Friday, November 12, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Margaret River
This past weekend, me and a couple homies rented a van from Wicked Campers and took a trip down south to the city of Margaret River for few days. The city is a little tourist location about 3 hours drive south of Perth, multitudes of little shops, a great beach and great weather. We drove down on Saturday morning and and after stopping for a quick lunch in Bunbury, spent a day at the beach where the mouth of the actual Margaret River meets the Indian Ocean. There was a giant dune overlooking the beach which gave an awesome view and I found myself standing at the top after a long climb and looking out at the water for quite some time. I couldn't give you an estimation on exactly how long it was, all I can say is it was the right amount of time. It was a moment when there wasn't anything in particular I was thinking about, just letting my mind go where it will, memories and experiences swimming towards the surface for air and displaying their shimmering brilliance of everywhere I've gone and everywhere I have yet to go. And suddenly I noticed the way the clouds veiled the hills in shadows that revealed different hues of green as they crawled. I felt very small. Very young and green myself yet close to the inescapability of time and the sour taste of regret. An interesting combination yet I felt the sun was on my back as I ran down the side of the dune back to the sand. Back to earth.
After the beach, we found a campground and set up camp and found that 4 people is too many to sleep in the van. The next morning, after waking up and wriggling my way out of the packed van, I walked over to the bathroom and on the way walked past a Kangaroo just chillin, eatin' breakfast about an arms length away. We exchanged looks of curiosity and went our separate ways. It was cool. Later that day, we went back to the beach, spent the morning there and in the afternoon took a trip to a giant labryinth that took us about 30min to finish only after discovering that the way out was concealed by a false wall! Attached to the maze was a cafe with puzzles and games galore and I enjoyed a chocolate milkshake while playing monkeys in a barrel and trying to turn a series of four rings into a bracelet. At the end of the day, we returned to the campsite and made up our minds that it would be better for some of us to sleep in tents and I welcomed the opportunity to stretch my legs.
Our adventure continued as we went back to Denmark after Margaret River, one of the first places I visited in Australia. It only seemed fitting that my trip comes full circle. But now, I gotta go hang up my laundry and then get my study on for this Criminology Exam on Saturday. So it remains a story told at a later date, hopefully tomorrow.
After the beach, we found a campground and set up camp and found that 4 people is too many to sleep in the van. The next morning, after waking up and wriggling my way out of the packed van, I walked over to the bathroom and on the way walked past a Kangaroo just chillin, eatin' breakfast about an arms length away. We exchanged looks of curiosity and went our separate ways. It was cool. Later that day, we went back to the beach, spent the morning there and in the afternoon took a trip to a giant labryinth that took us about 30min to finish only after discovering that the way out was concealed by a false wall! Attached to the maze was a cafe with puzzles and games galore and I enjoyed a chocolate milkshake while playing monkeys in a barrel and trying to turn a series of four rings into a bracelet. At the end of the day, we returned to the campsite and made up our minds that it would be better for some of us to sleep in tents and I welcomed the opportunity to stretch my legs.
Our adventure continued as we went back to Denmark after Margaret River, one of the first places I visited in Australia. It only seemed fitting that my trip comes full circle. But now, I gotta go hang up my laundry and then get my study on for this Criminology Exam on Saturday. So it remains a story told at a later date, hopefully tomorrow.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Quote
"Poets are like baseball pitchers. Both have their moments. The intervals are the tough things." ~Robert Frost
I was searching and for some reason I liked this quote.
I was searching and for some reason I liked this quote.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Karijini National Park
From Coral Bay we made our way inland to our third major stop on the trip which was Karijini National Park. The first night we got there, we had to keep our shoes, food and other things of odorous nature on the bus because of Dingoes. Apparently at night, they have been known to come into the campsites (even tents) and steal things that smell good to them, not just babies. One morning, I was still delirious from sleep, kind of on the cusp between the dream world and ours and I hear this growling. Not yet at my full senses, I think, "Oh God, ferocious ass dingo... Right outside our tent" Being still mostly asleep, my panic was comatose. When I fully came to, I realized that it was nothing more than my tent-mate Russ sawing logs.
Our day was full of hiking through vast gorges with red cliffs and freshwater pools that are held sacred to the Banyjima, Kurrama and Innawonga Aboriginal People who have inhabited the land for over 20,000 years. The water of these pools was some of the freshest, cleanest water that I have ever swam in. In some places there were waterfalls crawling down from the gorges above and this water, warmed by the sun, was as warm as shower water. You could feel it's connection to the spiritual ancestry of the Aboriginal People and although we had fun and enjoyed it, I could not help shaking the feeling that we were not there alone, as if something else beyond nature and us was inhabiting the space. When we returned from the trip, I talked with my rather eccentric Aboriginal Studies professor about my experience and he said plainly, "Oh Karijini? That's a magical place." with a smirk and a wink. And I can't tell you much beyond that myself. It truly was a magical place.
Our day was full of hiking through vast gorges with red cliffs and freshwater pools that are held sacred to the Banyjima, Kurrama and Innawonga Aboriginal People who have inhabited the land for over 20,000 years. The water of these pools was some of the freshest, cleanest water that I have ever swam in. In some places there were waterfalls crawling down from the gorges above and this water, warmed by the sun, was as warm as shower water. You could feel it's connection to the spiritual ancestry of the Aboriginal People and although we had fun and enjoyed it, I could not help shaking the feeling that we were not there alone, as if something else beyond nature and us was inhabiting the space. When we returned from the trip, I talked with my rather eccentric Aboriginal Studies professor about my experience and he said plainly, "Oh Karijini? That's a magical place." with a smirk and a wink. And I can't tell you much beyond that myself. It truly was a magical place.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Coral Bay
After Monkey Mia, we continued our journey up the coast to Coral Bay, another resort area situated on Ningaloo Reef, one of the world's largest coral reefs. The wildlife there was breathtaking. We had options of going on different excursions during the day provided by the resort. The one that I chose was an all day boat trip in which we got three snorkel trips down into the reef itself. The coolest part was that Ningaloo Reef is home to one of the world's only permanent populations of Manta Rays. So for one of our snorkels, they sent up a bi-plane to find where the mantas were and then we boated over to them to snorkel with them. On our first snorkel, we simply learned the basics of snorkeling and learning to swim just above the reef, looking down onto all of the coral and marine wildlife below us. We saw some black-tip reef sharks and hundreds of different species of fish darting in and out among the coral. On our second snorkel (after lunch, the resulting sea-sickness of two of our group, a 15 foot long tiger shark swimming underneath our boat, and searching for a mama humpback whale and her calf that had apparently wandered into the bay to no avail) we went to find the Mantas. Once we found them, we had to slip into the water slowly as to not scare them away (they don't have stingers so their only defense is swimming away in a rather swift fashion. gentle giants) and snorkel over the top of them. They feed on small plankton by doing back flips with their mouths open in the water. I cannot put into words how amazing these creatures were. Almost 15 feet wide at the wingtips, it seemed almost dreamlike and artistic the way they swam and almost unreal that they were arms length away. It almost made me forget about the prospect of meeting the 15 foot long Tiger Shark that had swam under our boat while we had lunch. Almost. Our third snorkel was much like our first, we found a good spot to go into the reef and swim around looking at all the fish and coral. I wish I could find a way to make it sound less mundane, but I could have snorkeled for hours. It's amazing to finally realize that the song Sebastian sings in the Little Mermaid, "Under the Sea" is actually true. When you're in a marine environment it's insane just to see what kinds of variance nature is capable of and walking the thin line between enjoying the moment and savoring it in all of its beautiful immediacy and the grandeur of knowing that I will probably never in my life, or at least not for a very long time, experience this again. It was definitely something to think about while watching the waves on the trip back to camp.
That night, we journeyed down to the beach, set up blankets on the sand, cracked some fine Emu Exports and gazed into the stars, trying to find our familiar constellations in the southern hemisphere upside down. And before you know it, we were on the road again, this time inland into mining country and Karijini National Park.
That night, we journeyed down to the beach, set up blankets on the sand, cracked some fine Emu Exports and gazed into the stars, trying to find our familiar constellations in the southern hemisphere upside down. And before you know it, we were on the road again, this time inland into mining country and Karijini National Park.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
On the Beach, Monkey Mia
The horizon is so flat it's
biblical. The clouds are
yonder. They wander. Heavy
and dark like God's opals.
Four Germans stand about
waist deep in the still
water. Their language is
unfamiliar but their laughter
is not. From the sand,
I share a smile out
across the ocean.
biblical. The clouds are
yonder. They wander. Heavy
and dark like God's opals.
Four Germans stand about
waist deep in the still
water. Their language is
unfamiliar but their laughter
is not. From the sand,
I share a smile out
across the ocean.
More Northwest Trip
After Nature's Window and another day on the road, we made our way up to Monkey Mia, a popular tourist destination for many Western Australianers. Here, they have a population of dolphins that have a very close kinship with us shorefolk. Early in the morning we went down to the beach and the dolphins came right up to us on the beach.
In the afternoon, a few of us rented kayaks and kayaked up the coast a ways, simply adventuring and enjoying the day, hoping that the dolphins might be inquisitive enough to come swim with us. Unfortunately, no luck.
I thought he looked like an Earl.
In the afternoon, a few of us rented kayaks and kayaked up the coast a ways, simply adventuring and enjoying the day, hoping that the dolphins might be inquisitive enough to come swim with us. Unfortunately, no luck.
I thought he looked like an Earl.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Absence
Hello. So yeah, it's been two months since I posted last. For this, I am incredibly sorry. But it has been a hell of a two months, full of ups and downs, comings and goings. Over the next few days, I think I owe it to everyone, including myself, to talk about what I've been up to down here. Let's see. When I left off, I was just leaving for the trip Northwest. It was 10 days of tent camping and we covered a good portion of Western Australia traveling up along the coast, inland to the desert and then back down to Perth. I saw some of the most incredible things that I know I will never see again in my life and forged friendships that will last my entire life. A time of shaping, star-gazing and bus window ponderance.
While traveling along the coast, we stopped at many views that snatched the breath right out from underneath all of us. One particular place was Nature's Window. A hike along the rocky outcropping of a gorge that provided a view spanning for miles in every direction. The rocks we were walking on felt incredibly old. I mean, they were, but you could feel it. You could feel the stories cool against your palms. At one point I found myself sitting in a ledge of the gorge closing my eyes and just listening with my hands on the rocks. Before I knew it, the group was moving on and I had to sprint back up to everybody for a picture.
While traveling along the coast, we stopped at many views that snatched the breath right out from underneath all of us. One particular place was Nature's Window. A hike along the rocky outcropping of a gorge that provided a view spanning for miles in every direction. The rocks we were walking on felt incredibly old. I mean, they were, but you could feel it. You could feel the stories cool against your palms. At one point I found myself sitting in a ledge of the gorge closing my eyes and just listening with my hands on the rocks. Before I knew it, the group was moving on and I had to sprint back up to everybody for a picture.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
New Bed
Today, I get a new bed. A longer bed! Thank the lord jesus. No more sleeping in the fetal position or having to let my feet dangle off the end at the ankles. In other news, life is starting to move quickly. There is so much swirling around I am ready for a break. Last friday, we went on a tour of Fremantle prison (closed only in 1991). It was a bone-chilling experience at times, especially in the gallows, staring down the hangman's noose wondering what manner of napes had been cut short on its foul fibers.
I also am competing in Uni-games! It's a nation-wide sports competition that runs for about 10 days with all different sports and teams from universities all over Australia. This year it's being held in Perth at UWA (University of Western Australia) from September 27th to October 3rd. Murdoch is the defending champ for tennis so I gotta take it pretty seriously and get training. I also gotta bust out my sliding shoes because it's on none other than red clay. I am really excited at the opportunity to be able to represent the US at Uni-games as well as help defend the title for Murdoch. It should be too much fun!
Tomorrow, I embark on a 10-day backpacking trip through the Northwestern outback and I am looking forward to the break and welcoming the opportunity for time to slow down again! There has been so much on my mind lately and I need a chance to just sit back and let it all sift through my brain. To all my loved ones, acquaintances and friends back in Madison I wish you all heaps of luck moving in and starting the semester off on the right foot. Until next time.
I also am competing in Uni-games! It's a nation-wide sports competition that runs for about 10 days with all different sports and teams from universities all over Australia. This year it's being held in Perth at UWA (University of Western Australia) from September 27th to October 3rd. Murdoch is the defending champ for tennis so I gotta take it pretty seriously and get training. I also gotta bust out my sliding shoes because it's on none other than red clay. I am really excited at the opportunity to be able to represent the US at Uni-games as well as help defend the title for Murdoch. It should be too much fun!
Tomorrow, I embark on a 10-day backpacking trip through the Northwestern outback and I am looking forward to the break and welcoming the opportunity for time to slow down again! There has been so much on my mind lately and I need a chance to just sit back and let it all sift through my brain. To all my loved ones, acquaintances and friends back in Madison I wish you all heaps of luck moving in and starting the semester off on the right foot. Until next time.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Where Waves Come From
I think tears,
(The word previous could be pronounced one of two ways: either the plural of tear, meaning to rend or separate in a jarring or abrupt fashion, or the plural of tear, referring to the saline fluid that falls down cheeks when experiencing large amounts of emotion.)
they come from the same place as waves.
I plucked
a conch shell from the sand and held it to my ear.
It did not give me your voice
as I had hoped
it would.
It gave me the sound of the waves
crashing
& crashing.
(The word previous could be pronounced one of two ways: either the plural of tear, meaning to rend or separate in a jarring or abrupt fashion, or the plural of tear, referring to the saline fluid that falls down cheeks when experiencing large amounts of emotion.)
they come from the same place as waves.
I plucked
a conch shell from the sand and held it to my ear.
It did not give me your voice
as I had hoped
it would.
It gave me the sound of the waves
crashing
& crashing.
Monday, August 16, 2010
"What's happening now? We won't know until tomorrow or six month's time, and we won't know then, we'll have forgotten, or our imagination will have attributed quite false characteristics to today. A moment is sucked away and distorted, often even at the time of its birth."
-Harold Pinter, playwright
-Harold Pinter, playwright
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Vernacular of the Nighttime Variation
notes = paper money
Maccah's = McDonald's
barbie = BBQ
gettin' pissed = getting drunk
I'm so pissed = I'm drunk as hell
gettin' root = getting pussy
root = pussy
How yeh goin? = How are you?
Good on yeh mate = ???
Skull it = drink the rest of whatever you're holding in your hand
Hungry Jack = Burger King
Have a feed = Get food
goon = box wine
marrow = mary jane
no worries mate = I just made a poor life decision
mark = a successful catch in Aussie rules football
Maccah's = McDonald's
barbie = BBQ
gettin' pissed = getting drunk
I'm so pissed = I'm drunk as hell
gettin' root = getting pussy
root = pussy
How yeh goin? = How are you?
Good on yeh mate = ???
Skull it = drink the rest of whatever you're holding in your hand
Hungry Jack = Burger King
Have a feed = Get food
goon = box wine
marrow = mary jane
no worries mate = I just made a poor life decision
mark = a successful catch in Aussie rules football
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Keeping the Faith
"Keep the faith and keep your
antenna up for the open door. It comes to those who are tuned in. Think of
it as a strap on a trolley car that you can grab. You are not alone. You
know, I am only a text or call away. When you wake up each day as you splash
your face say to yourself "God loves me"."
- A quote from my Dad (found when cleaning out my email)
antenna up for the open door. It comes to those who are tuned in. Think of
it as a strap on a trolley car that you can grab. You are not alone. You
know, I am only a text or call away. When you wake up each day as you splash
your face say to yourself "God loves me"."
- A quote from my Dad (found when cleaning out my email)
Friday, August 6, 2010
AFL
Going to watch some Aussie rules football today. The Brisbane Lions vs. The West Coast Eagles! It's such a strange game and I'm really interested to see how it works. That and rugby are huge over here, expanding the sports knowledge with some live action, and of course, a pint is always a welcome way to spend a saturday afternoon! Our CIEE coordinator Paul Hollick is taking us, prolly one of the coolest coordinators (aside from Chris Walker) on the planet to this day.
Woke up really missing these two parts of my life today. Loads of love to them both ;)
Also shout out to Tracie my RA who lives down the hall. She came over this morning and we sat on google maps showing each other hometown geography for like an hour. I also showed her what a real UW-Madison snowball fight looks like. She likes vegemite though, so I don't know if she can be trusted.
Vegemite is the most disgusting thing by the way. It's concentrated yeast extract... If Epicac had a spreadable option that you could put on toast, it would definitely be Vegemite. All the Aussies that I've met so far like it and I'm not sure why....
Woke up really missing these two parts of my life today. Loads of love to them both ;)
Also shout out to Tracie my RA who lives down the hall. She came over this morning and we sat on google maps showing each other hometown geography for like an hour. I also showed her what a real UW-Madison snowball fight looks like. She likes vegemite though, so I don't know if she can be trusted.
Vegemite is the most disgusting thing by the way. It's concentrated yeast extract... If Epicac had a spreadable option that you could put on toast, it would definitely be Vegemite. All the Aussies that I've met so far like it and I'm not sure why....
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Good Morning
Yesterday was my first day of classes! I had Writing for the Stage and Aboriginal Studies. Writing for the Stage looks to be really fun and open. The professor is quite the jolly old fellow who seems bent on conducting the class with the most relaxed air of learning possible. I like that. It's going to be awesome to work on some material and hopefully finish the semester with a brand new, shiny piece of work. Aboriginal Studies seems a bit more like the traditional class. Our professor is aboriginal himself and started class off with an introduction and a song on his digeradoo to call the good spirits into the room. And if you clap after the song, you scare them away. I scared them away... But the digeradoo just sounded so cool! Today I have one more class, Criminology in the afternoon and that's it as far as time in class goes! I find that here, the contact hours are much less and you have to do a lot more of your own learning, but I don't mind the whole class only 2 days of the week thing! Fuckin sweet.
On monday Jonathan took me grocery shopping with him and I introduced him to cookies & cream ice cream. I think I might have changed his life. Also found bagels and cream cheese! Which they didn't have at the other grocery store. Staple diet here I come! Woo! That is all for now angus.
On monday Jonathan took me grocery shopping with him and I introduced him to cookies & cream ice cream. I think I might have changed his life. Also found bagels and cream cheese! Which they didn't have at the other grocery store. Staple diet here I come! Woo! That is all for now angus.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Trip to Denmark
I have just returned from one of the most amazing weekends of my life. I don't even know where to begin so I guess the beginning makes sense. Friday morning our whole CIEE group, I think there are about 18 of us, piled on the most uncomfortable bus at 6.30 in the motherfucking morning and took off for Denmark, which is one of the most southwestern cities in Australia. About 3 hours in, we stopped in Kojonup at the Kodja Place. It was an informational center illustrating the evolution of two Western Australian societies here: the Noongar, or native people and the Wadjela or "White fellows" as we are called here and how they grew together through time. Our tour guide was a Noongar elder by the name of Jack. He took us through the tour very quickly and then made us some "Billy Tea" around the fire which was quite scrumptious. After, we walked around the rose gardens (not in bloom) and Jack followed us around and told us some amazing stories. As he talked and we listened I realized how much he reminded me of my Grandfather. How he could use the power of story to take you out of this world entirely and put into the one he created. He was also a complete jokester and made us all laugh ceaselessly. Man, I really miss my gramps sometimes...
After that we dropped our stuff off at our cabin, which was awesome by the way, we headed down to the South Ocean where we swam in Greens Pool. It is a little inlet protected from the raging surf by a series of rocks that were amazing to climb on. The clouds were patchy and as a rainstorm left, a double rainbow appeared end to end right above where we were swimming. At that moment, my breath shortened and I knew he was there. I let Pawp's spirit wash over me like the sound of the surf through my eardrums. I haven't felt him that strongly since the day he died.
Then we climbed back on the uncomfortable bus bus and went to pet kangaroo's and koala's and all other kinds of fuzzy shit. I got sexually assaulted by an Emu. That was an experience.
The next day it was up at 7.30 for a four mile hike up one of the small mountains led by the owner of the cabin, Iliya. We hiked at a rather breakneck pace (Iliya was really crackin' the whip) through a temperate rainforest full of gumtrees bleeding sap and shedding bark. At certain points, there were rather large rock scrambles and we would get tot the top of one and find the view incredible! Once we reached the top of the mountain, it was rather amazing. The best view I have ever seen in my life. Hands down. I would have liked to spend another 3-4 hours there just gazing off into the distance watching the earth creak and sway with the passage of time.
After a brief lunch and power nap back at the cabin we drove down to the Valley of the Giants which is home to the world's third largest tree, the Tingle. We went on a treetop walk through the canopy of the tingles that was built so people could still see the giant trees without eroding their shallow root systems by walking on the ground. Soo we went on a treck that would through the tops of these trees on a catwalk made of galvanized steel that bounced while we walked on it a couple of hundred feet in the air. Shit was nuts! We saw good ol' grandma tingle, who is a whopping 450 years old! she kinda looked wrinkly actually. And I don't know exactly how trees can be hers, but it's cool.
All in all, the weekend was truly amazing, something that definitely changed my life and renewed my belief in the power of nature's awe inspiring beauty to be a catalyst for that change. As this journey goes on, I can't wait to see more and I'll definitely have my camera with me to share what I can of the experience. If you wanna see pics from this trip, check my facebook at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=244644&id=676896404
until next time!
After that we dropped our stuff off at our cabin, which was awesome by the way, we headed down to the South Ocean where we swam in Greens Pool. It is a little inlet protected from the raging surf by a series of rocks that were amazing to climb on. The clouds were patchy and as a rainstorm left, a double rainbow appeared end to end right above where we were swimming. At that moment, my breath shortened and I knew he was there. I let Pawp's spirit wash over me like the sound of the surf through my eardrums. I haven't felt him that strongly since the day he died.
Then we climbed back on the uncomfortable bus bus and went to pet kangaroo's and koala's and all other kinds of fuzzy shit. I got sexually assaulted by an Emu. That was an experience.
The next day it was up at 7.30 for a four mile hike up one of the small mountains led by the owner of the cabin, Iliya. We hiked at a rather breakneck pace (Iliya was really crackin' the whip) through a temperate rainforest full of gumtrees bleeding sap and shedding bark. At certain points, there were rather large rock scrambles and we would get tot the top of one and find the view incredible! Once we reached the top of the mountain, it was rather amazing. The best view I have ever seen in my life. Hands down. I would have liked to spend another 3-4 hours there just gazing off into the distance watching the earth creak and sway with the passage of time.
After a brief lunch and power nap back at the cabin we drove down to the Valley of the Giants which is home to the world's third largest tree, the Tingle. We went on a treetop walk through the canopy of the tingles that was built so people could still see the giant trees without eroding their shallow root systems by walking on the ground. Soo we went on a treck that would through the tops of these trees on a catwalk made of galvanized steel that bounced while we walked on it a couple of hundred feet in the air. Shit was nuts! We saw good ol' grandma tingle, who is a whopping 450 years old! she kinda looked wrinkly actually. And I don't know exactly how trees can be hers, but it's cool.
All in all, the weekend was truly amazing, something that definitely changed my life and renewed my belief in the power of nature's awe inspiring beauty to be a catalyst for that change. As this journey goes on, I can't wait to see more and I'll definitely have my camera with me to share what I can of the experience. If you wanna see pics from this trip, check my facebook at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=244644&id=676896404
until next time!
Monday, July 26, 2010
Finding My Feet
So the last two days have been maddening... Just trying to get settled in and set up all of those annoying loose-ends that we tend to take for granted in the US. This morning I went grocery shopping with some newfound buddies and on our way (it's like a 15 minute walk) we crossed a street and an angry, bald white man in a van was turning onto the street we were walking along. As we finish crossing, the angry, bald white man attempts to drive up on the curb after us and then as he drives away, flips us off and gesticulates in a muted manner behind his closed windows. I would hate to see what happens when we actually J-walk...
Today also involved getting a student ID, getting a bus pass, and opening bank account. The teller at the bank was really nice on account of the fact that she reminded us to ithdraw money for when we go out to the pubs tomorrow (I guess all the Aussies like to get drunk on Tuesdays here for some reason.) Also I'm working on filing a tax number so that I can work and get moneys (minimum wage here is 15.00 an hour). That explains why everything is soo expensive! I thought it was all good when the exchange rate with the US was the same. But it turns out that the standard of living here it almost double as it is in the states! In addition, I registered for classes today... And I only have class 2 days a week. Chee-yayuh!
By the way, fuck those damn goat birds. Sorry for the lack of pictures this time, I only managed to snag a quick one of the drive through liquor store for Ian, who I miss dearly.
Today also involved getting a student ID, getting a bus pass, and opening bank account. The teller at the bank was really nice on account of the fact that she reminded us to ithdraw money for when we go out to the pubs tomorrow (I guess all the Aussies like to get drunk on Tuesdays here for some reason.) Also I'm working on filing a tax number so that I can work and get moneys (minimum wage here is 15.00 an hour). That explains why everything is soo expensive! I thought it was all good when the exchange rate with the US was the same. But it turns out that the standard of living here it almost double as it is in the states! In addition, I registered for classes today... And I only have class 2 days a week. Chee-yayuh!
By the way, fuck those damn goat birds. Sorry for the lack of pictures this time, I only managed to snag a quick one of the drive through liquor store for Ian, who I miss dearly.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Getting There
I want to shoot jetlag and then piss on its grave. I watched 5 movies on the way here. From Paris, with Love, Edge of Darkness, Valentine's Day, The Bounty Hunter, She's Out of My League and Vanlentine's Day. Bradley Cooper was gay in the end. The first thing I bought with Australian money was a Krispy Kreme donut for 2.fucking25AUD which is slightly less than 2.whythefuckiseverythingsoexpensive25USD. My lips are chapped and my feet are going to curl over the edge of my bed for the next four months. There is a pissed off bloat-throated crow that is capable of sounding like an entire herd of pissed off goats outside my window. Jonathan from Kenya lives across the hall from me. He took me out to lunch at Hungry Jack in his saturn that he bought for 2,000 AUD which is slightly less than 2,000 USD. We both ordered double cheeseburger meals. He got here in february and is staying here for the next five years. His mother lives in Jersey but he does not know where that is. I find it funny how genuine a conversation can become when both participants are forced to strip the English down to it's bones for comprehensive purposes. When i got back I thanked Jonathan and walked around the campus for 40 minutes and ended spending 20 of them playing the most multicultural game of soccer that I ever have in my life in Sperry's with recycling bins for the goals.
Anyway, I heard jetlag's mama's a two timin' whore.... But that's just what I heard.
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