Monday, April 28, 2008
New Zealand
We left Australia at 7:30 to catch a cab. I was basically packed, but I had to make a last minute run to the library to drop off The Other Boelyn Girl. I never finished it, but the half I read was quite good. We had spent our last night down under drinking as usual with some of our Australian guys. Also as usual there was drama, so I had vacated the potentially terrifying situation and went to bed with three Australian men still on my porch smoking my entire pack of cigarettes. It's all for the better I suppose, I can't smoke anymore. My mum would disown me on sight.
Our final farewells to Australia weren't sentimental in the least. We dragged our absurdly heavy luggage down our hallway which was completely covered in trash, vomit, and food. I won't miss the 17 year old Americans who lived down the hallway, the bastards who would wake us up in the middle of the night screaming and who got our common room taken away from us for the entire semester. The ones who told us that they had come to Australia to drink, and that was it. I contemplated banging on their doors to wake them up at the early hour, but I decided I'm better than that. I guess.
Our flight to NZ was pretty boring, thank god. I got really nervous that my luggage would be over the weight and I'd have to pay, because I literally have 20 bucks in my bank account. Luckily I made it through, which unfortunately some of my friends did not. Eleanor had to pay $75 for paper tickets because she had lost hers, and countless others had to pay for weight restrictions. I am PRAYING I don't have to pay in LA, but I'll be cutting it close.
Ilana and I separated from the group at Auckland airport. That also wasn't as sentimental as I figured it would be, but we were rushed and everyone was trying to get their plans finalized. Also, I'll see these girls within the next month, so it really wasn't a final goodbye.
Ashley gave me a really nice card. She talked about how I've influenced her with my knowledge of movies and politics and how I've taught her to look at things differently. She said I was going to be a great journalist because I know how to understand people, and she said I could always make her laugh. It feels really good that I made a positive impact on someone, especially someone who I absolutely had negative feelings for in the beginning of the semester. Being friends with Ashley, someone who is completely different than me, has taught me not to judge a book by their cover. I judge people quickly and way too harshly sometimes, and I need to check myself. I could be losing out on great friendships, like the one I now have with Ashley.
Ilana and I got to our hotel at around 7:30. Compared to some of the hostels we've stayed in (especially Fiji and Melbourne) this place is a palace. It's small, and the shower is on top of the toilet, but we have our own TV and stove and fridge, and we only share the bathroom with each other, and that is priceless.
We've been here in Auckland for 2 and a half days, and I've fallen in love with the city. Everyone is so nice, the city has a chill, laid-back feel and it's a beautiful country. The beach is within 10 km of wherever you end up, and we're surrounded by active volcanoes. I've also become fascinated with the Maori culture, and I bought a necklace today that has a symbol that supposedly protects you when traveling over water, which is just what I need.
The only thing that has put a damper on this trip is that we are broke ass broke. It's getting serious. We have been living off of Wendys and McDonalds happy meals because that's all we can afford. I got a yeast infection and was contemplating not getting medicine because I couldn't afford it. At this moment, I have 20 dollars put aside for the cab to the airport tomorrow and 15 dollars for food. That's it. Once I get to the airport, I have a McDonalds card and a $50 AMEX card from my uncle. I hate this feeling of uncertainty, and god forbid I get charged for my luggage in LA.
We've made the best of our unfortunate situation though. We went to the Sky Tower which is the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere and took pictures of the view. We went to the Auckland Museum and watched a Maori performance by traditional women and warriors and we saw a lot of their art. We also went out to eat in Parnell, which is a really rich sector of Auckland and had a lovely Italian lunch. It was great until we got charged 10 bucks for a bottle of water. Terrible.
That's about all we could afford to do. We've been walking around exploring the city, which is beautiful. We've been watching a lot of TV, unfortunately, and my stomach is crying from all the Wendys we've been eating, but what can you do?
We leave for LA tomorrow at 7 pm. I'm not too scared of the flight to LA, but I'm dreading the flight from LA to Boston. At least on Air New Zealand they give you your own personal TV and you can watch movies to pass the time, AND they give you food. On American Airlines they give you a seat and that's it. I'm going to be delirious from the Air New Zealand flight and then have to twiddle my thumbs for 6 hours to Boston. I'm going to go mad.
I'm so ready to go home. I can't wait to see my family. I had the time of my life in Australia, but now that chapter of my life is over, and it's time to go home.
Our final farewells to Australia weren't sentimental in the least. We dragged our absurdly heavy luggage down our hallway which was completely covered in trash, vomit, and food. I won't miss the 17 year old Americans who lived down the hallway, the bastards who would wake us up in the middle of the night screaming and who got our common room taken away from us for the entire semester. The ones who told us that they had come to Australia to drink, and that was it. I contemplated banging on their doors to wake them up at the early hour, but I decided I'm better than that. I guess.
Our flight to NZ was pretty boring, thank god. I got really nervous that my luggage would be over the weight and I'd have to pay, because I literally have 20 bucks in my bank account. Luckily I made it through, which unfortunately some of my friends did not. Eleanor had to pay $75 for paper tickets because she had lost hers, and countless others had to pay for weight restrictions. I am PRAYING I don't have to pay in LA, but I'll be cutting it close.
Ilana and I separated from the group at Auckland airport. That also wasn't as sentimental as I figured it would be, but we were rushed and everyone was trying to get their plans finalized. Also, I'll see these girls within the next month, so it really wasn't a final goodbye.
Ashley gave me a really nice card. She talked about how I've influenced her with my knowledge of movies and politics and how I've taught her to look at things differently. She said I was going to be a great journalist because I know how to understand people, and she said I could always make her laugh. It feels really good that I made a positive impact on someone, especially someone who I absolutely had negative feelings for in the beginning of the semester. Being friends with Ashley, someone who is completely different than me, has taught me not to judge a book by their cover. I judge people quickly and way too harshly sometimes, and I need to check myself. I could be losing out on great friendships, like the one I now have with Ashley.
Ilana and I got to our hotel at around 7:30. Compared to some of the hostels we've stayed in (especially Fiji and Melbourne) this place is a palace. It's small, and the shower is on top of the toilet, but we have our own TV and stove and fridge, and we only share the bathroom with each other, and that is priceless.
We've been here in Auckland for 2 and a half days, and I've fallen in love with the city. Everyone is so nice, the city has a chill, laid-back feel and it's a beautiful country. The beach is within 10 km of wherever you end up, and we're surrounded by active volcanoes. I've also become fascinated with the Maori culture, and I bought a necklace today that has a symbol that supposedly protects you when traveling over water, which is just what I need.
The only thing that has put a damper on this trip is that we are broke ass broke. It's getting serious. We have been living off of Wendys and McDonalds happy meals because that's all we can afford. I got a yeast infection and was contemplating not getting medicine because I couldn't afford it. At this moment, I have 20 dollars put aside for the cab to the airport tomorrow and 15 dollars for food. That's it. Once I get to the airport, I have a McDonalds card and a $50 AMEX card from my uncle. I hate this feeling of uncertainty, and god forbid I get charged for my luggage in LA.
We've made the best of our unfortunate situation though. We went to the Sky Tower which is the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere and took pictures of the view. We went to the Auckland Museum and watched a Maori performance by traditional women and warriors and we saw a lot of their art. We also went out to eat in Parnell, which is a really rich sector of Auckland and had a lovely Italian lunch. It was great until we got charged 10 bucks for a bottle of water. Terrible.
That's about all we could afford to do. We've been walking around exploring the city, which is beautiful. We've been watching a lot of TV, unfortunately, and my stomach is crying from all the Wendys we've been eating, but what can you do?
We leave for LA tomorrow at 7 pm. I'm not too scared of the flight to LA, but I'm dreading the flight from LA to Boston. At least on Air New Zealand they give you your own personal TV and you can watch movies to pass the time, AND they give you food. On American Airlines they give you a seat and that's it. I'm going to be delirious from the Air New Zealand flight and then have to twiddle my thumbs for 6 hours to Boston. I'm going to go mad.
I'm so ready to go home. I can't wait to see my family. I had the time of my life in Australia, but now that chapter of my life is over, and it's time to go home.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Perfection.
And then something happened,
something that is hard to describe.
Sitting there, alone in a foreign country,
far from my job and all the people I knew,
a feeling came over me.
As if I recalled something,
something that I had never known
and for which I had been waiting.
But I didn't know what it was.
Maybe it was something I had forgotten.
Or something I had missed my whole life.
I can only tell you that at the same time I felt joy and sadness.
But not a great sadness.
Because I felt alive.
Yes.
Alive.
This is a quote from Paris, Je T'aime, and yes it might be describing the city of lights, but I think it summarizes my feelings about Australia perfectly.
Also, I haven't even been home for 24 hours and I already want to go back.
something that is hard to describe.
Sitting there, alone in a foreign country,
far from my job and all the people I knew,
a feeling came over me.
As if I recalled something,
something that I had never known
and for which I had been waiting.
But I didn't know what it was.
Maybe it was something I had forgotten.
Or something I had missed my whole life.
I can only tell you that at the same time I felt joy and sadness.
But not a great sadness.
Because I felt alive.
Yes.
Alive.
This is a quote from Paris, Je T'aime, and yes it might be describing the city of lights, but I think it summarizes my feelings about Australia perfectly.
Also, I haven't even been home for 24 hours and I already want to go back.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Last week in Oz
I never know what time it is in this country, but I think it's somewhere near 8 pm. I'm sitting in the office with my three lovely roommates; Ilana, Ashley, and Abby. We've just had our last pizza night at the cafe. I had pineapple, mushroom, and parmesan cheese on mine. It was delightful.
The countdown is set at 4 days left in Australia. I can't believe four months have just flown by. My best friend Eleanor just gave us a slideshow of pictures from all the great places we've traveled to and the crazy nights we've survived. It's made me think of all the ways that I've changed, not including my new love of pineapple on my pizza.
There are the obvious things. I took a surfing class. I failed miserably, but I still got the guts to get out there. I got published in the Gold Coast Sun. I got a new tattoo. I dyed my hair. I swam in a cave in Fiji. I snorkeled next to a stingray. I wore a green wig and danced on the streets during Mardi Gras in Sydney. I made friends with the English, the Irish, the French and all those in between. I've made mistakes and had successes.
But then there are the other things, the things that aren't on the surface. The group of friends I've made here aren't going anywhere once we get home, and that's priceless. We've all made plans for the summer when we get back to Boston. Never in a million years did I think I'd form bonds like the ones I've created here. Eleanor and Abby and I have already planned to take a road trip across the United States next summer after Abby graduates.
I've also learned a lot about myself. I am loyal, funny, motivated, adventurous, and I like to have a good time. I also learned I close myself down easily. I don't let a lot of people in. I'm horrifyingly awkward (this is not new). I give bitchy looks when I don't want to. I can become a morning person if I try. I am confrontational. I am influential in movies and books and music. I've discovered my love of film here, all from Professor Scott King. All these new things about myself, it's good that I know them and that I can work on them or appreciate them.
I'm so excited to get to Italy, and before that to get home and see my family and friends. I've got a lot of plans already in motion. But I'll never forget Australia and all it's given me.
The countdown is set at 4 days left in Australia. I can't believe four months have just flown by. My best friend Eleanor just gave us a slideshow of pictures from all the great places we've traveled to and the crazy nights we've survived. It's made me think of all the ways that I've changed, not including my new love of pineapple on my pizza.
There are the obvious things. I took a surfing class. I failed miserably, but I still got the guts to get out there. I got published in the Gold Coast Sun. I got a new tattoo. I dyed my hair. I swam in a cave in Fiji. I snorkeled next to a stingray. I wore a green wig and danced on the streets during Mardi Gras in Sydney. I made friends with the English, the Irish, the French and all those in between. I've made mistakes and had successes.
But then there are the other things, the things that aren't on the surface. The group of friends I've made here aren't going anywhere once we get home, and that's priceless. We've all made plans for the summer when we get back to Boston. Never in a million years did I think I'd form bonds like the ones I've created here. Eleanor and Abby and I have already planned to take a road trip across the United States next summer after Abby graduates.
I've also learned a lot about myself. I am loyal, funny, motivated, adventurous, and I like to have a good time. I also learned I close myself down easily. I don't let a lot of people in. I'm horrifyingly awkward (this is not new). I give bitchy looks when I don't want to. I can become a morning person if I try. I am confrontational. I am influential in movies and books and music. I've discovered my love of film here, all from Professor Scott King. All these new things about myself, it's good that I know them and that I can work on them or appreciate them.
I'm so excited to get to Italy, and before that to get home and see my family and friends. I've got a lot of plans already in motion. But I'll never forget Australia and all it's given me.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Whitsundays: Get Amongst It
This weekend we went to the Whitsunday islands, about an hour and a half flight north of the Gold Coast. It was the best trip we've taken so far in Australia.
DAY ONE
We left Bond at 9:30 AM. I had to miss my last class of Journalism Research Methods. Earlier last week, I got published in the Gold Coast Sun because of my professor in the class, Mark Pearson, so I am very grateful to him.
We took the always lovely train to Brisbane, which wasn't too bad. My fear of flying hasn't really disappeared, but I'm better at controlling it. To be honest, I was seated next to a skinny blond girl who looked like she was about to punch herself in the face. She was gripping the handles with white-knuckles, kept staring out the window and fidgeting around. She started freaking ME out, and that's usually my job. To give her credit, our pilot got majorly confused, and started pulling out some twists and turns that stunt pilots usually do. The air pressure got really bad at one point, and I had a headache after we landed for an hour. We're still alive though. That's all that matters.
The Whitsunday's airport is like a farm posing as a airport. The waiting area is outside, and it is so tiny that there's only one flight every couple of hours. We took a cab to the Airlie Beaches Hostel. The landscape reminded me of Fiji, only better. There were big rolling hills and fields of sugarcane. Very country, very isolated. I thought we'd be able to see the beach immediately, but it wasn't like that.
Airlie Beach is an amazing little beach town. Quirky little bars and restaurants line the street, and there's a really nice energy to the place. There's a lot of young travelers like us, and everyone sounds really happy to be there.
We put out stuff down and went to a Mexican restaurant down the street. We started drinking at 5, got some nachos, met some great bartenders and waiters, and had a grand ol time. Then we bar hopped around and ended up at a great karaoke bar. Jackie got up and sang some Cher, she was quite the professional. There were a lot of people from England there and it was interesting to see what kind of music they listen to.
DAY TWO
The next day we got on a huge power boat and sailed to a pontoon in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef. We got to snorkel, sunbathe, look at an underwater observatory, go on a glass-bottom boat, and ride a water slide that shoots you into the middle of the ocean. I saw sting rays, squids, huge fish, Dorys, Nemos, everything. It was wonderful.
That night we took it easy and got some sushi. I tried kangaroo for the first time. I felt bad eating it, but it was actually very good, tasted like beef. Then we went to the bar next door. One of our hostel-mates was a guy from Ireland who I talked to for awhile. He was telling me that his parents had gone to Boston for holiday when he was little and told him it was one of the best places in the world.
DAY THREE
The next day we went sailing on a big purple boat. It was the highlight of the trip. Everyone on the boat was so fun and nice to talk to, and it was a gorgeous day. We got to lay on top of trampolines and feel the ocean running right below us.
We traveled to Whitehaven Beach which has beautifully soft white sand. I got to go snorkeling for the fourth time in my life. There were a group of Dauri fish that followed me around, it was cute. We got a gourmet lunch. I met an English boy that I might marry later in life. He thought it was weird that I hadn't traveled outside of the US until now. I've found that people from Europe travel a lot more in their younger days, while Americans don't really do that.
I ended up having a little too much to drink. I wiped out in front of the whole boat (not cuz I was drunk but because there was water everywhere and my flip flops are not exactly great). Then somehow I took a shower and wound up passing out on my bed just in a towel. I woke up naked. Embarrassing, but a good story.
That night, around 3 AM, a crazy drunk guy started pounding on our door, demanding that "the bloody Scotsman" come out and fight. Apparently his girlfriend had gotten pushed and he was looking for revenge, incidentally in our room. It was pretty scary, I didn't know quite what to do. He was very angry and very drunk. The pounding went on and on and then his gf started crying and he started yelling that he loved her and blah blah blah. Some people are nuts.
DAY FOUR
The next day we spent exploring the town and laying by the lagoon. The whole weekend felt like we were on Spring Break. It was so nice to just relax and not worry about school. All last weekend I wrote three papers and studied for two exams, so this was a nice reward.
Well, I have less than two weeks left in Australia, I'll keep this updated as best I can.
DAY ONE
We left Bond at 9:30 AM. I had to miss my last class of Journalism Research Methods. Earlier last week, I got published in the Gold Coast Sun because of my professor in the class, Mark Pearson, so I am very grateful to him.
We took the always lovely train to Brisbane, which wasn't too bad. My fear of flying hasn't really disappeared, but I'm better at controlling it. To be honest, I was seated next to a skinny blond girl who looked like she was about to punch herself in the face. She was gripping the handles with white-knuckles, kept staring out the window and fidgeting around. She started freaking ME out, and that's usually my job. To give her credit, our pilot got majorly confused, and started pulling out some twists and turns that stunt pilots usually do. The air pressure got really bad at one point, and I had a headache after we landed for an hour. We're still alive though. That's all that matters.
The Whitsunday's airport is like a farm posing as a airport. The waiting area is outside, and it is so tiny that there's only one flight every couple of hours. We took a cab to the Airlie Beaches Hostel. The landscape reminded me of Fiji, only better. There were big rolling hills and fields of sugarcane. Very country, very isolated. I thought we'd be able to see the beach immediately, but it wasn't like that.
Airlie Beach is an amazing little beach town. Quirky little bars and restaurants line the street, and there's a really nice energy to the place. There's a lot of young travelers like us, and everyone sounds really happy to be there.
We put out stuff down and went to a Mexican restaurant down the street. We started drinking at 5, got some nachos, met some great bartenders and waiters, and had a grand ol time. Then we bar hopped around and ended up at a great karaoke bar. Jackie got up and sang some Cher, she was quite the professional. There were a lot of people from England there and it was interesting to see what kind of music they listen to.
DAY TWO
The next day we got on a huge power boat and sailed to a pontoon in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef. We got to snorkel, sunbathe, look at an underwater observatory, go on a glass-bottom boat, and ride a water slide that shoots you into the middle of the ocean. I saw sting rays, squids, huge fish, Dorys, Nemos, everything. It was wonderful.
That night we took it easy and got some sushi. I tried kangaroo for the first time. I felt bad eating it, but it was actually very good, tasted like beef. Then we went to the bar next door. One of our hostel-mates was a guy from Ireland who I talked to for awhile. He was telling me that his parents had gone to Boston for holiday when he was little and told him it was one of the best places in the world.
DAY THREE
The next day we went sailing on a big purple boat. It was the highlight of the trip. Everyone on the boat was so fun and nice to talk to, and it was a gorgeous day. We got to lay on top of trampolines and feel the ocean running right below us.
We traveled to Whitehaven Beach which has beautifully soft white sand. I got to go snorkeling for the fourth time in my life. There were a group of Dauri fish that followed me around, it was cute. We got a gourmet lunch. I met an English boy that I might marry later in life. He thought it was weird that I hadn't traveled outside of the US until now. I've found that people from Europe travel a lot more in their younger days, while Americans don't really do that.
I ended up having a little too much to drink. I wiped out in front of the whole boat (not cuz I was drunk but because there was water everywhere and my flip flops are not exactly great). Then somehow I took a shower and wound up passing out on my bed just in a towel. I woke up naked. Embarrassing, but a good story.
That night, around 3 AM, a crazy drunk guy started pounding on our door, demanding that "the bloody Scotsman" come out and fight. Apparently his girlfriend had gotten pushed and he was looking for revenge, incidentally in our room. It was pretty scary, I didn't know quite what to do. He was very angry and very drunk. The pounding went on and on and then his gf started crying and he started yelling that he loved her and blah blah blah. Some people are nuts.
DAY FOUR
The next day we spent exploring the town and laying by the lagoon. The whole weekend felt like we were on Spring Break. It was so nice to just relax and not worry about school. All last weekend I wrote three papers and studied for two exams, so this was a nice reward.
Well, I have less than two weeks left in Australia, I'll keep this updated as best I can.
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