Some recent highlights...
Well, its been about three weeks since I got back from Uni Games, so I guess you’re all due for an update, huh? I must say, it feels like a lot has happened since then, though I haven’t been keeping track of each day like I usually do. It’s gotten a little too monotonous for me, and honestly I can’t be bothered (that’s the true Aussie in me revealing itself, hehe).
When I got back from uni games I went through a huge bought of Post Tournament Depression or PTD as it is affectionately known here. I caught a cold on the way home, probably from a lack of sleep. It pretty much ruined my first week back because the runny nose turned into a post nasal drip, so then I had a horrendous cough that kept me awake and night and added to my already huge bank of sleep deprivation. In addition, I just missed my team and the good times we shared on the Gold Coast. Luckily, I had a lot of school work to distract my PTD thoughts, as the last weeks of school were upon me, and all of my assignments were due. Plus, my exams started this week (I have 6 plus my recital) so next week and the week after are pretty much devoted to exams and recital preparation. The good news regarding that is the fact that I will be DONE with school by 2 Nov, or 22 days before I have to leave Melbourne. So I just make it through these 3 weeks of studying/practicing/preparing and then I’m home free to hang out and make memories with my friends, travel, and just enjoy my last few weeks in Australia. This makes me very happy
Even though I’ve been busy with school work (and work too, I’ve spent both of the last two weekends at the restaurant, desperately trying to make some money for my last trip - more on that in a minute- and daily living in hopes that I don’t have to use the ATM again while I’m here, because I need to have some money left for next semester’s tuition and my trip to Europe next May) I’ve managed to have some fun as well. Here are a few of the highlights:
--The usual poker nights with the Persian crew. I think we’ve had 2 or 3, and all of them have been heaps of fun and laughter, as always. I came in the top three every time, and even won once!
--A relaxation/meditation session with the same crew. They all get together on a regular basis to read philosophy/quotes/poems to one another in a relaxed, quiet setting (full on with candles and soft music and everything) in order to be inspired. Well, this time they invited me along, and it was so good! I felt very relaxed, and I enjoyed listening to everyone’s choice of quotes and poetry. Of course, I was obliged to contribute as well, and Joobin asked if I would sing something instead of reading. I couldn’t think of too many inspirational songs off the top of my head, so I went with the classic “As Long As I Have Music” (yea high school choir!) and they loved it! Everyone started asking me questions about my singing- if I had tried out for American idol, etc etc. It was quite amusing, as I didn’t think I sounded all that great due to my cold, but it also made me feel really good about how much I’ve improved this semester. Joe always talks about how I’m a celebrity (and his personal celebrity), and I always give him crap for it because I think he’s just flattering me, but it really is nice to have people interested in my singing… Maybe one day I’ll make it in this business because heaps of people will be interested in it…
---Frisbee events- disc golf, and a party. Just because Uni Games are over, doesn’t mean that any of us wanted to stop playing disc, or hanging out with each other. Thus, we decided to play disc golf at the course at the Fitzroy Gardens (google earth it, SO pretty), which was a massive course, and very fun to play. It wasn’t a true disc golf course; there were no sign posts with pars or baskets to get the disc into. However, Melbourne Ultimate players made up the course about 8 years ago, and pretty much everyone knows it (one of those things that just gets passed down through the years, I assume). I personally like those types of courses better- I would much rather hit random trees/lightposts than metal baskets. Plus, we played at night time (the gardens are really lit up) which just added to the whole experience. I did pretty well, came +4, which was the 3rd best overall score (winner was -2), and the best girl score for the night. I reckon if I could huck as far as the guys, I would have had a good shot at winning, but such is life for a little girl handler…
One of the players, Rob, had a housewarming party last Saturday, which most of the team attended. I couldn’t stay long because I had to work at the restaurant, but it was nice to have everyone together again, and we looked at a lot of pictures from the week, caught up on how everyone was dealing with PTD, etc. I felt really happy just being in the company of my team once again, like a family gathering for a holiday or something like that. It just felt right. I will definitely miss my team more than anyone else when I leave Australia, which is hard to reconcile because I’m not so sure how well I will fit in with the team at home when I return. Things have greatly changed there, and I feel very distanced from everyone, even though I speak to many of them on a regular basis. They are dealing with some issues, and the future of the Pan Fried Funk scares me a little bit. However, I’m too far away to worry TOO much about that now, and if I’ve learned anything here, it’s that things always have a way of sorting themselves out… no worries, mate.
--- Tomorrow we have our Post Uni Games party… should be awesome, I reckon…
--- I’ve spent a few nice afternoons/evenings with a few of my favorite people from Medley. I had a musical YouTube session with Josh, had tea and numerous 4 hour chats with Ananth, and a musical jam session with Ashlyn, in addition to just spending more time around my college mates in general. It’s nice to get really close to people that you live with, because then an even deeper connection is created solely based on the fact that you share the same living space… They all fascinate me to no end because not only are they cool people, they are AUSTRALIAN cool people, and as you’ve all noticed, I’m obsessed with this culture. I’m learning heaps of new things about the aussie way of life each day, and I reckon that even by the time I leave, I still won’t know it all. It’s amazing how many differences there are, considering how similar the cultures seem. Perhaps it’s not the number of differences, but the sheer rad-ness of them
-- I’ve been running a lot lately, and doing abs as well. I try to run between 6-8 kilometers a day (4-5 miles), as well as 8-15 minutes of abs. I haven’t done every day because of my sickness, but it’s pretty regular, and I’m feeling great.
-- I sang at the last two formal dinners (Wednesday nights we get dressed up to eat dinner, and important people talk, and the food is even more delicious than usual… remember, yea?) because I had been absent for so many due to frisbee trainings, so the principal/dean requested that I sit at the high table, and also perform. I love performing, and I felt bad that I had missed so many formal dinners, so of course I said yes! The first week I sang “Over the Raimbow” a capella, and the second week I sang a duet with my friend Josh. We sang a reallllly pretty version of “The Rainbow Connection” that we arranged. It was great, and we received a lot of compliments; plus I had a friend video it on my camera, so I will put it up on You Tube or something sooon… _
-- I went to a Spanish/Latin club called Copacabana (I think it’s the only Spanish club in the entire state) to watch my pianist friend Andrew play, which was a lot of fun. He’s one of my better friends from the VCA, and I really enjoyed watching him gig with a band that was very different from the pretty piano ballads I usually hear him play (we’ve even written 2 tunes together!).
-- Last Wednesday night was the annual Christmas Party at Medley, which was way random because it’s too early, but I didn’t really complain because it meant we had an extra special formal dinner, complete with santa hats, turkey, the whole deal. We also had a secret santa gift exchange, lots of games, great food and drink, and Christmas music! In general, the Turns (the aussie name for a party within your own college… I think it comes from the word internal) here are always fun because everyone knows each other. It’s like one huge family party, except there are no adults, just all cousins or something
--- Today Ananth (my friend from New Zealand) and I went for a bike ride through few suburbs to where a few rivers meet. It was a gorgeous ride, and our destination had a scenic bike path that we followed for a pretty long time, stopping at waterfalls, lakes, and other things along the way. We had lunch at a place called Lentil As Anything, where you only pay what you think the food is worth. The whole thing is part of a community of people in Melbourne that uphold the highest humanistic values, and there are 4 of these such places in different suburbs around the city. Check out the website, it’s a pretty rad concept http://www.lentilasanything.com/ . Anyway, we had a mixed curry platter, and it was absolutely delicious. Afterward we walked around the grounds of an old convent (which the restaurant is a part of) and bought fresh delicious bread from the convent bakery. It was really nice to spend the day with him, because he’s just an amazing person, and we can chat for hours about any and every topic under the sun. I reckon he might be one of the best friends I’ve ever had, in terms of connecting verbally and emotionally… plus he’s hilarious, talented, smart, and genuinely cares about his friends and other important things in his life. It’s sad because he’s leaving for NZ on the 9th, so I don’t get to hang out with him much longer, and I will hate not having him in my life when I get back to the US… he’s just one of those people, you know?
Well I guess that’s enough for you all to read right now yea? I’m going to write another entry now, about my recital/exams, my plan for the last 5 weeks, some problems I’ve been facing here, a bit about Australian culture in general, my school experience and how I’m dreading returning to my course at home, and a few other things… be on the lookout for that!
By the way, I miss you all so much and I hope everyone is doing well. I know I always ask you to comment, but it seems like not many people have time for that. Perhaps you have time to drop me a few lines about how your lives are going? I would love to know… you can reply to this or email me at piecly01@gettysburg.edu
Do know that I miss everyone… and it will be nice to get back soon, even though it will be cold (it’s so nice and warm here now!). I’m having a great time reading about the other juniors who are abroad, keep up those LJ’s people!
Oh, and new pictures of me from Uni Games are on facebook if anyone wanted to check out the newly tagged pics of me :-D
Love Lyndsey
When I got back from uni games I went through a huge bought of Post Tournament Depression or PTD as it is affectionately known here. I caught a cold on the way home, probably from a lack of sleep. It pretty much ruined my first week back because the runny nose turned into a post nasal drip, so then I had a horrendous cough that kept me awake and night and added to my already huge bank of sleep deprivation. In addition, I just missed my team and the good times we shared on the Gold Coast. Luckily, I had a lot of school work to distract my PTD thoughts, as the last weeks of school were upon me, and all of my assignments were due. Plus, my exams started this week (I have 6 plus my recital) so next week and the week after are pretty much devoted to exams and recital preparation. The good news regarding that is the fact that I will be DONE with school by 2 Nov, or 22 days before I have to leave Melbourne. So I just make it through these 3 weeks of studying/practicing/preparing and then I’m home free to hang out and make memories with my friends, travel, and just enjoy my last few weeks in Australia. This makes me very happy
Even though I’ve been busy with school work (and work too, I’ve spent both of the last two weekends at the restaurant, desperately trying to make some money for my last trip - more on that in a minute- and daily living in hopes that I don’t have to use the ATM again while I’m here, because I need to have some money left for next semester’s tuition and my trip to Europe next May) I’ve managed to have some fun as well. Here are a few of the highlights:
--The usual poker nights with the Persian crew. I think we’ve had 2 or 3, and all of them have been heaps of fun and laughter, as always. I came in the top three every time, and even won once!
--A relaxation/meditation session with the same crew. They all get together on a regular basis to read philosophy/quotes/poems to one another in a relaxed, quiet setting (full on with candles and soft music and everything) in order to be inspired. Well, this time they invited me along, and it was so good! I felt very relaxed, and I enjoyed listening to everyone’s choice of quotes and poetry. Of course, I was obliged to contribute as well, and Joobin asked if I would sing something instead of reading. I couldn’t think of too many inspirational songs off the top of my head, so I went with the classic “As Long As I Have Music” (yea high school choir!) and they loved it! Everyone started asking me questions about my singing- if I had tried out for American idol, etc etc. It was quite amusing, as I didn’t think I sounded all that great due to my cold, but it also made me feel really good about how much I’ve improved this semester. Joe always talks about how I’m a celebrity (and his personal celebrity), and I always give him crap for it because I think he’s just flattering me, but it really is nice to have people interested in my singing… Maybe one day I’ll make it in this business because heaps of people will be interested in it…
---Frisbee events- disc golf, and a party. Just because Uni Games are over, doesn’t mean that any of us wanted to stop playing disc, or hanging out with each other. Thus, we decided to play disc golf at the course at the Fitzroy Gardens (google earth it, SO pretty), which was a massive course, and very fun to play. It wasn’t a true disc golf course; there were no sign posts with pars or baskets to get the disc into. However, Melbourne Ultimate players made up the course about 8 years ago, and pretty much everyone knows it (one of those things that just gets passed down through the years, I assume). I personally like those types of courses better- I would much rather hit random trees/lightposts than metal baskets. Plus, we played at night time (the gardens are really lit up) which just added to the whole experience. I did pretty well, came +4, which was the 3rd best overall score (winner was -2), and the best girl score for the night. I reckon if I could huck as far as the guys, I would have had a good shot at winning, but such is life for a little girl handler…
One of the players, Rob, had a housewarming party last Saturday, which most of the team attended. I couldn’t stay long because I had to work at the restaurant, but it was nice to have everyone together again, and we looked at a lot of pictures from the week, caught up on how everyone was dealing with PTD, etc. I felt really happy just being in the company of my team once again, like a family gathering for a holiday or something like that. It just felt right. I will definitely miss my team more than anyone else when I leave Australia, which is hard to reconcile because I’m not so sure how well I will fit in with the team at home when I return. Things have greatly changed there, and I feel very distanced from everyone, even though I speak to many of them on a regular basis. They are dealing with some issues, and the future of the Pan Fried Funk scares me a little bit. However, I’m too far away to worry TOO much about that now, and if I’ve learned anything here, it’s that things always have a way of sorting themselves out… no worries, mate.
--- Tomorrow we have our Post Uni Games party… should be awesome, I reckon…
--- I’ve spent a few nice afternoons/evenings with a few of my favorite people from Medley. I had a musical YouTube session with Josh, had tea and numerous 4 hour chats with Ananth, and a musical jam session with Ashlyn, in addition to just spending more time around my college mates in general. It’s nice to get really close to people that you live with, because then an even deeper connection is created solely based on the fact that you share the same living space… They all fascinate me to no end because not only are they cool people, they are AUSTRALIAN cool people, and as you’ve all noticed, I’m obsessed with this culture. I’m learning heaps of new things about the aussie way of life each day, and I reckon that even by the time I leave, I still won’t know it all. It’s amazing how many differences there are, considering how similar the cultures seem. Perhaps it’s not the number of differences, but the sheer rad-ness of them
-- I’ve been running a lot lately, and doing abs as well. I try to run between 6-8 kilometers a day (4-5 miles), as well as 8-15 minutes of abs. I haven’t done every day because of my sickness, but it’s pretty regular, and I’m feeling great.
-- I sang at the last two formal dinners (Wednesday nights we get dressed up to eat dinner, and important people talk, and the food is even more delicious than usual… remember, yea?) because I had been absent for so many due to frisbee trainings, so the principal/dean requested that I sit at the high table, and also perform. I love performing, and I felt bad that I had missed so many formal dinners, so of course I said yes! The first week I sang “Over the Raimbow” a capella, and the second week I sang a duet with my friend Josh. We sang a reallllly pretty version of “The Rainbow Connection” that we arranged. It was great, and we received a lot of compliments; plus I had a friend video it on my camera, so I will put it up on You Tube or something sooon… _
-- I went to a Spanish/Latin club called Copacabana (I think it’s the only Spanish club in the entire state) to watch my pianist friend Andrew play, which was a lot of fun. He’s one of my better friends from the VCA, and I really enjoyed watching him gig with a band that was very different from the pretty piano ballads I usually hear him play (we’ve even written 2 tunes together!).
-- Last Wednesday night was the annual Christmas Party at Medley, which was way random because it’s too early, but I didn’t really complain because it meant we had an extra special formal dinner, complete with santa hats, turkey, the whole deal. We also had a secret santa gift exchange, lots of games, great food and drink, and Christmas music! In general, the Turns (the aussie name for a party within your own college… I think it comes from the word internal) here are always fun because everyone knows each other. It’s like one huge family party, except there are no adults, just all cousins or something
--- Today Ananth (my friend from New Zealand) and I went for a bike ride through few suburbs to where a few rivers meet. It was a gorgeous ride, and our destination had a scenic bike path that we followed for a pretty long time, stopping at waterfalls, lakes, and other things along the way. We had lunch at a place called Lentil As Anything, where you only pay what you think the food is worth. The whole thing is part of a community of people in Melbourne that uphold the highest humanistic values, and there are 4 of these such places in different suburbs around the city. Check out the website, it’s a pretty rad concept http://www.lentilasanything.com/ . Anyway, we had a mixed curry platter, and it was absolutely delicious. Afterward we walked around the grounds of an old convent (which the restaurant is a part of) and bought fresh delicious bread from the convent bakery. It was really nice to spend the day with him, because he’s just an amazing person, and we can chat for hours about any and every topic under the sun. I reckon he might be one of the best friends I’ve ever had, in terms of connecting verbally and emotionally… plus he’s hilarious, talented, smart, and genuinely cares about his friends and other important things in his life. It’s sad because he’s leaving for NZ on the 9th, so I don’t get to hang out with him much longer, and I will hate not having him in my life when I get back to the US… he’s just one of those people, you know?
Well I guess that’s enough for you all to read right now yea? I’m going to write another entry now, about my recital/exams, my plan for the last 5 weeks, some problems I’ve been facing here, a bit about Australian culture in general, my school experience and how I’m dreading returning to my course at home, and a few other things… be on the lookout for that!
By the way, I miss you all so much and I hope everyone is doing well. I know I always ask you to comment, but it seems like not many people have time for that. Perhaps you have time to drop me a few lines about how your lives are going? I would love to know… you can reply to this or email me at piecly01@gettysburg.edu
Do know that I miss everyone… and it will be nice to get back soon, even though it will be cold (it’s so nice and warm here now!). I’m having a great time reading about the other juniors who are abroad, keep up those LJ’s people!
Oh, and new pictures of me from Uni Games are on facebook if anyone wanted to check out the newly tagged pics of me :-D
Love Lyndsey