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  • Jul. 12th, 2008 at 12:00 AM

i left for Australia one year ago today... July 11th 2007.

and i miss the beautiful city of Sydney. 


a year ago today i embarked on a new chapter i my life... followed by a new beginning 6 months ago upon return (a pretty miserable semester-ahead.)


but today....god spoke to me and i felt an overwhelming change my heart.

this shift was not directly related to anything Australian related.... but a shift in my spirit.  a shift brought on from friends, and relationships, and work, dreams and ambitions

the past couple of weeks have been deep in self-discovery.

you will never understand all the reasons for this shift, but it is all positive and all in betterment.



and i have decided...to start a new livejournal.
because everytime i am on this LJ, it brings me back to Australia and all that i miss. 
and the person who wrote this journal, one year ago for 5 months, has transitioned to a whole new frame of life. 

so a new LJ name will soon be announced of Richmond adventures and creative endeavors.


until then... all is well.  very well.  and i'll be seeing you....

  • Location:desk. late.
  • Mood: rejuvenated
  • Sound:turned the music off...

Apr. 29th, 2008

  • 3:07 PM

 what is one of Jennifer's greatest pet peeves?














people that are absent minded.
*correction: people who are very academically gifted, yet are absent minded when it comes to basic street smarts and common knowledge.
  • Location:apartment.
  • Mood: angry
  • Sound:my head about to explode

i think there's a problem....

  • Apr. 28th, 2008 at 4:17 PM

i think there's a problem if the class average on the last finance test was a 46.

i beat the class average, but not enough to say that i am proud of my grade.

by the way...  no class average on any test has exceeded a D.

way to drop the ball, Jenn

  • Apr. 27th, 2008 at 8:18 PM

so i really just did.

i remember studying information systems sometime around 5 o'clock.
only to franictally wake up at 7:50pm

i put on my shoes, ran to the car, parked in the very last space in the VV lot, ran into hibbs, up the elevator, only to hear that the APO meeting JUST ended with clasps and cheers.

so i missed it.  
the last meeting.
my first officer report at service VP 
the agenda
the reports
the jokes
the anything bag with Corey.
the toast song.

and worst of all, i missed all of the graduating seniors, being my brothers and friends, giving their final toast, their final words

i could blame information systems for being so ridiculously boring, the fact that nobody called me, and the fact i was out late last night and when i'm out asleep, i'm in a deep sleep.

but really, it would be childish to blame all of that.  
because in fact i dropped the ball, or better yet, missed the ball all together.

and sure it's "okay," everyone "understands".  but i'm disappointed in myself.

update?

  • Feb. 11th, 2008 at 9:21 PM

so this blog is now "aViewFromRichmond" ?

eeehh.  doesnt sound so good.

can't believe i was ACTUALLY in Sydney, Australia.

i miss it terribly.  
  • Location:apartment.
  • Mood: envious
  • Sound:street traffic

Jan. 24th, 2008

  • 8:29 AM

 the "going homes blues" have officially really, really set in.

i've had them for about a week...
i didnt really have them for the first month coming home...probably because of surrounding myself with the holidays, working heaps, and catching up with friends and everything American

but the first week of school ended, i realized how terribly bad a miss Australia.

i tried to explain to someone on friday how i felt.  "i had freedom... i could go, 'i feel like going to Tasmania tomorrow, or go to the Opera House because i felt like it'".  i didnt have to study (hardly ever) or do homework.  i didnt have all of these club obligations, meetings.  no one knew who i was, so i could be whoever the freak i wanted to be.  i tried new things alll the time.

but now it's back to how it used to be.  i forgot how much i took on before.  i have decided to take 13 credits this semester, because i already feel incredibly overwhelmed.  all of my Saturdays are filled up for the semester, i kid you not.  i used to thrive over over-extending myself... now i feel guilty when i have 3 invites on a friday night and i cant chose what to go to.

i miss my Australian friends.  i miss the freedom.  all of my friends here were so happy that i was coming home, i see them once then it's back to how it always was.... 

i have headaches, all the time.  no one understands.  dont even try to tell me you understand, because you dont.  none of my friends have studied abroad, you have no idea.  you have no idea what it's like to have the best adventure of your life for 5 months then coming back to cold Richmond.  sure Richmond is great... i have this beautiful new apartment, heaps upon heaps of friends, and after all i do love VCU.  

it's not like everyone back in Sydney was perfect.  i'm not infering that.  but i miss it.  for the last month, Sydney, Australia was this great, distant dream that i had.  now i am finally realizing that i was actually there.  that i lived my dream for 5 months and now it was over.

and now i have to run into people on campus i dont like.  i have to spend hours doing homework.  i have very little time to try new things and travel.  i have changed in so many ways and people just dont understand.

i miss you, Sydney.  i miss you terribly

the return

  • Dec. 13th, 2007 at 12:42 PM

that's right... I'm Back!

my sleeping patterns are so wacked out...

my first day back (getting back home at 1am), i slept until nearly 3pm in the afternoon

and last night, i got really hungry at 4am and had to go make a fried egg and steamed spinach.  i couldnt get to sleep until 5:30am--that's typically when i get up!

so yeah, reseting my body clock is harder than i thought it would me.

i have some mixed feelings when i came home.  part of me was so sad to leave Sydney.  but also, i'm beyond excited to see my friends/family again.

i'm also so stocked about my new apartment and my new roommate, the adorable Sarah!  we're actually moving into one of my dad's places on Main Street, it's still undergoing renovations.  last night we went to Home Depot to look at bathroom sinks, ceiling fans, and tiles--i get to help pick this stuff out, how cool is that?  i love our new place, it's going to be beautiful...well, when it's finished!

the end is near.

  • Dec. 11th, 2007 at 3:13 AM

i am boarding the plane in 12 hours and 7 minutes.

i cant believe it.

i have some mixed feelings.

believe, i big part of me does not want to go home.  this has been without a doubt the best experience of my life, and i dont want it end.  i cant tell you how many times i have burst into tears.

i have a few friends (see past entries), that arent the kind of friends i want halfway across the world.  they are the type of friends i have dinner with weekly...can knock on their door "just because."



but then again, it is time to go home.  Sancta is very, very quiet here.  i've conquered nearly everything i sought out to do down under.  i've lots of trips throughout the country (although, it's huge and i know places i want to go when i return!).  my checking account has never been so pathetic.  it's the holiday season.  it is time to move on.

everyone at home wants me home.  i cant tell you how excited my mom is for me to come home...she has already stocked the kitchen with salmon, spinach, cranberries, sweet potatoes, and bananas, and has promised to fix me some mexican food (which i have missed!)

i have friends who leave me messages and for the few that i've talked to on the phone, are so excited to see me again.  i even have a quote-unquote little nephew to meet.




so here the tears go again... it's just that i love this place so much.  i really, really do.  it's time to go...but it's going to be very very hard to leave tomorrow (well, it's 3am, so today).

((i have my last fitness class in the morning (a mere 3 hours from now)... one last look at the Harbour, breakfast at the notourous Bill's with Ivanka... goodbye to some staff at Sancta, and getting picked up at 12pm to head to the airport.))

so please, when i return... first understand that part of me is very very excited to see you all again, because although i have made some great friends down under, the could never replace you all.   but also, i hope you all realize that part of me is going to be sad to leave all of this (*looking around.)

so anyway...i fly into DC at 10:15pm Tuesday night.  Wednesday i'll probably sleep alot..but otherwise do call.  do call.
  • Location:desk.
  • Mood:mixed, but mostly sad
  • Sound:sniffling.

Doris

  • Dec. 11th, 2007 at 2:46 AM

next i will mention Dorris.  

Dorris has been a more recent new friend of mine, i wish we had more time.  she kept telling me in my last weeks "nooo! dont go home."

Dorris is from Taiwan, although she has lived a good part of her childhood in Australia.  she is studying to be a primary school teacher, as she loves kids.  she teaches weekly swimming lessons...and so frankly, she adores kids.
 
i always kid her that she is incredibily studious, which she is.  Some of us have determined that it must be family/cultural pressure, because is always freaking out before her exams/assignments.

but let me tell you, when Dorris is not stressing, she is ridicously fun.  she has THE best smile and THE best laugh.



somehow, i dont know how, but on the last week of finals she came to Jenovan Caves with me & Ivanka.  She had an exam the next day, i couldnt believe she agreed to come, and i was escatic!

i am so glad she came, she was heaps of fun.  she's one of those people, who makes me laugh even though she's not trying to.  her birthday was the next week (school would be over, i'd be in NZ, she was going to China to visit her Aunt)..we kept telling her, let's celebrate your birthday, we can go out/get you a cake.  she kept insisting that what she treasured more than anything was just spending time with us (and she really ment it.)

sure Jenova caves were beautiful and one of nature's treasues.  but really, i adored the trip because it was heaps upon heaps of fun to hang with Ivanka and Dorris.  we talked and laughed through the hours of public transport.  i asked them a zillion questions about their hometowns, families, and all kinds of silly stuff too (our favorite: worst hypothetical job).  on the way back, they sang the Australian national anthem on the train (which apparently no one knows, and the people sitting near us were very impressed), adn i sang the 50 Nifty United States Song, along with Take me Out the Ball Game, etc.

i really cant even describe how fun this day was...it just was.  one of my best days down under.  i mean...  one of my best days ever.



 (flash of the camera changes the colors/tones-swear it was the caves were much more beautiful i person!)


















P.S. I'll have to do Ivanka's post when i return to the states--all too much to say!

Katy

  • Dec. 11th, 2007 at 1:24 AM

i am going to do a few (3) entries about my closest Australian/Sancta friends.

first there is Katy, my roommate.

Katy is the eternal optomist.  she is the happiest person i have ever met (that is, behind the ever-so delightful Ame Branum---but still, on a similar wavelength.)

me and Katy talked virtually every night before bed.  sometimes we'd both be tired, but somehow end up talking for 2 hours before was like "man we've been talking forever...but i'm rrrreally tired".

Katy was always telling me about Aboriginal culture and what life is like in Dubbo (she's not a fan of big cities.)  she has told me all about her family, she adores her 6 month year old nephew Henry (so cute!).  she has always told me stories about getting into the prestigous Conservatorium of Music and how she loves music.

there is one thing, i must say, that i do somewhat guilty about.  before i met Katy, many of the girls i met at Sancta gave freakish looks when i told her she was my soon-to-be roommate...they said sorts of random things like she was weird, i was her 3rd roommate in the last few months, that her boyfriend was weird, never stopped playing the piano, immature, etc etc.  

so i was terrified when i met her for the first time, when she came one late night after visiting her brother.  when we got to talking the next morning, i found out it was her birthday, although she had nothing planned.  hmm.

it didnt take long for me to look past what people had told me, though.  i think Katy is often very misunderstood.  dont get me wrong, she has a full group of table of friends, but a lot of other people at the college dont see her in that light.  they would ask me how she was as a roommate, i always said we had similar living styles, she was in class at the Con all day and didnt see each other much, and that it was fine.  the part i say i would regret, is that i really should have stood up for her.  there are such wonderful parts to Katy's personality that i have never found in a friend.

to explain with some examples as to what Katy is like:
-i have never seen some anyone so excited to volunteer at a homeless shelter.  we talked for a good 30 minutes before she went.   she genuinely wanted to be there.

-she has been exploring her faith alot lately.  she's been going to mass, even at different churches, and comes back and wants to share what she learned for the day and what the priest said.

-when i told her my best friend had a baby, she said in the sweetest voice with a big smile "awww, that's just wonderful!"  sure people say that's great, that's wonderful...but how she said it, she really, truly ment that it was wonderful, even though she had never met my bf.

one night, weeks ago.... i called my mother balling at about 11:30pm saying that i didNOT want to go home, that i was having such a good time, didnt want it to end...(and my trip got extended.)  after i got off the phone, Katy, always asleep at the hour, spent time talking to me about how my experiences here have changed me, all about study abroad, and all about life in general.

Katy is type of person who seldomly complains.  literally, she would come into our room at night and profess "gosh, we are just so blessed" and this, that everything is "so wwwonderful."  which leads me to my next points...

i have never seen a 20 year old so excited at an aquarium.  i had been wanting to go, and she proclaimed earlier in the week that she'd love to go with me.  our group of people folded, she didnt care, so we went on a Thursday night together at 9pm for the hour before close.  we were like kids "wow, look at that!"  you should have seen us by the shark tank. 





 Jellyfish: the Australian killer!





everyone was telling me Dubbo was boring, dont go.  but i wanted to.  Katy said i could come at any time, when i got back from New Zealand, i called her on Saturday, and was at her house (6 hour train ride) a mere 24 hours later.  her family was extremely hospitable.  they were so proud to show me around Dubbo and tell me about Australian history.  

we went to the Dubbo zoo, which is hands down the best zoo i have ever been to.  the animals roam in wide lands, Katy could sit at watch the apes for hours, she loved them.  people typically drive or bike around the park (it's huge), but we decided to walk.  she went on about how walking it (a first for her), has been the best way to see the zoo.  the tickets count for 2 days, so we were there two days.  












we did other sorts of things as well-- visiting her mom's school, going to a historic Aboriginal carving site.  




one night after dinner her mom insisted that we drive down to through the forrests so we could see wild kangaroos hoping around (i was excited!).  Dubbo, it's Australia, it's incredibly dry... but they had (miraculously) gotten some recent rains, and when turning around a dirt road, we got bogged! (stuck in the mud.)  after a good deal of pushing--one of which times dirt from under the tire sqiurted into the air and all over Katy-- we got the car out.  the 3 of us laughed all the way home... just in time to see hopping kangaroos in the road adn the most beautiful blue/pink sunset. 








it was very hard to say goodbye as my train left.  i think we hugged like 5 times (and keep in mind-i usually dont particularly like hugs!) and stared at each other through the train window.  we looked at each other with sad eyes, but smiles....her and her boyfriend made funny faces at the window to me (made me laugh).  at last, my train rode away.  she walked and waved as the train slowly moved, and then she disappeared.  at that point, i couldnt contain my tears. 



Katy has taught me so much about life, she really has no idea.  Katy is not afraid to question her faith, her life, her journey.  i have always gotten the sense that she is discovering who she is and is working towards a goal of just being really, really happy with life.   she has a near-perfect balance between school/friends/life.  it doesnt matter what performance she has the next day, she will sit kindly, patiently with you and have a long conversation.  she has been known to spontaneously sit and catch with a friend until 3 in the morning, knowing how important quality time with friends is.... she will party but not often, and maintains excellent grades (practicing (playing piano) 4 hours a day).

notably also.  i think Katy has learned through the experiences i've had down under.  she is willing to try new things, go new places.   handsdown, there is no one else i would have wanted for a roommate...it was literally just 'ment to be.'  i cant really describe her, i wish some of you had the opportunity to meet her.
  • Location:1:58am
  • Mood:miss her
  • Sound:it's late, not much

NZ

  • Dec. 11th, 2007 at 12:48 AM

so it's pretty obvious that i havent posted in a while.

believe me, it's not because i dont have any pictures to show or things to post!  it's been a good bit of traveling the last month, and i've been very busy (and not at a computer all to often.)

the day after my last exam, i was off to New Zealand for 13 days.  Most everyday i hit a new city/town.  it was pretty amazing.  i havent posted because gosh, i've done so much (and took 493 pictures) and dont even know where to begin.

still, i dont know where to start.  but i am lacking time here (it's 12:50am!), so i will just post 15..wait, make that 20, pictures.  when i get back stateside>>maybe i'll elaborate?

so here we go:

 first train ride

 believe me, this one has a story

 glacier (as big as Auckland), a rainforrest is just below!









 Queenstown: where i went skydiving

 steepest street in the world





 no that is not artificial water

 

 Christchurch, most english city outside England



 Napier: art deco capital of the world

 later that afternoon i went whitewater rafting (down the high commerical waterfall in the world---yeahhhhh i was scared!)

 thermal mud bath







 

life as of now

  • Nov. 21st, 2007 at 1:50 PM

New Zealand is amazing!!!  

the weather has been great...

anyway, too lazy to post now, i will when i get back.

just wanted to let you know i'm having a great time!

be back Nov 29th.

goodbye.

  • Nov. 16th, 2007 at 9:06 PM

alright kids...

it's 9:06pm.  most all my stuff has been locked away in the storage room since 5pm.

i have my things together that i'm taking to NZ, but i still have to finish stuffing it into a tote back and a backpack (over 5 mos, Oz has taught me how to pack light.)

i had my last Sancta dinner as a true Sancta girl, (not a guest like i'll be at the end of the month.)  the majority of college has left (i'd say 15% of the girls are still here?)

my flight leaves for New Zealand at 8:30am tomorrow... i'll be leaving here around 6am.

i'm excited about New Zealand, but at the same time incredibly sad this whole Sancta experience is over.  i could not have the amazing experience in Australia if it werent for Sancta.

anyway, i cant talk about it anymore... i've teared up enough today

New Zealand: Nov 17-29th.  north island, south island, and a whole lot in between.  it's supposed to be the most beautiful country.  it'll be a lot of traveling, and i'm going to take loads of pictures.

Goodbye Sancta, i love you, i will miss you, i will never forget you.

i dont want it to end.

  • Nov. 16th, 2007 at 1:42 PM

i've been an absolute basket-case today

my stomach has been hurting (from stress)

i feel that someone has kicked the wind out of me

my head hurts 

i've teared up a dozen times

why?

this is the last day at Sancta.  (i'll be back in December for a few days, but not in my room, and with everyone gone.)

i am devastated that the Sancta experience is nearly over

To do list....

  • Nov. 15th, 2007 at 7:29 AM

i am off to New Zealand Saturday, my plane leaves in 49 hours

until then, i need to:

take New Products Development exam
take Advertisting & Communications exam
study for exams!
make 3 phone calls to family/friends the States
calls to the states regarding apartments
3 workouts at the gym
go to the aquarium with Katy
spend last moments w/ Doris
send something in the mail--taking forever to get ready!>> finished but mail from NZ?
sell 4 textbooks 
fill out Alternative Spring Break application>>will have to do on the plane to NZ
laundry
pack for New Zealand!
pack up room, clean it
pack suitcases-space saver bags (get vaccum)
go to Sancta office
arrange room for Sancta- 4-5 days in December
print plane tickets
try to arrange more December plans with friends and traveling (send emails, buy train/plane tickets?)>>working progress
pick up dry cleaning
go to Chemist, get more TravelCalm
email boss (whoops!  4 months late on that one..)
post pictures from Jenola caves>>will have to wait until i get back.  my computer is already packed away (pics on there)!
figure out concrete NZ itinerary>>will do before i go to sleep...
arrange a hostel to stay at Sat night

so much to do!!!!!!


have you ever felt like this?

  • Nov. 14th, 2007 at 3:39 PM

whhhhhhoaaa too many emotions today...

my best friend just got engaged!  last days with Sydney Uni, friends, and Sancta are winding down. 

and a whole lot of other stuff... (talking to friends at home, recovering from twisting my foot, apt searching, exams i need to (sorta) study for, travel plans being made)

i'm so excited, ecstatic, emotional, jittery, bouncing, high on energy, reflective, creative, sad (about the Sancta part), stressed, uneasy, hyper, joyous, silly, artsy, colourful, nervous, weird, & above else: cant focus.....

dont call me a slacker

  • Nov. 12th, 2007 at 9:10 AM

the passing grade is a 50 a Sydney Uni.

guess what...without even taking my final exam i have already passed my Advertising & Communications class!

i'll take the exam (worth 40%) for kicks... but it's nice to know that it doesnt matter

(yet again, i remind you...all that goes back to VCU is a pass or fail grade.)

yippie!

Pet Peeve

  • Nov. 12th, 2007 at 7:27 AM

i remember what i hate most about having a roommate....

same deal as being a freshmen in college...

i hate, as i am wake up early...and my roommate is still sleeping.

so i have to study, or do whatever, with my dinky desk lap.

it makes me want to crawl back into bed.

I NEED THE (overhead) LIGHT ON.

it's morning, let's get up, let's get on with my day!

i've never even had afternoon sleeping roommates... just roommates that will occassionally sleep until 7:30 at most 10am.

fine, call me difficult.  it's who i am.  i hate sleeping in.  and i hate sitting here with little light.

drives me bonkers!
  • Location:you know....
  • Mood:rise!!!
  • Sound:roommate yawning. (you're near awake, get up!)

Nov. 11th, 2007

  • 10:00 PM

 i ban this Big Black Horse and the Cherry Tree song from my cycling classes!!!!!!!!!!

sometimes it gets played for our warm up.  warm ups are supposed to pump you up, get you moving, and above all else: get you excited about the class!  this song just does not do it.

there is nothing worse than bad music being played at a class...particularly a cycling class.  for someone who doesnt own an ipod or freely listen to music... music plays a HUGE role in your workout.  it took me til song six this morning to really get into the workout, because i thought the first five songs were rubbish.  i kept running through my head the atmospherics lecture i had a few weeks ago.

choose carefully!
  

Tasmania

  • Nov. 10th, 2007 at 1:08 PM

before my exams, i took a short holiday to Hobart, Tasmania 

it's the capital of Tassie
and the second oldest city in Australia

i really only got 2 days there... plane landed at 10:30am tuesday and i flew out at 1:45pm thursday

it was considerably colder there... 
but i must say, it's the most beautiful place i've visited in Oz. (although Whitehaven is still the most beautiful beach.)

 i ate seafood everyday.  it was so fresh and delicious!




 3pm on Tuesday i left the Tasmania Museum and stopped over at the local pub to watch the Melbourne Cup (think Kentucky Derby)

Wednesday was my day trip day.  the only thing i could get worked out was Wineglass Bay. 

 wombat, what a poser...

 heaps of granite along our walk... we had to hike updown and around this mountain to get to our spot.  it's a 2.5 hour return.  they didnt really tell us we'd by hiking and doing a challenging walk, but hey it was the best part!



 view of Wineglass Bay.  for years it's been rated top 10 in the world...even making it in the top 3.

 at Wineglass Bay.

 on our way back... stop for pictures.

 at the Berry Farm.

 Irish Convicts built this bridge.

 another stop for pictures along the road.



Wednesday was such a long day, i was glad to get back.  sometimes organized day trips are really fun (i.e. going to the Great Barrier Reef)... this was my least favorite.  but there were some beautiful views, the there was hours upon hours of traveling time (in the bus). 

i only had half a day on Thursday.  the one disadvantage i found about Hobart is that you have to do tours/take a bus to see a lot of the sites...as in, you have to organize stuff and cant do it alone.  i wanted to see more of the sites, so i booked a two hour tour up Mount Wellington and some of the sites.

Mt Wellington is the infamous mountain at Hobart rising at 4000 feet.  it's the 'must do' thing to see when you are in Hobart, the views are spectular. 

i booked the tour, luckily, that morning at the Hobart visitor centre right before.  i was excited i'd get to see the sights..wasnt sure if i would be able to.  i load the bus, and....

let's just say i was the only person under the age of 50.  (ha!)   (that's a new one!)

it was cloudy that day (had been all week), so unfortuently you couldnt see the city from the top of the mountain.



however, we did glimpses on the sides, near the top. 





went to the Casade Gardens....
flowers bloom like no other in Tasmania.  "Roses grow like weeds."
here is the oldest Brewery in Australia...they are very proud of that




the Female Factory, female convict prison (what's left of it....)



 

i wish i had a day or two more in Hobart, it's a great city.  it has heaps of history.  

by the way... Tassie isnt THAT small.  (tooks tiny next to Oz.)  it's about the same size as Scotland.

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