The Crocodile Rocking Was Out Of Sight

I really need to keep on top of this blog, eventually I will have too many stories to remember!

Ok, so this post is going to wrap up my vacation in Cairns. We left off at losing my debit card, so that's where I'll pick up.

The following day was the "Guided Walk around Cairns Day" and I really wasn't in the mood to go…so I didn't.

Side Note: Readers, when you have Diabetes, it creates a certain bond with other Diabetics. My DBFF (Diabetic Best Friend Forever), BJ, was an instant friend and ally when I learned he had Type 1. The same thing happened when I met the Diabetic on this trip, Brett. Instant friends.

Anyway, when I got up, Brett had just come back from the Farmer's Market, which was only a few stores away. He offered me a Lychee Berry, which had an interesting flavour, but good nonetheless. I asked him about the market and he asked if I wanted to go, as he wanted to snap some pictures of the people he met. I agreed, got ready, went over to the bank and exchanged the $100 I had, and then went into the market.

There is so much more than just this!

I could not believe what I had walked in to. When you see the sign, it strictly points to a little coffee shop, nothing really spectacular. And behind the shop, there are little stores for necklaces and whatnot, again, nothing special. But behind that… There was so much food I couldn't believe it. There were fruits, vegetables, cooked food, uncooked food, anything you could dream of. There was fruit that I had never seen before, and of all different sizes. Pineapples that were the size of your hand. Berries covered in spikes or looked like stars. It was amazing, and I could have spent a whole day there.

Brett and I walked around, I was taking in every little bit I could, never having been to anything of the like before. He even asked if I was looking for anything in particular, and I said, "I just want to see how far this place goes!" Around the corner were different places that offered Thai food. And a bit further was a little stand.

Brett started talking to the guy next to the stand, who said he had one of these drinks every day, as they were so good and so rich. Obviously that peeked our interest, so we enquired as to the cost ($3) and then purchased a drink. We watched this little Asian man take sugar cane out of the freezer, and push it over and over through a presser. As the juice came out, he put a key lime in the presser, and pressed some more. The two diabetics had just ordered a pure sugar cane drink. And it was probably the best thing I've ever had. It was so sweet, with the slightest hint of tang from the lime. Obviously my sugar intake was set for the day.

I should have died drinking this...

Brett and I walked into the town square, looking at all the different places for lunch. Each store we passed looked better than the one before, so it was hard to pick. As we kept walking, we ran into Jenny and Cara, who were also looking for somewhere to eat. We ended up at Lily Pad Cafe, right across the street from the hostel.

Now, food in Australia is expensive. What we would consider a $7 breakfast will run you about $12-$15. Granted, the tax is already included, and you don't tip over here. But still, it can get pricy. So when I ordered Bacon and Eggs with a side of Hash Browns, I thought I was getting ripped off for $12. I was sorely mistaken.

The plate was huge. About three scrambled eggs, half the plate filled with bacon, about 4 pieces of hash brown, and two huge pieces of toast sat in front of me. There was no way I could eat it all. (Also, it seems that Australians like to seemingly undercook their bacon. It may be cooked, but it sure doesn't look it. I like my bacon a bit flimsy, but even this was a little much for me.) Either way, I ate as much as I could, boxed it up, and took it to my room. Jenny, Cara, and Brett had mentioned going to the pool later, but I took the opportunity of free time to call home and tell everyone about the the day. When I finally got up to the room, there was a note from Cara and Jenny telling Brett and I that they had gone to the pool. I didn't want to swim, but I went downstairs and found the rest of AustraLearn hanging out poolside. It was a really nice afternoon. Nothing to worry about, just a bunch of friends hanging out at the pool.

It helps when the pool is a nice pool!

That night was a night sponsored by MoJo Surf, the only third party company that AustraLearn allows to make a presentation. He pitched a reasonable surf trip, and gave one away to the person who chugged a lemonade, spun 6 times, and ate a cracker smothered in Vegemite. I'm glad I didn't volunteer, as nice as a free trip would have been. Brett won, so Diabetics represent!

Dinner was a salad, bread, and your choice of lamb, steak, or Kangaroo. I got the steak, which was fairly dry and unappetizing. My friend, Aaron, got the Roo and offered me a bit. It was also one of the best things I've eaten; it tasted like a steak should taste. The night wrapped up and I went to bed.

Day 3 - Reef Day
Take a break, we've got tons more story to tell!

Aahhh, a day on the Great Barrier Reef. The opportunity to scuba dive in one of the best places in the world. I had been looking forward to this ever since I booked my trip. We were up early, had breakfast, and hiked out to the ocean. We boarded the catamaran, got the forms stating our intent to scuba dive, I wrote down the information from my certification, and handed the guy the form. The guy asked when my last dive was (2005) and when I was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes (2006). Unfortunately, since I didn't have permission from a "Dive Doctor," Queensland wouldn't allow me to dive. Obviously I was not a happy camper. Of course, snorkeling is cool and all that, but if you've never been diving, you don't understand how amazing it is to be breathing underwater, with fish swimming on any and all sides of you. The day was still a great one, with all the AustraLearn kids, it was practically a party boat, as we laughed, took pictures, and caught some sun the whole day.

"I'm going to make the picture better." "How?" I'm going to be in it!"

I found Nemo! That was probably the highlight of my day. I took about 6 pictures of the little guy who still lives at home with Marlin. Hopefully he won't get lost again, as I truly understood the length Marlin had to go to get to Sydney for his child.

Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming...

The day wrapped up, we went out for dinner at a local restaurant, some excellent Chicken Parmigiana, and then back to the hostel to kick back for a movie.

Most of the students went out for the night, so only about 7 of us watched "Australia." A very good movie,  but definitely a marathon to watch. It is a great movie to kick back and not really think about it, but to unwind from the day. After the movie, a number of us went down to the bar and had a great time dancing, knowing we could get up a bit later the next day.

Sorry for Party Rockin'!

Finally sleep.

Day 4 - Rainforestation
Again, go take a break. Almost done.

Like I said earlier, Reef Day was the day I was most looking forward to…until I got to Rainforestation. Imagine going to the zoo, but an awesome zoo. Where the animals just hop around you, except for the ones that can eat you, and the native people put on a show defining their culture, and show you how to do the awesome stuff they do. We showed up, divided into groups, and set off for the day.

Ross was our leader, and he gave us one bit of advice before we began, "If you get a chance to eat a Green Ant, do it, you won't regret it."

We started off by learning how the Aboriginal people paint, and the meaning behind the colors. We then went on a tour of the rainforest, learning about the different plants and their healing properties, then off to go watch a group of Aboriginal people perform songs and dances, explaining the meaning behind each dance they did.

We then went back and learned how they throw spears, how they play the didgeridoo, and how to throw a boomerang. We each got a turn at throwing one, and both of mine didn't make it all the way around. After that, we went back had our face painted with the clay the Aboriginal people use. Ross, our leader, was saying that it is a huge sign of respect for them to do that, so that was an added bonus to the paint.

Way harder than it looks...

KOALA TIME! We then made our way to have our picture taken with a Koala, and, I have to say, they are the definition of adorable. Holding the little guy took me back to when I had a Teddy Bear, something soft to hold. We then made our way over to the wildlife sanctuary, and learned about all the different venomous animals that Australia is home to.

Dreams are so easily shot down...

We learned a bit more about the Koala, then went over to see the Croc feed. The guy asked for the bravest and the most cowardly in our group. Jenny and Bryce quickly volunteered, and they were granted the opportunity to feed the Croc. Fortunately, we were the last group of the day, so we had the largest pieces of pig to feed the brute. After he was fed, the guide stepped into the pen with the head of the pig, and coaxed the Croc onto land.

He was a hungry guy...

**Readers, what follows next still makes me cringe, so if you don't have a strong stomach, skip down to the next paragraph. You have been warned...*** He threw the head of the pig to the Croc, who took a crunch, leading the head to the back of his mouth, he took a little munch, then a huge CRUNCH. Between the sound of the skull breaking, to the eye popping out of the socket, I almost lost my lunch. I've seen a lot of things in my life, but if I can avoid seeing an eye pop out of a skull ever again, I'll be a happy man.***

So the Crocodile had a very nice meal. We were then led over to the Cassowary cage, where we learned about this dinosaur of a bird. Our guide again asked for a volunteer, and this time, I jumped for it. Remember Ross' advice about the Ant? Well there was a small trail of them marching along the fence. The guide was telling us about the Ant, and started to explain how to eat it. By the time he got to, "Pinch the head and eat the back," I had already thrown the whole thing in my mouth and was blown away by how much it tasted like a lime. I obviously went for more, but ants are harder to catch when they know what you're up to!

They're hard to see, but they're there...

The rest of the afternoon, we were free to roam around, take pictures of the Kangaroo and Wallaby, and feed them. I got my pictures, and went off to find the man who played the Didgeridoo. When I found him, I asked him if he would play with me, and I asked another man to take some pictures and video it, to which he agreed. I may not be able to say that I scuba dove in the Great Barrier Reef, but I sure as hell can say that I played Didgeridoo with an Aboriginal Person.

I wish I knew "Yellow Submarine"

Again, we went out for dinner. As we wrapped up, there was a man playing guitar on the way back. I gave him a dollar, and he asked where I was from. Texas, again, was the obvious response. He commented, "I know some songs by a Texan!" then started playing Stevie Ray Vaughn. I stuck around and listened to the whole song, then made my way back to the hostel.

Let the good times roll!

Kym and Ross, our leaders, had an informal session regarding the best places to go while we're here, then after that, I went to bed, sad that I was about to leave.

Day 5 - Off to Bond
Not much exciting happened this day. We got everything packed, loaded the bus. I asked the lady at reception if someone with Diabetes could skydive in Australia, and was a definite yes, so that will come sometime in the near future. We hopped the plane from Cairns to Brisbane, bussed from Brisbane to Robina, got to the apartment, and called it a day.

Money, it's a crime, share it fairly, but don't take a slice of my pie!

The alternative to this blog title was, "The People You Meet When You're Sober"

I want to start this off by saying this has to be the most beautiful country I've ever been to. Hands down.

Now the fun part.

While on the flight from Sydney to Cairns, I found a $2 coin on the flight, I definitely pocketed my first bit of Australian coin as a nice start to the trip.

Interestingly, the $2 coin is the size of our penny. Easy to lose.

Made it through customs with all my insulin and whatnot. Made it to Gilligan's Backpackers, which, in reality, is just an awesome party house. There is a waterfall pool, a huge bar, and its in the middle of Cairns, thus making it very easy to get from one place to another.

Internet is $2 for 30 minutes, so I used that little coin to call home and check on things. When I finished up, I still had about 10 minutes left.

We had an orientation at a hotel called Rydges with pizza and salad and whatnot. Ross, Kym, and Ryan were our leaders for the Program, so I got to meet them. I got a little stuffed koala for correctly answering who the Prime Minister was. Answer: Julia Gillard.

The ATM didn't want to be in the picture, the punk.

When that was over, I walked over to the ATM, entered my PIN, told it how much I wanted, and waited anxiously for my first Australian bills. As I waited, a guy from Switzerland walked up, asking if I knew where to buy cigarettes. I told him I had no idea, and he, being very inebriated, asked where I was from. "Texas" was the obvious response. I turned back around to get the deposited money, and the machine had reset itself. Nothing. Not even some awesome slight of hand by the Swiss. The machine simply ate the card, and never gave me the money I wanted.

Of course, now I'm freaking out. The Swiss was a little down the road, and he was my only witness and my only suspect. I ran down there, and asked him if he saw anything happen with the machine. He said he never saw the card come out. I said that I was going to talk to reception, and I asked if he would serve as my witness. He very willingly came along.

I tell reception about my card, and the Swiss starts to complain about how the cigarette machine didn't work. I wasn't paying much attention to his problem, I had bigger ones. The lady goes outside and returns saying the machine works fine.

In short, I lost my debit card on Day 1 of my Australian adventure. I returned to Rydges, told the leaders, and they advised I call the bank. Unfortunately, it isn't a bank per-se, just an ATM. So either way, I was screwed. I went to bar, still thinking the Swiss had something to do with it, hoping to get it out of him. We talked Texas, Switzerland, George Bush, etc. I convinced him to show me his driver's license, which showed me that he didn't have my card, because I was able to see into his wallet.  Finally satisfied that he didn't he didn't have my card, I went up and went to bed.

Both of these people have a legacy that will last generations. The other is George Bush.

I still had to call my bank to tell them that I needed a new card ASAP. Fortunately a roommate had a little too much to drink and his arrival to the room woke me up around 3 in the morning. I made my way downstairs and called home. The lady who issued me my card was out to lunch and would be back within the hour. Now, I'm out of Internet time, no money, no nothing.

I went back up to my floor and had a seat on the couch, trying to calculate my next move. An "Asiatrialian" stumbled his way out of his room and struck up a conversation with me. He tells me that he tried to stop drinking, and that it lasted about 5 months. I asked how long ago he decided to stop and the answer was, "5 months ago…" He finally went to bed and I went back downstairs to hope the computer would magically work for me. Desperation set in and I decided to look in the cushions of the downstairs couch. BINGO! My little friend, the $2 coin, was there, waiting for me. I went to reception, bought some more internet, and called home. The bank would issue me a new card and I could have it by Tuesday. Finally, at 5 in the morning Australia time, I went upstairs and went to sleep.

P.S. I'm writing this article about a week after it all went down, so here is a bit of retrospect. After suspecting the Swiss of stealing my card, I saw him every now and then during my stay in Cairns. In fact, he was on my Cairns to Brisbane flight. Since that incident, he has become someone I can call on if I ever go to Switzerland. You don't study abroad to meet Americans!

Well I'm Living In A Foreign Country, But I'm Bound To Cross The Line

Ahhh, the airport. One of the finer points of America. You walk in, family in tow, straight to the American gate looking like you mean business. Of course, when you look at the departure board, your flight isn't on there, making you second guess your choice of date, gate, time, or even decision to travel in the first place. But, I trudged on, discovering that it truly was the gate I was supposed to be at and that the guy would gladly book my bags all the way to my destination. He, as a matter of interest, just spent about a month in Australia, while the guy I bought some batteries from earlier today will be traveling there in about a month.

But I digress…

Boarding pass in hand, I, along with my family, walk to the very long line that is the security checkpoint. As I take step by step, I notice my mother getting red in the face and my father get a little quieter. They are better at showing emotion than I am. Honestly, I still think I'm just going on a kick-ass vacation, with some school, sure, but other than that, a vacation nonetheless. I finally make it up to the guy, kiss my mother goodbye, hug both my father and sister, and give the TSA agent my ID and boarding pass.

SILENCE!

Now, remember, I have diabetes. So one of my carry-ons is strictly insulin pump supplies, insulin, and whatnot. I also have a small lunch pail with snacks, and my backpack which has some books, my laptop, and the like. And, apparently, I look like a terrorist. The detector goes off, after I clear the metal part, and the guy says I've been selected for a random screening. No big deal, but I'm currently missing my shoes, as is TSA policy to check your shoes, because, you know, I can cleverly fit a knife or drugs in my long flight to Australia, and it is awkward to sit waiting for TSA without any shoes on. One guy asks if he can go through the bag that has my contact solution, a loose vial of insulin, toothpaste, etc. and another one asks if he can go through the diabetic bag.

Please, go for it.

All the while, I'm asking if I can at least have my shoes back, nobody is responding, then the guy walks up, swabs my hands, tells me I'm not a terrorist, and sends me on my way. I have the bag with my contact solution back, so I'm packing everything up while the guy still goes through my diabetes bag. When he finally finishes up, he tells me that he is going to put it through the metal detector, but he also decided to ask me if I was a pharmaceutical rep, or why I needed so much insulin. Yes, TSA agent, I am a pharmaceutical rep, and I figured I could only sell one piece of equipment a day, enough for the duration of my stay. NO YOU WORTHLESS PIECE OF AMERICA! I'M A DIABETIC AND I WILL USE ALL THE STUFF YOU JUST RUMMAGED THROUGH!

Oh well. I made it, and I sit in the airport and wait. I have a very, very, long day/night/disappeared day ahead of me, so if you get a moment, give me a call or send me a text, I may not respond, but it's the thought that counts.

Bro Code Does Not Apply

Side note: I'm waiting just outside the gate, and this guy walks up to me saying, "Bro, do you mind?" indicating the seat next to me. "Nah, go ahead." Not long later, he turns to me and says, "Bro, do you know the time?" "4:30." Sorry dude, I am not your bro. I have some bros, but they are definitely not here at the airport.

It's Never Too Late To Say "Oops"

That quote comes from my manager at work. He is renowned for his use of the word "oops" and he uses it at precisely the right time, every time. He said "It's Never Too Late To Say 'Oops'" not long ago, and that phrase has stuck with me, and it will probably be my motto for 2012.

The biggest "Oops" of 2011

Think about the word "Oops" for a minute.

Oops is such a simple word, yet it carries a lot of weight.

According to Merriam-Webster...

oops

 interj \ˈ(w)u̇(ə)ps\

Definition of OOPS

—used typically to express mild apology, surprise, or dismay

It comes with a feeling of failure, of disappointment. As a professional or a student, you never want to hear someone say, "Oops." It means that something did not go according to plan. It means the wrong cord was cut. It means, "I got caught."

However, it also comes with a feeling of realization and of change. When you say "Oops," you realize that what you initially thought to be right happened to be wrong. There is a reason you thought it was right, and your heart told you as such. The whole fibre of your being caused you to make that decision, and that same fibre caused you to take it back.

This year, as always, I resolve to make good decisions. However, as I get older, those decisions may not come as quickly as they used to. It takes longer to weigh the plusses and minuses than it used to. Therefore, I want to amend my resolution. For 2012, I want to make the right decision at the time. Friends and loved ones may hate me for the decision, but if, in my heart, I feel it was right, then I want to stick to it. I can always take the right decision back, but if I make the wrong decision, it will stick around forever. And those decisions that stick around don't simply disappear with an "Oops."

You Say, "Goodbye." 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.

From Death of a Traveling Salesman... Yeah, it creeps me out too.

If you’re reading this, I would love to come tell you, “Goodbye.” Give me call, send me a text. I don’t want to be your missed appointment, because, odds are, you may be mine.

Life's Too Short To Even Care At All

20 days...but who's counting?


Earlier, I mentioned that I wasn't allowed to take Negotiation, due to a pre-req. A few days later, I was told that I was allowed to take it, go figure. So, in an effort to still have some control as to what classes I will take, I completely redid my courses to be...


Markets and Corporate Behaviour
Orgainsational Behaviour
Negotiation
Market Research and Analysis


Unfortunately, Markets and Corporate Behaviour and Market Research are at the same time, so I dropped Research and replaced it with International Marketing. Hopefully all of that will stick, and I can move forward.

TOGA! TOGA! TOGA!

The week before classes is Orientation Week, commonly known as O-Week. Basically, you can wrap up your enrollment, meet the other students, and just have an all around good time before classes kick off. Learn about O-Week! From what I understand, there is indeed a Toga party, so I'll definitely be sure to let you know how that goes down.


In other news, I didn't receive the scholarship I was hoping for. But, like I told a friend of mine, life goes on. I made my final payment, so I'm going for sure, I'm just not sure what all I'll be able to afford while I'm down there. I know I'll take a trip to Sydney and Ayer's Rock, but everything else will be on standby. No worries. I asked to go to Australia, and really, I got exactly what I asked for.

The Days Never Seem to End

28 days until takeoff.

Friends, let me tell you a story. In America, we attend a university for four years, in Australia, they study for three. Here, classes are BA1101, MATH2350, etc. Over there, they are MGMT11-101, IBUS13-304, etc. Obviously, when you take four years and cram them down to three, you're going to get some overlap, or some expectations. With Bond, it comes to a whole new level...

Remember the classes I wanted to take?
Fundamentals of Finance
Econometrics (uggh)
Organizational Management
Strategic Marketing


Yeah, that isn't happening. Because, come to find out, because I never took a certain class at Texas Tech, I can't take a class over there. 


No problem, right? I'll just tell them what's going on and they'll work it out!


Wrong.

The catch is that I'm not daring to take a science abroad.

The class they would have me take in order to take Finance is called "Business Maths" known as "Business Math" here at Tech. I was able to duck out of Business Math with the agreement that I would take Calculus I and II, which is substantially harder than Business Math. For Bond, however, that just isn't good enough. Because God knows if you can find integrals, you can't figure out how to calculate an interest payment. They would not allow me to take Finance with a Calculus background. I fought that University, involving my Study Abroad advisor and my program advisor. Needless to say, both are not too thrilled with how I've been treated by a top notch university. However, in the end, they did recommend an alternative to Finance, just so I wouldn't stress trying to find another class. I respectfully turned them down in pursuit of a more manageable alternative.


So I decided that my classes would be…


International Trade

International Marketing

Organizational Communication and Leadership

Negotiation

Nice, right? Negotiation! All you do...is negotiate! I need those skills if I'm going to continue to deal with this university!

I go to register, "Oh cool, I'm a Bond student, it can't be that hard to register for classes!"

Wrong.

Whether here or abroad, this is how my registration always ends up.

Log in. Verify all the info. See the classes. "Econometrics (uggh)" is there, but "Negotiation" isn't. More emails fly. Apparently, to take Negotiation, I need a class called "Organisational Behaviour." (You can't beat the random "u"s.) So again, I'm told that because I haven't taken a course, I am not allowed to take another one. I checked with Tech to see if "Organisational Behaviour" would be cleared to take. It was, so  this is the email I sent to the program...

Apparently I haven't taken it, as [Tech] has a course specifically called Organizational Behavior, and it fits in my degree plan, so all should be well with the world. I hate that I have to sacrifice Negotiation, because I really was looking forward to taking it. But, if that's the way it must be, who am I to argue (again)? 

That leaves me with: 

International Trade  

International Marketing

Organisational Communication and Leadership

Organisational Behaviour

I called my program to make sure they were cool with it, and that's when I aired grievances against the university. When you have to run a student around the mill just to take four simple classes, you aren't really top notch. I'm not happy, but that's the way of the world. We'll see what we hear. I'll keep you posted.