Home and Away

I'm finally back in the states, and have been for about a week now.

Naturally I came home with a sinus infection and nasty cold, probably caused by the freezing cold New Zealand weather and the stress of coming home. This past week has gone by way too quickly. I was looking forward to relaxing and spending time catching up with friends and with Jon. Instead, I ended up spending way too much time wedding planning with my mother, that and sleeping. Obviously I needed the rest since I was sick, but I just saw the week slipping away and now it's Saturday and I'm leaving again for another week. I should be loading the car right about now, but I'm not even packed. The thought of putting my life in a suitcase again, even if it's only for a week, makes me want to cry. I'm not ready to travel again, I just want to be comfortable and home and with my family.

This week has been draining. Jon has been here and it's been a struggle learning how to allow him into my life again. I got so used to being completely independent. I'm not used to being hugged and cuddled and it's weird having that again so suddenly. I'm starting to get comfortable again, but I guess I was expecting my Australia barrier to be more emotional than physical, and it was in fact the opposite.

So today I'm heading to my cabin in Central Oregon, and then over to Black Butte tomorrow. I'll be there until Friday, then Jon and I will head back to the Portland area for a wedding. I'm really looking forward to vacation, although I'm a little stressed. It's really hard to let people cook for me, especially after all the issues I had with my host mom and food in Australia. I also don't know several of the couples who will be there, and as it turns out, I can be pretty shy when first meeting people. I would love to just stay home and rest, but I need a vacation as well. I love Black Butte so much and it will be wonderful just to enjoy nature and peace and quite for a week. I'm a little bummed that they don't allow fireworks though :(

Well, off to try and pack.

-Kristin

Lasts

Today was a day of lasts...
The last time I rode the bus. The last time I went to Pancakes. The last time I saw the Opera House and the Harbor Bridge. The last time I got coffee at my favorite stand. The last time I went to Market City. The last time I saw Newtown. The last time I went out with Gail and Tinga. And the saddest part, it was the last night Sarah and I walked to Burwood and back. I'm going to miss her.

And now is the last time I will be sitting at this table... in this living room... at this apartment... it is my last night in Sydney and I'm heartbroken to be saying goodbye to all the things I have begun to love so dearly.

In less than 12 hours I will be leaving this city. Perhaps forever. It's so bittersweet.

How Have I Grown?

As part of our Australian Studies Program, I am required to write an 18-page critical reflection paper on what I've learned since I've been here. The paper is broken down in to two page sections, each in regards to a different unit we studied (ie - foreign policy, government and politics, hospitality, etc.). I've already started thinking about this paper, wondering what it is that I've learned, and I guess I wanted to write my own mini-reflection here to perhaps inspire my paper, as well as give myself the chance to really process how I've changed.

When I came to Australia, I expected to grow a lot closer to God.
I though I would be lonely, depressed to be away from friends and loved ones, and I'd end up spending a lot of time in the word and pursuing my relationship with God on perhaps a deeper level than I had been before this trip. My first couple weeks here, I did. I spent a lot of time reading my bible, in prayer, and just reflecting on my life and relationship with God. Then I made friends, and that faded into the background, perhaps more than it should have.
...Yet, I am leaving this place changed. Perhaps not externally, minus the few extra pounds I've packed on, but internally. The classes I've taken here have taught me more about God than I've learned in a lifetime of church. Perhaps I should have realized this earlier in my life, but the pursuance of knowledge is invaluable. To understand God in a historical, academic context lays the foundation for a stronger relationship with Him. This semester I did not grow close to God in the way I expected, but I learned an incredible amount about Him, knowledge that I will carry with me for a lifetime, and it will help me to understand the God I already love.

Anyway, that's my little blurb for the day.
Only 19 days until I'm home.

I can't believe this is almost over.

-Kristin

23 Days

23 Days!

Longest Week Ever!

I have four papers due this week as well as a presentation.
Today I turned in the first two essays, one was 12 pages and the other was 6.

Tomorrow I have an 8 page paper due.
Wednesday I have a 4 pager paper due.

Friday is my presentation on Aboriginal sports.

I am so exhausted already. I haven't been sleeping much since I've been doing homework perpetually, plus I'm getting sick. Thankfully I have a caring roommate and host mum who are force feeding me orange juice and tea. Only two more days of paper writing, presentation writing on Thursday, then I'm (almost) home free!

I cannot wait to come back. I'll be on vacation for two weeks, just relaxing, catching up with friends and family, and eating lots of dark chocolate :)

Leaving here will be bittersweet, but I'm ready to go back. I only have 19 days left in Sydney, 5 days in New Zealand, and then I'LL BE HOME! I am so, so, so excited.

It's been awhile...

Good Morning Friends,

I feel like I've failed miserably at blogging about my trip here. I've been busy, but that's not a great excuse for why I've been so horrible about emailing/calling/blogging/etc. I think it's just easier for me to keep a distance between myself and the people at home. It's so hard to be here and see everyone's lives continuing without me in them, so as long as I don't know what's going on, I don't feel so left out. Obviously that is such a lame excuse, and probably a bit unhealthy, but at this point I only have 32 days left here.

I'm not wishing myself home. I've made some great friendships here, and I've had a lot of amazing experiences. I know I'm going to miss Sydney a lot, and most of the people I've gotten to know while I've been here. My roommate and I have gotten really close, and I already can imagine how hard it will be to say goodbye to her. When I left home, I knew I would see everyone again when I got home. But for those friendships I've made here, I don't know when I'll see them next... pretty much everyone is from the midwest/east coast. Hopefully most of them will come to the wedding, or perhaps I'll be able to fly out there at some point next year.

Speaking of the wedding... it's so hard being across the world and wanting to plan a wedding. By the time I get home, I'll have less than 6 months to plan, which isn't impossible but it does add stress. I'm so thankful that my mother is taking her job as mother of the bride seriously. She's doing her research and without her I would be utterly clueless and a total disaster. So, thanks Ma!

Well, I have 4 papers, a presentation, and a video project due next week. So no more FUN for the next week. Wish me luck!

Love,
Kristin

I'm ENGAGED!

Hi Mom and Dad,
And whoever else is reading this :)

Jon flew across the world, to Australia, to surprise me and PROPOSE!
Here are the pictures of the magical moment, naturally I'm still freaking out a little bit. I'm getting married!


When he started to get all mushy...


Then he dropped to one knee...


Professed his undying love for me...


Asked me to spend the rest of my life with him...


And naturally I said YES! And cried for a little bit :)


Here is the ring... he picked it out with NO HELP!

I am so happy right now! My best friend just asked me to be his WIFE.
PLUS Jon is here for a week, so he gets to meet all my friends and see Sydney! I just hope I can get all my homework done!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!
I need to find some supplies so I can make Mexican food tonight. As it turns out, there is NO Mexican food in Australia.

PS - 49 Days!

RAIN

I cannot begin to describe the rain here, I've never seen anything like it...
Imagine jumping under a waterfall everytime you step outside.

Now is when I wish I owned an umbrella...

Update

Well, I guess an update is due, as I haven't written a whole lot on here for the past couple weeks.

I left off with my trip to Cairns. I headed up there with 8 other ASC kids, where we rented this sweet apartment on the beach for the week. The two major things we did while in Cairns (pronounced Cans) were hike through the rain forest in Kuranda (and saw the Barron Falls), and snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef. Both things were just amazing testimonies to the beauty of God's creation.

The week after was the Bush Trip - which I already wrote a bit about and posted some photos, so no need to write more about that. Although I will say that my camera broke on that trip, so if you're wondering why there haven't been any pictures lately, thats why. I ended up buying a new one this week, as I know pictures from this trip will be so valuable to me later.

This week has been fairly uneventful. SAPC is here from the states, and they are basically reviewing our program and deciding if they want to continue accrediting it for the CCCU. SAPC is a group of administrators from different CCCU colleges throughout the US. While they are here they interview ASC students, professors, host parents, Wesley students, etc to get a general idea of what goes on here. Tonight the SAPC people came and talked to me at my service project, which was cool - although they got there right as dinner was being served, which is the busiest time for me. So I was running amok throughout the kitchen trying to get dinner out and let them interview me at the same time. Tomorrow night Sarah, Michelle, and I are talking a few of the SAPC people out to dinner, and then on Saturday morning they are coming over to our apartment to interview us and Gail and just see how our living conditions are. Perhaps I'll clean my room before then....

PS - Mom, thanks for the chocolate bunny. It's fantastic and I've missed dark chocolate.

Tomorrow in class we are having a panel of Aboriginal adults come in to talk about what their lives were like as part of the "stolen generation." Basically, aboriginal children were taken away from their parents between 1910-1970, put into camps, taught the ways of the white man, and then sold or adopted into white families, in hopes of eventually eliminating the aboriginal population. The idea behind it all was that aboriginals would have kids with white people, whose kids would have kids with whites, until eventually their aboriginal blood was compleltly diluted and they appeared to be "normal." Essentially, the stolen generation was a small holocaust, except most of the kids didn't die. They just suffered extreme identity loss, abuse, and were denied an education. Anyway, sorry for the random tangent, it's just really interesting/tragic and I'm looking forward to hearing some first hand experiences of what it was like growing up in that kind of environment.

Well, it's 9:15 here and I'm already exhausted. This morning I went to the beach, relaxed, and then booked it to Newtown. I spent 5 hours in the kitchen cooking dinner. It was so tiring, but as always, I enjoyed my time there.

I love you all and am looking forward to coming home. And in case you're wondering, it's 66 days away :)

Love,
Kristin

Group Photo!


Totem Awesome (Gugundi)


Group Photo!


Me, Kim, and Jamie

The Bush

Well, I just spent the last four days at a camp in "The Bush," learning about Aboriginal culture and spirituality and whatnot.
Highlight: Painting my body and dancing around a fire while chanting.

I never wrote about Cairns - lame. But if you really want to know how amazing the Great Barrier Reef was, just ask me :)

Anyways, I just wanted to let everyone know I'm still alive and FINALLY back in Sydney for an extended amount of time. Perhaps I'll actually get some homework done now...

Back in Sydney!

So I'm finally back in Sydney! I just spend the last 8 days in Brisbane and Cairns, which was pretty amazing. Here is a brief summary of my trip:

Last Saturday we took a night train from Sydney to Brisbane. It was a 14 hour ride on a freezing cold and rather uncomfortable train, but we made it to Brisbane in one piece. Once we got to the transit center there, we waiting around for an hour because a shuttle from the hostel was supposed to pick us up. The shuttle never showed, so we piled into a cab and got to the hostel that way. Once at the hostel, we couldn't check in because it was too early, so we hopped in the showers, checked our bags into the office, and headed off to do our own things for the day. Most of the group went to the Australia Zoo, which is where Steve Irwin used to work. Derek and I decided to stay behind and explore Morton Bay (the area we were staying at) and just hang out for the day. We ended up having a fantastic time just relaxing, watching movies, making food, etc. Here is a picture of Derek and I in front of the boys room (each room in the hostel was music themed... I stayed in the Pop room.)




The next day we all headed to Surfers Paradise, which is supposed to be one of the best surfing beaches in Australia. It was really beautiful on the beach (although there was a tsunami warning when we were there). Here are a few pictures from Surfers Paradise....









The next day we flew from Brisbane to Cairns! But in order to avoid boring you to death, I will write about Cairns tomorrow.

Happy Easter!

Late Night Homework Session

I have a debate due in 5 hours... ah!
Naturally, I've waited until the last second to finish writing/memorizing my parts, and now I'm in a total state of panic. Australia has not been good for my work ethic. Everyone here is so laid back about things, so I always procrastinate until the last possible moment. In this case, I'm staying up all night writing a debate I should have had ready weeks ago.
So what is this debate for? Our class is going to Parliament tomorrow for a tour and we have to speak there! Ah! My topic covers why the United States is responsible for bringing democracy to countries that are currently under dictatorships. Ugh.

Enough school talk, in less than 48 hours I will be boarding a train headed to Brisbane, and I won't be back for 8 days - so next week, don't expect any updates.

In the meantime, know that I am having an amazing time. I am absolutely homesick, but I'm making the best of my time here.

Love,
Kristin

Easter!

Lori, Darin, Spencer and Brandon!

Hi Everyone! I just got your care package (unexpected I must add) yesterday. Thank you so much for thinking about me on easter! It was so sweet of you, and of course I love the candy.

Here is a picture of Julie and I having a bubble-blowing contest with the gum you sent! (I won.)




And for everyone else, I'll be gone in Cairns until Easter, so if I don't talk to you before then, HAPPY EASTER!

Travel

Big News!

This Saturday, I'm taking a train from Sydney to Brisbane (14 hours) with several close friends from the ASC group. We'll be there until Tuesday (stay in a hostel on the beach), then we hop a plane from Brisbane to CAIRNS where we'll spend another 5 days at the GREAT BARRIER REEF! We rented a sweet apartment on the beach, so we can cook for ourselves and have an awesome view. But basically, I am so excited.

Spring Break - here I come!

I was talking to Jon today and he told me that my blog is lame because I only ever write about what I'm doing, and usually it's so outdated it is no longer relevant. I guess for people I talk to frequently, that's true, but what about everyone who I can't really get in contact with while I'm here? Anyways, I'll try and talk more about emotions in this entry, just so everyone can know what's really going during my time here. I'm beginning to realize it's about what you're learning from your experiences, not the experiences themselves.

Before I spill my guts... here are the links to some of my Australia photos.
The links are in order of most recent to the oldest. So, go check them out!

http://spu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2019514&l=b6ee4&id=42900138

http://spu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2019150&l=b6676&id=42900138

http://spu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2018825&l=5ab95&id=42900138

http://spu.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2018607&l=14317&id=42900138


Now... some food for thought. I'm reading this book right now called The God of the Covenant. It's always cool to read scripture based books, as regardless of the topic of the book, you always can pull something out of it and apply it to your life. While reading this book tonight, something really stood out to me... "The ethical quality of life of the people of God is the vital link between their calling and their mission. There is no mission without ethics. "
The current discussion going on amongst the ASC group has been about integrity and ethical decisions that we all have to make. As Christians, we are asked to make the decision that will bring the most glory to God.
It has been really interesting being here, as I'm starting to realize how different Christianity looks to different people. All 25 of us are Christians, but we come from such different backgrounds. Our core beliefs line up, but the way we live our lives and the specific convictions we posess are all so unique. It's easy not to talk about our faith with one another, but I'm starting to realize that in order to have real Christian community, we need to be able to communicate openly with one another about our lives and the way we live it and why. There are a lot of people here from the Weslyan tradition - who aren't allowed to dance or gamble or even look at alcohol. I don't exactly know where I'm going with this point... basically, I'm just trying to say that I'm learning something here. Faith is personal to everyone, and to not discuss it takes away from the richness of friendships. It is too easy to assume that everyones Christianity looks like your own, and by doing that you are closing off the possibility of deep friendship and understanding of what makes up a person.
To try and wrap up my random train of thought... I guess I'm just starting to realize that people need to figure out their own ethics and own up to them. I think a lot of younger Christians have yet to discover the difference between their church's doctrine and scripture itself. For those that have grown up in the same church their whole lives, it is easy to know what is "right" for your church body, and assume that it is exactly what all Christianity should look like. I feel encouraged to explore the idea of Christian ethics, putting aside what I know about them already, and dig into the scripture to understand the way God wants us to live our lives. Like my book was talking about, without having a solid ethical background, it is much harder to hear God and to understand his calling for your life.
So... what a perfect time to seek God more wholly.

Anyway, I'm having a great time. I feel like I'm learning so much about God. But not only that, I'm getting to know my friends and myself on a much deeper level. Being on the other side of the world allows for an amazing oppertunity to open the lines of communication so much more. I miss everyone and only 96 days until I come home :)

I love you and please let me know how I can be praying for you!

Love,
Kristin

Here are a few pictures.... I'm sorry I haven't updated in a while. I've been running amok around the city. Tonight, I took a 4 hour nap and just relaxed and wow, I feel so much better. Things are starting to settle down here, I feel more at home, but it's hard being away from the people you love for so long. I really miss everyone :( But I am in Sydney, so that's cool.


This is Town Hall.


Yes, this is us doing homework on the steps of the Opera House.


Tyler, Sarah, and I at the bus stop.


I tripped down a step. My knee is currently swollen and bruised. This picture does it no justice. (But don't worry mom, I'm fine!)

PS

If you want to get in touch with me, but don't want/don't know how to post a comment on my blog, my e-mail address is kirkk@spu.edu.

That is all :)

It's Business Time

I guess I haven't been very good about updating this week. It's been a little crazy, classes are starting to pick up quite a bit. And of course I've been frolicking about the city, not doing homework when I should...

So, the highlights of my week include, but are not limited to -
1.) Camping at Coogee beach. It's pretty much the most beautiful beach I've ever been to. We got there at about 8:00 on Wednesday night, and fell asleep on a grassy knoll around 1 am. Then at 5 AM we were rudely awakened by a torrential downpour. I guess next time I'll check the weather first... but it was a lot of fun! I've never really camped out under the stars, but since I've been here I've done it 4 times! At 5 we ran with our sleeping bags over our heads to a random gazebo and slept on picnic tables there until we could catch a bus back to the city.
2.) Newtown Mission. I love serving people. I was a little worried about being placed at a homeless mission, not knowing what to expect, but I'm starting to get to know the people I serve every week and they all have amazing stories! This past week Jess and I were appointed head chefs - so now we get to do all the cooking on Thursday nights :) That's pretty sweet if you ask me.
3.) Friday night. I went dancing with a few of the girls from our program. It was pretty fun, but I don't think the whole dancing thing is really my scene. I'd prefer to watch a movie and play cribbage :) The weekends here make me a little homesick. I used to always look forward to Saturdays because it was the time when Jon and I got to hang out.

Anyways, I wrote postcards this week, so I'm putting them in the mail tomorrow. I hope I didn't leave anyone off - Ingy, if you're reading this, I need your address!

You're prayers are always appreciated, and let me know if there is any way I can be praying for you as well.

Love,
Kristin