Australia! - Day 1

I don’t even know where to begin!  I feel like so much has happened in the last 3 days…when that’s really not the case (it hasn’t technically been 3 days either, but it feels like it).  The emotional ups and downs have been almost more than I could bear at times.  I like my life to be pretty even keeled I guess.  The flights weren’t near as bad as they could have been, so I was thankful for that.   By no means enjoyable, but for a 14+ hour flight, it could have been worse.  As the plane was starting to land in Sydney I was beginning to panic, questioning why I had ever thought I could do this on my own.  Thankfully, there was soon stuff to do (customs, baggage, bus transfer, etc) so I couldn’t dwell on it too long, but man it’s rough.  All the blogs I read from other people who had headed off on their own to do this didn’t really mention all the moments of self-doubt (and maybe they didn’t have any). Knowing so many people back home were praying for me definitely helped, but didn’t entirely prevent such moments of panic. 

There was free internet at the travel desk where I was waiting for my bus to the hostel, so I hopped on and let my mom know I’d arrived safely, now I’m sitting at the Wake Up hostel and I’ve wasted almost 20 minutes trying to log on to my email!  Not sure if it’s the internet here or if it’s my computer – it truly could be either one.  No one else around me seems to be having trouble, so I’m starting to think it’s my computer.  I keep getting an Explorer error, so I’m gonna download Chrome and see how that goes.  I did read before I came that the internet in Australia is terrible, but no one ever expanded on that so I’m not really sure what they meant by that.

While wandering around Sydney earlier this afternoon I stopped into a travel agency that said they have free internet for backpackers, so I might have to try that instead…  The girl I chatted with was nice (she’s from British Columbia), she said I should head north – in April is when they start hiring for peak travel season in Cairns.  She said lots of people like the hop-on-hop-off bus route you can use to get from here to there – but after trying to drag my bags through the airport today,  I don’t think hopping on and off a bus is for me (I thought I did so good packing light, but not if I plan on living a backpacker lifestyle).  I packed for living somewhere, not traveling around…  So that’s where I’m at right now, waiting till about 9pm so I can finally go to bed, and fighting with my computer to check my email.  

Quitting Your Job to Move Overseas

I wasn't quite sure what to expect out of the day.  Would I be really sad to say goodbye to everyone?  Would I cry?  Would I be happy to leave?  I'm not very good with emotions and I'm not very emotional, which has, at times, had my siblings question, "Do you even have a soul?"  Case in point, when I teared up at the surprise luncheon last weekend, my sister texted our cousin about it and told her I did indeed have a soul.  With that being said, I didn't really notice any specific emotions about the day.  Do I love my job?  No.  Do I like my job?  Yes.  Do I like my coworkers?  Definitely.  Even though I'm definitely gonna miss my coworkers (and possibly a steady paycheck), I didn't feel sad.  I don't really like goodbyes, but thankfully it wasn't as bad as I thought it might have been.  I wasn't necessarily glad to be leaving, but I still wasn't sad...maybe it just doesn't seem real to me.  The guy I was training to replace me kept commenting on how everyone seemed to be taking my departure pretty hard.  At one point he commented that he thought people would go into withdrawal once I left.  It was interesting to try and see it from his point of view - not really knowing any of the people in the situation since he's new.  I'm heading out to a late night bowling party with extended family, so I'm about to go through some more goodbyes. They really are hard, even though I'm fully counting on seeing them all again.  Then on Sunday I'll have another round of goodbye's to say... I guess I should just be thankful I have people to say goodbye to, and people who care that I'll be gone :)

good-bye (interjection)

farewell (a conventional expression used at parting).

(noun)  a farewell.

A surprising weekend

The ladies at my church had a surprise luncheon for me this weekend, it was so incredibly sweet of them.  I was absolutely stunned, I had no idea there would be other people at lunch, I thought I was just having a lunch date with my sister.  We had fun talking and catching up, they even had cards and gifts for me - which was even more unexpected.  You know you have friends at church, but when I call them my church family, I don't use the word family lightly.  It was so special, and made me feel so loved.  Here's a great poem a friend wrote just for the occasion:

I want to say good-bye to a friend of mine

who will soon be leaving us for a time.

You'll be getting on a plane and heading out yonder

to a great big land they call "Down Under".

Please take some time for a "walk-about"

you'll see some great sights, there is no doubt.

There's wallabies, koalas, and kangaroos,

you may even see an Aborigine too!

You will be speaking in "Aussie" when you return,

when for family and home your heart does yearn.

Now I come to the end of this rhyme,

best wishes to you and have a good time!

by Rick Stewart

There were so many touching cards and the notes were so very encouraging - below are two of my favorite cards :)  It's always nice to know you're loved and especially when they tell you in an unexpected way.

Then to top if all off, my favorite 10-year-old came home from college for the weekend so that I could see her one last time before I headed off.  I had been hoping she would somehow make it home before I left, since I couldn't get down to see her, but wasn't sure it would happen.  My younger brother and I, who just arrived home from an adventure of his own, went over to her house to hang out with her family and she popped out from behind the counter :)  We had so much fun, I left with a headache from laughing so hard for so long....  All those things make me wonder how I could ever want to leave.  I don't want to leave, not really....I just want to visit other places too.

sur·prise (verb)

1.  to strike or occur to with a sudden feeling of wonder or astonishment, as through unexpectedness 
2.  to come upon or discover suddenly and unexpectedly

3.  to elicit or bring out suddenly and without warning

(noun)

4.  an act or instance of surprising or being surprised.

5.  something that surprises someone;  a completely unexpected occurrence, appearance, or statement.

6.  a coming upon unexpectedly; detecting in the act; taking unawares.

A Charmed Life

It's so easy to forget how blessed I am.  I've been overseas to several "third world" nations, I've seen extremely poor people, and I know I'm blessed and have been given so much.  It's just a bit out of the ordinary that I was reminded of that today, right here at home after talking with a friend.  I grew up in a nice house, had loving parents, food on the table, was given a good education, and plenty of opportunities in life.  I've been places other people only dream of going to, and I certainly don't deserve it.  I've had a good job and made money so that I'm able to take myself off to Australia.  Sometimes it's just a little crazy when you think about all you have.  Not just in relation to homeless people who are starving in war-torn countries around the world, but sometimes just in relation to people you've known for years.  I'm not really even sure where I'm going with this, but I guess I'm just grateful.  Grateful for the charmed life I've lead.  For the opportunities I've been given, for the sacrifices others have made on my behalf.  For the love I've been shown, not just by family and friends but from a loving Savior, who not only gave me more material blessings than I deserve, but also gave me eternal life.

grat·i·tude (noun)

the quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful: He expressed his gratitude to everyone on the staff.

When Everyone Tells You You're Brave

"You're so brave!"
"When I was your age I'd have never done that!"
"You're the bravest person I know."

No, I'm not.  And while they all might mean well, it's really not what I want to hear from you.  Telling me I'm brave makes me feel like I'm doing something really difficult, or dangerous.  While it's not without its risks, seeing as I'm a single woman traveling alone, it's not even a third world country and they speak English!!  Is my impending move unorthodox, undeard of, or perhaps unusual?  Maybe, but I'm pretty certain it's not brave.  I'll be the first to admit that hearing a bunch of people tell me it's brave starts to make me worry and ask myself things like: "Am I missing something?"  "Is this really more daring then I think it is?"  "Is the job market really terrible in Australia and no one told me?"  Hopefully I'm not being naïve about this move.  All that just to say, those of you who simply tell me it's great and that this is the perfect time in my life to try something like this, you're my favorites.  You make me feel like I made the right decision, like this is something I can do.  That I'm not crazy...  Then again, maybe my definition of bravery just isn't the same as everyone else's definition.

brave (adjective)

1.  possessing or exhibiting courage or courageous endurance.

cour·age (noun)

1.  the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear; bravery.

Playa El Palmar

Throwback Thursday (on Tuesday, what can I say, I'm an overachiever).  A quick look into my 24th birthday trip to Panama...

Surfing. That was the whole point of our trip. I had never tried it, but my sister had. Unbeknownst to me, she actually had a horrible first experience and didn’t really want to try again! She knew it was my dream though, so she came along anyway (what a great sister). At this point I can’t even remember how exactly I stumbled upon Panama Surf School – probably Google.  I’d researched so many places and there are tons of options in the Caribbean and South America.  I think what got me hooked on Panama Surf School was that it was founded/owned by a women named Flor.  Girl power!!  Plus, airfare to Panama was relatively cheap and…well, I made our reservations in October and started working out.  No really, I did.  I was determined to succeed at surfing if at all possible, so I upped my workouts and added lots more “upper-body strength” focused work.  Who knows if it helped with the surfing, but it knowing we were going surfing in December certainly helped me stay motivated in my workouts…. 

So, on December 7th we headed to a small town in Panama called San Carlos that is located along El Palmar beach. The landscape is beautiful -tropical vegetation, rocky cliffs and beaches with a mixture of white and black sand. Our surf instructor said the black sand (from a volcanic eruption) is actually magnetic. If we ever go back we’re taking a magnet to test that out… We stood out like sore thumbs – which we’re actually getting used to at this point in our travelling careers. They’ were all so tan, and there we were: pale flesh that hadn’t seen sunshine in months and doesn’t even tan when it does. Needless to say, we slathered on our sunscreen before heading out for our first lesson. We had so much fun and both stood up on the board on our first or second try! We had expected it to be much hard than it was – but I think Ricardo made it easy for us (well as easy as one can without being able to control the waves). Catching a wave by yourself and having the locals cheer you on is such a great feeling. We still have lots to learn, but we definitely got a great foundation. We had our share of board rash and drank our share of saltwater - but it was all worth it. For me, there’s just nothing quite like being on the ocean, whether it’s on a surf board or a boogie board. Sitting on my board just staring out into the seemingly endless ocean waiting for a wave – words just don’t describe it.   Here’s a favorite travel quote with a shot of the San Carlos coastline…

Quick Tip:  If you've got short arms, don't even try
to carry the learner board any other way.
On your head is the way to go :)

Surf (noun)

1.  the swell of the sea that breaks upon a shore or upon shoals.

2.  the mass or line of foamy water caused by the breaking of the sea upon a shore,  
     especially a shallow or sloping shore.

verb (used without object)

3.  to ride a surfboard.

4. to float on the crest of a wave toward shore.

5. to swim, play, or bathe in the surf.

6. to search haphazardly, as for information on a computer network or an interesting
    program on television.

Fresco Appreciation

Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling by Ross King

 

I can't remember who had the post on facebook, but a friend had recommend this book to someone else and I thought it sounded sort of interesting.  Wow - such a fascinating book!  Here's a quick overview from the Barnes & Noble site so you don't have to go searching:

"In 1508, despite strong advice to the contrary, the powerful Pope Julius II commissioned Michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the newly restored Sistine Chapel. With little experience as a painter (though famed for his sculpture David), Michelangelo was reluctant to begin the massive project. Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling recounts the four extraordinary years Michelangelo spent laboring over the vast ceiling while the power politics and personal rivalries that abounded in Rome swirled around him. Battling against ill health, financial difficulties, domestic problems, the pope's impatience, and a bitter rivalry with the brilliant young painter Raphael, Michelangelo created scenes so beautiful that they are considered to be among the greatest masterpieces of all time. A panorama of illustrious figures converged around the creation of this magnificent work -- from the great Dutch scholar Erasmus to the young Martin Luther -- and Ross King skillfully weaves them through his compelling historical narrative, offering uncommon insight into the intersection of art and history."

As I was reading the book I couldn't help but think of my field trips to Rome & Florence with Saints Bible Institute.  I remember seeing the Sistine Chapel, but I definitely didn't have a deep appreciation for it.  I never truly even understood what a fresco was, let alone how extremely difficult they are to create.  What I love best is how informative it is without feeling like you're reading a textbook.  I took art history the semester after I came home from Italy, but didn't find it nearly as fascinating as this book.  King does an excellent job of weaving lots of relevant history into the story of Michelangelo's project, while also explaining how impressive and talented so many of the artists of that time period truly were. I knew they were talented because they're famous (*duh*) - but didn't really understand what about their artwork make them famous.

For anyone with plans to travel to Italy I would strongly recommend this book. I'm definitely longing to return now just to take some time to appreciate the artwork a bit more.  Has anyone read any of King's other books?  I'm contemplating reading the one about Bruneschelli's Dome....

Fresco (noun)

1.  Also called buon fresco, true fresco. the art or technique of painting on a moist, plaster surface with colors ground up in water or a limewater mixture. Compare fresco secco.

2.  a picture or design so painted.