I am exhausted. it is the end of day tow and we have been going and going non stop. We had to be out the door by 7:30 in order to catch the buses and get to Wesley by 8:45. Then we had Wesley’s orientation all day (like freshman orientation at colleges in the states) with all the first years (thats what they’re called here, first, second, and third years [they only have three years to get their bachelor’s degree]). It was long and monotonous, and I honestly wasn’t really paying attention. I was talking with this Australian girl Kahlia most of the time (well, whispering, I guess).
At about 1:00 we had lunch and then went into the city for a scavenger hunt with all the new Wesley students. It was pretty fun. It was cool to be able to walk around the city and see some of the cool places and all the pubs and cafes.
But at the end of the scavenger hunt, we had a harbor cruise which was pretty cool. It was just like a 3 leveled boat that we all went on and it sailed around the harbor while we ate and danced and talked. It was a fun orientation, but now the ASCers have to go back to Wesley for another orientation tomorrow morning. I’m in desperate need for sleep because not only am I just tired, but jet lag is catching up to me and I’ve only been in Sydney for less than 48 hours.
goodnight.
Open a Bottle of Adventure
Thursday, February 24, 2011
2/23
so I didn't have internet until now so here are the posts I made and saved on my computer to update later :]
so here I am. I’ve made it to Australia.
one of the first things you should know about flying abroad is that everyone expects you to know what you’re doing. not only was I surprised that our group didn’t have a supervisor (not that we really needed it, but still), I found that later on in the flight I was cumulating so many questions about customs and immigration forms and granola that it was almost stressful. I brought so much food onto this flight it felt strange that I mark the box “no food items to declare” but I figured customs didn’t care that I had brought along Phinneas and Ferb fruit snacks to keep me company. I was waved through the baggage part of customs anyway so it really didn’t matter. I could have brought a bomb for all they knew and I’d still have it. I shouldn’t have thrown away my granola.
When we arrived at Wesley Institute, we dropped all our luggage off and met in a classroom to go through ASC (Australia Studies Program)’s orientation. It was long and semi-monotonous, but we received so many useful things. a public transportation pass (including busses, trains, you name it), an emergency card, $10 prepaid calling card, maps, bus schedules, cell phones, tourist guides. We got everything.
another thing you should know about Australia is that they eat just as much as Americans do, but they set aside time for it. Today I ate 5 meals: breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner. And literally as I was typing this, they rang the bell for evening tea. its truly wonderful here.
Today was satisfyingly uneventful. We did play extreme pictionary (which, in all reality, is really just a combination of pictionary and a relay race).
And here I am at Flo Harris Lodge. it is great. The people seem nice, the food is decent (yes mom, we had meat pies and I ate all of the food given to me), and we even had an optional Bible study tonight (which I opted to go to).
However, I have never been in a place at dinner time with so much noise. Its not so much that the people are making the noise as it is that the walls just reflect it perfectly creating a continuous echo of every word muttered within 20 minutes. I could walk in that room, wisper my name and come back in 15 minutes to a chorus of voices singing, or shouting more like it, “PAUL! PAUL!” Needless to say, I could understand maybe every 4th word said during dinner. My poor housemates probably thought I was deaf asking them what they said or even asking questions already answered; and stupid giving awkward smiles back when I had no clue what they were saying and it was actually a question directed at me.
oh how lovely awkwardness can be.
Goodnight. I have to be up at 6:30 to be at school at 8:25. one of the girls here is driving us. how it takes 2 hours to get to a school 20 minutes away in a car I would like to know and I guess will soon find out.
so here I am. I’ve made it to Australia.
one of the first things you should know about flying abroad is that everyone expects you to know what you’re doing. not only was I surprised that our group didn’t have a supervisor (not that we really needed it, but still), I found that later on in the flight I was cumulating so many questions about customs and immigration forms and granola that it was almost stressful. I brought so much food onto this flight it felt strange that I mark the box “no food items to declare” but I figured customs didn’t care that I had brought along Phinneas and Ferb fruit snacks to keep me company. I was waved through the baggage part of customs anyway so it really didn’t matter. I could have brought a bomb for all they knew and I’d still have it. I shouldn’t have thrown away my granola.
When we arrived at Wesley Institute, we dropped all our luggage off and met in a classroom to go through ASC (Australia Studies Program)’s orientation. It was long and semi-monotonous, but we received so many useful things. a public transportation pass (including busses, trains, you name it), an emergency card, $10 prepaid calling card, maps, bus schedules, cell phones, tourist guides. We got everything.
another thing you should know about Australia is that they eat just as much as Americans do, but they set aside time for it. Today I ate 5 meals: breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner. And literally as I was typing this, they rang the bell for evening tea. its truly wonderful here.
Today was satisfyingly uneventful. We did play extreme pictionary (which, in all reality, is really just a combination of pictionary and a relay race).
And here I am at Flo Harris Lodge. it is great. The people seem nice, the food is decent (yes mom, we had meat pies and I ate all of the food given to me), and we even had an optional Bible study tonight (which I opted to go to).
However, I have never been in a place at dinner time with so much noise. Its not so much that the people are making the noise as it is that the walls just reflect it perfectly creating a continuous echo of every word muttered within 20 minutes. I could walk in that room, wisper my name and come back in 15 minutes to a chorus of voices singing, or shouting more like it, “PAUL! PAUL!” Needless to say, I could understand maybe every 4th word said during dinner. My poor housemates probably thought I was deaf asking them what they said or even asking questions already answered; and stupid giving awkward smiles back when I had no clue what they were saying and it was actually a question directed at me.
oh how lovely awkwardness can be.
Goodnight. I have to be up at 6:30 to be at school at 8:25. one of the girls here is driving us. how it takes 2 hours to get to a school 20 minutes away in a car I would like to know and I guess will soon find out.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Australia Today
the big day is tomorrow!
anticipation is getting to me. I'm so excited.
in a little more than 24 hours I will be on a plane to Sydney, Australia can you believe it?
who would have known that I would have been blessed with this opportunity.
A little background before my blog lights up with Australian adventures:
Most people when they study abroad take general ed classes since there aren't many major specific programs. When I declared my graphic design major last year, I went over a class schedule for the next couple years with my advisor and I had to be taking at least 3 art classes per semester. I had already taken most all of my gen ed classes while I wasn't sure what I wanted to study. This meant that I couldn't study abroad. I had accepted this fact and just decided that I might to a little bit of traveling after I graduated or even teach english abroad with a good organization or something instead. However, one day I was browsing study abroad programs (who knows why because I knew I wasn't going). When I came across the BestSemester program I looked up what ones had art classes and the Australia one popped up. I researched it more and it actually had some of the classes I needed. I talked with my parents and they said the only way it would work (because I was looking at this other program) was if I could keep my institutional aid. Well I didn't think that was possible but when I met with one of the study abroad people at the office, they said that since BestSemester was part of the CCCUniversities (or something like that) I would be able to keep my institutional aid because I wouldn't actually be taking a leave of absence. CRAZY. I went to apply and realized that the date had already passed. bummer. I was a little upset, but when i went back on the next day, it said that there was an extended application deadline. WHAT. I mean, c'mon how many things could just be perfect? needless to say I applied and a day later was accepted into the program.
So in the end everything worked out in some strange crazy perfect way.
now put your seatbelts on and get ready for sarcastic, hilarious adventures as you get to live vicariously through me in the land of Oz. excited? you should be.
anticipation is getting to me. I'm so excited.
in a little more than 24 hours I will be on a plane to Sydney, Australia can you believe it?
who would have known that I would have been blessed with this opportunity.
A little background before my blog lights up with Australian adventures:
Most people when they study abroad take general ed classes since there aren't many major specific programs. When I declared my graphic design major last year, I went over a class schedule for the next couple years with my advisor and I had to be taking at least 3 art classes per semester. I had already taken most all of my gen ed classes while I wasn't sure what I wanted to study. This meant that I couldn't study abroad. I had accepted this fact and just decided that I might to a little bit of traveling after I graduated or even teach english abroad with a good organization or something instead. However, one day I was browsing study abroad programs (who knows why because I knew I wasn't going). When I came across the BestSemester program I looked up what ones had art classes and the Australia one popped up. I researched it more and it actually had some of the classes I needed. I talked with my parents and they said the only way it would work (because I was looking at this other program) was if I could keep my institutional aid. Well I didn't think that was possible but when I met with one of the study abroad people at the office, they said that since BestSemester was part of the CCCUniversities (or something like that) I would be able to keep my institutional aid because I wouldn't actually be taking a leave of absence. CRAZY. I went to apply and realized that the date had already passed. bummer. I was a little upset, but when i went back on the next day, it said that there was an extended application deadline. WHAT. I mean, c'mon how many things could just be perfect? needless to say I applied and a day later was accepted into the program.
So in the end everything worked out in some strange crazy perfect way.
now put your seatbelts on and get ready for sarcastic, hilarious adventures as you get to live vicariously through me in the land of Oz. excited? you should be.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
A Sticky Situation
so I came across this article about this organization that promotes kids to go to their high school prom in complete duct tape costumes for a scholarship. The top couple get $3,000, second place gets $2,000, third place gets $1,000 and runner up gets $500...
take a look at some of these picture. I'll put them in order of my least favorite to most favorite :]
1. Color Crazy
2. Screaming Sunspot
3. The Brown Brigade
4. Flowers For All
5. Royal Blue
6. Frolic through the Meadows
7. Totally Twenties
8. Peace Out Boy Scout
9. A Wonderland of Tape
10. Lovely in Pink
crazy, huh?
read the original article here:
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1NzZlW/www.odditycentral.com/pics/stuck-at-prom.html
take a look at some of these picture. I'll put them in order of my least favorite to most favorite :]
1. Color Crazy
2. Screaming Sunspot
3. The Brown Brigade
4. Flowers For All
5. Royal Blue
6. Frolic through the Meadows
7. Totally Twenties
8. Peace Out Boy Scout
9. A Wonderland of Tape
10. Lovely in Pink
crazy, huh?
read the original article here:
http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1NzZlW/www.odditycentral.com/pics/stuck-at-prom.html
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Metaphysics.
yes, metaphysics is one of the only terms I learned from taking philosophy haha
I have no idea why, but today I’ve been pondering alot about the big questions in life. The “why are we here?”s, the “what is our purpose?”s. I’ve always grown up thinking that the answer to those are “we are here to serve God and be a light to those who don’t already follow God. We are to spread the good news so that everyone should live in eternity with our Lord and Savior.” something like that.
However, today I was thinking and I started thinking about fulfillment. Will I find fulfillment? What will it look like?
I was going to ask my dad if he found fulfillment living the life he does, but I’m sure he’d say something like “I found fulfillment by raising three great children who love the Lord and by living my life as an example for my children and for other non-believers.” or somewhere along those lines.
I’m not sure though. I don’t know how I’ll find fulfillment. I don’t even know if I will. With so many turmoils and trials, I have hope, but its not much. I think it sounds selfish, but everytime I think of living my life to shine for Christ, I don’t see a whole lot. I can’t picture myself doing any of the typical Christ-like things. Its hard to be outgoing and happy and selfless all the time. Its just hard. And a life of doing that doesn’t sound very exciting. I dunno why I see it that way, but ever since I’ve thought of life that way, I’ve thought of how nostalgic it will probably be. And is it even worth it to go through life (of course, I would never commit suicide or anything, but still) if thats the reason for living? I dunno. I just don’t know.
However, I think that one of the first steps towards finding fulfillment is realizing that your life is worth living for whatever reason it may be. Maybe your reason is to help children in Africa. Maybe its to become a politician and lead a country. Maybe its to get a job and have a family. Whatever it may be. And I think the next step is acknowledging that Christ’s path is the only path towards fulfillment. Its hard to commit an entire life, all we know of our existence, to one person. But we also know that its the best for our life.
There are a lot of things we don’t know. And I think its that fact that kills me. I don’t want to live my life doing everything for Christ and then come to and end and not feel fulfilled. I want to feel like my life was worth it. Like I did something to make a difference.
i don’t know how its going to turn out in the end, but I know I’ll find fulfillment in my own way.
I have no idea why, but today I’ve been pondering alot about the big questions in life. The “why are we here?”s, the “what is our purpose?”s. I’ve always grown up thinking that the answer to those are “we are here to serve God and be a light to those who don’t already follow God. We are to spread the good news so that everyone should live in eternity with our Lord and Savior.” something like that.
However, today I was thinking and I started thinking about fulfillment. Will I find fulfillment? What will it look like?
I was going to ask my dad if he found fulfillment living the life he does, but I’m sure he’d say something like “I found fulfillment by raising three great children who love the Lord and by living my life as an example for my children and for other non-believers.” or somewhere along those lines.
I’m not sure though. I don’t know how I’ll find fulfillment. I don’t even know if I will. With so many turmoils and trials, I have hope, but its not much. I think it sounds selfish, but everytime I think of living my life to shine for Christ, I don’t see a whole lot. I can’t picture myself doing any of the typical Christ-like things. Its hard to be outgoing and happy and selfless all the time. Its just hard. And a life of doing that doesn’t sound very exciting. I dunno why I see it that way, but ever since I’ve thought of life that way, I’ve thought of how nostalgic it will probably be. And is it even worth it to go through life (of course, I would never commit suicide or anything, but still) if thats the reason for living? I dunno. I just don’t know.
However, I think that one of the first steps towards finding fulfillment is realizing that your life is worth living for whatever reason it may be. Maybe your reason is to help children in Africa. Maybe its to become a politician and lead a country. Maybe its to get a job and have a family. Whatever it may be. And I think the next step is acknowledging that Christ’s path is the only path towards fulfillment. Its hard to commit an entire life, all we know of our existence, to one person. But we also know that its the best for our life.
There are a lot of things we don’t know. And I think its that fact that kills me. I don’t want to live my life doing everything for Christ and then come to and end and not feel fulfilled. I want to feel like my life was worth it. Like I did something to make a difference.
i don’t know how its going to turn out in the end, but I know I’ll find fulfillment in my own way.
Waterfalls Indoors
So to update all of you like 2 people, I will start with my first day of work. Yes, it was a week and a day after my last post, but whatever. Nothing interesting happened since then. Isn’t life exciting?
I didn’t get to work on our opening day, but Emma did stop by the store to say hi. I quote, “just went to Tilly’s, only to find out you’re not working.” ha. Anyways, so my first day of working was pretty eventful. So i showed up and about 10 minutes into my day, everything is normal when a random wet man decides to run into our store (no, wet is an understatement. he looked like he just jumped into a pool) and asks to see our water pipes or something. We’re all super confused. I go outside to find a waterfall coming down the stairs from the floor above us, draining into the parking lot. Apparently the guy said that a water pipe broke and the water could start leaking into our store if it didn’t start. Well ... he was right. It started flooding in our store. So everywhere behind the cash registers was covered in water. It was great. So a few minutes later, I’m helping a customer and I point to show them one of the mannequins at the front window and as I look past the mannequin, I see a firetruck parked outside our store. what the heck. So I go outside to see what the deal is. There wasn’t one firetruck, oh no, there were three. And not to mention one of my assistant managers was making it the biggest deal of life. So to keep you updated, we now have a drenched man, about 10 firefighters, and my crazy manager walking around our store. I felt like I was the only person who wasn’t surprised. For some reason I expect random events like this to happen in my life. And they never fail me. Its great.
I didn’t get to work on our opening day, but Emma did stop by the store to say hi. I quote, “just went to Tilly’s, only to find out you’re not working.” ha. Anyways, so my first day of working was pretty eventful. So i showed up and about 10 minutes into my day, everything is normal when a random wet man decides to run into our store (no, wet is an understatement. he looked like he just jumped into a pool) and asks to see our water pipes or something. We’re all super confused. I go outside to find a waterfall coming down the stairs from the floor above us, draining into the parking lot. Apparently the guy said that a water pipe broke and the water could start leaking into our store if it didn’t start. Well ... he was right. It started flooding in our store. So everywhere behind the cash registers was covered in water. It was great. So a few minutes later, I’m helping a customer and I point to show them one of the mannequins at the front window and as I look past the mannequin, I see a firetruck parked outside our store. what the heck. So I go outside to see what the deal is. There wasn’t one firetruck, oh no, there were three. And not to mention one of my assistant managers was making it the biggest deal of life. So to keep you updated, we now have a drenched man, about 10 firefighters, and my crazy manager walking around our store. I felt like I was the only person who wasn’t surprised. For some reason I expect random events like this to happen in my life. And they never fail me. Its great.
Oh. My. Goodness.
So for the longest time I couldn't remember my username to log onto blogger. It was rather frustrating. But I found it so yay. The posts that follow this one are the ones that I would have posted in the meantime haha...
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