I'm living with Kevin, and in the singing walk to campus this morning in my sandals and the sun, I thought about the last month post Australia ( Read more... )

This North of Sydney stuff (endless forests and beaches) is really amazing - in the true sense of the word - reminds me of Northern Northern California forests. I thought there was nothing but cities and subrubs along the coast, but it is open bush as far as the eye can see, birds (weird colored parrots) shouting madly from the treetops, and even ( Read more... )

First things first. Does anyone know my phone number? Is it 951-965-0777? Please tell me it is. I've forgotten ( Read more... )

In Byron Bay after one of the most REAL experiences of my life (still going). Hitching up the coast with Anna has been real in all senses of the word. We have been picked up by big rigs, aborigines, moms, grandpas, everything and camped everywhere. We fought a ton and hugged a ton, enough experiences to blow up from. 700 miles, five nights, food. ( Read more... )

I flew into Melbourne with Natascha, picked up by Tassie Tom in a 4WD, off to his house for breakfast and then on to the Great Ocean Road. The winding cliffs are like California's, only facing south and the OCean is more angry and colder. We went climbing in caves and rainforests and even saw my first kangaroo in the wild. No koalas however, they ( Read more... )

My week's have been going well. last weekend was Royal National Park. we got up at 6, took a train at 7, took the ferry at 8:30 to the park, and by 9 were climbing along rugged cliff coastlines and marvelling at the beautiful blue blue ocean. I even felt like the conservative one when my heart started racing as N------- started rapelling down a ( Read more... )

last night I walked around the city with N------- and oh! Sitting in front of the opera house in a suit and harbour bridge like it was just another building across the water with blue lights flickering on its white spikes. Then up to a bar to watch the New South Wales vs. Queensland Rugby match (they are just brutal, its like American football with ( Read more... )

Sydney has surprised even me. I didn't think I'd swing into this grind so quickly. By the afternoon of my arrival, I was already doing busy work for research and the next day I pulled a nine hour stint. I met a nice Finnish friend who I've had a good time with and we stayed up eating Burritos and ramen in the hostel. I learned a lot about Finland, ( Read more... )

And I will be gone. 48 hours from now, I will fly United for the first time to Sydney for my second trip there. 48 hours from now, I can say "I reckon" and not get a weird look. 48 hours from now, I can once again get some Bush Spice and Capsicum, Chooks and chips. I will be rushed into the bustling business world of an NGO, research and Australian ( Read more... )

As I start studying for finals, I glanced at a random website and found my first girlfriend's name ( Read more... )