Being a Sydney Tourist

Saturday Sam, Mike and I headed over to Sydney for our day as tourists. We walked from Circular Quay where our ferry stopped over to Darling Harbour. First we went to the aquarium. I don't know why we haven't been using our student discount more often, except for the fact they we aren't offered it everywhere, but it saved us a little money that day. The Sydney Aquarium is really nice with a lot of things to see. I loved the cute little platypus. I don't think I have ever seen one before, so that was fun. We also saw some adorable little seals and a huge shark/ underwater exhibit.

After the aquarium we walked into an Aboriginal store where they were about to have a free listen to some Aboriginal music. This guy told about finding out at 16 that he was half aboriginal and going to meet his father and grandfather for the first time and learning to play the didgeridoo. He played us songs with contemporary music in the background and attempted to "act out" the animals with his hands. It was an interesting show. I would bring a didgerdoo home if they weren't about 4 feet long and extrememly heavy! I'm already wondering how I'm suppose to get all of my suitcases to the airport and on the plane with me.

After the show we walked to what I was anxiously anticipating seeing for the last month- the Real World Sydney house!!! I thought it was going to be the coolest thing ever....but it wasn't. MTV makes it look a lot better than it actually is. The real house doesn't even face the harbour or the city. It sits in the middle of a kiddy zone with a carosel and lots of playgrounds and things. I laughed when I saw that. So much for all the big hype, MTV!

Finally we spent a large part of our day going to Paddy's Market. First, the market is in the middle of China Town, and the three of us were hungry. So it took us about 45 minutes to attempt and get out of China Town, only to realize that we had no idea which way to go for good food and finally circled back around to the one non-chinese restaurant we had seen in the beginning. Great plan, stupid American tourists! Once we got to Paddy's Market I thought I was going to be able to find some great deals and get some Christmas shopping done. Unfortunately the market is more of a very cheap flea market and they didn't have a single thing I was interested in buying. It was just a lot of useless, cheap, junk. The only thing I ended up buying was a duffle bag so that I can put the stuff that will no longer fit into my suitcase in there. Unfortunately I forgot that I am not on a group flight and will have to haul myself, a carry on, my back back, two rolling suitcases, and now a duffle bag down the hill, to the ferry, of the ferry and onto a bus to the airport. Hmm.... I better start coming up with a new plan!

The Gondoliers

This has been a long and interesting week. Let’s be honest, it wasn’t the best. I talked to dad who has been, shall we say, a little sick lately. I was sad to hear about that and worried about him. I know he’s going to be fine, but it still makes me sad to think that if something very serious did happen to anyone of you that I love that I would not be there. Then I started getting sick myself. I’ve had a bad head cold/sinus headache all week. I haven’t done anything the last eight days other than class and sleep. It’s been boring to say the least. But my friend Sam knew I was upset and not feeling well so she was a sweetheart and bought me flowers to cheer me up. How nice of her!!
My Gerber Daisies from Sam:)
Finally, Thursday night came around and it was the night I have been waiting for. Sam and I went to see The Gondoliers at the Sydney Opera House. The Gondoliers is a comic opera and I was really excited not only to be there and hear the music, but also to experience a new type of opera. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to fully enjoy it because of my sickness, but as soon as I got there that seemed to be the last thing on my mind.
When we first got there Sam and I took time to look in the opera house which was nothing like I expected. The outside is a beautiful architectural piece, but the inside is not so fascinating. It wasn’t beautiful or stunning. It was just cement and funky walls…nothing that special (well, it was special, just not what I envisioned. We walked down and ate at the Opera Bar, and I finally had the best meal I’ve had in over a month. I ordered a sirloin, and let me say it may have been “the best steak I’ve ever had!” Just kidding dad, it wasn’t better than your steaks, but it was very tender and juicy…I haven’t had steak since I’ve been here so I was in heaven.
(Sam and I inside the opera house. And yes, you've seen this jacket before. I don't have any warm clothes and it's still chilly here!)

After dinner we headed over to the gift shop and then up to the theater. Sam looked around and informed me that we were the youngest people there. Eh, so what if everyone else was more the age of parents, or more so my grandparents, I was at the opera and that was all that mattered to me! When the lights finally dimmed and the orchestra began to play I had chills all over my body in anticipation. The entire time I was there I was just drawn into the story and the acting. It was a funny show, and the singers were fantastic. The lead soprano had such an amazing voice. She sang a few wonderful songs and when she would hit her high notes the hair on my arms would stand up and I would think to myself “I want to do that.” I want to sing like that again. It definitely inspired me to looking back into singing at least for a little while when I’m young and have the time.

After the opera we caught the ferry back to Manly and I thought about how I could make this singing and opera thing happen. Especially since Dr. McHarvard has been making me do a lot of thinking about law schools and taking the LSATs which I may be doing next year. I don't know if I'd have time to work, do school, take the LSATs, apply to law school and attempt to be in the Nashville opera. Then again, all I've done in my free time here is think about my life and what I want to do with it. It's made me inspired to do much more than whatever my previous plan was...and let's be honest after changing my major three times I don't think I've ever been set on a single plan.

Blue Mountains

This weekend was so much fun! Friday night was Oktoberfest here at school. They served German beer in HUGE mugs and played a ton of German music. My friends from Germany were loving every minute of it- singing along, dancing, shouting- it was fun seeing them in their element.

I tried to drink one of the beers, but there was no way. First, I hate beer, second the mug was entirely too large, and finally after an hour and a half that stuff was down right hot and nasty. The Germans may have laughed at me, but oh well, I made a valid attempt (sort of).

Yesterday 5 other US study abroads and I headed to the Blue Mountains. We did an excursion package in order to see all of the sights. We took a jet cat from Manly Wharf over to Sydney’s Circular Quay where we jumped on a bus and headed an hour north up to Featherdale Wildlife Park. This time I tried to spend a little more time just enjoying the animals instead of taking so many pictures. I guess because these kangaroos grow up inside the park they remind me a lot of dogs. First, they hop up to you expecting food. If you don’t have any to give them then they’re on their way to the next person, no time to even pat one’s head. But I found a cute little cuddly guy lying under a bench. I went to pet him and he rolled over like a dog and allowed me to rub his belly. He was so incredibly soft. The kangaroo felt just like a soft plush stuffed animal toy. I loved it!

After that we swung by the koalas and they really are precious. I got a better picture with one, and after I finished touching him I smelled my hand the way my guide told me to. He said that the koalas are able to process out the toxins of the eucalyptus. Fun fact for the day- after you pet one it does smell a little bit like eucalyptus on their fur.

I attempted to feed an emu, at first he was cool and it was a fun experience.


Two seconds later the ice cream cone I was feeding him was gone and he was trying to enjoy my fingers.



There was also a Featherdale Farmland area at the park. My friends died laughing because the goats all walked up to me and loved me. They said the goats must have known we belonged together—HaHa, thanks guys!

Finally, one of the cutest animals at the park were the Blue Penguins. These guys are tiny, maybe about a foot tall. They’re a native Australian animal and absolutely adorable.



After the wildlife park we watched a boomerang demonstration. I think I’d be a decent boomerang thrower. I do have a bit of throwing knowledge from back in the day, so if I can master the shot put and discus then why not a boomerang?

Of course, the main event of the day was heading to the Blue Mountains.

This mountain chain is stunningly beautiful. It really is blue. The haze that gives these mountains their name is caused by rays of light striking droplets of oil dispersed by gum trees. We started by taking the Skyway, an open aired suspended cable car, across one side of the mountains to the other. I got a little nervous because we were so high up. Right then and there I decided the sky diving trip I was thinking of taking would have to wait until I didn’t get sweaty palms and the urge to pee on myself in a cable car. If I couldn’t handle this ride then there was NO way I’d be able to jump out of a plane.

Here’s a picture of me in front of the “Three Sisters.” There is a long story about three sisters who were about to be eaten by a centipede so their father used his magic stick to turn them into stone….it’s pretty long and I’ll tell it to you when I get home. Basically the centipede chases the father and he turns into a bird to get away, dropping his magic stick and that is why the birds here still scratch around in the dirt looking for the stick to turn the three sisters back into people again.
Once we got to the other side of the mountains rode the Cableway down to the bottom of the Jamison Valley. I did better on this car, but it was a steep incline. When we got to the bottom we did a bushman walk through the jungle. I looked for kookaburras in the gum trees, but the trees were probably the tallest trees I have ever seen in my life. There was no way to tell what was living up in them. After the walk we took the Railway back up to the top of the mountains. (L-R Andria, Ali, Mike, Me, Jenny, Sam)


The view of the mountains was spectacular and it reminded me of the trip I took with mom and Jimmy to see Rock City years ago. At the time I thought it was the worst vacation ever, but now I want to go back to Chattanooga and do more sight seeing. I started realizing that Tennessee is such a beautiful state and I take it for granted that it’s the place I call home. Yesterday made me start to miss it, just a little. So for those of you who are still there- enjoy the fall colors of the mountains because you’re lucky to have it around you.

Mentoring my Japanese Protege!

This week I had to start my course assignment for Managing Workplace Conflict with the famous McHarvard. My task was to find a first term student of an opposite culture (aka Asian) and opposite gender. You don't understand how challenging this was for me. She kept repeating that we must look at faces and find someone who is like ourselves. Well, I don't know many Asian males who have the interests and hobbies that I do. I finally spotted a very hip looking guy who is a little more outgoing and friendly than the rest. I tried to introduce myself and he said his name is Kyonei Wantanabe. Umm...I couldn't pronounce it so he said I can call him Kio. Sounds easy enough. Two days later I forgot if it was pronounced Kio as in Key-o. Or Kio as in KI-o. Oh crap. I'm a terrible mentor already. (Its key-o in case you were wondering.)
So, Kio and I meet up and he seems friendly and excited about the project. The only dilemma is Kio is 23 and he has a degree in Chemistry from Japan. We're supposed to be here to mentor about being a first time college student, or about ICMS and Australia or their major (because everyone here does management and hospitality etc.) Well, since he isn't a first time student he already knows about studying, test taking and writing papers. Since I'm new to this college I can't coach him through it, and most importantly, I do not study hospitality- how do I give him advice about that industry?! Ohhh my. This is going to be a sight.
Luckily the meeting ended up being successful. Kio is from Japan, just outside of Tokyo. He has a brother and a sister and is the "middle child" which I guess you could say I am in a way. Kio said that for a while after graduating he wanted to pursue an acting career. That blew my mind because as we all know I've loved acting and music. Very cool.
Then there was a bit of silence so I asked Kio what he wants to do with his hospitality degree after he graduates. He said he would like to work on cruise ships. You have to be kidding me!! I told him all about my friend Clint working on ships and how I've considered trying to get a director of communications job or something on a cruise ship just for fun while I'm young. I was just excited to think that I really did have some common interests with a random guy I picked out from Japan. I'll be having weekly meetings with Kio for the rest of the term. I'm not exactly sure where the discussion will lead, but I'm excited to learn more about my new Japanese friend.

Rugby Rules

I'm finally getting into a routine here in Manly. The first couple of weeks were so much fun. I loved going on adventures, meeting new people, tasting new food (even though I wasn't too impressed!) and just enjoying my life as an Australian tourist, but of course all of that is now settling down. This past week was almost very normal. I went to my 16 hours of classes and learned about a ton of projects, papers and other monotonous assignments. I'm still up in the air as to whether or not I'm going to like the classes-- most of them involve a ton of group work and even a group paper of 3500 words. I guess it wouldn't be too bad if my other group members were native to the English language, but they are not. And do I even begin on the fact that most of the international students do not even know the meaning of a thesis statement? Ohhhhh geez! I'm feeling the workload on my shoulders already.

Other than class there hasn't been much excitement in my life. I went down to the beach a couple of times. The weather has been getting a bit warmer during the day when the sun is out. Unfortunately, I am getting a little pale and have not seen the results of this "tanning" and laying out. I'm perplexed by the sun here because I heard that there is basically no ozone layer over Australia and this place has the highest rates of skin cancer and melanoma. Well, if that is the case then why can't I get a tan after a week of tanning?! Maybe that's the problem- the sun gets soaked in differently and turns into cancer instead of a tan, who knows?

Finally, last night was a HUGE Rugby match between Australia and England. It was honestly bigger than the Superbowl. The fans here are outrageous. I've only seen a little bit of Rugby here or there, so this was the first time I really attempted to pay attention and learn some of the rules. It's actually a cool sport. The guys here were astonished that I had never watched rugby and were really into telling me about what was going on and how they scored points. For a minute I was confused until I began putting it in American football terms and getting the fact that they have sort of a two point conversion, but no extra points. I was excited to watch more games. Too bad Australia lost though- that was the not so fun part of the evening.
So, the summary of my week: going to class, the beach, and learning the rules of rugby.