When I was seven or eight, I made up a game I used to frequently play with my younger siblings and neighborhood children. The gist of the game was disappearing from parental supervision into whatever surrounding woods we had close to home and pretend we had no parents and were children left to live in the forest. We would find empty water bottles and cracked dishes in the woods and food (onion grass and berries) in order to stay alive in the forest. Almost every time we played there was a stolen pot from our mom’s kitchen and we would throw in grass, berries, leaves and colorful flowers and make our favorite dish – Stone Soup.
Call me a little suburban hippie child but I truly loved that game and the past 6 days truly reminded me of my childhood tendencies.
Sam took us to a little town a few hours from Melbourne called Mathoura. There had been a huge party at the Sharehouse on Friday night (I played bartender) and the boys wanted to detox after the stress and wearisome effort of throwing such an amazing party. The party was an incredibly interesting experience. You had a couple teenagers, one man who was in his late sixties, a large MILF crowd and then a heap of 20 – 30’s in the diverse crowd. I connected with a few really cool people who gave me their business cards with promises of fun nights, private parties, job offers and one guy even wanted me to be a model (!) but I think that was the booze talking (although I did look hot).
Moving on now, early Tuesday morning – about 11 AM, the car was packed to the gills with camping gear (Sam has every kind of camping chachka) and we head off into the sunset (literally by the time we left it was about that time) and we made our way to our new home.
Turns out our new home is right on the Murray River and we are about 25 kilometers from the nearest main road or gas station. This was totally awesome because you’re in complete seclusion and you have the quiet company of the huge Red Gum trees. We saw hundreds of wild kangaroo which are so cute and when I tell you the sky was something magical at night, I am not exaggerating. There are no lights for miles around so when you lay down and look at the stars at night there are millions of them and they are all sparkling brightly and winking down at you like they are enjoying the warmth of the fire with you.
We took little day trips as well to little local towns, sometimes to fill up on random supplies and one time I got lucky and we got ice cream! We prepared a lot of awesome meals on our little gas stove and everyone had a favorite tree where they went to the bathroom armed with baby wipes. You have not had a true camping experience until you have gone to the bathroom outside consistently for 6 days.
It liberates you.
That’s the thing about camping out though. Reducing the amount of materialistic items and unnatural aspects of life diminishes distraction. You have more time to think of yourself. Suddenly trivial things don’t matter as much and you just have all this time to get to know the people you’re with and the only task at hand is to keep the energy warm and vibrant.
Enough of that hippie shit. We left our little village on Sunday morning and it started to rain which created a slight problem for our little traction-less Toyota. The car even bogged down with camping gear started to fishtail on the muddy dirt roads. Eventually we came to a complete stop when the car slipped off a bridge leaving one tire was hanging off the bridge and the rest of the car sitting patiently.
Sam got out immediately and started off running in the direction of the main road. Dovi and I looked at each other and the same thought crossed our minds. The main road was at least 20 kilometers from where we were, so we had plenty of time on our hands. Dovi reckoned he would take a walk but I opted to read a book and started giggling to myself all cozy and warm in the car when it started raining again. I know – I’m a bad person.
By the time Dovi came back (soaked) a pick up truck came up behind us. Now this guy John was a true Blue Aussie and plainly told us that he would not rest that day until we were safe and sound on the main road. Long story short, he rescued us and picked up Sam on the way to town for rope and also spent almost two hours escorting us back to the main road in order to make sure we got there safely.
I love the Aussies.
Well, now we’re back in civilization and I must say the hot shower felt wonderful and it’s nice to be back in touch with friends.
Tomorrow we go to Sydney for the next adventure……
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
(9) Do Your Time At The Cellblock!
Bundaberg which has begun and ended was the most intense experience I have had as of yet in Australia.
Allow me to begin.
The 21 hour bus ride passed pretty easily. We met a couple new friends, one being a guy who just got out of jail for armed robbery (who seemed really nice but we dropped him off halfway to Bundaberg) but the other two were Emma from England and Lindsey from Ireland who were in the same position as us and needed to find work. The two bus drivers, apparently needing to compensate for lack of power or control in their life, demanded the bus passengers act in accordance with military school guidelines. No legs in the aisle, no smoking or drinking, beware if I find you with so much as a toe in the aisle and we will kick you off this bus before you can say "I'm an asshole".
Nevermind that. We arrived in the fair city of Bundaberg (fair being the overstatement of the century) with the intention of staying in a working hostel. A working hostel provides backpackers with a room, bathroom, kitchen and a farm to work on. Well, we arrived at City Hostel only to find the office was closed for the next few hours and the four of us (The two girls joined us) were sitting outside in the sunshine trying to shake off the remnants of sleep, dirt and starvation.
Eugene showed up shortly after, a pot-bellied and angry looking man and demanded to know why we were occupying space on his property.
"We were told to come here for work, sir." I replied as politely as possible. He checks his watch impatiently and told us we will have to wait because he is a busy man and he will come back and check us in after he picks up some backpackers from a nearby farm.
"No problem," I oozed with a huge sarcastic smile. I had turned into the spokeswoman for the group. As soon as he runs into the office with his large behind wagging behind him, we all turn to each other with horrified looks on our faces - it was pretty comical.
We whisper amongst ourselves and decide to check out our other options while Eugene is away picking up backpackers. He comes back and barks that he can service us now but it has to be quick.
"You know Eugene, we're going to wait for a fourth friend so you can go..." I say sweetly. Eugene looks at us suspiciously and warns us not to be fishing around for a better place. Then he finally leaves and we pack our bags to go to the next hostel which is supposed to encourage drinking and have better management.
We strap on our two ton backpacks and walk the 4 blocks to the Cellblock.
Let me just paint the picture for you...
There is a pool on the side with shrieks of laughter eminating from the bar area and topless boys walking around with jugs of beer at 11 in the morning.
We checked in as quickly as possible and inquired about work (they had work for us) and then got straight down to the important business of donning our bathing suits.
I started this article last week and now I'm too lazy to finish in detail but the extent of the rest of my stay in Bundaberg and the Cellblock was tres interesting. I met a lot of cool travelers from germany, England, Ireland, Holland and Canadia. No Americans.
I worked in a packing warehouse on a tomato farm sorting and packing tomatoes - not very exciting. The next day I was assigned to work on a sugar cane farm and it was the most back breaking work I have ever done. We spent eight hours a day cleaning the sugar cane sticks from the fields so the farmer could replant. The sun was baking down on us, the dry dust was sticking to my clothes, boots, skin - there was seriously dust in almost every opening in my body.
I worked with two other girls, one French and one German both of whom were super nice and sweet and we got to know each other a bit but my favorite was Carlos.
Carlos is an import from Africa. He is part Portuguese which explains his whiteness but he left Angola, Africa when he was 16 during a civil war. his family fled to South Africa and had to live in the desert for days with no food or water. He's traveled to Asia and then to Australia where he's been living for 21 years. He was our supervisor on the farm and regaled us with numerous stories of his childhood and stories of an Indian doctor who grew cocaine in an underground lab and killed his father with a botched operation.
Carlos kept the work interesting and fun so the fact that my hamstrings and back were sobbing with pain by the time 3:30 rolled around wasn't so much of a bother. And for the two days I did this work, let me just tell you how good you feel when you're done. It's meditative work, honest work and good for the soul.
Anyway, we were getting calls from Melbourne during this time from the Sharehouse, telling us about a crazy party and then a week long camping trip, almost entirely paid for if we flew our little rear ends back to Victoria (That's the state). Dovi and I were planning to try out Sydney because we decided the environnment at the hostel was too much drinking and partying and we wanted to find jobs that weren't back breaking and paid more.
I had managed to continue running, I found a small park on the river across the street from the hostel and was doing about 5K a day but no yoga. There was no quiet place for me to practice yoga and after a week at the Cellblock (it's called that because it used to be a jail before being transformed into a backpackers farming brokerage. Seriously the managers brokered backpackers out to farmers like they were refinancing mortgages.) we decided to make the trip to the internet cafe to book a ticket to Sydney after work.
As it happens we received yet another phone call from the sly Sam and Company who persuaded my traveling partner Dovi to change course.
So after thanking the quirky Aussie nerd manning the internet hub, we were granted a connection and tickets to Melbourne were booked (do not ask how I am paying for things, small amounts of money are just coming from G-d somehow) and a train ride and flight ensued.
A nice day stop in Brisbane and a lucky find of 7-11 slurpees there, Dovi and I found ourselves in transition to a new experience....Melbourne, we're coming back!
Allow me to begin.
The 21 hour bus ride passed pretty easily. We met a couple new friends, one being a guy who just got out of jail for armed robbery (who seemed really nice but we dropped him off halfway to Bundaberg) but the other two were Emma from England and Lindsey from Ireland who were in the same position as us and needed to find work. The two bus drivers, apparently needing to compensate for lack of power or control in their life, demanded the bus passengers act in accordance with military school guidelines. No legs in the aisle, no smoking or drinking, beware if I find you with so much as a toe in the aisle and we will kick you off this bus before you can say "I'm an asshole".
Nevermind that. We arrived in the fair city of Bundaberg (fair being the overstatement of the century) with the intention of staying in a working hostel. A working hostel provides backpackers with a room, bathroom, kitchen and a farm to work on. Well, we arrived at City Hostel only to find the office was closed for the next few hours and the four of us (The two girls joined us) were sitting outside in the sunshine trying to shake off the remnants of sleep, dirt and starvation.
Eugene showed up shortly after, a pot-bellied and angry looking man and demanded to know why we were occupying space on his property.
"We were told to come here for work, sir." I replied as politely as possible. He checks his watch impatiently and told us we will have to wait because he is a busy man and he will come back and check us in after he picks up some backpackers from a nearby farm.
"No problem," I oozed with a huge sarcastic smile. I had turned into the spokeswoman for the group. As soon as he runs into the office with his large behind wagging behind him, we all turn to each other with horrified looks on our faces - it was pretty comical.
We whisper amongst ourselves and decide to check out our other options while Eugene is away picking up backpackers. He comes back and barks that he can service us now but it has to be quick.
"You know Eugene, we're going to wait for a fourth friend so you can go..." I say sweetly. Eugene looks at us suspiciously and warns us not to be fishing around for a better place. Then he finally leaves and we pack our bags to go to the next hostel which is supposed to encourage drinking and have better management.
We strap on our two ton backpacks and walk the 4 blocks to the Cellblock.
Let me just paint the picture for you...
There is a pool on the side with shrieks of laughter eminating from the bar area and topless boys walking around with jugs of beer at 11 in the morning.
We checked in as quickly as possible and inquired about work (they had work for us) and then got straight down to the important business of donning our bathing suits.
I started this article last week and now I'm too lazy to finish in detail but the extent of the rest of my stay in Bundaberg and the Cellblock was tres interesting. I met a lot of cool travelers from germany, England, Ireland, Holland and Canadia. No Americans.
I worked in a packing warehouse on a tomato farm sorting and packing tomatoes - not very exciting. The next day I was assigned to work on a sugar cane farm and it was the most back breaking work I have ever done. We spent eight hours a day cleaning the sugar cane sticks from the fields so the farmer could replant. The sun was baking down on us, the dry dust was sticking to my clothes, boots, skin - there was seriously dust in almost every opening in my body.
I worked with two other girls, one French and one German both of whom were super nice and sweet and we got to know each other a bit but my favorite was Carlos.
Carlos is an import from Africa. He is part Portuguese which explains his whiteness but he left Angola, Africa when he was 16 during a civil war. his family fled to South Africa and had to live in the desert for days with no food or water. He's traveled to Asia and then to Australia where he's been living for 21 years. He was our supervisor on the farm and regaled us with numerous stories of his childhood and stories of an Indian doctor who grew cocaine in an underground lab and killed his father with a botched operation.
Carlos kept the work interesting and fun so the fact that my hamstrings and back were sobbing with pain by the time 3:30 rolled around wasn't so much of a bother. And for the two days I did this work, let me just tell you how good you feel when you're done. It's meditative work, honest work and good for the soul.
Anyway, we were getting calls from Melbourne during this time from the Sharehouse, telling us about a crazy party and then a week long camping trip, almost entirely paid for if we flew our little rear ends back to Victoria (That's the state). Dovi and I were planning to try out Sydney because we decided the environnment at the hostel was too much drinking and partying and we wanted to find jobs that weren't back breaking and paid more.
I had managed to continue running, I found a small park on the river across the street from the hostel and was doing about 5K a day but no yoga. There was no quiet place for me to practice yoga and after a week at the Cellblock (it's called that because it used to be a jail before being transformed into a backpackers farming brokerage. Seriously the managers brokered backpackers out to farmers like they were refinancing mortgages.) we decided to make the trip to the internet cafe to book a ticket to Sydney after work.
As it happens we received yet another phone call from the sly Sam and Company who persuaded my traveling partner Dovi to change course.
So after thanking the quirky Aussie nerd manning the internet hub, we were granted a connection and tickets to Melbourne were booked (do not ask how I am paying for things, small amounts of money are just coming from G-d somehow) and a train ride and flight ensued.
A nice day stop in Brisbane and a lucky find of 7-11 slurpees there, Dovi and I found ourselves in transition to a new experience....Melbourne, we're coming back!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
(8) Initiated into Backpackerhood
Apparently there has been a "cold front" for all the crops in Queensland. The farms that we are supposed to be working at are all delayed by 2 -3 weeks and that means work is delayed and that means money is delayed.
No matter. Dovi and I harassed the Harvest Trails hot line every hour or so until we got a farm who had space for us! We are pretty much done with Cairns so as soon as the farm confirmed with us we rushed to book a bus ticket. The previous evening had not been so successfull. We met up with a group of 5 English guys who had fork burns on their stomachs from "Who is the most manly" type of games. It was a little depressing to sit their and watch them time their friend stick his hand in a bowl of ice for 5 minutes so we left and went to bed early. It's a good thing too because it is sunny and beautiful and there were so many more interesting people to meet! Two French guys throwing a football around, a cute Asian girl and even poor Margaret who is a 70 year old (I am not kidding) backpacker. She's been backpacking for 22 years....
Last night Dovi convinced me that we should have a BBQ (they have them available right on the Lagoon) and he ended up having a lot of extra meat. We noticed a group of backpackers sitting at a nearby table drinking Goon (cheap boxed wine) out of McDonalds cups so we invited them to finish off the lot.
Little did we know that this diverse mix were loud, fun and genuinely uncaring of consequence were going to initiate us into the official hood of Backpackerism. They taught us about Goon, rollies and how to meet the cool people. We all ended up meeting a bunch of guys also throwing a BBQ who offered to move the party to their house nearby which we did (don't worry it was like 7 against 3).
The girls were wasted and cracking funnier and dirtier jokes (I chose not to drink the nasty looking Goon). We arrived at their house and I indulged in a beer. The guys whose house it was started twirling fire batons and started a bonfire in the yard. Aimee, the loudest and funniest of the English girls was making self deprecating jokes about her black bank statements and Annie, the hippie from Washington State was creating rollies every couple minutes. Rollies, btw are hand rolled cigarettes - a backpacker special....
Cont....
After saying good bye to our new found friends it was time to say good bye and move on to a place where we could find work. So we booked a 21 hour bus ride to Bundaberg, packed a huge load of food and began making our way to Backpackerhood.
No matter. Dovi and I harassed the Harvest Trails hot line every hour or so until we got a farm who had space for us! We are pretty much done with Cairns so as soon as the farm confirmed with us we rushed to book a bus ticket. The previous evening had not been so successfull. We met up with a group of 5 English guys who had fork burns on their stomachs from "Who is the most manly" type of games. It was a little depressing to sit their and watch them time their friend stick his hand in a bowl of ice for 5 minutes so we left and went to bed early. It's a good thing too because it is sunny and beautiful and there were so many more interesting people to meet! Two French guys throwing a football around, a cute Asian girl and even poor Margaret who is a 70 year old (I am not kidding) backpacker. She's been backpacking for 22 years....
Last night Dovi convinced me that we should have a BBQ (they have them available right on the Lagoon) and he ended up having a lot of extra meat. We noticed a group of backpackers sitting at a nearby table drinking Goon (cheap boxed wine) out of McDonalds cups so we invited them to finish off the lot.
Little did we know that this diverse mix were loud, fun and genuinely uncaring of consequence were going to initiate us into the official hood of Backpackerism. They taught us about Goon, rollies and how to meet the cool people. We all ended up meeting a bunch of guys also throwing a BBQ who offered to move the party to their house nearby which we did (don't worry it was like 7 against 3).
The girls were wasted and cracking funnier and dirtier jokes (I chose not to drink the nasty looking Goon). We arrived at their house and I indulged in a beer. The guys whose house it was started twirling fire batons and started a bonfire in the yard. Aimee, the loudest and funniest of the English girls was making self deprecating jokes about her black bank statements and Annie, the hippie from Washington State was creating rollies every couple minutes. Rollies, btw are hand rolled cigarettes - a backpacker special....
Cont....
After saying good bye to our new found friends it was time to say good bye and move on to a place where we could find work. So we booked a 21 hour bus ride to Bundaberg, packed a huge load of food and began making our way to Backpackerhood.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
(7) The Lagoons of Cairns - Sunny Skies and Cute Guys!!!
Now where did I leave off? I know I have become such a space cadet because nothing matters anymore - there is no such thing as time, you live by the sun. If you don't like one place, you leave and you move on to the next one.
I will fill you in on MINIMAL details of the weekend before I left. If you notice I have been quite preoccupied in the past few days. What is today anyway....? So I spent a lot of time with a certain individual that we decided to call Sam. Sam and I hit it off and in perfect conjunction with the Universe, I flew off to Cairns last night. If anyone wants the juicy details, you will have to e-mail me because they are unbloggable.... ;-)
We arrived into Cairns at about 1 AM and went to the only open hostel which was really big, really expensive and the snooty German in his mid-20's didn't seem to be interested in helping us. He did provide us with info regarding jobs though. Dovi and I want to go up about 200 miles from Cairns to find a farm to work at. But I digress....this morning we quickly bounced out of there because there didn't seem to be such cool backpackers there anyway. Thank G-d we did because we stumbled across this amazing hostel right on the beach which YOUNG people and a much more chillin vibe.
The beach in Cairns City is actually a Lagoon. I haven't asked about it yet but it seems as if when it's low tide there is no water for about a miles out - it's like marshy almost. If anyway saw the Tsunami movie, it looks exactly like how Thailand looked right before the huge wave crashed. But it's cool because this evening, the high tide came in and there is a beach!
Dovi and I decided to explore today. We wandered around, spoke to some locals (Aborigians, the original Native Australians) and got on a bus to head to "the most beautiful beach in Cairns". Palm Cove was a tiny little town with resort hotels and a clean beach....the water was too cold so we ended up just chilling and then (YAY!) Dovi and started doing Yoga on the beach for the amused and reserved Australians....
This feeling of freedom is more than anything I've ever experienced. Dovi and I were trying to define it...it's not quite bliss but it's this surreal otherlife type of feeling. We have nowhere to be, no responsibility except to feed ourselves and provide ourselves with shelter (and carry our lives on our backs). I do feel myself changing. Even back in Melbourne, my mind is constantly opening and my heart is just becoming more and more filled with love for people.
You meet new people, you add a new perspective to that little brain of yours. What would have happened to my mind had I stayed in one place for to much time????
Of course, that is not an option for me. When you live in a world with so much opportunity and so much freedom, I cannot help but take advantage.
Now it's dinner time and hostel guests get a free dinner at the bar when you buy a drink.
I told you everything is backwards here!
I will fill you in on MINIMAL details of the weekend before I left. If you notice I have been quite preoccupied in the past few days. What is today anyway....? So I spent a lot of time with a certain individual that we decided to call Sam. Sam and I hit it off and in perfect conjunction with the Universe, I flew off to Cairns last night. If anyone wants the juicy details, you will have to e-mail me because they are unbloggable.... ;-)
We arrived into Cairns at about 1 AM and went to the only open hostel which was really big, really expensive and the snooty German in his mid-20's didn't seem to be interested in helping us. He did provide us with info regarding jobs though. Dovi and I want to go up about 200 miles from Cairns to find a farm to work at. But I digress....this morning we quickly bounced out of there because there didn't seem to be such cool backpackers there anyway. Thank G-d we did because we stumbled across this amazing hostel right on the beach which YOUNG people and a much more chillin vibe.
The beach in Cairns City is actually a Lagoon. I haven't asked about it yet but it seems as if when it's low tide there is no water for about a miles out - it's like marshy almost. If anyway saw the Tsunami movie, it looks exactly like how Thailand looked right before the huge wave crashed. But it's cool because this evening, the high tide came in and there is a beach!
Dovi and I decided to explore today. We wandered around, spoke to some locals (Aborigians, the original Native Australians) and got on a bus to head to "the most beautiful beach in Cairns". Palm Cove was a tiny little town with resort hotels and a clean beach....the water was too cold so we ended up just chilling and then (YAY!) Dovi and started doing Yoga on the beach for the amused and reserved Australians....
This feeling of freedom is more than anything I've ever experienced. Dovi and I were trying to define it...it's not quite bliss but it's this surreal otherlife type of feeling. We have nowhere to be, no responsibility except to feed ourselves and provide ourselves with shelter (and carry our lives on our backs). I do feel myself changing. Even back in Melbourne, my mind is constantly opening and my heart is just becoming more and more filled with love for people.
You meet new people, you add a new perspective to that little brain of yours. What would have happened to my mind had I stayed in one place for to much time????
Of course, that is not an option for me. When you live in a world with so much opportunity and so much freedom, I cannot help but take advantage.
Now it's dinner time and hostel guests get a free dinner at the bar when you buy a drink.
I told you everything is backwards here!
Friday, August 8, 2008
(6) Desperate Men and How to Deal
Well, I am sorry to say that I went out with someone more for the fun of it and to test the waters. I have been abstinent for almost 4 months and I really wanted to know where I am holding in that area.
Well, it happened a few nights ago when I was chilling with one of the dancers on Sam's dance crew and we happened to get into conversation and we really connected. Sam and Co. (his brothers) warned me about him but I thought perhaps they may just not really know him.
Well for one thing, once he had my number my phone was blowing up with text messages and phone calls and being that I'm leaving on Monday, I figured Ray just wanted to get a chance to hang before I left.
Shows how much I know about not-so-hidden signals....I need to get my radar checked because last night was a worse disaster than Mr. Pretentious from last week.
I am feeling really amazing and open and Sam has been taking me to yoga every day so I'm in a good place and I agree to a date for last night.
Well Ray picks me up in a cab and we head off to Chapel street (he is Israeli and is studying/working here and arrived five months ago) which is the only place we really know where to go.
Well, I was completely unprepared for what he told me after the cab dropped us off and we were strolling down the avenue.
"You know I need to tell you something," he says with his Israeli accent. He is taller than me and very thin with a real charming personality.
" I feel like since I let you know that I like you, you feel like you have the power and you're in control."
Needless to say, I did not agree at all with that (I know I can be a little controlling at times but this was not the case in this situation).
"Ray, I have had many bad experiences with men and I have not been with anyone in a long time," I explained as patiently as possible. "I need to be cautious with who I am with because I have a habit of making bad decisions when it comes to men."
"Well, I am not just any man," he shoots back.
Well, I won't bore you with any more useless dialogue but after almost a half an hour of trying to get him to explain that I didn't miss him that day because I don't KNOW HIM WELL ENOUGH, I just said,
"Look, I just met you, let's enjoy the evening and we'll see how it goes." Sounds rational, yes?
Well, we share a bottle of wine and talk about this and that and then we leave once the bottle is finished.
Well by that time, I knew I wanted to go home, get back into sweatpants and josh around with the brothers. Too bad that is when he decided to kiss me (I won't lie - I did indulge a bit) and after a little of that, I begged off that I was too tired to go to another place and I needed to go to sleep.
For those of you who know me well, midnight on a Friday night is not a time when I want to be heading to bed. I am usually good and ready to shout, shout and let it all out (well, not all of it).
It even sounded so false to my ears that "I have yoga and running tomorrow and I am so so so tired because I usually go to bed at ten". It sounded convincing to him though and after almost 30 minutes of asking to go home and then (like and idiot) promising to go out with him again - even though I am doing so with gritted teeth, we get a cab and I get dropped off.
The brothers are surprised to see me so early and they invited me to share some roasted potatoes and they want to hear about my night. All three of them share their comments and then my phone starts vibrating and I have two text messages and three missed calls from him.
Guys, I just left the dude under an hour ago - this is not normal. But I feel bad because he just took me out so I call him back and say good night.
Today was shopping day! Dovi and I bought backpacks, sleeping bags, flashlights - even thermals and a spiffy Swiss Army knife. I couldn't even handle the seven missed phone calls and eight unanswered texts (I am not exaggerating the numbers) and even as I am writing this I just received another one.
I do know that begging off that I am sick will not work and I believe that honesty is always the best policy. Ray, you are coming on way too strong, you are scaring me, I need space, I do not want to hang out tonight. I just need to gather the balls to say this though.
Other than the crappy dating experiences (I am done with it, I am not ready for a guy, I want to backpack, travel and not be held down) life is great! The past few nights have been so chilled. I am teaching basic yoga to the brothers who are very enthusiastic and we spend a lot of time in discussion (I will admit there is almost always a lit joint around). I feel like they are the older brothers I've never had. They treat me like a sister and I feel safe around them - probably due to the family dynamic.
All in all ladies and gents, I now have had my first stalker experience and a very big wake up call that I am not in any way interested in pursuing anything other than friendly connections.
Hear Hear!
Well, it happened a few nights ago when I was chilling with one of the dancers on Sam's dance crew and we happened to get into conversation and we really connected. Sam and Co. (his brothers) warned me about him but I thought perhaps they may just not really know him.
Well for one thing, once he had my number my phone was blowing up with text messages and phone calls and being that I'm leaving on Monday, I figured Ray just wanted to get a chance to hang before I left.
Shows how much I know about not-so-hidden signals....I need to get my radar checked because last night was a worse disaster than Mr. Pretentious from last week.
I am feeling really amazing and open and Sam has been taking me to yoga every day so I'm in a good place and I agree to a date for last night.
Well Ray picks me up in a cab and we head off to Chapel street (he is Israeli and is studying/working here and arrived five months ago) which is the only place we really know where to go.
Well, I was completely unprepared for what he told me after the cab dropped us off and we were strolling down the avenue.
"You know I need to tell you something," he says with his Israeli accent. He is taller than me and very thin with a real charming personality.
" I feel like since I let you know that I like you, you feel like you have the power and you're in control."
Needless to say, I did not agree at all with that (I know I can be a little controlling at times but this was not the case in this situation).
"Ray, I have had many bad experiences with men and I have not been with anyone in a long time," I explained as patiently as possible. "I need to be cautious with who I am with because I have a habit of making bad decisions when it comes to men."
"Well, I am not just any man," he shoots back.
Well, I won't bore you with any more useless dialogue but after almost a half an hour of trying to get him to explain that I didn't miss him that day because I don't KNOW HIM WELL ENOUGH, I just said,
"Look, I just met you, let's enjoy the evening and we'll see how it goes." Sounds rational, yes?
Well, we share a bottle of wine and talk about this and that and then we leave once the bottle is finished.
Well by that time, I knew I wanted to go home, get back into sweatpants and josh around with the brothers. Too bad that is when he decided to kiss me (I won't lie - I did indulge a bit) and after a little of that, I begged off that I was too tired to go to another place and I needed to go to sleep.
For those of you who know me well, midnight on a Friday night is not a time when I want to be heading to bed. I am usually good and ready to shout, shout and let it all out (well, not all of it).
It even sounded so false to my ears that "I have yoga and running tomorrow and I am so so so tired because I usually go to bed at ten". It sounded convincing to him though and after almost 30 minutes of asking to go home and then (like and idiot) promising to go out with him again - even though I am doing so with gritted teeth, we get a cab and I get dropped off.
The brothers are surprised to see me so early and they invited me to share some roasted potatoes and they want to hear about my night. All three of them share their comments and then my phone starts vibrating and I have two text messages and three missed calls from him.
Guys, I just left the dude under an hour ago - this is not normal. But I feel bad because he just took me out so I call him back and say good night.
Today was shopping day! Dovi and I bought backpacks, sleeping bags, flashlights - even thermals and a spiffy Swiss Army knife. I couldn't even handle the seven missed phone calls and eight unanswered texts (I am not exaggerating the numbers) and even as I am writing this I just received another one.
I do know that begging off that I am sick will not work and I believe that honesty is always the best policy. Ray, you are coming on way too strong, you are scaring me, I need space, I do not want to hang out tonight. I just need to gather the balls to say this though.
Other than the crappy dating experiences (I am done with it, I am not ready for a guy, I want to backpack, travel and not be held down) life is great! The past few nights have been so chilled. I am teaching basic yoga to the brothers who are very enthusiastic and we spend a lot of time in discussion (I will admit there is almost always a lit joint around). I feel like they are the older brothers I've never had. They treat me like a sister and I feel safe around them - probably due to the family dynamic.
All in all ladies and gents, I now have had my first stalker experience and a very big wake up call that I am not in any way interested in pursuing anything other than friendly connections.
Hear Hear!
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
(5) A Tornado Hits....
WHEW!
I have not expected events to change as they did. It's interesting how much power one person has - and I'm not talking about me.
The "Invisible Brother" arrived last night. We'll call him Sam for privacy purposes. Well Sam has been in Sydney for a week so I did not meet him until yesterday. Sam is one of my brother-in-laws brothers, about 30 years old, long hair and an extremely vibrant energy. Very intelligent, very philosophical and very intense.
But still with all these qualities happens to be a very amiable chap and we hit it off which I am relieved about since the younger brothers have not stopped talking about him and every other sentence its "Sam this" and "Sam that".
Let me get to the dirt. Sam comes home from Sydney and changes the entire energy in the house. Instead of this being a crackhead sharehouse it is now a more sophisticated center for an older crowd, sharper and wittier men. Yes, there are men parading in and out of the house for me to converse with, argue and debate and there is plenty of drinking and pot to go around.
I have taken a puff here and there, no hard drinking though and I find that the weed here is not to my taste. Besides, it's even fun to be sober here now. Things have changed drastically - I no longer feel alone, Sam is a total trip and even saying one sentence to him besides 'Good morning' will spur a full on philisophical debate.
I had a conversation with a cute Israeli guy last night who shared his story with me and we totally connected. He 'dug my vibe' shall we say...Ray has been in Aussie for five months studying at Uni (as University is called here) and working in random coffee houses. He experienced the same type of loneliness since arriving and also was into hard drugs in Israel before going clean.
Nevertheless, he invited me out to chill this weekend before my trip to Cairns and I will definitely be taking him up on his offer.
After haggling over moral subjectivity and the difference between animals and plants, I went to bed last night with a mindful of new perspectives to ponder and a satiated feeling of human connection.
I woke up early and Sam took me to a fabulous park with a beautiful lake.
"It's a complete 5K around (3 miles) and then we'll grab a coffee," Apparently in Australia, little Lululemon shorts and a tight, tight sleeveless Lulu top was no indication of one's sexual preference. He had no qualms about how he looked and after some stretching we began our run.
It was beautiful. I was smiling the whole time even as cramps hit and I pushed myself to run the entire way (Sam ran ahead of me but then tired before the finish line, I kept a slow pace). After the run we sat down at a little cafe for some coffee and tea and the topic of faith, Western spiritual cannibalism and Torah were discussed.
Friends, the shit that was coming out of his mouth was something unheard of to me! He has a total view of Love and Fear. Choosing to utilize his brains and energy to enjoy life, this guy could be a professor, lawyer or doctor - anything he chooses. He chooses to start a dance company that is hired out for parties and bar mitzvah's.
Craziness you would say? He does not agree or care. He just wants to chill, party and enjoy life as he sees fit.
I did suggest Yoga which we will be going to this afternoon (alas! he has a car...).
As happy as I am to meet 'soul' people as Sam calls it and to connect with people who appreciate my lifestyle choice of love and spirituality, I am still excited to get up to Cairns where it will be warmer (it's about 60 degrees here) and I will meet other travelers.
I suppose any place you go whether it may a different country, continent or simply another person's home, you need to be aware of how you are judging and what your judgement is based on.
Meeting new people and looking at their perspectives with an open mind is truly what molds you as an evolved human being. Not necessarily do you have to adopt their point of view but it never hurts to be educated.
And the journey of growth continues....!
I have not expected events to change as they did. It's interesting how much power one person has - and I'm not talking about me.
The "Invisible Brother" arrived last night. We'll call him Sam for privacy purposes. Well Sam has been in Sydney for a week so I did not meet him until yesterday. Sam is one of my brother-in-laws brothers, about 30 years old, long hair and an extremely vibrant energy. Very intelligent, very philosophical and very intense.
But still with all these qualities happens to be a very amiable chap and we hit it off which I am relieved about since the younger brothers have not stopped talking about him and every other sentence its "Sam this" and "Sam that".
Let me get to the dirt. Sam comes home from Sydney and changes the entire energy in the house. Instead of this being a crackhead sharehouse it is now a more sophisticated center for an older crowd, sharper and wittier men. Yes, there are men parading in and out of the house for me to converse with, argue and debate and there is plenty of drinking and pot to go around.
I have taken a puff here and there, no hard drinking though and I find that the weed here is not to my taste. Besides, it's even fun to be sober here now. Things have changed drastically - I no longer feel alone, Sam is a total trip and even saying one sentence to him besides 'Good morning' will spur a full on philisophical debate.
I had a conversation with a cute Israeli guy last night who shared his story with me and we totally connected. He 'dug my vibe' shall we say...Ray has been in Aussie for five months studying at Uni (as University is called here) and working in random coffee houses. He experienced the same type of loneliness since arriving and also was into hard drugs in Israel before going clean.
Nevertheless, he invited me out to chill this weekend before my trip to Cairns and I will definitely be taking him up on his offer.
After haggling over moral subjectivity and the difference between animals and plants, I went to bed last night with a mindful of new perspectives to ponder and a satiated feeling of human connection.
I woke up early and Sam took me to a fabulous park with a beautiful lake.
"It's a complete 5K around (3 miles) and then we'll grab a coffee," Apparently in Australia, little Lululemon shorts and a tight, tight sleeveless Lulu top was no indication of one's sexual preference. He had no qualms about how he looked and after some stretching we began our run.
It was beautiful. I was smiling the whole time even as cramps hit and I pushed myself to run the entire way (Sam ran ahead of me but then tired before the finish line, I kept a slow pace). After the run we sat down at a little cafe for some coffee and tea and the topic of faith, Western spiritual cannibalism and Torah were discussed.
Friends, the shit that was coming out of his mouth was something unheard of to me! He has a total view of Love and Fear. Choosing to utilize his brains and energy to enjoy life, this guy could be a professor, lawyer or doctor - anything he chooses. He chooses to start a dance company that is hired out for parties and bar mitzvah's.
Craziness you would say? He does not agree or care. He just wants to chill, party and enjoy life as he sees fit.
I did suggest Yoga which we will be going to this afternoon (alas! he has a car...).
As happy as I am to meet 'soul' people as Sam calls it and to connect with people who appreciate my lifestyle choice of love and spirituality, I am still excited to get up to Cairns where it will be warmer (it's about 60 degrees here) and I will meet other travelers.
I suppose any place you go whether it may a different country, continent or simply another person's home, you need to be aware of how you are judging and what your judgement is based on.
Meeting new people and looking at their perspectives with an open mind is truly what molds you as an evolved human being. Not necessarily do you have to adopt their point of view but it never hurts to be educated.
And the journey of growth continues....!
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
(4) A Flight Purchased and A Lesson Learned
I kind of feel stupid admitting this but I had no idea I had options until early this afternoon when I was standing in front of the giddy blonde travel agent who had pictures of cows littering her desk.
Let me start at the beginning.
I started work yesterday and I hated it. It's standard telemarketing and I would only be there for a month before heading up North with my new traveling buddy, Dovi (he's a chiller). Call after call these Australians politely told me "take me off your fucking list, thank you so much for calling". I felt like I never left BPS.
So that's why when I woke up this morning depressed out of my mind, to make matters worse, I went out for a run and it was a frigid like 25 degrees (F) and I still have not found the beach. Today, I told myself, today is the day I find the beach. After hopping on the tram, hopping off, getting on the wrong one and headng right back to where I started from and then giving up and just running in the direction of where I thought the beach should be.
Alas!
That worked....I found the beach after only 20 minutes. I was so relieved to see the water that I practically dropped on the cold sand (or from being so out of shape) and had a silent yet effective cry. I haven't cried in months yet I am here less than a week and I'm blubbering away. But no matter, the point was, I was not having the Australia experience that I wanted.
I felt like I was in a fucked up pseudo-NY just bootleg! It's like using air freshener as perfume when you're used to Dior....
The beach in Melbourne is nothing special. Since you could practically SEE Antarctica and definitely feel it - there were no waves and I was outta there. It took almost an hour and two almost car accidents later to get "home". I found Dovi snuggled in bed and I started in on him.
"I'm fucking depressed. This is not the experience I want to be having. I want to change it. I am going to do something about this. I did not travel across the world to do this shit!" (At this point I am nearly hysterical). Australians don't get frazzled, they don't even blink an eye.
"Ok, so you want to go North sooner?" Dovi responds smoothly, all chilled out. "Like in two weeks perhaps?"
Ha!
I needed to do some food shopping and open a bank account with a quirky teller named Cody so we headed to Chapel Street (the Park Slope 5th Ave but Aussie style) and came across the travel agent with the cows who seemed WAY to excited to be sitting behind a desk.
Well, one hundred and fifty dollars later, I have a ticket to Cairns for Monday the 11th of August (less then 6 days away!!!!) and Dovi has been persuaded to join me so he has a ticket too.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I have changed my destiny and I have directed my journey in a more positive, enlightened and spiritual direction.
Tomorrow I quit my job and tell my (hot, young AND black) boss that after a long tenure of two days, I can no longer telemarket and waste peoples time with products they don't need to make them more frustrated and stressed and send more negative karma into the world. Fuck telemarketing, what a shitty job.
Now, fruit picking (probably bananas) and backpacking and hostels and SUN SUN SUN....HOW I MISS YOU SO....where is the preference? What's the question?
To all my adoring and loving friends, I know why G-d has placed me in this situation and it taught me a huge lesson. It doesn't matter where I go in the world...I will always have the same struggles and the same obstacles - I cannot run away from it.
But what I can do is make a choice to say no, to remove myself out of places that are not of truth to me and that I do not connect with. Without a community of connected and spiritual beings, I cannot grow.
GOOD BYE MELBOURNE, HELLO CAIRNES!!!!
Let me start at the beginning.
I started work yesterday and I hated it. It's standard telemarketing and I would only be there for a month before heading up North with my new traveling buddy, Dovi (he's a chiller). Call after call these Australians politely told me "take me off your fucking list, thank you so much for calling". I felt like I never left BPS.
So that's why when I woke up this morning depressed out of my mind, to make matters worse, I went out for a run and it was a frigid like 25 degrees (F) and I still have not found the beach. Today, I told myself, today is the day I find the beach. After hopping on the tram, hopping off, getting on the wrong one and headng right back to where I started from and then giving up and just running in the direction of where I thought the beach should be.
Alas!
That worked....I found the beach after only 20 minutes. I was so relieved to see the water that I practically dropped on the cold sand (or from being so out of shape) and had a silent yet effective cry. I haven't cried in months yet I am here less than a week and I'm blubbering away. But no matter, the point was, I was not having the Australia experience that I wanted.
I felt like I was in a fucked up pseudo-NY just bootleg! It's like using air freshener as perfume when you're used to Dior....
The beach in Melbourne is nothing special. Since you could practically SEE Antarctica and definitely feel it - there were no waves and I was outta there. It took almost an hour and two almost car accidents later to get "home". I found Dovi snuggled in bed and I started in on him.
"I'm fucking depressed. This is not the experience I want to be having. I want to change it. I am going to do something about this. I did not travel across the world to do this shit!" (At this point I am nearly hysterical). Australians don't get frazzled, they don't even blink an eye.
"Ok, so you want to go North sooner?" Dovi responds smoothly, all chilled out. "Like in two weeks perhaps?"
Ha!
I needed to do some food shopping and open a bank account with a quirky teller named Cody so we headed to Chapel Street (the Park Slope 5th Ave but Aussie style) and came across the travel agent with the cows who seemed WAY to excited to be sitting behind a desk.
Well, one hundred and fifty dollars later, I have a ticket to Cairns for Monday the 11th of August (less then 6 days away!!!!) and Dovi has been persuaded to join me so he has a ticket too.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I have changed my destiny and I have directed my journey in a more positive, enlightened and spiritual direction.
Tomorrow I quit my job and tell my (hot, young AND black) boss that after a long tenure of two days, I can no longer telemarket and waste peoples time with products they don't need to make them more frustrated and stressed and send more negative karma into the world. Fuck telemarketing, what a shitty job.
Now, fruit picking (probably bananas) and backpacking and hostels and SUN SUN SUN....HOW I MISS YOU SO....where is the preference? What's the question?
To all my adoring and loving friends, I know why G-d has placed me in this situation and it taught me a huge lesson. It doesn't matter where I go in the world...I will always have the same struggles and the same obstacles - I cannot run away from it.
But what I can do is make a choice to say no, to remove myself out of places that are not of truth to me and that I do not connect with. Without a community of connected and spiritual beings, I cannot grow.
GOOD BYE MELBOURNE, HELLO CAIRNES!!!!
Sunday, August 3, 2008
(3) The Inevitable Break Down
It is a great success that I have a phone now and although I can count the people I know here on one hand, last night there was only one that mattered.
A friend from NY had put me in touch with one of his Aussie friends through Facebook and after spending the whole weekend recovering from jet lag, I wanted to go out. It takes several minutes of poring over the little keyboard and some pekking on my part in order to send out a two sentence text message to - oh lets call him Al.
Al manages a restaurant in South Melbourne and after a few texts back and forth, I was to meet him there and he would show me around Melbourne (aka get me very drunk). I left the house about six o'clock and successfully conversed with the tram driver in order to find out what stop I need to get off at. Don't think that since we both speak English it was easy. On the contrary, everything is pronounced differently here so "Clarendon St" actually would sound like "Claritin Straight".
It was one tram ride and a short walk later that I find myself sitting (you would not have guessed this) at a bar! Surprise, I am right back where I usually find myself most at home (that was a little tongue-in-cheek).
Al is a tall man with a rolling Aussie accent and a black wool cardigan (the man is 28). His pink shirt is untucked and he is rushing around the restaurant while I sip a glass of wine. I am just about finishing admiring my new black (cheaper version of) Uggs when he finished and we get in a cab to Destination B. We chit chat about this and that, he seems like a nice guy, very relaxed just like the rest of the Aussie's.
Now, I don't know if I have told all of you about my experience with Grandpa, but one time I had a date with a much, much older bartender. He was nearing 40 and he worked in the food industry which apparently means that when you take someone out there is an unwritten rule that you have to go to a place where you know the staff. Not only do you have to know the staff but Clause 235 states that when taking someone out you must also SHOW the person you are with that you know the staff. Furthermore, you must SPEAK to the staff and ask them how they are, do you remember me, I work here and there, blah blah blah. This was a very similar situation to Grandpa.
Destination B turned out to be a grungy pub in Fitzroy (an un-trendy Village so to speak) with burgers and fries and a loud live blues band. I had another glass of wine and he started telling me about the two year relationship that broke his heart, had him playing poker and snorting drugs for a year. I guess I learned well from a very good friend that being the inquisitor is always the best route. Ask more about them, tell less about you. The evening was not over after I downed a salad and snuck some fries in too. There was a Destination C on the agenda.
It was nearing ten o'clock and I was getting tired (I don't stay up late here) but I was game for another place. Wrong choice. Destination C was a little hip bar, closer to home where he did know the staff and introduced himself as quite the wine connisseur.
As the conversation got more and more pretentious (involving a flamboyantly gay man at the bar that he knew as well) I was getting more and more ready to leave. Why is it that when I am around gay people I need to make more of an effort to comfort and validate them. Perhaps it's a lack of security in their sexuality. But no matter, Al was extremely polite and put me in a cab after a friendly hug and that was it. With him.
The moment I burst into my new sharehouse (stumbled) I spotted Nick and fell into his arms, so grateful to see the quirky IT guy who was so simple and kind. He gave me an awkward hug and I spilled out the story of the evenings pretensiousness and snobbery to him and Dovi (the 18 yr old waks boy) and they totally empathized with me. They also offered me some weed in consolation which I indulged in and laughed my ass off for a half hour.
Unfortunately, the wine and weed were a dangerous mix. I got upstairs and stared at myself in the mirror for what seemed to be a long time and asked myself just what the fuck I was doing here. I do not want to meet people like Al, I do not want to go to snobby bars or dirty pubs.
I started crying and felt really, really alone.
This is real. You are on the other side of the world where you have the option to make a huge change in your life because nobody knows you. I am homesick and this feeling of attachment to all my friends is a new one. I have built such beautiful relationships in the past few years that are hard to be away from.
You know what they say though, a good nights sleep cures anything.
This morning I began an internet search for a good yoga studio. All the ones in my area are not really what I am looking for but I found that if I ventured a little further, I could find a good class.
This afternoon is my orientation and my first day of work. That will be another interesting adventure, I would imagine.
Missing you and loving you....
A friend from NY had put me in touch with one of his Aussie friends through Facebook and after spending the whole weekend recovering from jet lag, I wanted to go out. It takes several minutes of poring over the little keyboard and some pekking on my part in order to send out a two sentence text message to - oh lets call him Al.
Al manages a restaurant in South Melbourne and after a few texts back and forth, I was to meet him there and he would show me around Melbourne (aka get me very drunk). I left the house about six o'clock and successfully conversed with the tram driver in order to find out what stop I need to get off at. Don't think that since we both speak English it was easy. On the contrary, everything is pronounced differently here so "Clarendon St" actually would sound like "Claritin Straight".
It was one tram ride and a short walk later that I find myself sitting (you would not have guessed this) at a bar! Surprise, I am right back where I usually find myself most at home (that was a little tongue-in-cheek).
Al is a tall man with a rolling Aussie accent and a black wool cardigan (the man is 28). His pink shirt is untucked and he is rushing around the restaurant while I sip a glass of wine. I am just about finishing admiring my new black (cheaper version of) Uggs when he finished and we get in a cab to Destination B. We chit chat about this and that, he seems like a nice guy, very relaxed just like the rest of the Aussie's.
Now, I don't know if I have told all of you about my experience with Grandpa, but one time I had a date with a much, much older bartender. He was nearing 40 and he worked in the food industry which apparently means that when you take someone out there is an unwritten rule that you have to go to a place where you know the staff. Not only do you have to know the staff but Clause 235 states that when taking someone out you must also SHOW the person you are with that you know the staff. Furthermore, you must SPEAK to the staff and ask them how they are, do you remember me, I work here and there, blah blah blah. This was a very similar situation to Grandpa.
Destination B turned out to be a grungy pub in Fitzroy (an un-trendy Village so to speak) with burgers and fries and a loud live blues band. I had another glass of wine and he started telling me about the two year relationship that broke his heart, had him playing poker and snorting drugs for a year. I guess I learned well from a very good friend that being the inquisitor is always the best route. Ask more about them, tell less about you. The evening was not over after I downed a salad and snuck some fries in too. There was a Destination C on the agenda.
It was nearing ten o'clock and I was getting tired (I don't stay up late here) but I was game for another place. Wrong choice. Destination C was a little hip bar, closer to home where he did know the staff and introduced himself as quite the wine connisseur.
As the conversation got more and more pretentious (involving a flamboyantly gay man at the bar that he knew as well) I was getting more and more ready to leave. Why is it that when I am around gay people I need to make more of an effort to comfort and validate them. Perhaps it's a lack of security in their sexuality. But no matter, Al was extremely polite and put me in a cab after a friendly hug and that was it. With him.
The moment I burst into my new sharehouse (stumbled) I spotted Nick and fell into his arms, so grateful to see the quirky IT guy who was so simple and kind. He gave me an awkward hug and I spilled out the story of the evenings pretensiousness and snobbery to him and Dovi (the 18 yr old waks boy) and they totally empathized with me. They also offered me some weed in consolation which I indulged in and laughed my ass off for a half hour.
Unfortunately, the wine and weed were a dangerous mix. I got upstairs and stared at myself in the mirror for what seemed to be a long time and asked myself just what the fuck I was doing here. I do not want to meet people like Al, I do not want to go to snobby bars or dirty pubs.
I started crying and felt really, really alone.
This is real. You are on the other side of the world where you have the option to make a huge change in your life because nobody knows you. I am homesick and this feeling of attachment to all my friends is a new one. I have built such beautiful relationships in the past few years that are hard to be away from.
You know what they say though, a good nights sleep cures anything.
This morning I began an internet search for a good yoga studio. All the ones in my area are not really what I am looking for but I found that if I ventured a little further, I could find a good class.
This afternoon is my orientation and my first day of work. That will be another interesting adventure, I would imagine.
Missing you and loving you....
Saturday, August 2, 2008
(2) Warming Up
So, I did forget to mention that I am extremely inspired to run here. I went Fri, Sat and now Sun morn on nice long runs.
Yesterday I woke up early and went on a quest to find the beach. Unfortunately after 30 min of running I still could not find it so I settled for the river I came across. The houses here are popping up like crazy and they are all modern style, straight lines and big windows.
I ended up spending most of the day snuggling on the couch watching Australian TV and reading the paper because it was too bloody cold to go anywhere. You see? I'm saying bloody already!
My german roomie Lisa was dying to go out last night but once 9 PM hit, I was out like a light. I couldnt be bothered to go partying in the city or anywhere else for that matter. She started crying because she was homesick so I comforted her and she complained about the lack of internet in the house and the fact that there was no heat. My heart goes out to her because she did not know what she was getting herself into when she met the Waks boys.
Grocery shopping was an interesting experience. People apparently like Americans here and I've struck up conversations with cool people. After my run this morning I walked up and down Chapel street searching for a yoga studio but still have not found one. I did find a club that was still blasting music and very drunk/stoned/high people were spilling out into the weak morning sun (this is about 10 AM, mind you).
Michael the bouncer told me that the party started at 11 last night and would continue until 10 PM tonight. He was also more than excited to hear that I was from NY and wanted to buy me drinks because of my nationality. Sorry buddy, not in my sneakers and North Face zip up (which thank G-d I have here otherwise I would not be running).
I had a nightmare last night and I woke up homesick for familiarity. As much as I am loving this new experience I miss my friends and the comforts of my patterns. Interesting because I have not changed so much since I am here. Nick, the death metal listener roomie opened up to me last night and told me a bit about himself. As unhappy as people are here, they still maintain a level of ease and relaxed temperament.
I started thinking this morning that with all the pot and booze that happens in the sharehouse, it is not a good environment for me. I believe that I shall start looking for other accomodations shortly. I cannot afford to fall back into the lifestyle that brought me no satisfaction. And although my heart is full of love for everyone here and my attitude is one of surrender and acceptance, I know that I have not felt any spirituality here which is someting my very body is asking for.
The running, the yoga, the meditation....I know none of this will help until I set up a spiritual community for myself.
Well, I am starving so I think it's time to head back to the crackhead sharehouse. My quest for a yoga studio will continue this week (as I only work from 4-8) and I'm excited to see what will unfold next....
Loving you and missing you.
Mwah.
Yesterday I woke up early and went on a quest to find the beach. Unfortunately after 30 min of running I still could not find it so I settled for the river I came across. The houses here are popping up like crazy and they are all modern style, straight lines and big windows.
I ended up spending most of the day snuggling on the couch watching Australian TV and reading the paper because it was too bloody cold to go anywhere. You see? I'm saying bloody already!
My german roomie Lisa was dying to go out last night but once 9 PM hit, I was out like a light. I couldnt be bothered to go partying in the city or anywhere else for that matter. She started crying because she was homesick so I comforted her and she complained about the lack of internet in the house and the fact that there was no heat. My heart goes out to her because she did not know what she was getting herself into when she met the Waks boys.
Grocery shopping was an interesting experience. People apparently like Americans here and I've struck up conversations with cool people. After my run this morning I walked up and down Chapel street searching for a yoga studio but still have not found one. I did find a club that was still blasting music and very drunk/stoned/high people were spilling out into the weak morning sun (this is about 10 AM, mind you).
Michael the bouncer told me that the party started at 11 last night and would continue until 10 PM tonight. He was also more than excited to hear that I was from NY and wanted to buy me drinks because of my nationality. Sorry buddy, not in my sneakers and North Face zip up (which thank G-d I have here otherwise I would not be running).
I had a nightmare last night and I woke up homesick for familiarity. As much as I am loving this new experience I miss my friends and the comforts of my patterns. Interesting because I have not changed so much since I am here. Nick, the death metal listener roomie opened up to me last night and told me a bit about himself. As unhappy as people are here, they still maintain a level of ease and relaxed temperament.
I started thinking this morning that with all the pot and booze that happens in the sharehouse, it is not a good environment for me. I believe that I shall start looking for other accomodations shortly. I cannot afford to fall back into the lifestyle that brought me no satisfaction. And although my heart is full of love for everyone here and my attitude is one of surrender and acceptance, I know that I have not felt any spirituality here which is someting my very body is asking for.
The running, the yoga, the meditation....I know none of this will help until I set up a spiritual community for myself.
Well, I am starving so I think it's time to head back to the crackhead sharehouse. My quest for a yoga studio will continue this week (as I only work from 4-8) and I'm excited to see what will unfold next....
Loving you and missing you.
Mwah.
Friday, August 1, 2008
(1) Day Two: Learning to Sharehouse
After arriving from a two day flight from NY to LA to Sydney and then finally to Melbourne I arrived at what Australians call a "Sharehouse". I am sharing a room with my sisters 18 year old brother in law (don't ask) and it's a crumbling old house with no heating. I am adjusting to the fact that it's August and my bones are freezing and with a wind chill, it's about 48 degrees Fahrenheit.
I am not complaining though. I met my new housemates and they are certainly interesting....C is 19 and one of those Israeli/Australian slick salesman types) I found him cleaning the house early this morning in his thermals (tight little leggings), Nick is a fan of death metal which usually is blasting in his room during calm evening hours - he works in IT, Lisa is a cute German girl who is studying bio-technology. After sharing a bottle of wine with her, I have all the 411 on her 'suess' (cute) boyfriend back home in Hockenheim.
Schneur is the man in question. He is supposedly the man of the house but has been in Sydney for the week so I have no met him yet.
Lisa and I did some food shopping yesterday so thank G-d I am still on a food schedule - don't worry Sosh!
Last night was an incredible first night. After the wine with Lisa, the boys came home and brought two interesting Aussies with them. We were so cold that we were practically immobile under blankets in the living room, staring longingly at the dead fireplace. Frank, oh Frank the big gym/manly man starting cutting wood and built a beautiful fire.
The boys went out to smoke a J (congratulate me I did NOT join!!!) and I started showing Lisa the yoga moves in front of the fireplace. It was such a nice evening of getting to know new people and a cozy fire makes everything (and everyone) so much warmer.
Today we had breakfast and then off to an interview. The owner of the company is a relaxed black Australian (have not seen to many of them btw) and hired me on the spot being that this was a mortgage brokerage company and of course I know that business.
Australia is so hard to describe. The women are so natural....minimal make up and I have not seen a nice pair of shoes yet (although I have not ventured into the heart of the city yet). We live a few tram stops from Chapel Street which is the Aussie version of Fifth Ave in Park Slope. The boutiques there are filled with Italian leather boots and shirts that cost more than rent.
Cafes litter every block and you will never guess what is on every single street! Yes, there is a SLURPEE ON EVERY BLOCK. There are more 7-11's here than McDonalds....it's crazy! I swear I have never been more excited when I saw this. I even bravely bought a slurpee with the wind chilling my bones.
Anyway, time to sign off, more later.......loving you and missing you....
MWAH.
I am not complaining though. I met my new housemates and they are certainly interesting....C is 19 and one of those Israeli/Australian slick salesman types) I found him cleaning the house early this morning in his thermals (tight little leggings), Nick is a fan of death metal which usually is blasting in his room during calm evening hours - he works in IT, Lisa is a cute German girl who is studying bio-technology. After sharing a bottle of wine with her, I have all the 411 on her 'suess' (cute) boyfriend back home in Hockenheim.
Schneur is the man in question. He is supposedly the man of the house but has been in Sydney for the week so I have no met him yet.
Lisa and I did some food shopping yesterday so thank G-d I am still on a food schedule - don't worry Sosh!
Last night was an incredible first night. After the wine with Lisa, the boys came home and brought two interesting Aussies with them. We were so cold that we were practically immobile under blankets in the living room, staring longingly at the dead fireplace. Frank, oh Frank the big gym/manly man starting cutting wood and built a beautiful fire.
The boys went out to smoke a J (congratulate me I did NOT join!!!) and I started showing Lisa the yoga moves in front of the fireplace. It was such a nice evening of getting to know new people and a cozy fire makes everything (and everyone) so much warmer.
Today we had breakfast and then off to an interview. The owner of the company is a relaxed black Australian (have not seen to many of them btw) and hired me on the spot being that this was a mortgage brokerage company and of course I know that business.
Australia is so hard to describe. The women are so natural....minimal make up and I have not seen a nice pair of shoes yet (although I have not ventured into the heart of the city yet). We live a few tram stops from Chapel Street which is the Aussie version of Fifth Ave in Park Slope. The boutiques there are filled with Italian leather boots and shirts that cost more than rent.
Cafes litter every block and you will never guess what is on every single street! Yes, there is a SLURPEE ON EVERY BLOCK. There are more 7-11's here than McDonalds....it's crazy! I swear I have never been more excited when I saw this. I even bravely bought a slurpee with the wind chilling my bones.
Anyway, time to sign off, more later.......loving you and missing you....
MWAH.
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