Reflections on a time passed...
One month might not seem like a long time and in reality it isnt, but it is enough time to make some of the greatest friends of your life time. When I began my adventure with International Student Volunteers I didnt really grasp the scope of everything. I had the mind set that this would be just another international trip and in reality thats how it began. When I arrived in LA and met the first few people with the ISV program it didnt seem like anything different. It wasnt until I actually landed in Sydney and the groups began to split up that I noticed that this wasnt going to be like any other trip Ive experienced. From the first day in Alice Springs to the heart breaking separation in Sydney International it seems all like a dream. This trip has changed me in ways that I never will forget. I have met people that have bettered me as a person and have showed me that I can do things differently in life and still have a great time.
Marcus Cook, my ISV Project Leader was one of the best guys Ive ever met. It almost felt like he was my older brother with the way we joked and messed around. We would wrestle around in the hallway on the silver bullet and he was even able to pick me up and carry me to the other end. The last time we did this though he ripped a big hole in his jeans. Poor guy only owned 2 pairs and didnt have enough time to buy another pair before we left for our 2nd volunteer location. I remember walking down the paddocks when we were clearing out tumbleweed and we would just sing random songs and joke about the girls on the trip. Even when Shannon joined us we had a great time singing to her and playing lawn bowling. I felt truly honored when he entrusted me with the 2nd key to the gate on our last night together and he also gave me the information to travel to Cairns with. He only gave it to Diane and me. I regret not saying proper good byes when he left. It almost didnt seem real when he was leaving and that he would be back in an hour. When several hours had passed and we were loading up the trooper I then realized that my older brother wouldnt be coming back. I hope he is safe and in good health with his new volunteer group and that he hasnt forgotten, Team USA.
Andrew Gavin, the only other guy on my volunteer group other than myself. Andrew has the perfect personality for an Indie kid and he lives that roll perfectly. He spent more time than most of the girls in the bathroom and had to make sure he had his perfect feather hair all the time. He is incomplete without his chap stick and sleeps like a log once he lies down. Andrew was probably my only safe haven on the trip. Someone I felt comfortable with going to and asking for advice or just to talk about things. Its hard when youre sounded by girls to have that connection, but he was there for me. He never said anything rude to me once and was always finding interesting games to play, from Hackie-sac to crap head. Everything was awesome. I think my fondest memory of Andrew was the last day we were together. When we were walking alone at LAX to his terminal, it was just two guys walking together heading off into the sunset. We said our good byes with a firm handshake and I headed off and he went inside. No need for anything else, I knew that I had made a lifetime friend and that I would see him again.
Marina: Marina was like a mom to everyone. She would make sure that everyone had lunch prepared the night before and if you didnt she would make sure to prepare it for you. She never really said anything bad about anyone and I felt that she receieved a bad rap for some of the things she had done. Marina was an amazing person that only wanted everyone to be happy. She would get overly excited when we played Hackie-sac and would begin to make ninja moves around the hac, but never actually connecting with it. Always was cute to see her do that dance. She never hesitated to dance with you and always made you feel welcomed on the dance floor. She always had that giant smile and anyone around her couldnt help but be gravitated toward her energy. I'm upset that i couldnt say good bye because she lost her bag, but i'm glad to hear that it was returned and she was able to continue her trip into Fiji.
Diane: Diane has a personality that I have never really seen before. She is very quite and self drawn, but something about her always interested me. When we would go on walks together she would talk and although it was like pulling teeth out of a child at first, she did begin to open up and start conversations. I never had any real problems with her when I learned what type of person she is and what limits she has in certain things. I respect her enjoyed her company. Even though half the time we would be sitting there silently I enjoyed it. I think I spent most of my walking time with her just walking. She is a very good person and I pray for her that she continues her career with animals.
Shannon: Last, but never least, Shanno. Without a doubt the person I became the closest too. When I first met Shannon it wasnt her good looks that attracted me, it was her amazing personality framed by a warming smile. Everything is always good with Shannon, and how could they not be to a girl who cant frown. She taught me how to look at things in a better light and that maybe feeling bad for yourself isnt always the smartest route to go. She has inspired me to become a better person and find more about myself. I spoke with her a bit about my Personal Legend and I do believe that she is an instrumental part of it. Although I dont know what at this point, in time I will know. I never really knew what to think about Shannon, but I think thats a good thing. Everyday I learned something new about her. What kind of Disney music she likes, her favorite color of Yellow, but i never learned what type of foods she will eat and wont eat. I tried to learn, but everything was always different. Everything is always new when Im around her. We learned how to waltz together and we sang our love song together in the middle of the outback with a roaring fire behind us. Everything was magical. She came with me as I jumped to my death on an airplane, and she held the back of the boat and kept me going straight on the Tully River. Truly one of the best people Ive ever met. I also feel the same way with our goodbyes, I didnt feel like it was completed, but I dont look at it like a final good bye, more like a see you soon kind of thing. Hopefully that will work out.
All of these people had a life changing effect on me and I want to make sure I never forget about them. I hope that we can do that trip next summer and that we can explore more of the world together. I miss you all and my life doesnt feel complete right now. I think that every night when I wake up its going to be freazing and Ill hear Marina in the kitchen making us lunch and hear Marcus laughing as Shannon does something silly. I miss all of you and I hope to see you again this summer.
With Much love,
Your Friend Bryan
Diane, Andrew, Marina, Myself, Shannon
Marcus, Andrew, Marina
Shannon and Me.
Marcus Cook, my ISV Project Leader was one of the best guys Ive ever met. It almost felt like he was my older brother with the way we joked and messed around. We would wrestle around in the hallway on the silver bullet and he was even able to pick me up and carry me to the other end. The last time we did this though he ripped a big hole in his jeans. Poor guy only owned 2 pairs and didnt have enough time to buy another pair before we left for our 2nd volunteer location. I remember walking down the paddocks when we were clearing out tumbleweed and we would just sing random songs and joke about the girls on the trip. Even when Shannon joined us we had a great time singing to her and playing lawn bowling. I felt truly honored when he entrusted me with the 2nd key to the gate on our last night together and he also gave me the information to travel to Cairns with. He only gave it to Diane and me. I regret not saying proper good byes when he left. It almost didnt seem real when he was leaving and that he would be back in an hour. When several hours had passed and we were loading up the trooper I then realized that my older brother wouldnt be coming back. I hope he is safe and in good health with his new volunteer group and that he hasnt forgotten, Team USA.
Andrew Gavin, the only other guy on my volunteer group other than myself. Andrew has the perfect personality for an Indie kid and he lives that roll perfectly. He spent more time than most of the girls in the bathroom and had to make sure he had his perfect feather hair all the time. He is incomplete without his chap stick and sleeps like a log once he lies down. Andrew was probably my only safe haven on the trip. Someone I felt comfortable with going to and asking for advice or just to talk about things. Its hard when youre sounded by girls to have that connection, but he was there for me. He never said anything rude to me once and was always finding interesting games to play, from Hackie-sac to crap head. Everything was awesome. I think my fondest memory of Andrew was the last day we were together. When we were walking alone at LAX to his terminal, it was just two guys walking together heading off into the sunset. We said our good byes with a firm handshake and I headed off and he went inside. No need for anything else, I knew that I had made a lifetime friend and that I would see him again.
Marina: Marina was like a mom to everyone. She would make sure that everyone had lunch prepared the night before and if you didnt she would make sure to prepare it for you. She never really said anything bad about anyone and I felt that she receieved a bad rap for some of the things she had done. Marina was an amazing person that only wanted everyone to be happy. She would get overly excited when we played Hackie-sac and would begin to make ninja moves around the hac, but never actually connecting with it. Always was cute to see her do that dance. She never hesitated to dance with you and always made you feel welcomed on the dance floor. She always had that giant smile and anyone around her couldnt help but be gravitated toward her energy. I'm upset that i couldnt say good bye because she lost her bag, but i'm glad to hear that it was returned and she was able to continue her trip into Fiji.
Diane: Diane has a personality that I have never really seen before. She is very quite and self drawn, but something about her always interested me. When we would go on walks together she would talk and although it was like pulling teeth out of a child at first, she did begin to open up and start conversations. I never had any real problems with her when I learned what type of person she is and what limits she has in certain things. I respect her enjoyed her company. Even though half the time we would be sitting there silently I enjoyed it. I think I spent most of my walking time with her just walking. She is a very good person and I pray for her that she continues her career with animals.
Shannon: Last, but never least, Shanno. Without a doubt the person I became the closest too. When I first met Shannon it wasnt her good looks that attracted me, it was her amazing personality framed by a warming smile. Everything is always good with Shannon, and how could they not be to a girl who cant frown. She taught me how to look at things in a better light and that maybe feeling bad for yourself isnt always the smartest route to go. She has inspired me to become a better person and find more about myself. I spoke with her a bit about my Personal Legend and I do believe that she is an instrumental part of it. Although I dont know what at this point, in time I will know. I never really knew what to think about Shannon, but I think thats a good thing. Everyday I learned something new about her. What kind of Disney music she likes, her favorite color of Yellow, but i never learned what type of foods she will eat and wont eat. I tried to learn, but everything was always different. Everything is always new when Im around her. We learned how to waltz together and we sang our love song together in the middle of the outback with a roaring fire behind us. Everything was magical. She came with me as I jumped to my death on an airplane, and she held the back of the boat and kept me going straight on the Tully River. Truly one of the best people Ive ever met. I also feel the same way with our goodbyes, I didnt feel like it was completed, but I dont look at it like a final good bye, more like a see you soon kind of thing. Hopefully that will work out.
All of these people had a life changing effect on me and I want to make sure I never forget about them. I hope that we can do that trip next summer and that we can explore more of the world together. I miss you all and my life doesnt feel complete right now. I think that every night when I wake up its going to be freazing and Ill hear Marina in the kitchen making us lunch and hear Marcus laughing as Shannon does something silly. I miss all of you and I hope to see you again this summer.
With Much love,
Your Friend Bryan
Diane, Andrew, Marina, Myself, Shannon
Marcus, Andrew, Marina
Shannon and Me.