Taken from a paper by Oliver Straigton. Ecopscychology and spirituality: Essential factors in sustainability? IEST 5004 Environmental Research Project. pg. 3. Via personal email correspondence on 5/22/07
"Spirituality is deemed important for sustainability for [4] main reasons:
1. A re establishment of the psychospiritual connection between humanity and the planet would be an essential feature of any efforts in sustainability. To be [a] successful venture, sustainability requires that it is the overarching theme in ALL aspects of human activity and interaction with the environment meaning that action on all levels of society is motivated by the full understanding that we are part of and not apart from the natural world.
2. At present the rational paradigm in which we live is grossly unsustainable because it is morally and ethically uninformed and many thinkers have argued that one of the essential features in achieving sustainability is a moving away from rationalisation of nature in to commodities and us into consumers, denying the spiritual and mysteries of the universe, cheapening human life and encouraging self definition in consumerist terms.
3. Participation in modern industrialised societies is spiritually unfulfilling and results in over consumption, materialism, and the environmentally destructive effects of these. A spiritually aware society and economy offers the opportunity to seek true fulfilment and happiness thereby negating the need for over consumption.
4. Spiritual renewal and the development of higher human traits of love, compassion, honesty and love are seen as a means to transcend divergent and conventionally unsolvable sustainability problems."
Monday, May 21, 2007
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Yippee Ki Yi YAAAAAAAAAY!
Remember the movie Con Air? It's one of the great American Classics... staring Nicholas Cage. (No really I think that is a glorious movie.) Anyways. I have that song stuck in my head. I know it's a very well known song and I should be aware of who actually is the original artist for it, but I don't. It goes like this (I hope you appreciate my singing voice):
"He's got the whole world, in his hands, he's got the whole wide world, in his hands, he's got the whole world, in his hands, he's got the whole - world - in - his - hands..."
I'm also pretty sure there are way more words then the variety I've shared with you. Way to go on the memory today RYAN! Ok. So it's the part where the little girl is having tea time with the psycho murderer (crimeny what's that actors name?) And they both start singing. Now, I wish the context of the situation wasn't quite so bleak, because after all it is a psycho murderer singing in the middle of a desert with a little girl who is all by herself. But nonetheless, if you can imagine the happy version of that song, that's the one that's stuck in my head.
I just rocked out with a super sweet presentation on environmental ethics, and I just found out I'll be getting to talk with a mentor tomorrow about my goals. Strangely, this week and the past one have been unusually... non - luminous (?) for me. AH! I've been out of the flow, that's what I was looking for. Ebb and Flow Ryno, Ebb and Flow. It's good to be back on the up and up, into the flow of things. Life has so many cycles it can take you through... great stuff.
I dominated the Blue Mountains last week AGAIN. Met some more really great people, went rappelling, had some laughs, did some hikes, developed further plans for my world reign... wrestled with some kangaroos? Cuddled with some Koalas... Honed my superhero skills... ahm, yep I think that covers it.
Sometimes I get in these really... 'interesting' moods where I feel a remarkable amount like Patrick. I don't know how else to describe it... hahaha, that's HILARIOUS. Anyone who knows Pootypablo for who he really is could be slightly concerend right now. They're thinking, "OOOOh boy..."
"He's got the whole world, in his hands, he's got the whole wide world, in his hands, he's got the whole world, in his hands, he's got the whole - world - in - his - hands..."
I'm also pretty sure there are way more words then the variety I've shared with you. Way to go on the memory today RYAN! Ok. So it's the part where the little girl is having tea time with the psycho murderer (crimeny what's that actors name?) And they both start singing. Now, I wish the context of the situation wasn't quite so bleak, because after all it is a psycho murderer singing in the middle of a desert with a little girl who is all by herself. But nonetheless, if you can imagine the happy version of that song, that's the one that's stuck in my head.
I just rocked out with a super sweet presentation on environmental ethics, and I just found out I'll be getting to talk with a mentor tomorrow about my goals. Strangely, this week and the past one have been unusually... non - luminous (?) for me. AH! I've been out of the flow, that's what I was looking for. Ebb and Flow Ryno, Ebb and Flow. It's good to be back on the up and up, into the flow of things. Life has so many cycles it can take you through... great stuff.
I dominated the Blue Mountains last week AGAIN. Met some more really great people, went rappelling, had some laughs, did some hikes, developed further plans for my world reign... wrestled with some kangaroos? Cuddled with some Koalas... Honed my superhero skills... ahm, yep I think that covers it.
Sometimes I get in these really... 'interesting' moods where I feel a remarkable amount like Patrick. I don't know how else to describe it... hahaha, that's HILARIOUS. Anyone who knows Pootypablo for who he really is could be slightly concerend right now. They're thinking, "OOOOh boy..."
Thursday, May 10, 2007
IIIII am writing a lot of papers right now....
"People think that their thinking is what helps them. Thinking is like any other tool. The right amount of it at the right time is useful, but too much is destructive and polluting" - David Cameron Gikandi
"Become aware of your self-talk and stop it. Look around. See the world as it is, without commentary and judgement. Don't think. Wait. At the right time your spirit will give you the appropriate thought." - D.C. Gikandi
I've been working pretty hard lately. Working hard but playing hard. Ok, working too hard - thinking too much. Is it possible to try too hard... hmm no I don't believe so, good hard work is a vibrant tool to life. But we can try to control too much. We can be inpatient. We can become too focused and too immersed in a particular challenge or life issue. We can stress it and ourselves to such a point that we choke off any flow of life, of creative brilliance, of joy.
But I'm learning. I'm starting to feel a welcome shift in my psyche that when I'm enjoying my 'work' (for instance right now) its the best work I can be doing (oh WHAT a revelation). Yes, for me it is quite a revelation; it's one thing to say you understand that previous sentence and to actually personify it's intended meaning and feeling. Quite a departure from my old self who had somehow gotten the idea (as I realize in retrospect) that 'real work' can't be enjoyable... so wrong.
That meditation class I started, I'm only two classes in and already I'm not feeling quite so 'jackass-ish'. Crazy awesome feelings after I'm done with it; that class along with advise from books, mentors, and other intuitive messages I've gotten from my surroundings have all been saying the same thing: Relax and chill the freak out (Remember Rule Number 6?). I'm a laid back guy, but I've gotten into this mindframe where I feel like I always need to be doing something. That's changing and it feels pretty dern good.
I FINALLY GOT A PHONE AGAIN. I enjoyed not having one because it allowed me to get lost in my own little world for pretty much a solid month... I'm actually not too sure what to think about my missing a phone so much... hmm. Whatever. I can call people now. Yippee.
People here are great. Classes here are awesome. It's taken a bit but I'm finally getting to know some Aussies through group work and what not. It's been really surprising to me how many Americans are here. Cool though.
Hmm. I'm going to the Blue Mountains again this weekend with a bunch of study abroad people... really pumped because I haven't been outside of the city since spring break. I'd really like to get out a bit more, so I'm gonna have to see how this whole cash flow thing works out. There are officially 3 more weeks of classes left. That is simply shocking. I don't intend to countdown, I'm not a countdown type of guy, never have, and I thought I never would, but GEEEZE I'm just having a hard time getting a grip on that idea of leaving. I'm still here though. That's three weeks I get to rock out with friends here, and about a month or so more that I get to really be crazy on my own. I'm one blessed dude.
Yep. I'm feeling pretty linguistically enabled right now. Kidding. No more shitty computer technology crap for me. It's time to go outside to play.
Ten - four, over and out.
Oh yeah. My Environmental Philosophy class - ROCKS MY FRIGGEN WORLD. Good talk people.
"Become aware of your self-talk and stop it. Look around. See the world as it is, without commentary and judgement. Don't think. Wait. At the right time your spirit will give you the appropriate thought." - D.C. Gikandi
I've been working pretty hard lately. Working hard but playing hard. Ok, working too hard - thinking too much. Is it possible to try too hard... hmm no I don't believe so, good hard work is a vibrant tool to life. But we can try to control too much. We can be inpatient. We can become too focused and too immersed in a particular challenge or life issue. We can stress it and ourselves to such a point that we choke off any flow of life, of creative brilliance, of joy.
But I'm learning. I'm starting to feel a welcome shift in my psyche that when I'm enjoying my 'work' (for instance right now) its the best work I can be doing (oh WHAT a revelation). Yes, for me it is quite a revelation; it's one thing to say you understand that previous sentence and to actually personify it's intended meaning and feeling. Quite a departure from my old self who had somehow gotten the idea (as I realize in retrospect) that 'real work' can't be enjoyable... so wrong.
That meditation class I started, I'm only two classes in and already I'm not feeling quite so 'jackass-ish'. Crazy awesome feelings after I'm done with it; that class along with advise from books, mentors, and other intuitive messages I've gotten from my surroundings have all been saying the same thing: Relax and chill the freak out (Remember Rule Number 6?). I'm a laid back guy, but I've gotten into this mindframe where I feel like I always need to be doing something. That's changing and it feels pretty dern good.
I FINALLY GOT A PHONE AGAIN. I enjoyed not having one because it allowed me to get lost in my own little world for pretty much a solid month... I'm actually not too sure what to think about my missing a phone so much... hmm. Whatever. I can call people now. Yippee.
People here are great. Classes here are awesome. It's taken a bit but I'm finally getting to know some Aussies through group work and what not. It's been really surprising to me how many Americans are here. Cool though.
Hmm. I'm going to the Blue Mountains again this weekend with a bunch of study abroad people... really pumped because I haven't been outside of the city since spring break. I'd really like to get out a bit more, so I'm gonna have to see how this whole cash flow thing works out. There are officially 3 more weeks of classes left. That is simply shocking. I don't intend to countdown, I'm not a countdown type of guy, never have, and I thought I never would, but GEEEZE I'm just having a hard time getting a grip on that idea of leaving. I'm still here though. That's three weeks I get to rock out with friends here, and about a month or so more that I get to really be crazy on my own. I'm one blessed dude.
Yep. I'm feeling pretty linguistically enabled right now. Kidding. No more shitty computer technology crap for me. It's time to go outside to play.
Ten - four, over and out.
Oh yeah. My Environmental Philosophy class - ROCKS MY FRIGGEN WORLD. Good talk people.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Today my professor was talking about aluminum windows. He called them eah-loo-min-ee-um windows on several occasions, with an emphasis on 'min'. My mind. It's filled with all sorts of wacky information. I tried buying a simple little paper back book the other day and it would have costed me like 32 bucks. I found a slightly used one on Amazon for like A buck. No shipping to Aussie land though. Ammm. I started a meditation class yesterday. We were doing all these weird movements and all that I could think to myself was that I was in Australia - the other side of the world - and here I am - making a jackass out of myself - trying to 'learn' how to meditate - by flailing my arms and legs about - next to three hot little babies (and some old ladies, middle aged dudes, and one gypsy, but who's paying attention to that anyways). What the crimeny Ryno, what the crimeny. So long story short, I enjoyed the class and am looking forward to the next one. Radical? In my own special way I do believe so.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
HELLOOOOOOOO!
Wow, I didn't even realize the time that went by since my last post. With classes finishing up back home I'm sure everyone else is in the "My how time does fly" mode themselves, I wish you all the best on your tests.
Boy it is trippy to think that many of my friends won't be back next year with me, but at least I've still got a few little buggers to hang out with.
For the record, that last post was an entirely hypothetical situation. Nothing happened to me, although I appreciate the concern for those who were worried, or even simply just curious as to what inspired that babble. I did however find out that it would be waaaaaaaay more dangerous for me to dive (because of my good old previously collapsed lungs) than for many other people.
Which reminds me of one of my many simple pleasures in life. I actually do appreciate my lungs having collapsed. Aside from the spiritual implications of dealing with minor health issues as such, I at times am afforded to have the HUGEST smile on my face and best feeling in my body simply by taking a huge deep breath.
It goes like this: Ryan is sitting down staring at a wall. Ryan has an idea! Ryan takes a giant, deep, gigantor breath filling and stretching his lungs to the max. Ryan holds it for just a little bit, and then breaths out. Ryan gets a huge satisfying smile plastered on his face. Ryan is content while staring at the wall, and amused that he is so grateful he doesn't have to struggle to breath.
Yup, that's the good shit.
Ahm, so my life has still been rocking. I've been reading like CRAZY. I had the epiphany today that being here has revealed how much I absolutely love traveling, but it's revealed an even greater passion for making my dreams come true. I think a lot of people would say that I'm working too much, but the ways I spend my time couldn't be further from what others call 'work'. It's glorious.
I spent just over a week in Northern Australia exploring the rainforest with Kyle and that was crazy awesome. I think the funniest point for me was when we were walking along a trail (that I don' t think we should have been on, judging by the 'trail closed' signs and multiple washed out bridges we scurried across) when we came upon a Cassawary.
For those out of the know, a Cassawary is a large flightless, endangered species of bird. Some adults can grow up to six feet tall. They have vibrant colors of reds, purples, and blues (I think those are the colors) on their featherless heads and necks, and have a hard, helmet-like crest of bone on their heads. They are not Emus (I lost that bet).
It was friggen AWESOME. We just looked up and there it was, just calmly and casually eating away at the forest berries. Picking them from the bushes and tossing them down their throat. It was reminiscent of watching a bar patron tossing some peanuts down in between beers.
It start walking towards us - in complete control of it's domain, it had no fear of us what so ever. That's when I started getting a little nervous.
We were just kind of talking about the bird, going back and forth as it inched towards us.
Then Kyle said it, "Oh it's not that big. I'm pretty sure I could take a bird Ryan..."
Annnnnddddd I lost it. Especially when he started reasoning out some logic about how he would take it down.
"Are you kidding me, that thing could gut you like a pig!" as I struggled between breaths trying to calm myself from my uncontrollable laughter. "They've got really sharp claws and their legs are pure muscle, gooood luck buddy..."
"Ah I could take it," he would confidently reply.
Later back at the hostel we were told how the legend himself (not me) Steve Irwin (ie. the Crocodile Hunter, bless his soul) has commented that those birds scare him more than crocodiles. You see they run at you and jump out at you with their legs and claws (or are they talons?). You don't run away because they run ridiculously fast (to put it scientifically) somewhere around 30 tooooo 60 kilometers I believe. I can't remember how fast they can run, alls I know is it's much faster than any human that I've ever heard of. Granted this would generally only happen if they're defending their young. But they can be territorial, and wild animals are after all unpredicatble. I loved it.
We saw two more of those birds after that, got some great videos and pictures of them. The second bird kind of ran off and was huge. The third bird walked right up to us, within probably five feet or so (we decided to get out of it's way once it got too close for comfort). Kyle and I both made the comment that it felt like a Raptor (the dinosaur) was bearing down on us ready to pounce. It's movements, the stealth and confidence... I don't even know, just dinosaur like in some way. A wicked awesome experience to say the least.
After the third bird passed Kyle dropped a fist sized rock on the ground chuckling to himself, "I'm not really sure what I was planning on doing with that rock..." That was funny because we thought a rock might actually help to defend us against that massive bird, we also later found out that it was an endangered species. Both satisfied that we didn't have to stone the bird to death during our pleasant little 'walk through the woods' we headed back to camp.
We also did a little vine climbing and swinging. One almost broke on Kyle which was pretty funny.
Saw a few wild Koalas as well down on Magnetic island, and some rock wallabies. I just had the realization that I'm sure reading about animals I saw is just SOOO exciting. I'm reminded of one of my nicknames when younger...
I could write a novel, but shall restrain myself for now. Life is good hear, but how is yours? You know how I'm doing, let me hear how you're doing. Pleeeeaaaaasssseeee email me to let me know, I'd love to hear what your plans are!
Boy it is trippy to think that many of my friends won't be back next year with me, but at least I've still got a few little buggers to hang out with.
For the record, that last post was an entirely hypothetical situation. Nothing happened to me, although I appreciate the concern for those who were worried, or even simply just curious as to what inspired that babble. I did however find out that it would be waaaaaaaay more dangerous for me to dive (because of my good old previously collapsed lungs) than for many other people.
Which reminds me of one of my many simple pleasures in life. I actually do appreciate my lungs having collapsed. Aside from the spiritual implications of dealing with minor health issues as such, I at times am afforded to have the HUGEST smile on my face and best feeling in my body simply by taking a huge deep breath.
It goes like this: Ryan is sitting down staring at a wall. Ryan has an idea! Ryan takes a giant, deep, gigantor breath filling and stretching his lungs to the max. Ryan holds it for just a little bit, and then breaths out. Ryan gets a huge satisfying smile plastered on his face. Ryan is content while staring at the wall, and amused that he is so grateful he doesn't have to struggle to breath.
Yup, that's the good shit.
Ahm, so my life has still been rocking. I've been reading like CRAZY. I had the epiphany today that being here has revealed how much I absolutely love traveling, but it's revealed an even greater passion for making my dreams come true. I think a lot of people would say that I'm working too much, but the ways I spend my time couldn't be further from what others call 'work'. It's glorious.
I spent just over a week in Northern Australia exploring the rainforest with Kyle and that was crazy awesome. I think the funniest point for me was when we were walking along a trail (that I don' t think we should have been on, judging by the 'trail closed' signs and multiple washed out bridges we scurried across) when we came upon a Cassawary.
For those out of the know, a Cassawary is a large flightless, endangered species of bird. Some adults can grow up to six feet tall. They have vibrant colors of reds, purples, and blues (I think those are the colors) on their featherless heads and necks, and have a hard, helmet-like crest of bone on their heads. They are not Emus (I lost that bet).
It was friggen AWESOME. We just looked up and there it was, just calmly and casually eating away at the forest berries. Picking them from the bushes and tossing them down their throat. It was reminiscent of watching a bar patron tossing some peanuts down in between beers.
It start walking towards us - in complete control of it's domain, it had no fear of us what so ever. That's when I started getting a little nervous.
We were just kind of talking about the bird, going back and forth as it inched towards us.
Then Kyle said it, "Oh it's not that big. I'm pretty sure I could take a bird Ryan..."
Annnnnddddd I lost it. Especially when he started reasoning out some logic about how he would take it down.
"Are you kidding me, that thing could gut you like a pig!" as I struggled between breaths trying to calm myself from my uncontrollable laughter. "They've got really sharp claws and their legs are pure muscle, gooood luck buddy..."
"Ah I could take it," he would confidently reply.
Later back at the hostel we were told how the legend himself (not me) Steve Irwin (ie. the Crocodile Hunter, bless his soul) has commented that those birds scare him more than crocodiles. You see they run at you and jump out at you with their legs and claws (or are they talons?). You don't run away because they run ridiculously fast (to put it scientifically) somewhere around 30 tooooo 60 kilometers I believe. I can't remember how fast they can run, alls I know is it's much faster than any human that I've ever heard of. Granted this would generally only happen if they're defending their young. But they can be territorial, and wild animals are after all unpredicatble. I loved it.
We saw two more of those birds after that, got some great videos and pictures of them. The second bird kind of ran off and was huge. The third bird walked right up to us, within probably five feet or so (we decided to get out of it's way once it got too close for comfort). Kyle and I both made the comment that it felt like a Raptor (the dinosaur) was bearing down on us ready to pounce. It's movements, the stealth and confidence... I don't even know, just dinosaur like in some way. A wicked awesome experience to say the least.
After the third bird passed Kyle dropped a fist sized rock on the ground chuckling to himself, "I'm not really sure what I was planning on doing with that rock..." That was funny because we thought a rock might actually help to defend us against that massive bird, we also later found out that it was an endangered species. Both satisfied that we didn't have to stone the bird to death during our pleasant little 'walk through the woods' we headed back to camp.
We also did a little vine climbing and swinging. One almost broke on Kyle which was pretty funny.
Saw a few wild Koalas as well down on Magnetic island, and some rock wallabies. I just had the realization that I'm sure reading about animals I saw is just SOOO exciting. I'm reminded of one of my nicknames when younger...
I could write a novel, but shall restrain myself for now. Life is good hear, but how is yours? You know how I'm doing, let me hear how you're doing. Pleeeeaaaaasssseeee email me to let me know, I'd love to hear what your plans are!
Friday, April 6, 2007
Here's the scenario...
A diver, we'll call him 'Sebastian' is slowly descending on his last open water dive for certification during a basic scuba diving class in beautiful North Eastern Australia at the Great Barrier Reef. The underwater landscape is amazing, the colors of fish and variety of species is something of a distant dream to him, to be swimming about and flying around this entirely different world.
But then something happens. He feels something weird in his chest. It doesn't hurt, just a weird sensation, a pressure that he hasn't felt in a very long time.
"Ah shit" says Sebastian, "I hope that's not what I think it is." He continues along trying his best not to think himself into some pointless panic. "It's nothing, just in my head... golly gee what an amazing experience I'm having here."
That's not the end of it though. That weird sensation is still with Sebastian. He thinks it might be getting a bit more difficult to breath. No it's definately more difficult to breath. Sebastian has to get out. Now. But he can't get out. He's screwed himself.
"Why in the living hell did I lie on my medical exam? It didn't seem like that big of a deal... I've got to do something, I can't just stay here. Maybe I can make it, shit what should I do..." Sebastion's heart is racing. But it's not all due to his anxiety. It's the pressure in his chest. The growing discomfort he's feeling is that faint image of the grim reaper creeping towards him. Slowly. "I can risk it, or I can stay here and suffer. Shit shit shit. I'm ok. No I'm not I'm going to drown, because of too much fricking air nonetheless..."
As seconds and minutes tick by Sebastian's heart beats harder and harder as his lung is smashed against it, his lungs struggle for deeper breaths, all the while more air is seeping into his chest cavity; trapped with no exit beyond that which a scalpel can provide.
Sebastian decides to act, "Well it's been real. Thank you Lord for all of the blessings you've given me in my life. Take care of my family." With that he begins his assention - is it possible to sweat underwater? With each inch he climbs Sebastian can feel his life slipping away. The pressurized oxygen has no where to go inside his chest cavity. Quickly the pressure builds to a point that stops his heart. No more breathing. No more beating. Sebastian's body floats lifeless in a vast sea that did everything for his life but swallow it up - his own arrogance did that for him.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Radical Ryno has a new found interest in the wild wacky world of snorkeling! But hold on to your seats, that's not all! He might even get good at holding his breath for a really really really long time underwater! Yes, that's right, you're looking at the next world champion breath holder here people, collapsed lung or not... Rock!
But then something happens. He feels something weird in his chest. It doesn't hurt, just a weird sensation, a pressure that he hasn't felt in a very long time.
"Ah shit" says Sebastian, "I hope that's not what I think it is." He continues along trying his best not to think himself into some pointless panic. "It's nothing, just in my head... golly gee what an amazing experience I'm having here."
That's not the end of it though. That weird sensation is still with Sebastian. He thinks it might be getting a bit more difficult to breath. No it's definately more difficult to breath. Sebastian has to get out. Now. But he can't get out. He's screwed himself.
"Why in the living hell did I lie on my medical exam? It didn't seem like that big of a deal... I've got to do something, I can't just stay here. Maybe I can make it, shit what should I do..." Sebastion's heart is racing. But it's not all due to his anxiety. It's the pressure in his chest. The growing discomfort he's feeling is that faint image of the grim reaper creeping towards him. Slowly. "I can risk it, or I can stay here and suffer. Shit shit shit. I'm ok. No I'm not I'm going to drown, because of too much fricking air nonetheless..."
As seconds and minutes tick by Sebastian's heart beats harder and harder as his lung is smashed against it, his lungs struggle for deeper breaths, all the while more air is seeping into his chest cavity; trapped with no exit beyond that which a scalpel can provide.
Sebastian decides to act, "Well it's been real. Thank you Lord for all of the blessings you've given me in my life. Take care of my family." With that he begins his assention - is it possible to sweat underwater? With each inch he climbs Sebastian can feel his life slipping away. The pressurized oxygen has no where to go inside his chest cavity. Quickly the pressure builds to a point that stops his heart. No more breathing. No more beating. Sebastian's body floats lifeless in a vast sea that did everything for his life but swallow it up - his own arrogance did that for him.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Radical Ryno has a new found interest in the wild wacky world of snorkeling! But hold on to your seats, that's not all! He might even get good at holding his breath for a really really really long time underwater! Yes, that's right, you're looking at the next world champion breath holder here people, collapsed lung or not... Rock!
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
I saw the biggest photo of a Rhino yesterday...
Wowie. What a crazily wonderful and exciting past couple of weeks. I've got some great inspiration for some... things I'm working on. My buddy Kyle is here from AuGres. That's a long friggen ways away from home to be adventuring around and to say the least it's pretty cool. He eats a lot, but he's been a well-behaved buddy, almost like a pet Pug or something, makes me chuckle. OR A PET SHITZU! Ga ha!... I hope he reads this sometime. Funny guy. Not to mention the fact that he's been the entire reason I've even SURVIVED and have been able to EAT for the past week and a half, but more on that later.
Went to the Blue Mountains this past weekend and it was ROCKIN sweet. We did a Grand Canyon walk which was wicked awesome, and my feet are paying for it but oh so totally worth it. We went camping; I found a 12-dollar sleeping bag and 25-dollar tent that are like little pieces of heaven rolled up on my 500-pound backpack... I still haven't learned how to pack for a few days. We spent the whole day (literally from 9 am till past dark) lugging all of our food and camping shtuff around because we didn't have a CLUE (or money) as to where we were staying. But we made the most of it... mostly by eating spaghetti and baked beans from a can. Classy. And then we found our friends and had a morning view from the top of a cliff. Wonderful. I should really work on learning how to put pictures up here.
Also came across the coolest little hostel while there. I'll likely bring Pooty, or as some people know him as, PatMan, there when he comes to visit. I'm a pretty lucky dude I've got to admit. I'm on the other side of the world but I don't feel lonely at all because of the people that are coming to visit and the friends that are keeping in touch. So blessed. I met some random girl from Grand Valley whilst in Wexford Falls on the edge of a treacherous cliff this weekend as well. That's always a pleasant time to meet someone from home.
Yeah so this weekend Kyle and I are going to spend a week up north in Cairns exploring the rainforest and swimming among the Great Barrier Reef. And just getting rowdy in general. As a side note I'm amazed at the stigma Americans have for partying here. I say I'm going on spring break next week and people get all mystified about the "American Spring Break” I’ve also been grilled about whether our parties are really always like those frat parties we see on movie. I had to be honest and tell them the ones I go to always are (for obvious reasons). To be truthful, I don't think it's really a flattering thing that our party habits are viewed that way. Even though I'm sure - WHOA. I just realized I'm culturally identifying with a group of people. That's never really happened - to my knowledge before. On all of those psychology questionnaires I'm generally completely clueless when it comes to what those sorts of questions mean... hmm. Ok that was weird and I'm gonna go read another book (I'm on my fourth one in over a month and its a GOODIE).
Oh, another note that I challenge any takers to give a go at is setting 30-day goals to form new habits. You see it has to do with this study done at NASA, but never mind that. Give it a try; I'm enjoying the process quite a lot.
Went to the Blue Mountains this past weekend and it was ROCKIN sweet. We did a Grand Canyon walk which was wicked awesome, and my feet are paying for it but oh so totally worth it. We went camping; I found a 12-dollar sleeping bag and 25-dollar tent that are like little pieces of heaven rolled up on my 500-pound backpack... I still haven't learned how to pack for a few days. We spent the whole day (literally from 9 am till past dark) lugging all of our food and camping shtuff around because we didn't have a CLUE (or money) as to where we were staying. But we made the most of it... mostly by eating spaghetti and baked beans from a can. Classy. And then we found our friends and had a morning view from the top of a cliff. Wonderful. I should really work on learning how to put pictures up here.
Also came across the coolest little hostel while there. I'll likely bring Pooty, or as some people know him as, PatMan, there when he comes to visit. I'm a pretty lucky dude I've got to admit. I'm on the other side of the world but I don't feel lonely at all because of the people that are coming to visit and the friends that are keeping in touch. So blessed. I met some random girl from Grand Valley whilst in Wexford Falls on the edge of a treacherous cliff this weekend as well. That's always a pleasant time to meet someone from home.
Yeah so this weekend Kyle and I are going to spend a week up north in Cairns exploring the rainforest and swimming among the Great Barrier Reef. And just getting rowdy in general. As a side note I'm amazed at the stigma Americans have for partying here. I say I'm going on spring break next week and people get all mystified about the "American Spring Break” I’ve also been grilled about whether our parties are really always like those frat parties we see on movie. I had to be honest and tell them the ones I go to always are (for obvious reasons). To be truthful, I don't think it's really a flattering thing that our party habits are viewed that way. Even though I'm sure - WHOA. I just realized I'm culturally identifying with a group of people. That's never really happened - to my knowledge before. On all of those psychology questionnaires I'm generally completely clueless when it comes to what those sorts of questions mean... hmm. Ok that was weird and I'm gonna go read another book (I'm on my fourth one in over a month and its a GOODIE).
Oh, another note that I challenge any takers to give a go at is setting 30-day goals to form new habits. You see it has to do with this study done at NASA, but never mind that. Give it a try; I'm enjoying the process quite a lot.
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