World Philosophy

You know I've gone through a lot of changes since I've been here. Fisrt off, I'd say that my confidence has gone through the roof! Yay! But you know, I was reading what I had written about myself on the "about me" columb, and realize that everything I said there was true. I wrote there that that was my belief, it was a speculation I had, a theory. Now I can tell you that it is true. The world is full of treasures. Life is an adventure, and it is what you make of it.




Here I am in Syndy Australia, with a budget of $20 a day. It's nice to know I have money to spend, but at the same time I could look at that and think of myself as a beggar. Shoot, people in Ecuador have to make due on less that $2 american dollars per day. Their things may be slightly cheaper there, but not cheap enough for that to be a living. Money is realative. It doesn't make you happy, but having enough to not worrie about life is a freedom that you can earn.



I have found myself continuously thinking about money these past couple of days, not having enough scares me. But what does a person really need? Food and shelter right? I can work for accomodation here, and that amount is plenty enough for food. I'll tell you though, its certainly a teaser being in such a touristy city, right on the boarder line of the richest area of australia, and the poorest.



There is no middle class in this district, you are either rich or poor. The way we live happens by choice. Some people may be born into money and others into poverty, but in the end a poor man can become rich and a rich man can become poor. I think the difference is that the rich people are taught these secrets, while the poor have to figure it out for themselves.
There are so many beautiful things in life to be thankful for, and I'll say it's much easier to recognise them when you travel. When you become "out of your element" you are no one! No one knows you, your personality, or anything else. You can be whoever you want- in real life (not the internet!- big difference). You are clearly "out of your bubble" and comfort zone, and learn to face life and more importantly- yourself.

This is a place to challenge who you are as a person, and where you fit into the crazy thing we call society. And societies are all different, so does that mean you change with the society for it's sake, or does the society change you?



We are all so similar in this world, I have met people from all six populated continents (antartica isnt' really populated), and have noticed that each of these peoples tend to group together. The Canadians, Americans, Australians, and Europians just happen to be the dominating- Western Civilization. The prominent asian populations I find the hardest to relate to, I'm not quite sure why, but I suppose it is just the difference in values, and difficulty in language translation.

I suppose it is easy to say we are so similar since travelers are attracted to eachother like magnets, but despite some amazing cultural differences, and the fact that Germans don't like peanut butter, it is truly amazing that a world this big can have people that are so similar.

....

What the hell am I doing in Sydney?

That what I keep asking myself. I don't know how I ended up here, and don't really know why I am here. It's been an interesting trip, all last minute and completely random. The most interesting part is that I have no money. Actually I skipped paying rent back home so that I wouldn't be compeletly broke here.

don't worrie about the money part for me, I'll be caught up as soon as I get my $$ from financial aid in a couple of weeks, but Ahhh... Crazy stuff.


(The Harbour Bridge, I'll see this maybe tomorrow!)

When I first arrived I arranged a shuttle to take me to my hostile, where some daddy's girl ended up crying her eyes out because the bus driver wouldn't take her an 1 1/2 hours drive out of his way to drop her off. She was fairly convincing, and you could tell she always got what she wanted. She said her dad made the arrangements and that he couldn't just leave here there all alone. Man, it got to the point that she was sitting in the door way just crying and screming "help me, help me please!" I'm sorry, but I couldn't help laughing, she was so pathetic. I don't want you to think I am not sympathetic, I do feel sorry for her, but I feel sorry that she expects people to do everything for her.



So once I got dropped off, the bus driver randomly pointed me to my hostile, which I had an interesting time finding. I knocked on the door for about five minutes before I decided to find another hostile where a new friend was staying. They were booked... after a long bit of contemplation and some walking, I just barely passed off the idea of finding some nich in the city, and was able to get into my hostile through a hidden gate.... which is now obvious. (they dont' use the door). hmm... well once I got there, they had already closed, and I barely negociated staying on a couch in the lounge with fellow backpackers. Luckly, someone found a note and a key for me to stay the night. Phew!!!


I was so happy to have an early night in a nice bed!


Water Pressure YEAH! This is a nice place!


They have X-box, cushy chairs, and simpsons/futurama/king of the hill/ family guy on 24/7 This is my kinda place:



It has a beautiful courtyard, just next door to where all the bums stay... hmmm.... They serve free food next door! Ok ok, I'm being a little dramatic, but it's all true!

luckly with the whole crazy low budget, I can eat cheap, and I've arranged to work at the hostile for free stay. I'm off today to buy some public transit to see the sights, and find a park to do some slacklining!

Welcome to Sydney!

Playing Catch-up

Hello Hello everyone! It's been awhile hasn't it! Well Iam writing you from the ghettos of Australia. Kings Cross, the red light district! No wonder I got the hostile so cheap. Actually I had some guy flash a huge wad of cash at me... I kept walking trying to figure out what he meant, thought it had to do with drugs... nah, i bet you can figure it out.

I kept on walking a little panicked, had some homeless guy hitting on me... started walking a little faster until I found my way into a little grocery store. After talking to the cashieer for awhile, I felt a lot better, a kiwi guy from New Zealand, explained that that was the redlight district- obviously, and that that sort of behaviour is not unusual, but there is little to no danger.



Haha, I didn't believe him for some time, but it's OK now... Oh boy, Auzzy has been quite a trip.

Oh by the way, I rode over on a plane with Elton John and his partner. I didn't say anything to him, what could I say...?

And also New Zealands International Rugby Team was also there in uniform. What a flight!



So to be honest the reason you haven't heard from me in so long is I have fallen in love. Head over heels... He's a guy from Africa, and a resident of New Zealand... Tawanda. I could talk about him forever, so I'll spare you the details, but after I met him, I couldn't stop smiling for about a month.

Also I've been working on a treasure hunt! I've hidden about 50 "pieces of treasure" around Palmerston North, each containing pieces to a 1000 piece puzzle, and have invited everyone in my community to play. They get poetic clues each week telling them where some of the treasure is hidden, and they are invited to join the web page and help eachother find them.
I've gotten several groups to sponsor the hunt, so everyone will get a prize, and we are building the puzzle as a community in the library as the pieces are found. It's pretty cool, the radio has been doing some sponsoring as well, and there is an article coming out in the school paper soon as well.