Progressively Happier and Notably Louder

3/17/2012

Saturday.

Today, my service placement was canceled. I was supposed to go to Featherdale wild life park with another girl from my service placement. This is basically a zoo where you can pet the animals and feed them and stuff. All I wanted was to pet a kangaroo. But alas, it was raining, and we decided we wanted to save it for a nice day. Instead I slept in, did some homework, painted my toenails. You know, big stuff. Then I got ready and went to church. I met a girl named Ara on the shuttle bus there. She’s from South Korea and is a translator for that particular service.

After the service I made sure to find Linh, a girl I had met last week. There was another event sort of thing going on after service but I already had plans to go out that night with Braedon and my roommates. So I told her I couldn’t stick around. On the shuttle bus back I saw my Brazilian friend Michelle. We got to chatting and she said that her and her friends might be going to the aquarium at some point this week and invited me to go. I’m not sure if that is going to pan out, but the invite was nice.

Then, on the train home, I got on, got my seat, and who should get on that same car, but Ara, the South Korean girl I met earlier! She went to sit in front of me, then did a triple take and realized that she knew who I was. She sat down by me and we chatted all the way to my stop.

When I got home the gang was waiting and ready to go. I ate a quick dinner and off we went. We went to The Pine Inn with Braedon and his friends Richard, Emma, Jose, and Isabella. This inn is about 2 blocks away from home, which makes it perfect for Braedon to stumble on home from after a night out. Apparently he usually stays out until well past 3 or 4 in the morning. I wasn’t really game to stay that long. But we had lots of fun chatting and watching Braedon get progressively happier and notably louder as the night went on. We heard some interesting stories of Braedon's drunken adventures trying to stumble back home.

 I ended up leaving around 2:45. Overall it was a really fun night.

Beaches, Birthdays and Broken Trains

3/16/2012

FRIDAY! Got to talk to my school girl friend, Gabby. We chatted at the bus stop about her weekend plans. Then the bus came so we hoped on. At school, I was a littler early for class so I sat by some of my second year Australian friends. I now feel like I’m at the level of, if I see them sitting on the couches in the student center I can go sit with them and it’s not weird. So I chatted with Deckland, Blake and Sam (I have several classes with them). Also with a guy named Caleb who I met a few weeks ago.

Then I went to aboriginal class and we learned about their beliefs on how the earth and people were made. We also learned about clan relationships and what the rules are for marrying. A man has to marry someone who is in the opposite clan. And then there are all sorts of rules surrounding what clan their children belong into. It was complicated, but interesting.

After that, I ended up going to the beach with Becky, Joel, Carly and Erica. I wasn’t planning on going to the beach, so I was rather unprepared. But we were just going to do a walk along the coast, so I tagged along anyway. I didn’t have any other plans. So we took a bus, a train, and another bus, and then we where there! Bondi Beach! It is so incredibly beautiful! Too bad I wasn’t prepared for the beach at all. 

We waited a little bit after arriving for a few other people to join us. Then we did a 6k walk along the coast, passing through heaps of beaches, everyone of them was gorgeous! Here is some photographic evidence:

Looking back at Bondi

Tamarama Beach

 

The walk ended at Coogee beach. At this point, Erica carly and I split from the group. Today was Erica’s birthday, and Michelle had said we would have a birthday dinner for her. It was around 4:30 so we had to head out to get home on time for dinner. 

So began our 3.5 hour journey home.

You’re probably thinking, ‘there’s probably a really long and exasperated story to go along with that last comment’. If you thought that, you are correct. 

Here is the tale of how we returned home Friday evening: We figured out how to get back to the train station. That was easy. We called Michelle to let her know that we had made it to the train station and should be home somewhat soon. Once we got on a train and sat down, there was an announcement saying that there was some emergency track work being done on that line and the train wasn’t leaving and they didn’t know how long it would be. There were buses upstairs if we wanted to take them, or we could just wait. I was a little over the bus and above ground traffic, so we determined that we would just wait…like the suckers we are.

 After 35 minutes, we were just deciding whether or not to figure out the bus, when an announcement came on saying “The train on the other platform will be leaving before us. If you want to catch that train, you better run,”

Really? That seems unprofessional. But it worked. We ran.

 We made it to the other train, (along with everyone else in Bondi). We were pretty packed in there. We rode the train 1 whole stop, and then it stopped working again. We stood there for about 20 minutes deciding whether we should get off or keep the faith. Then we saw Becky, Joe and Ronnie getting off another car. These are the same people we had parted ways with OVER AN HOUR AGO! But we caught up with them in hopes that all of us together could figure out how to get home. We went up to where it seemed all the buses were going to. We tried to figure out which one would take us to Circular Quay, another train station. This would have been much easier if there were more signs.

Finally we figured out that we needed the 324 to get to circular quay. We could see the bus driver of the 324 taking a break just across the street. Finally he got in his bus and drove into the stop. When we got on, we asked to make sure he was going to circular quay. To which he replied, “No, I’m going to Watson’s Bay”

What do you mean you’re going to Watson’s freaking Bay?! How am I supposed to get to Circular Quay? Well according to him we needed to take the 327, which had left a few minutes ago. Awesome. Then another 327 pulled in, and we went to them and asked if THEY were going to Circular Quay. Nope. They sure were not. Turns out we were on the wrong spot to be catching buses in that direction.

Finally we found where we were supposed to be. With lots of other people who wanted to be on the trains but were forced to take the buses. People were tired and cranky. Myself included. There was even a woman eating icecream straight out of a tub. With a fork mind you. She had her ipod in and was just going to town on that chocolate ice cream. Probably listening to Adele 'Someone Like You'

So after a few buses came and went that filled up before we could get on them, we finally got on a bus. Just as we got on the bus there was announcement that the trains were working again. They had fooled me too many times. I wasn’t going to trust that line. So we stayed on the bus and took it to Circular Quay and got on a train there. Eventually we made it home, 3.5 hours later. We ate tacos, sung happy birthday to Erica, ate cake and the world was right again. 

Michelle was super sweet and not mad at all at us for being so late. She didn’t really care actually. She just laughed at the situation of us running all over Sydney trying to get home. The cake turned out really well. It looked kind of weird. But it tasted awesome. And after that commute, chocolate was just the ticket.

We capped the night by watching Sweet Home Alabama.

Two Sticks?

3/15/2012

Thursday. Today, I got up early so I could get to class and not have to fight school girls for the bus. My timing was just right this morning. Just as I got off my first bus, the 492 bus was right there! Zero waiting time. That NEVER happens! (#winning). I saw my school girl friend Gabby in passing but my bus was there so I didn’t get to chat (She takes the 490. I can take either the 490 or the 492).

When I got on the bus, Percy was on it. I didn’t even know he took the bus. (Percy is a guy who goes to Wesley. He was one of the people who helps welcome everyone at orientation. He also came to the airport to get the ASC students. He’s one of those people who just gets to know everyone).

I hadn’t really talked to him much. To be honest I had never really planned on getting to know him that well. Those people who just know everyone are too hard to keep up with. Too flippant. But I sat by him and we chatted all the was to school. It was actually really nice to get to talk to him. We talked about past ASC groups and he was saying how every group has their own dynamic. He described our group as being “very genuine”. I’ll take it. He also talked about how hard it is at the end of the semester when the ASC students leave. I thought that was really cool of him, despite knowing that we’re all going to leave, to still put himself out there and want to get to know us.

So anyway, I got to school 1.5 hours early. Then when I did go to class, found out that it was canceled! I could have slept so much longer! But I was there already so I took opportunity to get some breakfast at the Bakehouse with Sophie. I had ham and cheese croissant (So good!) and another iced coffee. Afterward we walked to a paint shop down the street to get paint chips for our project concept board. By the time we got back to campus we had only managed to kill an hour and I still had quite sometime before my next class. I should have done some work, but instead, I got on the internet and Facebook chatted with Gina and Natalie for a while. It may seem like a waste of time, but it was actually really great to get to talk to them. I needed some good chatting time with them. So I consider it to be a good use of my time.

Then I went to drawing class. Today we had a naked model. So that was different. But surprisingly, it wasn’t weird. She was comfortable and professional. The whole thing was just not a big deal. Sure didn’t do anything like that last time I took drawing.

Afterward, my friend Julian was so great and drove me to a camera store to pick up my attachment that I need for class. He was seriously a life savor. I had looked up directions and seen that it would take me over an hour to get there by bus and train. And that was just one way. We were able to drive there in about 15- 20 minutes. He had done some studying in Burbank last winter and he was saying how much it meant to him when people would drive him places when he knew it would take him four times as long to get there via public transit. So when he can do the same favor for someone else he is glad to. What a great guy. Then, he drove me home since I had no need to go back to campus.

Once I got home I talked to Carly for a bit. Then ate dinner, watched the biggest loser. Then when Michelle came home, Carly, Braedon and me made a cake for Ericas birthday tomorrow. That was an experience. Baking in Australia was quite interesting. Not only is it not my kitchen (which is also difficult), we had to deal with converting measurements. When Michelle was helping us pull ingredients, the recipe called for 2 sticks of butter. That meant nothing to her. 

“How much is two sticks?”  Then she pulled out the butter that she had, and it was a 250g brick of butter. So we had to do some online searching to figure out how many grams are in a stick. Then we needed 12oz of chocolate chips. So we had to use their scale thing to figure out what 12 oz looks like. 

 It’s Erica's 21st birthday. And since we can’t drink alcohol, I wanted to make a white Russian cake (With Kahlua and vodka in it). But we didn’t have Kahlua. So that really changed the game. We substituted Butterscotch Schnapps for the Kahlua. Michelle was so funny. When we suggested putting alcohol in the cake she thought it was a great idea and took me straight to the liqueur cabinet to see if they had what we needed. She was the one to suggest the Butterscotch Schnapps. 

Have I mentioned I'm in the best home stay ever? 

The batter tasted like salted caramel hot chocolate from Starbucks, so I’m hoping the finished cake will taste just as good.

All in all it was really fun. The whole process probably took longer than it should have, but we got it done. But not before Erica came home from her night class. Luckily she was totally oblivious to the baking cake in the oven and we got her to go to the flat while we glazed the cake once it cooled.

I'm excited to taste it tomorrow!

"Why is she staring at me?"

3/14/2012

Wednesday. No classes. But I attempted to get stuff done. I went to the library with Carly. We were supposed to be doing research for our group project on immigration, but that didn’t really happen. So we ended up just heading to school for the gathering. When we got to the bus stop, we met up with Janae and Emily, and Rachel and Kaela were already on the bus. So we were sitting and chatting, but we were all a little pre occupied by a baby that was in a stroller on the bus.

We weren’t preoccupied for all the right reasons though. We were all transfixed on this baby because she was giving me a DEATH STARE! Okay she wasn’t really a baby baby. She was probably about 2. But she was mean muggin me. Hard core. I honestly felt ashamed of myself. Like I had done something wrong and she was reprimanding me. It’s like she was staring into my soul. I’m not being dramatic either, the other girls noticed it too. It was too much. I had to move seats. When I moved she decided to stare at one of the other girls for a while. They too felt the cold wrath of the baby stare.

Finally we got to school and went to the gathering. The gathering today was basically the heads of the departments giving out awards for the past academic year. I kind of wished I had skipped. After that I headed home, stopped in to the shopping centre to pick up a few supplies for my art classes. exacto (scalpel) sketch pad, bulldog clips etc.

All in all, completely unproductive day.

New Friends

3/13/2012

Today in our Australia class we had a panel of Australian’s come in and answer questions. It was interesting to hear some of what they had to say about Australian’s and their culture. One interesting thing that they talked about was voice inflection. Australians tend to end their sentences on and up, as if asking approval for their thought or idea. Americans tend to end sentences on a down, making things more of a statement. So without even realizing it, Australians can deem us arrogant just by the way we change our voice. When we end on a down it makes things seem like it has been decided and there is no more discussion.

After class I had some time to kill before my next class. I went to a little café called The Bakehouse with a few Aussie girls, Rahil, Vicki Julie, Hannah, and others. Rahil was one of the first girls I met at orientation. We’re kind of buds now. I had already packed a lunch but I wanted to get a drink so I went and I got an Iced Coffee. Not what I was expecting. It was more like a milkshake, with lots of heavy whipped cream, very little coffee, and no iced involved. It was bizarre. But I’ve come to notice that everything here is just thicker and richer than in America. It was really delicious but I do NOT want to know how many calories are in it.

Sarah had brought her guitar to school today so we ate lunch and sang random songs acoustically. Then I went to class and hung out with the people in there. The following class was canceled so I got to go home early. And on my way home I did the unthinkable:

I befriended a school girl! 

There is a handful of girls that I see at the bus stop everyday and I have started recognizing them. Anyway, I sort of struck up a conversation with one and she was delightful. Her name is Gabby, and I got to hear a little bit about her life before I had to hop on the bus home. 

After talking to Gabby I was feeling pretty good. I saw a guy who was wearing a Lakers hat and a Lakers dog tag necklace, so I figured he was familiar with L.A. I decided I was going to try to talk to him. I mean, I just made friends with a school girl. I was on fire. 

The conversation went a little something like this:

Me: “Oh, are you a Lakers fan?”

Random guy: “What?”

Me: “The Lakers, are you a fan?”

Random guy: “Oh…uh…hmm mumble mumble"

And that was the end of that. He basically just looked at me all confused. Which made me confused. If you’re going to wear the merch., you best be able to talk about it brah. 

The Lakers thing was really my only talking point and since he wasn't having any of it, we just sort of sat awkwardly across from each other for the remainder of the ride. Luckily my stop wasn't very far. But it was a pretty uncomfortable 4 minutes.

Bird or Baby?

3/12/2012

Monday was really uneventful. I went to Photo class. We took photos using my lectures Medium Format film camera. It looks like this:

It produces awesome pictures! I want one. I mean, they are crazy expensive and the film pretty much doesn’t exist anymore, but the pictures it produces are insane!

After that I went to my first counseling appointment. At APU they have 10 free sessions of counseling per semester. I had always wanted to try but never got around to it. Well, they have the same deal at Wesley. I signed up a little over a week and a half ago and today was my first appointment. Hopefully it will be a good experience.

After that I went to the library and did homework/ putzed around on the internet until I got a bus home with Carly around 6:00. We came home, ate a delicious dinner by Neil (Potatoes with beef stew stuff). And the sweets tonight was probably the best tasting brownie I’ve ever had as well as the creamiest ice cream (Seriously, best home stay ever!).

Unrelated topic: The birds here are weird. Very exotic. I mean, they have pigeons and stuff too. But there are these birds with these huge beaks! They almost look like herons, or cranes. I think it's called an idis. Anyway, they are rather large and they are everywhere! They look mean, and like they would charge you if you got too close.

There’s also cockatoos everywhere. I’ve only seen them in pet stores, so it’s weird that they are just wild here. And all of the birds make such loud/ strange noises. They sound like cats, or babies. It’s bizarre.

So the new joke in our house is, “Is that a bird or a baby?”

Lazy Sunday

3/11/2012

Today was rather low key. A lot of people from the ASC program were going to go to the blue mountains today. However, I decided that I wanted to sleep in today. I just wanted one day to not wake up to an alarm clock. And let me tell you, WORTH IT!

I slept in until the ripe hour of 9:30! Look at me go!

I then got to skype the fam at 10. The rest of my day was filled with cleaning, Kimberly work (work for Kimberly’s class), and laundry. I also went to an evening church service. We are required to visit several different types of churches. Last week I visited a Catholic church, and this week I visited an Anglican.

In my post “Humble Pie” I talked about walking around for hours trying to find a church, that is the church that I went to. It’s called Church By The Bridge. I found it alright this time. But I guess you could say I had already familiarized myself with the area…

Before the service even started, several people came up and started chatting with me. It was a smaller church and I had obviously not been around before, so people were curious. They were even more curious when I started talking and they realized that I was American. If people didn’t make me talk all the time I could totally blend in here.

The service itself was interesting. It started with worship. Then there was a time for people from the congregation to come up and share something that God had done or is doing in their life. I was surprised at how many people wanted to get up and share.

Then half way through, they had a coffee break, or as they call it, supper.  Everyone goes to the back and proceeds to eat and drink and chat for 10-15 minutes before the sermon starts. I helped myself to a delightful cheese biscuit and a hand full of grapes. Consequently, the service did last a little longer than I thought it would. But I guess that’s what happens when you take an intermission.

On a completely unrelated note, people take the weirdest things on public transportation. In one day I saw a woman with a floor lamp and a man with a power drill. I mean I totally get it. You gotta do what you gotta do. I just hope I never have to take anything that cumbersome with me on the bus/train.