I am a little behind seeing as I have not written since Mardi Gras in early March. I feel like that is the story of my life here. Everything is flying by and I am trying to hold on to every moment and savor each experience, and before I know it, it's Friday and 2 months have passed. When everyone says "Oh, 6 months is nothing abroad" I really believe it now. This trip is going faster than I imagined it would and I am definitely beginning to wish I had signed up for the year long program. It is hard to believe I have been here for nearly 2 months!
But anyways, let's see... what have I been doing these last few weeks. The weekend after Mardi Gras was our 1st CIEE program weekend getaway to Murramarang Resorts which is about a 5-6 hour drive south of Sydney. CIEE is the program I came here with and the 1st kids I met when I arrived, all of which (except for 2) go to Sydney Uni. We all piled onto the mini bus with Naomi, our mother figure and program director, at 8 am for our long road trip together. I got a little nervous when our driver Brett warned us the trip was all country, winding roads...and he was not lying. It actually turned out to be a blast after I popped a few Dramamines and sat in the front row. We made too many pit stops along the way and ate all the junk food my tummy could handle, but it was still a good time nonetheless.
Our resorts were absolutely amazing! We were in a National Park and right on the beach, AND the best part- wild and friendly kangas right on our porches!! It was amazing to actually see them up close and pet them. They are so strange looking and, honestly, not quite as cute and cuddly as portrayed on television. Their feet are basically the length of my legs, and I definitely would not one of those bad boys jumping through my window and onto my bed (not sure if you heard, but that actually just happened in Canberra. Don't worry, the man just had to wrestle him down and save his family).
The first night we just relaxed, played volleyball on the beach after a little confusion trying to explain to the front desk the difference between a soccer ball and a volleyball. After a DIY BBQ dinner, an Aussie staple, two girls took over the karaoke stage. I can only handle so much out of tune singing/screaming without any alcohol in me, and I felt a cold coming so I hit the sack to prepare for our big hike the next day.
So did I mention, big. I was picturing this nice little leisure bushwalk...pretty sure it was a 5 hour sweaty mountain climb! Oh, and I had no idea that leeches lived in the forest. We all walked in a line and were on the buddy system for leech lookout. They stick straight into the air and cling to your shoes, crawl up and into your socks and bite you!! Ughh, they make me shiver just remembering it. It actually was pretty funny to see the guys screaming like little girls and frantically trying to just get them off with a "swooshing" motion.
Our tour guide was a local aboriginal man, Warren, whose tribe once claimed rights to the Gulaga hill. Much like the Native American tribes in the US, the Yuwen tribe Warren belongs to was stripped of their native land and now instead of the mountain belonging to anyone (even though it is open to the public), he says the tribe belongs to the mountain. It was a really amazing and unique experience to have one on one contact with an aboriginal considering most will not even speak, let alone look at a white person. He was nothing like I imagined, even though the only ideas about aboriginals I have are from the fat, basically naked ones that sit at Circular Quay and play the didgeridoo. He was very American gangster looking and really quiet at first. He barely made eye contact, but eventually warmed up and I got a chance to talk to him the whole walk back about his reaction to Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd's, public apology for the "Stolen Generation" and aboriginal mistreatment.
He took us through the sacred part of the hill and clapped us in to let the spirits know there were 15 of us entering. We had to be silent and would normally have paint on our faces to open our "third eye" protect, and quiet us...except he forgot to bring the paint. The forest was so amazing with these HUGE marble statues in the middle of 1000s of eucalyptus trees. It sounds cheesy but it was actually very powerful and spiritual. We all sent a little energy home through the healing rock and learned the story and significance of each stone as we walked.
The journey down the hill was just as difficult as the one up and my hips hurt something fierce the next day...apparently I have a few muscles I do not use regularly. Anyways, we scrounged up some energy after a pasta buffet back at the resort and began our night with the beloved goon. We had an awesome party on the beach with our bus driver as entertainment and guitar player leading the choir. It was one of best nights I have had here and we all woke up with salt and sand everywhere.
So that was Murramarang in a little summary. This weekend we had another trip to the Hunter Valley, which is a spectacular 1.5 hour drive up north. Everything is so green, beautiful and hilly...I am living on Dramamine with all this public transportation. The Hunter Valley is the wine valley of New South Wales and home to some of the best shiraz I have tasted. We went to 3 vineyards and drank wine, ate cheese, drank wine...and drank more wine. Needless to say, it was a great day and a nice, quiet bus ride home.
Today, Sunday, was another fabulous day in Australia...and just how you would imagine OZ to be. I awoke to a picture-perfect clear blue sky, sun shining in my window, and headed out for my second home, Manly Beach, with my second wife, Melissa. Don't worry Megs, you will be never be replaced :) Unfortunately the train and ferry make the 20 minute drive an hour and half journey, but it is well worth it. I am home now with sunburned shins and eyelids, my usual missed spots, so I would call it a successful day at the beach. I just talked to a friend and he said it is snowing in WI right now...I am going to be so depressed next year this time. I am making sure to cherish each day here, and also realizing that I have to live somewhere warm with limited, to no winter. It's amazing how sunshine really makes me live up to my name.
Miss you all heaps, keep me updated on your lives,
xoxo,
Sun
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