controlling the action

The other day I went up and toured a bit more of the coast with a new mate I made out here. This is the world famous Kiama Blowhole. OK, not quite world famous, but great sight none the less. When I thought of seeing a blowhole, I guessed that it would be like every hour or so to see it explode, like those geysers out in at Yellowstone, but this one is constantly spewing out water. The water gets in under these rocks and then hangs out in a reservoir until that fills up. When more waves come in, it pushes the water up this blow hole. Pretty neat, right?

It's been raining here the last few days, but that hasn't stopped me from adventuring. Despite the less than desirable weather, I think this was best day to go out and see this, it just added so much to the atmosphere of the rocky coast. The wind was blowing

like crazy, rain crashing in my face, and the waves below causing a ruckus. It literally took my breath away. Robbie thought I was a little too full on about seeing this stuff, but I just couldn't help it!

We continued our tour up to Jamberoo where the town slogan is "Jamberoo-where you control the action" - excellent. Much better than "Sauk Centre-in the middle of Minnesota". Then we went out to Jamber Jerseys (Robbie's farm) and milked cows, my first time in a herringbone. I'll get some pics of that next time, its flooding out here with all the rain. He made sure to point out a few of his best Jerseys that beat Brad's at the Sydney show just a month ago.

Giddy Up!

I remember Jess making such a big deal about the races when I would ask her about her weekend... it was worth all the hype! We had a ball last Sunday! Everyone out there dresses to the nines with their facinators and the guys in their best suits.

I put a few bets on, but didn't come out on top. A few factors could have contributed to this:

1) The guy on the right was my Financial Advisor... so really, what could I expect.

2) I would pick horses with the best names like 'Captain my Captain'

3) Or picking the ones with the best patterns and colors on their jerseys

4) If you can't tell by the photos, betting on the races was not our primary focus.

Aussie Slang

Aussies say some of the craziest phrases, and if you know me, I am a sucker for cheesy one-liners, corny jokes and funny phrases!! I am going to keep updating this as I hear more, so check back!

How ya going? - in place of how are you. First time I heard this I thought, 'OK, where am I going or how am I doing'

Silly as a possum in a wheely bin.

Frog in a sock - think of how crazy a frog would go if you put him in a sock, just go nuts.

Righteo. - Agreed.

Fair shake of the sauce bottle - still figuring this one out...

Fair Dinkum - Are you kidding me?

'rang-er - you know like an orangutan. Red head AKA Ginger

Reckon - they say this all the time... so, I probably will too when I return. For us it sounds real southern, right?

Heap - not like a pile of something, more like 'that's heaps cool' or 'there's going to be heaps of people going'

G'ed up - really excited about something... maybe its like geared up?

Prawn - it would be like a Butter Face, you know, you like everything but her face. A prawn is a shrimp and they have an ugly face, but you love they're body, it's tasty! In conclusion, a girl with a hot body and a ugly face.

Why not?

When I got out to this beach, I stood out on the rocks on shore and shot a few pictures. Jess said, "Why don't you go out there? I'll get some pics of you climbing on the rocks." Yeah, why not? I little dangerous, but totally adventurous... sounds great!! As I was climbing out there, the waves coming in were larger than the last. Jess was yelling at me to turn around, didn't happen with how loud it was out there with the waves crashing up on the rocks. I was scared for about 2 seconds, then thought the worst thing that could happen was a wave totally overtaking me and washing me up to shore on top of a soggy car ride home. Besides, there was a guy surfing not too far from where I was hiking. What a rush! Part of me really wanted to feel a wave wash over me, to feel how powerful the water could be.

There's loads more to see on the rocky shores. This is from the same coast I was rock climbing on. It's not all to often you find all this neatness in one location... that's called nature. It's amazing. Think about it. How easy would it have been for me just to continue to stand on that shore and shot pictures. Why not get out there and explore it? I would have missed this pocket of sea creatures if I didn't put down my camera and take it in for myself. Just to be fully present and in tune with where I was, not only physically, but mentally.

Get out and see the world around you. Sure, you're thinking easy to say for you, Emily, you are in Australia. Yeah, everything is new and beautiful here, but it makes me think of how different and wonderful my home is in the Midwest. Some people out here probably take for granted the panoramic ocean views and sounds of waves crashing on rocks, just like I sometimes take for granted the gentle rolling fields of golden wheat and the smell of fresh cut hay.

Try being fully present to where you are. Ditch your cell phone for a day. Go outside, run around, climb things, look around. If I am doing it for half the summer, you can surely handle it for 1 day. Why not?

How Neat is That?

We only live about 15 minutes from the beach! Not all of them are rocky like this, but I'm gonna get a bike so I can go down there whenever because I don't know if I could get use to the driving thing down here... its totally backwards. Not only do Aussies drive on the other side of the road, but they're cars are designed with the drivers side on the left! WHOA!! I still can't even wrap my mind around it! When I jumped in the car with Jess for the first time, I turned to her and said, "OK, you steer, I'll work the pedals!"

Usually when you picture beaches of Australia, or any tropical place, you think about long stretches of sandy coast line. Like this one over here. These are nice, great for swimming... but its winter.

I had a better time adventuring out on the rocky coast lines. Jess and I went out on a nature walk yesterday, how neat is that? We visited 7 Mile Beach, Black Head Reserve, and Werri Beach.

More to come on this adventure. For now, we are going to Hangover 2 tonight and then out for tea!!

Up Top!

Jess and I go to the Top to everyday for chores.

The 'Top' is where Jessica's partner, Brad, houses his top-notch Jerseys and Jess keeps her Illawarra, Fay. They call it the Top because it's at the top of the road from where we live... It took me a bit to catch on.

Can you believe this view?? The first time I went up to the Top, I was just blown away! This is winter time? NO WAY!! Whoa! Look at those flowers still blooming over there, are those hibiscus? That tree over there looks great for climbing!! Jess, I am climbing that before I go. What mountains are those back there? Can we go? Oh, the Glass House ones are better? Let's go! Jessica was probably thinking I was all crazy from the long flight which might have been part of it, but most of it is that I genuinely appreciate how neat nature is. God gave us this earth to live, work, and thrive on. Showing gratitude for this just makes me feel alive.

I will get some more photos up from the top soon, but for now, here's how they keep the algae down in the water tanks!

Just get out of there!

Flew into Sydney and got through customs in like 4.5 seconds. For real, I handed the guy my slip that I filled out on the plane and he said, "Have a g'day, exit's on your left." I easily made it to the McDonald's where Jess told me to meet the shuttle guy. She told me that he would be waiting for me with a sign with my name on it!! Just like the movies, right? Except in the movies, they actually spell the person that they're picking up name right... fail. So I met up with the guy who had a sign that read 'Emily Atherm' close enough, right?

The views were INCREDIBLE on the way home!!! We drove down the coast from Sydney to Jess's town, Berry over hills, through valleys down weaving roads. Even though it is winter here, there are still flowers blooming and locals surfing. The Great Dividing Range is not to far from the coast so there were mountains on one side, and the ocean on the other.

When we got to Berry, the driver was like, "What does your place look like?" I was thinking to myself, 'Hell if I know, I am paying you to drive me there!' No worries, we got there.... so I thought. He pulled in the driveway and dropped me off and waited for me to get in the house. I was excepting Jess to be running out of the house to greet, I mean, that's the way it always happens at home. You know, little brothers tackling you to the ground out of excitement sort of thing. I rang the door bell, knocked on the door, but no sign of Jess. The door was unlocked, so I stepped inside just so the shuttle guy can be on his way.

I took a look around and thought, 'Wow, Jess has a nice place... I don't remember it being this nice from Skype.' I called her name, no answer. I took a look around and realized that I did not recognize the people in the photos... I run to my bag by the door and pull out my notebook with Jess's number in it. As I am frantically fumbling around with that, an alarm noise goes off!! I grab the phone and dial thinking, 'Don't mess this up Emily! You don't have much time till someone busts you for breaking and entering!!' Thank God Jess picked up the phone (but I never heard the phone ring anywhere in the house...) Here's how the conversation went:

Emily: Jess, I'm here. Where are you?

Jess: In the house. Where are you?

Emily: Am I at the right place??? I just got dropped off!!

Jess: You are at 46 Albany St, right?

Emily: Yeah, that's where the shuttle guy took me. (nearly in tears)

Jess: Emily, just get out of there!! GO to the end of the drive way, I will come get you!!

I don't even grab my stuff, race out of the house, and Jess was there at the door!! She lives in a conjoined place and I didn't see the other half where she lived! We visited her neighbors that night, and I told them the whole story. Stupid American x2. They cracked up. Thank you everyone, I will be here till July!

Oh, and that alarm noise was a device that detects when a car comes in and out of the driveway. So the sound came from the shuttle guy leaving.

Trip Out to Aussie

On Monday the 23rd, Mom and I headed to the airport at about 11am and I arrived at Jessica's home in Berry at 1PM on Wednesday the 25th. With the time differences, this totaled to about 32 hours in route to my final destination here in Australia. Woof. No worries though, what's really neat about travelling though is how fast you can make friends because you already have something in common with them: the destination!

I was hanging out waiting for my delayed flight to Dallas and met an Aussie that was on his way home, Matt. He had been working in the states for 2 years in law enforcement and sounded so excited to get back. Matt was the one to inform me that there was a tornado in north Minneapolis just the day before. Wow, I told myself that I wasn't going to be that stupid American and I already was without leaving the US.

You have no idea how long I had been praying that I sit next to someone who would be willing to be my pal on this journey. My prayers were answered when I met Kate in seat 29E. She was on her way to Brisbane with about 20 other college students as part of a mission trip. They were from universities across the Midwest but all members of Crusaders for Christ. (Hazzah! God wills it!!)

When we got to Dallas, I followed Kate and congregated with the group as the chaperons gave some instructions. I did a great job blending in... OK, not really. Most of the students were doing more double taking than listening to their leaders ;) I played along as long as I could, but I am terrible at keeping an exciting secret. Seriously, I could never throw a surprise party. Besides the point, I was so blessed to find this excellent group of kids to hang out with during our lay over in Dallas as well as the 16 hour flight to Australia.

I especially connected with Emma. At first, I was surprised at how curious she was about me. Those feelings faded pretty quickly when I became genuinely curious in who she was and discovered how in tune she was with her spirituality. We pretty much exchanged life stories with laughs and tears included.

I think a lot of people out there are worried about being interesting or feel the need to prove that they are indeed interesting. I believe that each and every person we encounter on our journey will be absolutely fascinating. This is something that I struggle with and continue to work on. It is more important to be interested than it is to be interesting. Try it. Be receptive to being inspired.