Hola Amigos.. I mean.. G'day mates. I'm entering the final stretch of my time here in Australia and I don't even believe it! I have learned more than I could ever imagined I would about all different aspects of life including culture, communication, personality, professionalism and so much more! For any of you reading that are considering an experience like mine, weather it be an internship or study abroad program I highly recommend it. This unique experience has made me a more well-rounded individual and it's not even over yet. There has been some challenges along the way but I feel over coming them has made me a stronger person.
Having gone through this program with a large group of students I was able to see how other people overcame their struggles as well. Some people started off homesick and were resistant to adjusting to a new environment. I, however, was not one of these people as I embraced my new environment entirely and took it on as an fascinating, exciting new experience. Although I've had my bad days where I just miss home, I never really felt home sick... until now. I think that the people who were resistant to adjusting [short term] to a new environment were able to adapt [long term] quite well. I was able to adjust but am now having some difficulty adapting long term.
I feel as if my environment and circumstances were slightly different this may not be. I cannot complain about my experience what-so-ever as it has been, literally, a dream of mine come true. However, I can say that I now GREATLY appreciate the benefits and conveniences that I've been blessed with back home. Not that I didn't appreciate this before, but after nearly 3 months of small, shared living space, public transportation and very limited wardrobe options, I've realized how good I've got it back home. If I had not been fighting an on-going flu and/or allergies and maybe had my own living space, I reckon I'd gladly stay in Australia a great while longer. But since that's not the case, I'm counting down the days until I return to home sweet home.
As far as this past weeks activities I've had to 'slow my roll' due to the on-going under the weather condition I've been in. Last Monday I attended an Australian Rugby League game (see video post below). It was a CRAZY experience. Many Australians would say it's a 'bogan' game- refering to white trash. I guess you would compare it to Nascar in the states? But that wasn't even the best part!.. The game was super competitive and the underdogs (Souths) took the win in the last 30 seconds of the game.
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| And you thought a pint of Ben & Jerry's was expensive at your local 7-11? |
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| Just a car blowing up... |
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| Sydney Roosters v. South Sydney Rabbitohs |
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| Fans rushing to the field after an epic win! |
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| Mates at the Game |
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Throughout the rest of the week I just tried to rest up for a big weekend. Thursday night Patricia, Keri and I hit up this fab dinner called Pancakes on the Rocks. Best pancakes ever... put us all in a food coma.
On Friday I set out for Newcastle with my best Aussie mate Simon. I joined him on an adventure to this north beach town to visit his mates. It was awesome to get out of Sydney and see another new place. Newcastle was like a cross between West Chester and the Jersey Shore, where most of the night-life and other excitement took place on a few square blocks but it was right on the harbor, by the ocean.
When we arrived on Friday we checked into a sweet hotel and hung out in town. We went to a bar called Honeysuckle which was right on water and I met all Simon's mates and we talked about all our 'great ideas' that would probably never get anywhere. Then we went out to a few clubs and had a dance with some funky people. Check the lady with the purple hair...
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| sweet hair |
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| Just petting a camel.. |
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| Just riding a bike.. |
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Saturday Simon and I went on a Hunter Valley Wine tour, about an hour inland of Newcastle. We visited 5 different wineries, some commercial, some boutique. It was beautiful and I saw so many wild kangaroos, but I was the only one on the bus that got excited about it. We shared a bus with a birthday party so we toured with a bunch of local Newcastle chicks. They were very entertaining. We ended up back at the hotel around 6 took a power nap and headed out on the town again. This time, we got to hang out with a cow... Ah, the adventures of Newcastle.
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| Hunter Valley Winery |
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| We threw in a beer tasting as well |
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| So pretty, I wonder what it looks like in summer! |
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| Simon & I |
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| @ Fanny's |
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| a cow..? |
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| The view from hotel balcony |
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On Sunday we hit up the hotel breakfast buffet (amazing) and then headed back to Sydney. It was a great weekend with awesome new people. But it's been hard to get back into the work week after. This week I had another article posted to my company's forum.
Check it out!
Okay I'm done now.
PEACE AND LOVE TO ALL.
~mrlb
