Thursday, May 10, 2007
im baaaaaaaaaacckk
hey! ok, well yeah, i guess i dont even have that much to talk about
im taking a break from researching my history paper. its only going to be around 1500 words, but i already have a ridiculous amount of source material. im going to be talking about how australian film may or may not mirror the real experiences of australians at war (read: of course they dont), and how movies like breaker morant and gallipoli are historical fictions rather than true stories, and they were created to deliberately form a national image and identity that australians can rightfully be proud of, instead of the previous stereotype of the drunken, misogynistic, idiot that kinda dominated australian films in the past.
did you know that alot of aus film is controlled by the government, or was at least, and movies like gallipoli and breaker were funded by the government to help clean up the stereotypes? i mean, both films were based on reality as far as the public and directors were concerned, i guess there was just allot of propaganda or something going on during the wars, so the aus troops may actually have been less than pristine, and instead of getting blasted to pieces because england hated them, it might have been because, well, they actually werent very good soldiers ... ouch.
five months ago i would have been outraged by the suggestion, but honestly, from what ive learned these past months ... i wouldnt be surprised. this is a very different country than i thought it was.
please dont get me wrong, i still love it dearly, but there's a fairly entrenched immaturity to the place, and their english roots go far deeper than i realized.
i guess it makes sense. they were founded as a penal colony, sure, but the majority of the migrants i guess seriously considered themselves as going to a british colony. they wanted to be attached to england, they fought in multiple wars for england, only because of england.
it wasnt until the 80s that they got their own national anthem for petes sake. most still like thier archaic allegiance to the queen. they WANT TO BE BRIT BABIES!
i guess i always thought of australia as a different sort of US, common bond being, both were attempted british colonies, but by gum, we got our way and look at us now! brit free and loving it!
not so much.
they're brats about immigration, had a white australia policy that completely persecuted any non-glowing white ethnicity until the SEVENTIES (like, even greeks and italians. if you werent anglo-australian, you were no good), and so so much of their culture reeks of "previously owned british colony"
we were talking about this in class actually, the problems aus has with racism and immigration, and my prof asked the abroad students if we thought it was much different than the US, or was it about the same
i ended up throwing in my two cents, and everyone agreed with me, and the australian students were slightly offended i think. it was something like
"well, actually, while there definitely are racial problems in the states, the whole immigration thing i dont really get here, and i have to admit, its emphasized for me the differences between the US and AUS that i didnt really appreciate before coming here. i guess its just that AUS clung to the idea of being a british colony for so long, and valued that mentality, and its only been in the last 30 years or so that you've started to break away. meanwhile, the US decided that it wanted to distinctly separate herself from england pretty much off the bat, and embraced a truly "melting pot" mentality to immigration ... i mean, we wanted to form a country where anyone, no matter what, could come and make a life for themselves. of course we've had our problems, and our hypocrisies, but at least thats what the ideal always was. we want and from our founding documents embrace diversity ... australia ... not so much"
but yeah, its true.
now im getting all goosebumpy and bright eyed thinking of the statue of liberty.
good grief im a basket case sometimes.
cos i guess that means allot to me. i mean, yeah, you can have the movies or books or cnn exposes on how racist and bad and hypocritical we are, showing the statue and monuments and whatnot to show how everything is for show, and make sure we all pick up on the cynicism, and yeah, sometimes the hypocrisy gets to me. but i guess the point is, at least we have an ideal, and all of us in our own way are striving for it. australia is still trying to figure out their ideal for themselves, and they arent doing the best job of it.
sorry, im being very abstract and vague. these are just thoughts that've been puttering around my head for a while.
ANYWAYS the reason you should be excited that im researching my paper NOW is because its not due for another week, and in estherland thats unheard of! of course, it wouldnt be happening if i didnt have TWO 2500word papers due the monday after this one, but still, im proud of me.
um ... you probably got the mesg i left on catheines blog, but i got my theatre and cinema paper back and got an HD! i was surprised surprised. followed immediately by wrath, because honestly, our prof lady was telling the class how there were tons of passes and credits because they didnt research enough, or focused too much on one thing and not another, and that there werent very many HDs. of course, i was freaking out, positive i got a pass or credit or something (Ds to low Bs), but i got mine back, did well, and after checking out with everyone else, was relieved because all the notre dame kids got HDs. we ALL get HDs all the time! honestly, if you were to take the top 5, heck 1% of this school, (2500 total), i would place allot of money that all the notre dame kids were in there. and im not trying to be cocky, i swear, its just so aggravating, because the history department hates us SO much, they think we're all slackers and terrible people, and good grief! we are doing phenomenally well here. we take more classes than any of the australians (people take 3 or 4 units at a time here), and we excel. the only class that allot of people arent excelling in so far?
history
the class that only has abroad students in it. i honestly think its because they're trying to make a point about how hard it is to do well here. but thats absurd! we're doing better than all of the australians in our other classes, and i think allot of people would do better in history if we werent being treated so badly by the profs.
well, thats harsh. there is one lady prof whos really awesome, she leads my tutorial, i love her. and she loves us and is super sweet. but everyone else treats us like second graders who have discipline issues.
*rant over*
thats been vexing. but yeah, other than randomly getting really upset about stuff like that, ive been doing great. my other classes are awesome ... well, we'll see how really awesome after i get my poli sci papers back, im extremely nervous about those. i just dont get poltics. arg.
i talked to kate online, she IS going to be at TAC this summer, and i havent confirmed, but im hoping i can stay with her. oh yes, i never got john daley's email, so i havent asked them officially if i can stay yet.
um, what else. works been going OK. i mean, it pays fine, i just get frustrated with how slow moving everyone is. im looking forward to the fish place again =)
i got a hair cut! it was a great experience. the hairdresser lady used to live in wales, moved here two years ago with husband and kids, HATES it, and listening to her rant about all the things that drive her up the wall was cracking me up. basically, fremantle is a fantabulous place to visit, and stay for a time. but i dont think i could do more than a semester. if i were to live here, it would have to be in melbourne or sydney or something like that. i love being able to get away from the city, but deep down, i love being around a big city more. or if i was to live away from the city, i would want to be AWAY. like in the kimberlies ... sigh.
i could live there for a while. they have a grave need for teachers. im looking into things, just a heads up.
yeah, i think thats more it actually. its not that i dont like australia, i just dont think i could handle living in urban WA. but we'll see how the east coast fairs when i visit (!)
aight, i should go watch gallipoli. *sigh* so much work to do, have to go watch mel gibson ... hee hee
but yeah, ill put up pictures when i figure out how (my computer is being retarded at the moment - im in a computer cluster)
love you all, hopefully talk to you soooon
Saturday, April 21, 2007
the bends down under
so after talking to the fam i went back to my cafe with britt to do some poli sci studying
ew
however, walked in and what do you know
fake plastic trees is playing
and they're currently playing all of the bends
i love this place
nothing like radiohead to make foreign policy bearable
question: if you had to summarize what it is to be an american with one piece of music/one song, what would you choose and why?
(ok, they just switched to the shins before bulletproof came on ... oh well, its still quality)
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
its ok!
its ok
its ok
you don’t have to run and hide away
its ok
its ok
you know i love you anyway
it’s ok
it’s ok
this is my chance, this is my life,
this is my hope in an alleyway
this is my chance, this is my voice
there may be no more tomorrow
this my plea
this is my need
and my time of standing free
this is my step
this is my day
and the world is never the same
its ok
its ok
you know i love you anyway
its ok
its ok
you dont have to run and hide away
its ok
its ok
its ok
its ok
oh its ok!
man, im in like the best mood of my life, and i dont know why
in my cafe, listening to PJ tear up "its ok" from the live in NY concert, and its all i can do to keep from jumping up on the table and sing along at the top of my lungs
its just exultant and makes me so so happy =)
miss you all
its ok
you don’t have to run and hide away
its ok
its ok
you know i love you anyway
it’s ok
it’s ok
this is my chance, this is my life,
this is my hope in an alleyway
this is my chance, this is my voice
there may be no more tomorrow
this my plea
this is my need
and my time of standing free
this is my step
this is my day
and the world is never the same
its ok
its ok
you know i love you anyway
its ok
its ok
you dont have to run and hide away
its ok
its ok
its ok
its ok
oh its ok!
man, im in like the best mood of my life, and i dont know why
in my cafe, listening to PJ tear up "its ok" from the live in NY concert, and its all i can do to keep from jumping up on the table and sing along at the top of my lungs
its just exultant and makes me so so happy =)
miss you all
Monday, April 09, 2007
Monday, April 02, 2007
ps
oh yeah, this is hilarious.
last night while trish and i were walking back home from work, all giddy with the wads of cash we were holding, we heard these two deep, obviously male, voices ahead of us (it was dark, couldnt really see at first)
then we see this one guy, all regular, and this preposterously tall leggy blonde walking next to him (just with an awkwardly masculine facial structure)
so yeah, whatever, then the blone is all "hey girls" in this outragously high girly voice (after we'd already heard him/her/whatever talking in the normal male register), and so not gonna lie, i was amused, but you know, whatever, so we were just like "hi" kept walking
then, after they passed us, the blonde called back something, and i heard "hey, you're gorgeous", then 'thighs' and 'huge', so i was like, "dude, what did she just say?" and trish was like "uh, i think 'hey you're gorgeous, your thighs and a**s are huge, but you're gorgeous'"
so i was like .. um, ok ... and we walked in silence for about 15 seconds, then i was like "dude, were we just heckled by a *drag queen*??!" ... "um .. yeah?"
then both of us pretty much collapsed at the same time laughing, it took us all the way back to port lodge to control ourselves.
i have a feeling you wont really get it without me doing the voices, but trust me, it was absolutely hilarious. the sheer absurdity of it all and whatnot. hee hee.
oh australia.
too fun
last night while trish and i were walking back home from work, all giddy with the wads of cash we were holding, we heard these two deep, obviously male, voices ahead of us (it was dark, couldnt really see at first)
then we see this one guy, all regular, and this preposterously tall leggy blonde walking next to him (just with an awkwardly masculine facial structure)
so yeah, whatever, then the blone is all "hey girls" in this outragously high girly voice (after we'd already heard him/her/whatever talking in the normal male register), and so not gonna lie, i was amused, but you know, whatever, so we were just like "hi" kept walking
then, after they passed us, the blonde called back something, and i heard "hey, you're gorgeous", then 'thighs' and 'huge', so i was like, "dude, what did she just say?" and trish was like "uh, i think 'hey you're gorgeous, your thighs and a**s are huge, but you're gorgeous'"
so i was like .. um, ok ... and we walked in silence for about 15 seconds, then i was like "dude, were we just heckled by a *drag queen*??!" ... "um .. yeah?"
then both of us pretty much collapsed at the same time laughing, it took us all the way back to port lodge to control ourselves.
i have a feeling you wont really get it without me doing the voices, but trust me, it was absolutely hilarious. the sheer absurdity of it all and whatnot. hee hee.
oh australia.
too fun
wheeeee!
ok, so (as i made clear yesterday i hope) ive been having a GLORIOUS time and life is good.
first off i got paid, so the stress of wondering if im really just doing slave labor is lifted. plus my boss doesnt seem to care for figuring out exact figures, and thus rounds up like its his job.
im going to get so spoiled so fast its not even funny.
in other news, i discovered the salvation army/good sams/st vincent depauls of frematle. all in this little mall thing right next together with an amazingly cheap and delicious smelling chinese place. ah! its like im back in south bend.
plus i got two shirts and a skirt [score]
AND (as a present to the house) the first two lethal weapons (its apalling how many people havent seen them) which will be amazing to watch with some of the guys for their first time.
AND (this is what is making me so so so happy right now actually) this LP of igor stravinski directing the NY philharmonic in the firebird suite and the rite of spring [SCORE]
all for five bucks!
i love life.
plus those midterms i thought i was going to take the morning after i get back from broome are in fact the NEXT monday, so i dont even have to worry about that right now, and can focus on my history/theatre and cinema presentations. whee!
PLUS i discovered that while my cafe let me down and blocked skype, they have NOT discovered limewire yet, and thus i spent two hours doing research and downloads tons and tons of music. =D
ummmm ... oh yes, and holy week is going to be a hit, im looking forward to all the services at the bascilica downtown. my friend biz and i are tentatively planning on hitting up the cemetary (to do research for our history project)on good friday. i know, slightly wierd, but apropos to a point, plus im slightly obsessed with cemetaries in general (one of my favorite places at ND), so that should be cool. then at some point we're going to go on a tour of the fremantle prison at night (supposed to be hyper creepy), they still have the original gallows up and everything. except for some random maintenance, its pretty much exactly as it was when they got rid of the last convicts. some people say complete with blood and everything, but i kinda doubt it.
ok, this is short, but catherine made a pointed comment about the length of my posts anyways, so i guess its ok (ha)
plus i have work to do.
aight, love you all. happy birthday to fiona, hope she heard me yesterday.
and heres a public apology to boodles, who apparently thought i didnt like to talk about things loudly.
silly.
first off i got paid, so the stress of wondering if im really just doing slave labor is lifted. plus my boss doesnt seem to care for figuring out exact figures, and thus rounds up like its his job.
im going to get so spoiled so fast its not even funny.
in other news, i discovered the salvation army/good sams/st vincent depauls of frematle. all in this little mall thing right next together with an amazingly cheap and delicious smelling chinese place. ah! its like im back in south bend.
plus i got two shirts and a skirt [score]
AND (as a present to the house) the first two lethal weapons (its apalling how many people havent seen them) which will be amazing to watch with some of the guys for their first time.
AND (this is what is making me so so so happy right now actually) this LP of igor stravinski directing the NY philharmonic in the firebird suite and the rite of spring [SCORE]
all for five bucks!
i love life.
plus those midterms i thought i was going to take the morning after i get back from broome are in fact the NEXT monday, so i dont even have to worry about that right now, and can focus on my history/theatre and cinema presentations. whee!
PLUS i discovered that while my cafe let me down and blocked skype, they have NOT discovered limewire yet, and thus i spent two hours doing research and downloads tons and tons of music. =D
ummmm ... oh yes, and holy week is going to be a hit, im looking forward to all the services at the bascilica downtown. my friend biz and i are tentatively planning on hitting up the cemetary (to do research for our history project)on good friday. i know, slightly wierd, but apropos to a point, plus im slightly obsessed with cemetaries in general (one of my favorite places at ND), so that should be cool. then at some point we're going to go on a tour of the fremantle prison at night (supposed to be hyper creepy), they still have the original gallows up and everything. except for some random maintenance, its pretty much exactly as it was when they got rid of the last convicts. some people say complete with blood and everything, but i kinda doubt it.
ok, this is short, but catherine made a pointed comment about the length of my posts anyways, so i guess its ok (ha)
plus i have work to do.
aight, love you all. happy birthday to fiona, hope she heard me yesterday.
and heres a public apology to boodles, who apparently thought i didnt like to talk about things loudly.
silly.
Friday, March 30, 2007
AAAAAHHHHHHH
ok, so im in australia but the past couple of days have been consumed with me trying to figure out what the heck i want to take for class next semester. it's a total goldmine in the fall! i mean, completely ridiculous.
heres the deal, i just emailed prof freddoso (head of philo dept) and basically told him to tell me what to do cos im overwhelemed. he's teaching a chesterton course (reading orthodoxy and the everlasting man), o'call is doing aquinas (pretty much the reason i went to ND for petes sake [reading: first thirteen questions of the summa]), sayre's teaching the class i made him teach (no way of not taking that one[reading: Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Meno, Protagoras, Phaedo, Republic, Phaedrus, Symposium, and Theaetetus]), neiman (whom i love) is doing socrates etc (reading list coming as soon as i get it), and MACINTYRE is doing his thing (what fool *doesnt* want to take that class????.
ok so thats five classes. i could be completely psycho and just take five philos, what the heck. BUT.
there's this PLS class on lyric poetry that i HAVE to take (the one brian was telling me about), here's the course descrip:
An introduction to poetry through intensive study of several lyric poets writing in English. Through close reading of selected poems, students will become familiar with central literary devices, including rhythm and meter, image, metaphor, symbol, paradox, and irony. Poems studied will range from the Renaissance to the 20th century, and may include Shakespeare's sonnets and Keats' odes, along with the works of other major poets such as Donne, Herbert, Marvell, Gray, Wordsworth, Dickinson, Hopkins, Yeats, Eliot, and Stevens.
aaahhhhhh!!!!!!! i just emailed the prof and asked oh so nicely (well, groveled is more like it) to let me in even though im not PLS.
so i just emailed freddoso, explained my predicament, and asked him to tell me what classes to take (whatever i dont take for credit im going to audit), and if i was out of my mind to hypothetically take five philos.
other than that, life is good. im working all weekend, get paid on sunday (who's excited!). just realized that since im working so much, and (hopefully) getting paid so much, ill be able to keep my phone way more charged, and thus can CALL people without holding my breath praying skype does fritz out on me.
specifically: marmar, stevo, boodles, and sarah. havent talked to you peeps in for-e-ever.
could someone email me everyone's adresses?
ok, im off to clean my room and do some reading. hope everyone is well. PRAY im able to figure out next semster, no?
grazie
heres the deal, i just emailed prof freddoso (head of philo dept) and basically told him to tell me what to do cos im overwhelemed. he's teaching a chesterton course (reading orthodoxy and the everlasting man), o'call is doing aquinas (pretty much the reason i went to ND for petes sake [reading: first thirteen questions of the summa]), sayre's teaching the class i made him teach (no way of not taking that one[reading: Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Meno, Protagoras, Phaedo, Republic, Phaedrus, Symposium, and Theaetetus]), neiman (whom i love) is doing socrates etc (reading list coming as soon as i get it), and MACINTYRE is doing his thing (what fool *doesnt* want to take that class????.
ok so thats five classes. i could be completely psycho and just take five philos, what the heck. BUT.
there's this PLS class on lyric poetry that i HAVE to take (the one brian was telling me about), here's the course descrip:
An introduction to poetry through intensive study of several lyric poets writing in English. Through close reading of selected poems, students will become familiar with central literary devices, including rhythm and meter, image, metaphor, symbol, paradox, and irony. Poems studied will range from the Renaissance to the 20th century, and may include Shakespeare's sonnets and Keats' odes, along with the works of other major poets such as Donne, Herbert, Marvell, Gray, Wordsworth, Dickinson, Hopkins, Yeats, Eliot, and Stevens.
aaahhhhhh!!!!!!! i just emailed the prof and asked oh so nicely (well, groveled is more like it) to let me in even though im not PLS.
so i just emailed freddoso, explained my predicament, and asked him to tell me what classes to take (whatever i dont take for credit im going to audit), and if i was out of my mind to hypothetically take five philos.
other than that, life is good. im working all weekend, get paid on sunday (who's excited!). just realized that since im working so much, and (hopefully) getting paid so much, ill be able to keep my phone way more charged, and thus can CALL people without holding my breath praying skype does fritz out on me.
specifically: marmar, stevo, boodles, and sarah. havent talked to you peeps in for-e-ever.
could someone email me everyone's adresses?
ok, im off to clean my room and do some reading. hope everyone is well. PRAY im able to figure out next semster, no?
grazie
AAAAAHHHHHHH
ok, so im in australia but the past couple of days have been consumed with me trying to figure out what the heck i want to take for class next semester. it's a total goldmine in the fall! i mean, completely ridiculous.
heres the deal, i just emailed prof freddoso (head of philo dept) and basically told him to tell me what to do cos im overwhelemed. he's teaching a chesterton course (reading orthodoxy and the everlasting man), o'call is doing aquinas (pretty much the reason i went to ND for petes sake [reading: first thirteen questions of the summa]), sayre's teaching the class i made him teach (no way of not taking that one[reading: Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Meno, Protagoras, Phaedo, Republic, Phaedrus, Symposium, and Theaetetus]), neiman (whom i love) is doing socrates etc (reading list coming as soon as i get it), and MACINTYRE is doing his thing (what fool *doesnt* want to take that class????.
ok so thats five classes. i could be completely psycho and just take five philos, what the heck. BUT.
there's this PLS class on lyric poetry that i HAVE to take (the one brian was telling me about), here's the course descrip:
An introduction to poetry through intensive study of several lyric poets writing in English. Through close reading of selected poems, students will become familiar with central literary devices, including rhythm and meter, image, metaphor, symbol, paradox, and irony. Poems studied will range from the Renaissance to the 20th century, and may include Shakespeare's sonnets and Keats' odes, along with the works of other major poets such as Donne, Herbert, Marvell, Gray, Wordsworth, Dickinson, Hopkins, Yeats, Eliot, and Stevens.
aaahhhhhh!!!!!!! i just emailed the prof and asked oh so nicely (well, groveled is more like it) to let me in even though im not PLS.
so i just emailed freddoso, explained my predicament, and asked him to tell me what classes to take (whatever i dont take for credit im going to audit), and if i was out of my mind to hypothetically take five philos.
other than that, life is good. im working all weekend, get paid on sunday (who's excited!). just realized that since im working so much, and (hopefully) getting paid so much, ill be able to keep my phone way more charged, and thus can CALL people without holding my breath praying skype does fritz out on me.
specifically: marmar, stevo, boodles, and sarah. havent talked to you peeps in for-e-ever.
could someone email me everyone's adresses?
ok, im off to clean my room and do some reading. hope everyone is well. PRAY im able to figure out next semster, no?
grazie
heres the deal, i just emailed prof freddoso (head of philo dept) and basically told him to tell me what to do cos im overwhelemed. he's teaching a chesterton course (reading orthodoxy and the everlasting man), o'call is doing aquinas (pretty much the reason i went to ND for petes sake [reading: first thirteen questions of the summa]), sayre's teaching the class i made him teach (no way of not taking that one[reading: Euthyphro, Apology, Crito, Meno, Protagoras, Phaedo, Republic, Phaedrus, Symposium, and Theaetetus]), neiman (whom i love) is doing socrates etc (reading list coming as soon as i get it), and MACINTYRE is doing his thing (what fool *doesnt* want to take that class????.
ok so thats five classes. i could be completely psycho and just take five philos, what the heck. BUT.
there's this PLS class on lyric poetry that i HAVE to take (the one brian was telling me about), here's the course descrip:
An introduction to poetry through intensive study of several lyric poets writing in English. Through close reading of selected poems, students will become familiar with central literary devices, including rhythm and meter, image, metaphor, symbol, paradox, and irony. Poems studied will range from the Renaissance to the 20th century, and may include Shakespeare's sonnets and Keats' odes, along with the works of other major poets such as Donne, Herbert, Marvell, Gray, Wordsworth, Dickinson, Hopkins, Yeats, Eliot, and Stevens.
aaahhhhhh!!!!!!! i just emailed the prof and asked oh so nicely (well, groveled is more like it) to let me in even though im not PLS.
so i just emailed freddoso, explained my predicament, and asked him to tell me what classes to take (whatever i dont take for credit im going to audit), and if i was out of my mind to hypothetically take five philos.
other than that, life is good. im working all weekend, get paid on sunday (who's excited!). just realized that since im working so much, and (hopefully) getting paid so much, ill be able to keep my phone way more charged, and thus can CALL people without holding my breath praying skype does fritz out on me.
specifically: marmar, stevo, boodles, and sarah. havent talked to you peeps in for-e-ever.
could someone email me everyone's adresses?
ok, im off to clean my room and do some reading. hope everyone is well. PRAY im able to figure out next semster, no?
grazie
Sunday, March 25, 2007
humdidy the second
sooo ... dang, i had this whole list of things i forgot to put up last time and now ive forgotten most of em. grrr.
well, one thing. work was fun times. i had to buy a new outfit (*darn*), all black and what not, but its cute. and i get this great half apron with a dancing lizard on it =)
i got there and stood around being useless for about an hour, then things started really picking up and i ended up running food out to tables all over the place (they arent terribly organized) and if there wasnt food to be run, clearing empty tables and setting them up again. im basically a glorified busboy for the time being.
but its cool, because the food is amazing, seriously (its actually more than a pizzeria, its a fairly classy restaurant/bar as well), and pretty all the patrons were really nice. plus the people who work there are by far the friendliest crew ive come across yet, by the end of my shift we were all goofing around (i stayed till close, which is 1230) and one of the guys gave me a lift back home, so it was super sweet. PLUS i get payed 16bucks an hour, paydays on sunday, and (im fairly certain) in cash. =D
ok, get this
i just emailed fred freddoso and i have four philos lined up for next semester
plato with sayre (my meaning of life prof, this being the class i bullied him into teaching); God, philosophy, and universities with MACINTYRE (ill be rereading newman, but i dont think itll kill me); socrates, nietzsche, and kierkegaard with neiman (my maimonides prof that i love, i think the course description looks really interesting, but honestly, its mostly just an excuse for me to have a class with him again); possibly a joint seminar with two killer profs on the nature of freedom (its a philo/theo); and (hahahahahhahha) last but oh so definitely not least, aquinas' philosophical theology with (im so grinning right now) john o'callaghan.
i love my life.
i dont know about the joint seminar yet because there's a PLS seminar on poetry that my friend brian really wants me to take that i will take if avail, but i just asked him what exactly its called/whos teaching it, and i dont know yet if its being offered. if it is, im going to take it as long as it doesnt conflict with my main four philos, and if i do take it, ill probably end up auditing the joint seminar.
im already bouncing off the walls as it is, those classes *plus* football season ... oh my, there really is nowhere else but Notre Dame.
not that i dont love it here, oh dont get me wrong, but you all know how madly in love with my school i am. *smiles blissfully*
ok other news ... i need addresses. as it is, i can send home a postcard, and my peeps at ND, but i dont have anyone elses, so yeah, you should get on sending me those.
oh yeah, congrats to catherine, i hear you've been tearing up the tennis courts. props and all that.
ok, im off to go work on a group project, hopefully ill remember what else i was supposed to put up here ...
well, one thing. work was fun times. i had to buy a new outfit (*darn*), all black and what not, but its cute. and i get this great half apron with a dancing lizard on it =)
i got there and stood around being useless for about an hour, then things started really picking up and i ended up running food out to tables all over the place (they arent terribly organized) and if there wasnt food to be run, clearing empty tables and setting them up again. im basically a glorified busboy for the time being.
but its cool, because the food is amazing, seriously (its actually more than a pizzeria, its a fairly classy restaurant/bar as well), and pretty all the patrons were really nice. plus the people who work there are by far the friendliest crew ive come across yet, by the end of my shift we were all goofing around (i stayed till close, which is 1230) and one of the guys gave me a lift back home, so it was super sweet. PLUS i get payed 16bucks an hour, paydays on sunday, and (im fairly certain) in cash. =D
ok, get this
i just emailed fred freddoso and i have four philos lined up for next semester
plato with sayre (my meaning of life prof, this being the class i bullied him into teaching); God, philosophy, and universities with MACINTYRE (ill be rereading newman, but i dont think itll kill me); socrates, nietzsche, and kierkegaard with neiman (my maimonides prof that i love, i think the course description looks really interesting, but honestly, its mostly just an excuse for me to have a class with him again); possibly a joint seminar with two killer profs on the nature of freedom (its a philo/theo); and (hahahahahhahha) last but oh so definitely not least, aquinas' philosophical theology with (im so grinning right now) john o'callaghan.
i love my life.
i dont know about the joint seminar yet because there's a PLS seminar on poetry that my friend brian really wants me to take that i will take if avail, but i just asked him what exactly its called/whos teaching it, and i dont know yet if its being offered. if it is, im going to take it as long as it doesnt conflict with my main four philos, and if i do take it, ill probably end up auditing the joint seminar.
im already bouncing off the walls as it is, those classes *plus* football season ... oh my, there really is nowhere else but Notre Dame.
not that i dont love it here, oh dont get me wrong, but you all know how madly in love with my school i am. *smiles blissfully*
ok other news ... i need addresses. as it is, i can send home a postcard, and my peeps at ND, but i dont have anyone elses, so yeah, you should get on sending me those.
oh yeah, congrats to catherine, i hear you've been tearing up the tennis courts. props and all that.
ok, im off to go work on a group project, hopefully ill remember what else i was supposed to put up here ...
Thursday, March 22, 2007
tour
so i have australian history on fridays (830 kickoff, and yes that's on purpose), and today we got an orientation thingy for our broome trip, im really excited. like, randomly yesterday afternoon, i was hanging out in the esplanade (aka: my front yard) and all of a sudden it hit me all over again.
im in australia.
IM IN AUSTRALIA.
and how cool is that?
anyways, yeah, so we're going to broome in three weeks or so. actually, we're going to the whole kimberly area, flying into broome and jeeping it from there up to the tippy top part of australia. or something like that.
its going to be amazing for a bazillion reasons, one being no time. i love that. five days of nooooo idea what time it is. cold showers, no electricity, sleeping in tents, sharing backpacks, no makeup, cell phones, mp3 players, watches, tv, radio, internet, and you get the idea
just lots of sunscreen, bottled water, hats, cameras, and things that could kill you.
but seriously, im so excited. we're going to pool our resources and buy sports equipment for this no budget, catholic aboriginal school. apparently students started doing that a couple of years ago, and now every group that goes up brings the kids stuff. all the equipment they have in their gym is from US students. so we're going to keep up the tradition.
there are 3 different groups going, basically the three different dorm things (although i've taken to calling it "the house" - "dorm" doesnt fit the feel of port lodge), and i think we're all going to bring stuff up.
im kind of nervous too though. i honestly thought that going here would be similar to being in the US, esp with the european/aboriginal relationships.
dude, i was wrong.
first off, i didnt know that the oldest recorded civilization in the world is here. i dont know, you grow up thinking everything that matters started off in the mediteranean or something, and there were random cavemen in other places, and (of course) ireland's always been on top of its game.
but the tribes here have been around since pretty much forever, and i guess the deal is that while obviously they came from somewhere, probably asia then tripped down the islands here, once they got here they stayed. im pretty sure they said that the aboriginals here are the only culture in the world to not have a story for how they got *here*
they've always been here, their oral traditions and relationship with the land is pretty much unlike anything i at least have heard of. i mean, pretty much every culture has some sort of relationship with the land/nature, but not like this.
i had no idea how hard it is to live here. (ok this is ridiculous, i pretty much want to just go on about everything i've learned so far)
after our kimberly talk, we went on a 'historical tour of fremantle' (i was supposed to be in this one group, but i snuck into the other cos i like the lecturer more ... i suppose you didnt really need to know that, oh well!), anyway, i love this guy cos he's from northern ireland, moved out here when he was a kid, grew up in sydney, and now lives here with his family and teaches history. yeah.
oh yeah! i love him because as an irish guy, he gives a sweet tour, mostly focusing on irish history.
anyways, yeah, so ... yeah, living here.
its insane. like, i get why the whole white guy/aboriginal thing is still so bad here. i mean, you hear all the stereotypes, australians treat women badly and are racists. its just because they were colonized later than the states and they're about 50 years behind us.
yeah.
no not really. it really is a completely different country here. honestly, im starting to think that things are so bad with the aboriginals because white people dont know how to live here. this isnt our country, and the majority of the aboriginal community still sees us, all europeans, as guests ... who decided to take over and run the place, and badly at that.
and this isnt some revisionist history, white person guilt ... and its not something that ive been told ... i dont know, im on the verge of beginning to understand something, but i cant formulate it yet. which is why im so excited for kimberly .... and i know and appreciate that ive only been here for five weeks, and im just trying to absorb too much and my brain is a tad fried right now, but yeah ... im starting to feel like im getting my sense of direction back, and thats a good thing.
moving on, the tour was crazy sweet. its amazing how much ive walked by every day since i got here and never really saw. like this monument to the last 62 of the last convicts deported here, just happened to be fenians. they were pretty sweet. and yeah, one of them ended up escaping, got on a whaling ship to the states, moved to chicago, and started the tribune. he has this great quote about his first sight of fremantle, from the convict ship, ill put it at the end, im offline right now. (im never going to get used to no wireless)
so what else is new ... oh yeah, i got a job.
=)
im a waitress! at this pizza place! and i have no idea how much im getting paid, how often ill work, if it sunk with the owner that im *illegal*, or what. all do know is that its a family owned italian restaurant, just down the road from port lodge, my friend trisha starts tonight, and i start tomorrow. and i have to go buy black pants cos im really smart and DIDNT PACK THEM. grr. but yeah, isnt that AWESOME. it is. oh yeah! hahaahahha, when we first walked in i just went up the counter and asked if they were hiring, "oh yeah! sure"
"great, im a study abroad student, over at notre dame"
"ok"
"umm .... so what are you looking for"
"everythings avail. you ever waitressed before?"
"um, not really"
"oh thats fine, we'll train you. how long are you here for"
"till the end of june ... "
"four months then? ok"
".... uhh, what hours are you looking for"
"oh whenever you're avail, really whenever you want"
"... um, ok *give him hours*"
"ok, well give me your phone number and name and ill give you a call in the week to let you know whats open"
"ok ... ill talk to you later then?"
"yeah! bye!"
this all went down in about five minutes. i walked out with trish, and we just look at each other "did that really just happen?"
i didnt think it could be more chill than my fish place, but yeah ... they might be given a run for thier money. on the other hand i have to wear a pseudo uniform .... although that could be whatever i wanted, as long as its black.
i love italians.
but, after my tour this morning, hearing all about the "on the waterfront" nature of fremantle (dude, this place has a cool history) , i just remembered how much i wanted to work on the docks here, or a fishing company or something. so i went straight over to the student life office afterwards, to see if they had anny ideas. they werent too bright (ive been so spoiled by myND, its crazy. i could go up to the career center, and say "i want to work on a boat" and they'd find me something. but i digress) , but once i finnish this im going to hit up the harbour and see if i can find something.
i miss my fish. =/
but yeah, so im excited to work. not only could it possibly mean moolah (im still a little skeptical that itll work out), but its a phenomenal way to meet more australians, i can wow them with my killer american customer service skills (yeah, they arent too into that here), and lets be honest. esther likes working. she's good at it. =)
my arms look really good. i hope this tan never goes away.
OH yeah. i think its prolly long out of the theatres but if at all possible, papa needs to see "Wild Hogs". its a very much esther+papa movie, along the lines of george of the jungle and dudley doright fame. i was pretty much in tears the whole time, and i was only semi tired. =D
kk, loves to all. i feel like i had more to say, so you might get really lucky and have two in one day.
oh yeah, what does everybody want from here? we were talking about that yesterday, and any suggestions would be well recieved. hee hee.
im in australia.
IM IN AUSTRALIA.
and how cool is that?
anyways, yeah, so we're going to broome in three weeks or so. actually, we're going to the whole kimberly area, flying into broome and jeeping it from there up to the tippy top part of australia. or something like that.
its going to be amazing for a bazillion reasons, one being no time. i love that. five days of nooooo idea what time it is. cold showers, no electricity, sleeping in tents, sharing backpacks, no makeup, cell phones, mp3 players, watches, tv, radio, internet, and you get the idea
just lots of sunscreen, bottled water, hats, cameras, and things that could kill you.
but seriously, im so excited. we're going to pool our resources and buy sports equipment for this no budget, catholic aboriginal school. apparently students started doing that a couple of years ago, and now every group that goes up brings the kids stuff. all the equipment they have in their gym is from US students. so we're going to keep up the tradition.
there are 3 different groups going, basically the three different dorm things (although i've taken to calling it "the house" - "dorm" doesnt fit the feel of port lodge), and i think we're all going to bring stuff up.
im kind of nervous too though. i honestly thought that going here would be similar to being in the US, esp with the european/aboriginal relationships.
dude, i was wrong.
first off, i didnt know that the oldest recorded civilization in the world is here. i dont know, you grow up thinking everything that matters started off in the mediteranean or something, and there were random cavemen in other places, and (of course) ireland's always been on top of its game.
but the tribes here have been around since pretty much forever, and i guess the deal is that while obviously they came from somewhere, probably asia then tripped down the islands here, once they got here they stayed. im pretty sure they said that the aboriginals here are the only culture in the world to not have a story for how they got *here*
they've always been here, their oral traditions and relationship with the land is pretty much unlike anything i at least have heard of. i mean, pretty much every culture has some sort of relationship with the land/nature, but not like this.
i had no idea how hard it is to live here. (ok this is ridiculous, i pretty much want to just go on about everything i've learned so far)
after our kimberly talk, we went on a 'historical tour of fremantle' (i was supposed to be in this one group, but i snuck into the other cos i like the lecturer more ... i suppose you didnt really need to know that, oh well!), anyway, i love this guy cos he's from northern ireland, moved out here when he was a kid, grew up in sydney, and now lives here with his family and teaches history. yeah.
oh yeah! i love him because as an irish guy, he gives a sweet tour, mostly focusing on irish history.
anyways, yeah, so ... yeah, living here.
its insane. like, i get why the whole white guy/aboriginal thing is still so bad here. i mean, you hear all the stereotypes, australians treat women badly and are racists. its just because they were colonized later than the states and they're about 50 years behind us.
yeah.
no not really. it really is a completely different country here. honestly, im starting to think that things are so bad with the aboriginals because white people dont know how to live here. this isnt our country, and the majority of the aboriginal community still sees us, all europeans, as guests ... who decided to take over and run the place, and badly at that.
and this isnt some revisionist history, white person guilt ... and its not something that ive been told ... i dont know, im on the verge of beginning to understand something, but i cant formulate it yet. which is why im so excited for kimberly .... and i know and appreciate that ive only been here for five weeks, and im just trying to absorb too much and my brain is a tad fried right now, but yeah ... im starting to feel like im getting my sense of direction back, and thats a good thing.
moving on, the tour was crazy sweet. its amazing how much ive walked by every day since i got here and never really saw. like this monument to the last 62 of the last convicts deported here, just happened to be fenians. they were pretty sweet. and yeah, one of them ended up escaping, got on a whaling ship to the states, moved to chicago, and started the tribune. he has this great quote about his first sight of fremantle, from the convict ship, ill put it at the end, im offline right now. (im never going to get used to no wireless)
so what else is new ... oh yeah, i got a job.
=)
im a waitress! at this pizza place! and i have no idea how much im getting paid, how often ill work, if it sunk with the owner that im *illegal*, or what. all do know is that its a family owned italian restaurant, just down the road from port lodge, my friend trisha starts tonight, and i start tomorrow. and i have to go buy black pants cos im really smart and DIDNT PACK THEM. grr. but yeah, isnt that AWESOME. it is. oh yeah! hahaahahha, when we first walked in i just went up the counter and asked if they were hiring, "oh yeah! sure"
"great, im a study abroad student, over at notre dame"
"ok"
"umm .... so what are you looking for"
"everythings avail. you ever waitressed before?"
"um, not really"
"oh thats fine, we'll train you. how long are you here for"
"till the end of june ... "
"four months then? ok"
".... uhh, what hours are you looking for"
"oh whenever you're avail, really whenever you want"
"... um, ok *give him hours*"
"ok, well give me your phone number and name and ill give you a call in the week to let you know whats open"
"ok ... ill talk to you later then?"
"yeah! bye!"
this all went down in about five minutes. i walked out with trish, and we just look at each other "did that really just happen?"
i didnt think it could be more chill than my fish place, but yeah ... they might be given a run for thier money. on the other hand i have to wear a pseudo uniform .... although that could be whatever i wanted, as long as its black.
i love italians.
but, after my tour this morning, hearing all about the "on the waterfront" nature of fremantle (dude, this place has a cool history) , i just remembered how much i wanted to work on the docks here, or a fishing company or something. so i went straight over to the student life office afterwards, to see if they had anny ideas. they werent too bright (ive been so spoiled by myND, its crazy. i could go up to the career center, and say "i want to work on a boat" and they'd find me something. but i digress) , but once i finnish this im going to hit up the harbour and see if i can find something.
i miss my fish. =/
but yeah, so im excited to work. not only could it possibly mean moolah (im still a little skeptical that itll work out), but its a phenomenal way to meet more australians, i can wow them with my killer american customer service skills (yeah, they arent too into that here), and lets be honest. esther likes working. she's good at it. =)
my arms look really good. i hope this tan never goes away.
OH yeah. i think its prolly long out of the theatres but if at all possible, papa needs to see "Wild Hogs". its a very much esther+papa movie, along the lines of george of the jungle and dudley doright fame. i was pretty much in tears the whole time, and i was only semi tired. =D
kk, loves to all. i feel like i had more to say, so you might get really lucky and have two in one day.
oh yeah, what does everybody want from here? we were talking about that yesterday, and any suggestions would be well recieved. hee hee.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
dream about those dreaming eyes
sooooooo we're having a movie night next week and guess what my friend kate and i did!!!
we're watching snowy river!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*does little chair dance*
so yeah, thats cool. in other news, i went to the perth zoo and i was sweeeeet. i took lots of pictures, even though im not really a non-person picture taker, cos i figured the boys and girls would like them. so i took lots of the croc and poisioness thingys, and lots of koalas and the wombat. that should make everybody happy, no?
(ps, if you're ever in a bad mood, or just down in general, try saying 'wombat'. its great! perks me right back up =D )
im working on my presentation for my lit class. its kinda intense, we each will have to lead a tutorial, kicking it off with a 25 min lecture on our topic, then guided disscussion. geeze.
the good news is i really like the book im prestenting on (My Brilliant Career) and im even more excited about my topic. i get to talk about it and (get this) jane eyre! (in case you cant tell/didnt know, im obsessed with JE. pretty much favorite book ever.)
im going to talk about how similar they are (i think thats why i liked MBC so much), but how each in its differences epitomizes the country of origin. like, JE is such a quintisentially english book, and MBC is utterly australian. its awesome. so after talking about the two for a little while, i think im going to turn it into a 'what it is to be australian lit' by pointing out what it is not through contrast with JE. sound good?
so for my history class we have to do this group project *gag* about historical fremantle. (its not that i dont like the subject, i just hate group projects. and its not like i hate people, i just hate having to rely on four other people for a major part of my grade in the class, ya know?)
i narrowly avoided getting into a group with Creepy Kid. though it was only through being fairly rude im afraid, but seriously he cant take a hint.
i AM excited for my group for policy project though. seeing that i know nothing about politics its nice to know im not going to be totally lost. besides i was able to snag the demographics/history of east timor, and not the economy/policies/strategies bits. score!
i love my cafe more than ever now. my owner knows me and gave me free espresso today. its grrrrrreat. plus its good coffee too. i almost broke down and got food their today, its soooo tasty looking. and it smelled amazing. best burger iver ever seen.
then i remembered its friday. dangit.
kk, cant think of anything else too terribly interesting. ill go put up the zoo pix.
love you all!
we're watching snowy river!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*does little chair dance*
so yeah, thats cool. in other news, i went to the perth zoo and i was sweeeeet. i took lots of pictures, even though im not really a non-person picture taker, cos i figured the boys and girls would like them. so i took lots of the croc and poisioness thingys, and lots of koalas and the wombat. that should make everybody happy, no?
(ps, if you're ever in a bad mood, or just down in general, try saying 'wombat'. its great! perks me right back up =D )
im working on my presentation for my lit class. its kinda intense, we each will have to lead a tutorial, kicking it off with a 25 min lecture on our topic, then guided disscussion. geeze.
the good news is i really like the book im prestenting on (My Brilliant Career) and im even more excited about my topic. i get to talk about it and (get this) jane eyre! (in case you cant tell/didnt know, im obsessed with JE. pretty much favorite book ever.)
im going to talk about how similar they are (i think thats why i liked MBC so much), but how each in its differences epitomizes the country of origin. like, JE is such a quintisentially english book, and MBC is utterly australian. its awesome. so after talking about the two for a little while, i think im going to turn it into a 'what it is to be australian lit' by pointing out what it is not through contrast with JE. sound good?
so for my history class we have to do this group project *gag* about historical fremantle. (its not that i dont like the subject, i just hate group projects. and its not like i hate people, i just hate having to rely on four other people for a major part of my grade in the class, ya know?)
i narrowly avoided getting into a group with Creepy Kid. though it was only through being fairly rude im afraid, but seriously he cant take a hint.
i AM excited for my group for policy project though. seeing that i know nothing about politics its nice to know im not going to be totally lost. besides i was able to snag the demographics/history of east timor, and not the economy/policies/strategies bits. score!
i love my cafe more than ever now. my owner knows me and gave me free espresso today. its grrrrrreat. plus its good coffee too. i almost broke down and got food their today, its soooo tasty looking. and it smelled amazing. best burger iver ever seen.
then i remembered its friday. dangit.
kk, cant think of anything else too terribly interesting. ill go put up the zoo pix.
love you all!
Monday, March 12, 2007
oooooo
ok so this is the fremantle national hotel, on the corner of high and market streets (i think), aka spitting distance from port lodge.
pretty huh? thats what alot of old buildings look like here.
but since last night it looks like this:
yeah, dont tell mark >)
i dont know what happened or what, but this is my friend steve's picture. he was out last night with his friend who just got in, and they ran into it on the way back home.
crazy huh? why do i miss all the interesting stuff ...
so yeah, i thought that was something.
vindicated!
ok, so in aus lit today we read the man from snowy river. it was AWESOME!
plus, my prof lady was all about the movie, said it captured the spirit of the ballad brilliantly, was visually beautiful, and tom burlinson ideally captured the "australian myth"
(aka, what it is to be an australian)
THUS my years of love and dozens of viewings were all for the best. so maaaaybe it would be better if i could quote lines of the ballad rather than every line of the film, but thats besides the point. ha!
im in my cafe again, this guy decided to take over the piano so the management turned off the overhead and im listening to him plink out random bach preludes. hes rather good actually.
i talked to jacquelyn today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it was fantabulous. and im in a ridiculously good mood as a consequence.
check out my photosite! i dont have too many pix up yet, but will faithfully add as the spirit moves me. i stole a few from my friends just now and uploaded them. i like the ones from the plane the most.
well those and the one of me totally taking rok down. hee hee.
that one was from when we went to the beach last weekend, he told me there was no way i could ever take him down. i pointed out that my being almost 6 inches taller than him *might* be an advantage he couldnt deal with, but apparently those were just fighting words and he ended up trying to body check me to the ground. it didnt work. i ended up flipping him on his back (as documented)
it was great, he was humiliated and insisted i cheated. im still not sure how. =)
not much too report. ive been kicking it around (oooo, bach sonata now ... i cant remember which one it is, but we all played it ... or maybe its a mazurka ... [now ill stop before joseph gives me more grief]), read a book this weekend, need to read a play now and 80 pages of for. policy. blech.
oh yeah, today in security and strategies this kid suggested that america and israel were creating the war on terrorism by attacking countries (something like hezbollah only existed after everything started in lebanon (sp?), and alquaeda (dang, i really cant do that one) only started up after we attacked afghanistan). it was off topic so not discussed, but judging from the facial expressions and head nods around the room, its a general viewpoint i guess.
my point is that my parents should be proud of me, esp since i was labeled unpatriotic and anti-american all break. just because i cant stand politics doesnt make me unpatriotic you know. but yeah, my POINT is that even though i really dont care, my total reaction was to turn and say "you're kidding me right?", like even if you dont agree with the whole 'war on terror' you honestly think that terrorism only started after whatever countries went to war? or something like that. not that i said it because first i have no idea what im talking about, i just know thats not right, i dont know what is though. and second because i dont want to sound like some american on a power trip. but honestly, its a different world here.
i like their attitude to politics in general here. it has nothing to do with love of country. almost all the aussies ive met are deeply patriotic in the sense that they love australia, the physical country itself. their sense of national identity has little to nothing to do with government or politics, its a deep connection with the land and environment itself. its fascinating seeing the way european australia has come about, from the viewpoint of literature, film, theatre, politics, and history classes. so much of the 'australian identity' has to do with the convict past, seriously. that and a (probably unintentional) assimilation of some aboriginal philosophies regarding the country itself. its really intriguing, and fairly seductive, not going to lie.
like, when people talk about america with stars in their eyes, it can make sense if they come from an oppressed nation or something, the whole 'american dream' ideal. dont get me wrong i love it too, but in a way i feel like i relate more to the australian type of patriotism, instinctively at least. like, i love the NW, it has very little to do with the government or politics of the place. its a love of the landscape, an intense relationship with the culture of "what it is to be" a NWer. i think thats why ive become so enamored with the whole fishing culture, native american history, etc. it doesnt matter how liberal or conservative portland or seattle are, that has nothing to do with the land itself.
or something like that, i need to think about it more.
(the irony here [for me at least] is that its not until i come to australia that i realize that my real home is the NW. i cant help it. like i know i hate the midwest, but i just figured that was a homesickish type thing. but if im going to be at home anywhere besides the NW, its going to be here ... and i dont know, ive only been here three weeks and all, but while i still admire and love australia, its just given me the chance to see that im in love the with NW)
ok, my battery is about to die. enjoy the pix. love you all.
plus, my prof lady was all about the movie, said it captured the spirit of the ballad brilliantly, was visually beautiful, and tom burlinson ideally captured the "australian myth"
(aka, what it is to be an australian)
THUS my years of love and dozens of viewings were all for the best. so maaaaybe it would be better if i could quote lines of the ballad rather than every line of the film, but thats besides the point. ha!
im in my cafe again, this guy decided to take over the piano so the management turned off the overhead and im listening to him plink out random bach preludes. hes rather good actually.
i talked to jacquelyn today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it was fantabulous. and im in a ridiculously good mood as a consequence.
check out my photosite! i dont have too many pix up yet, but will faithfully add as the spirit moves me. i stole a few from my friends just now and uploaded them. i like the ones from the plane the most.
well those and the one of me totally taking rok down. hee hee.
that one was from when we went to the beach last weekend, he told me there was no way i could ever take him down. i pointed out that my being almost 6 inches taller than him *might* be an advantage he couldnt deal with, but apparently those were just fighting words and he ended up trying to body check me to the ground. it didnt work. i ended up flipping him on his back (as documented)
it was great, he was humiliated and insisted i cheated. im still not sure how. =)
not much too report. ive been kicking it around (oooo, bach sonata now ... i cant remember which one it is, but we all played it ... or maybe its a mazurka ... [now ill stop before joseph gives me more grief]), read a book this weekend, need to read a play now and 80 pages of for. policy. blech.
oh yeah, today in security and strategies this kid suggested that america and israel were creating the war on terrorism by attacking countries (something like hezbollah only existed after everything started in lebanon (sp?), and alquaeda (dang, i really cant do that one) only started up after we attacked afghanistan). it was off topic so not discussed, but judging from the facial expressions and head nods around the room, its a general viewpoint i guess.
my point is that my parents should be proud of me, esp since i was labeled unpatriotic and anti-american all break. just because i cant stand politics doesnt make me unpatriotic you know. but yeah, my POINT is that even though i really dont care, my total reaction was to turn and say "you're kidding me right?", like even if you dont agree with the whole 'war on terror' you honestly think that terrorism only started after whatever countries went to war? or something like that. not that i said it because first i have no idea what im talking about, i just know thats not right, i dont know what is though. and second because i dont want to sound like some american on a power trip. but honestly, its a different world here.
i like their attitude to politics in general here. it has nothing to do with love of country. almost all the aussies ive met are deeply patriotic in the sense that they love australia, the physical country itself. their sense of national identity has little to nothing to do with government or politics, its a deep connection with the land and environment itself. its fascinating seeing the way european australia has come about, from the viewpoint of literature, film, theatre, politics, and history classes. so much of the 'australian identity' has to do with the convict past, seriously. that and a (probably unintentional) assimilation of some aboriginal philosophies regarding the country itself. its really intriguing, and fairly seductive, not going to lie.
like, when people talk about america with stars in their eyes, it can make sense if they come from an oppressed nation or something, the whole 'american dream' ideal. dont get me wrong i love it too, but in a way i feel like i relate more to the australian type of patriotism, instinctively at least. like, i love the NW, it has very little to do with the government or politics of the place. its a love of the landscape, an intense relationship with the culture of "what it is to be" a NWer. i think thats why ive become so enamored with the whole fishing culture, native american history, etc. it doesnt matter how liberal or conservative portland or seattle are, that has nothing to do with the land itself.
or something like that, i need to think about it more.
(the irony here [for me at least] is that its not until i come to australia that i realize that my real home is the NW. i cant help it. like i know i hate the midwest, but i just figured that was a homesickish type thing. but if im going to be at home anywhere besides the NW, its going to be here ... and i dont know, ive only been here three weeks and all, but while i still admire and love australia, its just given me the chance to see that im in love the with NW)
ok, my battery is about to die. enjoy the pix. love you all.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
ac isnt all that bad
my dorm doesnt have air conditioning. which makes for sweaty, oft times sleepless nights.
but i get to go to the beach everyday and swim so i suppose i dont have it that bad =)
although, as i was telling papa earlier today, yesterday this aussie guy found a blue ringed octopus out swimming in the shallows on MY beach.
he caught it, put it in a water bottle, and gave it to a couple of girls to take it back to the bio dept, cos they're really rare and he thought they probably didnt have one.
turns out he was right, they didnt have one, and were very excited about it.
im excited that there's one less deadly thing swimming out in the ocean trying to kill me
(one bite paralyzes the respiratory tract ... ew)
im pretty pumped that i know freo so well by now. as in i can walk pretty much anywhere and usually end up in the right place. and if i dont, i always know how to get back home. so yeah, thats cool.
ive discovered that while i love to go grocery shopping with mama, im not such a fan of doing it for myself. its not even that i hate spending the money on something as useless as food (when i could be doing much more important things, like surf lessons), its just so complicated!
consequently im pretty much living off of brown rice, whole wheat pasta, cottage cheese and fruit, and toast (with vegemite!).
and ive turned into a water guzzler. diet coke here is all off, it was shocking the first time i got it actually (all of three hours after arriving in freo), almost spat it out.
that cured that addiction.
fortunately my coffee addiction hasnt had to die yet. although we lack a coffee pot in the kitchen, we DO have a french press. so im all good. and the grounds i got are actually not too shabby.
there is no Starbucks here (thankfully for my budget), and i wouldnt be surprised if i when i come back home im completely off it. then its just a matter of when i start to cave again.
probably as soon as i get back to south bend.
there's this really sweet walkway on the harbour, where they have all these anchors that they dredged up from the coast right there. the things are HUGE. its pretty sweet. they have some really old wooden ones. ill take pictures and put them up later, i think the boys would really like them.
theres also a shipwreck museum about spitting distance from my dorm. i havent gone yet, not sure i want to. i love the ocean, its so beautiful, but ive always had a hard time not seeing it as a giant graveyard. its more like that at home, where its all dark and rocky and slightly intimidating. here its all blue and white beaches and reefs and prettiness, but i still kind of have that reaction.
think about it. think about how many bodies are in there. how on ships they always referred to personnel as souls.
so yeah, there's this place in freo where you can buy chandeliers from shipwrecks, and a bunch of girls were getting all excited about how that would be *so* romantic, but i find it all rather macabre.
not as bad, but almost like the whole mummies in museums thing. its a sign of death.
point is, i dont know if i want to go look at a bunch of shipwrecks. but again, i also think the boys would probably find it really cool, so i might just go to take pictures.
im paranoid about my grades here. i was told point blank there was no way i could get a 4, cos no one does, esp americans. and i realize i probably wont, and that ultimately grades dont matter etc, but the sheer impossibility of it is driving me crazy. the fact that a 3 here is pretty much the same as a 4 back home isnt going to show up on my transcript.
its also a little rough because the way they do things here, there is no core program. and you get a 3 year degree. so im in class with students in their last year, of a very very specialized degree. like the kids in my lit class are all lit majors, and completely used to the type of class. but its my first lit class in a university setting, so i feel completely idiotic. plus they kind of assume a general knowledge of australian literature, like things you would read in high school, but obviously i dont have that.
so im irritating the other abroad kids in the class by reading books not on the reading list, in an effort to catch up. its not like im trying to be an overachiever either, i just would like to feel like i have some understanding of whats being talked about, you know?
the same goes for my theatre and cinema class (dont scoff, its going to be really interesting). i general understanding of australian culture and history is going to be assumed (a major one being Aboriginal relations), and so im going to have to do alot of research there too. which is good because thats one of the major things i wanted to accomplish here, and oddly enough i think this might be the class where i get the most of it.
my foreign policy class is going to be fine i think. the prof (lecturer here) is a hoot and a half. while preposterously expensive, the required text is really small and we only have to read a chapter a week. and he's really laid back. so oddly enough (i hate poli sci classes) i think this one might be the most stress free.
i havent had either my history or my british policy classes yet. im a little afraid of them both, the british more than the others. just because it looks as boring as humanly possible. i might look into switching out, if i can find another class that i can get into. we'll see.
i look like a leper. peeling all over. gross.
things i've noticed:
1. americans really are loud and obnoxious.
ive made a concerted effort to have a more respectful voice level, esp in public. its painful being on the train or bus with the other study abroad kids, we're just SO loud.
2. 'rubbish', 'out for a tic', 'pop it in there'
i love that they actually talk the way they're "supposed to."
i havent picked up the phrases, am trying not to. dont want to be that american tool. ive even put effort into not saying no worries, which ive been saying for years. i just feel like a poser.
3. australians really are ridiculously friendly.
its true. like, some of the kids get all overwhelmed by it ("they're SO nice!"), but i was expecting it, and honestly, im used to friendly people. i think its because im from the PNW, and alot of these kids are from the east coast, where they dont have people they have vampires.
4. stephen makes killer mixes.
been listening to "stephen mix ii: the australia ed." alot. its sweeeet. thanks buddy.
what else? i dont know.
my room is completely in shape, even better now then an hour ago cos i cleaned. im really glad classes have started, i need a schedule. am thinking about getting a gym membership (i know i know), but its 140 aud for four months, a bunch of kids have memberships, and they go all the time, so i know i would actually go, and included in the membership is accessibility to classes and such, like aerobics and dance.
the downside is i dont like spending large amounts of money in one go, and its not air conditioned.
thoughts?
ok, i think thats all i got for now. im going to go make pasta and keep an eye out for Crowded House to announce their tour dates.
im not kidding, i need prayers here. if i could see CH in australia ... im not sure what exactly would happen, but i think it would involve something close to ecstasy.
love you all, some one email me already.
but i get to go to the beach everyday and swim so i suppose i dont have it that bad =)
although, as i was telling papa earlier today, yesterday this aussie guy found a blue ringed octopus out swimming in the shallows on MY beach.
he caught it, put it in a water bottle, and gave it to a couple of girls to take it back to the bio dept, cos they're really rare and he thought they probably didnt have one.
turns out he was right, they didnt have one, and were very excited about it.
im excited that there's one less deadly thing swimming out in the ocean trying to kill me
(one bite paralyzes the respiratory tract ... ew)
im pretty pumped that i know freo so well by now. as in i can walk pretty much anywhere and usually end up in the right place. and if i dont, i always know how to get back home. so yeah, thats cool.
ive discovered that while i love to go grocery shopping with mama, im not such a fan of doing it for myself. its not even that i hate spending the money on something as useless as food (when i could be doing much more important things, like surf lessons), its just so complicated!
consequently im pretty much living off of brown rice, whole wheat pasta, cottage cheese and fruit, and toast (with vegemite!).
and ive turned into a water guzzler. diet coke here is all off, it was shocking the first time i got it actually (all of three hours after arriving in freo), almost spat it out.
that cured that addiction.
fortunately my coffee addiction hasnt had to die yet. although we lack a coffee pot in the kitchen, we DO have a french press. so im all good. and the grounds i got are actually not too shabby.
there is no Starbucks here (thankfully for my budget), and i wouldnt be surprised if i when i come back home im completely off it. then its just a matter of when i start to cave again.
probably as soon as i get back to south bend.
there's this really sweet walkway on the harbour, where they have all these anchors that they dredged up from the coast right there. the things are HUGE. its pretty sweet. they have some really old wooden ones. ill take pictures and put them up later, i think the boys would really like them.
theres also a shipwreck museum about spitting distance from my dorm. i havent gone yet, not sure i want to. i love the ocean, its so beautiful, but ive always had a hard time not seeing it as a giant graveyard. its more like that at home, where its all dark and rocky and slightly intimidating. here its all blue and white beaches and reefs and prettiness, but i still kind of have that reaction.
think about it. think about how many bodies are in there. how on ships they always referred to personnel as souls.
so yeah, there's this place in freo where you can buy chandeliers from shipwrecks, and a bunch of girls were getting all excited about how that would be *so* romantic, but i find it all rather macabre.
not as bad, but almost like the whole mummies in museums thing. its a sign of death.
point is, i dont know if i want to go look at a bunch of shipwrecks. but again, i also think the boys would probably find it really cool, so i might just go to take pictures.
im paranoid about my grades here. i was told point blank there was no way i could get a 4, cos no one does, esp americans. and i realize i probably wont, and that ultimately grades dont matter etc, but the sheer impossibility of it is driving me crazy. the fact that a 3 here is pretty much the same as a 4 back home isnt going to show up on my transcript.
its also a little rough because the way they do things here, there is no core program. and you get a 3 year degree. so im in class with students in their last year, of a very very specialized degree. like the kids in my lit class are all lit majors, and completely used to the type of class. but its my first lit class in a university setting, so i feel completely idiotic. plus they kind of assume a general knowledge of australian literature, like things you would read in high school, but obviously i dont have that.
so im irritating the other abroad kids in the class by reading books not on the reading list, in an effort to catch up. its not like im trying to be an overachiever either, i just would like to feel like i have some understanding of whats being talked about, you know?
the same goes for my theatre and cinema class (dont scoff, its going to be really interesting). i general understanding of australian culture and history is going to be assumed (a major one being Aboriginal relations), and so im going to have to do alot of research there too. which is good because thats one of the major things i wanted to accomplish here, and oddly enough i think this might be the class where i get the most of it.
my foreign policy class is going to be fine i think. the prof (lecturer here) is a hoot and a half. while preposterously expensive, the required text is really small and we only have to read a chapter a week. and he's really laid back. so oddly enough (i hate poli sci classes) i think this one might be the most stress free.
i havent had either my history or my british policy classes yet. im a little afraid of them both, the british more than the others. just because it looks as boring as humanly possible. i might look into switching out, if i can find another class that i can get into. we'll see.
i look like a leper. peeling all over. gross.
things i've noticed:
1. americans really are loud and obnoxious.
ive made a concerted effort to have a more respectful voice level, esp in public. its painful being on the train or bus with the other study abroad kids, we're just SO loud.
2. 'rubbish', 'out for a tic', 'pop it in there'
i love that they actually talk the way they're "supposed to."
i havent picked up the phrases, am trying not to. dont want to be that american tool. ive even put effort into not saying no worries, which ive been saying for years. i just feel like a poser.
3. australians really are ridiculously friendly.
its true. like, some of the kids get all overwhelmed by it ("they're SO nice!"), but i was expecting it, and honestly, im used to friendly people. i think its because im from the PNW, and alot of these kids are from the east coast, where they dont have people they have vampires.
4. stephen makes killer mixes.
been listening to "stephen mix ii: the australia ed." alot. its sweeeet. thanks buddy.
what else? i dont know.
my room is completely in shape, even better now then an hour ago cos i cleaned. im really glad classes have started, i need a schedule. am thinking about getting a gym membership (i know i know), but its 140 aud for four months, a bunch of kids have memberships, and they go all the time, so i know i would actually go, and included in the membership is accessibility to classes and such, like aerobics and dance.
the downside is i dont like spending large amounts of money in one go, and its not air conditioned.
thoughts?
ok, i think thats all i got for now. im going to go make pasta and keep an eye out for Crowded House to announce their tour dates.
im not kidding, i need prayers here. if i could see CH in australia ... im not sure what exactly would happen, but i think it would involve something close to ecstasy.
love you all, some one email me already.
Monday, February 19, 2007
i told you all
AAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i TOLD you!!!!!!!!!!!!
i missed MUSE
in PERTH
by TWELVE DAYS
and THEN!
they go to the usa
in APRIL
I KNEW IT
i TOLD you!!!!!!!!!!!!
i missed MUSE
in PERTH
by TWELVE DAYS
and THEN!
they go to the usa
in APRIL
I KNEW IT
im here
goooood grief, this blogging thing is going to be hit and miss.
soooo, basically, im here, and life is good. really good. =)
im staying in this adorable little place called Port Lodge, its got this beautiful park in front of it (where DMB, ben harper, john mayer and a ton of other people i dont listen to but are really famous and your average college kid would love *phew* are playing), right off the park is the harbour.
oh man, i think of papa every time i go out there, its stunning. the boats all floating around (kindof like a more chill ventura), these fish and crab shacks (dont let the 'shack' fool you though, very very spendy. although, i have to say, the other day we went out to this fish and chips place on the harbour and i really didnt feel like fried fish without ketchup (yeah, they dont have complimentary ketchup, you have to pay $1.30 [ha]), so i got the prawn pasta, cos id been craving prawns (got so spoiled at work this break, what with my daily prawn ration) and it was AMAZING, i mean from the look of the place, you'd think that everything was reallllly sketch, but i mean, this stuff was amazing. a little cilantro, lemon and lime, tomato&basil sauce, spaghetti and grilled prawns .... mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, besides anything from my fish place (loyalties loyalties) is was the best seafood dish of my life mmmmmmmmmmm), and as i discovered today, a mcdonalds with the best view in the world, and this fish market that was fairly decently priced (comparatively at least), or at least i think so, i need to figure out what the kilo-pound conversion is. but it had fresh shark and swordfish steaks, and it was cool.
not gonna lie, i had no idea how obsessed with seafood ive become. its rediculous. i mean, the other day i was craving prawns.
me!
prawns!
ok, sooo, ill put up pictures soon enough so you can see how glorious it all is.
(i mean, good grief! i was slightly homesickish (not really, dont worry about me, just more thinking about how great it would be if everyone lived here so i would have to describe it you could just see it yourselves) so in my looking for something that was close to home, i went for a walk on the peir, just so i could smell the fish in the markets! i LOVE fish!)
ok.
moving on.
ummm, flight out here was unreal. best airline ever. i mean, it was great. fun fun fun.
landing in sydney was utterly surreal. you'll all scoff im sure, but flying over the city, see it all, the harbour and everything, (missed the opera house, grr), it was like coming home. i know, sappy, but its true.
i was able to reign in the tears, just because it would be completely humiliating to be all crying with these ND kids i'd just met, like earning this "complete emotional wreak" label, but anyway, my point is that there was just an overwhelming sense of serenity flying in. i felt bad leaving for perth, like i out to stay a while and say hi to the city, but i know ill end up back there later, so its all good.
getting into perth and taking the bus to fremantle. that was amazing. and yeah, i did start crying, but only a little bit and no one saw and i was overtired anyways.
port lodge is all singles, my room is miniscule, but i like it. ive already got most of my pictures up, and feel completely at home.
the kids with me are great, we all seem to get along really well. besides the ND kids there are peeps from purdue, iona college (you ever heard of it?), sacred heart, and some other place i think. the main groups are the ND, UP, and St.Johns crowds, with 18, 20, and 30 over here respectively.
we have to get our own food, so im starting to appreciate mama's tallying skills in the grocery.
looks like its going to be a pasta filled semester, with a little rice for flava
and ive vowed to develop a taste for vegemite. i must.
we started orientation today, it was fairly predictable. with the fairly predictable "we're back in frosh-o" comments. tomorrow will be boring, but wednesday and thursday should be sweet.
we spend all day wed in perth, getting the lay of the land, and thursday we get to see what all the clubs and service opportunities are. and i get to find out if they really do have a women's rugby team.
=)
oh yeah! i knew there was a reason i had to post.
so the internet here is lame because skype doesnt work very well (hence not calling yet), but we're a couple of days from getting it figured out. anyways, so a few of us were wandering all over fremantle looking for an internet cafe so we could fix our skype problems. we left too late, and the cafe we were headed to was just closed, soo they refered us to this resaurant/brewery that is right on the harbour, like, a minute from port lodge, that apparently has wireless for free. of course we would end up practically going back home after walking all over the place, but it was fun so i didnt really care, the point is, this place is AMAZING. oh man papa, you would love it so much.
first off, its called "little creatures", amazing!
second, its the coolest setup ive ever seen. the chillest vibe, very very NWsty. basically its a giant warehouse, where about half is the restaurant, the other the brewery. but everything is completely open, like you can see the rafters on the ceiling, and all that. and you can watch them brew their beer, cook the food, i mean, you can see everything. plus its got a little book corner thing, catwalks, comfy couches, and what smells like really really good food. and like it goes straight out the back onto the peir, best view. and pretty much everyone who works there wears chucks.
or has dreads.
but thats besides the point, the point is, its phenomenal. and we should have somthing like it in portland, in fact, i want to take pictures and whatnot and take them to the fish place, and be like, dude if we open up a legit restaurant, this is what it needs to be. it soo would work. and they could hire dad to brew beer, and i would cook great fish, and it would be soooooo great.
plus its called little creatures!
ok, i think you get the point.
oh yeah, we were there for like an hour, trying to figure out how the interent worked. but it didnt. we could connect to the wireless, but like something was wrong with our wireless card or whatnot and we were never able to really figure it out. so we're going to the cafe tomorrow afternoon, and then hopefully i can call everyone
but MAN it would be a great fish place inspiration. will take pix.
oh yeah, did sarah tell you al i got impetigo (sp) while at TAC?
yeah.
its mostly cleared up now though, just scabby. it was a better case then the ones ive had in the past, got better way faster, to which i credit me deciding to doulbe my dose of mynocycline to fight it off. im pretty sure thats why it worked so well.
but yeah, typical.
ummmmmmm .... yeah, not much else. ive been really busy, theres alot going on and many stories already, but im bad at this writing articulation thing.
mostly the place is fabulous, i really like the people, i like my class schedule, everyone is wonderful, and ill try to write more often and thus not run the risk of leaving stuff out
kk, love you all. write more soon.
soooo, basically, im here, and life is good. really good. =)
im staying in this adorable little place called Port Lodge, its got this beautiful park in front of it (where DMB, ben harper, john mayer and a ton of other people i dont listen to but are really famous and your average college kid would love *phew* are playing), right off the park is the harbour.
oh man, i think of papa every time i go out there, its stunning. the boats all floating around (kindof like a more chill ventura), these fish and crab shacks (dont let the 'shack' fool you though, very very spendy. although, i have to say, the other day we went out to this fish and chips place on the harbour and i really didnt feel like fried fish without ketchup (yeah, they dont have complimentary ketchup, you have to pay $1.30 [ha]), so i got the prawn pasta, cos id been craving prawns (got so spoiled at work this break, what with my daily prawn ration) and it was AMAZING, i mean from the look of the place, you'd think that everything was reallllly sketch, but i mean, this stuff was amazing. a little cilantro, lemon and lime, tomato&basil sauce, spaghetti and grilled prawns .... mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, besides anything from my fish place (loyalties loyalties) is was the best seafood dish of my life mmmmmmmmmmm), and as i discovered today, a mcdonalds with the best view in the world, and this fish market that was fairly decently priced (comparatively at least), or at least i think so, i need to figure out what the kilo-pound conversion is. but it had fresh shark and swordfish steaks, and it was cool.
not gonna lie, i had no idea how obsessed with seafood ive become. its rediculous. i mean, the other day i was craving prawns.
me!
prawns!
ok, sooo, ill put up pictures soon enough so you can see how glorious it all is.
(i mean, good grief! i was slightly homesickish (not really, dont worry about me, just more thinking about how great it would be if everyone lived here so i would have to describe it you could just see it yourselves) so in my looking for something that was close to home, i went for a walk on the peir, just so i could smell the fish in the markets! i LOVE fish!)
ok.
moving on.
ummm, flight out here was unreal. best airline ever. i mean, it was great. fun fun fun.
landing in sydney was utterly surreal. you'll all scoff im sure, but flying over the city, see it all, the harbour and everything, (missed the opera house, grr), it was like coming home. i know, sappy, but its true.
i was able to reign in the tears, just because it would be completely humiliating to be all crying with these ND kids i'd just met, like earning this "complete emotional wreak" label, but anyway, my point is that there was just an overwhelming sense of serenity flying in. i felt bad leaving for perth, like i out to stay a while and say hi to the city, but i know ill end up back there later, so its all good.
getting into perth and taking the bus to fremantle. that was amazing. and yeah, i did start crying, but only a little bit and no one saw and i was overtired anyways.
port lodge is all singles, my room is miniscule, but i like it. ive already got most of my pictures up, and feel completely at home.
the kids with me are great, we all seem to get along really well. besides the ND kids there are peeps from purdue, iona college (you ever heard of it?), sacred heart, and some other place i think. the main groups are the ND, UP, and St.Johns crowds, with 18, 20, and 30 over here respectively.
we have to get our own food, so im starting to appreciate mama's tallying skills in the grocery.
looks like its going to be a pasta filled semester, with a little rice for flava
and ive vowed to develop a taste for vegemite. i must.
we started orientation today, it was fairly predictable. with the fairly predictable "we're back in frosh-o" comments. tomorrow will be boring, but wednesday and thursday should be sweet.
we spend all day wed in perth, getting the lay of the land, and thursday we get to see what all the clubs and service opportunities are. and i get to find out if they really do have a women's rugby team.
=)
oh yeah! i knew there was a reason i had to post.
so the internet here is lame because skype doesnt work very well (hence not calling yet), but we're a couple of days from getting it figured out. anyways, so a few of us were wandering all over fremantle looking for an internet cafe so we could fix our skype problems. we left too late, and the cafe we were headed to was just closed, soo they refered us to this resaurant/brewery that is right on the harbour, like, a minute from port lodge, that apparently has wireless for free. of course we would end up practically going back home after walking all over the place, but it was fun so i didnt really care, the point is, this place is AMAZING. oh man papa, you would love it so much.
first off, its called "little creatures", amazing!
second, its the coolest setup ive ever seen. the chillest vibe, very very NWsty. basically its a giant warehouse, where about half is the restaurant, the other the brewery. but everything is completely open, like you can see the rafters on the ceiling, and all that. and you can watch them brew their beer, cook the food, i mean, you can see everything. plus its got a little book corner thing, catwalks, comfy couches, and what smells like really really good food. and like it goes straight out the back onto the peir, best view. and pretty much everyone who works there wears chucks.
or has dreads.
but thats besides the point, the point is, its phenomenal. and we should have somthing like it in portland, in fact, i want to take pictures and whatnot and take them to the fish place, and be like, dude if we open up a legit restaurant, this is what it needs to be. it soo would work. and they could hire dad to brew beer, and i would cook great fish, and it would be soooooo great.
plus its called little creatures!
ok, i think you get the point.
oh yeah, we were there for like an hour, trying to figure out how the interent worked. but it didnt. we could connect to the wireless, but like something was wrong with our wireless card or whatnot and we were never able to really figure it out. so we're going to the cafe tomorrow afternoon, and then hopefully i can call everyone
but MAN it would be a great fish place inspiration. will take pix.
oh yeah, did sarah tell you al i got impetigo (sp) while at TAC?
yeah.
its mostly cleared up now though, just scabby. it was a better case then the ones ive had in the past, got better way faster, to which i credit me deciding to doulbe my dose of mynocycline to fight it off. im pretty sure thats why it worked so well.
but yeah, typical.
ummmmmmm .... yeah, not much else. ive been really busy, theres alot going on and many stories already, but im bad at this writing articulation thing.
mostly the place is fabulous, i really like the people, i like my class schedule, everyone is wonderful, and ill try to write more often and thus not run the risk of leaving stuff out
kk, love you all. write more soon.
Sunday, February 04, 2007
bows
*and does this little dance*
cos ... *drum roll* .... i'm going to see PETE YORN!!!
ok fine, so its not that great, but its still great given that i havent been able to see ANY shows this break, and everyone and their dog is coming through AFTER i leave ... for
yeah
australia. [hee hee.]
so yeah, to wrap up, i won a couple of tix for a private session and a concert this friday, it should be fun.
boo to the gre tho, thats all i have to say about that.
other than that, news is that
AHHHHHHH!!!! mel (the CAPTAIN) is on lost!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
or at least was for an episode.
i jumped, and did a little dance.
yeah, i'm full of them.
not much else, just been working and waiting to leave the country.
song of this break is: "you are the one" -shiny toy guns. i'm obsessed. totally obsessed.
new arcade fire album soooooon. this is exciting, for those who dont know.
cos ... *drum roll* .... i'm going to see PETE YORN!!!
ok fine, so its not that great, but its still great given that i havent been able to see ANY shows this break, and everyone and their dog is coming through AFTER i leave ... for
yeah
australia. [hee hee.]
so yeah, to wrap up, i won a couple of tix for a private session and a concert this friday, it should be fun.
boo to the gre tho, thats all i have to say about that.
other than that, news is that
AHHHHHHH!!!! mel (the CAPTAIN) is on lost!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
or at least was for an episode.
i jumped, and did a little dance.
yeah, i'm full of them.
not much else, just been working and waiting to leave the country.
song of this break is: "you are the one" -shiny toy guns. i'm obsessed. totally obsessed.
new arcade fire album soooooon. this is exciting, for those who dont know.
Friday, December 01, 2006
typical
soooo, i'm at work, streaming nrk, ladeeda, checking out what's going on in p-town, and wadaya know, in the next two weeks
snow patrol
the SHINS
PETE YORN
eric brachman
jet
TED LEO
are alllll going to be gracing my city, and wadaya know,
by the time i get home, who am i going to be able to catch???
oh yeah
incubus. and barry manilow.
wwwwhhhhhhhhyyyyyyyyyy
[takes consolation in that radiohead and muse have not confirmed US tour dates while in AUS ... yet]
Saturday, November 18, 2006
while her loyal sons are marching
ive been sitting here for two hours, attempting to put in writing what the past two days have been like.
it hit me with full force yesterday afternoon, when i read this article online at work, and before i knew it, i couldnt control the tears streaming down my face.
it's unbearable to think that im never going to see zib's banner on my way to my section in the stadium; no more rediculous samardzija catches or touchdown high fives; brady's runs for first downs; zibby's returns??
after oct 15 last year, i knew it was going to be impossibly hard to let these guys go. i was a diehard ND football fan before that, of course, but since that game i have loved this class individually and intensely. the anguish i felt leaving the stadium that night was partly the pain of loss, but mostly overwhelmingly trying to grapple with the utter impotence of needing to tell each and every one of them how incredibly proud i was, and it would be impossible for me to love them more.
we bleed the same blood, and it runs blue and gold.
ever since, despite rediculous games and stupid mistakes, i still love them so much. brady, jeff, zibs, laws, landri, carlson, rhema, geoff, morton, chinedum, frome ... these are the guys i know.
i eat with them, i pray with them, i go to class with them, and on the weekend, i cheer for them like there's no tomorrow.
so i was sitting there, reading all the highlights and trying to get my mind around it. the pep rally didnt help much, the whole school loves these guys. they announce every senior individually, and they come out with their parents and have pictures taken. its a long process, and usually a little boring. but this time, i dont know, it was a little overwheming that i knew who almost every player was. we clapped and cheered for all the players, it was great. but by the time we got to the big guns (no alphabetical order here, definite higherarchy), it just got louder and louder. when zibs and samardzija were annouced, the applause lasted well after the pictures were taken. when they finally got to brady though ... before anything was even said (they introduced everyone, started off with his highschool highlights, then ran through his records here, etc), the slow clapping started, and honestly i couldnt tell you if they ever even said his name, it escalated to the most defening roar i'd ever heard in the jacc. it lasted long after he sat down.
yes i was crying. again.
i suppose you can imagine how the game was then ... here's a couple of favorite moments
-the army golden eagles (about 10 i think) paracuting into the stadium. in an interview afterwards one said the coolest thing ever was when the roaring was so loud they could feel the vibrations as they were decending
-the moment of silence for Bo Schembechler. how many times are you surrounded by 80,000+ people, and the loudest noise you hear is your own breathing.
-the jerseys. it's comforting that weis knows how much those guys deserved the recognition, and that we arent going to define the jerseys by sc.
-brady's last play. he and the rest of the first string were on the field, but got switched out in the last seconds ... i guess that's what you do, but anyway, the second string was running out, and brady just stands and turns around, looking .... i dont know where it started but before i knew it the entire stadium was chanting "brady" ... rhema raised his hand for him ... and i thought it couldnt get more emotional than 'rudy' ... it was beautiful, and i wasnt the only one losing my voice through tears.
before i knew it, the game was over. it flew by faster than most -litterally. over in about three hours. our boys joined army on the other side of the field for their alma mater, then came back to the student section. we sang the fight song, our alma mater, and when in a normal game they would leave, they just stayed.
the seniors broke off, kind of huddled up, and then took a really slow lap around the stadium.
i was suprised by how many regular attendees stayed. id be willing to say at least 50000 were there. its hard to justify how exactly i know this, but these guys weren't just going around and basking in the adoration, they were genuinely saying goodbye, and thank you. paradoxically enough, there was something gloriously humble about it all.
they were notre dame seniors, just like the other 2000 in the stands. and they didnt want to leave.
i was holding up ok, still cheering, singing the fight song, clapping, screaming, but when they got around to the student section again, it got 10x more chaotic, and when brady came running up and jumped up into our section, standing in with us all, raised his helmet and started the chant, "beat sc" ... i lost it. again.
being in that stadium is an experience. its night time, all the light from those glorious field lights, the score board lit up to say "ND 0 - SC 0" [first quarter 15:00] ... the andrenaline, defiance, love, pride.
there's no where else but notre dame, but i dont know what im going to do without them.
i suppose all i can do is wonder at the power of memory, thank God for a glorious two years, and pray the BCS knows what its doing come bowl time.
GO IRISH.
it hit me with full force yesterday afternoon, when i read this article online at work, and before i knew it, i couldnt control the tears streaming down my face.
it's unbearable to think that im never going to see zib's banner on my way to my section in the stadium; no more rediculous samardzija catches or touchdown high fives; brady's runs for first downs; zibby's returns??
after oct 15 last year, i knew it was going to be impossibly hard to let these guys go. i was a diehard ND football fan before that, of course, but since that game i have loved this class individually and intensely. the anguish i felt leaving the stadium that night was partly the pain of loss, but mostly overwhelmingly trying to grapple with the utter impotence of needing to tell each and every one of them how incredibly proud i was, and it would be impossible for me to love them more.
we bleed the same blood, and it runs blue and gold.
ever since, despite rediculous games and stupid mistakes, i still love them so much. brady, jeff, zibs, laws, landri, carlson, rhema, geoff, morton, chinedum, frome ... these are the guys i know.
i eat with them, i pray with them, i go to class with them, and on the weekend, i cheer for them like there's no tomorrow.
so i was sitting there, reading all the highlights and trying to get my mind around it. the pep rally didnt help much, the whole school loves these guys. they announce every senior individually, and they come out with their parents and have pictures taken. its a long process, and usually a little boring. but this time, i dont know, it was a little overwheming that i knew who almost every player was. we clapped and cheered for all the players, it was great. but by the time we got to the big guns (no alphabetical order here, definite higherarchy), it just got louder and louder. when zibs and samardzija were annouced, the applause lasted well after the pictures were taken. when they finally got to brady though ... before anything was even said (they introduced everyone, started off with his highschool highlights, then ran through his records here, etc), the slow clapping started, and honestly i couldnt tell you if they ever even said his name, it escalated to the most defening roar i'd ever heard in the jacc. it lasted long after he sat down.
yes i was crying. again.
i suppose you can imagine how the game was then ... here's a couple of favorite moments
-the army golden eagles (about 10 i think) paracuting into the stadium. in an interview afterwards one said the coolest thing ever was when the roaring was so loud they could feel the vibrations as they were decending
-the moment of silence for Bo Schembechler. how many times are you surrounded by 80,000+ people, and the loudest noise you hear is your own breathing.
-the jerseys. it's comforting that weis knows how much those guys deserved the recognition, and that we arent going to define the jerseys by sc.
-brady's last play. he and the rest of the first string were on the field, but got switched out in the last seconds ... i guess that's what you do, but anyway, the second string was running out, and brady just stands and turns around, looking .... i dont know where it started but before i knew it the entire stadium was chanting "brady" ... rhema raised his hand for him ... and i thought it couldnt get more emotional than 'rudy' ... it was beautiful, and i wasnt the only one losing my voice through tears.
before i knew it, the game was over. it flew by faster than most -litterally. over in about three hours. our boys joined army on the other side of the field for their alma mater, then came back to the student section. we sang the fight song, our alma mater, and when in a normal game they would leave, they just stayed.
the seniors broke off, kind of huddled up, and then took a really slow lap around the stadium.
i was suprised by how many regular attendees stayed. id be willing to say at least 50000 were there. its hard to justify how exactly i know this, but these guys weren't just going around and basking in the adoration, they were genuinely saying goodbye, and thank you. paradoxically enough, there was something gloriously humble about it all.
they were notre dame seniors, just like the other 2000 in the stands. and they didnt want to leave.
i was holding up ok, still cheering, singing the fight song, clapping, screaming, but when they got around to the student section again, it got 10x more chaotic, and when brady came running up and jumped up into our section, standing in with us all, raised his helmet and started the chant, "beat sc" ... i lost it. again.
being in that stadium is an experience. its night time, all the light from those glorious field lights, the score board lit up to say "ND 0 - SC 0" [first quarter 15:00] ... the andrenaline, defiance, love, pride.
there's no where else but notre dame, but i dont know what im going to do without them.
i suppose all i can do is wonder at the power of memory, thank God for a glorious two years, and pray the BCS knows what its doing come bowl time.
GO IRISH.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
i cant think in any other terms right now
read this and tell me why i hadn't heard until today
i wanted to believe it wasn't true.
some nonsense horrific blogging legend
but my dear friend molly is is cairo, and she's witnessed it herself
the stories told in that blog happened three blocks away from her apartment
she's going to try to go to a protest today
but she is very scared
please keep her in your prayers
not so comfortably numb
wondering
what kind of world do we live in, where
you go to a main news webpage, and you find stories about
reese and ryan [so sad]
bumbling politicians and their pathetic word games
go to 'world politics'
nothing
'middle east'
nothing
what kind of world do we live in, where
immortals' crying to heaven for vengence is drowned by the clamor to get elected
make money
nba predictions
gas prices georgia
be seen [hiding]
pathetic little games, distractions to keep us from truly seeing
our pathetic little lives
"we are responsible to everything, we are responsible for everything"
but no one's listening in ...
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