view looked more like a picture than the actual pictures. It was really stunning.
Now I am exhausted. We came back and went for a dip in the pool real quick to rinse off and cool down from the drive home and all our hiking. I didn't realize it, but the pool here is a saltwater pool. It's really nice. I seriously sweat my eye balls out today, so it was a good thing the pool was already salt water.
In the morning I start school and I am not sure what to expect. I am really excited to meet more people in class that have similar interests and are from other countries. There are a ton of American people here. It's starting to feel a little like Chico, but not in a good way.
Tomorrow I delve deeper into the forest, further along this yellow brick road into the dark...
Then it opened up and we could see a beautiful river flowing over these huge rock faces. There was a waterfall and a pool for swimming that was riddled with people. There was a part of this first pool that had been smoothed out over time and all of the kids were sliding down it into the pool. It was so cool. Brittney and Tiffany couldn't help themselves and they had a go together down the slide while all the little kids watched. It was really funny to see all the kids so confused at why adults would be sliding down THEIR slide.
After they got their kiddie-ness out we went down past the next waterfall to another pool. This was no easy feat, mind you. We were literally rock climbing to get down to the water. I'll tell you what, rock climbing in sandals is not the best. Once we made it down without dying, we enjoyed a sun bathe and a dip in the open water. The waterfall flattened out into little shelves at the bottom near the pool and we were sitting in the water like a shower. It was the most beautiful and relaxing feeling I have ever felt. The sound of the water and the sensation of being drenched in cool running water on a 90 degree day in the middle of the rain forest was magnificent. Once we had our fill (which was a LONG time after) we took another dip and then headed up the hill to leave.
Getting up the hill was a LOT harder than getting down. I mean, it took us a LONG time to trek up those rock faces. I thought a few times I was going to lose my balance, but I managed to get up in one piece. We made it to the cars and decided to stop at a little cafe on the way out for lunch since none of us had eaten anything all day. The food was good, but they messed up EVERYONE'S order. There was even a girl who paid and then didn't get food. Despite that though, we had a great time sitting around and talking about what we had planned for the near future and what we had been doing so far. I think we are going to drive up the coast over spring brek for some sight seeing and beach time. I need to get a surf board before then so I can just go everywhere. I guess we'll see how that pans out.
When we left the cafe we decided to take the scenic route home. We drove through some wine country and up onto a hill the you can see the entire Gold Coast from. It was brilliant. The whole city where we live was stretched out before us. The view looked more like a picture than the actual pictures. It was really stunning.
Now I am exhausted. We came back and went for a dip in the pool real quick to rinse off and cool down from the drive home and all our hiking. I didn't realize it, but the pool here is a saltwater pool. It's really nice. I seriously sweat my eye balls out today, so it was a good thing the pool was already salt water.
In the morning I start school and I am not sure what to expect. I am really excited to meet more people in class that have similar interests and are from other countries. There are a ton of American people here. It's starting to feel a little like Chico, but not in a good way.
Tomorrow I delve deeper into the forest, further along this yellow brick road into the dark...
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