Far From Iowa

Not so far from Iowa anymore

2008-11-16T18:27:00.005+11:00

All right everybody, tonight is my very last night in Australia. Well, for now at least.

I can't believe this experience is over. It's always a funny time when a chapter of your life closes and another one begins. I don't know what I'm off to next, but I do know that I'll often think back on this experience as a very special time in my life. I'm so glad I did this.

So as I head home, I think a thank you to Australia is in order. I wrote a list a few weeks back about what I miss most about home. Below is what I'll miss most about Australia.

1. Living a short walk from the ocean

2. The Aussie way of shortening words (i.e. brekky, Chrissy time, arvo, sunnies, Brissy, Tassie)

3. Aussie slang (up the duff's my fave)

4. Australian TV (Denton, Border Security, Kath & Kim, Summer Heights High. Hell, I'll even miss Home and Away)

5. The supplements in the weekend papers

6. Crumpets

7. Cadbury Dairy Milk bars

8. Cheap domestic airfare

9. Being so close to New Zealand

10. All the beautiful travel spots (the Whitsundays, Airlie Beach, Cairns)

11. The Daintree rainforest

12. Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays

13. The weather!

14. Tea'se Me

15. Aussie breakfasts (especially poached eggs!)

16. Surry Hills

17. Cara at Barberia

18. Margaret River, WA

19. The Sydney Opera House

20. Taking ferries regularly

21. The widespread availability of kebabs

22. Australia's reception of backpackers

23. Australia's love of travel

24. Being able to see Hamish Blake on a regular basis

25. Everything made by Arnott's

26. Tim Tams Double Coat

27. Absolutely no security at the airport

28. Tea cafes

29. Sportsgirl

30. How everybody always dresses up

31. Aussie beer

32. Paddington in Sydney

33. Outdoor markets (esp. Salamanca in Hobart)

34. Australia Zoo

35. Seeing koalas and kangaroos in the wild

36. Kevin Rudd, P.M.

37. Lachlan Barry O'Leary

38. Watching Aussie journalists 'interpret' American news

39. Creamed honey

40. My friends from school

41. The Europeans from the Whitsundays

42. Perth

43. The Rocks pubs (Mercantile, Glenmore and Hero of Waterloo)

44. El Monde on Favreau

45. Skim flat whites

46. Kangaroo meat (it still doesn't feel right, but it tastes so good)

47. Stanwell Park

I'm sure there are thousands of things I'm forgetting, but that's just a quick list. My time in Australia helped me realize that I had lived a very sheltered life. Looking back on everything I've been through these past nine months, my mind just floods with memories. So many my head almost begins to hurt. But what I'm taking way most from this experience is a new understanding and respect for our differences.

Some view

2008-11-15T17:42:00.004+11:00

This was our view of the Opera House from where we ate dinner on the rooftop of the Glenmore. It's beautiful illuminated in the setting evening sun and even more breathtaking after dark.

Digging the Rocks

2008-11-15T17:16:00.004+11:00

I've been kicking myself for not exploring the Rocks sooner. This district is right off Circular Quay, across the way from the Opera House. It has lots of kitchy souvenir shops and upscale cafes, but the old-style pubs really got me.

After walking around the zoo in sweltering heat for over three hours, we were all in need of a refreshment. Ryan took charge at this point (which was moderately embarrassing because it involved him frequently whipping out a huge city map) and suggested we check out the Rocks. The map wasn't all bad, though, because it highlighted a couple great pubs to check out. It didn't take too long for a quick pit stop to turn into a mini pub crawl.

Our first stop was the Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel, Sydney's oldest hotel. After trying the local brews we headed down to the Hero of Waterloo. I quickly realized that the bartender was Irish, so we sat at the bar and chatted him up for awhile. Donal was his name, and he recommended I try the Irish cider. It was amazing, but I only had one glass (I learned my lesson long ago about how to drink beer that tastes way better than beer should), so I had a Guinness after that.

I was just getting well acquainted with Donal and Aisling (another Irish bartender who arrived later on) when Ryan dragged me off to dinner at the Glenmore Hotel. We ate on the rooftop, which had the most gorgeous view of the Opera House. After that, we headed for the Mercantile Hotel, an Irish joint. We ended the crawl with a couple pints of Guinness. Not a bad way to spend an evening with friends.

The Steinbachs come to Sydney

2008-11-15T15:53:00.006+11:00

Two of my great friends from high school, Ann and Ryan Steinbach, came out to Australia earlier this week, and luckily I saw them on their last day in Sydney.

Jenny and I took them to Turonga Zoo, where we got a good look at some drowsy koalas and saw a great seal show, among many other things.

Turonga's a beautiful place. It's built upon a hill that can only be accessed by ferry. Once you get there, you get in these little pods that fit about six people each that zip line you right up to the top of the zoo. It's a pretty cool entrance. Being so high up, the zoo also provides some magnificent views of the city.

Sadly, we missed the reptile photo time, so Ann and I couldn't get a photo holding a snake. I'm not too crushed though, I probably would've wussed out if I actually had the opportunity in front of me. And Ryan wasn't able to see the elusive platypus that he was so excited about. And did I mention that Ann and I both got sunburnt?

Amazingly, though, it was a fantastic day. I still can't believe I spent time with two great friends from home in Sydney, Australia. If someone had told us when we were seniors in high school back in Sioux City, Iowa, that this would happen, I doubt any of us would've believed it.

More Tea by the Sea

2008-11-10T20:28:00.004+11:00

I just loved this place! Here are some more images:

Top: A group eating outside had this adorable Lhasa Apso with them (sorry, you'll have to look closely because I took it from far away and through glass, so it's a bit blurry). I had to take its picture when no one was looking because it reminded me of my puppy Ollie back home.

Second: Some cherubs in the garden.

Third: A mermaid flag waving along the front steps. The mermaid/sea theme was carried out pretty far. They sold beautiful, pearly shells to hang as Christmas ornaments, in addition to heaps of tea-related gifts. They even had Tea by the Sea postcards featuring the owner, perched up on a rock on Stanwell Park beach at sunset, dressed as a mermaid. No, I didn't buy one. I wish I had, though.

Bottom: See what I mean about the 'grandma's house' look?

Tea by the Sea

2008-11-10T19:43:00.005+11:00

I love Australian cafe culture, especially cafes that specialise in tea. I've said it before, but Australia has made me a tea-aholic. I'm a regular at Tea'se Me in Wollongong and recently fell in love with its upscale counterpart in Stanwell Park--Tea by the Sea.

Tea by the Sea is quite spacious for a cafe--it's actually in a house. The cafe doesn't really have a business feel at all, it's more of a antiquey, cosy, granny look to it. I wouldn't even be surprised if the owners lived there because the place is only open on the weekends and public holidays. Plenty of tables were scattered across the backyard, but Jenny and I chose to eat in the 'sunroom' area because we'd been walking around in the hot sun all day.

The service was un-Australian (i.e. very good) so after lunch we decided to stay for awhile and order the specialty--Devonshire Tea. How to describe Devonshire Tea...let's see...I suppose Devonshire Tea could be compared to a rich, old aunt. She's bit stuffy (using cups and saucers made of fine china), but you usually leave crammed full of sweets (the pairing of scones with jam and heavy cream and fruit tarts).

Jenny ordered the White Spice (a light, white chai) and I the Darjeeling Vintage (a black tea, known as the 'champagne of teas.' Obviously it had little choice). The tea was quite nice, but the homemade scones with strawberry jam and cream were deliciously indulgent and fabulous in every way.

I hope I remember Australia's tea houses when I'm older because I think it's a business that could really fly in America. Plus, I've acquired a pretty mean scone recipe since being here that might just make me a coin or two someday.

Choo choo view

2008-11-09T20:33:00.004+11:00

Here are a couple shots of Stanwell Park I took from the train.

The first photo just makes me laugh--contrary to what many Americans believe, Fosters is not Australian for beer (though you'd never know it from this hotel). Really, though, I rarely see ads for Fosters here. But VB and Tooheys New? That's another story. Anyway, the second is the beautiful cliff and beach view I mentioned in the previous post.

Stanwell Park, a perfect picture of Aussie beach culture

2008-11-09T19:30:00.005+11:00

I can tell it to myself til my face turns blue, but it doesn't make it any more believable: I'm leaving Australia in just over 7 days.

So I'm trying to pack in all the things I've ever wanted to do here. I checked one off my list today, and that was a visit to Stanwell Park.

I've passed through Stanwell Park about a hundred times on train rides to Sydney. It's a cosy seaside town that boasts the single most gorgeous view of the ocean on the South Coast line. I've always wanted to stand on the beach in Stanwell Park, and today I was able to do it.

So here are some photos of my day trip to Stanwell Park. Hopefully you'll get a sense of the laid back, no worries atmosphere. To me, this is my version of iconic Australia.

If you look up, you might miss it

2008-10-30T19:41:00.005+11:00

Just a couple snaps of some random sidewalk art I saw on my way into town today.

The bottom photo shows the song title, 'Let It Be' surrounded by a half dozen copies of John Lennon's face. Even though 'Let It Be' is a McCartney song, Lennon has a more pop artsy look. So I guess I can somewhat see why he was used with the song. Sure they could have spray painted 'Give Peace a Chance' instead of 'Let It Be,' but it is a bit long to write out (and ridiculously overused).

And the gorilla with headphones? Well, I really have no explanation for that one.

I'm strangely devastated by this

2008-10-27T15:20:00.002+11:00

Andrew Denton is cutting the cord on Enough Rope!

The politics of...Peanut Butter Perfection?

2008-10-23T21:14:00.015+11:00

I've resisted mentioning anything about the U.S. presidential election because talking about politics always seems to get me in trouble. But this election is special to me--not only because I'm quite passionate about one of the candidates but also because I am witnessing this election essentially from the viewpoint of another country.

Australia, like much of the world, is deeply invested in this election. When I was at the Enough Rope taping a few weeks back, Andrew Denton mentioned how Australians are more familiar and concerned with the American election than their own domestic politics. It kind of reminded me of how John Lennon said the Beatles were more popular than Jesus Christ. It seems like nonsense, but it's true.

Now if Aussies can develop highly-defined opinions about this election, then why can't some Americans? As the election hits the home stretch, the limelight has fallen on the undecided voters. Check out this article by the great David Sedaris. I think you'll find it a refreshing departure from most of the political writing out there at the moment.

While it's amazing to me that there are folks who can't make up their minds on the direction America should take, I'm jealous of them at the same time.

Getting involved in politics is like going to Cold Stone Creamery for the first time. You know you shouldn't, but you're curious. You might just want to give it a go, let's say for your birthday. But that's it. You just want to go once and never again. But before you know it you're back there every Saturday until the day you die. You know all the songs. You quickly side with the flavours you like and cut down anyone who chooses those you don't ("Anyone who eats toasted coconut or cashews in their ice cream belongs in the funny farm." or "Really, does anyone over age 7 eat Bubble Gum ice cream?). You alienate your non-butterfat-loving friends and begin viewing fit people as elitists. Pretty soon, your life revolves around Mud Pie Mojo and Cookie Doughn't You Want Some.

You following me?

Okay, maybe that analogy's stretching it a bit. But what I'm trying to get across is that nowadays, most people just can't seem to take politics in moderation. Even Australians, who have absolutely no say in who wins the U.S. election, have a compelling need to voice their opinions and take a side. And now we're starting to badger those who haven't made a decision yet. Is being undecided such an awful thing?

Yes, people who don't consider politics part of their identity are pretty damn lucky. Maybe they know something I don't. But it's really no use trying to figure that out. I am who I am, and it's not likely to change anytime soon. And I think if we all--Democrat, Republican and elusive Independent--had that understanding about one another, then we'd all be in a better place.

And who knows? Maybe that place is Cold Stone Creamery.

More from Paddington

2008-10-20T14:23:00.005+11:00

Here are a couple more shots from my recent visit to Paddington Markets. The first photo is of a woman at one of the market's many fortune-telling tables. Jenny said she wouldn't take a million bucks to go to an Australian psychic, something having to do with the show, "Lost"....

Market pull

2008-10-20T13:44:00.007+11:00

It's no Salamanca, but Paddington comes in at a close second.

I can't explain how much I love Australia's infatuation with outdoor markets. If I could bring back any figment of Australian culture and implement it back home, it would be that.

The Saturday markets in Paddington are very good--the booths are just a bit too crammed together. And on a beautiful Saturday, the markets draw heaps of people, so this becomes a bit of an issue. Moreover, the food vendors are all organised in a square pack in the heart of the markets. So it's somewhat hard to escape the wafting aroma of kebabs and sugary waffles. But hey, that might actually be a bonus for some.

This was my second trip to Paddington. And for the first time ever, I walked out of an outdoor market wihtout buying anything. Not a single thing. I hope I'm not giving the wrong impression of Paddington Markets, though. The quality and range of products are actually excellent. In fact, I had a serious moral dilemma at one of the vintage booths over a 1960s Qantas airline shoulder bag. It was insanely cool--red leather, clearly old but in great condition. In white writing it said something along the lines of "Qantas: Australia's Round-the-World Airline." But it was $55. And with the current economic situation, along with Qantas' recent safety concerns, I couldn't justify paying that much for it.

But as I write this, I'm gritting my teeth and cursing myself that I didn't buy it.

Maybe I'll go back on Saturday. Just to see if it's still around.

On second thought, it's probably best the outdoor markets stay in Oz.

QVC? Try QVB

2008-10-20T12:05:00.009+11:00

It was an absolutely GORGEOUS day in Sydney on Saturday. Jenny and I were in town running a couple errands, but for the most part, the day was ours to do whatever we wanted. And I was dying to spend more time in the Queen Victoria Building.

As mentioned in the post below, the few minutes I spent there earlier in the week were enough to plant a few thousand seeds of intrigue. I'm just disappointed I never noticed this gorgeous building before. I've probably passed it dozens of times on the street and really never thought to go in. I guess I never imagined it was a shopping center, and I'm not entirely convinced it should be. I suspect this stunning building is suffering from an identity complex.

The stores are really out of my price range. And as much as I hate window shopping when I there's no hope of purchasing, I simply loved being there for the architecture. The huge hanging clocks, Anglican stained glass and imperial arches give the place not so much a modern upscale feel, but rather an almost imposing regality. I felt a bit out of place. But I also think the posh stores it houses aren't fit to be there, either. Though oddly enough, I'm perfectly fine with the exclusion.

Retail with a view

2008-10-17T15:13:00.004+11:00

I had only about 3 minutes in Sydney's Queen Victoria Building when I was in town last week, but I managed to take a couple cool snaps. Pierre Cardin once deemed this building the most beautiful shopping center in the world. It goes without saying I will be back very, very soon.

And I'm off the carbs again. Thanks, Max.

2008-10-16T08:35:00.014+11:00

I first heard about Max Brenner chocolate when I worked with Candy Industry magazine. I first tasted it in Melbourne. And I returned for more in Sydney.

Okay, I'm getting dramatic. It's just chocolate.

But then again, it's not. A Hershey bar is just chocolate. A Max Brenner Chocolate Toffee Frappe? That's more of a borderline narcotic.

Max Brenner, or the bald man as he's affectionately known, is a chocolate freak. I don't really know how else to put it. His life is chocolate--and it's not just about how it tastes, but how it feels, looks, smells, sounds. It's an indulgent, sensory experience that has little to do with moderation.

His cafes are beautiful--rows of pristine chocolate pieces in glass cases, small tables cramped together for a real urban feel. But I enjoy Brenner's unique way of presenting his chocolate drinks almost as much as the drinks themselves. When I was in Melbourne last winter, I tried the dark chocolate hot chocolate with crunchy waffle balls. Unbelievable. But what really set it apart was that it came in a Hug Mug,"a specially designed mug for the chocolate drinking ceremony. The mug is shaped specifically for hugging in both hands so that it creates the ultimate drinking experience of coziness, warmth and fragrance."

Sold!... To the curly-haired chick who is a slave to outlandish marketing tactics!

It was a hot day in Sydney when I returned for round two, so I went for a frappe, which is served in an Alice mug. Brenner drew inspiration from this quote from Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland:

"She found a little bottle on it ('which certainly was not here before', said Alice), and round its neck a paper label, with the words Drink me beautifully printed on it in large letters. Alice ventured to taste it, and finding it very nice (it had, in fact, a sort of mixed flavour of cherry-tart, custard, pineapple, roast turkey, toffee and hot buttered toast), she very soon finished it off."

I've met a few folks like Brenner before, and they're all men, oddly enough. When you think of chocolate addicts, women mostly come to mind. However, my time at Candy Industry allowed me to meet some men in the biz who were just mad about chocolate. And the strangest part about it all was that these guys were healthy. In fact, they looked great! Leads me to believe that they either have metabolisms like juiced up lab rats or chocolate maybe isn't so bad for us after all.

Regardless, after downing my frappe and inhaling my chocolate chip and almond cookie, I've decided to take it easy on the stuff for awhile. I suspect I just needed one last choco fix before I mustered up the guts to tell carbs to take a hike for the summer (though come to think of it, I am going home in four weeks to winter...).

If you ever do have the chance to stop in one of Max Brenner's cafes, though, I would highly recommend it. Really, if hot chocolate topped with crunchy waffle balls doesn't appeal to you, you need your head--be it bald or otherwise--checked.

I MET DENTON!

2008-10-13T20:48:00.004+11:00

AND I BET NONE OF YOU KNOW WHAT THAT EVEN MEANS!

Okay, I'm worked up.

I've written about Andrew Denton before. But in case you still have no clue who I'm referring to, Mr. Denton is arguably Australia's most recognisable television personality. If you've never heard of him, please YouTube him now. Seriously, don't even worry about reading the rest of this post. I'd recommend viewing his interview with Steve Irwin. But be warned, after watching that interview, you'll likely be parked in front of your computer screen for the next quarter century because you'll want to watch every episode. It's that good, folks.

Andrew Denton has interviewed just about everyone you know and a hell of a lot of those you don't. Today's taping was the third I've attended. So far I've seen interviews with a politician, a model, a paralympian, and a man who started a quirky online dancing sensation. But today's subject was my favourite--Philippe Petit, a tight-rope walker. Petit was absolutely lovely. An extraordinary man who views the world much differently than most of us. In many ways, I'm quite jealous of him. I've never encountered someone who exemplifies the real meaning of living in quite the way Petit does. He's a man with wings.

That's what I love so much about Andrew Denton's show (which is called Enough Rope if I didn't mention it before). Earlier today, I would've thought Philippe Petit was some pompous French restaurant in L.A. But now Petit has inspired me to try approaching things a bit differently. Sure I'm not hopping up on any tight wires any time soon, but I see the metaphor lurking.

Most importantly though, Andrea, Jenny and I had the opportunity to chat with Mr. Denton after the show. He's a real charmer--he asked us plenty of questions and didn't rush us even though there were a group of people waiting for snaps.

As a journalist, it's refreshing to meet someone like Andrew Denton. There's a nasty stereotype that journos are pushy, cunning, perhaps a bit unethical. But I am proud to be a journalist knowing Andrew Denton joins me in the trade. His show reminds me why I chose this career--to listen to people's stories and send them out to the world.

The Ecto Cooler of spiders

2008-10-05T16:50:00.005+11:00

This creepy, little, neon spider was hanging out on one of our clothespins this afternoon.

Thoughts of home

2008-10-04T16:33:00.011+10:00

I just finished the first draft of my thesis. (Well, not entirely. It's still sans conclusion. But really, when you're writing something this big, the conclusion's almost half-enjoyable to write.)

Now all I have to do is edit it! But before I do that, I think it's best to take some time away from it. So I've let my mind wander to what I'm looking forward to most back home. I know I'm going to be pretty down on November 17th when I have to leave Australia, but I think I'll feel okay about it if I keep these things in mind (and they are in no particular order).

1. Seeing my family for the first time in 9 months (doesn't sound like painfully long, but it is the longest I've ever been away from them).

2. Holding Ollie (Note to parents: HE'D BETTER BE FLUFFY!)

3. Using a dishwasher.

4. Using a proper washer and DRYER.

5. Sleeping in a proper bed in a perfectly humidified room.

6. Target.

7. Manageable food prices.

8. Driving a car again!

9. Driving down the Eisenhower toward Chicago.

10. GETTING A JOB IN CHICAGO.

11. Trader Joe's and everything associated with it (No Pudge Brownie Mix, Mustard Won Ton chips, fruit strips, chili, Trader Joe's O's, frozen edamame, frozen orange chicken, frozen jasmine and brown rice...so much more than I can't even remember).

12. Angry Chicagoans...well, they're not really angry. I like to think they're passionate.

13. Watching movies with my dad.

14. Going to Four Seasons.

15. Hanging out with my grandma at her place.

16. Going out to lunch at Rebos with my mom and her friends.

17. Michigan Avenue.

18. J. CREW!!!!!

19. Getting my own apartment in Chicago.

20. And decorating it.

21. With Ikea and anthropologie and Urban Outfitters furnishings.

22. Polite people.

23. The el.

24. Driving around with my dad, listening to good music and him quizzing me on the artists and song titles.

25. Archie's.

26. Eating steak three nights a week.

27. My entire family getting together at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

28. My mom's cooking.

29. Especially her egg casserole.

30. Seeing my friends again.

31. Eating good pizza.

32. Going to TCBY with my twin sisters.

33. Minerva's.

34. SUPERDAWG.

35. Cosi.

36. Panera.

37. Panchero's.

38. Iowa City.

39. Argo Tea dates with Meg.

40. Relaxing in the sun room at about 6:00 pm with my mom, dad, Ollie and an occasional twin.

41. Not having to write a thesis.

42. Having the opportunity to go to Cubs games.

43. Not having people make fun of my accent or where I'm from.

44. Orbit gum.

45. Normal-tasting skim milk.

46. Not having to constantly consider time zones when I want to talk to someone.

47. American Cheerios (yes, there are Australia Cheerios--I think they're too sugary).

48. Cheap iTunes (Aussie iTunes is a complete RIP OFF).

49. Helping my grandma put up her Christmas decorations.

50. Eating dinner at home with my whole family, with Ollie standing up on Katy's chair, whining for food.

51. Chicago's lakefront.

52. Giddy Fest.

53. Concerts in Chicago.

54. The ability to go to my friends' weddings.

55. Not ever having to watch 'Today Tonight' or see crap Aussie commercials ever again.

56. American efficiency.

These are just a few things that popped up real quick. I've undoubtedly missed heaps of things, but I guess that happens when you've been away for awhile.

Not quite ready for you, October

2008-10-01T20:43:00.002+10:00

Today is the first day of the last full month I'll spend in Australia...for now :)

Ah yes, how fast it's all gone by. And still so much to do! My thesis, namely. Speaking of, I should get back to work on that.

I'm taking tomorrow off to take advantage of the wonderfully warm weather and heading to the beach--something I'll never be able to do in October back home. I have to soak up as much precious time with the Tasman as possible before I head back the only 'ocean' I've ever really known--Lake Michigan.

This post is a long time coming

2008-09-30T21:17:00.015+10:00

I watched an interesting show on SBS tonight. An Australian woman went to New York City and held an open forum with a group of inner city kids to talk about the American Dream. Basically, she wanted to know whether this notion was still alive or if it was all just a bunch of crap.

The gathering of kids from NYC was a clever move because it drew people from very different racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.

After watching it, I felt extraordinarily upset and hopeful all at the same time. The show illuminated a couple things. First, that our country still has a long way to go as far as making every citizen feel equal. Second, that many inner-city kids hate being victimized. They're eloquent, passionate, informed, determined and hopeful. But they have significant hurdles to overcome that I, for instance, never had to deal with. Namely, they simply don't have the money to make their 'American Dream' come true.

I try extremely hard not to take my life for granted, but sometimes I just do. I get caught up in the fact that I don't get a grade I think I deserve or get mad when a roommate doesn't clean up after herself or believe my world is going to fall to pieces when a boy doesn't return my call. But I received a college education from my parents. I've never had to buy a car because my parents gave me one. I have never had to worry about whether I was going to have enough money for rent because I knew that if times got tough, I'd have someone who would help me out.

But I digress from the original point of this post...

The moderator ended the discussion asking the young people's thoughts on America's global reputation. Many didn't seem too concerned about what other countries thought because they have never had the opportunity to leave the U.S. They cared more about what they felt. And that's that America had failed them.

The question made me think about my experience as an American abroad and how my nationality has impacted the way I've been treated.

Since the very first day I arrived in Australia, I've been confronted with a reality that I never knew existed: that many people I've never even met don't like me simply because I'm American. I've repeatedly heard horror stories from friends who went to England or France and how they were treated terribly by the locals, but what the hell did we ever do to Australia? Maybe it's the bad American reality TV that they show 24/7 here or possibly that we've dragged them into two wars within the past eight years...could be anything, come to think of it.

One of the girls in my program called me a 'big mouth' shortly after I met her. Now I know I'm opinionated, but I've never been called loud. In fact, most people would say I'm fairly reserved back home. I really only get heated when someone prods me. Maybe I'm out of touch or in denial, which is quite possible. But I'm more inclined to believe this Aussie chick's comment was an effort to typecast me into her version of an American.

I know one American here who's resorted to telling people she's Canadian when asked where she's from. She told me that after she does it, the Aussies typically let loose: "Don't you just hate being mistaken for an American--they're so loud and awful!"

This is just something that an American abroad has to deal with nowadays. I guess I've just tried to prove people's perceptions as misconceptions. Yes, I still talk a lot in class (which really tends to piss Aussies off--they call it Tall Poppy Syndrome, and it's ridiculous), but I like to think that I've convinced at least a handful of people that Americans aren't as bad as the rest of the world makes us out to be.

On Friday I'm participating in a forum with the UOW International Office. It's solely for American students to offer feedback on what the university can do to improve their experience. I'll have plenty to say. But hey, they're asking for it.

Big mouth? Me?

King's Park

2008-09-28T18:00:00.004+10:00

King's Park & Botanic Gardens boasts the greatest views of the city. Like most parks and botanic gardens, it was tranquil, green and had lots of wildflowers. The ANZAC memorial was very cool too.

It was even more gorgeous at night, seeing the whole city lit up. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera on hand for that. I'll always have a bit of a soft spot for this place though, don't ask me why.

Perth

2008-09-28T17:52:00.004+10:00

Lots of posts today. I've hit the wall on my thesis, and this blog is a great way to make me feel like I'm accomplishing something even though I'm really not.

Here are some photos of beautiful downtown Perth.

Top: Skyline from King's Park & Botanic Garden

Second: Mosaic Western Australian images surrounding fountains.

Third: Palm trees and skyscrapers. Very West Coast.

Bottom: This was so cool--it was a small river right near the heart of downtown. It had a waterfall, ducks, the whole package. Some might say it was misplaced, but I thought it really worked.

More funny Aussie signs

2008-09-28T17:45:00.005+10:00

Actually, this isn't just a sign--it's a company. I also tried to get 'Koala Storage,' but we were driving by it too fast and the photo blurred. No worries, though, this one is good enough. (Insert dingo-eating-baby joke here.)

Drinking the Margaret River way

2008-09-28T15:47:00.011+10:00

I'm not giving you the most accurate account of what I did in Margaret River. Really, this wasn't a weekend alcohol binge...I only went on three tastings. There are 9 year olds in France who drink more than that during dinner.

Anyway, Margaret River is known for its wine. So, of course, we had to stop at the Bootleg Brewery to see how the beer measures up. As the sign says, it's 'an oasis of beer in a desert of wine.'

For only $10 each we sampled seven different types of beers. I thought I was being so frugal until I threw down $23 on a meat pie for lunch. In my defence, it was the best meat pie I've ever had. Sure, I've only had two in my lifetime. But really, this was the Mercedes of meat pies. (Wow. That is one thing I never imagined ever writing a year ago.)

I thought all the beers were excellent. We saved the Raging Bull for dessert. While I was at the bar, a great, big, burly guy who had to be 270 lbs. and at least 6'3" told me after about four pints of Raging Bull I'd be needing the assistance of a medical professional. I couldn't tell if he thought my drinking capacity matched his, but I soon found out that I have about as much of a chance of drinking four pints of Raging Bull in one sitting as I do of turning into a kangaroo tomorrow. (Again, something I probably wouldn't write a year ago.)

After knocking a measly shot of the stuff back, I was done. It was thick, dark and tasted more like a spikier version of Hawkeye Vodka than any beer I've ever drank. It's rough. It's a serious 'beer' meant for great, big, burly Aussie men. I bought some for my dad so we'll see how he measures up.

The funny thing about Cancer...

2008-09-25T14:52:00.009+10:00

In many areas of my life, I consider myself a skeptic. However, I've always taken to astrology. I understand how foolish this sounds, but my star sign (Cancer) often seems so pertinent to my life. I know, I know--they write these things in such a general way that they're relatable to everybody, but I still like to believe that the stars have it out for me.

As my time in Australia winds down, I've been confused as to what to do with my life once I finish school. After my trip to Western Australia, I thought I had it all figured out: I was going to move to Perth, get a job and pursue permanent residency in Australia. I decided to stay in Oz because I figured that going home was cutting my adventure short. Being here has made me realise how little of the world I've experienced. I want to continue travelling, I want to live in another country again, and I don't ever want to feel like my life has become stagnant.

But a recent family situation has complicated those plans. I'm not angry about it--that's just the way things were meant to be. So now my sights are on returning to the States.

And according to the below horoscope from MichaelLutin.com, I made the right decision:

CANCER
23-29 Sept

Some Cancers have been living in two places at once, emotionally speaking, in an attempt to calm their restlessness. No matter how many errands you run or trips far abroad you plan, you still have to tap into your family and your roots now and again to feel grounded. Itchy to keep on the move or not, you need your home, and it’s certainly a lot better if someone else is there.
_______________________________________________

I didn't tell my family that I was planning on staying in Australia because I had no plans set in stone yet. But I know now that I'm meant to go home--and I didn't need this horoscope to affirm that. It's just kind of odd how spot-on it is, you know?

Though John Lennon would tell me there's nowhere I can be that isn't where I'm meant to be, lately I've felt that I'm no longer mentally and emotionally in Australia. I don't think my life will become ordinary when I go home--I just have to keep challenging myself to experience new things in my own country. I guess the best thing at this point is just to finish what I started, instead of trying to make it last longer than it should. I recognised the right to come to Oz, and now I've got to face that it's the right time to go.

Once a candy girl, always a candy girl

2008-09-24T21:44:00.006+10:00

I only spent a year and a half with Candy Industry, but I think it's made me a permanent confectionery geek. See, proof right there. Who says 'confectionery' anyway?

Here are a couple shots from an old-fashioned candy shop in Margaret River. A really cool place with a huge selection of lollies (the Aussie equivalent to the American 'candy') and collection of vintage English and Australian advertisements. I don't really get the connection between the two, but the ads certainly give the place a more authentic, old-style feel.

I bought a bag of chocolate-dusted almonds. These were more like 1 part almond, 3 parts milk chocolate. I couldn't finish the bag. The incredibly delicious cocoa-dusted almonds from my Candy Industry visits to L.A. Burdick in New Hampshire and Charles Chocolates in California are still a fresh memory.

A chocolate snob for life.

Long-distance relationship

2008-09-24T21:36:00.005+10:00

More Margaret River beach photos. It was a windy day--many surfers were packing up for the evening.

I've been quite spoiled being so close to the ocean throughout my stay here in Australia. Even though my stomach would rather me stay away, I still love it from a distance. I'll miss that most when I'm landlocked in Iowa.

A long day closes

2008-09-24T21:32:00.001+10:00

Sunset over a beach along the Indian Ocean in Margaret River.

The wine's fine, but I'm drawn to the vine

2008-09-24T21:13:00.007+10:00

Our visit to a few of Margaret River's wineries were wasted on me. I couldn't tell you the difference between boxed wine and a really good wine. Come to think of it, I can't even think of a brand name of a decent wine. During the tastings, I just nodded and agreed with everyone. But really, can you tell me what a mature wine tastes like? Can you detect earthy or fruity or citrusy or floral notes? I didn't think so. That's why I let James and Keren decide what was good and bought whatever they did. It's called faking it, folks.

I was more interested in the scenery. Hope you enjoy the photos. While they don't translate the true beauty of the surroundings, you'll get a taste for it. And if you're really lucky (and if United's baggage allowances quit being ridiculous), I'll not have broken into the bottles I purchased and some will actually make it home with me. I'll give the nice wine to my family. I'm fine with Franzia.

A 2km walk, WA style

2008-09-24T20:57:00.005+10:00

We took a short city break from Perth and spent a few days in Margaret River. We made a couple stops along the way, including the Busselton Jetty. This wooden jetty's the longest in the Southern Hemisphere, stretching nearly 2 kms.

So we each paid the $2.50 to walk the jetty. A bit disappointing, I should say. The winds were extreme, which kept us clutching to the one rail. Yes, one rail. So basically you could quite easily fall into the ocean. I saw a beer can on the jetty along the way back. Call me crazy, but drinking and one-rail jetty walking just don't go together.

But even worse was the fact that the underwater observatory was gated shut at the end of the jetty due to poor conditions. We paid the fare and were wind-whipped for nearly 2 kms to basically be told to come back on a sunnier day.

On a brighter note, it was one of the rare times I was that far out into the ocean and not covered in my own vomit.

The less glamourous side of being an 19th century WA jailbird

2008-09-23T21:46:00.009+10:00

All together now: Let's thank God we were never British convicts shipped off to Western Australia in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Because, as I found out at the Fremantle Prison, it really sucked.

Here's the deal: Fremantle Prison was actually built by convict laborers in the 1850s and originally served as a convict establishment. It was basic, temporary accommodation for the convicts. Basic is a good word, I think. I'm trying to not sound too pampered. I'm sure a mid-19th century criminal would actually feel right at home in this dump.

Anyways, the Fremantle Convict Establishment became Fremantle Prison in 1886. And incredibly, this place was running until 1991. I was alive then. I could add and subtract. And this prison was in operation. Amazing.

We saw the gallows (which was apparently the only legal execution site in WA from the 1880s until 1984), an Anglican church in the prison, the solitary confinement rooms (er, rooms probably isn't the correct term. I've seen larger tanning beds.), and the yard where the prisoners received their lashings.

I think I uttered the phrase, "That would totally suck," more in that hour than I ever did in my entire life. I'll spare you the disgusting bits. This place was rough--you could just feel all the awful things that happened right where you were standing. And now it's on the Australian National Heritage List. Funny how that happens.

Either way, if I ever had the urge to kill, then this tour killed it.

Take out the octopus, and it would be just about perfect

2008-09-23T21:18:00.003+10:00

As I reflect on my time in Australia, I am amazed by what I've seen. I've been so many places--Coastal Queensland, Tassie, Melbourne, all over Sydney--and even Auckland, New Zealand.

But my trip to Perth completely, utterly blew me away. Western Australia is just my style.

Sure, it pales in Sydney's glamour. It doesn't have Melbourne's shopping. It doesn't have Queensland's tourist appeal and crop of crazies. But Perth is young, fresh and so obviously on the brink of greatness. I fell for it.

Thanks to my Aussie, friend Keren, we were able to stay with her very generous brother who moved to Perth 3 months ago. He carted us around for the better part of week, driving us to some cool suburbs and even to Margaret River--Southwest Australia's prime wine country.

Above are some photos I took in Fremantle, a large suburb in Perth's southwest. The top one is of octopus at Little Creatures Brewery. Such a cool, open air place. We went for lunch at around 2:30 and this place was bouncing off the freaking walls. It was fantastic. The brewery's Pale Ale was delicious...and that's an adjective never meant for beer. The octopus, though...well that's another story. I tried it though, and will be damned if I ever make that mistake again!

The next photo is the facade of the Fremantle markets. I've become a real market connoisseur since being in Oz, and this one was on the lower end. Definitely not a Salamanca, but I still managed to walk out with a couple crappy postcards.

The final is a photo of Keren and I before we toured the Fremantle Prison/Convict Establishment.

Honestly, I could write until my fingers dropped off about this place. But I don't want to--and you probably wouldn't want to read it anyway. Ask me about it when I get home, it's better if I tell it. But be prepared for an earful.

Laughing between the lines

2008-09-19T12:33:00.004+10:00

Jenny latched onto the humour behind many of Australia's signs pretty early on--she's even created photo albums filled with signage snaps while traveling around the country.

I've finally caught on to the brilliance of this idea. It's not just that we find these signs funny--it's that most Australians don't. Just goes to show that even mundane objects like signs illustrate that while we speak the same language, our ways of interpreting it can be vastly different.

Here's a small selection of some belly laugh-inducing signs we've seen so far.

Top: The Australian Museum in Sydney

Centre: Airlie Beach boat docks, QLD

Bottom: Amberley Estate in Margaret River, WA

Now that's a busy beaver...

2008-08-31T21:16:00.008+10:00

Really, its been to the salon and had its nails done. It even visited the beach. (Actually, I think we all can agree this beaver's a 'she' not an 'it.')

If you haven't given up on this post out of sheer confusion, thanks! But really, copy and paste the link below. It's for a feminine hygiene company in Australia, but don't get freaked out. Trust me, it's so worth it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxM57E9u_QM

This ad caused quite a stir here in Oz. According to Australia's Advertising Standards Bureau, it has been the most complained about ad of 2008.

I think this ad is fantastic, though! It's hilarious and adds a light, creative spin to a subject that has been taboo for far too long. This ad would never make it anywhere near American air waves, which makes it all the more cool to me. Sure, beaver's never been my favorite word for it, but that's neither here nor there....

Despite its controversy (and to my delight), the company has released two more ads along this same theme.

If you'd like, check out the link below for a critique from The Gruen Transfer, a brilliant Australian show that discusses today's advertising industry:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJgRxXil0lQ&feature=related

I never thought I'd say this in August...

2008-08-31T14:42:00.004+10:00

...but it's the last day of winter! While that makes me very happy, I can't help but think I'll be back in the season before long. And brutal Midwestern winters--unfortunately for us all--are nothing like balmy Aussie ones. Oh well, I'll try to hold off dwelling on that til December.

A proper Aussie tea party

2008-08-30T19:58:00.004+10:00

If Australian culture's rubbed off on me, it's most evident by my new found tea-drinking habit. Actually, addiction is a better word for it.

I can't remember the last morning I've gone without a cup of tea within 10 minutes of waking. It's part of me now. I've already picked out the kettle I want when I return to the States. It's a bright red one from Crate and Barrel--you can't miss it (if anyone's interested).

While I drink about seven cups of tea daily, I only very recently enjoyed a proper afternoon tea. My Aussie friend, Keren, was kind enough to introduce me to the practice (and some new carbohydrates along the way).

Besides serving the tea in a proper pot (unlike my not-so-charming way of simply flipping on a dingy, old kettle), Keren also whipped up a variety of sweets. We ate scones with jam and double cream, miniature lemon tarts and eclairs with a mocha frosting. She's like a pint-sized, honest, Aussie Martha Stewart.

The scones were my favourite. And I'm sure the double cream will--in some way--remain on me forever. Whatever. It was fun and classy.

Inside the Opera House

2008-08-21T20:34:00.002+10:00

While I couldn't take any photos of David that night, I did get some very cool pictures of inside the Opera House.

Top: A staircase directly outside the concert hall.

Second: A huge pipe organ located behind the concert hall stage.

Third: A sculpture hanging down from the ceiling.

Bottom: The skyline as seen from a huge panel of windows in the southern foyer. I took this while waiting in line for the book signing.

Everybody has their Sedaris

2008-08-21T20:17:00.005+10:00

I recently saw David Sedaris at the Opera House. Anyone who's known me for about 10 minutes understands that this is kind of a big deal for me.

I actually wrote an article about my experience for my magazine class this term. Feel free to check it out below. And if anyone has any insight on what a president in a half shell means, let me know.

Everybody has their someone. Most often, people worship rock gods or sports heroes. There might even be a dozen out there who admire politicians. But I look up to a short, squeaky-voiced, middle-aged author named David Sedaris.

Having an author as an idol might not sound so strange, but it is for me. To be honest, I don’t really enjoy reading. I get bored, my eyes dry up, and I would just rather be listening to my iPod.

I was introduced to Sedaris’ work five years ago, when I was required to read “Me Talk Pretty One Day” for a nonfiction writing class. Some pages are still sprinkled with rounds of wrinkles from loose tears during fits of laughter. I now anticipate a new Sedaris release in much the same way I look forward to my mom’s egg casserole on Christmas morning. And trust me, that’s saying something.

So upon discovering that Sedaris was holding a reading as part of the Sydney Writers’ Festival, I located a pair of tickets so fast it was like my life depended on it.

The show was slated for 18 August, only one day after I returned from a trip (though I would’ve seriously considered ditching it to see the show had the timing not worked out). Another bit of luck came courtesy of a venue change. I bought tickets expecting to see the reading at the shabby Metro Theatre, but unexpected demand moved the event to the concert hall at the Sydney Opera House.

I arrived at the show 45 minutes early. I could’ve sat in the front row, but I took the modest road and sat in the second row, centre. For the next half hour, people flooded into the hall. It was amazing—a man who simply writes about his life in an off-beat way had sold out the Sydney Opera House’s concert hall.

I couldn’t help but notice the crowd. Gay couples, polished academic types, aging women with streaks of grey, white people, black people, Asians, college students with thick-rimmed eyeglasses in blazers. Maybe it’s his acute sense of humour about his childhood or the way he views his life and those roped into it, but something about Sedaris resonates with an astonishing array of people.

He read from his newest book, “When You Are Engulfed in Flames,” but also sent the crowd howling with some prized, yet unpublished, gems. Most notably, his rendition of a piece meant for radio about a former professor who had an annoying habit of selectively adopting a Latin American accent was unforgettable. I, for one, might never be able to hold a straight face upon hearing “Nicaragua” again.

After a brief conversation with Australian comedian, Judith Lucy, Sedaris began the book signing. His book signings have lasted as long as nine hours, in great part because he enjoys a bit of a chat with each person who shows up.

Fortunately, I barely had to wait an hour to meet the man who is literally living my dream. I had been tortured for weeks over what perfect line to deliver. However, to say I dazzled him with my wits couldn’t be farther from the truth.

“Now what does Kelly do?” he said, as if talking to a two-year-old.

“Journalism,” I said blankly, like a two-year-old. “I am a journalist.”

Throughout this caveman-esque conversation, he was drawing. And for the life of me, I couldn’t figure out what it was. I had to ask.

“It’s Abe Lincoln’s head,” he said calmly. “On a turtle’s body.”

Brilliant. He slid me my book, smiled, and I was ushered aside. For those 30 seconds, he must’ve thought I was just another half-wit. And maybe he’s right because I’ll be wracking my brain trying to figure out what that drawing means. But that didn't matter then. I left feeling exhilarated.

With all that said, maybe my role model isn’t so strange. Idol worship is, after all, relative. And if David Sedaris proves anything, it’s that the most normal life is always worth a closer look.

Another helping of Hobart

2008-08-20T21:36:00.003+10:00

Top: Morning on the harbour

Second: Mt. Wellington

Third: A ship docked right alongside Fish Frenzy

Bottom: Downtown Hobart

More market photos

2008-08-20T16:46:00.003+10:00

Photos:
Top: This guy working the apple stall was a character. He didn't heckle those who passed up his booth--he was all over those who actually wanted to buy from him. Funny guy.

Second: I've seen figurines like this before, but they photograph well so I thought why not?

Third: The Federation Chocolate stall. They didn't sell just plain chocolate, but offered interesting flavours like Strawberry, Honeycomb, Caramel Nougat, Rum & Raisin and Bourbon.

Last: The Indian stall where I brought my dress. The woman in the red with her back to the camera knew I was a sucker from the moment she laid eyes on me.

A slice of Salamanca

2008-08-20T16:13:00.008+10:00

One of the many things I love about Australia is their love of outdoor markets. Maybe I'm just not paying attention, but this is something I haven't seen back in America.

I've been to Glebe and Paddington markets in Sydney, Queen Victoria Markets in Melbourne and the Victoria Park Market in Auckland. Some are quite high-end and others sell little more than souvenir crap made in China.

Hobart's Salamanca Market beats the living daylights out of every one of them.

The Salamanca Market are held every Saturday. Here's what so great about them:
1. The quality of products: There was little souvenir junk at these markets. Much of it was homemade by the seller and was really great quality and Tasmanian made.

2. The range of products: There were organic produce stalls, flower stalls, Indian gift stalls, stalls that sold items made out of kitchen utensils, books by Tassie authors, hand-knitted hats and fuzzy scarfs, loads of jewelry, even a stall selling dog coats--a huge range of stuff.

3. Buskers: Australia has a vibrant busking culture, and the talent present at the market was fantastic. There was a trio of kids playing traditional music, a pair of flautists, even an amateur opera singer. It really enhanced the whole atmosphere.

4. Space: Paddington Market in Sydney also boasts high-quality goods, but it's fatal flaw is it's lack of space. Salamanca is spread out up and down Salamanca Place, so you can walk comfortably among the stalls and not have to worry about being constantly rubbed up by some complete stranger. Also, it's not too spread out. Jenny and I walked from one end to the next at least three times, so we were able to check everything out without being completely exhausted.

5. Food: Okay, this whole food thing is becoming a joke. But again, it looked and smelled really good! I actually didn't try any of the market food (because I wanted another smoked salmon sandwich from Drifter's), but I did jump at the chance to buy apple cider (or hot apple juice as they call it) because I hadn't yet seen it in Oz. The market offers loads of food--bratwurst, strawberries and cream, chocolate, meat pies, lamb wraps.

Of course I did buy a few things, including a couple gifts I won't mention. But for myself I bought a jar of creamed honey. This was completely novel to me, but apparently it's sold at any grocer in Australia. It's basically honey that's been whipped at very high speeds, so nothing's added to it. Somehow, though, it tastes so much better!

I also bought a reversible silk dress from an Indian gift vendor. It's actually quite casual, though who knows how much I'll actually wear it. But as my friend reminded me, it still serves a purpose. It'll always spark my memory of the day.

I heart Hobart

2008-08-20T15:32:00.007+10:00

All the factors were in play to make my trip to Hobart, Tasmania, pretty undesirable. But despite the ever-present drizzle and my lack of left-hand driving skills, I found Tassie to be a wonderful place.

Jenny and I spent the first day wandering around Hobart's city centre. We discovered some really great shops, notably Holy Sheet! (a really cool home store) and Funky Homes (yet another cool home store). There were also plenty of antique shops and used bookstores, places that keep both Jenny and I pretty content for the better part of an afternoon.

We spent the following morning at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, which was expansive and impressive considering it's free. We also walked through Hobart's Battery Point district, which is the oldest part of the city. Hobart is actually Australia's second-oldest city, with Sydney being the oldest.

While Hobart spills with beauty (the European seaside architecture, beautiful Mt. Wellington constantly looming in the distance), it was the food that made me fall in love with it.

We went to a place called Jam Packed one day for lunch. The restaurant is built in an old jam factory along a really cool stretch on the harbour. I splurged and ordered the Moroccan Burger with honey-stuffed mushrooms. It was overcooked but somehow still tasted like Gordon Ramsay whipped it up.

Later that afternoon we stopped for coffee at Retro Cafe in Salamanca Place. Here I tried my first Afghan biscuit. It's basically a small chocolate cookie with corn flakes mixed it, then topped with chocolate icing and walnuts. Doesn't sound too special, but it suddenly found itself on my "foods-to-never-eat-if-you-ever-want-a-husband" list. I'm not really sure why they're called Afghans, and I don't think many Aussies do either. Their answer is just to shut up about the stupid name and eat the bloody thing.

That evening we ate dinner at Fish Frenzy, which claims it serves the best fish and chips in Australia. Considering fish and chips are Australia's equivalent to the American burger and fries, I thought this was a pretty huge claim. But as far as I know, it wasn't unfounded. Fish Frenzy's fish and chips taste amazing, and I think it's because they're not very greasy like most places. What I think I liked best, though, was that they were served in a rolled up piece of brown paper. I thought this was very British, and still somehow very cool.

But the gold star goes to the smoked salmon sandwiches on rye at Drifter's Cafe in Salamanca Place. We stopped in Drifter's initially because it offered cheap internet. Once we realized they served food, we decided to order something sheerly because it was convenient. I adored the smoked salmon so much I dragged Jenny back for a second go. I usually hate eating at a place twice while traveling, but this place had me.

I swear I did other things but eat in Tassie, it's just that the food in the other parts of mainland Oz have oftentimes been a bit sketchy. However, I do wish food was the only thing I indulged in while I was there, but I was no match for the Salamanca Markets.

Photos:
Top: A stretch of Battery Point, the oldest part of Hobart. I've never been to England or Ireland, but I imagine the houses looking much like the ones here. Mt. Wellington is also in the background.

Centre: A Tasmanian Devil-themed cafe--one of the few places I did not eat.

Bottom: Boats docked on the harbour, with the jam-packing district in the background.

Sunset, Sydney style

2008-08-13T20:22:00.002+10:00

How could anyone not fall in love with Sydney?

This photo isn't even professional--Jenny took it while on a ferry from Watson's Bay to the Opera House. Just an ordinary evening.

I've been a bad blogger

2008-08-13T15:57:00.007+10:00

This session, school has demanded a ridiculous amount of my time. Well, "ridiculous" really isn't the correct term--I guess "reasonable" is more appropriate for my degree (I often forget I'm a Masters student).

Anyway, that's one of the reasons I haven't been updating my blog. Also, I really haven't been able to get out very much because I've been holed up in the library or Creative Arts building working on the various things I have going this term. So there really hasn't been much I could show or tell.

I'm only in week 4 and can already tell that this session is going to be way different than the last. I feel like I've been thrown in head first so far. I'm working on a thesis, helping put together a magazine from the ground up and learning photojournalism (which is both my easiest and hardest class because it demands the least time, but I completely suck at it).

I'll be spicing up my blog soon enough, though. Tomorrow I'm taking a short break and hopping over to Tasmania (or Tassie as the locals dub it). This is another one of those obscure places I never in my lifetime thought I'd see, but I'd be silly not to visit while I'm here. Though booking a trip to Oz's southern-most state during the dead of winter proves my head is still not entirely screwed on. Expect pictures soon!

Winter hailstorm

2008-08-07T16:13:00.007+10:00

I shouldn't expect winter in Australia to be comparable to those I'm familiar with in the Midwest, but the colder months are just plain weird here.

I'd describe winter in Sydney as one that has characteristics of all the seasons back home. There have been really hot days (summer), rainy days (spring), windy, cool days (fall) and days where ice falls from the sky (winter). Okay, it was actually hail, which typically has nothing to do with winter...unless you're in Australia.

Anyway, today was one of those messed up days where we got slapped with all four seasons at once. By mid-afternoon I noticed that the sun faded under dark cloud looming over Mt. Keira. Having retained some remnants of my meteorology obsession from the mid-1990s, I knew we were in for something big.

Within a half hour, we were in the grips of one nasty thunderstorm. Besides the thunder and lightning, the wind was out of control, the rain was lashing against our roof, and we got a fair bit of pea-sized hail. It was so hilarious because this was the closest thing to snow my Indian roommate Ankita had ever seen--so she was thrilled to say the very least.

But the funniest thing about it all was that instead of the heat and humidity usually associated with thunderstorms, it was freezing outside. I was sitting out on our porch in my winter coat, watching as the hail pelted the crap out of my neighbour's car. Could this honestly be normal weather here?

All's calm now, though I've heard heaps of sirens since the storm ended. Maybe thunderstorms in Australian winters aren't so common after all.

Photojournalism: Take One

2008-07-31T20:31:00.004+10:00

It's amazing how you look at things differently when you're on a photo assignment.

I'm taking photojournalism this term, and today the class was free to roam campus and take shots. I still have a fair bit of work ahead of me, but here's a peek at my go of it.

The first shot is of a tree-lined walkway near the Creative Arts building. I spend most of my time here but have never noticed the beauty it.

The second picture is of a sculpture titled "Prodigal Son." I never even knew this piece existed because it's hidden on the side of a building wall and is partially blocked by palm leaves. It's a shame, really, since the university doesn't display a great deal of art on campus. You'd think they'd provide better placement for a piece like this.

The final one is of a pair of palm tree trunks. My friends liked this one the best--they said it had great "texture." Honestly, though, I like this picture simply because it reminds me that I go to a school with palm trees on campus. Never gets old.

A garden visitor

2008-07-21T13:54:00.003+10:00

I don't know why I was so fascinated by seeing this bird in my garden, considering I live next to a botanic garden and a rainforest. Nevertheless, it reminded me how cool it was to be living in a place where seeing such an exotic looking thing was actually normal.

If you give someone enough rope...

2008-07-18T20:33:00.005+10:00

Jenny and I headed up to the ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) Ultimo studios in Sydney to attend a taping of Enough Rope with Andrew Denton. It was my first time ever being in a studio audience and was relatively painless, except for the warm-up guy who made things a bit uncomfortable because of his obsession with the fact that Jenny and I were American.

Anyway, Andrew Denton hosts a very popular weekly program here in Oz. He interviews notable figures--everyone from athletes, entertainers, authors and politicians.

They wanted the guest to be a surprise, but the producers did mention it was a "high-profile" guest who required lots of security. They moved to a more intimate studio than usual and we all had to go through metal detectors before even entering. Sounds pretty mundane for an American, but by Australian standards, this was a big deal. You could really tell that the staff weren't used to such protocol.

The guest for our taping was Jose Ramos-Horta, who is the second president of East Timor. The country only very recently gained independence from Indonesia, so Ramos-Horta has dealt with his fair share of tumultuous times during his leadership. It's actually amazing he was even able to show up for the interview, considering he was seriously injured during an assassination attempt last February.

Admittedly, I was disappointed when the guest was announced. The Pope is in town, so I was expecting him or possibly some big movie star. But by the end of the interview, I was thrilled to be at this interview. I didn't know a single thing about East Timor before the show, except that it sounded dangerous. However, I gained a wealth of information in the two-hour interview. Denton mentioned that Ramos-Horta isn't a typical politician. And he's not. He's warm, personable, approachable and has a great sense of humour. I really enjoyed myself.

Sure, it would've been great to hear Hugh Jackman talk about his upcoming film, "Australia," but this was better.

On a final note, it's a true shame Andrew Denton's work isn't shown in America. You don't have to be a journalist to appreciate his interviewing talent. I don't believe there's a single journalist in America who puts the same effort into each subject. Actually, Denton doesn't make his subjects feel like subjects. As a viewer, it's almost as if you're eavesdropping on a really great conversation between friends. Interviewing is certainly one of my professional weaknesses, so it's really exciting for me to watch a true master of the craft.

In other words, I've already signed up for another taping.

This has nothing to do with Australia, but...

2008-07-17T16:20:00.002+10:00

It's my blog, so I can write whatever I want!

Check out The Cake Sale, it's an awesome CD featuring a collection of primarily Irish musicians. It's been out in Ireland for about two years now and hit the US in October. All proceeds go to Oxfams Make Trade Fair campaign, which hopes to alleviate poor communities from unfair trade practices.

Irish music rocks. Irish music that helps deserving people is...well, even better, I guess. Go get it!

Who knew bones could be so beautiful?

2008-07-06T15:16:00.004+10:00

Perhaps the most notable seascape along Great Ocean Road is the Twelve Apostles.

These rock formations are comprised primarily of animal bones and are constantly eroded by the sea.

We had to walk a bit before we came upon the Twelve Apostles. It was really weird because it was incredibly windy out--I wouldn't be surprised if the winds exceeded 60 mph--so we could hear the sea from pretty far out. It was a cool foreshadowing of what was to come.

When we finally made it to the cliff, the Twelve Apostles seemed to sprout from nowhere. The waves crashed like crazy upon them and the sun was gently peeked through the thick layer of clouds. It was heavenly. Really, if I were to picture heaven, this might be it. I don't exactly know why, because it wasn't necessarily breathtakingly gorgeous. It was just something about the light and magnitude of it all. I'd never seen anything remotely like it.

Another reflective moment by Kelly Rehan

2008-07-05T19:21:00.003+10:00

It's often easy to lose touch with reality (to some degree) when you live in Oz.

It occured to me that I'm over halfway through with my 9-month stint in Australia. Today I thought about my initial expectations about this whole thing and compared them to what I've actually done and learned so far.

Here are my findings:

1. I never EVER thought I'd travel like I have this past 4 1/2 months. Sounds crazy, but I thought I'd explore primarily NSW and possibly make a trip out to Melbourne. Travel, however, is a fixture of the Australian lifestyle--just like work, really. Through meeting Aussies and embracing the culture, my plans naturally changed.

I never in my life imagined I'd snorkel the Great Barrier Reef or see a wild koala close up along Great Ocean Road. Lots of "greats" during my time here so far. I've even been to New Zealand--now that's one place I couldn't have told you a thing about a year ago.

At heart, I'm a home body. But at the same time, I call many places home. There's Sioux City, Iowa, of course. And Iowa City. And Chicago. And now Sydney and Wollongong Australia. While I feel an enormous sense of comfort in these places, I'm thrilled beyond words to discover that I can and love to travel.

Besides my visits to New Zealand, the East coast and Melbourne, I have trips slated for Tasmania in August and (hopefully) Perth, Western Australia in September or October. I will undoubtedly be flat broke when I return to the States in November. I'm fairly sure I will be eating nothing but ramen noodles during the entire months of October and most of November. But I will have 100% certainty that it was beyond worth it.

2. It's often downplayed, but the primary reason I'm here is to earn my Master of Journalism degree. Ultimately, I hope to pursue my doctorate and teach at the university level. This goal, thankfully, is still in tact. I had exceptionally high expectations for this academic program because my experience at the University of Iowa was so fantastic. While some areas of the program have been disappointing, I am blown away by most of my professors. One in particular has only strengthened my desire to teach. Strangely, I am among her first-ever students. I can only imagine how impressive she'll be in a few years.

3. If you've known me for about 5 minutes, you'll figure out that I'm pretty anal. I like knowing what's going on--I always have a plan and I'm a bit of a control freak when it comes to my life. I've always hated this about myself. I feel a certain jealously when I meet someone who just lets life come to them instead of trying to intercept it before it actually happens. Before coming to Australia, that carefree attitude was part of the picture I had in my mind of the typical Aussie.

I can't really say if that impression is entirely true (which it probably isn't), but I hoped it would rub off on me anyway. And in a sense it has. My responsible self says I should just go back to the States and get a job to pay off the mountain of debt I've accrued the past few months. But I don't know if I necessarily want to go back. Am I still looking for jobs four months in advance? Absolutely. Am I wracking my brain over what I'm going to do with my life? Every damn day. But am I going to go back to the States just because I think I should? I'm not so sure. I guess I'll just have to wait to see where I'm pulled in a few months.

Who knows? Maybe I will extend my stay in Oz. Or maybe I've been here too long and am simply losing touch with reality.

Worth getting locked up for

2008-07-05T18:43:00.010+10:00

My Great Ocean Road tour guide was awesome--he knew exactly where wild koalas hung out.

We stopped at Kennett River Tourist Park, which harbours lots of koalas because of the trees. You see, koalas are fussy little creatures that prefer only about 10 types of eucalyptus leaves, though there's hundreds of types in the country.

Our tour guide did mention a couple of set backs, though. First, not to get too excited because koalas sleep for about 20 hours a day, so the chances of seeing them active were slight. And second, touching a koala was illegal in the state of Victoria.

What the hell? They practically let you take one home in Queensland.

But this was hardly disappointing. Our tour guide led us down a path so we could feed a bunch of overly-friendly birds. But I wasn't there for birds. I wanted to see a koala. So I broke away from the group, and it wasn't long before I came across the cuties pictured above.

I was lucky enough to see one actually awake! He (let's just assume it's a male) loved getting his picture taken. He even started climbing down the tree toward me. For a moment I thought he was literally going to jump into my arms. I wouldn't have minded at all--heck, a huge part of me wanted it to happen. Screw the razor sharp claws, I've been dying to cuddle a koala since I got here.

He didn't seem to care for the law, so I didn't either. Because, y'know, I often take behavioural cues from koalas.

But alas, the group was leaving and he hadn't made it down the tree. So I scrambled to take a few more shots and left. Here's to hoping the koala laws in New South Wales aren't as strict as Victoria's!

This is not a joke

2008-07-04T11:10:00.008+10:00

Signs like this were sprinkled all throughout Great Ocean Road.

It struck me as strange because I'd never seen signs like this in Australia. Our tour guide didn't elaborate on the reasoning behind them, but a chance meeting at a bus stop proved more enlightening than I originally thought.

While I was waiting for a bus in Sydney shortly before my Melbourne trip, a man struck up a conversation with me. We talked about what I thought of Australia, and I mentioned how I was going to Melbourne and taking a tour of Great Ocean Road.

He told me that a few years back an American man hired a motorcycle to ride Great Ocean Road. He didn't make it very far, though. Less than a day after arriving in the country, he was killed on Great Ocean Road for driving on the wrong side of the road.

Now I don't know if these signs are a direct result of that poor man's death, but I'm inclined to believe they are. Everyone on the tour thought the signs were pretty ridiculous, but who knows how many uninformed foreigners' lives have been saved from them?

They don't call it "Great" for nothing

2008-07-04T10:33:00.007+10:00

Here are some more shots of Great Ocean Road.

Top: Kangaroos in the wild at Bells Beach (this NEVER gets old).

Second: Another breathtaking ocean view from one of the roadside stops.

Third: A rock formation at Loch and Gorge. The story with this place goes something like this: About 200 years ago, a boat en route to Melbourne from London sank. The sole two survivors washed up on the beach at Loch and Gorge and climbed to safety.

Bottom: The beach at Loch and Gorge.

Great Ocean Road

2008-07-03T19:43:00.010+10:00

You might think I only care about big cities and shopping....well, it's usually my first priority, but nonetheless, I like to occasionally get in touch with nature.

I went on a day tour of Great Ocean Road whilst in Melbourne. The bucolic drive winds through the southernmost part of inland Australia.

We made heaps of stops at lesser-known locales like Bells Beach (Australia's surfing mecca) and major tourist destinations like the Twelve Apostles.

Pictures:

Top: Great Ocean Road winds through lush, green farmland, as seen from Bells Beach.

Second: Bells Beach, which still sees some surfing faithful even in the dead of winter.

Third: Great Ocean Road sign--perfect for photo ops.

Bottom: A gorgeous seaside view from one of the roadside stops.

Australia's NYC

2008-07-03T18:46:00.012+10:00

My recent trip to Melbourne might have killed me...had I not been for end of financial year sales.

I've heard only lovely things about Melbourne since I arrived in Australia. Even many Sydneysiders can't help but like it, though the two cities foster a highly competitive relationship.

From what I've gathered, Sydney is Australia's L.A., while Melbourne is their NYC. Though Sydney is the larger of the two, it might not be that way for long. Apparently, 1,200 people move to Melbourne every week! If it continues to grow at such a rate, Melbourne will be the largest Australian city by 2020.

While Sydney boasts a glamourous edge, Melbourne prides itself on its cultural venues, restaurants and shopping.

I cannot stress enough the greatness of the shopping scene. I did exercise some control (and again, the sales helped) and only bought a few choice items. I purchased a gorgeous eggplant peacoat from Hello, Gorgeous!, a boutique downtown. I also bought a silk purse from Review Australia's outlet store. And finally, I picked up a gold-plated dog tag in the shape of Australia with "Ollie Rehan" engraved on it from the Queen Victoria Markets. My Lhasa Apso will be the fanciest pooch on the block.

Melbourne is such a fantastic city. And honestly, I thought I'd prefer it to anywhere else in Oz. But when I returned to Sydney, I was happy to be home.

Here are some pics from the trip:

Top: Royal Arcade shopping (this is where I got my peacoat).

Second: A downtown intersection (the gold-lighted building on the left is a tram station).

Third: Bourke Street Mall (Melbourne's shopping epicentre).

Bottom: Victoria Park Markets.

Furby not welcome on board

2008-06-30T16:10:00.006+10:00

I think it's time Qantas updated its in-flight safety cards.

Honestly, Furbys are so eight years ago. And for all our sakes, let's pray they stay there.

While perusing Qanta's safety card on my flight to Melbourne, I noticed the clear reference to Furby. Apparently, they're not allowed on the plane. And for good reason. If that thing interfered with signals and caused my plane to go down, I would be pissed.

Anyway, seeing Furby after all these years brought me back to a few holidays ago when the Furby was just hitting the scene. I remember it as THE toy of the season about 7 or 8 years ago. Unfortuately for my family, my twin sisters were the prime target market for these furry balls of weirdness.

Of course, the twins didn't just get a single Furby that year. They got at least four each. I can still remember when they'd be silent, eyes closed one minute, then they'd spring to life the next, squealing some gibberish my sisters taught them. It was a mortifying time in our house.

But thankfully, the twins grew up and the Furbys lost their luster.

That's the thing about fads--they just can't stand the test of the time. Though some do find ways of surviving...if only on an Australian flight safety card.

Check this out

2008-06-30T10:51:00.002+10:00

One of the stories I wrote last semester was recently published in Swamp, an online magazine out of the University of Newcastle. The publication features solely postgrad writers, so check out the link below:

http://www.swampwriting.com/?page_id=6

Ocean: 3, Kelly: 0

2008-06-24T14:07:00.007+10:00

My astrological sign is Cancer.

I consider myself a typical Cancerian--empathetic, moody, emotional, thoughtful, perhaps a bit overprotective and defensive.

There is one thing about my sign, though, that Australia has shown me I'm not compatible with. Cancer is a Cardinal Water sign. Yes, I love bath tubs, swimming pools, hot tubs, the occasional wave pool...basically anything where I can see the bottom. Obviously, oceans don't fit into this.

You've heard the story before--I frantically kicked a sea turtle and burned off the top few layers of skin while on the Great Barrier Reef, which therefore ruined my 3-day stint on the Whitsunday Islands in the Coral Sea. For some reason, I thought a whale-watching tour on the Pacific Ocean would redeem my sea-going self.

Did I mention that Cancerians are completely illogical?

I joined Jenny, her mom Penny and her mom's friend, Trish for a $59 whale-watching tour last weekend. Penny lent me one of her prescription-strength sea sickness patches, so I thought I was good to go.

Things couldn't have gone better when we first took off from Darling Harbour. Sure, I was the only moron who wasn't wearing the appropriate attire (I guess I haven't gotten used to the fact that it's winter in June, so I was wearing a long-sleeve top with a light cardigan, whereas everyone else was in gloves and full-on winter gear), but it was sunny and the views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House were postcard quality.

I was feeling good. But once we left Sydney's harbour area and entered the open ocean, it was almost like the waters weren't even the same. It's like leaving a warm department store and walking out onto a blizzard-blown street during Christmastime. It was amazing how quickly things took a turn for the worse.

Our boat wasn't tiny, but it was by no means huge. The waves were bullying us around like crazy. Screw the patch, I knew it was over. Ironically, the captain pointed out that the day's waves were actually much calmer than the day before.

Anyway, it was about a half hour before someone spotted a whale. By this point, I was so far gone that I was hard pressed to find anything--and I mean anything--that I wanted more than to get back off that God-forsaken boat. While everybody jumped off their seats and rushed to the front of the boat, I sat stoicly in my seat on the far left side of the upper deck. I literally felt anchored to that seat. I honestly don't think a team of whales doing a tap dance routine could have roused me from my position.

Another while later, more whales were spotted near the back of the boat. Again, everyone moved excitedly to spot the next group.

Not long after, Jenny cried out to me to look over the edge of the boat near where I was sitting. Right as I did, a huge humpback whale ascended from the water and crashed back in. Simulatenously, everyone on the boat crowded around me.

And as life would have it, my stomach decided that this was the opportune time to show its weakness. I thought I could simply puke over the rail and into the ocean, but I forgot that people were actually on the lower deck and hanging their expensive cameras off the edge. I doubt they'd find it too amusing to be puked on. Though, let's be honest, being puked on always makes for a great story.

Thankfully, Penny was right next to me. I told her I was about to lose it. Like the great mother she is, she ran to the front of the boat, grabbed a barf bag. Within 3 seconds of giving it to me, as I was cornered by literally 20 eco-lovers and in the presence of one of nature's most glorious creatures, I vomited. And I mean I really let it all out.

To my relief, the whale stole the show. No one really paid any attention to the weird American puking in their midst. I guess I'm happy I wasn't blocking the view.

I felt a little better, but I was freezing and dizzy. Jenny sat next to me and somehow found a warm coat to wrap me in. I realized then that Jenny exuded true friendship that day. It was actually her birthday and she was helping me recover, when it really should've been the other way around. For the hour-long trip back into Sydney, I took a nap on her shoulder.

So that was it. I'm done with this ocean crap. I like to think this was a bit of karma for kicking the sea turtle on the Great Barrier Reef. Whether that's true, I know now I'm meant solely for air and land travel.

Dear ocean,

You win. Maybe I'm really a Gemini.

Much respect,

Kelly

Pictures:

Though $59 bought me a great story, I couldn't get any of the photos I was hoping because I was too sick to operate a camera. So behold, the lone three photos from the day.

Top: The open ocean. Looks so calm and peaceful. Looks can be deceiving.

Middle: Again, I was too sick to operate a camera. You can detect a splash in the middle, though. That was water coming out of a whale's blowhole.

Bottom: A clean replica of the sick bag that saved me from utter humiliation. Thought you'd be dying to see it.

Twilight on Darling Harbour

2008-06-23T18:53:00.003+10:00

Since I've been in Australia, I've been lucky to have Jenny around as a roommate and travel partner. But last weekend, I had a rare moment to myself in Sydney's stunning Darling Harbour (ironically enough, I was waiting for Jenny to arrive back from Cairns).

Here are some photos I took of the evening. It was a beautiful Saturday, so the area was bustling with couples going out to dinner, friends grabbing a drink, and folks like me who simply had time to sit on the decks and enjoy the surroundings.

I guess it was one of those moments when I was forced to acknowledge how fortunate I am to be living the way I have been so far...not just since I've been in Oz but everything else that came these 24 years before. While I certainly believe experiences are fulfilling, it's people who truly enrich life.

Funny how it takes being alone half a world away to realize it.

Speaking of obesity...

2008-06-23T18:19:00.006+10:00

What says worldwide sport competition like McDonald's?

McDonald's newest gimmick in Oz, known as "Flavours of the Games," highlights five traditional tastes from "the world's five continents." (Apparently South America and Antartica lack continental status here in Australia.)

So this week was the McAmerica bagel's time to shine, and Jenny was keen on trying it (and no, I in no way had any part of it).

So here's what the folks at McDonald's Australia think the rest of the world tastes like:

McEurope: Crispy chicken fillet with parmesan cheese and Napoletana sauce made with tomato, oregano and basil.

McAmerica: Toasted bagel with two rashers of premium bacon, egg, cheese and spicy ketchup. (I don't know a single American who puts ketchup on their eggs. Tobasco, yes. Ketchup, ick.)

McAfrica (this one takes the cake): TWO all-beef patties, cheese, tomato, lettuce and "an exotic African sauce of mayonnaise and spices." (Seriously. I'm not making this up. This toes the fine line between hilarious and absolutely disrespectful.)

McAsia: Two crispy chicken strips in a tortilla wrap topped with cucumber, mayonnaise and Thai sweet chili sauce. (Because nothing says Asia like a tortilla.)

McAustralia: Toasted bun with 100% Aussie beef, bacon, pineapple and bbq sauce. (This one actually makes some sort of sense to me--the Aussies have a unique talent for messing up foods that are really hard to screw up, namely pizza and burgers. They don't understand that oftentimes the classic way is the best way. A pineapple on a burger? I think I'll pass.)

In light of the new obesity findings, I think the McAustralia seems a bit off. Since many Africans will go through life never eating a single cheeseburger, maybe the McAfrica and McAustralia can merge into one single burger known as the "McAustralia Fat Bomb."

Lay off the meat pie, mate

2008-06-20T17:04:00.006+10:00

I never thought I'd see the day when Americans were not labeled the fattest people on earth. Well apparently the title follows me wherever I go. I swear, Australia, this has nothing to do with me! Anyway, read the article below and you'll see what I'm talking about:

http://www.theage.com.au/national/nine-million-australians-are-a-ticking-fat-bomb-20080619-2tjv.html

Over 9 million Aussie adults are obese or overweight...that's nearly half the population of the entire country! They're now the fattest people on the planet.

It's hardly a surprise, though. While I've noticed that their portion sizes are considerably smaller than in the States (even at universal restaurants like McDonald's), the national foods of Oz are destined to remain on your hips long after they're consumed. Meat pies, sausage rolls, deep fried and battered fish are staples. Chips (french fries) are EVERYWHERE.

But the most figure damning of them all? One word--Cadbury.

The Australian confectionery industry is unlike anything in America. And yes, I would know. Candy aisles here are twice the size of their American counterparts and for good reason. The candy here is way better, which makes it way harder to resist. Which is way Aussies are now so bloody fat!

For as long as I can remember, I've struggled with my weight. I grew up in a state with substantial weight problems. Then I moved to Chicago, one of America's most super-sized cities with its famed deep dish pizza and hot dogs (which I often dream about...). I thought I was making a healthy move by heading down under! Instead it looks like I'm just chasing the fat.

Dancing light

2008-06-13T18:27:00.003+10:00

I actually hated this picture when I first took it, but now I think it's pretty cool. This photo of Sky City looks like someone shot a bunch of streamers in front of the lens...and it kind of looks like the tops of the buildings are on fire. I guess my camera acts like its on an acid trip whenever I take photos of heavily-lit things at night.

More of New Zealand

2008-06-13T17:03:00.002+10:00

Top: Sky City towering over the rest of downtown Auckland.

Middle: Shopping downtown.

Bottom: Victoria Park Markets, located a bit outside the city. We weren't too impressed--a bit too much souvenir crap.

Straight out of a musical

2008-06-12T21:53:00.005+10:00

Here are some shots of Devonport. Pretty adorable, huh? Looking at this, you'd expect the townspeople to open their shudders and prance into the street, singing a great chorus to welcome us to their quaint village. But no such luck.

We did get to see a horse-drawn carriage, though! But as the picture also reveals, that's not the town's sole mode of transportation.

The second shot was taken immediately after getting off the ferry in Devonport. You see, you have to take a ferry from downtown Auckland to get to Devonport (it's only about a 5-minute ride). That only added to the place's cuteness.

The last photo is of the Esplanade hotel. I thought this building was absolutely beautiful.

We loved Devonport so much that we went out there twice. The second time around, we grabbed lunch at Devonport Stone Oven Bakery & Cafe and all ordered the tomato soup. It was so delicious that we decided to return later for afternoon tea. There wasn't any singing, but I guess you could say the place rubbed off on us.

Going trans-Tasman

2008-06-12T20:30:00.007+10:00

I hopped over to New Zealand for a few days last week. No big deal.

It was AWESOME! Jenny, Amy (one of the Aussies who is also in our program) and I went to Auckland, which is located on the North Island and is the country's largest city.

We spent about four days there--a short visit, but we covered a lot of ground. We spent time in many of the city's most popular districts, including quaint Devonport, Parnell village, chic Newmarket, up-and-coming Ponsonby and the very eclectic Karangahape Rd. (known locally as "K Rd."). Our hotel was also located on Queen St.-- in the heart of the central business district.

While our visit was condensed, I learned quite a bit about New Zealand. First, New Zealanders pronounce their "a's" and "e's" like "i's." The people are also incredibly friendly and polite, which was refreshing to say the least. In many ways, New Zealand reminded me of Vermont. I'll never forget noticing how natural the locals looked when I visited Vermont in 2006. The women were fashionable, but they didn't pile on the makeup or look "loud." That's how New Zealand is, and it's so different from Wollongong. To put it plainly, New Zealand is to Vermont as Australia is to California.

Also, New Zealanders care a whole lot about the environment. The air is so clean and the city actually seems to be doing something about sustainability. The public transportation system is the best I've ever seen. They have a "green" system of Link buses that cost only $1.60 (no matter where you get on or off) and take you everywhere in the city. The buses are popular but not overcrowded. Being so cheap and with its huge network of stops, it's a great incentive not to drive.

I also learned that New Zealand greatly reveres its Maori heritage. The Maoris are the indigenous Polynesians of New Zealand. The Maori presence is much more apparent in everyday New Zealand life than the Aboriginal culture is in Australia. Many public signs are written both in English and Maori. Maoris have assimilated into the mainstream culture in a way that the Aboriginal culture hasn't. Maori Tiki men are sold EVERYWHERE. And for some reason, it seems a bit more genuine than the wooden boomerangs you see migrants selling at the seedy markets here in Oz.

Speaking of seedy markets, most of our time was spent shopping and exploring the sprawling city. Really is a beautiful place. If you're ever a three-hour flight away, I strongly encourage you make the trip. Really, though, it's worth the trip no matter where you're coming from.

Top pic: Amy and I at the Devonport ferry station with the Auckland skyline behind us. The tall, pointy structure in the middle of the skyline is Sky City, the tallest structure in the Southern Hemisphere.

Bottom: A stone pathway winding through one of the shopping nooks in Parnell village.

A night at the Opera

2008-06-12T19:53:00.005+10:00

Jenny and I have gazed (or gawked) at the splendor of the Sydney Opera House plenty of times since we've been here, but we finally found ourselves inside the place last week.

We saw Hamlet...at the Sydney Opera House. I still can't get over how cool the whole thing is! It was a really great night--we caught a light dinner at Ship Inn in Circular Quay, then we grabbed a glass of wine at the outdoor Opera Bar before the Friday evening show. It was a beautiful evening and the crystal clear Harbour Bridge view was unbeatable. It really made me think about where I was a year ago and how your life can change in such a short amount of time.

Our showing was a preview show (which is how we snagged $35 tickets) and was actually the first time the cast had performed the show in its entirety. You wouldn't have known it, though. I thought it was fantastic, despite the fact that some of the actors couldn't part with their Aussie accents.

I did notice one thing during intermission. There were some families at the show with young or teenage children. Can you imagine being an 8-year-old and going to see Hamlet at the Sydney Opera House? I can't even begin to wrap my mind around the fact that going to the Sydney Opera House is just going to the opera for some people out there. Blows my mind.

Buy Iowa in Australia

2008-06-01T17:42:00.007+10:00

Iowa is trendy Down Under.

If you can't see, the pictured hoodie reads, "Iowa: The Hawkeye State."

Cotton On, a popular Australian chain store, is selling a variety of hoodies highlighting America's more obscure locales. If Iowa's not your thing, there's also Wyoming, Montana and plenty more I can't think of at the moment.

Turns out, Chicago, L.A. and NYC aren't distictive enough anymore. Who knew? Funny thing is, I bet most of the Aussie kids sporting these hoodies wouldn't know Iowa from Idaho on the map. But I shouldn't judge. I've got my eye on a Waratahs rugby union t-shirt, and I couldn't name one player on the team.

Pride and poppies

2008-05-30T13:36:00.003+10:00

Here's a news feature I wrote earlier in the term about the differences in American and Australian educational experiences. Sorry, it's a bit long for a blog post. I'm still working out this kinks of this program and I haven't figured out how to link up to the longer article.

____________________________________________________________
Pride and poppies
As one Australian and American discover, same language only goes so far.

Cara Walkam knows exactly why she decided to study abroad at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst (UMass). But she prefers to keep it secret.

“It’s an unbelievably stupid reason,” she says. The normally eloquent law and languages student clams up and rubs her forehead nervously at the thought.

It wasn’t the location or the school’s reputation, or that it offered her specific subjects.

It was a song.

“One of my favorite bands, The Pixies, wrote a song called ‘U-Mass,’” she says, as if entering a guilty plea.

As the song says, “Of the April birds and the May bee, oh baby, University of Massachusetts, please.”

One look at Walkam and it’s conceivable that an alternative rock song steered her halfway across the planet. She wears black-rimmed glasses, but they’re peppered with rhinestones. Her espresso-toned hair is tied in a careless ponytail, but it shows off the killer neckline of her black dress. She’s smart, but she’s no dork.

The 21-year-old University of Wollongong student crossed the Pacific for her semester-long stint in August 2007. After years of watching American television shows and movies, Walkam felt she knew what to expect.

“I thought, ‘It’s America, it’s going to be the same as here,’” she says, laughing at her naivety. “But it was so different.”

In the States, Walkam faced the harsh reality of being the “other.”

“My resident assistant came up to me and said, ‘Wow, you’re the girl from Australia,’ and I started speaking to her and she said, ‘I didn’t expect your English to be so good,’” she recalls.

As Walkam discovered, Australian and American universities aren’t so similar after all. Indeed new findings by the Australian Council on Educational Research show American university students have a more “enriching educational experience” compared to their Australian and New Zealander counterparts.

Walkam considers the “brilliant” professors the best American university feature, but she takes issue with the study’s findings.

“In America, I’d hardly work on an essay and get 100 per cent,” Walkam said. “I felt it was too easy. They gave you marks just for trying. In Australia, it’s hard to do well unless you’re a genius.”

Besides the grade inflation, Walkam had to adjust to larger aspects of American campus culture. University pride, for instance, took getting used to.

“People really get attached to their schools in America,” she says. “It’s so odd but so nice. I wish we had that here, but school patriotism’s not a big thing in Australia.”

Tailgating before football games, sporting UMass t-shirts and sharing in the camaraderie of “being part of the university family” were all new concepts to Walkam, who previously thought university’s sole purpose was confined to a classroom.

That vocal pride in one’s school transferred to vocal pride in oneself in class. The enthusiastic participation of the “chatty American students” surprised Walkam.

Unlike her American peers, she grew up learning about tall poppy syndrome.

Unknown in the U.S., tall poppy syndrome describes a pompous, self-promoting attitude. Publicly displaying knowledge in class might be linked to such behaviour.

“Visualise a field of poppies with one taller than the others—it sticks out and draws attention to itself,” explains Carly Ludbrook, an American student studying at UOW. “There’s a stigma in Australia that you shouldn’t be that tall poppy.”

Ludbrook shares many of Walkam’s study abroad frustrations, including marking discrepancies and unexpected culture shock. While tall poppies surrounded Walkam in America, Ludbrook felt like the only one for miles in Australia’s quiet classrooms.

“Back home, there was so much interaction and classroom discussion,” Ludbrook says. “I feel like I
am the only one engaging in class here. It’s a really strange feeling.”

Ludbrook’s study abroad experience is, by every definition, uncommon.

For years she planned to study in England. But like Walkam, less-than-solid reasoning sent her packing elsewhere.

“I was in upstate New York in the middle winter and randomly decided I wanted to learn to surf,” Ludbrook says. “That’s how I chose Australia.”

Ludbrook first studied abroad at UOW in the spring of 2001. The next year, she returned for spring session. After meeting her future husband in Australia, she extended her stay. Since becoming a permanent resident in 2006, Ludbrook took up a Masters degree and now coordinates UOW’s Study Abroad & Exchange program.

“I’m in a unique position because not only do I get to meet Americans studying in Australia, but I also interact with students going off to America who come back with their impressions,” Ludbrook said.

Class participation is a major issue that often arises in the feedback. The American students are too dominating or the Australian students aren’t making an effort, she hears.

But lecturers, Ludbrook says, don’t mind a tall poppy or two.

“I’ve heard from UOW academics that they enjoy having Americans in class because they are more engaging than the Australian students,” she says.

But the question remains: Do students believe American universities offer a better experience? The real answer, according to Walkam and Ludbrook, is less black-and-white than the findings show.

“For the most part, UOW students find it easier in the U.S., but I get students who do think differently,” Ludbrook said. “Ultimately, it’s not the place that determines the quality of education. It is what you make of it.”

Poppy height aside, Walkam and Ludbrook believe the overseas learning experience offers benefits that greatly outweigh the drawbacks.

Just keep your eyes open for the right opportunity.

Or, if you’re anything like Walkam, keep your ears open too. KR

You don't know what you've got till you hop across the Pacific

2008-05-25T09:21:00.004+10:00

Hi, folks--
My first term at the University of Wollongong is coming to a close, so I thought I'd share a few writing samples. It's really just to show those naysayers out there that I'm not on an extended vacation. You know who you are.

I'll put more up within the upcoming weeks, but the piece below is an opinion column for my feature writing class. I actually don't have to turn this one in for another week, so if anyone notices any glaring mistakes, please let me know.

And yes, Australian men do wear skinny jeans.
___________________________________________________________

Sorry sheila, no well-mannered men here

Everything is bigger in America—even the grocery aisles.

At Australian grocery chain, Woolworth’s, you can only fit two trolleys across one aisle. A bit tricky at times, but it works if people cooperate.

However, I recently found myself barricaded in the Italian section. Two lads, who found it absolutely necessary to walk side-by-side, parked their trolleys in front of me while conversing about the merits of Woolie’s pasta sauce selection.

I know. Everything is bigger in America. But it makes you wonder which country really needs the wider aisles.

Australian men, whether they care to admit it, are just plain rude.

Go ahead, Aussies—criticise our loud mouths, our president and our addiction to fast food, but we’ve got you beat in the male department.

And until now, I never even knew it.

Growing up in America’s heartland, I was surrounded by courteous men.

Back home, men hold doors, not just for their own wives and children but also for others approaching. They apologise if they accidentally bump into someone. They say “thank you.”

At church, my dad would stand aside as my mom, sisters and I lined up for communion. A born and bred Midwesterner, politeness is part of my dad’s programming.

I can only imagine what he’d think if I brought an Aussie bloke home.

American women always moan about American men—they don’t dress well enough, don’t pay enough attention to their partner, work too much, spend too much time camped out on the couch watching football.

They whine about how happy foreign women must be.

Now, I can’t speak for all countries, but I can speak for two. And I’ve got a message for my ungrateful Yank friends: Be thankful you’re not an Australian sheila.

I’ve only been here four months, and obviously not every Australian man is deserving of my lashing. But this nation has a universal reputation for its unparalleled friendliness, so naturally I’m stunned that my countrymen are more cordial.

Aussie men have cut in front of me in lines and knocked into me without a hint of care. To them, I’m as good as vapor.

And this is hardly a generational problem. The younger Aussie blokes had to learn from someone.

I still remember when a 40-something man flagged me down at my gym.

“Oy!” he shouted. “Where are the basketball courts?”

“Right around the corner, first set of doors on the left,” I replied.

He turned right around and walked away. Nothing more. Not a single thanks or “ta,” the horrid Aussie alternative to a proper “thank you.”

I see young men walking at university. They gel their hair into perfect spikes. The stay on top of current fashion trends with their 1983 “Risky Business”-style sunnies. They wear skinny jeans. They sculpt a well-crafted “look.”

If these blokes put equal effort into their demeanor as they do their dress, Australia would harbour the greatest wealth of quality men the world’s ever seen.

What’s most unfortunate is it’s a waste of a gorgeous accent. Sure the speech is smooth, but I’d rather spend my time with a well-mannered man with an obnoxiously thick Alabama drawl than an inconsiderate Sydney bloke with a voice like butter. It’s a shame.

Maybe I’m being a difficult American female. We demand equal treatment, yet we still expect the same old fashioned respect and chivalry from our boys.

I might be asking too much. This could be one giant overreaction. A misunderstanding.

But then again, there are plenty of American men who see it my way. And I know heaps of Aussie women who want to be treated less like they’re invisible and more like a lady.

So blokes, open a door for a sheila tomorrow. And if it’s not too much, try sharing a trolley with your mate on your next trip to Woolie’s.

Join The Club...

2008-05-14T11:52:00.007+10:00

...or suffer the consequences.

I've been intrigued by the level of "The Club" usage here in Australia. You know what I'm talking about. The Club was the coolest method of car security in America...about 20 years ago. But in Australia, The Club is a big deal. I'd estimate that at least 40% of cars on campus have The Club locked across their steering wheels.

And apparently for good reason.

There's a major car theft problem in this country (and to think Aussies get all touchy when you bring up whom they decended from...). See the second photo? Well, if you don't get The Club, your car might suffer the same fate.

Last Saturday night some hoodlums decided to steal a car and set it on fire right across the street from my house. While the fire brigade did show up to put the fire out, the charred car still sat on the street until Tuesday morning. It would've been there longer had Jenny not called the cops. Apparently, no one else in the neighborhood thought it was a problem. Hell, people even continued parallel parking around the burned out junker even though it was surrounded by chunks of shattered glass.

I don't get it. But I have to commend the Aussies. When they say they live a "no worries" lifestyle, they really mean it. But just to be on the safe side, if you're going to own a car here--get The Club.

Imitation is the highest form of enlightenment

2008-05-10T18:32:00.003+10:00

Here's to hoping Buddha has a sense of humour...or at least feels pity for the easily amused.

Buddha made me a believer

2008-05-10T17:16:00.004+10:00

Jenny and I visited the Nan Tien Temple last week. Located just outside of Wollongong, Nan Tien is the largest Buddhist temple in the southern hemisphere. Jenny has been anxious to go since we arrived here, but me...not so much. Unfortunately, I'm not a very spiritual person. But after this visit, I'm pretty convinced by this whole Buddhism thing.

First off, this place is GORGEOUS. It sort of sprouts out of nowhere, though you can see the pagoda from miles (or kilometers!) away. I could be wrong, but it seemed like the temple was surrounded by mainly industrial areas, which makes it all the more ironic. But again, the area within the temple grounds was absolutely beautiful.

Nan Tien isn't one single temple but a series of temples with different statues and religious icons in each. Obviously, I couldn't take any photos within the temples, but I did zoom in on one temple that had five huge Buddhas within it (they each represented different ideals), though I could only get two of them in the frame.

Anyway, you had to take your shoes off before entering the temples. Some temples smelled really fragrant and lovely because people were lighting pretty lotus flower candles as their offering to Buddha to answer their prayers. Other temples, however, smelled really strange--like a mix of body odor and incense. Oh well, it's religious so I got over it.

What I like about Buddhism is the focus on putting your beliefs within yourself, not someone else. Some would say that's self indulgent, but I think it makes perfect sense. But then again, I have been called self indulgent on more than one occasion.

Before we left, Jenny and I stopped at the temple's small cafe to try the lotus tea. It was really delicious and we drank it out of tiny wooden cups, which really added to the atmosphere. The tea was presented in a glass teapot with an actual lotus blossom floating in it. Sadly, the lotus flower was a bit withered and the leaves kept getting in our tea. So much for atmosphere.

We went on a Sunday, so the place was quite busy. Some people were there to actually worship, while others (including myself and Jenny, of course) were there to take dorky photos with the baby Buddha statues scattered around the grounds in different poses. I truly hope we weren't being too disrespectful, but Buddha seems like he's a pretty laidback guy.

Sydney Part Two!

2008-05-02T20:32:00.006+10:00

Jenny and I had tickets to see American comedian Arj Barker at the Enmore Theatre in Sydney's Newtown district earlier this week. If the name doesn't sound familiar, he plays "Dave" on Flight of the Conchords. If the name still doesn't ring a bell, then shame on you for disregarding my earlier post. Go out and rent one of his DVDs. You'll thank me.

Anyway, since we had the day off and the show wasn't until 7:30, we decided to take advantage of the gorgeous weather and explore Sydney before the show.

Here are a few shots from my day:
A couple of seagulls hanging out in Darling Harbour
Luna Park, one of my favorite places in Sydney. I actually haven't been inside yet, but I love the creepy clown facade.
The Real World Sydney house in Darling Harbour
The Australian flag as seen from the ferry as we were sailing under the Harbour Bridge

The comedy show was fantastic. It was nice to hear another American's take on Australian culture. Honestly, I haven't met many Americans since I've been here--tons of Canadians--but no yanks. I really think Americans don't travel to Oz very much, which is unfortunate. It's a cool place.

My first rugby league game

2008-05-02T19:38:00.010+10:00

I saw my first rugby league game last week--the Cronulla Sharks v. the Wests Tigers. Of course, I didn't have a clue what was going on, but it was interesting to see first-hand how crazy Aussies get over sports. Or as they say it, sport. The players were pretty easy on the eyes too....

Jenny, Andrea and I took the train from Wollongong to Cronulla, a southern suburb of Sydney. We met our Aussie friend, Amy, who organized the day and is a die-hard Sharks fan.

The stadium is set up differently than the typical American sports stadium. They had relatively little stadium seating--probably less than 10,000 seats. Most of the people hung out and just drank beer on the grass surrounding the field, which can be problematic if you actually plan to watch the game because it's hard to see the action when you're level with the field and blocked by drunk, linebacker-sized Aussie men.

Unfortunately for Amy, the Sharks couldn't recover after the Tigers made a couple big, last-minute plays. But I didn't really care. I've already pledged my loyalty to the New South Wales Waratahs. They're not even in Rugby League (they're in Rugby Union, and yes, there's a difference...it's so confusing), so they don't compete with the Sharks. I honestly don't know a thing about the Waratahs' players or schedule, but they have a cool name and even better merchandise. That's how I choose a team.

Photos: The top one is action from the game. The Sharks are in the light blue. The bottom one is of Jenny, Amy's friend Jess, Andrea and Amy.

Anzac Day

2008-04-26T18:57:00.010+10:00

Anzac Day was this past Friday the 25th. For those who don't know, Anzac stands for Australia and New Zealand Army Corps. The day, which is similar to America's Memorial Day or Veteran's Day, commemorates the Anzacs who fought at Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I. Over 10,000 Anzacs died during that battle.

Australia makes a huge deal out of this holiday. There were parades, dawn services, lively traditions (such as 2-up, a gambling game that's legal to play only on Anzac Day), special sporting matches, people even bake Anzac biscuits (they're similar to oatmeal cookies). But what I was most blown away by was that thousands of Aussies and Kiwis actually go to Gallipoli to pay their respects. Seriously, they go all the way to Turkey.

The reverence that Australia gives to their fallen war heroes puts Americans to shame. Here's the deal, there are plenty of Americans who say they support the troops and the war, but what do they do for Memorial Day or Veteran's Day? Some families have picnics or go to parades, but would thousands of Americans go to overseas to where the soliders actually fought to honour them? I sincerely doubt it. And I'm not saying I'd do it either. Frankly, I wouldn't.

Every Australian I've talked to is anti-war, but that doesn't deter them from supporting their army. This country steps up when they're called on. I think that's extremely cool.

Flight plan

2008-04-08T19:25:00.003+10:00

After scouring the Internet for a somewhat reasonable flight back to the States, I finally found one. Most of the prices ranged between $1,200-1,900--and that's just Sydney to L.A. Thankfully, I accrued enough frequent flier miles on United to get my L.A. to Omaha portion for free.

For $900, I get to fly in four planes and make stops in three countries. By the time I arrive into Omaha, I'll have been in transit for approximately 27 hours. I already feel bad for the poor bastard who has to pick me up from the airport.

Here's the breakdown:
I fly out of Sydney on November 17th at 11:30 am on Air New Zealand.
I make a pit stop in Auckland, New Zealand for a few hours. At 7:15 pm we fly onto L.A.
I arrive into L.A. at 10:25 am on the 17th (Yes, I get to live November 17, 2008, twice. And I'm pretty sure they're both going to equally suck).
Then I switch to United and fly to Denver at 1:30 pm, arriving at 5:50 pm local time.
I then drag myself onto United Airlines flight 448, which arrives into Omaha at 9:19 pm.

So there you have it. Now, I have definite plans to return to the States. But whether I actually get on that plane remains to be seen (only joking, of course...).

Surfers/Shoppers Paradise

2008-04-05T13:53:00.008+11:00

The final leg of our trip was in Surfers Paradise. While it was nice to finally have a few days of sheer nothingness, I think we could've left a day earlier. The shopping was incredible, but you can really get through it all pretty easily in a day or two. The beaches were nice during peak sun hours, but once 4 pm struck the shadows from all the tall buildings nearby would cut the party short. We'd have to pack up all our stuff to move to a sunny square a few meters away, only to have to move again 20 minutes later because the shadows would follow us! I guess I'd describe Surfers as an American city that somehow took a wrong turn and wound up in Australia. While it was borderline tacky, it did have something that I desperately needed and that many Australian cities lacked--A Starbucks. I guess it wasn't all that bad.

Australia Zoo!

2008-04-04T22:24:00.003+11:00

I never imagined I would ever have the chance to actually visit this place. It was a lot smaller than I expected--the last zoo I visited before this was Chicago's Brookfield Zoo and it blew this place out of the water in terms of size--but Australia Zoo really was a clean and very cared for place. Definitely worth the trip.

I heart Brisbane

2008-04-04T18:22:00.006+11:00

And here are some images of Brisbane. The first is of it's skyline at night and the second is Andrea and I at Ahmet's Turkish Restaurant--I had the grilled chicken kebabs (SO GOOD).

Photos from Airlie and the Whitsundays

2008-04-04T17:58:00.003+11:00

Here are a few shots from my stay in Airlie Beach. The top is from the lagoon in Airlie. The middle is another shot of Whitehaven Beach, and the bottom is a shot of the islands I took from the sailing boat.

The rest of the recap

2008-04-03T22:11:00.008+11:00

After my sunburn and turtle debacle, the last thing I wanted to do was spend another second on a boat. But of course, a nice, long sailing trip was next on our to-do list in Airlie Beach.

But unlike my Reef trip, sailing the Whitsundays was a really great time. We bonded on the boat with a bunch of boxed wine-loving Irish and English folks who really liked to sing.

My favourite part of the trip was when the boat stopped off on Whithaven Beach on the second day of our trip. It was absolutely unbelievable. Close your eyes and think of paradise--and this beach is it. Absolutely incredibly white sand, perfectly peaceful and the weather only enhanced the experience. The sun was gleaming white hot and there wasn't a single cloud to disturb the perfectly blue sky. My pictures simply can't do it justice, and my words certainly can't.

From Airlie Beach we flew straight to Brisbane, which is a really cool city. Located inland, Brisbane almost reminded me a bit of Boston--I think it was the river that tipped me off to that. It doesn't have the flair of Sydney or Melbourne, but Brisbane's eclectic culture make it a good time.

I enjoyed my time in Brissy because we had ample time to explore the city. Our hostel was located only right in the heart of city, so we really got a feel for the place. We visited the popular night markets and dined at a lively Turkish restaurant (complete with a belly dancer) on our first night.

The next day we drove out to nearby Beerwah to visit Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo. The place really had a spirit to it--it was almost as if Steve was still alive because his presence is still very much apart of that place. I was very much impressed by the extent that the zookeepers interacted with the public. They talked a lot about conservation and habitat protection--the whole place really put an emphasis on the importance of taking action in animal protection. It was clear that Steve's passion was infectious. I thought it was a very cool place.

The final stop in our trip was in Surfers Paradise. It was finally time to relax, which is really all that Surfers can offer. That and a ridiculous amount of shopping. Surfers was okay, but it was very much like a mixture of Fort Lauderdale and Las Vegas. Very commercial and consumer driven. Sure, the beaches were nice, but a beach is a beach. Except of course, if it's Whitehaven beach in the Whitsundays!

**Note: The above photos are of my Whitsundays sailing trip, with Whitehaven being the top. I'll add more photos from the rest of my holiday in separate posts.

I'm a threat to marine life everywhere

2008-04-03T21:25:00.007+11:00

Jenny, Andrea and I returned two days ago from our whirlwind tour of all Queensland has to offer. We were gone for about 10 days, and here's the breakdown of our trip:

1. We flew from Sydney to Cairns where we snorkled the Great Barrier Reef and toured the Daintree Rainforest.

2. We took a bus to Airlie Beach, a much more laid back beach town south of Cairns. There we went on a two-day sailing trip of the Whitsunday Islands.

3. From there we flew to Brisbane, Australia's third largest city. We explored the city for a bit before renting a car and driving about an hour outside the city to visit Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo.

4. After Brisbane, we caught a train to Surfers Paradise. For our three-day stay, our itinerary consisted of little more than lying on the beach. It was AWESOME.

Looking back, we really accomplished a hell of a lot in less than two weeks. I personally get a kick out of all the modes of transportation we used during our holiday--planes, trains, buses, cars, boats--we really should have stolen some kids' bikes and we really would be set.

Anyway, here's a more detailed account of my trip. We began in Cairns, which is located in tropical north Queensland, so the weather is crazy muggy. Its close proximity to the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest (in addition to its crazy amounts of nightlife) make it a real hit with the tourists, particularly Americans.

Anyway, I have a bit of a jaded impression of Cairns for two reasons. First, I developed the worst sunburn known to humankind while on the Great Barrier Reef. We were on this boat for 10 hours and the weather was scorching. I thought I put enough sunscreen on, but it was obviously no match for the Queensland sun, which is known to be the worst on the planet. Seriously, that fact is written on the paper bags you get from the pharmacy (and I would know because I found myself there buying the largest bottle of SPF 30 they sold...). Apparently two out of every three Australians develop some form of skin cancer at some point in their lives. I wonder if that statistic includes stupid foreign students who also happen to live in the country.

The second reason I didn't get the best impression from Cairns is also from that same snorkeling trip on the Reef. Turns out, I'm from Iowa and not the biggest boat person. So for a fair portion of the trip, I was pretty seasick. Also, I have never been in an ocean before, so basically the Great Barrier Reef was my introduction to it. When it came time for me to get in the water, I was scared to death. Seriously, I can safely say that as they lowered Jenny and I in, it was the scariest moment of my life.

Once I was in the water, I floated motionless for a bit. I was grasping Jenny's hand and she kindly reminded me that I was wearing fins and that I could, in fact, swim. It took me a good 3-4 minutes to actually put my head under water because I just knew there would be a smiling Great White waiting casually below waiting to gobble me up for lunch (because, you know, they only eat you when you look at them). But when I eventually did take my first glimpse under water, it was absolutely breathtaking. The reef was a mix of beautiful green, blue and purple hues and fish jolted in and out of its countless cracks and crevices. It was amazing. I let go of Jenny's hand and was perfectly fine on my own. Well, until Jenny told me to look down.

Once Jenny got my attention and suggested I put my head under the water, I noticed everyone around me looking my way. Jenny didn't seem alarmed or anything, in fact, she was really excited, but I suddenly got really freaked out. I heard someone yell that there was a sea turtle and I almost simultaneously felt a light nip at my ankle. Instictively, I kicked my fin as hard as I could and felt something hard.

"You kicked it!" yelled a guy swimming right in front of me.

Yep, I did. But I swear, it was only an accident and I feel terrible about it looking back. After I kicked the poor turtle, I practically jumped into Jenny's arms and demanded that she take me back to the boat. Poor turtle. In retrospect, maybe my sunburn in a bit of karma for potentially harming a poor, defenseless (did I mention nearly extinct?) animal. Something to think about, I guess....

After the snorkeling trip, we went on a tour through the Daintree Rainforest. There we got a few close-up looks at some native Australian fauna--namely koalas, kangaroos and crocs and went on a boat tour of the croc-infested Daintree River. The rainforest was really beautiful, though the weather was really rainy and muggy. I guess I can't complain too much, considering where we were and the wonderful weather we had throughout the rest of our trip.

How I'll be spending Easter this year

2008-03-21T10:07:00.002+11:00

Hi, all--
I hope you've enjoyed the blog so far. I'm leaving tomorrow for a trip along the East Coast with some friends--we're visiting Cairns, the Great Barrier Reef (which I'll be snorkeling on on Easter!), Brisbane (we're going to Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo, which sadly won't exist for too much longer in its present form), Surfers Paradise and we'll be sailing the Whitsundays for a couple days in there too. So unfortunately, that's the reason why I won't be keeping up my blog for awhile. However, check it out around April 1--I should have some interesting tales when I return!

Love and miss,
Kelly

More Blue Mountains photos

2008-03-18T19:04:00.002+11:00

Into the blue

2008-03-18T16:59:00.007+11:00

Last weekend Jenny and I went on a weekend trip to the Blue Mountains with a few fun-loving Canadians. It was a great time--even though we had to walk down literally a thousand steps in the process.

Probably the most notable part of the Blue Mountains is a rock formation known as the Three Sisters. Apparently, there's legend that three sisters were accidentally turned to stone by their witch doctor father who was trying to protect them from a monster. However, the father lost the magic bone that changed them to stone in the first place, so he couldn't reverse the curse. I'm glad my dad was never into that stuff...or at least isn't anymore.

We spent the day walking all through the mountains. We began by decending under the Three Sisters, which was extremely painful because we unknowingly had to walk down a thousand very uneven, steep and rocky steps to get there. Once we got past the steps, the hike was quite pleasant. In all, we walked for a little over three hours. Of course, there was no way in hell we were walking up a thousand steps back, so we hopped on a cable car to take us back up the mountain.

The next day, we drove about an hour out of our way into the middle of nowhere to check out the Jenolan Caves. The caves, which are made of limestone, are said to be some of the oldest in the world. I, having toured some caves in southern Missouri during a high school trip, can honestly say they were about as cool as caves could be. The tour even featured a pretty impressive light and music show. According to the tour guide, the caves had light bulbs in them long before most of the homes in the area did. Oh so Australian.

Kangaroo crossing

2008-03-18T16:41:00.002+11:00

I have yet to see my first real life kangaroo, but evidently they're not too far away. I thought this sign was hilarious--I snapped a shot of it on my trip home from the Blue Mountains last weekend.

Contrary to popular belief...

2008-03-18T11:25:00.002+11:00

I am actually here for school, and it has taken up a whole lot of my time lately. So I thought I'd give you a glimpse into some of the stories I'm working on while I'm not working on this blog!

For my feature writing class, my final project will be on Lebanese migrants in Australia. It's a pretty sad story actually because almost everyone I've interviewed would really just rather be back in Lebanon. Of course, it's simply too dangerous right now, but it's their home. It just makes you realize how lucky you are to live somewhere where you don't have to be afraid every single day for your and your family's safety.

For my online and research journalism class, I'm building a Web site featuring three stories about campus violence in the U.S. and Australia. (When I say campus violence, I'm referring to school shootings.) I'll be comparing campus violence in the U.S. (which, though still relatively rare, happens far to often) to Australian reports of campus violence (of which there are about two accounts total). Basically, my stories will focus on these topics:
1. What makes a student kill? An American and Australian psychological perspective.
2. The role of gun control in campus violence.
3. Campus security: A comparison between U.S. and Australian methods of prevention and procedure.

Finally, my project for my ethics, law and standards class will focus on the Drew and Stacy Peterson situation back in the States. This story, already rich in the human element, demands a legal and ethical analysis of the case with an inevitable focus on privacy and defamation. For context, I'll compare this to Australian standards of privacy and defamation (the laws are quite different than in the States).

So that's basically it. Believe it or not, I'm pretty excited to see how everything turns out at the end of the semester. Hopefully they'll be (somewhat) interesting stories!

Who doesn't love rappers from New Zealand?

2008-03-09T16:45:00.015+11:00

So Flight of the Conchords graced the cover of the Sydney Morning Herald's Spectrum this week, which of course made me squeal like...well, like I had suddenly come across a lizard on my doorstep.

Anyway, I think Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement (the duo that make up Flight of the Conchords) are the two funniest men on the planet right now (again not getting paid for this*). Their big break came when HBO gave the native New Zealanders their own show fusing scripted material with their quirky musical numbers.

If you're in the States and not familiar with these guys, then I think you should hightail it right now to your neighborhood Blockbuster and pick up the Season 1 DVD. It might be a bit mature for the kiddies (unless you're interested in teaching them how to flip the bird), but other than that, you'll like it a lot, I'm sure.

Now apparently the show hasn't even hit Aussie television. I guess I just assumed it would've hit airwaves here much earlier simply because Bret and Jemaine are New Zealanders (which looking at it, is a pretty silly reason). It'll be interesting to see what the folks here will think of the show when it airs later this year (there's plenty of playful digs at Aussies), though I'm sure it will be huge.

*If Bret and/or Jemaine would like to personally thank me monetarily or otherwise, you know how to find me!

If anyone's looking for an amazing camera...

2008-03-09T16:19:00.004+11:00

...then I got the one for you!

I'm not into cameras--and I'm not getting paid to say this*--but Canon's PowerShot A720 is pretty incredible. Seriously, I took the photo of this bird on my university's campus, and the only thing I'm worse at than taking pictures is being in them.

I have to give credit to my Mom for recommending this amazing piece of technology. So thanks, Mom :)

*If Canon is interested in paying me for any further endorsements or would like to buy this amazing photo to use in promotional material, then by all means....

I'm in love...

2008-03-04T19:53:00.005+11:00

...with Sydney, Australia.

Sure, Chicago is nice with it's pretty lakefront, but Sydney is on a whole other level of amazingness that I will never be able to do justice on this blog.

Jenny, our Canadian friend Andrea (who we met through our journalism program), and I went sightseeing in beautiful Sydney earlier this week. Besides flying into the airport three weeks ago, it was my first time in the city. However, Andrea had already toured Sydney a number of times before--and fortunately for Jenny and I--acted as our tour guide.

We took the train from North Wollongong Station into Sydney's Central Station and from there into Cirqular Quay Railway Station. As I got off the train at Cirqular Quay, the first thing I saw was the sprawling Sydney Harbour Bridge--it was such a beautiful day and the view was just stunning. The say that Sydney's Harbour is the most beautiful in the world--and I can't say I would disagree.

We did all the typical touristy things, beginning with a stroll through Cirqular Quay with its eccentric crop of diversions including a pair of brightly painted mimes on stilts and aboriginal musicians hoping to make a few bucks selling CDs.

We followed the walkway straight up to the Opera House. To my surprise, the Opera House is not one single monument, but a series of sections that look as if they make up a single, odd-shaped structure. Not surprisingly, the Opera House is pretty damn incredible. It was just really strange to be standing in front of a place that you've seen a million times before but only in pictures and on TV. It's much larger than I imagined, and since it was such a bright day, looking directly at the panels nearly blinded me. We're already planning on seeing an opera there in a few weeks. I can't even imagine what going to a show there will be like!

From there we toured the Royal Botanic Gardens, which was really cool for me not only to experience the sheer beauty of the place but also to see how the regular folks of Sydney appreciated it. We saw a couple--I'm guessing they were between 65 and 75--training for a triathalon by running the steep garden steps. And there was a mother playing with her toddler under a tree. And a young man lying in the grass reading. I can't imagine living in Sydney and being able to spend a regular Monday in the Royal Botanic Gardens. Blows my mind.

After taking a gazillion more pictures there, we hopped on a ferry to nearby Watson's Bay. Andrea recommended we check out Doyle's Fisherman's Wharf for lunch. Apparently they have the best fish and chips in the area. Now of course I haven't tried all the fish and chips in the greater Sydney area, but this stuff was so good that I could probably eat it every single day for the rest of my life and still not tire of it. Sure I'd be dead by 45 of heart disease, but I bet I'd die happy.

After taking the ferry back, we explored downtown Sydney. We visited some markets and boutiques but had to catch the 4:40 train back to Wollongong, so our day was cut short. I'm thinking an architectural tour will be on the agenda for my next trip to the city. Or maybe a visit to China Town. Whatever order it's in, I'll be experiencing everything the city has to offer while I'm here.

Come on in

2008-02-29T20:21:00.005+11:00

Here are a couple shots of the inside of our house, courtesy of Katie's request. The decor's a bit dated, but we're not complaining. Sorry, there are no shots of my roommates' bedrooms or the bathroom--I figure some things in life should be kept private, you know? But please feel free to take a gander at my bedroom.

Officially an honorary Australian

2008-02-29T19:38:00.004+11:00

My Aussie roommate Hannah recently informed me that people from other cultures can become "honorary Australians," provided they fulfill certain requirements.

For Americans, apparently if you can stomach Vegemite you're in. As it turns out, tonight I discovered that I really enjoy the stuff!

Simply put, Vegemite is concentrated yeast extract. Sounds pretty nasty, and most Americans regard it as such. The only nutritional claim I can find is that it's rich in B vitamins. Vegemite can be eaten a variety of ways, but mine was pretty simple--on toast with butter. It has a very savory and salty flavor, which I love.

Honestly, I'm pleasantly surprised I like Vegemite. I've hardly heard a good thing about it since I arrived here--even some Aussies who weren't raised on it say they'd rather eat a pan-fried lizard than taste the stuff. But I'll be bringing jars of it back to the States---that, along with other Oz staples including Darrell Lea Strawberry Liquorice, Jatz Crackers and crumpets...lots and lots of crumpets.

Anyway, I'm pretty thrilled that at least one Aussie here considers me one of her own. Even more importantly, the next time I hear Men at Work's "Land Down Under," I'll know exactly what his vegemite sandwich tastes like.

A difference of opinion

2008-02-26T16:11:00.005+11:00

I really never considered that they'd be such a integral part of my experience here, but lizards really have made themselves a hot topic of conversation between the locals and I. Almost every Aussie I've talked to thinks it's outrageous that anyone would be afraid of lizards. It's almost as if they're regarded as squirrels here...really ugly, scaly, creepy, snake-like squirrels.

As I mentioned earlier, my first run-in with them happened when Jenny and I were on our way to view that dump of an apartment earlier on our second day in town. But even though we found a more inviting place to live, they just keep popping up. Around the university I can here them scurrying about in the bushes and grass. I can't see them, but I know they're there.

It's one thing to catch them in the wild, but just a few days ago Jenny discovered one crawling around in our bathtub. That, combined with the one-too-many cockroaches and spiders we've seen around our house, made it clear what our only viable option was: To call an exterminator, of course!

The lizard in our bathtub really was the last straw. Call me what you will, but nothing remotely reptilian has any place in my bathroom or rest of my house, for that matter (Though I should mention that it was a baby lizard--maybe an inch and a half long at most.).

So the friendly folks at Illawarra Pest Control came over fairly quickly by Australian standards--only an hour later than promised--and sprayed the entire house inside and out for spiders, cockroaches, silverfish and ants. While I was paying, one of the men asked me if I knew that I had Redback spiders in my garage (which is situated conveniently outside my bedroom window). I said no--heck, I honestly didn't even know what a Redback spider was. He informed me that in America they're commonly known as Black Widows.

Holy crap.

After about vomiting in the poor man's face, I asked if he took care of them. He assured me that the chemicals would kill them straightaway. He also told me not too worry too much about them, "Sure, they can kill you," he said. "But they're more likely to cause kidney failure, so no worries."

Oh, just pesky kidney failure. Thankfully I didn't overreact too much.

Though Jenny and I have been getting a lot of grief from Aussies for actually ordering an exterminator (though the phone book offers about 20 pages of pest control services, they're apparently never used by locals, just "paranoid Americans" such as myself), it was the best $165 I've spent in a very long time.

Welcome home

2008-02-25T20:32:00.006+11:00

So after our run in with the lizard-guarded property from hell, Jenny and I weren't feeling so great.

We trudged to the University, the only place we could think of for help. We made it up to accommodation services and it was there that I broke down in tears at the woman's desk. I sobbed and sobbed and sobbed. But the thing about a legitimate cry is that it gets people to respond. And respond this woman did. She got to work straightaway and by the time we left the office, we had in our hands stacks of available properties to choose from.

We walked to a nearby atrium on campus and began making calls. We got ahold of a property manager who had a 4-bedroom fully-furnished property located right across the street from school. We were able to check it out immediately, which we did. It was what I had envisioned as the ideal Australian abode--a cozy, dark brick ranch with a winding porch and white posts and a tropical garden. It was cheap and the location was unbeatable. But there was a problem--there were only two of us and four bedrooms.

However, the kindly Sri Lankan couple living behind the house recommended we call some girls who also showed interest in the property. They gave us their numbers and we gave them a call right then and there and they (there were two of them) said they were meeting with the landlord at the property in 20 minutes to secure the deal. Turns out, the only thing they needed were two female roommates.

There is a God.

Long story short, on our second day in Australia at around 3 pm., we moved into our new house at 1/5 Madoline St. with Hannah, an Aussie, and Farrah from Pakistan. And so far, the arrangement has worked out just great.

Close encounters of the lizard kind

2008-02-25T20:08:00.006+11:00

This is a true story.

Jenny and I flew to Australia--half-way around the world--with no set place to live for the next 9 months. Of course, this was not how we meant it to be and it wasn't our fault. Honestly, the University threw us between a rock and a hard place, and well, I'll spare you the full story. But let me begin by saying that while sometimes it seems as if your being short-changed, there are those shining moments when it actually works out in your favor. Luckily for Jenny and I, this was one such occasion.

We did, however, arrive in Australia with temporary accommodation for about a week in a hostel called Keiraview in Wollongong. The hostel's location was prime--just a short walk from the beach and downtown area--but we didn't want to stay there a minute longer than necessary. We wanted a permanent home and we wanted it fast. But our timing was completely off--we showed up in Oz only a few days before orientation week began, so most students who were planning on living in private housing were already in town and settled. Plus, coming from the States, Jenny and I had very specific housing requirements (i.e. we needed a 2 bedroom, fully-furnished unit preferably close to the University that wasn't too expensive). Fortunately for us, there was exactly one such unit left in Wollongong and we made an appointment straightaway to see it. We were both elated and agreed that no matter what state the place was in, we would gladly take it. Anything to get us out of hostel living would be welcomed with open arms.

Well...let's just say Jenny and I weren't as desperate as we thought.

While on our way to the appointment, we had to walk down a decending walkway into the neighborhood. As we walked, we faced what seemed at the time (and actually still kind of does) to be an insurmountable obstacle--a pair of 8-in. long lizards.

The creatures were blocking our path to the property and we were both scared to death. We'd never seen anything remotely like them, and they didn't seem to have any plans of moving. Eventually, we noticed the realtor we arranged to meet getting out of her car and approaching the property. We had to make a run for it--we needed that apartment and no amount of lizards were going to ruin this opportunity for us.

So we ran. And the lizards ran. Fortunately for both parties the lizards ran the opposite way from us. We were safe (for now).

The property looked ominous at best. It was fully-gated, had no grass (only grey rocks for a yard), the front door's glass was smashed and the complex was located only a stone's throw from a swamp (the abode of plenty more scary lizards, I'm sure). The unit was just disgusting, musty, dirty, cringe-worthy, and not even worth the $270/week they were asking.

Of course there was no way in hell we were taking the place. We didn't know it yet, but something really unbelievable was going to happen to us. While we'd escaped the property from hell, we still didn't have a set place to live. And the lizards weren't done with us, yet.

Learning to take my time

2008-02-25T19:41:00.004+11:00

After finally being able to secure a personal Internet connection, I'm able to start my blog! I've been in Wollongong for 11 days now, but it feels like months. That's not to say that I'm not enjoying myself here, it's just that I've been through a lot so far. A whole lot.

I'll try not to go into too much detail and I hardly know where to begin. You see, I always thought that I was a prime adaptor. I moved from Sioux City to Iowa City with hardly an ounce of homesickness. When I moved to Chicago, it was strange for a couple of days before I felt like I had re-planted my roots. The transition to Australia, however, was far more difficult than I imagined. And I guess that can be expected--moving from Iowa to Illinois is one thing, moving from America to Australia is quite another.

The first few days here were particularly difficult. Namely, it took over 2 hours to open new bank accounts for Jenny (whom I traveled to Oz with) and I. From what I've noticed so far, Aussie's don't have to same regard for time as Americans do, which I found extremely frustrating to deal with at first but have already begun to get used to.

While the timeliness factor was annoying, it was the homesickness that nearly sent me on a flight back right to the States. I spoke to my parents on my second day here and broke down after hanging up the phone. It was the strangest phone call I've ever had with them because I sensed a certain concern that I have never felt before (it might have had something to do with the fact that I had mono when I left...), and they seemed so genuinely relieved to hear from me, which was really moving to me, I guess.

It was that day that I seriously reconsidered my decision to uproot my life and move half-way around the world--away from my family, my friends, my steady job, everything that was familiar for my for the past 23 and a half years. But as much as that sucked to come to terms with, I know there's a meaning for me here and that I'm meant to be in Wollongong right now. Sounds a bit corny but (for the most part) I believe it.