Back To Life, Back To Reality, Back To School

I'm thirty days into September, and I'm just now getting around to writing this post. Does that tell you anything about where my mind has been for the past month?!

Welcome back to school, everyone. I know that I've hit the ground running with everything that has to get done.

I sat at my first Study Abroad fair at the beginning of this month, and I was amazed at the amount of students who wanted to go somewhere. They wanted to escape their American life and try something new. I respect that. America needs that. With the election coming up and most of you old enough to vote, I want you to not only think of America, but think of the world as well. You're clearly interested in studying abroad, so take the world's opinion to heart when you stand at the poll booth in November.

It was difficult to think of a topic for this month's blog, but as I thought more and more about it, I realized that life is full of goodbyes. I saw a friend at the symphony last night who I hadn't seen in months, and I don't even think I said, "Hello," rather, we talked about school and her internship and whatnot, and then we said "Bye." Goodbyes are necessary to any conversation. Goodbye, Goodnight, Adios, anything. You don't necessarily need an opener to start talking to someone, but you need to know how to close it.

It's going to sound like a stretch, but school, and studying abroad for that matter, works the same way.

You don't need to greet school with open arms, in fact, most people don't. They are forced into the "next step." They trample through college day by day until they celebrate their graduation, their goodbye. 

Openers aren't big when it comes to studying abroad.  I remember when I walked in to the office for the first time, I had an idea of where I wanted to go, but I didn't tell very many people. In fact, it wasn't until I signed my papers that I told Facebook "I'M GOING TO TURN 20 ON THE AUSTRALIAN GOLD COAST!" (I've gotten more likes on Facebook for locking myself out of my house than I did for telling the world I'm studying abroad.)

I've included a blog post from my personal blog, anotherdownunder.blogspot.com, about the difficulties of saying Goodbye. You'll find, as you go through college and the study abroad experience, that it really is very easy to strike up a conversation with a stranger. People have an inherent nature of talking to one another, they just need someone to talk to. However, there comes a time when you need to leave, or you get plain tired of talking to someone, and you have to know how to bow out. That skill comes with practice and time, and I cannot teach it to you. I can, however, share with you the difficulties I had on saying Goodbye to my friends, loved ones, and acquaintances. No matter where you are, talk to someone. Make a new friend if you are given the opportunity. You never know when you may need to call upon that friend, nor do you know when that friend may need to call upon you.

You Say, "Goodbye." And I say, "Hello?"

One of the more interesting parts of travel is saying, “Goodbye” to the ones you love. The people with whom you bother to take the time to do so obviously have meaning in your life, otherwise, it wouldn’t matter. I asked my best friend a few weeks ago whether or not he was going to be around on New Year’s, explaining that I left on the 3^rd, he said that he would tell his parents that he was going to stay and celebrate. I remember that our friends went over to his house when he left for Brazil and we spent time together, laughing it up for a while. 

I’m not the best at saying it either. I always put it off, telling the individual that I’ll make sure to see them before I leave, thus putting the blame on me if I don’t see them. But sometimes, even after you exhaust your best efforts, the window closes on someone, and the realization hits that you won’t see them again for four months. That, my friends, is difficult. You meet so many people that when it comes down to the wire, it is hard to choose to whom you actually say, “Goodbye.” And even when you do that, it’s harder still to actually make the time to do so. 

 How do you say, “Goodbye” and who do you say it to?

For most people, you don’t. You simply leave, and that person wonders where you are or completely forgets you exist until your return.

For others, you may expect to see them this weekend at a party. A gathering of friends to give a hug or a handshake and say, “I’ll see you in May! Have a Merry Christmas!” Easy. Convenient. Personal(ish). 

There are those with whom you’d rather spend all night reminiscing about the year or playing a round of Mario Kart. Fortunately, I live in the town where I grew up, so all my friends are here. Hopefully, when New Year’s rolls around, I’ll be with friends, celebrating and ringing in the New Year with people I love, with the anticipation of an amazing trip two days later.

This is how we play Mario Kart

Or there are the ones who you just want to give a big hug and hear some words of encouragement before you depart. Those are the tricky ones. They don’t fall into the circle of reminiscing, they aren’t going to the party, but you care enough to say something. It is with them that I feel like a traveling salesman. I make appointments to see them. I meet them for lunch, or at their house. I explain what I’m doing, I seek any support from the client, and then I shake their hand and leave. 

The only downside is that sometimes you miss the window. You check availability, and they’re gone before you even made the appointment. It never works out like you planned; you should know that by now. With those, there is no lunch, no home visit. No explanation, no face-to-face moral support, no handshake. It is simply a missed appointment. A client you expect to catch, but they flew. And a missed appointment can’t be rescheduled.

Nothing Ever Ends…Not Really

I definitely didn't expect to be writing in this blog again, especially since I'm not planning on studying abroad for another year or so… However, I suppose I can bring you up to speed on everything that has happened since I got back.

When I returned to the States, it was business as usual. I made sure to see all my friends, I got back into work, and I picked up where I left off. Not much had changed in my absence, but Lubbock tends to have that effect on life. The city doesn't move, and your friends are always there when you need them. The only way to initiate change in a city like Lubbock is to do it yourself. And, by God, I tried.

During my final days in Australia, I was contacted by Globalinks Learning Abroad (formerly Australearn) to apply for their Alumni Ambassador Program. I had recently been turned down from a position at Tech, and, after a few weeks of thought, I decided to give it a try. When one door closes, another one unlocks. It is, however, up to you to open it.

At the same time, work began to pick up pace a bit as well. We were notified that we were switching to a sister company, and that we had to re-apply for our current positions. A friend of mine had been promoted to manager in another department, so his position had opened up, giving me the opportunity to make a promotional move. I was granted the first interview of the entire series of interviews, so, cut me some slack if I was a tad nervous when I got to the room.

Fortunately, both applications went very well, and I was accepted to be an Alumni Ambassador with Globalinks Learning Abroad, and given the promotion I was hoping for at the hospital.

As part of the Alumni Ambassador program, we were flown up to Denver for orientation. It took me back to studying abroad. I forgot how much I missed traveling to a new place, meeting new people, and doing new things. I didn't know any of these students when I landed, but now, I am fortunate enough to call them my friends. How many people can you stand around with at 1:00am, laughing at the fact that the fire department has just rolled up and the hotel manager is smoking a cigarette?  Not many, but we did.

So, with school starting on Monday, I have been charged with inspiring the collegiate minds to studying abroad. I am to share my story with the masses, in order to create a more international university, and, as a result, world. It is a daunting task, that's for sure. AND, on top of that, I have been given the added responsibility of my job promotion. It doesn't necessarily mean longer hours, just different stuff to do. I'm pretty excited for this fall. Good things seem to be through this unlocked door. I just want to make sure that if I walk through it, I enjoy it while I'm there. Because, no matter how hard you try, you will never stop opening doors. Just make sure that you've done everything you want to do before you open the new one, because once you do, you may not get the chance to go back.

Have a great school year, everybody. Good luck and have fun!

All We Have To Decide Is What To Do With The Time That Is Given Us

I was going to take this opportunity to write an Epilogue of sorts, sort of a summary of everything I did in New Zealand and a clever wrap up to my adventures.

Unfortunately, I don't think that's what this is going to be. As I ate some God-Knows-What at the Chinese place in the Auckland airport, I decided I wanted it to be an Acknowledgements page.

I've met so many people, made so many friends, and strengthened the friendships I have. So please, if you don't mind indulging me, let me list off those who got me where I needed to go.

First and foremost, to my family. Mom, Dad, G, PopPop, Nanny, Pop: I wouldn't be here without the support y'all gave me. Some people go through their whole teenage years hating their parents, but I couldn't bring myself to even think about it. You have always been my friends before you were my parents and grandparents, and you always encouraged me to do what I want, when I want. Thank you for the support I needed when I needed it, and especially for the seeds of knowledge and experience you planted in me years ago. And the "money from grandma" (as my father calls it) was nice as well.

To those who got me here, there, and everywhere: Michael, Karen, Barbara, Jonnie Delle, members of St. Stephen's, parents from All Saints, anyone and everyone who had a hand in this. Thank you. It meant so much that you would even consider giving me anything, when this experience doesn't give you as much a return as it does me. Through all the advice, travel bookings, funds, phone calls, I actually made it through four months. I couldn't have done it without you.

To my friends who kept me in the loop, those who put up with my text and/or Facebook messages from 8000 miles away at all hours: Ken, Nick, Katie Beth, Jesse, Stephen, Eric, Hector, Emily, Farha, Keriann, Heather, Ariel, Sonia, Ellie, Lizzie. You all mean the world to me (and I've travelled halfway around it so that should mean something!) If I didn't have a way to stay in touch with you, I'm not sure I could have handled it all. The world, in reality, is a small place, and with your friends and loved ones, no matter how far away you are, they're always by your side. I can't wait to see you all soon!

To the American friends I made in Australia: Thank you for being…you. I joke with people that I travelled 8000 miles just to make friends from New England, but it's true. Some of you, I hope to stay in contact with for many years to come. Others, I barely got to know, and I'm sorry for that. You all brought something unique to our table, and I'm proud to say that I knew you. I can only hope you can say the same for me. We'll all see each other again, I promise.

To the Aussies, New Zealanders, Danes, South Africans, and Germans I met along the way: You are the reason I chose to study abroad. In America, you forget that there is a world outside of your own country. You forget that others have opinions and viewpoints. Whether it was sitting around the bar talking about whatever, at a coffee shop talking about politics, listening to a DJ tear up the mixer, working in a group studying organisational behaviour or marketing, or even over a meal at any of your places, you are what made this a great experience. If you weren't friendly to me, then I would have gone home immediately. Thank you for welcoming me and allowing me to sit and talk to y'all.

To the IB Center and Globalinks: The seed of adventure, planted by my parents, watered by grandfather when I went to Italy in the 9th grade, was finally ready for pruning when I became involved with these organisations. I'll never forget when I walked into Cat's office and chose to study in Australia for the Spring of 2012. I also won't forget the numerous emails and phone calls to Rebecca to figure out exactly what I was taking at Bond. Thank you both for putting up with my ceaseless questions, and ushering me through this experience.

If I forgot anyone, don't take it personally. There have been so many hands in this trip, I'm surprised I got this far in this post! But thank you nonetheless. Your support and encouragement has shaped me into the person I am today. And it will continue to shape me, so long as you continue to guide me.

For now, I'm ready to be home. Like Bilbo Baggins, I have travelled further than anyone expected. From Australia to New Zealand, I feel I have truly been "There and Back Again."

Last Time We'll Ever Have Our Last Chance

This'll be the last chapter of my Australian journey.

This week is finals, and God knows nobody wants to read about how my tests went, including me. Besides, I doubt I'll have a grade on them until I get home.

I also have nothing new to report on to any of y'all either, other than the fact that the Easter break was nice, and the hallway to the apartment flooded the other morning.

So, in lieu of of a "What has Brickland done this month?" post, I want to share with y'all a list of things I learned in these four months. About travel, about myself, about meeting people, about making friends…a Top 10, if you will. Here we go.

The Top 10 Things I Learned While Studying Abroad

If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there.

Lewis Carroll

Number 10 - No matter how far away you are, you are never alone.

When I boarded the plane in Lubbock, it was just me. I didn't have a fellow Red Raider to laugh with me, or a family member to play one of those silly games you play in an airport/airplane. It was just me, and that's a sobering feeling. I had been on a conference call with a number of the other students, but I couldn't remember much about any of them or the conversation, other than the fact that one other member was a diabetic, and I didn't meet him until we got to our hostel.

When I got to the Dallas airport, I did meet the first of many AustraLearn (Now Globalinks) students, Jenna.

She was nice, and we found our way to the International Terminal in LAX together. I know I didn't talk much, probably because I still felt like a man set on his own personal Odyssey. When we found the terminal, a number of students appeared to know one another, but I didn't want to intrude, so I went off to the side and sat and sent some last text messages before I boarded the plane.

It wasn't until we were forced to live in the same room where I finally got to know the people I came here with. Brett was my first acquaintance, and, as we shared an illness, we were able to share some diabetes war stories. As time went on, you naturally meet people who you're in the same boat with. Some of the people I met here, I have some pretty crazy stories to share. Others, I only saw once in a blue moon. I hate it, but it is how life goes. You can't be everyone's best friend, but you can do your best to not be anyone's enemy.

Someone, somewhere, is in the same boat as you. Use that to your advantage. Row together, and you'll find that you get where you're going much faster.

Surfs up!

Number 9 - America isn't the only country on earth.

Shocking, I know.

If you're going to go to a different country, know a bit about your own country's politics. The world watches our Presidential elections with as much enthusiasm as we do, if not more. It would do our country justice if you could have an opinion on whether or not Barack Obama will win this November, or at least be able to discuss who all is running for the Republican nomination and who you think will be the nominee.

Most days after church a number of the members would go for coffee across the street. I was invited, and the first question I was asked was, "What do you think of Mitt Romney?"

Not once was I asked, "What are the Kardiashians up to these days?" or "Has Justin Beiber come out with a new song yet?"

America has hurt herself by making her citizens choose knowledge over entertainment. When was the last time you forwent "American Idol" or "True Life" to watch a bit of C-SPAN or even the local news? (You can thank Mr. Perry for my very mild interest in C-SPAN, a truly unbiased network of our government)

Learn about your government, it'll make you a smarter person, not only in the eyes of the world, but in the eyes of your candidates as well. If the voter is smart, then the candidate has to be smart as well.

It would also help to know a bit about the country you're visiting, but it isn't necessary. If you don't understand how a Commonwealth can have a House, Senate, governors, and the like, and still be run by
the Queen, then ask. Someone will tell you. They may chuckle, but they'll tell you.

President Barack Obama and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard...in case you were unsure

Number 8 - Texas, in fact, does count as a country.

This one is obviously biased in the worst way possible, but it holds true.

From the moment I got here, I was never an American. I was Texan, and I stuck to it. I knew, coming here, that America isn't the most popular country in the world, but, generally, Texas is well received... Except for George Bush, but he's fairly easy to sidestep.

All of you know that I don't have a Texan accent at all. I don't really have any accent, for that matter. But it did make for a hilarious evening at the downstairs bar when I once asked, "What do y'all have for dinner tonight?" It was from that moment on that the bar staff forgot whatever they thought my name was and replaced it with, "Texas." Now when I get a message from anyone in Australia, it goes something along the lines of, "Texas, where the hell have you been?" or "Hey Texas, how's life?" or "Yo Texas! I just finished my first EP!"

It started a lot of conversations, being from Texas, even attending Texas Tech. I met a guy from a university in Melbourne who, upon hearing Texas Tech, responded with, "So you know about Michael Crabtree? And what ever happened to Mike Leach?" You see, he had studied abroad at the University of Miami, and those two names stuck. Even the Australian was surprised to hear that Leach was fired. Good move, Tech.

I'm going to miss that nickname...

Number 7 - You may only live once, but your life affects more people than you.

If you're a YOLO person, I'm not bashing you in any way, and I don't want you to take it that way. It's just that some poor rappers came up with a decent motto, and made it about everything your life shouldn't be.

Life isn't about "blackout" drinking, or doing drugs, or making out and having sex with any number of people who walk by. But thanks to the eloquent words of Lil' Wayne, one can only guess what life is about…

One time... f*** one time
I’m calling n****s out like the umpire.
Seven, grams in the blunt
Almost drowned in her p**** so I swam to her butt.

That's where YOLO comes from… The Motto by Drake feat. Lil' Wayne.

Have a sit and think about what you really want out of life. Then think about how what you want will affect those around you. They say addiction is one of the most selfish things you can do to yourself. Not because it relieves you of pain, but because it tears down the community around you. A community of people who love you.

If you study abroad, please, go out and have as much fun as as you can. But do your best to know your limits. The worst thing I've seen happen here is asking, "So how was your weekend?" "It was sooo much fun!" "What did y'all do?" "Honestly…I can't remember."

Why would you travel 8000 miles to get so drunk that you don't even remember the awesome weekend you had? Somebody helped you get here, and they would be sorely disappointed if they realised you forgot even a day of your experience. So make good choices while you're living your one life, because your choices will influence the choice of others.

You Only Jump Out Of A Plane Once <- Lies

Number 6 - Home will always be where the heart is.

Before I left, I had to figure out how much communication I wanted to have with home. I knew I wouldn't be able to escape my email, but the biggest issue was the phone. In the end, I finally was able to connect my cell phone to my computer so I could make calls from my computer as if they were from my cell phone.

Watching me leave, I believe, was harder on my family than it was for me. Personally, I was excited to be travelling 4 months in a different country, with only my wits to get me through. As time went on, I would go out with my new friends, essentially filling in the gap I had left from my own friends and family.

But, in these last few weeks, I've really started to miss my friends and family. I see the Facebook posts about Raiderfest, or the texts to my sister about the High School Prom, or the phone calls to my parents, just talking about what they happened to have done that day. These are the things you take for granted when you're at home. You don't really realise how much your best friend, your sister, your parents, your grandparents, even your fellow activities board members, mean to you. I've already started to make plans for when I get home, so I can see everyone I love as soon as possible.

Don't get me wrong, I love my friends here. But I've begun to take their presence for granted. I'll miss them in time, but for now, I'm ready to see my friends, and especially my family.

Mom and Dad

Dad and G

Number 5 - Wait, how much money do I have left?

It seems obvious, but really, budget your time and your money. You have no idea how shocked I was when I first heard the phrase, "I'm literally out of money" from a friend of mine back in the early weeks of February.

FEBRUARY! We were only here for a month and you're already out of money?! It was inconceivable.

When you go anywhere, have an estimate for the foreign exchange rate. Know about how much you have in the bank, both in US dollars and whatever currency you're going to. For example, when I withdraw $250 out of the ATM, I lose about $15 in the exchange. Nothing monumental, but it can add up quickly if you're unaware.

If you're a drinker, budget for it. If you like to go to expensive nightclubs, budget for it. If you eat out a lot, budget for it. If you gamble, budget for it. If you like exotic trips, budget for it.

Don't get me wrong, everybody can get lost when it comes to money. I did. I came up short a few weeks ago, and panicked a little bit until I worked everything out.

My best advice for travelling abroad, and we were told this at our pre-departure orientation: Take cash, take a debit card, take a credit card. If your debit card gets lost (See the post titled "Money, it's a crime…") make sure you have some cash to exchange and keep you alive until you can get it back. When you run out of your cash, start taking money out of your debit card. If and when you finally run out of money on your debit card, then switch to your credit card. Hopefully by then you'll be close to coming home and a way to pay it off.

But above all…budget. Know what you have and know what you can and can't do. If you want to go somewhere for $1000, then maybe you shouldn't go on a weekend boat trip around the coast. Sacrifice and budget go hand in hand, but you can easily hold both hands and pull them where you want to go.

I may have never made it to the Whitsunday Islands, but at least I made it here.

Number 4 - Write down what you want to do, and do it.

This one goes right along with Number 5, but I think it deserves its own section.

When I first got to Australia, it was a little overwhelming the things I had to do to get situated. I remember, when I finally got to my apartment, that I had a survivalist game plan formulating in my head. I would think to myself, "I need food, I need bottles of water, I need stuff to to laundry, etc."

Once I was settled in, I sat down and planned everything that I wanted to do while I was here. I created a note in my email and jotted everything down…

Skydive + Pics + Video - $498Sydney - $300Uluru - $800Bungee Jump - $340 ($285)Hobbits - $50Texas - $50

I've done 3 of the 6 things on that list. Hopefully, bungee jumping will come in New Zealand, along with the Hobbits. I never got to make it to Texas, Queensland, but, I tried.

If you go somewhere, have a plan. Think of it like a Bucket List (Which I also made while I was here). Dates don't really matter, but spontaneous trips can easily mess with your wallet. When you budget everything, you not only know that you have the money to do it all, but you also know the extra money you have to do other things, like tour the Opera House!

The sign was left from when the Circus came to the Opera House

Number 3 - Go places you enjoy, regularly.

This one I learned unintentionally. In my first few days here, while I was still getting my bearings, the bar downstairs offered relatively cheap dinners on weeknights. So I'd head down there, grab some food, and start up a conversation with the bartender and the patrons. They became familiar faces, and my first experience dealing with people who have lived here far longer than I have or would. I met an aspiring army doctor, an engineer, a future policewoman, a DJ, a few guys who came from the States but were here for the long haul, and a bar manager who had many a tall tale to tell.

Obviously my second regular experience revolved around church. Like I mentioned in "With Their Bright Airy Narthex…," the church family became an extension of my church family at home. I was welcomed from the moment I walked in, and was encouraged to return. They made sure I always had a ride back to the apartment if I needed it, and one wonderful couple, Bruce and Sandra, even went so far as to invite me to dinner on Easter.

If you're a religious person, or don't even mind the concept of religion, I highly encourage you to find a church wherever you go. The people are always friendly and open to your opinion, and you may even find a free meal out of it!

Or you can always go to a bar, that'll work too!

Maybe you can catch Carl playing!

Number 2 - Know how to make something other than cereal.

It isn't until you leave home for an extended period of time where you begin to truly appreciate your mother's breakfast burritos, or your father's fried chicken, or your sister's smoothies.

And, even worse, when you get where you're going, you realise that you never learned how to make any of it! All you can really remember is how to make a grilled cheese, how to spread peanut butter and jelly across a piece of bread, and MAYBE how to make toast.

Pay attention when your family cooks, or, even better, cook with them. You never know when your dad's comment of, "The perfect burger is cooked on medium high about 5 minutes on each side." <- When I remembered that, I had burgers almost every night for a week.

Also, be daring. If you think you know what "done" meat looks like, go for it! I discovered fajita beef on sale, but had no idea how to cook a whole slab of raw meat. After looking at the instructions, and remembering how fajita meet SHOULD look, I underwent the challenge. Some trial and error ensued, but when it was finished, it was the best meal I had ever made.

I hope to cook a lot more when I get home. I never even dared to touch chicken while I was here, for fear of over- or undercooking it. One day, when I'm out for good, I hope to have more on my personal menu than Grilled Cheese with Ham, Special K with Milk, Peanut Butter with Strawberry Preserves, Instant Soup, Fajitas con Queso, and Baked Potatoes.

My shadow is a better chef than I

P.S. If you're in a bind, just throw everything that tastes good (and is still good!) into a pot, add some cooked rice and some water and heat until warm. It's currently my lunch and dinner for the rest of the week!

Number 1 - Even if it feels like you haven't changed, you have.

It's weird to think about, but I think I have changed.

I couldn't tell you exactly how or in what way, but I have. I have a broader understanding of people and international life. I have learned how important America is to other countries, and how our decisions, our politics and policies, affect the world in a huge way.

I learned a bit about how friendships are formed, making many new ones myself. I know that if I needed to, I could call on any number of people and ask if I could crash on their couch, whether they be in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Minnesota, South Africa, or Germany.

I've also changed with respect to my desires to travel. After I went to Italy in the 9th grade, and coming here as a Sophomore, I have a strong urge to see the world. I want to travel anywhere I can, and meet as many people as possible. It's amazing to look at the sun, the moon, the constellation Orion, Jupiter, and think "Are those really the same objects I see at home? Is the world really that small?" The beautiful sunset in Gold Coast, Australia is getting ready to make for a beautiful sunrise in Lubbock, Texas. It is a comforting feeling, to say the least, and I hope that I will be able to view many more sunsets in many more countries.

And if I go, I want to take you with me. If I can't do it physically, I'll take you in my thoughts and in my stories.

Storm is coming
Lightning above you and me
Get in the car
We have to get out of here
Dark clouds, eyes wide shut
Out of Brickland... Into the happy land

- Jake Zoo, "Brickland" 

The world is truly a wonderful place, you'll have to see it sometime.

Out of Brickland…Into the Happy Land

"Do you think we'll be all right?" "It's going to be extraordinary."

Previously, we left off at Uluru. Like I said, it was a rock. But, more importantly, as I rode to one of the tours, I was seated behind three women. Obviously friends, and chatting up a storm. One of them was hysterical. I mean, every time she said something, it was all I could do not to roll out of my seat laughing on the floor.

I think she eventually caught on to the fact that I was laughing at everything she was saying and we began introductions. Robyn came from New Zealand, as did Zoe. And Rona, the one who kept saying the funniest stuff, was from England, but all three now live in Sydney.

As we walked on the tour, I got to know more about these women, especially as we laughed over the fact that Rona had to take care of the only two Asians on this tour, who didn't speak much English. When we got off the bus, the driver told them, "I…WILL…PICK…YOU…UP…IN…ONE…HOUR! FOLLOW…THIS…WOMAN…SHE'LL…KEEP…YOU…ON…TRACK…"

Rona and I, making friends wherever we go… True Story

Either way, we all made it back to the bus, and I had three new acquaintances. Rona and I watched as Zoe and Robyn danced St. Patrick's day away to the horrible karaoke and the kid wearing purple dancing like there was no tomorrow. I did mention that I was going to Sydney in a few weeks, and they ask that I give them a call so we can catch up, maybe do some tourist stuff, that kind of thing.

So, the weeks went past, and on Thursday, March 29, I boarded a flight to Sydney.

Thursday and Friday

Rona picked me up from the airport, we dropped my stuff off at the hostel, and went for a quick walk around, so I could get my bearings. I quickly learned that my hostel was at the corner of George and Pitt St., Central Station was across Pitt St, Darling Harbour was about 15 minutes away, and the Opera House was about 30 minutes away from that. I was prepared to start exploring the next day, and since Rona had to work, I was on my own.

I had two goals for Friday. The Harry Potter Exhibition was set to leave Sydney on April 6, and I felt that I HAD to see it, otherwise I would be missing out on such a staple of my youth. So, I woke up, got out of bed, dragged a comb across my head, and walked into the cool Sydney morning.

If there's one thing I love about cities, it is the early morning. When I went to Chicago, I loved getting up, and just walking down the street. The air was cool, the buildings were huge, and everyone had a sense of purpose when they walked. Sydney was the same. Everywhere you looked, there was a different bank, or tower, or hotel. There were sculptures everywhere. It wasn't crowded either, but there were enough people to keep you interested.

It was to honour the Asians who served in the military

Rona had pointed out how to get to the Powerhouse Museum from the night before, so I retraced my steps to the Harbour and found the signs that led me straight to where I wanted to go.

IT STILL FLIES!

Now, unfortunately, no photography was allowed in the exhibition, and taking photos could result in a short term in Azkaban (or so the lady said). However, I did note some things that kind of stuck out at me.

• The ring Dumbledore wore in HBP was engraved with the Deathly Hallows, surely after the fact, of course. 
• On the Educational Decrees from OotP, the last line of them all says "Blah Bla Hblah Bl Ahb Lahbl Ahbl…"
• The Rook from Philosopher's Stone was quite a bit taller than I am
• The Pawn was about a foot shorter than I am

After the Exhibition, it was on to goal #2, and this one takes a bit of explanation…

Bloodpainter… not the most common last name

A while back, I think Gabrielle was Stumbling and she came across this "Blood Artist." Or maybe I was Stumbling… Either way, Dr. Rev is, what is known as, a "Blood Artist." Simply, he paints with his own blood.

I looked up where his studio was, and, shockingly enough, it was in Sydney! I got the exact location from whoever responded to Rev's email, and some more advanced directions from calling the shop, and made my way to "The Shire."

Menai is a tiny little town, and searching for a tattoo artist who also paints with his own blood is not an easy task, especially when you're told, "The shop is underground, literally beneath a restaurant, past this roundabout, in the middle of nowhere." But, I did find it, and the man who calls himself Dr. Rev.

Why are vampires artistic?

Rev's what any typical tattoo artist looks like. He's a big guy, tattoos over his body, a signed picture from Kat Von D, and a lot of artwork on the walls. Rev was working on a guy's arm when I walked in, but his assistant said I was more than welcome to look at the paintings, so I did, and waited to see if I could talk to the man who fills vials with his own blood that he puts into an airbrush.

Rev finished the man's arm and as he was cleaning up, he asked where I came from. When he heard Texas, the man Rev was working on mentioned that he had been to Texas and immediately recognised Lubbock as the birth place of Buddy Holly. Finally, the man left and Rev shook my hand and started telling me about how he started painting with his blood about 5 years ago, and he just can't stop.

They're good at drawing blood. And by "draw," I mean "paint with."

After that, I was pretty set for the day, having accomplished my two goals. I hopped the train back and decided to head to the Harbour Bridge before I was to meet Rona, Michael (Rona's gay "husband"), her nephew, Stuart, and his girlfriend, Karyl, for dinner. I didn't think I would be so happy to see the top of the bridge when I got to that point. And it was there that I realised how much I was going to like being in Sydney, in a place I only saw in movies and post cards. I snapped my photos, headed back toward the hostel, threw my stuff down, and met up with the gang for dinner in Chinatown.

If I knew anything about architecture, I would marvel at it

Quick aside: If you order Hong Kong chicken, verify it is boneless before you also get chopsticks.

After dinner, we headed to Bar 100, where Rona's friend Beth was playing, and where we would meet up with Zoe and friends. I caught some nighttime shots of the Opera House and then listened to the sounds of Cissy Strut as they sang the night away. One of Rona's friends had had a bit to drink before coming to the bar, so the evening ended with a schooner of beer dropped onto my shoe and onto my jeans. Friday…Done.

Saturday

I was in Rona's hands on Saturday. I wanted to get all the tourist stuff done, as Saturday evening was going to be spent watching Macbeth at the Opera House and Sunday morning included a backstage tour of the Opera House.

We decided to meet at Paddy's Markets, a place I had only heard about from friends who had been to Sydney in the weeks prior. I walked my way over there and upon entering the building, I immediately felt like I was back at home.

Sad that a lot of cheap merchandise makes me feel at home

Now, I've only been to the Lubbock Flea Market once, but needless to say, you learn quickly not to succumb to the first stand of useless crap that you see. You have to explore the entire area before picking and choosing the best bargains and your favourite vendors. There were shops that sold artwork, watches, sunnies, hats, souvenir boxing kangaroos, didgeridoos, shirts, jerseys, postcards, headphones, phone chargers…you name it, they probably had it somewhere.

I knew that if I had an unlimited bankroll, I would have bought every last thing in that Market. But, as I was on a mental budget, I bought gifts for some friends and a hat made of kangaroo for me.

Rona, after leaving her phone at home, finally arrived closer to eleven. She got some souvenirs for her friends that were heading out of the country and we then proceeded to hop the train to Bondi so I could throw my phone on the charger and meet up with Robyn for lunch and a drive around.

We went to Bondi Beach, mostly to say we did, as the water was freezing. Not a bad beach, but one that is so obviously touristy. Then we just kind of drove from site to site, going to different lookout points and small unknown beaches. A very relaxing day indeed.

Apparently this was a "light" day at Bondi

Closer to 4:30 or so, Rona and Robyn dropped me off at the Botanical Gardens, so I could walk around there for a bit while Rona did some weekend shopping. It was a beautiful place, obviously tons of plants and trees and people just kicking back without a care in the world. There were numerous wedding parties having pictures taken here and there, and on the harbour, they were setting up to perform La Traviata.

Just some new sunnies, no big deal.

There were also a ton of "Flying Foxes" or, big bats. You would just look up and see about 20 of them, wrapped up in their wings, waiting for night to fall. It was pretty wild to see so many in one spot.

Hey Batman, what're your parents getting you for Christmas?

Unfortunately, as we were driving around, I had a text message from the Opera House saying that the performance had been cancelled due to illness. This threw a wrench in everyone's plans, but we figured out an alternative. I had mentioned to Rona that I wanted to see "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" as it looked kind of like Little Miss Sunshine in story and humour.

It surpassed every expectation.

When you have Dame Maggie Smith playing a woman who looks at her surgeon as he washes his hands and says, "No matter how hard you scrub, the colour still isn't coming out" or Dev Patel responding to a refund request with, "I most definitely will…straight away…in three months." If it comes to you, go see it. It'll make you a happier person, and I think you will walk away with a greater understanding of how, even as you get older, your life doesn't have to slow down.

After the movie, Rona hopped the train home and I decided to walk to Darling Harbour to take in some sights and sounds. There were bands playing some easy listening and tons of people walking up and down. I stopped by the Hard Rock and bought a pin to add to the collection, along with some chocolate at the Lindt Store. Then, I set some alarms for my morning tour, and went to bed. A very relaxing end to Saturday.

Four Lindt chocolate bars for $15, to quote Rona, "Bargain."

Sunday

I was so nervous about sleeping past my tour, I think I kept getting up at odd hours to make sure I hadn't overslept. When I finally got up, I packed everything together, went down to reception, and checked out of my room. As the sun was slowly coming up, I hopped down to central station and hopped the train to Circular Quay.

I was fortunate enough to see the sun rise on the bridge and the Opera House. It made for a very promising morning, and the Opera House tour continued to seal the deal.

Nants ingonyama bagithi baba!

Tours and I have a love/hate relationship. I love learning stuff first hand, but I hate that there is so much information, I can't possibly remember it all. So I'll do my best…

• Green Rooms are called as such because of the limelight actors had to stand in. The rooms were green so the actors could soothe their eyes after delivering a monologue.
• Operas are never performed twice in a row. Though, it is allowed to have a performance of La Traviata at 3pm then another at 8pm. Sets are changed that quickly.
• You never know who could be in the Opera House on any given day. Our tour guide was walking past the green room and saw someone very familiar to her. She asked if he was having a good morning and only got a grunt in reply. It wasn't until a little while later that the man did not work at the Opera House, rather, he was John Malkovich.
• Water pumps are installed to build pools and rivers on stage. Though, in one particular performance of Cleopatra, her milk bath got a little too warm and curdled as she got in.
• Arnold Schwarzenegger won his Strong Man competition in the Opera House.
• Chickens were used in one performance, and they once got a little too excited and flew into the orchestra pit and landed on a cellist's head. They then installed a net, but when chickens got excited… it didn't end well.

After the tour, we were given breakfast then I walked over to the "Sydney Eye." Similar to the Space Needle, it was really just a high building to get some sights. After that, I rode the monorail, after Rona said that the government had just announced they would be scrapping the monorail as it is too small for the growing city.

As I walked back to my hostel to pick up my bags to head back to the airport, I walked by an Anglican Church. Being Palm Sunday, I decided to drop in, check it out. It was a beautiful cathedral-esque building, smelling of incense and high holiness… I started to take a picture and video, until one wench of a woman looked at me and gave me the, "We don't do that here" look. So, I took my communion and left.

Before the woman told me to stop...

After that, Rona picked me up, dropped me off at the airport, and we said our goodbyes. If there was any positive about Uluru, other than seeing a rock, it was meeting Rona, Zoe, and Robyn. They made my weekend in Sydney a blast, and I can't wait to come back and meet up with them again.

For Those About To Rock (We See Uluru!)

Sorry its been a few weeks since my last post, but, honestly, there hasn't really been a reason to devote a half hour to pushing out a real blog post.

But now, after this past weekend, I have something worthy of blogging about! But I'll jump back a bit and pick some of the highlights out of the past few weeks.

Coming out of North-West Texas, I, shockingly, know nothing about surfing. So, in an effort to "broaden my horizons," I got up on the 4th of March, hopped a bus to Snapper Rocks down in Coolangatta, and watched the finals for the Quiksilver Pro Surf Competition.

When I walked toward the beach, I was amazed how relaxed it really was. There were a few hundred people, either sitting in the makeshift stands or simply standing in the ocean, watching surfers fly on by about 30 feet away or so.

One of the competitors came from Brazil, and it was obvious that the Brazilians came in full force. There were green and yellow flags waving from hands in the ocean or wrapped as a cape that floated in the waves.

So many flags!

Of course, Australia made sure to let their competitor know they were alive. Though there weren't as many flags or chants from the Aussie support, there was definitely a fair share of cheering from their end as well. The Australian won, but only just.

Kelly Slater, American…All I know is his name

After that, it was pretty relaxed. Focused on school for a bit, went to the beach with some friends, watched some Asians be really awkward.

Those of us present felt that they were building the perfect…person?

Finally after over two months in Australia, I hopped a plane to the Outback. There were two things I wanted to see while I was here: The Sydney Opera House and Uluru, formerly known as Ayer's Rock. Both are iconic symbols of Australia and I wanted to understand a deeper meaning behind what they were and why they are so iconic.

Flying to Uluru is comparable to flying over Texas. The land below looks dry and worn, but when you land, you see traces of rainfall on the red dirt.

Like this tree!

Now, I could bore you with stories such as the one about the guy who apparently was too old to anticipate Nature's call, or the other guy from Lebanon who wouldn't shut up about all the places he travelled…but I won't do that. If you really want to know, just ask me. It just isn't that exciting, just another reason why I decided I prefer hotels over hostels.

But, a note about Uluru: If it is on your Bucket List, go see it. However, if you aren't really a rock person, or you don't really do natural landmarks, or you don't like walking for miles and miles around a rock, then you may want to consider other options. In the end, it is just a rock…A really big piece of sediment formed from a huge pre-historic mountain…A holy rock to the Aboriginal people… But a rock to the rest of the world.

So, in light of that, here are some pictures! I'll show you all 400 of them if you want.

It would have been a very long climb...

The little tree is actually Uluru…thanks Rona

Could have sworn I was in Jurassic Park

One of the forty thousand pictures I took of a sunrise/sunset

Ok, one story. Well actually two, but they do and don't tie together. I'm from Texas. (Shocking, I know) But while at the hostel, I was sitting waiting for a bus to pick me up to take me somewhere. About 50 feet or so away, I see this couple, and the husband was wearing a shirt that had an ugly sense of familiarity about it. As he got closer, I was able to look at the little logo on on his shirt. I didn't have it on, but back in my room, I had a similar shirt but it was red, with an excellent Double T logo right on the breast. His shirt, on the other hand, was burnt orange with a…well…you know… on the breast.

The Longhorn and his wife then proceeded to the bar and could not grasp the concept that the only bar in the area did not sell spirits, or even that the city was "dry." I wanted to walk up to him and offer some snide remark, but the bus arrived and I was too shocked to see a Longhorn visiting Uluru to think of anything good.

My Texas encounters did not stop there either. The day was St. Patrick's Day, so, naturally, the bar had a little celebration. Of course, their celebration consisted of nothing more than a man singing horribly, like karaoke, but far, far worse.

Another man, not the Longhorn, was chatting up every woman he laid his eyes on. He was dressed in a cowboy hat, white collar shirt, jeans, and boots. Heck, he looked more Texas than I ever have. So, curious where this man came from, I asked a friend to ask him. Zoe walks up, asks the man where he's from, and the response, shockingly, was, "Texas."

The conversation continued as follows:
Zoe: "Really?! That's cool, so is this guy. (Points to me)"
The Impostor: (Looks away, completely ignoring Zoe, me, and the fact that a real Texan was around)

A bit later, we heard him talking and it was as Aussie as can be. I took a picture so I could be reminded that, "Being Texan is a gift from God, you can't make a fake version of it."

Barney Stinson would not approve

The Colour of Her Eyes Were the Colour of Insanity

Readers, I'm actually excited to write this blog post. I'm going to start with the boring stuff, but hang in there, the story gets good (heck, just read the title of this post!)

I promised you midterms and night life, and I'm here to deliver both.

Midterms
In America, midterms, to me at least, are not a big deal. Usually, they're just a pain because you've already had all this homework, and now you have to translate that into a test answer. You already know how well you've been doing in the class, so you have a good idea of how well you're going to do on the midterm.

In Australia, the "midsem" may count as much as 30% of your grade, and that isn't even as high as it goes. In my economics class, the two assignments we do turn in are worth a total of 10%, then the midsem is 30%, and the final is 60%. But no pressure, right? In other classes, you have to pass the average of your midterm and final to even be eligible to pass the course. And these aren't your "run-of-the-mill" midterms either.

You write.

And write.

And write.

All three midsems involved some degree of writing and interpretation. In Human Resource Management (HRM), I had eight short answer/essay questions. In Eco, I had five - comprising of drawing graphs and interpreting them. In Marketing, I had 17 multiple choice questions, two short answers, and four questions to write about with regard to a case study. By the end of my HRM midsem, I had a small divot in my finger from where my pen rested for nearly two straight hours.

On the bright side, I only have to pass the course to get credit. But still, I hope to God I don't walk into class next week and I see 53 slashed across my test (53 is actually a solid C in Australia). So here's to hoping!

The Nightclub "East"
I want to start this post with a small shout out and an introduction. Rachel, my neighbour, is a Boston girl. She's not quite a year older than me, but she's still as fun as can be. I love the girl to death, but tonight, she proved she's got a bit of a fighter in her.

The smile is deceiving...

Like I said last week, there's a nightclub I finally decided to check out. So Thursday, the 23rd of February, I got a ride from a friend down the hall to a place called "East," in Broadbeach. Most of my friends were on their way, so I casually walked inside to see what the big deal about this place was…

On the bright side, the food that walked by smelt delicious

It was a restaurant. I walked straight past the lady at the front desk, expecting to see some early hints of a club, and all I see are white tablecloths and people eating Chicken Parmesan or a fancy Cesar Salad. Now, I've been around clubs most of my life, and this place was no club.

I was at a loss. This place was definitely the "best nightclub" most of my friends have been to in Australia, and what was this deal with "Ladies' Night?" If you're a lady, over 18 of course, the club provides you with unlimited glasses of champagne or sparkling wine, whichever suits your fancy.

Like I said, a really fancy restaurant

I'm in this restaurant, the band is singing Lou Rawls, and I have no idea what to do as middle aged suburbans eat their dinner in front of me. Yeah, what would you do?

Being raised in club life you learn quickly that your bartender can be your best friend or your worst enemy, so, naturally, I made my way over there and started up a conversation with a new-hire, Diogo, from Brazil. I asked him, "So you're telling me…that this…high quality restaurant…turns into a hoppin' night club here in the next hour, with a women to men ratio that you wouldn't believe?" His answer was short, but telling: "Yeah, pretty much."

So I waited. I listened to the band sing some more Lou Rawls and some Barry White, and people started finishing up their meals and either going to the bar for a drink, or just leaving. The table is then cleared, stripped, folded up, and taken away, creating a decent sized dance floor in front of the stage.

The band, Sex 'N Chocolate, are really, really good at some R&B

Right about that time, my friends started to show up, so the club had an instant 15 or so girls added to the mix (Papa didn't raise no fool). It was a good evening, but then Rachel disappeared for a while and texted me saying she was a 20 minute walk away from the nightclub. So I, being the kind of guy I am, left and hunted her down. I'm not a happy camper if I lose one of my friends, and I'll do just about anything to make sure they're ok.

BAM! Nightclub.

We then hopped in a huge taxi with some of her new friends, and drove back to "East." One of the guys gave us $20 to get back home. At the same time a group of men were going to Surfer's Paradise, one of them gave us $10 for us to get out and let them have the big taxi. So our ride home was paid for, which made for a pretty successful ending.

"East" Round 2
Naturally, if you enjoy something, you do it again. So I did. I went to "East" for a second week in a row, with the hopes that it'll be as fun and exciting as the previous week. And it was, but for different reasons.

Tonight the entire club had a weird feeling to it. Excuse my language to any well educated readers, but it really had an atmosphere of "bitch" about it. And, to top that off, the music just wasn't as good as the week before.

Anyway, get there with the friends, we're sitting around, laughing, having a good time. And, slowly, people start moving their way to the dance floor. As you know, I'm not a club dancer. It just isn't my thing. But, I will go out there and sway along with the masses. During one of those swaying moments, I see Rachel and this large, ugly woman (I'll call her Agatha. She had an air of Miss Trunchbull to her) start exchanging a few words. I don't think much of it, but I keep it in the corner of my eye. Soon after, I see what is obviously Rachel's hair, and body attached, being pulled toward Agatha.

Instinct kicks in and tells me to do something to break it up. When Agatha releases Rachel's head, I grab Rachel and start pushing her back, out of the way. Other friends are either keeping Agatha restrained (by ropes and chains and whatever else you use to restrain a beast), or trying to keep the distance between Rachel and Agatha.

I didn't see what happened next, all I knew is that nails were dug into my chest and I lost hold of Rachel. At that point, security caught on to what was happening and they kept it from getting worse. They escorted Agatha out of the club and Rachel had about a 10 minute grace period before she, too, was asked to leave.

During that 10 minutes, my feelings about the club were made up when this "man of a woman" bumped into me and spilled its drink down the sleeve of my shirt. It then proceeded to dip its fingers and splash a few drops in my face, as if it was my fault I was in its way.

With the lack of good music and the general attitude of the club that evening, I decided to call it a night with the rest of the people who joined Rachel in her departure. We had a good laugh with security while we waited for the bus, and I think we left a good impression on them, which is always a good thing.

In conclusion: Don't provoke people at a nightclub. It won't end well for anybody…

Oh, and get out of a manly woman's way.