Hey all. It's been awhile. A week or so if I'm correct? One week much longer than the previous. Well...let's get started.
My attempts at stifling my slight technology addiction have been somewhat successful, but I wouldn't deem this success a complete one. One night I caved and watched Rugby highlights, along with a variety of other various videos, on Youtube. I have talked on the phone with my family and even started texting a little bit two days ago. One thing I have maintained is my abstinence of Facebook, which I strongly intend to continue. This has been, by far, my biggest challenge, but made much easier with the help of Marissa changing the password on my account. But once again, I have been somewhat successful in my eradication of less-than-productive technology in my life and I have since replaced the constant cacophony of clanging keys and cursor clicks with the persistent, paced turning of paperback pages sided with the soothing act of scrawling in my journal. I'm only a week into this, but I'm already feeling like my time is being spent more wisely.
Before I go on about how our adventure has unfolded, I've been thinking this thought, and I figure it's time to just write it all down. I'm seriously contemplating a tattoo. I know this isn't a big deal to many, but I've never dealt with any kind of body modification of my own so it is to me. I've always had an affinity for tattoos, but I've never really thought of anything that I would like permanently imprinted on my body, as many ideas are just fleeting. This changed a few weeks ago. I was just writing in my journal, as usual, one night, and this idea popped into my head and has just stuck. So here it is: I want a tree covering pretty much my whole right side from the hip up to my armpit. I want a vast network of branches and roots sprawling across my chest/back and hip, respectively. No other flora or fauna will be present. I want the branches to have leaves, but not all; somewhere between 1/4 and 1/2 would be ideal. The roots will spread out over my hip, so the only people that see them are those I want to, not just anybody at the beach. These roots will all be interconnected, but there will be 4 main roots than stand out from the others. Each of these will have a single word inked into them. The four words are: Family, Friendship, Knowledge, Love. I'm sure it will take quite a bit of research to find an artist who would be able to give me the level of detail that I'm looking for, but I'm sure there are people out there with more than enough talent. I have found a few pictures that show the basic idea of what I'm looking for, but I'll save those for another time. I feel like pictures always dominate blogs. There are a few apparent meanings implied with this tattoo design, but there are more significant meanings that aren't so obvious. I'll let you figure them out for yourself =). Please tell me what you think of the concept. I've told a few people already and the feedback has been resoundingly positive, but I could always go for more. It isn't really significant what other people think about it, as it won't change my mind about getting it, but I like to know what people think.
So. Down to business. I think Marissa left off with us going to sleep for our first night in Port Macquarie...And the sun came up. Since I've arrived in Australia my sleep schedule has changed dramatically. I now go to bed around 9 or 10 o'clock every night and get out of bed between 8 and 9 in the morning. I actually wake up around 6, and continue doing so about every half hour, but don't get up and going until I have to. This morning started like any other, but turned out to be one of my favorite thus far. We woke up around our usual time and grabbed a quick free breakfast before heading down to the beach, escorted by a really nice, friendly older gentleman. He drove us there in his tiny, fuel-efficient car all the while telling us about his life and giving us advice on how to live ours to the fullest. He was very sincere in telling me that the one thing I should take away from his ranting was that I should go to school and get an education if I want to go anywhere in life. Duly noted. Once we got to the beach we were instantly gratified with the sight of five dromedary (one hump) camels kneeling in the sand. After short introductions with the handlers and the quick installation of the proper safety gear (a helmet) on our persons, we were fully prepared to mount our Arabian steeds. They were saddled similarly to a horse, for the exception of the two-seated saddle which had metal bars to hold on to for balance, as opposed to the horn on a regular saddle. Now if you remember, these camels were all kneeling down in the sand while we got on them. I didn't really think about the getting up process. As soon as the trainer said the magic word, my new companion shot up from this position and I nearly fell off because I wasn't expecting it. Since camels really have a mind of their own, they were all tethered together to form one long line, I was 4th and Marissa 5th. Before we started walking I had to deal with #5's grill right next to my head for a bit, which wasn't too comfortable. Once we started our short trot up the coast it was pretty surreal. Riding on a camel is unique enough, but to top it off we were also treated to the sights of multiple whales about .5 km away and then a school(?) of dolphins right next to shore. I really had to focus on drowning out the predictable attempts at comedy by the handlers and just soak everything else in. It was absolutely wonderful. The 'ride' only lasted for about 30 minutes, but it was well worth the $1/minute price.
Our earlier chauffeur was primed and ready to go when we got back to the car, but he apparently had better plans for us than just returning us to the hostel. He took us all around, showing us the highlights of this quaint town and giving insight about what we should see and what isn't worth a second glance. This was really helpful, because it helped us orient ourselves for our later excursions, and I will never turn down a free ride around town. I thought that this was going to be everything but he headed back to the coast and took us up to the highest point in Port Macquarie: the lighthouse. For a chauffeur, this veteran was quite the tour guide. We had a much better view of the coast than anywhere else we had seen so far and once again we saw a school of dolphins playing at the base of the cliffs, and another whale making its way down south. This was possibly the best morning to date.
As soon as we actually returned to home base we rented bikes so we could see everything we wanted to see since we would really only have this once full day here. Our first destination: the art gallery. So far in every city, we have been to the art gallery and the library. This particular exhibit was my favourite thus far. They had a contest recently, which was open to anybody, to see who could take the best photograph of an invertebrate. There were walls lined with National Geographic-caliber photos, which were absolutely stunning. I had a hard time pulling myself away to continue ticking away the bullets on our daily to-do list. Next up was kebabs. Traditionally in the states when we hear kebab we think of shish kebabs, but these are entirely different animals. Basically it is your choice of meat, in this case chicken or lamb, wrapped in a tortilla along with sauce, cheese, lettuce, tomato, carrot, and whatever else you want. Put these all together and then grill it for a minute just to warm everything up. Props to Persia for propagating this particularly palatable dish.
After we sufficiently stuffed ourselves, we headed over to the city library. The Newcastle library was a little disappointing, so I wasn't expecting much from this one. I was actually pleasantly surprised by the size of this literary safe-house. I meandered through a few aisles before finding one with something worth reading. I usually end up looking through the religion section and this instance was no different. The religion section was actually merged with psychology so I got distracted by a book called 'Human Interactions' and for some reason a book by Bill Gates was right by that one, so I grabbed that as well. I read each for about 45 minutes. The Bill Gates one was interesting, because it was outlining how any business can be successful if they follow the guidelines in the book; it convinced me. I wish I had chosen Human Interactions earlier because once I started reading it I was completely engrossed. There haven't been too many subjects in school that interested me, but psychology was one of them. I read about shyness, jealousy, and love and I think it helped me understand my feelings and actions a little more comprehensively... well as much as a quick read of a book can help, anyway. Marissa had to rip me away from my new paper toy because it was time for a visit to the Koala Hospital.
I don't know why, but as Marissa explained earlier, every time I read or hear the phrase "Koala Hospital" I giggle a little bit. I think it's just the thought of those cute lil guys with cute little casts on their legs. But it's not just that. Imagine a full blown hospital... The interior of the building whitewashed from head to toe. Nurses assisting doctors holding important looking clipboards, even assistants wheeling discharged patients back out to their trees. Rooms fully equipped with the most modern lifesaving equipment available. And this...all for koalas!
The Koala Hospital is nothing like this. It's basically multiple pens of imitation forests for rehabilitating injured koalas. Yes, they had an ICU, but it wasn't in use and in reality they only employed one veterinarian, whom was on call, not actually on the premises. It was nice seeing them at such close proximity, but they really aren't a lively bunch; surprisingly the koala that moved the most was the one with only three legs. She climbed up to the very top of one of the tallest trees. Quite impressive. So overall the hospital was lackluster, but still a nice experience; nearly all of the people who work there are volunteers and just from a quick conversation you could tell how passionate they were about helping the local wildlife. I was nearly convinced that I should volunteer there until I reminded myself that I was leaving the next day. Sad face. We had to return our bikes before sundown because they didn't have lights on them, but after visiting the koalas we had about an hour left of sunlight. We wisely decided to spend the remainder of our time bumming around the beach before heading back for the final time.
And the sun comes up again. We started this day just like any other moving day. We quickly packed all of our things after we had our free breakfast and after we made sure everything was in order, we returned our keys to the front desk and officially checked out. The nice thing about this hostel is that they let us leave our luggage in a back room for a few hours until the ride we had arranged earlier arrived. Most other hostels charge for this service, but luckily these people aren't in the ripping off business. So we had a few hours to burn before we were scheduled to head out, and I decided that we should spend them doing something productive, so we went back to the library. I, of course, found the book I had read the previous day and delved right into another chapter that seemed interesting: Communication. Marissa read poetry. We got to read for about two hours before we had to head back. I'm usually not so intent on learning about one subject, but now that I seemingly am, I'm contemplating pursuing an academic career in psychology? Just a thought, really.
Our ride arrived just as we did, so we grabbed our luggage and were on our way. This was the son of a couple that drove us to church last week and he was more than happy to help us out. All we asked for was a ride to the Pacific Highway so we could continue our hitchhiking trend, but he seemed to have other plans for us. He works in the penal system and, on a daily basis, associates with some of the worst criminals in the country. He figured hitchhiking wasn't the safest option for us and he vied for us taking the train instead. He insisted actually. He took us straight to the station and even bought our tickets for us. Mormons are so nice...seriously though. As luck would have it, a torrential downpour started as soon as we got onto the train and throughout the next two hours we overtook the storm and came out on the other side greeted by the pleasant, unhindered rays of the sun. We called our contact in Coff's Harbour and now here we are.
We are about a 3 minute walk from the beach but the landscape directly beyond their fence line is heavily wooded. Woodland jogs in the morning, surfing in the afternoon? Why not? Well that's where we are and where we will be for the next 5 days or so. If more stuff happens, we'll blog.
Back in the game,
Rob.
PS. As always, I apologize for any typos, fragments, or incomplete thoughts in this post. I was writing this in between finding new music to listen to on Youtube so I was switching back and forth a lot.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Masters of the road.
So I'm back. I being Marissa. I'm sorry if you're sick of hearing from me. I know how wonderful Robert is at writing. But he's being strict about his technology fast. And I'm really proud of him for it, so I'll be filling you in on our ruckusing for awhile.
We checked out of our hostel on Monday morning. Wait, let me backtrack. Quick summary.
I'd been to church the previous week in Newcastle, and got Robert to agree to go with me this week. Since I'd been before, I did some finagling, and found us a ride. I was glad, because it would save us time, and keep us from having to wait and walk in the pouring rain. And no one likes taking the bus. So a nice older couple picked us up and took us to church. The was a great meeting. I actually played the organ in sacrament, but that's another story. Robert came to Relief Society with me, which was great. The ladies were very kind, and it was nice to hear a low voice now and again. But after the meeting, Robert and I were talking about how we should get someone to take us home for Sunday dinner. It sounded awesome, but I didn't think it would happen. Then I was talking to this girl who served her mission in Utah, and we'd met the previous week. We ended up with an invitation to her sister's house for dinner that night. The missionaries were already coming over, so we might as well. It was a great night. It was the first time we'd been in a real house in over a month. I've never appreciated a home cooked meal so much. It was a good time.
Then the home teachers came over, one of whom is a guy named Paul Vowel. He told us about how he came from the UK to Australia years ago to do what we're doing now, and met the woman he married, and still hasn't seen Australia. We had a wonderful chat. He said he wished we were staying another day, because he'd love to have us over for dinner too. That offer just sounded too good...so Robert and I decided to try and find a way to stay an extra day. The problem was that our gig at the hostel was up, and they had new cleaners. So we either had to pay for another night, or leave. Neither of those suited our fancy. Luckily, Paul called later that night. He offered to let us spend the night at their house! It was too perfect.
So Monday rolled around, and we checked out as planned. His lovely wife, Deeann, and their 2 boys came and picked us up. We did some shopping, and Robert and Keegan (he's 4) became best friends. We had crumpets for lunch, and played with the kids. We made schnitzel for dinner, and had a lovely evening of good conversations and trying Australian sweets. Tim-Tam Slams are a new favorite, and I'm going to personally make sure they catch on back in the states.
We had an absolutely lovely time. We discussed our families, traveling, the gospel, and cooking. Deeann and I attempted to make macaroons, and failed. When I get home, anyone that wants to help me perfect them is welcome to. I'm going to master the macaroon, and I'll need taste testers. Applications will be available in early December.
So here's the best part: Despite my best efforts, I couldn't come up with a good way for us to get out of Newcastle. And these Novacastrians, as they call themselves, were just so nice. We were tempted to just stay longer! But one place for more than 2 weeks on a trip like this is unheard of. So we needed to leave, but didn't know how. So we decided we'd hitchhike.
After a great breakfast and a solid episode of Yo Gabba Gabba, we were ready to hit the road. We piled in the car, and headed toward the Pacific Highway to find a good place to begin. None of us had ever done this before, so we weren't really sure what we were looking for. We found a place on a long stretch with a wide shoulder, and had her drop us off. Getting a ride to hitch hike was a strange experience. But now here we were. We had a sign, and a few snacks, and our thumbs were fresh.
It took us about 40 minutes for someone to stop for us. He was a nice guy that stopped and told us he'd take us to a place where we'd have more luck. He drove us about ten minutes to a place where the highway split, and joined up with another. It only took about 20 minutes from there to get another ride. This time, we made it a lot farther. The couple that picked us up were very talkative. We discussed everything from weather to polygamists to Obama. They took us as far as they could, and let us go after about an hour. We got a fantastic lunch, and headed off to find another good spot.
Wait, side note. So in Australia, getting "the works" on a burger or sandwich is so much cooler than in the states. It includes: cheese, barbeque sauce, lettuce, tomato, onion, beet root, pineapple, avacado, cubumber, and sometimes egg. It's incredible.
Ok, back to the story. So we start walking, and realize that this is a terrible stretch of highway. We had to walk forever just to actually get to the highway, because there was on-ramp after on-ramp, so we were a few lanes away from the actual traffic. There were also a lot of curves, and some construction. So we walked forever. Then, a camper stopped! It was a younger pair, friends from the UK. One lived in Sydney, so the other was here on holiday to visit. Apparently you can find deals where you pay practically nothing for an RV, and you take it where the company needs it, if that makes any sense. So these friends were driving the camper to Brisbane within 5 days, and only had to pay $5 a day because they were helping out the company. It's something I'll look into when I'm over 25. But it was the best. We could walk around, and lay down. And they listened to great music. A new band that they had just discovered at a festival is called Kenny and the Giants. Now, it was really loud in the camper, so I didn't get a very good listen, but I'd recommend them from what I did hear. So in the lap of luxury, as far as hitch hiking goes, we made it 10 km from our destination, Port Macquarie. That's 6.2 miles for those of you who suck at the metric system. We could walk that, but we didn't want to. But we had a similar problem as last time. This highway was curvy, with a narrow shoulder. But we just started walking. We didn't even get the sign out or bust out our thumbs because there wasn't a good place for a car to stop. Yet, one did. There was a nice older gentleman that said he could tell we weren't from around here, pulling luggage along the freeway and all. So we put our stuff in the back of his truck, and fit into the one extra seat he had. And the truck was a manual, so my knees were all sorts of in the way. It was pretty awkward, but it was better than walking.
Another side note, that only a few of you that know me particularly well will get. I caved and bought flip-flops. Here, they call them thongs. But I haven't worn a pair in 4 or 5 years. I don't like them. But they're so practical for the beach, and my leather old lady shoes are literally falling apart. (Don't worry, I invested in some super glue, and they're whole again.) So I got some good ones. I paid $18 for them! What a travesty. They're pieces of plastic. But they're the cheapest ones I could find. I already have a sore on one foot because I'm not used to them. And being so smart, I wore them today. So the walking wasn't the most pleasant.
So, back to Port Macquarie, which we were finally in. We had to stop and get our map out of the back of the truck, because I couldn't actually remember where we were going. After a few U-turns, we found our hostel. We actually paid for accommodation for the first time since we left Sydney. Man, it's nice to stay for free. We paid for 2 nights, and went to relax. This place has a pool, hammocks, and a small theatre. Yeah, theatre. I've started adding extra vowels to some words, too: colour, harbour, favourite. It's silly, but it's what they do here. When it Rome, right?
This evening, we walked down to the shore and got the best fish n' chips I've ever had. Then we stopped at Cole's, the cheapest grocery store, and got OJ and kiwis. I'm addicted to kiwis for breakfast. They're incredible. I don't know if I just never noticed how good they are, or if they're significantly better here. But either way, Robert and I are both junkies. It's really hard to do grocery shopping, because we only have 2 days here, you know? So we get free breakfast, and we might just eat out for the other meals tomorrow. I discovered kebabs with some boys I hung out with in Sydney, and Robert still hasn't had one. The United States REALLY needs to have kebabs. They're Lebanese or something, and so delicious. It's like...the equivalent of middle eastern Cafe Rio or something. By the way, I want to get good mexican food ASAP when I get back if anyone wants to join me. Either Rio, or a taco stand in downtown SLC.
So I'm sorry, it's late, and tangents are inevitable. We came home, and watched Patch Adams. On VHS. Yeah, they don't have a single DVD. I haven't seen anything like it since...I lived at home. Haha. I think my parents still have more VHS than DVDs.
Wow, the paragraph apologizing for the tangents even turned into a tangent. I think that means I've been typing for too long. So the point is that we're alive. A lot of walking, 4 good Samaritans, and a thumb workout later, we're in a new city. Tomorrow, we're going on a camel ride along the beach, and visiting a koala hospital. (Every time I say the phrase "koala hospital," Robert giggles.) We might do a whale watching cruise, and feed some kangaroos while we're here, too. But there will definitely be some good quality beach time. We have 9 beaches to choose from here.
So enjoy your snow back home. It's about 30 degrees in both places, but it's in Celsius here. It's lovely, and my tan is coming along very nicely.
Love you all. Expect pictures from Newcastle on Facebook tomorrow maybe.
Marissa, the master of the road.
We checked out of our hostel on Monday morning. Wait, let me backtrack. Quick summary.
I'd been to church the previous week in Newcastle, and got Robert to agree to go with me this week. Since I'd been before, I did some finagling, and found us a ride. I was glad, because it would save us time, and keep us from having to wait and walk in the pouring rain. And no one likes taking the bus. So a nice older couple picked us up and took us to church. The was a great meeting. I actually played the organ in sacrament, but that's another story. Robert came to Relief Society with me, which was great. The ladies were very kind, and it was nice to hear a low voice now and again. But after the meeting, Robert and I were talking about how we should get someone to take us home for Sunday dinner. It sounded awesome, but I didn't think it would happen. Then I was talking to this girl who served her mission in Utah, and we'd met the previous week. We ended up with an invitation to her sister's house for dinner that night. The missionaries were already coming over, so we might as well. It was a great night. It was the first time we'd been in a real house in over a month. I've never appreciated a home cooked meal so much. It was a good time.
Then the home teachers came over, one of whom is a guy named Paul Vowel. He told us about how he came from the UK to Australia years ago to do what we're doing now, and met the woman he married, and still hasn't seen Australia. We had a wonderful chat. He said he wished we were staying another day, because he'd love to have us over for dinner too. That offer just sounded too good...so Robert and I decided to try and find a way to stay an extra day. The problem was that our gig at the hostel was up, and they had new cleaners. So we either had to pay for another night, or leave. Neither of those suited our fancy. Luckily, Paul called later that night. He offered to let us spend the night at their house! It was too perfect.
So Monday rolled around, and we checked out as planned. His lovely wife, Deeann, and their 2 boys came and picked us up. We did some shopping, and Robert and Keegan (he's 4) became best friends. We had crumpets for lunch, and played with the kids. We made schnitzel for dinner, and had a lovely evening of good conversations and trying Australian sweets. Tim-Tam Slams are a new favorite, and I'm going to personally make sure they catch on back in the states.
We had an absolutely lovely time. We discussed our families, traveling, the gospel, and cooking. Deeann and I attempted to make macaroons, and failed. When I get home, anyone that wants to help me perfect them is welcome to. I'm going to master the macaroon, and I'll need taste testers. Applications will be available in early December.
So here's the best part: Despite my best efforts, I couldn't come up with a good way for us to get out of Newcastle. And these Novacastrians, as they call themselves, were just so nice. We were tempted to just stay longer! But one place for more than 2 weeks on a trip like this is unheard of. So we needed to leave, but didn't know how. So we decided we'd hitchhike.
After a great breakfast and a solid episode of Yo Gabba Gabba, we were ready to hit the road. We piled in the car, and headed toward the Pacific Highway to find a good place to begin. None of us had ever done this before, so we weren't really sure what we were looking for. We found a place on a long stretch with a wide shoulder, and had her drop us off. Getting a ride to hitch hike was a strange experience. But now here we were. We had a sign, and a few snacks, and our thumbs were fresh.
It took us about 40 minutes for someone to stop for us. He was a nice guy that stopped and told us he'd take us to a place where we'd have more luck. He drove us about ten minutes to a place where the highway split, and joined up with another. It only took about 20 minutes from there to get another ride. This time, we made it a lot farther. The couple that picked us up were very talkative. We discussed everything from weather to polygamists to Obama. They took us as far as they could, and let us go after about an hour. We got a fantastic lunch, and headed off to find another good spot.
Wait, side note. So in Australia, getting "the works" on a burger or sandwich is so much cooler than in the states. It includes: cheese, barbeque sauce, lettuce, tomato, onion, beet root, pineapple, avacado, cubumber, and sometimes egg. It's incredible.
Ok, back to the story. So we start walking, and realize that this is a terrible stretch of highway. We had to walk forever just to actually get to the highway, because there was on-ramp after on-ramp, so we were a few lanes away from the actual traffic. There were also a lot of curves, and some construction. So we walked forever. Then, a camper stopped! It was a younger pair, friends from the UK. One lived in Sydney, so the other was here on holiday to visit. Apparently you can find deals where you pay practically nothing for an RV, and you take it where the company needs it, if that makes any sense. So these friends were driving the camper to Brisbane within 5 days, and only had to pay $5 a day because they were helping out the company. It's something I'll look into when I'm over 25. But it was the best. We could walk around, and lay down. And they listened to great music. A new band that they had just discovered at a festival is called Kenny and the Giants. Now, it was really loud in the camper, so I didn't get a very good listen, but I'd recommend them from what I did hear. So in the lap of luxury, as far as hitch hiking goes, we made it 10 km from our destination, Port Macquarie. That's 6.2 miles for those of you who suck at the metric system. We could walk that, but we didn't want to. But we had a similar problem as last time. This highway was curvy, with a narrow shoulder. But we just started walking. We didn't even get the sign out or bust out our thumbs because there wasn't a good place for a car to stop. Yet, one did. There was a nice older gentleman that said he could tell we weren't from around here, pulling luggage along the freeway and all. So we put our stuff in the back of his truck, and fit into the one extra seat he had. And the truck was a manual, so my knees were all sorts of in the way. It was pretty awkward, but it was better than walking.
Another side note, that only a few of you that know me particularly well will get. I caved and bought flip-flops. Here, they call them thongs. But I haven't worn a pair in 4 or 5 years. I don't like them. But they're so practical for the beach, and my leather old lady shoes are literally falling apart. (Don't worry, I invested in some super glue, and they're whole again.) So I got some good ones. I paid $18 for them! What a travesty. They're pieces of plastic. But they're the cheapest ones I could find. I already have a sore on one foot because I'm not used to them. And being so smart, I wore them today. So the walking wasn't the most pleasant.
So, back to Port Macquarie, which we were finally in. We had to stop and get our map out of the back of the truck, because I couldn't actually remember where we were going. After a few U-turns, we found our hostel. We actually paid for accommodation for the first time since we left Sydney. Man, it's nice to stay for free. We paid for 2 nights, and went to relax. This place has a pool, hammocks, and a small theatre. Yeah, theatre. I've started adding extra vowels to some words, too: colour, harbour, favourite. It's silly, but it's what they do here. When it Rome, right?
This evening, we walked down to the shore and got the best fish n' chips I've ever had. Then we stopped at Cole's, the cheapest grocery store, and got OJ and kiwis. I'm addicted to kiwis for breakfast. They're incredible. I don't know if I just never noticed how good they are, or if they're significantly better here. But either way, Robert and I are both junkies. It's really hard to do grocery shopping, because we only have 2 days here, you know? So we get free breakfast, and we might just eat out for the other meals tomorrow. I discovered kebabs with some boys I hung out with in Sydney, and Robert still hasn't had one. The United States REALLY needs to have kebabs. They're Lebanese or something, and so delicious. It's like...the equivalent of middle eastern Cafe Rio or something. By the way, I want to get good mexican food ASAP when I get back if anyone wants to join me. Either Rio, or a taco stand in downtown SLC.
So I'm sorry, it's late, and tangents are inevitable. We came home, and watched Patch Adams. On VHS. Yeah, they don't have a single DVD. I haven't seen anything like it since...I lived at home. Haha. I think my parents still have more VHS than DVDs.
Wow, the paragraph apologizing for the tangents even turned into a tangent. I think that means I've been typing for too long. So the point is that we're alive. A lot of walking, 4 good Samaritans, and a thumb workout later, we're in a new city. Tomorrow, we're going on a camel ride along the beach, and visiting a koala hospital. (Every time I say the phrase "koala hospital," Robert giggles.) We might do a whale watching cruise, and feed some kangaroos while we're here, too. But there will definitely be some good quality beach time. We have 9 beaches to choose from here.
So enjoy your snow back home. It's about 30 degrees in both places, but it's in Celsius here. It's lovely, and my tan is coming along very nicely.
Love you all. Expect pictures from Newcastle on Facebook tomorrow maybe.
Marissa, the master of the road.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Masters of the Sea
Don't worry, dear readers. R is warding off technology, but M is not. I'm still here for you, as diligently as ever.
We've had a lovely couple of days. The weather has been perfect. No clouds, sun shining all day, slight breeze blowing.
Yesterday, we went sea kayaking. Sea kayaks are particularly long, and heavy. It makes them sturdier when in the waves. I'm glad of it, because I would have gotten trashed a few times had it not been so. But it was so much fun. We were out for over two hours, including a lovely stop at a beach for cake. It was just the two of us, and the couple who runs the business. They had the technique, Robert had the strength. I lack both of those, so I was by far the slowest in the group. I mean, it could have been much worse, but I did struggle to keep up a few times. And my rudder kept coming out of the water, making steering impossible. Robert and I each fell in once, but he tries to say that I failed more than he did, of course. Maybe he just fell in to make me feel better about it... but probably not. Kayaks have a tendency to fall over, let's be serious. But overall, it was a lot of fun. We got to see the harbour in a whole new way, and explore. We went through this tunnel covered in oysters, and saw some birds. We had some good conversation, and got quite a bit of sun. Someday, I'll invest in a kayak.
Today, we finally got to go surfing. The weather was beautiful. The sand was warm, and the water was perfect. The denizens of Newcastle have commented many times that they're sorry for the bad weather lately, which just boggles my mind to imagine it being any nicer here. Yeah, there have been a few rainy days, but it's been gorgeous overall. And the water, compared to the other times I've been in the ocean, is plenty warm. These people would die in Logan.
So we got to the beach, and wandered about a little until we found the guy. We got in our wetsuits, and walked down the beach, past the area designated for swimmers. There, we got our boards, and went over paddling and saftey stuff on land. I felt silly pretending to paddle on the sand, but it had to be done. We practiced going from laying to standing, but it's something you can't really practice. It's completely different when you're in the waves, and the ground isn't stationary. But he didn't keep us on land for too long. We got out on the water pretty quickly.
Robert got up on his first try, but it took me a few more. I think I had about 5 good runs. Robert had more than that, and the teacher commented how good his balance is. I wasn't surprised. He was pretty surprised to find out that I'M the one that snowboards, not Robert. Haha. But neither of us were particularly good at it. It's very difficult. It's about timing, and balance. And it's just plain hard to stand up, and stay up! But on my very last run, I actually felt like I was carving on snow. It was solid. It's not the same as snowboarding, but there are similarities. Once you actually stand up, you have the same stance, with a straight back and bent knees. But you can move your feet, which resulted in my slipping off the board many times. And when you fall off, you have to just let the waves have their way with you, and wait for it to calm down to gather your board again. Good thing it was strapped to my leg... It's also surprisingly hard to get out far enough into the ocean. The waves just grab you and your board and try to take you to shore.
So we were successful, overall. We treated ourselves with ice cream after lunch for standing up on surf boards. And the teacher said we did very well, and there are people that come time after time, and still can't even stand up, which we were doing within a half hour. So now that we have the basics, we can just take boards out and give it a go on our own. The hostel we're staying at has boards we can use for free once we've had a lesson, so hopefully we'll find time to do that a few times before we leave.
We came up with a plan for the next week. We're leaving here next Tuesday morning, and heading to Port Macquarie. We'll stay there for 3-4 days, then head to Coff's Harbour, where we'll actually be staying with an older couple that a friend I met here hooked us up with. They live right by the beach, and love to have visitors apparently. It'll be nice to have a real house, with good showers, a home cooked meal, and laundry!
Sorry this is short, but I wanted everyone to know that we conquered the sea. Kinda. We kayaked in a harbour, and stood up a few times on baby waves. But hey, that's not too bad for two kids from Utah, right?
M.
We've had a lovely couple of days. The weather has been perfect. No clouds, sun shining all day, slight breeze blowing.
Yesterday, we went sea kayaking. Sea kayaks are particularly long, and heavy. It makes them sturdier when in the waves. I'm glad of it, because I would have gotten trashed a few times had it not been so. But it was so much fun. We were out for over two hours, including a lovely stop at a beach for cake. It was just the two of us, and the couple who runs the business. They had the technique, Robert had the strength. I lack both of those, so I was by far the slowest in the group. I mean, it could have been much worse, but I did struggle to keep up a few times. And my rudder kept coming out of the water, making steering impossible. Robert and I each fell in once, but he tries to say that I failed more than he did, of course. Maybe he just fell in to make me feel better about it... but probably not. Kayaks have a tendency to fall over, let's be serious. But overall, it was a lot of fun. We got to see the harbour in a whole new way, and explore. We went through this tunnel covered in oysters, and saw some birds. We had some good conversation, and got quite a bit of sun. Someday, I'll invest in a kayak.
Today, we finally got to go surfing. The weather was beautiful. The sand was warm, and the water was perfect. The denizens of Newcastle have commented many times that they're sorry for the bad weather lately, which just boggles my mind to imagine it being any nicer here. Yeah, there have been a few rainy days, but it's been gorgeous overall. And the water, compared to the other times I've been in the ocean, is plenty warm. These people would die in Logan.
So we got to the beach, and wandered about a little until we found the guy. We got in our wetsuits, and walked down the beach, past the area designated for swimmers. There, we got our boards, and went over paddling and saftey stuff on land. I felt silly pretending to paddle on the sand, but it had to be done. We practiced going from laying to standing, but it's something you can't really practice. It's completely different when you're in the waves, and the ground isn't stationary. But he didn't keep us on land for too long. We got out on the water pretty quickly.
Robert got up on his first try, but it took me a few more. I think I had about 5 good runs. Robert had more than that, and the teacher commented how good his balance is. I wasn't surprised. He was pretty surprised to find out that I'M the one that snowboards, not Robert. Haha. But neither of us were particularly good at it. It's very difficult. It's about timing, and balance. And it's just plain hard to stand up, and stay up! But on my very last run, I actually felt like I was carving on snow. It was solid. It's not the same as snowboarding, but there are similarities. Once you actually stand up, you have the same stance, with a straight back and bent knees. But you can move your feet, which resulted in my slipping off the board many times. And when you fall off, you have to just let the waves have their way with you, and wait for it to calm down to gather your board again. Good thing it was strapped to my leg... It's also surprisingly hard to get out far enough into the ocean. The waves just grab you and your board and try to take you to shore.
So we were successful, overall. We treated ourselves with ice cream after lunch for standing up on surf boards. And the teacher said we did very well, and there are people that come time after time, and still can't even stand up, which we were doing within a half hour. So now that we have the basics, we can just take boards out and give it a go on our own. The hostel we're staying at has boards we can use for free once we've had a lesson, so hopefully we'll find time to do that a few times before we leave.
We came up with a plan for the next week. We're leaving here next Tuesday morning, and heading to Port Macquarie. We'll stay there for 3-4 days, then head to Coff's Harbour, where we'll actually be staying with an older couple that a friend I met here hooked us up with. They live right by the beach, and love to have visitors apparently. It'll be nice to have a real house, with good showers, a home cooked meal, and laundry!
Sorry this is short, but I wanted everyone to know that we conquered the sea. Kinda. We kayaked in a harbour, and stood up a few times on baby waves. But hey, that's not too bad for two kids from Utah, right?
M.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Just a boy on a cott.
So I'm not sure what originally started this habit, but I've been starting most of my journal entries with song lyrics. I try to choose lyrics that pertain to what I'm going to write about. I figure it just starts everything out on the right note.
"Which way will you run when it's always all around you? And the feeling lost and found you again...the feeling that we have no control." - Jack Johnson
I feel like I have no control. This may come as bad news to some, but will have little to no effect on most, as I've been severely shirking my blogging responsibilities and have pretty much handed the reigns completely over to Marissa. The bad news is that I'm going to continue flying under the radar, but in an even more dramatic fashion. I have this constant urge to find out how everyone is doing back home and I, for some reason, need to be right in the middle of it. This is exactly what I didn't want when I travelled countless miles away from everything I know and love. This may seem like a horribly convoluted way of thinking, but I need to distance myself from 'home' and everything else that's implied with that idea. I am at a point in my life where I need to stop dwelling on the whereabouts and happenings of those across the globe and focus on myself and what I can make of this opportunity. I, as many of us have, have been hopelessly tethered to technology for as long as I can remember and it's finally time to break up with this life-long partner. I need to spend more time enjoying the gratifying feelings of appreciating the beautiful canvas Mother Nature has painted, engaging my brain in a deep conversation with a new friend, or simply reading a new book and letting my imagination stretch his legs.
I need to think about what I really intend to accomplish on this trip and beyond, and certain things are hindering this. I am not going to get on Facebook for at least a month, but hopefully longer; I'm having Marissa change my password for me after I finish today. I don't want to set a schedule for the blog, but it will be at least a week. I will check my email only when I get on here to post. It could be one week, two, or even a month. I'm also giving up skyping for an undetermined amount of time. This is actually one of my favorite things to do, but it always leads to time wasted on other things. I'm also indefinitely quitting texting those not in Australia. My only communication with those back home with be through these intermittent blog postings, along with email replies and the occasional phone call on a rainy day. I know you want to know what is going on, so this is a selfish change of heart, but I'm sure Marissa will continue posting on here and on Facebook. Sorry, avid readers.
Send me an email. I'll be happy to hear from you every once in awhile.
weeks.robert.j@gmail.com
-R.
"Which way will you run when it's always all around you? And the feeling lost and found you again...the feeling that we have no control." - Jack Johnson
I feel like I have no control. This may come as bad news to some, but will have little to no effect on most, as I've been severely shirking my blogging responsibilities and have pretty much handed the reigns completely over to Marissa. The bad news is that I'm going to continue flying under the radar, but in an even more dramatic fashion. I have this constant urge to find out how everyone is doing back home and I, for some reason, need to be right in the middle of it. This is exactly what I didn't want when I travelled countless miles away from everything I know and love. This may seem like a horribly convoluted way of thinking, but I need to distance myself from 'home' and everything else that's implied with that idea. I am at a point in my life where I need to stop dwelling on the whereabouts and happenings of those across the globe and focus on myself and what I can make of this opportunity. I, as many of us have, have been hopelessly tethered to technology for as long as I can remember and it's finally time to break up with this life-long partner. I need to spend more time enjoying the gratifying feelings of appreciating the beautiful canvas Mother Nature has painted, engaging my brain in a deep conversation with a new friend, or simply reading a new book and letting my imagination stretch his legs.
I need to think about what I really intend to accomplish on this trip and beyond, and certain things are hindering this. I am not going to get on Facebook for at least a month, but hopefully longer; I'm having Marissa change my password for me after I finish today. I don't want to set a schedule for the blog, but it will be at least a week. I will check my email only when I get on here to post. It could be one week, two, or even a month. I'm also giving up skyping for an undetermined amount of time. This is actually one of my favorite things to do, but it always leads to time wasted on other things. I'm also indefinitely quitting texting those not in Australia. My only communication with those back home with be through these intermittent blog postings, along with email replies and the occasional phone call on a rainy day. I know you want to know what is going on, so this is a selfish change of heart, but I'm sure Marissa will continue posting on here and on Facebook. Sorry, avid readers.
Send me an email. I'll be happy to hear from you every once in awhile.
weeks.robert.j@gmail.com
-R.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Ausome.
The fortnight is here again to report.
We've been in Newcastle for over a week now, and I still love it here. I being Marissa. It's a lovely town, and we're staying 2 blocks from the beach. Yesterday, my day consisted of laying at the beach, cat nap o'clock, didgeridoo lessons in a giant fig tree, and poker night.
One thing I've learned about myself on this trip is that I'm not good at being on holiday. I'm getting better, though. I'm just not good at not doing anything. I'm very planned, very organized, very goal oriented. And currently, my goals consist of learning to surf, and getting a tan. I've never done anything like this before. But it is really nice to be able to relax. And Robert and I have been able to spend a lot of good quality time with each other. We haven't really spent significant time with each other since high school, and I think we were both worried about getting along. But it's been wonderful. A lot of the people we've met have remarked that they could never travel with a sibling, yet here we are, having the time of our lives. I've gotten to know him a lot better, and I love him even more. I'm very blessed to have him as a brother. He's grown up a lot in the last two years, but he's still as goofy and hilarious as he's always been. We're having a great time, and still enjoying each others company.
The hostel we're staying in is the nicest one yet. We struck up a deal with the owner, so we clean in the mornings to pay for accommodation. We're saving a lot of money, and the work isn't hard at all. We're supposed to work for 2 hours, but we finish in under an hour every day, and we usually have a good time doing it, too. The kitchen is nice, and there's a set up with computers in the basement that are all ready to Skype, if anyone is interested. It's an excellent situation.
So, Newcastle. It reminds me of Logan, but by the beach instead of the mountains. People are very nice, the streets are clean, and there actually isn't much to do. But I really love it. The weather has generally been good, but our surfing lessons did get cancelled today because of the weather. What have we actually DONE in Newcastle? Not a lot. Just lots of walking, seeing some sights. Afternoons in the park, window shopping in boutiques, days on the beach. There's a beautiful cathedral here, and a random obelisk on a hill. No matter where you go, it's beautiful. It's either verdant streets with old buildings, a glimpse of the beach, or the bright blue sky with illuminated clouds. There's always a slight breeze, and the sand is always warm. And speaking of sand, I don't think I'll ever get rid of the sand in my clothes, shoes, bags, and hair. But before I know it, I'll have the same problem with snow, so I'm taking advantage of it while I can.
This Sunday, I braved the public transportation system, and found my way to church. I hadn't been in an actual church building in over a month, because the branch in Sydney meets in an office building. But the Newcastle ward was wonderful. Every single person that saw me said hello, and many came and introduced themselves, and showed a sincere interest in who I was, and what I was doing in their lovely town. They were all full of comments, advice, and kind words. The meetings were just as inviting, and I enjoyed it. Before the last block, I found myself invited to a fireside that evening. It was being held in Sydney, which is about two hours away. Although it was being broadcast, there was one young man driving down, and I accompanied him. We had a lovely time, and he was a lot of fun. So because of that, I ended up getting back to the hostel around 10:30 rather than 5, which Robert had expected. He said he was worried, but only a little bit. Both of us are very capable of taking care of ourselves, but I know he's willing to take care of me if I ever need him to. But I did make it home, and I had a lovely sabbath day.
So life right now isn't too exciting, but it's sublime. We're just on holiday.
So people say they read this blog, but since no one ever comments, it doesn't really seem like it. So if we felt like people were actually reading the blog, we'd post more often. Plus, we posted pictures on the Face from Sydney, so check them out.
Any questions you have would be appreciated, because it's hard to come up with things to write about. I don't want to bore y'all. So if there's anything you particularly want to know about, let us know, and we'll fill you in.
And we got a phone, and we have about a million minutes that we can use to call, including internationally. So if anyone really wants to chat with either of us, let us know.
We're still alive! We're leaving Newcastle next Monday, so we'll post when we get to our next location. Keep checking back for more adventures from down under!
We've been in Newcastle for over a week now, and I still love it here. I being Marissa. It's a lovely town, and we're staying 2 blocks from the beach. Yesterday, my day consisted of laying at the beach, cat nap o'clock, didgeridoo lessons in a giant fig tree, and poker night.
One thing I've learned about myself on this trip is that I'm not good at being on holiday. I'm getting better, though. I'm just not good at not doing anything. I'm very planned, very organized, very goal oriented. And currently, my goals consist of learning to surf, and getting a tan. I've never done anything like this before. But it is really nice to be able to relax. And Robert and I have been able to spend a lot of good quality time with each other. We haven't really spent significant time with each other since high school, and I think we were both worried about getting along. But it's been wonderful. A lot of the people we've met have remarked that they could never travel with a sibling, yet here we are, having the time of our lives. I've gotten to know him a lot better, and I love him even more. I'm very blessed to have him as a brother. He's grown up a lot in the last two years, but he's still as goofy and hilarious as he's always been. We're having a great time, and still enjoying each others company.
The hostel we're staying in is the nicest one yet. We struck up a deal with the owner, so we clean in the mornings to pay for accommodation. We're saving a lot of money, and the work isn't hard at all. We're supposed to work for 2 hours, but we finish in under an hour every day, and we usually have a good time doing it, too. The kitchen is nice, and there's a set up with computers in the basement that are all ready to Skype, if anyone is interested. It's an excellent situation.
So, Newcastle. It reminds me of Logan, but by the beach instead of the mountains. People are very nice, the streets are clean, and there actually isn't much to do. But I really love it. The weather has generally been good, but our surfing lessons did get cancelled today because of the weather. What have we actually DONE in Newcastle? Not a lot. Just lots of walking, seeing some sights. Afternoons in the park, window shopping in boutiques, days on the beach. There's a beautiful cathedral here, and a random obelisk on a hill. No matter where you go, it's beautiful. It's either verdant streets with old buildings, a glimpse of the beach, or the bright blue sky with illuminated clouds. There's always a slight breeze, and the sand is always warm. And speaking of sand, I don't think I'll ever get rid of the sand in my clothes, shoes, bags, and hair. But before I know it, I'll have the same problem with snow, so I'm taking advantage of it while I can.
This Sunday, I braved the public transportation system, and found my way to church. I hadn't been in an actual church building in over a month, because the branch in Sydney meets in an office building. But the Newcastle ward was wonderful. Every single person that saw me said hello, and many came and introduced themselves, and showed a sincere interest in who I was, and what I was doing in their lovely town. They were all full of comments, advice, and kind words. The meetings were just as inviting, and I enjoyed it. Before the last block, I found myself invited to a fireside that evening. It was being held in Sydney, which is about two hours away. Although it was being broadcast, there was one young man driving down, and I accompanied him. We had a lovely time, and he was a lot of fun. So because of that, I ended up getting back to the hostel around 10:30 rather than 5, which Robert had expected. He said he was worried, but only a little bit. Both of us are very capable of taking care of ourselves, but I know he's willing to take care of me if I ever need him to. But I did make it home, and I had a lovely sabbath day.
So life right now isn't too exciting, but it's sublime. We're just on holiday.
So people say they read this blog, but since no one ever comments, it doesn't really seem like it. So if we felt like people were actually reading the blog, we'd post more often. Plus, we posted pictures on the Face from Sydney, so check them out.
Any questions you have would be appreciated, because it's hard to come up with things to write about. I don't want to bore y'all. So if there's anything you particularly want to know about, let us know, and we'll fill you in.
And we got a phone, and we have about a million minutes that we can use to call, including internationally. So if anyone really wants to chat with either of us, let us know.
We're still alive! We're leaving Newcastle next Monday, so we'll post when we get to our next location. Keep checking back for more adventures from down under!
Sunday, October 10, 2010
A Fortnight in a New Castle
So we made it out of Sydney alive. We got to a place called Newcastle last Friday. We're staying in a hostel about a block from the beach. And man, this place is amazing compared to the other two backpackers we've stayed in. It's immaculate. Maybe that's because they have such amazing people cleaning the place... haha.
Let me explain. We're staying here for at least two weeks. That's the minimum stay for the deal we've got with the owner. We clean two hours every morning, and that pays for our accomodation. Pretty sweet deal. And the cleaning usually only takes like an hour, realistically, so it's not even bad. I'm enjoying it. The guy we work with is Canadian, and he calls us Team America.
I love Newcastle. I would live here. It's a town about the size of Logan, but it's right on the beach. People are friendly, it's very clean, and it's got a good vibe about it. If I had friends here, I'd be in love. It does get rather boring because we don't have much to do, but I'm already happier here than I was in Sydney.
The only downside is that it's spring, and it's super rainy. But we're just spending time here to make some money, then head up north to spend some time in the sun, so it's okay.
Yesterday was nice, though, so we went out. There was a big fair on Darby Street, one of the main drags in town. It was awesome. I got myself a new apron. I'm a junkie, I know. And there was one guy going August Rush all over his guitar. We stood and watched for far too long. It was a good experience. It's a very artsy, hippie place. There are people walking around in costumes, and going barefoot is normal. And everyone surfs. Except us... but that will change. While we're here, we plan to: surf, para sail, kayak, skydive, and swim with some sharks. Then up north, we'll scuba dive and snorkel, and all that good stuff.
So we will be in Newcastle for at least two weeks, maybe longer. We're talking to a guy about another job today, so we'll see. But I have less than two months left, so I've got to scurry up the coast. But I also have to come home with more money than I was planning on, because I have to pay for housing and books for Spring Semester. So if any girls will have a vacancy in their apartment, let me know, because I'll be looking.
So we're still alive and kickin'. We're the lamest backpackers ever because we don't go out drinking, and we go to bed early, but we're having fun. We're getting along great, which I think was a concern of both of ours. But this time together has been really good for us. We haven't really spent significant time together since high school, and I've missed it. I really love my brother, and I think the world of him. And he takes care of me.
New developments for those of you that know me particularly well: my appetite is completely back, with a vengeance. Plus, Robert and I get "treats!" almost every day. Yesterday was an orange cake. It's Gelato about half the time... When we come home, we're opening a Gelato place called the Gelottery. It was Robert's idea.
Well kids, expect picture soon. It's hard to find enough time to upload them on slow internet.
Oh, if anyone knows anyone that lives on the east coast, let us know. We're looking for actual houses to stay in, with good food and showers and laundry and internet. You'd be surprised how quickly you get sick of NOT having those things. And we caved and got a cell phone, so any connections would be nice. We'll ask anyone. We've learned that the worst that can happen is that someone says no. But the best thing that can happen is that we meet someone new, and have a good time.
That's all for now, folks. Keep posted, because the adventure is only going to get better from here. Summer is about to kick in, and it's going to be epic.
Love,
Marissa
Let me explain. We're staying here for at least two weeks. That's the minimum stay for the deal we've got with the owner. We clean two hours every morning, and that pays for our accomodation. Pretty sweet deal. And the cleaning usually only takes like an hour, realistically, so it's not even bad. I'm enjoying it. The guy we work with is Canadian, and he calls us Team America.
I love Newcastle. I would live here. It's a town about the size of Logan, but it's right on the beach. People are friendly, it's very clean, and it's got a good vibe about it. If I had friends here, I'd be in love. It does get rather boring because we don't have much to do, but I'm already happier here than I was in Sydney.
The only downside is that it's spring, and it's super rainy. But we're just spending time here to make some money, then head up north to spend some time in the sun, so it's okay.
Yesterday was nice, though, so we went out. There was a big fair on Darby Street, one of the main drags in town. It was awesome. I got myself a new apron. I'm a junkie, I know. And there was one guy going August Rush all over his guitar. We stood and watched for far too long. It was a good experience. It's a very artsy, hippie place. There are people walking around in costumes, and going barefoot is normal. And everyone surfs. Except us... but that will change. While we're here, we plan to: surf, para sail, kayak, skydive, and swim with some sharks. Then up north, we'll scuba dive and snorkel, and all that good stuff.
So we will be in Newcastle for at least two weeks, maybe longer. We're talking to a guy about another job today, so we'll see. But I have less than two months left, so I've got to scurry up the coast. But I also have to come home with more money than I was planning on, because I have to pay for housing and books for Spring Semester. So if any girls will have a vacancy in their apartment, let me know, because I'll be looking.
So we're still alive and kickin'. We're the lamest backpackers ever because we don't go out drinking, and we go to bed early, but we're having fun. We're getting along great, which I think was a concern of both of ours. But this time together has been really good for us. We haven't really spent significant time together since high school, and I've missed it. I really love my brother, and I think the world of him. And he takes care of me.
New developments for those of you that know me particularly well: my appetite is completely back, with a vengeance. Plus, Robert and I get "treats!" almost every day. Yesterday was an orange cake. It's Gelato about half the time... When we come home, we're opening a Gelato place called the Gelottery. It was Robert's idea.
Well kids, expect picture soon. It's hard to find enough time to upload them on slow internet.
Oh, if anyone knows anyone that lives on the east coast, let us know. We're looking for actual houses to stay in, with good food and showers and laundry and internet. You'd be surprised how quickly you get sick of NOT having those things. And we caved and got a cell phone, so any connections would be nice. We'll ask anyone. We've learned that the worst that can happen is that someone says no. But the best thing that can happen is that we meet someone new, and have a good time.
That's all for now, folks. Keep posted, because the adventure is only going to get better from here. Summer is about to kick in, and it's going to be epic.
Love,
Marissa
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
You Heard It Here, First.
Marissa here. It's currently 9:30 on Thursday morning. That means that it's Wednesday evening for y'all. Yes, I said y'all. A summer in Wyoming has its repercussions.
I have some news for you. Well, for the few faithful followers we have. There has been a slight change of plans on this adventure.
I will be coming home in December, where I will begin my mission papers. That's right, I'll be serving a full time mission. I turn 21 on May 1, so I'll get another semester of school done, and I'll aim to leave right after finals. I'm cutting this adventure short so I can go on another, even better one. One that will change people's lives.
These last few weeks have been weeks of change. My heart has changed, and my testimony has grown. I've never felt closer to the Spirit of the Lord, or as loved by my Heavenly Father.
I know that many of you don't adhere to the same beliefs that I do, so you may not understand why I'd be not only willing, but eager to sacrifice 18 months of my life for my religion. It's because I don't consider it a sacrifice; I consider it a blessing. This gospel brings me so much joy each day, that I can't sit by and not share it with all the energy of my heart.
I know that I'm doing the right thing, for the right reason. I know the church is true, and I want to be the perfect servant for my Lord and Savior. My God has given me so much, and he asks so little in return.
In the words of someone very, very close to me, "The way home is on earth again. What else matters?" (-Elder Daniel James Oka, September 6 2010)
And I'll leave you with that, and some reading to do if you're interested. President Hinckley had a gift of wording beautiful ideas in very elegant ways. Give it a read, and tell me it doesn't make you just a little bit excited, or a little bit more peaceful than you were before.
So I'll see you all in about two months. I'll be back in Logan in January. Middle of the summer in Australia to dead of winter in Logan...totally worth it.
Peace and love,
Marissa Fay
I have some news for you. Well, for the few faithful followers we have. There has been a slight change of plans on this adventure.
I will be coming home in December, where I will begin my mission papers. That's right, I'll be serving a full time mission. I turn 21 on May 1, so I'll get another semester of school done, and I'll aim to leave right after finals. I'm cutting this adventure short so I can go on another, even better one. One that will change people's lives.
These last few weeks have been weeks of change. My heart has changed, and my testimony has grown. I've never felt closer to the Spirit of the Lord, or as loved by my Heavenly Father.
I know that many of you don't adhere to the same beliefs that I do, so you may not understand why I'd be not only willing, but eager to sacrifice 18 months of my life for my religion. It's because I don't consider it a sacrifice; I consider it a blessing. This gospel brings me so much joy each day, that I can't sit by and not share it with all the energy of my heart.
I know that I'm doing the right thing, for the right reason. I know the church is true, and I want to be the perfect servant for my Lord and Savior. My God has given me so much, and he asks so little in return.
In the words of someone very, very close to me, "The way home is on earth again. What else matters?" (-Elder Daniel James Oka, September 6 2010)
And I'll leave you with that, and some reading to do if you're interested. President Hinckley had a gift of wording beautiful ideas in very elegant ways. Give it a read, and tell me it doesn't make you just a little bit excited, or a little bit more peaceful than you were before.
So I'll see you all in about two months. I'll be back in Logan in January. Middle of the summer in Australia to dead of winter in Logan...totally worth it.
Peace and love,
Marissa Fay
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