sea changes

What an absolutely crazy ferry ride. I still feel like I'm on it which is to say I feel like the ground is swaying under me, as if I am a drunk who can't even manage to walk straight down a hallway without bashing into a wall. I met a sweet guy named Ari who ended up rounding up his friends for a roadtrip to Hobart, providing me with a 3 hour ride and a lot more fun than taking the bus solo. I am now at my first wwoofing site, in an adorable town on a harbor. It has cute old buildings and houses, and a craft market that I will get to work at on Saturday! The woman I am staying with makes clothes and I get to help tend her backyard garden. We had wallaby last night and it was absolutely delicious. I am truly content and immensely happy that I ended up here.

oh such a perfect day

Yesterday was absolute perfection. Lindsey and I had an incredible breakfast of fresh fruit, goat milk yogurt, corn cakes with avocado salsa, and extremely well-made coffee. We then rented rollerblades and spent the morning skating by the ocean. I got a bit burnt thanks to the holey ozone. Then we got falafal and freshly squeezed fruit juice and had lunch in this adorable community art garden. We took in some more sun by the sea, and browsed our favorite little shops. We met this wonderful lady who designed all the clothes in her shop and we hung out there playing with her chubby lil baby. Linds got some really unique shorts and I splurged and this swank sweatshirt and a head scarf. Then we had more incredible food (roast veggie risotto, rocket and roast pumpkin salad, and bruschetta piled high). We cannot get enough of these amazing restaurants. Seriously, my journal is just lists of all the good food we have discovered! Then it was ladies night at the hostel so there was unlimited free bubbly and guys wearing tight dresses in order to procure the free drinks. The music was dreadful! They played the exact same dance mix that the water aerobics at the YMCA uses (oh ho yeahaa, wanna be my lover..ect). But we suddenly became drunk enough that it didn't matter and tore up the dance floor when Nirvana and Rage against the Machine came on. By the end of the night we started a dance train and were singing along to Madonna with this hilarious Indian guy that had the best dance moves ever! Anyways, I'm so sad Lindsey is leaving me tonight. There is just so much more we want to do in St. Kilda. But I leave for Tassy tomorrow for the next portion of my journey and I am excited for that. Especially because the ferry I am taking is more like a cruise ship and has live entertainment, a movie theater, and a heap of other things to pass the 10 hours. Linds leaves at 1 in the morning so we are still going out tonight with this local named Trent who promises to prove that Australia does have some good microbreweries. I think I want to try to go to Burning Man this year. I just can't imagine watching Linds go off with out me.

3 little birds

Linds and I went for a run today, right by the ocean. Oh how I wish I had me a pair of blades!

booze blues.

Watery lager, no microbreweries, and 20 dollar sixpacks, oh my! I guess I must get used to VB. Anything else would be unAustralian! Hattie left us for Bali this morning after an incredible night in St. Kilda. She was couchsurfing with some cool guys and two German girls. We all went out to the espy to see one of them play in a band. The German girls were not allowed in because they were told they seemed too drunk. But they hadn't even been drinking and even though they explained this, the bouncer did not believe them. We played a bizarre game of pool with really small balls, and the game went on forever because none of us were any good. Also, guys seem to think that having a tattoo is an invitation for them to touch it. I don't understand this. I don't know if I will ever find the time to post pictures. Sitting in front of a computer is complicated business. I promise to post the first picture I get of a Kangaroo though.

Melbourne

Well, here I am in this beautiful city, waiting for Hattie and Lindsey to show up. I passed out soon after I got to me hostel, waking for one awkward moment when housekeeping came into my room to change the bedding and I, thinking they were my new bunkmates, sleepily introduced myself and then fell back to sleep.

Miss you kiss you!

seriously BURSTING with joy

Wow, I cannot even stop grinning! I feel totally high on life. I just aced my Spanish final! I did not forget a single word, it all just flowed right into my head. I could write in perfect spanish everything that I wanted to say. This morning I had to give a presentation on the food systems I observed while in Uganda (my teacher asked me to do this only two days ago!), and although public speaking is not my forte and I was incredibly nervous, it just went so much smoother than I could have ever imagined! I didn't sweat and stutter (that much, haha) and people asked me a ton of questions that I totally had answers for. And I got to tell my whole class how I watched my mom get chased by a monkey! Today has just boosted my confidence and I feel so accomplished. I worked so ridiculously hard these past two quarters, taking challenging classes and going for 20 credits each quarter, all the while working at the native plant nursery in all sorts of weather (rain, snow, or hail, I still adore that job). I am so ready now to go enjoy Australia with two beautiful girls that I miss and love so much! No more tests and no more classes until the end of September. Now I get to do a contract that I completely designed myself, read books that I selected and write research papers with topics that I am passionate about. Life is good, life is grand! Time to go make a quiche for potluck tomorrow and go snuggle with cutie Randalls and Pickles.

St. Theresa's Prayer

'May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly
where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite
possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you
use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has
been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you
are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul
the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and
every one of us.'

In case anyone is not aware, Saint Theresa is known as the Saint of the Little Ways...meaning she believed in doing the little things in life well and with great love. She is also the patron Saint of flower growers and florists. She is represented by roses.

a pick-me-up for you

Kristin's birfday!

Strippercising Sydney!

Sydney has amazing strippercising super powers! Someday she will save the world.

Randy is the cutest!