Ugh. I find this sadness overwhelming and debilitating. I know I just wrote about it, but there's only three weeks left now (less than that actually, if you get down to the exact amount of days), and I can't help but think about leaving. I just want to hug everyone. But that might be awkward. I can't just go around hugging people at random times now, can I?
And for any Australians who might stumble upon this, I'm going to miss you. This isn't going to be my goodbye speel or anything. If you would like to hang out more, just ask! Also, I basically will not have a life the last week I am here because of the play. Seriously. The last three days I will be in Australia will be consumed with the play. I will most likely be setting up camp at Wesley.
Fun thing I did today: learned to play Falling Slowly [from Once] on the piano! Thanks Ben! That and watched Friday Night Lights. Yessss.
LOST. I am two-thirds through the season so if anyone ruins it for me, they are going dowwwwnnnnn.
Katie Funk and I went to a Nazarene church in Enmore on Sunday. We thought it started at 11.
It did not. That's right, we walked in an hour late to a congregation of 30 people. Fantastic. Met up with the head of compassionate ministries, David Harris [thanks Laura!] and got to have lunch with him and his family. We talked about Youth In Mission in Australia. Who knows? Maybe I could return here with the Nazarene Church, yeah?
Anyways, most of the big writing assignments are over. I just have one more reflection essay left, and that one is due on Monday (MY BIRTHDAY).
Speaking of birthdays, I'd like to give a shout out to my dear friend, Chris McGrady! Happy birthday!!! You are twenty & I will soon join you!
Tomorrow, I will be going to one of the State of Origin games. The State of Origin is a series of three Rugby League games where the best players from Queensland and New South Wales get together and face off. It's quite ridiculous though. I have found about two Aussies that live here that are actually supporting their NSW Blues! I can't believe it. And why? Because the Queenslander's are a better team. Wow.
If the Philly Eagles were having a better season than the Cowboys, do you think I would ever begin to even start thinking about cheering for them? NO way Jose.
Today, we (ASCers) went to NSW State Parliament House. Rev. Hon. Dr. Senator Gordan Moyes spoke with us. This guy is pretty impressive (and he knows it). He looked like a typical U.S. Republican Senator actually. Tallish, round, double-breasted suit, with a grey combover, and a confident demeanor. He was so confounding. How do I explain it without being offensive? I expected him to be a super conservative right-wing politician. He's known as THE Christian representative in Parliament, and I have always identified those people in the States to be Republicans. And how wrong is that? You might be saying, how is that wrong? That's the way it is! With what the Democrats believe, how could they be strong Christian leaders in politics? (And now I'm afraid of offending the left-wing.) And that's not what I believe at all. It might have been how I used to think. I think there are Christian leaders on both sides (to tell you the truth, I couldn't name any major ones. I haven't been keeping up with anything.), but I still think the political parties are emphasized way too much. Look at the UK. They're combining parties to make a better government. Now could that ever happen in the States?
This man has over 3 decades of ministry service under his belt, with massive church building and major focus and attention to the impoverished and underprivileged and social justice. He does not identify himself with either political party. He votes how he thinks is right; he works with both parties. He keeps the families and underprivileged in mind when he makes those decisions.
And I think that's how it should be. Christians should be involved in politics and the government. But that does not mean they let their political party frame their major or religious decisions. On the contrary, the love of Christ should be the basis for all of their judgments whether it conflicts with a certain party or not.
Big sigh.
There's a birthday package sitting under my desk from my family. I'm not opening it until my birthday, but the temptation is beginning to break me down.
Much love to my family and friends. I miss you all.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Sunday, May 9, 2010
An incredible sadness just swept over me as I was reading today. People keep on asking me if I've been homesick at all, but I'm at the point where I'm feeling sick about leaving here.
I've got five weeks left in Australia, which is basically four, because up until the last day I'm here, I'll be in rehearsal that last week.
And that sucks.
By the way, Happy Mother's Day Mommmmmmmm!
I hope you have a wonderful day. I love you & I miss you SO much. Thank you for all that you are and do.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
It's Been A While.
A long while.
I've been so busy. I'm so tired.
I just wanted to write this to say that I miss you all. I love being here SO much, but there are moments where I wish I could just get a hug from family or friends. And some cheese enchiladas.
We are going to hike in the Blue Mountains tomorrow. That's Australia's main mountain range. When people say "We're going to the snow" (and yes, they really say it like that, like it's a destination--I find it quite endearing), they usually mean somewhere in the Blue Mountains. It's going to be a 5 hour hike. Terrific adventure I'm sure. Did I mention it's getting really cold here? The weather is quite fickle though. Can't seem to make up its mind.
I saw Regina Spektor in concert last week. Oh yeaaaahhhhh. Be jealous. You should totally be jealous. Our seats were stage left in the second row. It was elevated above the stage (like a box seat) and when she played the piano, she was basically looking right at us. Oh, and did I mention it was at the Sydney Opera House? Oh yeaaaaaahhhh. Fantastic experience. She's so talented. And the drummer she brought along was excellent. He was actually part of the opening act, Jupiter One, who we actually met after the show. (Oh yeaaaaaaaahhh.) We were so hyped about just having seen Regina. They came out and this is how it went.
"OH MY GOSH HIIIII!"
"Hey guys!"
"WE'RE AMERICANSSS! WE'RE AMERICANS TOO!!!" (gestures and maybe some giddy jumping were most likely used at this time)
"Oh yah? Cool cool! Where are you guys from?"
April and I shouted over everyone, "TEXAS!"
"Oh we just came from Texas! Played at the Southwest by West (or something like that) festival. Best four days of my life!"
That's right. You heard him. Best four days of his life spent deep in the heart of Texas. Drink it up.
Now that I've got my Texas pride out, I'll tell you some of the differences here in a quick and incomplete list because, hey, I've got to sleep sometime.
1. They say heaps. A lot.
2. They add hey onto the end of sentences and at random times. For example: You're
going out tonight hey?
3. Oi is another way to get someone's attention.
4. Mcdonald's = Macca's
5. The bacon is more like ham, but still delicious.
6. The accent. We may both speak English, but it's not always comprehensible.
7. Football. They don't wear pads here.
8. The seasons. In case some of you haven't caught on yet, I'm in the southern
hemisphere right now, and it's getting cold.
9. Biscuits. They're not a breakfast food, and they are not good with gravy or bacon. You know why? Because they're cookies. Cookies = Biscuits. They don't even really have biscuits here. They have scones (which are quite good).
10. Not only do they drive on the left side of the road, they prefer to walk on the left side as well. For the first time last week, I did this without thinking.
11. The lack of Mexican food. Like what the heck? As funny as this is, this is one of the things that makes me recognize that Australia is NOT America. Yes, it's been quite Americanized, but that does not mean it will ever border Mexico, or have a large Hispanic population.
12. Internal heating. Most places don't have it, including my room. My room also has an open fireplace and chimney, that I can't use.
13. Thrift stores. They're called op shops. Or salvos.
14. Trees. They're mostly not deciduous. They have some eucalyptus ones that remind me of mesquite trees, without the thorns, and a lot taller. They're also good for making confetti (too hard to explain, but quite fun).
15. Politics. No specific party is ingrained and integrated into their Christianity, which is how it should be.
Let's talk about indigenous peoples. We've been focusing a lot of attention on the Australian Aboriginals, but have you thought about our indigenous peoples? I think we need to re examine how they are treated by culture, the government, and the church. Robert Twiss-One Church Many Tribes. Read it.
Love you. Miss you.
I've been so busy. I'm so tired.
I just wanted to write this to say that I miss you all. I love being here SO much, but there are moments where I wish I could just get a hug from family or friends. And some cheese enchiladas.
We are going to hike in the Blue Mountains tomorrow. That's Australia's main mountain range. When people say "We're going to the snow" (and yes, they really say it like that, like it's a destination--I find it quite endearing), they usually mean somewhere in the Blue Mountains. It's going to be a 5 hour hike. Terrific adventure I'm sure. Did I mention it's getting really cold here? The weather is quite fickle though. Can't seem to make up its mind.
I saw Regina Spektor in concert last week. Oh yeaaaahhhhh. Be jealous. You should totally be jealous. Our seats were stage left in the second row. It was elevated above the stage (like a box seat) and when she played the piano, she was basically looking right at us. Oh, and did I mention it was at the Sydney Opera House? Oh yeaaaaaahhhh. Fantastic experience. She's so talented. And the drummer she brought along was excellent. He was actually part of the opening act, Jupiter One, who we actually met after the show. (Oh yeaaaaaaaahhh.) We were so hyped about just having seen Regina. They came out and this is how it went.
"OH MY GOSH HIIIII!"
"Hey guys!"
"WE'RE AMERICANSSS! WE'RE AMERICANS TOO!!!" (gestures and maybe some giddy jumping were most likely used at this time)
"Oh yah? Cool cool! Where are you guys from?"
April and I shouted over everyone, "TEXAS!"
"Oh we just came from Texas! Played at the Southwest by West (or something like that) festival. Best four days of my life!"
That's right. You heard him. Best four days of his life spent deep in the heart of Texas. Drink it up.
Now that I've got my Texas pride out, I'll tell you some of the differences here in a quick and incomplete list because, hey, I've got to sleep sometime.
1. They say heaps. A lot.
2. They add hey onto the end of sentences and at random times. For example: You're
going out tonight hey?
3. Oi is another way to get someone's attention.
4. Mcdonald's = Macca's
5. The bacon is more like ham, but still delicious.
6. The accent. We may both speak English, but it's not always comprehensible.
7. Football. They don't wear pads here.
8. The seasons. In case some of you haven't caught on yet, I'm in the southern
hemisphere right now, and it's getting cold.
9. Biscuits. They're not a breakfast food, and they are not good with gravy or bacon. You know why? Because they're cookies. Cookies = Biscuits. They don't even really have biscuits here. They have scones (which are quite good).
10. Not only do they drive on the left side of the road, they prefer to walk on the left side as well. For the first time last week, I did this without thinking.
11. The lack of Mexican food. Like what the heck? As funny as this is, this is one of the things that makes me recognize that Australia is NOT America. Yes, it's been quite Americanized, but that does not mean it will ever border Mexico, or have a large Hispanic population.
12. Internal heating. Most places don't have it, including my room. My room also has an open fireplace and chimney, that I can't use.
13. Thrift stores. They're called op shops. Or salvos.
14. Trees. They're mostly not deciduous. They have some eucalyptus ones that remind me of mesquite trees, without the thorns, and a lot taller. They're also good for making confetti (too hard to explain, but quite fun).
15. Politics. No specific party is ingrained and integrated into their Christianity, which is how it should be.
Let's talk about indigenous peoples. We've been focusing a lot of attention on the Australian Aboriginals, but have you thought about our indigenous peoples? I think we need to re examine how they are treated by culture, the government, and the church. Robert Twiss-One Church Many Tribes. Read it.
Love you. Miss you.
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