The end of my year in Australia passed by extremely quickly, and as I was occupied with school work and making last minute visits, I never got around to writing this last journal entry. So, here are the highlights of my last 2 months in Oz.
After my trip to Cairns in September, I went to Floriade in Canberra with one of my flatmates. Floriade is Canberra’s annual flower festival, and this year there were thousands of spectacular flowers arranged in shapes of Australian films. The following night we went back to Floriade to watch films from the Melbourne Comedy Short Film Festival on a big screen setup outdoors. My favourite film was a monologue by a single dad of twin boys who gave his philosophy on raising twins. In it he said that if a parent tries to spend equal time with each kid, both kids will turn out average at best, so it is important to choose a favourite twin and invest lots of energy and attention into him, so that at least one son turns out to be a winner. I thought it was hilarious!
Later that week, I volunteered with Rotaract at the Nara Candle Festival. Nara is Canberra’s sister city in Japan, and the government has been hosting this candle festival for several years to honour that relationship. I wore a hapi jacket, sang karaoke, pounded rice, and helped to light over 2000 candles.
The next week, I had to give up a trip to Dunedoo with my university because I needed to used the long weekend to work on my Language Acquisition paper. So, I stayed on campus and gave my essay its basic structure. Later that week, I had dinner with Ngaira, Asmono, Mark, Dave, and Emma. Asmono cooked scallops in a tomato base sauce. It was delicious!
On Sunday, some Sydney Ambassadorial Scholars cycled into Canberra, and several Rotarians hosted a small event to help them raise money for the Australian Rotary Health Research Fund. I helped setup the room, and I prepared a slideshow presentation to show everyone what the Ambassadorial Scholarship was all about.
In late October, I spoke at the Rotary Club of Cooma, a small, country town south of Canberra. The presentation went really well, and I also met the District Governor Elect, who told me about the Rotary Institute that would be held in Christchurch, NZ, the same time that I would be there with Melissa. I gave him my contact information, and he was able to get me an invitation to the Institute.
On the 25th of October, my friend and classmate, Coleen, and her husband hosted a barbeque to celebrate my birthday. I invited several classmates and friends, and we had a great time chatting outside of the classroom. The highlight of the evening for me was when my friends sang “Happy Birthday” to me in 6 different languages, English, Russian, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, and Bahasa-Indonesian.
The next week, Ian took Pam and me out to dinner at the Green Herring to celebrate our real birthday. They gave me two wonderful gifts: a special edition of the Australian poem, “My Country” and a John Williamson CD full of Australian bush music.
That weekend, I went to the Rotary District Conference in Sussex Inlet. It was a really good and informative conference that served to remind and inspire Rotarians and their spouses of the importance of Rotary’s work around the world. I found one speaker, the principal of a school in Shoalhaven, very inspiring. He talked about servant-leadership, and after listening to him, I decided that in whatever I do with my life, I want to be a leader who is first and foremost a servant. The keynote speaker at the conference was the author of Mao’s Last Dancer, Li Cunxin. He wrote an amazing book about his life’s story growing up under Chairman Mao’s regime and later as he became one of the world’s best ballet dancers.
Tuesday, 4 November was Melbourne Cup day, a day that the country seemed to wait for the whole year. It was the day of the biggest horse race in the country, and although the horse that I betted on didn’t win, it was an exciting day full of Australian food, games, and friends.
That weekend, I went to Cooma again, so that I could spend time seeing more of the town than just the building where the Rotary meeting was held. Prasan invited me to spend the weekend with her family, and we had a really lovely time together. A friend of Prasan’s offered to take me up to Mt. Kosciusko, the highest mountain in Australia, so on Sunday, we drove to Thredbo, caught a chair life to the beginning of the walk, and then hiked about 13 kilometers to the top of the mountain. It wasn’t too difficult of a walk, but it was definitely good training for New Zealand. The scenery was beautiful, although barren, and there was still snow on parts of the mountain.
The next week and a half were mostly full of visiting friends and Rotarians and saying last goodbyes. I tried not to count the days but to just live the moments fully. It was a really difficult time of the year because I realised that I was seeing some of my friends for the last time for a long time. I have grown really close to my church friends and the Rotarians, and I miss not being near them anymore. On the night of my last Rotary meeting, my club gave me a beautiful pair of opal earrings, an Australian stone that will remind me daily of my time down under.
I went to New Zealand for the next two weeks, and I’ll write about that in another entry. After those two weeks, I returned to Canberra for two days where I spent the time doing laundry, running errands with Ian, and spending lingering moments with friends. Ian hosted a barbeque at his house, and I invited the Rotarians, my church friends, and two of my closest uni friends. We hung out for several hours and then decided to go see Australia the next night, so that we could spend just a little more time together.
On the 7th of December, I flew home but at the same time I was leaving a home, for “I love a sunburnt country, a land of sweeping plains; of ragged mountain ranges, of droughts and flooding rains…”
Friday, December 19, 2008
Saturday, October 4, 2008
loving Australia
G’day mates!
The time has really flown, or rather hopped away (since I am in the land of kangaroos). I only have 4 more weeks of classes this semester, and then I’ll start working on my plans for returning home. But since I am still here, I am continuing to make the most of time, as an Ambassadorial Scholar and as world traveler.
During the school holidays in September, the Rotary Club of Narooma invited me to speak at their meeting. Coincidentally, one of my friends has a house near Narooma, and she invited me to spend a few extra days with her. Narooma is a town along the South Coast, and like most towns along this part of Australia, it boasts majestic and rugged scenery. My friend and I took a walk near her house, which overlooks the beach, and as I looked towards the ocean, waves crashed against sharp, protruding rocks. It was aquatic symphony. First, all you hear are small lapping waves that flow easily over the rocky edges, then, as the water builds up, gigantic waves rush towards the boulders and spray high into the air like the end of a score that announces the victory of a major battle. It was truly spectacular!
The next evening, my friend and I attended the Rotary meeting and met some more wonderful Rotarians who are doing many good projects in their community. Many of the Rotary Clubs that I have attended toast Australia and the Queen before dinner, and they sing the national anthem at the end of the meeting. Consequently, I can now sing Australia’s national anthem fairly well. After talking to one of the Rotarians, who had just taken an exchange student on a whale watching tour, my friend and I decided to sign up for that same trip the following day. It was perfect weather, and before we got very far away from the land, we saw two humpback whales! According to the captain, they were probably two adolescent whales that had been born the previous year. They weren’t extremely active, but they did dive a couple of time so that we could see their tails. On this tour, we also visited Montague Island, an extremely picturesque island where many native birds including penguins and Australian and New Zealand seals dwell during different seasons. To end the perfect day, acrobatic dolphins guided the boat back to the harbour.
Now that was only the first half of my vacation.
Two days later, I flew up to Cairns, Queensland, to visit the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest, reportedly the oldest continuous rainforest in the world. On my first day there, I joined a sea kayaking tour out on Fitzroy Island, one of the inner islands along the Great Barrier Reef. The tour group kayaked from the main island to Little Fitzroy, and then we snorkeled a bit before eating lunch on the beach and taking a hike to the summit of the island, from where we could see 3 or 4 more humpback whales. We then kayaked back to the main island, snorkeled some more, and finally, took a jet boat back to Cairns.
The next day, I joined another tour group that was going to the rainforest. First, we stopped at a wildlife park in Port Douglas where I fed kangaroos, wallabies, and emus. Next, we went to Mossman Gorge, a really scenic, fresh water gorge. Then, we ate lunch a resort on a beach where the rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef. It was stunning! After a nice stroll along the beach, we went to the rainforest where our guide shared some information about a forest that has over a hundred types of trees and thousands of microscopic organisms that maintain the balance of life in the rainforest. Finally, we ended our day on a boat tour in the Daintree River. We spotted 3 young crocodiles, a green snake, and some pretty birds along the river. It was a really full-on day, but I got a good taste of that piece of Queensland.
While in Cairns, I stayed in a youth hostel, and I shared a room with 5 other girls. On two of the four nights while I was there, each of the beds was occupied by a person from a different country, so we had 6 countries represented in one room. Of course I found this very exciting, and I really enjoyed chatting with the other girls about their experiences and their homes. One of the girls was from England, and she invited me to go to Kuranda with her and a couple of friends. So, we hired a car and drove to this cute town that has a unique market. We also visited the Barron Gorge, a curtain fig tree, and a cathedral fig tree. You should check the pictures on my blog because these are not normal sized trees. Finally, we drove back to Cairns through the Atherton Tablelands. I flew back to Sydney the next day and caught a bus to Canberra.
Classes started again the following Monday, so it’s back to business. But even between classes, I manage to do other things like attend Floriade, an amazing flower show in Canberra. I also recently volunteered with Rotaract to work at the Nara Candle Festival. Nara is Canberra’ Japanese sister city, and each year there is a festival to remember that relationship. The volunteers lit over 2000 candles that night. I am currently working with one of the Canberra Rotary Clubs and some Sydney Ambassadorial Scholars to organize a fundraiser event for Australian Rotary Health Research Fund.
As you can see, life is busy, sometimes stressful, but completely wonderful. I am so thankful for this year in Australia, and as always, thank you for your support, encouragement, and prayers.
Cheers.
The time has really flown, or rather hopped away (since I am in the land of kangaroos). I only have 4 more weeks of classes this semester, and then I’ll start working on my plans for returning home. But since I am still here, I am continuing to make the most of time, as an Ambassadorial Scholar and as world traveler.
During the school holidays in September, the Rotary Club of Narooma invited me to speak at their meeting. Coincidentally, one of my friends has a house near Narooma, and she invited me to spend a few extra days with her. Narooma is a town along the South Coast, and like most towns along this part of Australia, it boasts majestic and rugged scenery. My friend and I took a walk near her house, which overlooks the beach, and as I looked towards the ocean, waves crashed against sharp, protruding rocks. It was aquatic symphony. First, all you hear are small lapping waves that flow easily over the rocky edges, then, as the water builds up, gigantic waves rush towards the boulders and spray high into the air like the end of a score that announces the victory of a major battle. It was truly spectacular!
The next evening, my friend and I attended the Rotary meeting and met some more wonderful Rotarians who are doing many good projects in their community. Many of the Rotary Clubs that I have attended toast Australia and the Queen before dinner, and they sing the national anthem at the end of the meeting. Consequently, I can now sing Australia’s national anthem fairly well. After talking to one of the Rotarians, who had just taken an exchange student on a whale watching tour, my friend and I decided to sign up for that same trip the following day. It was perfect weather, and before we got very far away from the land, we saw two humpback whales! According to the captain, they were probably two adolescent whales that had been born the previous year. They weren’t extremely active, but they did dive a couple of time so that we could see their tails. On this tour, we also visited Montague Island, an extremely picturesque island where many native birds including penguins and Australian and New Zealand seals dwell during different seasons. To end the perfect day, acrobatic dolphins guided the boat back to the harbour.
Now that was only the first half of my vacation.
Two days later, I flew up to Cairns, Queensland, to visit the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest, reportedly the oldest continuous rainforest in the world. On my first day there, I joined a sea kayaking tour out on Fitzroy Island, one of the inner islands along the Great Barrier Reef. The tour group kayaked from the main island to Little Fitzroy, and then we snorkeled a bit before eating lunch on the beach and taking a hike to the summit of the island, from where we could see 3 or 4 more humpback whales. We then kayaked back to the main island, snorkeled some more, and finally, took a jet boat back to Cairns.
The next day, I joined another tour group that was going to the rainforest. First, we stopped at a wildlife park in Port Douglas where I fed kangaroos, wallabies, and emus. Next, we went to Mossman Gorge, a really scenic, fresh water gorge. Then, we ate lunch a resort on a beach where the rainforest meets the Great Barrier Reef. It was stunning! After a nice stroll along the beach, we went to the rainforest where our guide shared some information about a forest that has over a hundred types of trees and thousands of microscopic organisms that maintain the balance of life in the rainforest. Finally, we ended our day on a boat tour in the Daintree River. We spotted 3 young crocodiles, a green snake, and some pretty birds along the river. It was a really full-on day, but I got a good taste of that piece of Queensland.
While in Cairns, I stayed in a youth hostel, and I shared a room with 5 other girls. On two of the four nights while I was there, each of the beds was occupied by a person from a different country, so we had 6 countries represented in one room. Of course I found this very exciting, and I really enjoyed chatting with the other girls about their experiences and their homes. One of the girls was from England, and she invited me to go to Kuranda with her and a couple of friends. So, we hired a car and drove to this cute town that has a unique market. We also visited the Barron Gorge, a curtain fig tree, and a cathedral fig tree. You should check the pictures on my blog because these are not normal sized trees. Finally, we drove back to Cairns through the Atherton Tablelands. I flew back to Sydney the next day and caught a bus to Canberra.
Classes started again the following Monday, so it’s back to business. But even between classes, I manage to do other things like attend Floriade, an amazing flower show in Canberra. I also recently volunteered with Rotaract to work at the Nara Candle Festival. Nara is Canberra’ Japanese sister city, and each year there is a festival to remember that relationship. The volunteers lit over 2000 candles that night. I am currently working with one of the Canberra Rotary Clubs and some Sydney Ambassadorial Scholars to organize a fundraiser event for Australian Rotary Health Research Fund.
As you can see, life is busy, sometimes stressful, but completely wonderful. I am so thankful for this year in Australia, and as always, thank you for your support, encouragement, and prayers.
Cheers.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Spring is here!
G'day!
Spring officially arrived on September 1, and although the temperature has only moderately increased, the whole idea of spring has made me feel warmer and more willing to leave the confines of my house. And now that the sun sets later, I have more time to take nice long strolls around the lake.
I have been extremely busy since my last journal update. I suppose that since my trip will end in only a few months, I am trying to fit as much in as possible. My most recent Rotary activities include working as a runner at a Model United Nations Assembly, which is an annual event organized by the Canberra Sunrise Rotary Club. High school students from different parts of Australia come to Canberra for the weekend to represent various countries and discuss a wide array of issues from human rights to nuclear proliferation. I was extremely impressed with the attitudes and presentations of the students. They stayed in the character of their respective countries very well, and I think that it was an extremely rewarding event for those involved.
In continuing with Rotary, as I mentioned in my last blog, the Rotary Club of Berry-Geringong hosted the four scholars from Canberra for 4-day weekend in the Southern Highlands and along the coast. On Thursday, we visited the Illawara Tree Top walk and the blowhole in Kiama, as well as several nearby beaches. Then at night we each gave our presentation to the Rotary Club. On Friday, we visited some more beaches such as Hymes Beach which apparently has sand as white as salt. Then, we took dolphin watching cruise in Jervis Bay, and although approximately 60 dolphins permanently live in the Bay, we didn’t see even one dolphin! But the Bay is beautiful, and we had a very relaxing cruise. Later that night, my host family took us out to dinner at a local pub that had Friday-night karaoke. Although I do not typically like to embarrass myself in front of large groups of people, I managed to convince another American girl to sing Shania Twain’s “Any Man of Mine” with me. We each “twangafied” our accents and had a great time showing the audience a little bit of southern culture. After our performance, we went on a wombat search, and unlike the dolphins cruise, we saw 15 to 20 wombats! Of course, they didn’t stay long once we started flashing our cameras at them, but I did manage to get one or two good pictures. The next day, we visited the Minnamurra rainforest and waterfall and went shopping in Kiama. And on Sunday, we went to Kangaroo Valley and then caught the bus to Canberra. It was such a wonderful weekend with fantastic people!
Two of my friends had a joint birthday a few weeks ago, so I went out to my friend’s farm near Lake George, a waterless lake (check the pictures). We had a nice dinner, and then I spent night and played the role of farm girl the next morning. I drove a tractor and collected chicken eggs. The property is about 200 acres, and it’s full of eucalyptus trees and grass trees. It has a sort of rugged, barren beauty.
This week, I’m planning on going to Narooma, a town on the South Coast, with a friend, and I’ll also be speaking to a Rotary Club down there. Then, it’s off to the Great Barrier Reef for a few days of snorkeling, kayaking, and exploring a tropical region of Australia.
I hope that you all are well. Thank you again for your encouragement.
Cheers
Spring officially arrived on September 1, and although the temperature has only moderately increased, the whole idea of spring has made me feel warmer and more willing to leave the confines of my house. And now that the sun sets later, I have more time to take nice long strolls around the lake.
I have been extremely busy since my last journal update. I suppose that since my trip will end in only a few months, I am trying to fit as much in as possible. My most recent Rotary activities include working as a runner at a Model United Nations Assembly, which is an annual event organized by the Canberra Sunrise Rotary Club. High school students from different parts of Australia come to Canberra for the weekend to represent various countries and discuss a wide array of issues from human rights to nuclear proliferation. I was extremely impressed with the attitudes and presentations of the students. They stayed in the character of their respective countries very well, and I think that it was an extremely rewarding event for those involved.
In continuing with Rotary, as I mentioned in my last blog, the Rotary Club of Berry-Geringong hosted the four scholars from Canberra for 4-day weekend in the Southern Highlands and along the coast. On Thursday, we visited the Illawara Tree Top walk and the blowhole in Kiama, as well as several nearby beaches. Then at night we each gave our presentation to the Rotary Club. On Friday, we visited some more beaches such as Hymes Beach which apparently has sand as white as salt. Then, we took dolphin watching cruise in Jervis Bay, and although approximately 60 dolphins permanently live in the Bay, we didn’t see even one dolphin! But the Bay is beautiful, and we had a very relaxing cruise. Later that night, my host family took us out to dinner at a local pub that had Friday-night karaoke. Although I do not typically like to embarrass myself in front of large groups of people, I managed to convince another American girl to sing Shania Twain’s “Any Man of Mine” with me. We each “twangafied” our accents and had a great time showing the audience a little bit of southern culture. After our performance, we went on a wombat search, and unlike the dolphins cruise, we saw 15 to 20 wombats! Of course, they didn’t stay long once we started flashing our cameras at them, but I did manage to get one or two good pictures. The next day, we visited the Minnamurra rainforest and waterfall and went shopping in Kiama. And on Sunday, we went to Kangaroo Valley and then caught the bus to Canberra. It was such a wonderful weekend with fantastic people!
Two of my friends had a joint birthday a few weeks ago, so I went out to my friend’s farm near Lake George, a waterless lake (check the pictures). We had a nice dinner, and then I spent night and played the role of farm girl the next morning. I drove a tractor and collected chicken eggs. The property is about 200 acres, and it’s full of eucalyptus trees and grass trees. It has a sort of rugged, barren beauty.
This week, I’m planning on going to Narooma, a town on the South Coast, with a friend, and I’ll also be speaking to a Rotary Club down there. Then, it’s off to the Great Barrier Reef for a few days of snorkeling, kayaking, and exploring a tropical region of Australia.
I hope that you all are well. Thank you again for your encouragement.
Cheers
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Semester 2
G’day friends!
The weeks have flown by here, and I imagine that you all feel the same about the waning weeks of summer. Fortunately, the days have been filled with various activities, so I can’t say that they have slipped by without notice.
I started classes on my first week back from Hawai’i, so I’ve begun to read articles and write essays all over again. Thankfully, my classes are more enjoyable and challenging this semester, so it hasn’t been a big ordeal to get back in the rhythm of university life. I’ve started tutoring an Australian girl in Spanish this semester, and I may have the opportunity to tutor a Samoan girl as well. That’s exciting for me because I recently learned about Samoa at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Oahu.
My Rotarian counselor, Ian, is away on holiday for two months, but I continue to stay extremely active in Rotary activities. I worked at a fundraising barbeque with a local Rotary Club, and the next day, I planted trees with Rotaract in an area of Canberra that was damaged by fires a few years ago. This weekend, I’m looking forward to helping out with the Model United Nations Assembly, which is a conference that the University of Canberra Sunrise hosts that gives high school students the chance to learn about the United Nations. And of course, I continue to give presentations to different Rotary Clubs in the area. One club in the southern highlands invited all the Ambassadorial Scholars in Canberra to spend a long weekend with them at the end of this month. They plan on showing us some of the highlights of the area such as Kangaroo Valley and Fitzroy Falls, both of which are spoken highly of by the locals. I also have planned a presentation down by the coast. I only hope that it’s the right time of year to see the whales.
In addition to all of my normal activities, I’ve started to volunteer at the local community services center. I’m only doing administration and project work, but it’s a good opportunity for me to see how a non-profit organisation operates down here. So far, I’ve been really impressed. They have interesting and interactive programs for people of all ages. I’m working with a group that specifically helps young people with mental disorders by providing a creative outlet to express their feelings. They have art, drama, dance, and writing classes, and hopefully, I’ll get to participate in some of the activities. Also, there’s a French man that works at the center, so I have a great opportunity to work on my French while doing some good in my suburb.
Oh, and before I forget, I experienced one of the most beautiful winter days in Canberra last weekend. A few girls from church and I went to the Lerida wineries, which are just 35 minutes outside of Canberra, near Lake George. The vineyards, of course, were not full of ripe grapes, but the barrenness of the land had its own unique beauty. We ate a wonderful lunch at the quaint café that overlooked the vineyards, and as we were waiting on our meal, it began to snow! It was so beautiful and magical that I felt like a child as I ran outside to touch the white bits of heaven. The smooth wines and friendly company only added to the idyllic nature of the whole afternoon.
That’s all the big news for me.
Enjoy the Olympics.
Cheers
The weeks have flown by here, and I imagine that you all feel the same about the waning weeks of summer. Fortunately, the days have been filled with various activities, so I can’t say that they have slipped by without notice.
I started classes on my first week back from Hawai’i, so I’ve begun to read articles and write essays all over again. Thankfully, my classes are more enjoyable and challenging this semester, so it hasn’t been a big ordeal to get back in the rhythm of university life. I’ve started tutoring an Australian girl in Spanish this semester, and I may have the opportunity to tutor a Samoan girl as well. That’s exciting for me because I recently learned about Samoa at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Oahu.
My Rotarian counselor, Ian, is away on holiday for two months, but I continue to stay extremely active in Rotary activities. I worked at a fundraising barbeque with a local Rotary Club, and the next day, I planted trees with Rotaract in an area of Canberra that was damaged by fires a few years ago. This weekend, I’m looking forward to helping out with the Model United Nations Assembly, which is a conference that the University of Canberra Sunrise hosts that gives high school students the chance to learn about the United Nations. And of course, I continue to give presentations to different Rotary Clubs in the area. One club in the southern highlands invited all the Ambassadorial Scholars in Canberra to spend a long weekend with them at the end of this month. They plan on showing us some of the highlights of the area such as Kangaroo Valley and Fitzroy Falls, both of which are spoken highly of by the locals. I also have planned a presentation down by the coast. I only hope that it’s the right time of year to see the whales.
In addition to all of my normal activities, I’ve started to volunteer at the local community services center. I’m only doing administration and project work, but it’s a good opportunity for me to see how a non-profit organisation operates down here. So far, I’ve been really impressed. They have interesting and interactive programs for people of all ages. I’m working with a group that specifically helps young people with mental disorders by providing a creative outlet to express their feelings. They have art, drama, dance, and writing classes, and hopefully, I’ll get to participate in some of the activities. Also, there’s a French man that works at the center, so I have a great opportunity to work on my French while doing some good in my suburb.
Oh, and before I forget, I experienced one of the most beautiful winter days in Canberra last weekend. A few girls from church and I went to the Lerida wineries, which are just 35 minutes outside of Canberra, near Lake George. The vineyards, of course, were not full of ripe grapes, but the barrenness of the land had its own unique beauty. We ate a wonderful lunch at the quaint café that overlooked the vineyards, and as we were waiting on our meal, it began to snow! It was so beautiful and magical that I felt like a child as I ran outside to touch the white bits of heaven. The smooth wines and friendly company only added to the idyllic nature of the whole afternoon.
That’s all the big news for me.
Enjoy the Olympics.
Cheers
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
winter holidays
G’day!
I hope that this email finds everyone enjoying their summer.
July was quite an adventurous and exciting month because I travelled quite a bit, and my family came all the way over the Pacific Ocean to visit me here in Australia. I spent the first few days of July in Wollongong, a coastal city south of Sydney, where I strolled along the rugged beach and met some interesting backpackers at my youth hostel. One of the great things about travelling as a backpacker is that you meet people from all over the world who have unique stories and reasons as to why they happen to be in the same location as you are. For example, I met a guy from Taiwan who worked in Melbourne for 3 months, and then he decided to cycle around some of Australia. He apparently had cycled all around Taiwan and was now ready for a much bigger challenge. Also during my stay in Wollongong, I visited and briefly spoke at a Rotary Club. The principal speaker for the evening was a member of the Parliament who represented the constituents of the area. She spoke to the club about the transition from the Liberal to the Labor government, and some of the programs that the current government was working on. She was a very interesting dinner table companion, and the whole evening added to my knowledge of Australian politics.
Later in the week, I travelled to Sydney where I met my family at the airport. We spent a couple of days touring the Opera House, the New South Wales Art Gallery, Manly Beach, Darling Harbour…all the big stuff, and then we drove down the coast to Kiama. The drive is spectacular! Because my computer is dead, I can’t post any pictures for a while, but at some point I hope to show you the beautiful scenery of the South Coast. At one point, we drove over a bridge that was completely separate from the mountain and over the water! We spent the night in Kiama, a seaside town that’s famous for a blowhole that squirts water several meters high in the air. We were warned not to pass a certain point because occasionally an adventurous tourist will want to take a pretty picture, and he gets blown away when the water jets out between the rocks. From Kiama, we drove through some of the Southern Highlands, ate meat pies in Robertson, the town where the movie Babe was filmed, and finally arrived in Canberra. That night we all attended my host Rotary Club’s meeting, and my biological family got to meet my Rotary family. Over the next few days, we visited the Canberra Zoo and Botanical Gardens, and my host counsellor, Ian, gave us a great tour of the embassies, the Old and New Parliaments, and the War Memorial. I should mention that dad drove from Sydney to Canberra, and I drove the whole time while we were in Canberra. And driving on the left side of the road, although it requires a bit more concentration, is not at all impossible. On our last night in Canberra, we ate at the home of a Rotarian, and we had a great meal with wonderful people. I think that spending time with Australians in their home really helped my family to see the Australian culture at its best.
We left Canberra at the end of the week, travelled back to Sydney, and boarded a plane to Hawai’i, where we spent a week in the warm sunshine. Hawai’i is really as beautiful as all the pictures and movies show, so I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking to take a vacation. We went snorkelling and surfing in some of the most beautiful beaches that you could imagine. We also visited the Polynesian Cultural Center and the Pearl Harbor memorial. It was just a spectacular vacation!
I arrived back in Canberra just a few days ago, and now classes have started back. The vacation was incredible, but I’m glad to be back in Canberra with my friends and a new semester to tackle.
I would love to hear about your adventures this summer, so please stay in touch. Thank you again for all of your encouragement and prayers.
Cheers
I hope that this email finds everyone enjoying their summer.
July was quite an adventurous and exciting month because I travelled quite a bit, and my family came all the way over the Pacific Ocean to visit me here in Australia. I spent the first few days of July in Wollongong, a coastal city south of Sydney, where I strolled along the rugged beach and met some interesting backpackers at my youth hostel. One of the great things about travelling as a backpacker is that you meet people from all over the world who have unique stories and reasons as to why they happen to be in the same location as you are. For example, I met a guy from Taiwan who worked in Melbourne for 3 months, and then he decided to cycle around some of Australia. He apparently had cycled all around Taiwan and was now ready for a much bigger challenge. Also during my stay in Wollongong, I visited and briefly spoke at a Rotary Club. The principal speaker for the evening was a member of the Parliament who represented the constituents of the area. She spoke to the club about the transition from the Liberal to the Labor government, and some of the programs that the current government was working on. She was a very interesting dinner table companion, and the whole evening added to my knowledge of Australian politics.
Later in the week, I travelled to Sydney where I met my family at the airport. We spent a couple of days touring the Opera House, the New South Wales Art Gallery, Manly Beach, Darling Harbour…all the big stuff, and then we drove down the coast to Kiama. The drive is spectacular! Because my computer is dead, I can’t post any pictures for a while, but at some point I hope to show you the beautiful scenery of the South Coast. At one point, we drove over a bridge that was completely separate from the mountain and over the water! We spent the night in Kiama, a seaside town that’s famous for a blowhole that squirts water several meters high in the air. We were warned not to pass a certain point because occasionally an adventurous tourist will want to take a pretty picture, and he gets blown away when the water jets out between the rocks. From Kiama, we drove through some of the Southern Highlands, ate meat pies in Robertson, the town where the movie Babe was filmed, and finally arrived in Canberra. That night we all attended my host Rotary Club’s meeting, and my biological family got to meet my Rotary family. Over the next few days, we visited the Canberra Zoo and Botanical Gardens, and my host counsellor, Ian, gave us a great tour of the embassies, the Old and New Parliaments, and the War Memorial. I should mention that dad drove from Sydney to Canberra, and I drove the whole time while we were in Canberra. And driving on the left side of the road, although it requires a bit more concentration, is not at all impossible. On our last night in Canberra, we ate at the home of a Rotarian, and we had a great meal with wonderful people. I think that spending time with Australians in their home really helped my family to see the Australian culture at its best.
We left Canberra at the end of the week, travelled back to Sydney, and boarded a plane to Hawai’i, where we spent a week in the warm sunshine. Hawai’i is really as beautiful as all the pictures and movies show, so I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking to take a vacation. We went snorkelling and surfing in some of the most beautiful beaches that you could imagine. We also visited the Polynesian Cultural Center and the Pearl Harbor memorial. It was just a spectacular vacation!
I arrived back in Canberra just a few days ago, and now classes have started back. The vacation was incredible, but I’m glad to be back in Canberra with my friends and a new semester to tackle.
I would love to hear about your adventures this summer, so please stay in touch. Thank you again for all of your encouragement and prayers.
Cheers
Monday, June 23, 2008
end of June
G’day!
June has passed quickly here, and my first semester is nearly finished. I have officially been on holidays for over a week now because my final exam fell on an early date in the testing period, so I’ve been using this time to catch up on some reading and to work on a presentation about the U.S. presidential elections that I plan on giving next semester to the Indonesian Student Association.
Although this month has been a bit more relaxed than others, I have managed to keep myself adequately busy. I spoke at three Rotary Clubs, two of which had morning meetings, so I had a bit of a challenge to be alert enough to speak competently. I like to think of myself as a morning person, but my mornings generally start around 8am. The presentations went fairly well, and I enjoyed meeting more Rotarians and finding out about how I can get involved with their projects.
I have also participated in several Rotary and Rotaract activities this month. About mid-June, I helped to interview high school students who have applied to attend the National Youth Science Forum. The forum is a project started by my host club and has become an international event. Students from Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa apply to attend this intense two week forum where they are exposed to some of the cutting edge research in different science fields. It was exciting for me to meet some extremely bright and passionate students, and I have great hope for this new generation of scientists.
This past weekend, I volunteered with some Rotacters in the Canada Fun Run. This event is coordinated by the Canadian High Commission and the Cancer Council ACT to raise money for cancer research. On Friday, we set up army tents, which requires a lot more work than setting up regular camping tents, and although I am in good shape, I really felt my sore muscles over the next few days. On Sunday, the actual event took place, and I had the privilege of manning a water station along the running path. The weather was perfect, and we were located right along Lake Burley Griffin. Many of the runners were so focused that they didn’t even stop for water, so we spent a great deal of time just cheering on the participants. The event was very successful, and it raised several thousand dollars for cancer research.
Attending church activities has been one of the most important parts of my experience here in Australia. Through church and Bible study, I have met some great people who have encouraged me and challenged me in my faith and my daily activities. They have become really good friends, and through my relationship with them, I have seen how our common faith unites us when cultural differences may cause us to see the world differently.
I hope that you all continue to enjoy your summer. Please keep me updated with the happenings of your lives. Thank you again.
Cheers
June has passed quickly here, and my first semester is nearly finished. I have officially been on holidays for over a week now because my final exam fell on an early date in the testing period, so I’ve been using this time to catch up on some reading and to work on a presentation about the U.S. presidential elections that I plan on giving next semester to the Indonesian Student Association.
Although this month has been a bit more relaxed than others, I have managed to keep myself adequately busy. I spoke at three Rotary Clubs, two of which had morning meetings, so I had a bit of a challenge to be alert enough to speak competently. I like to think of myself as a morning person, but my mornings generally start around 8am. The presentations went fairly well, and I enjoyed meeting more Rotarians and finding out about how I can get involved with their projects.
I have also participated in several Rotary and Rotaract activities this month. About mid-June, I helped to interview high school students who have applied to attend the National Youth Science Forum. The forum is a project started by my host club and has become an international event. Students from Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa apply to attend this intense two week forum where they are exposed to some of the cutting edge research in different science fields. It was exciting for me to meet some extremely bright and passionate students, and I have great hope for this new generation of scientists.
This past weekend, I volunteered with some Rotacters in the Canada Fun Run. This event is coordinated by the Canadian High Commission and the Cancer Council ACT to raise money for cancer research. On Friday, we set up army tents, which requires a lot more work than setting up regular camping tents, and although I am in good shape, I really felt my sore muscles over the next few days. On Sunday, the actual event took place, and I had the privilege of manning a water station along the running path. The weather was perfect, and we were located right along Lake Burley Griffin. Many of the runners were so focused that they didn’t even stop for water, so we spent a great deal of time just cheering on the participants. The event was very successful, and it raised several thousand dollars for cancer research.
Attending church activities has been one of the most important parts of my experience here in Australia. Through church and Bible study, I have met some great people who have encouraged me and challenged me in my faith and my daily activities. They have become really good friends, and through my relationship with them, I have seen how our common faith unites us when cultural differences may cause us to see the world differently.
I hope that you all continue to enjoy your summer. Please keep me updated with the happenings of your lives. Thank you again.
Cheers
Saturday, May 31, 2008
The First Day of Winter
G'day!
Today is June 1, the official starting day of the winter season, and the clouds have covered Canberra to prevent the sun from shining and warming up our spirits. Such is the proper greeting for the arrival of the coldest months of the year.
This will be my first time to experience a proper winter with temperatures hovering around freezing on some days. I have bought sweaters and UGGS, boots with Australian sheep wool lining, and I’ve pulled out my wool jacket and gloves. So I’m ready to face winter’s fury.
Even though the temperatures will steadily drop over the next few months, I’ve been told that most winter days are clear and bright, so the cold weather won’t dampen my spirits. I’ve heard that some people even celebrate Christmas in July, so maybe I should hang a stocking over my heater just in case “you know who” decides to have a mid-year trial run in preparation for December.
My health has finally improved since I went to the doctor and bought some prescription meds, so I’ve been able to jump back into my busy schedule. Classes are winding down, so I’ve been finishing up some assignments and preparing to take a final exam. I’ve also been planning out activities to do with my family when they arrive in July. I’m really excited to give them a tour of the country that I’ve grown to love.
At Texas A&M University we talk about “the other education,” referring to learning outside of the classroom, and I have continued to grow in my knowledge of Australian history, politics, culture, and people by attending and volunteering in several activities.
I continue to attend Rotaract meeting every fortnight, and it’s so encouraging to see other young people who are eager to positively affect their community. We had a speaker at the last meeting who told us her story of how she grew up with a disability, yet through hard work, determination, and the help of friends and family, who refused to let her sit on the sidelines, she has earned one of the highest honours in Scouts, has learned to fly an airplane, has pushed for the establishment of more aviation programs for people with disabilities, and has become a popular motivational speaker. She really encouraged us to believe in ourselves because big dreams are tangible. We also heard from a Rotary Cultural Exchange Scholar, who had volunteered in Mexico, just a few months ago. She talked to us about her experience in Mexico working with the poor, and she also discussed some of scholarships that Rotary offers to young people.
Last weekend, I volunteered with members of Rotaract to raise money for the Salvation Army. The event was called the Red Shield Appeal, and basically, we walked around a couple of neighbourhoods and asked for donations. One of my friends from Rotaract and I worked together, so the event provided a good opportunity for fellowship. We had a great time, and it was really encouraging to see how many Australians supported the work of the Salvation Army.
I also visited the National Art Gallery last weekend. Two of my flatmates and I went to see the Turner to Monet exhibition. It’s hard to describe how excited I felt to be so close to some of Van Gogh and Monet’s paintings. They were truly beautiful. I am not extremely knowledgeable about art, but thankfully, my flatmate is an artist. She took the time to explain some of the artists’ styles, so that I could better appreciate the work before me.
This past week I went to a Labor Club and heard Julia Gillard, the Deputy Prime Minister, speak on the new government’s plans for improvements in the education system. I have really enjoyed learning about politics here in Australia because although their bicameral Congress is based on the U.S. Congress and the two party system is similar to ours, the values of the Australian people and government differ to those of the American people. And the more that I learn about the Australian people and culture, the more I value their view of the world, so I have been striving to learn what I can in order to share this knowledge with you all when I get back home.
This week is another very busy week. I will speak at two Rotary clubs and sit in on a question and answer session of Parliament.
Thank you again for your support and encouragement.
Today is June 1, the official starting day of the winter season, and the clouds have covered Canberra to prevent the sun from shining and warming up our spirits. Such is the proper greeting for the arrival of the coldest months of the year.
This will be my first time to experience a proper winter with temperatures hovering around freezing on some days. I have bought sweaters and UGGS, boots with Australian sheep wool lining, and I’ve pulled out my wool jacket and gloves. So I’m ready to face winter’s fury.
Even though the temperatures will steadily drop over the next few months, I’ve been told that most winter days are clear and bright, so the cold weather won’t dampen my spirits. I’ve heard that some people even celebrate Christmas in July, so maybe I should hang a stocking over my heater just in case “you know who” decides to have a mid-year trial run in preparation for December.
My health has finally improved since I went to the doctor and bought some prescription meds, so I’ve been able to jump back into my busy schedule. Classes are winding down, so I’ve been finishing up some assignments and preparing to take a final exam. I’ve also been planning out activities to do with my family when they arrive in July. I’m really excited to give them a tour of the country that I’ve grown to love.
At Texas A&M University we talk about “the other education,” referring to learning outside of the classroom, and I have continued to grow in my knowledge of Australian history, politics, culture, and people by attending and volunteering in several activities.
I continue to attend Rotaract meeting every fortnight, and it’s so encouraging to see other young people who are eager to positively affect their community. We had a speaker at the last meeting who told us her story of how she grew up with a disability, yet through hard work, determination, and the help of friends and family, who refused to let her sit on the sidelines, she has earned one of the highest honours in Scouts, has learned to fly an airplane, has pushed for the establishment of more aviation programs for people with disabilities, and has become a popular motivational speaker. She really encouraged us to believe in ourselves because big dreams are tangible. We also heard from a Rotary Cultural Exchange Scholar, who had volunteered in Mexico, just a few months ago. She talked to us about her experience in Mexico working with the poor, and she also discussed some of scholarships that Rotary offers to young people.
Last weekend, I volunteered with members of Rotaract to raise money for the Salvation Army. The event was called the Red Shield Appeal, and basically, we walked around a couple of neighbourhoods and asked for donations. One of my friends from Rotaract and I worked together, so the event provided a good opportunity for fellowship. We had a great time, and it was really encouraging to see how many Australians supported the work of the Salvation Army.
I also visited the National Art Gallery last weekend. Two of my flatmates and I went to see the Turner to Monet exhibition. It’s hard to describe how excited I felt to be so close to some of Van Gogh and Monet’s paintings. They were truly beautiful. I am not extremely knowledgeable about art, but thankfully, my flatmate is an artist. She took the time to explain some of the artists’ styles, so that I could better appreciate the work before me.
This past week I went to a Labor Club and heard Julia Gillard, the Deputy Prime Minister, speak on the new government’s plans for improvements in the education system. I have really enjoyed learning about politics here in Australia because although their bicameral Congress is based on the U.S. Congress and the two party system is similar to ours, the values of the Australian people and government differ to those of the American people. And the more that I learn about the Australian people and culture, the more I value their view of the world, so I have been striving to learn what I can in order to share this knowledge with you all when I get back home.
This week is another very busy week. I will speak at two Rotary clubs and sit in on a question and answer session of Parliament.
Thank you again for your support and encouragement.
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