Getting settled into a new home… what fun. Actually, truth is, it has been. Most of the time this many changes at once sucks. I have the good fortune of living with a good group of people I actually feel at home with. The whole having brothers thing is still taking a bit more adjustment than anything else in my only child mind, but I’m getting it.
I miss the ocean. Not going to lie about that one. Although I’d go for days and even a couple weeks without going to the beach at home, it is nice knowing I have the option to. I have chosen to harness my energy of missing the ocean, as inspiration to train harder, to accelerate my joining the Navy process, so that I never stray too far away from a large body of water (unless by some misfortune I get stationed at China Lake in the middle of the California Desert)
The boys have finished school this week. I have gotten use to my new surroundings. I hate the circular design city. I’m getting it. I think I know how to find my way home now if I was randomly dumped anywhere in town (in theory). Slightly worried if I tell that to Paul he may actually blindfold me and test me on that.
Besides the being totally inland thing, Leeton seems like quite a nice place. I have to actually start working this week. Money doesn’t grow on trees down here either. My first week here was good though. A couple minor setbacks here and there, but such is life. Thank God for Skype though.
Orientation week down... another 5 months to go :)
Monday, December 14, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Australia: El Segundo y Tercero Dias
Amo ha este hostal. Amo ha este pais. Amo la globalización. Absolutamente NO amo los francés.
Otra buen fiesta en el hostal el jueves. Mi favorito britanico negro (Doug) tocaba la guitarra mientras todos hablaron y tomando vino. Era buen tiempo, hasta que un franco vino. Comenzó a trabajar en la mujer que yo estava hablando con, y con su acento, el gano.
Kai (mi nuevo amigo coreano) y yo fuimos a la playa de Manly adonde yo ensenie el arte de sorfeo de cuerpo. Era muy divertido hasta que yo lo necesitaba rescatar de la aqua. Pero el recupero y tenimos un buen tiempo otra vez. Pizza, cerveza (que, no me gusta mucho, pero Kai lo compro y no queria ser ingrato), nuevo amigo, mujeres en bikinis, y sorfeo en un playa bonito, se hace mejor de eso? No creo que si.
Despues de la playa, Kai y yo caminamos al hostal, cambiamos, y fuimos al restorante de mis amigos de Iraq. Cenamos y hablamos con Masar y su primo Tony. Despues de comer, regresamos al hostal donde yo estava despierto todo la noche hablando con los otros, y, los francés regresaron y robadon todos las mujeres otra vez. Tuve un hora de sueño.
Paul y Jan llegaron a las ocho y medio in la mañana. Mi vida con mi familia Australiana comenzó oficialmente. Suvimos en el auto y yo dije adios a Kai. El es un gran amigo, el se levanto a decir adios y espero con migo afuera. La familia y yo nos fuimos adonde los 2000 Juegos Olímpicos estuvieron para un carrera y un concierto con el banda musical favorito de Paul. Paul era en el ultimo concierto del grupo hace mas que 25 años. Era un dia muy divertido.
Yo senti immediatamente que esto va ser un buen 6 meses. Me siento como un miembro de la familia. Paul y yo tenemos el mismo humor. Los gemelos, Jan, y yo me caigan bien. Y Adam (el chiquito) es un buen compañero (como mi Sancho Panza).
6 meses de esto, si, yo puedo a ser esto. Lo que me precupa es… ellos si pueden?
Otra buen fiesta en el hostal el jueves. Mi favorito britanico negro (Doug) tocaba la guitarra mientras todos hablaron y tomando vino. Era buen tiempo, hasta que un franco vino. Comenzó a trabajar en la mujer que yo estava hablando con, y con su acento, el gano.
Kai (mi nuevo amigo coreano) y yo fuimos a la playa de Manly adonde yo ensenie el arte de sorfeo de cuerpo. Era muy divertido hasta que yo lo necesitaba rescatar de la aqua. Pero el recupero y tenimos un buen tiempo otra vez. Pizza, cerveza (que, no me gusta mucho, pero Kai lo compro y no queria ser ingrato), nuevo amigo, mujeres en bikinis, y sorfeo en un playa bonito, se hace mejor de eso? No creo que si.
Despues de la playa, Kai y yo caminamos al hostal, cambiamos, y fuimos al restorante de mis amigos de Iraq. Cenamos y hablamos con Masar y su primo Tony. Despues de comer, regresamos al hostal donde yo estava despierto todo la noche hablando con los otros, y, los francés regresaron y robadon todos las mujeres otra vez. Tuve un hora de sueño.
Paul y Jan llegaron a las ocho y medio in la mañana. Mi vida con mi familia Australiana comenzó oficialmente. Suvimos en el auto y yo dije adios a Kai. El es un gran amigo, el se levanto a decir adios y espero con migo afuera. La familia y yo nos fuimos adonde los 2000 Juegos Olímpicos estuvieron para un carrera y un concierto con el banda musical favorito de Paul. Paul era en el ultimo concierto del grupo hace mas que 25 años. Era un dia muy divertido.
Yo senti immediatamente que esto va ser un buen 6 meses. Me siento como un miembro de la familia. Paul y yo tenemos el mismo humor. Los gemelos, Jan, y yo me caigan bien. Y Adam (el chiquito) es un buen compañero (como mi Sancho Panza).
6 meses de esto, si, yo puedo a ser esto. Lo que me precupa es… ellos si pueden?
Australia: the second and third days
I love this hostel. I love this country. I love globalism. I don’t love the French.
So, another great party at the Pink House Thursday night, I use the term party loosely, it’s more like, everyone from the hostel just hangs out with each other with my favorite black Brit (Doug) playing guitar and everyone talking and drinking and such, but, still good times. Good times until the French arrive that is. Start working on a girl, then a frog shows up, and of course, damn accent wins.
Anyway… Kai (my new Korean friend) and I went to Manly beach, where I taught him the art of body surfing, it was great fun till I had to save him from drowning, but, he recovered, and then it was great fun again. Pizza, beer, new friends, women in bikinis, and body surfing at a beautiful beach on a great day… does it get any better than that? I don’t think so.
After Manly, Kai and I walked back to the hostel, hung out, went back to the Iraqi place, had dinner and hung out with Masar and Tony. Went to buy some drinks, went back to the hostel where I stayed up all night conversing and drinking with the others. And of course, getting “cockblocked” by the French. Ended up with an hour of sleep before…
Paul and Jan showed up at 8:30ish in the morning. My life with my new family officially started. We all hopped in, said bye to Kai. Kai is such an awesome friend he actually woke up early and stayed outside on the corner waiting with me even though he should have been asleep for how late he stayed up. We then wandered through town to the site of the 2000 Olympic games for the Sydney 500 and a concert featuring Paul’s favorite band, “Cold Chisel”. Paul was at their last concert 25 years ago. Much fun was had by all that day, especially with the enjoying of all the scenery.
I immediately felt like this is going to be a great 6 months. I feel like I fit well in the family for the most part, besides being a “damn Yankee” as they so lovingly refer to me. Paul and I seem to both have the same sick sense of humor. The twins, Jan, and I get along well. And Adam makes for quite an excellent side kick (most of the time).
Six months of this… ya… I’m pretty sure I can handle it. The thing that does worry and concern me… can they handle it?
So, another great party at the Pink House Thursday night, I use the term party loosely, it’s more like, everyone from the hostel just hangs out with each other with my favorite black Brit (Doug) playing guitar and everyone talking and drinking and such, but, still good times. Good times until the French arrive that is. Start working on a girl, then a frog shows up, and of course, damn accent wins.
Anyway… Kai (my new Korean friend) and I went to Manly beach, where I taught him the art of body surfing, it was great fun till I had to save him from drowning, but, he recovered, and then it was great fun again. Pizza, beer, new friends, women in bikinis, and body surfing at a beautiful beach on a great day… does it get any better than that? I don’t think so.
After Manly, Kai and I walked back to the hostel, hung out, went back to the Iraqi place, had dinner and hung out with Masar and Tony. Went to buy some drinks, went back to the hostel where I stayed up all night conversing and drinking with the others. And of course, getting “cockblocked” by the French. Ended up with an hour of sleep before…
Paul and Jan showed up at 8:30ish in the morning. My life with my new family officially started. We all hopped in, said bye to Kai. Kai is such an awesome friend he actually woke up early and stayed outside on the corner waiting with me even though he should have been asleep for how late he stayed up. We then wandered through town to the site of the 2000 Olympic games for the Sydney 500 and a concert featuring Paul’s favorite band, “Cold Chisel”. Paul was at their last concert 25 years ago. Much fun was had by all that day, especially with the enjoying of all the scenery.
I immediately felt like this is going to be a great 6 months. I feel like I fit well in the family for the most part, besides being a “damn Yankee” as they so lovingly refer to me. Paul and I seem to both have the same sick sense of humor. The twins, Jan, and I get along well. And Adam makes for quite an excellent side kick (most of the time).
Six months of this… ya… I’m pretty sure I can handle it. The thing that does worry and concern me… can they handle it?
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Australia: La Primera Dia
Las bella asistentes de vuelo chinas no eran en mi vuelo. Eso no era el uniqo cosa mal que paso. El avion tomo un hora mas a irse de Los Angeles, entonces casi no tenia tiempo en Fiji. Y necesito acordar a traer agua con migo cuando regreso. Es como si me querían deshidrar me.
¡PERO ENTONCES!
Llegué en Sydney
Hice un nuevo amigo en el aeropuerto que se llama Kai. Un amable/confuso coreano que era casi el mismo edad que yo. Estavamos esperando el mismo autobus. Y, porque yo soy tan sociable, yo comenze hablar con el. Kai fe al mismo hostal donde yo me iva. Un hostal que se llama el “Pink House” (casa rosa) en el parte de la ciudad que se llama “King’s Cross” (Cruz del Rey). El ha estado viviendo en el Costa de Oro (el norte este parte de Australia) por los ultimos 6 meses y nunca ha ido a Sydney. Y porque el nunca a estado aqui, y porque yo iba a ser solo para dos dias, hemos decidido que exploramos el ciudad juntos.
Sorprendí a mis dos amigos iraquí porque no les dije que yo iva a regresar a Sydney, y entonces fui a comer en su restorante. Despues de eso Kai y yo fuimos a la playa de Bondi para divertirnos en el sol. El ultimo vez que yo estava en Australia, mi amigo Andrew y yo miramos a Bondi, pero era en el invierno y en la noche. Pero como es el medio de verano, y en la tarde, hay un poquito de differencia en quanta gente estan aqui.
Ahora es tiempo para este Americano y su amigo coreano a comer mas comida italiana, en Australia, realizdo por iraquíes, no es gran la globalización. Despues un fiesta en el hostal con unos británicos, chinas, fances, y quién save quién mas.
¡PERO ENTONCES!
Llegué en Sydney
Hice un nuevo amigo en el aeropuerto que se llama Kai. Un amable/confuso coreano que era casi el mismo edad que yo. Estavamos esperando el mismo autobus. Y, porque yo soy tan sociable, yo comenze hablar con el. Kai fe al mismo hostal donde yo me iva. Un hostal que se llama el “Pink House” (casa rosa) en el parte de la ciudad que se llama “King’s Cross” (Cruz del Rey). El ha estado viviendo en el Costa de Oro (el norte este parte de Australia) por los ultimos 6 meses y nunca ha ido a Sydney. Y porque el nunca a estado aqui, y porque yo iba a ser solo para dos dias, hemos decidido que exploramos el ciudad juntos.
Sorprendí a mis dos amigos iraquí porque no les dije que yo iva a regresar a Sydney, y entonces fui a comer en su restorante. Despues de eso Kai y yo fuimos a la playa de Bondi para divertirnos en el sol. El ultimo vez que yo estava en Australia, mi amigo Andrew y yo miramos a Bondi, pero era en el invierno y en la noche. Pero como es el medio de verano, y en la tarde, hay un poquito de differencia en quanta gente estan aqui.
Ahora es tiempo para este Americano y su amigo coreano a comer mas comida italiana, en Australia, realizdo por iraquíes, no es gran la globalización. Despues un fiesta en el hostal con unos británicos, chinas, fances, y quién save quién mas.
Australia: the first day
The hott Asian plane stewardesses were not on my flight. Not the only disappointment in my travels. The plane was an hour or so late from leaving Los Angeles therefore cutting my Fiji time :(. I have to remember to smuggle water on the plane with me going home, they wanted to dehydrate me.
BUT THEN!!!
I landed in Sydney :)
I made a new friend at the airport named “Kai”. A friendly/confused looking Korean guy about my age. We happened to be waiting for the same shuttle. Being the social fellow that I am, I sparked up a conversation. Kai ended up going to the same hostel as me (the Pink House in King’s Cross). He has been living on the Gold Coast for the last 6 months and had never been to Sydney. Him being new to the city, and me being all alone for two days, we decided to hang out and explore the sights together.
I surprised one of my two Iraqi friends, who I didn’t tell I was coming back, when I showed up for lunch at his place. Then went to one of the worlds sexiest beaches for some fun in the sun. I had been to Bondi Beach the last time I was here, but only at night, and in the winter. Needles to say, this being summer time, there was plenty of scenery at Bondi in the middle of the day.
Now, it is time for more Italian food, in Australia, from my favorite Iraqi (isn’t globalism great). Then there is partying in the hostel later.
BUT THEN!!!
I landed in Sydney :)
I made a new friend at the airport named “Kai”. A friendly/confused looking Korean guy about my age. We happened to be waiting for the same shuttle. Being the social fellow that I am, I sparked up a conversation. Kai ended up going to the same hostel as me (the Pink House in King’s Cross). He has been living on the Gold Coast for the last 6 months and had never been to Sydney. Him being new to the city, and me being all alone for two days, we decided to hang out and explore the sights together.
I surprised one of my two Iraqi friends, who I didn’t tell I was coming back, when I showed up for lunch at his place. Then went to one of the worlds sexiest beaches for some fun in the sun. I had been to Bondi Beach the last time I was here, but only at night, and in the winter. Needles to say, this being summer time, there was plenty of scenery at Bondi in the middle of the day.
Now, it is time for more Italian food, in Australia, from my favorite Iraqi (isn’t globalism great). Then there is partying in the hostel later.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Un Nuevo Adventura
Déjà me empezar con diciendo, aparentemente, yo no puedo ser ese prometo que “yo voy escribir el proximo semana”, porque el ultimo blog se ase mas que dos meses. Mej, asi es la vida.
Pero si tengo una buen excusa; yo avia todo atareado en los ultimos semanas. El razon: yo temporalmente estoy moviendo a Australia. Un monton de mis amigos y mi familia a no pueden mira la logica de este decision, entonces, déjà me explicar para que todos lo pueden entender y no voy a tener necesidad a repetir lo una y otra vez.
La estoria desde el principio: yo siempre a querido estar en el Navy de los Estados Unidos. El plan era que despues de escuela, yo iva ir al collegio para que puedo entrar como un official. Pues… “distracciones” entradon y salieron de mi vida, y ahora, tomo 4 anos a recibir un degree de 2 años. En este mismo tiempo, la mayoria de mi clase secundaria se han graduado del collegio. Yo debo ser el Presidente de los Estados un dia, pero… estoy detras? Y lo que hace las cosas peor, yo me deje ser gordo. En la escuela secundaria yo era TAN guapo, pero en el collegio, me puse 23 kilogramos. Ya tome el ASVAB (el examen para entrar al militaria de los Estados Unidos) y recibi un 96 de 99. Eso me qulifica para todos los trabajos en la militaria. Pero yo no soy contento con mi peso, mi reclutador absolutamente no esta content con me peso. Eso kilogramas adicional (de amor recuerdate) son el unico cosa que esta en medio de yo y el Navy y el resto de mi vida.
Ahora, el resto del estoria: uno de mis mejor amigos (Se llama Andrew por el futuro porque voy hablar de el mucho) y yo fuimos a Australia en junio. Andrew es parte Australiano, y entonces, cedamos en Sydney para casi un semana, entonces visitamos a unos de sus tias por unos dias, y los otros miembros de su familia por unos dias mas. Dos dias en Melbourne para mirar un juego de futbol entre Japon y Australia para la Mundial, regresamos a Sydney y entonces a los Estados. La segunda grupo de familia que visitamos… que divertido. A mi me gusta estar allí. Andrew y yo visitamos la granja de trigo que tienen la familia. Aquí es donde yo recibi la opportunidad a manejar el tractor y sembrar la semilla. Paul (el padre de la familia) dijo que yo me puedia quedar me y trabajar en la granja.
Andrew y yo regresamos a los Estados Unidos. Un mal cosa paso despues del otra despues que regrese. Era un verano como Job para mi. Un dia, Andrew y yo estavamos mirando la pelicula Rocky IV y yo dije “¡ESO ES! ¡Eso es que yo necesito Andrew!”
“¿Que es eso? ¿A ser batido de un ruso?
“No no no… un cambio de paisaje, un nuevo culturo, un ambiente completamente differente para entrenar y madurar”
“Oh… si, eso es mucho mejor que ser batido de un ruso”
“¿Crees tu que Paul y Jan eran serio cuando dijeron que nosotros puedemos a quedar y trabajar con ellos?”
“Yo no se. Si son divertidos, pero, tal vez solo estavan diciendo eso. Lo debes de mandarle un correo electronic y preguntarle.”
Y como si lo a planiado, Jan (la madre de la familia) estava enlinia en este momento exactamente. Entonces, la pregunte, y el respuesto…
“¡Claro que si!”
Los planes empesaron. Yo recibi mi visa para trabajar en Australia y mire para trabajo para comprar mi boleto.
Ahora, el momento esta aqui. Estoy sentando en el internacional terminal de LAX esperando para mi vuelo. Espero que ese grupo de auxiliaresde vuelo femenino estan en mi avión. Estoy mirando todos los fotos de California en el aeropuerto. Mientras que me siento aqui solo, me recuerdo de un pelicula que se llama “Dogma”. Ben Affleck y Matt Damon son dos angeles que caieron del Cielo y estan mirando a gente en el aeropuerto y escuchando los pensamientos y saven las estorias de los gente. La gente no solo son numeros, o solo otra pasajeros tomando espacio y aire. Son gente, con vidas, familias, con estorias a decir, y disfortunamente en unos casos con olor tambien.
Todo esto me hace pensar en mi vida, mi family, y mi estoria (y olor, eso seria mis pies? No… debe de ser ese hombre tres ascientos a la izquierda… debe de ser) yo si estoy emocionado de mover. Yo ha estado listando para tres meses. Ahora el tiempo esta aqui, y miro los fotos de California, y estoy pensando en todo que sacrificio para luchar a mis objectivos. Probablemente yo estaria como esto hasta que me duermo un poquito en el avion y llego en Fiji para esos quatro horas. Seguro que en ese momento solo voy a estar pensando “¡Quatro horas en FIJI!” y seria feliz. Pero hasta ese momento, mientras que yo estoy en Los Angeles, y mi telefono trabaja, yo estaria pensando en mis amigos y familia y la bonita Costa Central que dejo atrás (y tambien ese grupo de auxiliaresde vuelo femenino).
Pero si tengo una buen excusa; yo avia todo atareado en los ultimos semanas. El razon: yo temporalmente estoy moviendo a Australia. Un monton de mis amigos y mi familia a no pueden mira la logica de este decision, entonces, déjà me explicar para que todos lo pueden entender y no voy a tener necesidad a repetir lo una y otra vez.
La estoria desde el principio: yo siempre a querido estar en el Navy de los Estados Unidos. El plan era que despues de escuela, yo iva ir al collegio para que puedo entrar como un official. Pues… “distracciones” entradon y salieron de mi vida, y ahora, tomo 4 anos a recibir un degree de 2 años. En este mismo tiempo, la mayoria de mi clase secundaria se han graduado del collegio. Yo debo ser el Presidente de los Estados un dia, pero… estoy detras? Y lo que hace las cosas peor, yo me deje ser gordo. En la escuela secundaria yo era TAN guapo, pero en el collegio, me puse 23 kilogramos. Ya tome el ASVAB (el examen para entrar al militaria de los Estados Unidos) y recibi un 96 de 99. Eso me qulifica para todos los trabajos en la militaria. Pero yo no soy contento con mi peso, mi reclutador absolutamente no esta content con me peso. Eso kilogramas adicional (de amor recuerdate) son el unico cosa que esta en medio de yo y el Navy y el resto de mi vida.
Ahora, el resto del estoria: uno de mis mejor amigos (Se llama Andrew por el futuro porque voy hablar de el mucho) y yo fuimos a Australia en junio. Andrew es parte Australiano, y entonces, cedamos en Sydney para casi un semana, entonces visitamos a unos de sus tias por unos dias, y los otros miembros de su familia por unos dias mas. Dos dias en Melbourne para mirar un juego de futbol entre Japon y Australia para la Mundial, regresamos a Sydney y entonces a los Estados. La segunda grupo de familia que visitamos… que divertido. A mi me gusta estar allí. Andrew y yo visitamos la granja de trigo que tienen la familia. Aquí es donde yo recibi la opportunidad a manejar el tractor y sembrar la semilla. Paul (el padre de la familia) dijo que yo me puedia quedar me y trabajar en la granja.
Andrew y yo regresamos a los Estados Unidos. Un mal cosa paso despues del otra despues que regrese. Era un verano como Job para mi. Un dia, Andrew y yo estavamos mirando la pelicula Rocky IV y yo dije “¡ESO ES! ¡Eso es que yo necesito Andrew!”
“¿Que es eso? ¿A ser batido de un ruso?
“No no no… un cambio de paisaje, un nuevo culturo, un ambiente completamente differente para entrenar y madurar”
“Oh… si, eso es mucho mejor que ser batido de un ruso”
“¿Crees tu que Paul y Jan eran serio cuando dijeron que nosotros puedemos a quedar y trabajar con ellos?”
“Yo no se. Si son divertidos, pero, tal vez solo estavan diciendo eso. Lo debes de mandarle un correo electronic y preguntarle.”
Y como si lo a planiado, Jan (la madre de la familia) estava enlinia en este momento exactamente. Entonces, la pregunte, y el respuesto…
“¡Claro que si!”
Los planes empesaron. Yo recibi mi visa para trabajar en Australia y mire para trabajo para comprar mi boleto.
Ahora, el momento esta aqui. Estoy sentando en el internacional terminal de LAX esperando para mi vuelo. Espero que ese grupo de auxiliaresde vuelo femenino estan en mi avión. Estoy mirando todos los fotos de California en el aeropuerto. Mientras que me siento aqui solo, me recuerdo de un pelicula que se llama “Dogma”. Ben Affleck y Matt Damon son dos angeles que caieron del Cielo y estan mirando a gente en el aeropuerto y escuchando los pensamientos y saven las estorias de los gente. La gente no solo son numeros, o solo otra pasajeros tomando espacio y aire. Son gente, con vidas, familias, con estorias a decir, y disfortunamente en unos casos con olor tambien.
Todo esto me hace pensar en mi vida, mi family, y mi estoria (y olor, eso seria mis pies? No… debe de ser ese hombre tres ascientos a la izquierda… debe de ser) yo si estoy emocionado de mover. Yo ha estado listando para tres meses. Ahora el tiempo esta aqui, y miro los fotos de California, y estoy pensando en todo que sacrificio para luchar a mis objectivos. Probablemente yo estaria como esto hasta que me duermo un poquito en el avion y llego en Fiji para esos quatro horas. Seguro que en ese momento solo voy a estar pensando “¡Quatro horas en FIJI!” y seria feliz. Pero hasta ese momento, mientras que yo estoy en Los Angeles, y mi telefono trabaja, yo estaria pensando en mis amigos y familia y la bonita Costa Central que dejo atrás (y tambien ese grupo de auxiliaresde vuelo femenino).
A New Adventure
Let me begin by saying… apparently I suck at keeping that blog promise of “I’ll write next week” seeing as that was two and a half months ago… se la vie.
I do have a fairly legit excuse; I have in fact been all kinds of crazy busy lately. Reason for this: I’m temporarily moving to Australia. A lot of my friends and family question the logic behind this decision, so, allow me to explain once and for all on public record, so that I do not have to constantly repeat myself over and over again.
Way Back Story: I have always wanted to be in the United States Navy. The plan was, after high school, I’d get my bachelors and go in as an officer. Well, “distractions” came and went in my life, and so, it has taken me 4 years to get a 2 year degree. In this same time span, most the rest of my graduating class has now graduated college. I am supposed to be President someday, and yet… I’m behind? To make things worse, as though I did not just suck at school, I kinda sorta in a way let myself go a bit. May the record state: in high school, I was a sexy beast. I however ended up gaining the freshman fifty in college. I already took the ASVAB (Military entrance exam) and received a 96, qualifying me for any job in the military, but, I’m not happy with my size, nor is my recruiter for that matter. Those extra pounds (of love mind you) are all that stand in between me and enlisting and starting the rest of my life.
More recent back story: one of my best friends (Andrew – who I will refer to often for future reference) and I went to Australia in June. Andrew is half Aussie, and so, we stayed in Sydney for almost a week, then visited one branch of family for a few days, and then visited another branch of his family for another few days, two days in Melbourne, then Sydney and back home. Now then, the 2nd branch of family we visited… amazing fun. I loved them, they loved me. Andrew and I visited the family wheat farm. This is where I (the nearly city boy if it wasn’t for my Boy Scout experience) got to drive the tractor and sow some seed in preparation of the harvest. Paul (the father of the family) made a comment that I could just not go home, stay, and work on the farm.
Andrew and I get home. One crappy thing after another seems to happen to me after getting home. It was a Job like summer for me. Then, one day, Andrew and I were watching Rocky IV and I yelled out “THAT’S IT! That’s what I need Andrew!”
“What? To get your ass kicked by a Russian?”
“No no no… a change of scenery, a culture shock, a whole new environment to train and mature”
“Oh… ya that does make a lot more sense then wanting to get beat up by a Russian”
“Do you think Paul and Jan where serious when they said we should stay and work the farm?”
“I don’t know dude, they are cool, but they might have just been saying that, email them and ask”
As though planned, Jan (the mother of the family) happen to be online at this exact moment, and so, the question was asked, and the response
“Of course!”
Plans then went into motion, and snowballed from there. I got my “Australian Working Holiday” Visa and began working any job I could for any amount of money to save up for the ticket.
Now, the moment is here, I am sitting in the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX waiting to board my flight. Hoping that the really beautiful set of female flight attendants is going to my plane. And looking at all the Los Angeles, California propaganda scattered throughout the airport. As I sit here by my lonesome watching planes take off and land. I’m reminded of one of the opening scenes in the movie Dogma where Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are playing the role of two fallen angels people watching in an airport and listening on their thoughts, and looking around and knowing there story. They aren’t just numbers, or simply other passengers taking up air. They are people, with lives, families, stories to tell, and unfortunately in some cases with smell.
Also forces me to think of my own life, family, and story, (and smell, is that my feet? No… It’s gotta be the guy 3 seats over, has to be…) I am really Uber-excited about this move. I have been building up for it for the last three months or so. Now that the time is here, and I look at the beautiful pictures of California, I take stock of what I am sacrificing for this gain I hope to achieve Down Under. I will most likely be in this dump attitude until I land in Fiji after having at least a bit of a nap, and realizing… “I have 4 hours in Fiji!” at that point I’m quite sure my attitude will re-focus on the goodness that is to come… but, up until that point, so long as my cell phone still works, I am thinking about the friends and family and beautiful Central Coast that I leave behind (and also that group of female flight attendants, I could lie, but that’s just not my style)
I do have a fairly legit excuse; I have in fact been all kinds of crazy busy lately. Reason for this: I’m temporarily moving to Australia. A lot of my friends and family question the logic behind this decision, so, allow me to explain once and for all on public record, so that I do not have to constantly repeat myself over and over again.
Way Back Story: I have always wanted to be in the United States Navy. The plan was, after high school, I’d get my bachelors and go in as an officer. Well, “distractions” came and went in my life, and so, it has taken me 4 years to get a 2 year degree. In this same time span, most the rest of my graduating class has now graduated college. I am supposed to be President someday, and yet… I’m behind? To make things worse, as though I did not just suck at school, I kinda sorta in a way let myself go a bit. May the record state: in high school, I was a sexy beast. I however ended up gaining the freshman fifty in college. I already took the ASVAB (Military entrance exam) and received a 96, qualifying me for any job in the military, but, I’m not happy with my size, nor is my recruiter for that matter. Those extra pounds (of love mind you) are all that stand in between me and enlisting and starting the rest of my life.
More recent back story: one of my best friends (Andrew – who I will refer to often for future reference) and I went to Australia in June. Andrew is half Aussie, and so, we stayed in Sydney for almost a week, then visited one branch of family for a few days, and then visited another branch of his family for another few days, two days in Melbourne, then Sydney and back home. Now then, the 2nd branch of family we visited… amazing fun. I loved them, they loved me. Andrew and I visited the family wheat farm. This is where I (the nearly city boy if it wasn’t for my Boy Scout experience) got to drive the tractor and sow some seed in preparation of the harvest. Paul (the father of the family) made a comment that I could just not go home, stay, and work on the farm.
Andrew and I get home. One crappy thing after another seems to happen to me after getting home. It was a Job like summer for me. Then, one day, Andrew and I were watching Rocky IV and I yelled out “THAT’S IT! That’s what I need Andrew!”
“What? To get your ass kicked by a Russian?”
“No no no… a change of scenery, a culture shock, a whole new environment to train and mature”
“Oh… ya that does make a lot more sense then wanting to get beat up by a Russian”
“Do you think Paul and Jan where serious when they said we should stay and work the farm?”
“I don’t know dude, they are cool, but they might have just been saying that, email them and ask”
As though planned, Jan (the mother of the family) happen to be online at this exact moment, and so, the question was asked, and the response
“Of course!”
Plans then went into motion, and snowballed from there. I got my “Australian Working Holiday” Visa and began working any job I could for any amount of money to save up for the ticket.
Now, the moment is here, I am sitting in the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX waiting to board my flight. Hoping that the really beautiful set of female flight attendants is going to my plane. And looking at all the Los Angeles, California propaganda scattered throughout the airport. As I sit here by my lonesome watching planes take off and land. I’m reminded of one of the opening scenes in the movie Dogma where Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are playing the role of two fallen angels people watching in an airport and listening on their thoughts, and looking around and knowing there story. They aren’t just numbers, or simply other passengers taking up air. They are people, with lives, families, stories to tell, and unfortunately in some cases with smell.
Also forces me to think of my own life, family, and story, (and smell, is that my feet? No… It’s gotta be the guy 3 seats over, has to be…) I am really Uber-excited about this move. I have been building up for it for the last three months or so. Now that the time is here, and I look at the beautiful pictures of California, I take stock of what I am sacrificing for this gain I hope to achieve Down Under. I will most likely be in this dump attitude until I land in Fiji after having at least a bit of a nap, and realizing… “I have 4 hours in Fiji!” at that point I’m quite sure my attitude will re-focus on the goodness that is to come… but, up until that point, so long as my cell phone still works, I am thinking about the friends and family and beautiful Central Coast that I leave behind (and also that group of female flight attendants, I could lie, but that’s just not my style)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
