Friday, May 30, 2014

LAST DAY OF CLASS!

Tonight I was planning on taking it easy after a long week by blogging about some of the important events that have been going on in the last two weeks. Instead, I sit hear late at night after an unplanned outing to a Brazilian party! I was searching for some people to sign my Australian flag as a memento of all the people I met at Richardson Hall, so I could take it with me, and I wound up finding a "Bon Voyage!" party for Clarie, our residential Frenchwoman. They had planned to go to the city, but they changed their minds, and decided to go to a Brazilian party that was a 20 minute walk from campus. I was reluctant to go, but it is so hard to say no to Brazilian enthusiasm, plus I haven't gone out in quite some time.

Brazilian parties are not like other parties. When you know someone, you don't just say hi and start talking. You spot each other from across the room, yell "HEY!" and run to give them a great big bear hug! And when you meet someone for the first time, you don't just start chatting. You start chatting but your faces have barely a hands width between each other! Or while conversing with people you already know, they frequently touch you on the back or shoulder. Its all hugging and touching, and yelling. Flamboyance is my best word to describe it. Its a pleasant difference between the unconscious bubble of space we give new people in America. We think this is respectful to give strangers space, but you feel like part of the family when you know no one this way. No one is a stranger, they are just someone new to include in the festivities.

Much of the party, I spent talking to a local Australian named Dan. He works as a musician; he plays guitar, and was a good looking guy. I probably spent at least an hour talking to him before his friends came over and I felt like a third wheel. It was nice, though to talk to someone local about music and other culture difference. I have had similar conversations before, but it is always nice to get a fresh perspective. Then, I began talking to a Brazilian. He was so tall. I couldn't get over the fact that while I was standing on a step, he was still taller than me. My neck was straining to look up. On top of this, it was sometimes difficult to chat with him because he was quite inebriated, so his breath smelt strongly of wine. I myself didn't drink anything. I knew I was going to a group meeting in the morning, plus I need to call my parents.

I think the most fun I had though, was talking to Miguel on the way their. He was so drunk that almost everything I said was funny. I told him that I thought he was so drunk that if I said "banana" to him, he would laugh. He asked me to try it.....He laughed.

He kept on thinking I was making fun of him, though. I did a little after he said that, but both times I was being quite serious. He was asking me if I knew how it seems like in every group of friends their is always one person that is like the mother figure. And I said yes, I understand what you mean (and to that friend who knows who she is, you are the reason I can say yes to this ;) ) He got really defensive, and said, "You're making fun of me, aren't you?" He did make the point that if someone else was as drunk as he was at that moment, he would be making fun of them. The next time that he had the same reaction was when I told him there was a phrase in America when you said someone was playing possum because possums in America played dead as a defense mechanism.

His laugh sounded like an animal hissing and then turned into a full blown hyena cackle. I had never heard him laugh like that. Oh, Miguel, you made the night some much more fun because of your "drunkenness."

I learned a new cultural phrase and a way of living today, too. I want to start using them! Here they are:

Brazilian Phrase: "Traveling through mayonnaise."
Translation: Day dreaming

French Saying: "You eat like a King for breakfast, a Prince for lunch, and a Prisoner for dinner."

Good night! I cannot write anymore. I already spent half an hour writing this, when I had planned to be back at 1 am, and ended up back at 2 am. Now, it's 2:30 am, and I know I have to get up. So, I am getting my tuckus to bed!

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Entry 1: New Zealand

Not much has been going on in the past two weeks that is of significant consequence, since I have been staved of much social interaction of any kind besides that of dinner and study groups. I will comment that tomorrow will be a nice change of pace for at least a one day reprieve. I will be going on a Heritage Walk as one of the field trips offered in my Contemporary Australia class.

Also, I want to thank you for everyone who has sent me letters in the past two weeks. They have made me smile during my breaks throughout my stressed and wired life of studies.

Instead of talking about what is currently going on, I promised to start typing up my written journal for the week I was in New Zealand. The entries get less and less grammatically correct and descriptive as the trip progressed because I had very little time between events and bus rides (which was when I did have time) made it tough to write because the were bumpy. Anyway the following is entry 1:

17 April 2014

"As I looked through the haze, my first impression of New Zealand, from the air, was that it's a very hilly island. Not only is it hilly, though, but they're pointy, barren, grassy hills surrounded by slopping cliffs that fall straight into the ocean. I could see the tip of part of this grand island as if it was the end of the Earth!

My second impression of Auckland on this particularly spectacular day was how it wasn't rainy or miserable as I had expected from the weather forecast. Needless to say, I was only looking at the forecast for Christchurch on the South Island, not Auckland on the North Island where I am at this time. I actually started to sweat through my jacket and scarf when I trekked the 10 minute pathway from the International to the Domestic Terminals. I could have taken the free bus (which comes every 15 minutes), yet I had been cooped up in that corner of temporary property that was my seat for over 3 hours! I needed some fresh air, and it was pleasant to walk while listening to "Three Little Birds" by Bob Marely as I followed the equivalent of the yellow brick road. In this case it was a green painted line on the pavement, but it wouldn't damper my jolly mood of this country being my version of a land out of the fantasy novel I love to read.

The woman sitting next to me on the 3 hour plane ride, Jenny, was a Tazzie visiting her partner who lives here in New Zealand. She and her partner do the long distance relationship thing. That must be tough. I know I wouldn't have the patience to manage it. It's hard enough to keep up with my family while I am here, let alone consider having a boyfriend. That's why I made the decision to just relax, lay back and enjoy the ride. I don't want to break some poor bloaks heart with empty promises to keep in touch when I return to the States.

I have definitely found my voice when it comes to having more friends with guys since I have come to Australia. That was a weakness I am glad to be rid of .

On that note, I need to spend some of my lay over time doing some reading for my exam."

AND THERE YOU HAVE IT! My first entry. I will get the next one in as soon as I can.


Saturday, May 3, 2014

Carnival Day

I just realized I had a draft here and all it said was the following: 27th: Gardening day, Dexter and the snail, carnival day, balloon hat

I promise I don't have such a terrible memory that I don't know what I was talking about, but I laugh at what key words I choose to remind myself what I was wanting to write about. I mean, I needed to write day twice as if they both such important moments they required me to call them separate days when it's obviously on the the very same day proved by me writing down the number 27 before it. Thought in restrospect I should start noting down the month two. I suppose I didn't expect myself to wait this long to write about it. It's not as import as some other things. One day, I may regret it, but on this day I don't.

I'm Back!

Guess who's back. Back again. Guess who's back. Guess who's back. Guess who's back. Guess who's back. Guess who's back. Na na neh eh ah eh ah eh ah eh ah.

Sorry my fellow followers and passer byers! Long time no blog. I know it's been some time since I have been hear, but I have good reason. I've been "There and Back again....a Hobbits tale." Yep! That's right! I went to New Zealand for our week off for Easter holiday!

I may not have been publishing my blogs online, but I have still devotedly written down every juicy detail from my Xtreme Adventures! With a great big X that you cross with your arms in front of your chest as I fail at being one of the cool kids. *Cough* "Nerd." I have been keeping a journal while away because I read the fine print that only a Borrower could read: wifi not included. 

And are you ready ladies and gentleman! Here are the highlights. I met a man with a beard and a walking stick. He gave me a really shiny ring. It had a dead language engraved on it only visible with firelight. I put it on. I disappeared forever. Somewhere in between it rained. The end.
Te he he. BIGGER **COUGH** "Cosplay Nerd!"

Okay, okay. I will stop teasing now. I won't be able to write out much though. I will have to leave some cliff hangers in there like all tv shows these days to leave you needing more. Mostly, though, it's because the end of my reign here at Monash is coming to a close and I have to pass the holy grail onto the next set of study abroad students. That and my life has gotten ten times more stressful as the workload piles on. I have been a busy bunny hopping around trying to put all of my ducks in a row.

I am having an allusion slash American slang, slash referencing night I guess. It's probably getting annoy. I am annoying myself. And rambling. This is what happens when I work on assignments all day with only coffee breaks and toilet breaks, and of course the occasional break to sob softly in a corner.

Cliff hanger! It's too late for me to start writing down anything about New Zealand because if I start getting into it, I won't stop. And unfortunately, I need to get up early the second day in a row to get an early start on assignments even though tomorrow ("today" it's almost 1 am here. I had to take a little social time this evening chatting with my mates.). Hint today is Sunday. Yes girls and boys, this gal is working weekends! I promise I will get it all down eventually. I cannot give a promise to the timetable of said blogging. I will try my best not to make y'all wait too looooooong.

Ciao! Hasta luego! Gute nacht!