Before I came to Australia, everybody asked me one of two questions:
1. Are you going to drink Foster's?
2. Are you going to go to Hillsong?
I have done one of them. And since we aren't allowed to drink alcohol and I haven't even seen Foster's here, take a wild guess which one. Yes. I went to Hillsong church. Sort of.
I went to their college group. Which is way bigger than the church I go to at school. It was pretty crazy. And we weren't even at the 'real' Hillsong, it was the "City" branch, because the real church is mega-huge and 'out west,' apparently. I'll get around to that one sometime, but the college group is good enough for me now.
The worship, as you probably can guess, was really cool. Super loud, laser lights, great musicians, all Hillsong originals. And most people down here would describe it as a charismatic church. I really don't know much about different denominations or anything, and I was kind of expecting it to be like my church at home. But it definitely was charismatic. Anytime people weren't singing the lyrics to a song, they were singing their own song, or praying out loud, or just singing praises. It totally caught me off guard at first, but it was a really cool feeling to be standing there and totally surrounded by people praying and praising.
I did get to meet some people too, which surprised me because it was such a big service. But everyone I saw was really into becoming friends and getting involved and giving free coffee and filling out the welcome card. It was kind of nice, not gonna lie.
Even though it was a good service, and I do plan on going back again, I don't really think Hillsong is the church for me. Two or three years ago, I think I would have been ecstatic to go somewhere like it. The music and 'rock show' qualities were all really new to me then, and it changed the way I saw worship. I was so excited to have fun and excitement in worship music, and I thought I would never be content with a church that didn't have that.
But after getting used to chapel at Taylor and my church there, Exit 59, I don't think it's my scene anymore. I like small settings and never feeling like just a face in a crowd. I like the humility and realness of it. I like that it feels unrehearsed.
I think that I used to think a great worship experience was fueled by loud music and fog machines, and I still like that sometimes. But I don't need it anymore. I found out that God is still God without a bass guitar acting as a defibrillator.
And I don't mean to sound snobby or like I think my way is the best way. And I still love the concert feeling and exciting worship churches like Hillsong offers. I just don't want it every week anymore.
Other than church, I've been to another art museum and the ZOO. Besides the norm (zebras, monkeys, giraffes) they had koalas, echidnas, a komodo dragon, and wombats. And tasmanian devils, which are not at all like the cartoon and are really mean, even though they look kind of cuddly. There were a bunch of kangaroos, but they're pretty much old news by now. NOT. I don't think I'll ever get tired of them. The zoo had a 'walkabout' part, and you went on this little path and bam, pack of kangaroos to your right. Like, two feet away. Not even a fence to stop you from snuggling with one. I was really tempted. But didn't want any Australians to think, 'Oh, there goes another crazy tourist, snuggling a kangaroo.' Also, kangaroos look pretty ferocious. I'm pretty sure they could kick me into a coma in nothing flat.
After a long and wearying battle with my camera battery and it's charger, it finally works again! That experience has given me a new lease on life. Not really. But it has given me a new lease on taking pictures, and I want to take a million of everything. So maybe that means maybe I might finally get around to putting some up? But for the time being, there are like a zillion on facebook.
current song: Johnny Appleseed by Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
glad to be here
JIMINY CHRISTMAS.
I've been so busy lately. And putting off updating this because I was busy. And then putting it off because I've been putting it off. Geez Louise.
So last Friday our little band of Americans took to Canberra, the capital of Australia. Our schedules were packed to the max; the day we got there we visited the New Zealand, Indonesian and USA embassies and learned about foreign relations, got snacks, etc. It was actually pretty interesting, and definitely sparked great discussions later. We were asked a lot of questions like how we felt Americans were viewed here, and whether or not that stereotype was true. We also listened to the Green Day song 'American Idiot' and had a huge discussion on how we felt about the song. In short, we didn't like it.
The next day we went to the National Portrait Gallery, National Museum, National Art Museum and the Australian War Memorial. Little busy. The portrait gallery was cool, but I pretty much didn't know any of the people so it was not the easiest thing to be interested in many of them. The National Museum was pretty neat, and it looked like it was built with K'nex. Art museum was excellent, though. We only had about an hour to look around and it definitely was not enough. I recognized a lot of the paintings there, but I think my favorite was the one they had by Jackson Pollock. Especially because we discussed him in a class at Taylor last semester and it really made me like his artwork more (never EVER thought I'd have any speck of gladness that I took Com Sem 2, but there it was). The painting was pretty massive, and I just stared at it. Part of me was like, 'Yes, I appreciate this art,' and the other part was like, 'I feel so cool standing here appreciating this art.'(Hannah Beers: looking at paintings in an art museum by yourself needs to go on your Romantic Things list). I think the War Memorial was my favorite though. I love history, and there was so much stuff there. I really had no idea about Australia's involvement in any wars at all, but they've been in a lot. Pretty much alongside the US since they've been a country. It was a little depressing, especially since we had just watched the saddest Australian war movie ever, Gallipoli, but definitely interesting.
Canberra has a reputation for being really... boring. And I can see that. There wasn't too much of a social scene there, and it was kind of in the middle of nowhere despite it being a city. But I really enjoyed the time we spent there. We stayed at a hostel and it was great being able to hang out with everyone not at school. Living in separate homes we don't really get to all be together outside of class. Everyone was chilling, eating pizza, playing board games. It felt like being in college again.
Oh my gosh, this is like a novel. So long. So I'll just leave it at that and write more later. Just to keep you interested: I finally went to Hillsong! But do NOT have the energy/motivation to talk about it now. Also, I should upload some pictures to this I guess. I might get on that.
current song: 2080 by Yeasayer
I've been so busy lately. And putting off updating this because I was busy. And then putting it off because I've been putting it off. Geez Louise.
So last Friday our little band of Americans took to Canberra, the capital of Australia. Our schedules were packed to the max; the day we got there we visited the New Zealand, Indonesian and USA embassies and learned about foreign relations, got snacks, etc. It was actually pretty interesting, and definitely sparked great discussions later. We were asked a lot of questions like how we felt Americans were viewed here, and whether or not that stereotype was true. We also listened to the Green Day song 'American Idiot' and had a huge discussion on how we felt about the song. In short, we didn't like it.
The next day we went to the National Portrait Gallery, National Museum, National Art Museum and the Australian War Memorial. Little busy. The portrait gallery was cool, but I pretty much didn't know any of the people so it was not the easiest thing to be interested in many of them. The National Museum was pretty neat, and it looked like it was built with K'nex. Art museum was excellent, though. We only had about an hour to look around and it definitely was not enough. I recognized a lot of the paintings there, but I think my favorite was the one they had by Jackson Pollock. Especially because we discussed him in a class at Taylor last semester and it really made me like his artwork more (never EVER thought I'd have any speck of gladness that I took Com Sem 2, but there it was). The painting was pretty massive, and I just stared at it. Part of me was like, 'Yes, I appreciate this art,' and the other part was like, 'I feel so cool standing here appreciating this art.'(Hannah Beers: looking at paintings in an art museum by yourself needs to go on your Romantic Things list). I think the War Memorial was my favorite though. I love history, and there was so much stuff there. I really had no idea about Australia's involvement in any wars at all, but they've been in a lot. Pretty much alongside the US since they've been a country. It was a little depressing, especially since we had just watched the saddest Australian war movie ever, Gallipoli, but definitely interesting.
Canberra has a reputation for being really... boring. And I can see that. There wasn't too much of a social scene there, and it was kind of in the middle of nowhere despite it being a city. But I really enjoyed the time we spent there. We stayed at a hostel and it was great being able to hang out with everyone not at school. Living in separate homes we don't really get to all be together outside of class. Everyone was chilling, eating pizza, playing board games. It felt like being in college again.
Oh my gosh, this is like a novel. So long. So I'll just leave it at that and write more later. Just to keep you interested: I finally went to Hillsong! But do NOT have the energy/motivation to talk about it now. Also, I should upload some pictures to this I guess. I might get on that.
current song: 2080 by Yeasayer
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
all about where and when
AUSTRALIAN FOOD I LIKE
1. Fish and chips
2. Weetbix
3. Kangaroo pizza
4. Muesli Bars
5. Wedges with sour cream and sweet chili
6. Thai food
7. Peanut butter and nutella sandwiches
MY FAVORITE AUSTRALIAN PLACES TO GO (SO FAR)
1. Royal Botanical Gardens
-so huge and beautiful. and a great view of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge
2. Manly
-the beaches are awesome, and it has such a laid back feeling
3. George Street
-everything is on, off of, or close to George Street
4. Hyde Park
-every time I walk through here, I feel like it's the park from 101 Dalmatians
5. Glebe Markets
-so many cool things to buy. I could never get sick of them.
6. Macquarie Street
-a zillion historical buildings and museums and statues.
I WISH AUSTRALIA HAD...
1. Mexican food
2. Speedy internet
3. 110 voltage
4. Unhealthy cereal
5. Central heat
THINGS I DO IN AUSTRALIA INSTEAD OF HOMEWORK
1. Take a walk around the bay near home
2. Explore the city
3. Make playlists to listen to while exploring the city
4. Write blogs
PLACES IN AUSTRALIA WITH THE BEST NAMES
1. Wagga Wagga
2. Woollomooloo
3. Wollongong
THINGS I WANT TO BUY TO FIT IN IN AUSTRALIA
1. Leggings
-girls really wear leggings every day. everyone is so trendy, no sweatpants in sight.
2. Flowery dresses
-to wear with the leggings, of course
PEOPLE I WISH WERE HERE WITH ME
1. Everyone
-Really. Every time I go somewhere I want to show people. Australia is going so good, there are so many cool things to experience here. I feel like I can't keep it to myself. I wish all my family and friends could come visit and have a little taste of what life is like here.
current song: Great DJ by The Ting Tings
1. Fish and chips
2. Weetbix
3. Kangaroo pizza
4. Muesli Bars
5. Wedges with sour cream and sweet chili
6. Thai food
7. Peanut butter and nutella sandwiches
MY FAVORITE AUSTRALIAN PLACES TO GO (SO FAR)
1. Royal Botanical Gardens
-so huge and beautiful. and a great view of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge
2. Manly
-the beaches are awesome, and it has such a laid back feeling
3. George Street
-everything is on, off of, or close to George Street
4. Hyde Park
-every time I walk through here, I feel like it's the park from 101 Dalmatians
5. Glebe Markets
-so many cool things to buy. I could never get sick of them.
6. Macquarie Street
-a zillion historical buildings and museums and statues.
I WISH AUSTRALIA HAD...
1. Mexican food
2. Speedy internet
3. 110 voltage
4. Unhealthy cereal
5. Central heat
THINGS I DO IN AUSTRALIA INSTEAD OF HOMEWORK
1. Take a walk around the bay near home
2. Explore the city
3. Make playlists to listen to while exploring the city
4. Write blogs
PLACES IN AUSTRALIA WITH THE BEST NAMES
1. Wagga Wagga
2. Woollomooloo
3. Wollongong
THINGS I WANT TO BUY TO FIT IN IN AUSTRALIA
1. Leggings
-girls really wear leggings every day. everyone is so trendy, no sweatpants in sight.
2. Flowery dresses
-to wear with the leggings, of course
PEOPLE I WISH WERE HERE WITH ME
1. Everyone
-Really. Every time I go somewhere I want to show people. Australia is going so good, there are so many cool things to experience here. I feel like I can't keep it to myself. I wish all my family and friends could come visit and have a little taste of what life is like here.
current song: Great DJ by The Ting Tings
Friday, August 13, 2010
tell me where all the days have gone
I touched a sea urchin AND I ate kangaroo. So many events in my life.
Some of us Americans went to the Sydney Aquarium Wednesday afternoon, and it was all kinds of cool. I saw a PLATYPUS in real life for the first time. It’s probably one of the weirdest animals on the planet. There were dugongs, which I don’t know how they’re different than manatees. Except they’re like, 4 times bigger. There was this shallow pool full of stuff you could touch, and that's where I petted my first sea urchin. And there were a ton of sharks. I think that may have been my favorite. There were 2 huge tanks of fish/sting rays/sharks/dugongs with tunnels underneath so you could walk around and look up and see everything swimming over top of you. And then for the grand finale there was this gigantic tank where you walked through a TUNNEL and saw fish on all sides and above and below. It was definitely cool. It’s really hard to not go to a place like that and think about how creative God is.
After that, we met more people at a pub in The Rocks for some good old-fashioned kangaroo pizza. Seriously. It was so good. Definitely made the Top Three Best Pizzas Emily Luttrull Has Ever Eaten list. Everyone describes kangaroo meat as ‘gamey’ and ‘deer-like,’ but the only time I remember having deer was in spaghetti form, so I can’t really confirm that. It was kind of tough and kind of delicious. A lot delicious.
Thursday I went to camp! Wesley (which is the school I go to here. Have I said that? Wesley Institute is a really small arts school, and they teach dancing, drama, graphic design, or theology. It’s super small, like 400 students small, but a really great place) puts on a spiritual-renewal-retreat every year. All the Americans with a good number of Australian students went out to a camp to do sessions, worship and fellowship. It was a great time. To be honest, the sessions were a little… lacking. But the worship was phenomenal, some of the best I’ve experienced. And we broke into small groups and created skits to perform for everyone. Not to brag, but I probably should mention that my group won first place with our sequel producing movie company skit. It was so much fun putting it together with everyone.
About now is the time I should start working on papers and assignments and everything else. But it’s so hard to get motivated, because I’m totally still in summer mode. And I’m in Sydney, Australia and homework is the last thing I want to experience in my free time. But hey, if I get it all done now there’ll be time for the beaches when it’s warm, right?
current song: Mistress Mabel by The Fratellis
Some of us Americans went to the Sydney Aquarium Wednesday afternoon, and it was all kinds of cool. I saw a PLATYPUS in real life for the first time. It’s probably one of the weirdest animals on the planet. There were dugongs, which I don’t know how they’re different than manatees. Except they’re like, 4 times bigger. There was this shallow pool full of stuff you could touch, and that's where I petted my first sea urchin. And there were a ton of sharks. I think that may have been my favorite. There were 2 huge tanks of fish/sting rays/sharks/dugongs with tunnels underneath so you could walk around and look up and see everything swimming over top of you. And then for the grand finale there was this gigantic tank where you walked through a TUNNEL and saw fish on all sides and above and below. It was definitely cool. It’s really hard to not go to a place like that and think about how creative God is.
After that, we met more people at a pub in The Rocks for some good old-fashioned kangaroo pizza. Seriously. It was so good. Definitely made the Top Three Best Pizzas Emily Luttrull Has Ever Eaten list. Everyone describes kangaroo meat as ‘gamey’ and ‘deer-like,’ but the only time I remember having deer was in spaghetti form, so I can’t really confirm that. It was kind of tough and kind of delicious. A lot delicious.
Thursday I went to camp! Wesley (which is the school I go to here. Have I said that? Wesley Institute is a really small arts school, and they teach dancing, drama, graphic design, or theology. It’s super small, like 400 students small, but a really great place) puts on a spiritual-renewal-retreat every year. All the Americans with a good number of Australian students went out to a camp to do sessions, worship and fellowship. It was a great time. To be honest, the sessions were a little… lacking. But the worship was phenomenal, some of the best I’ve experienced. And we broke into small groups and created skits to perform for everyone. Not to brag, but I probably should mention that my group won first place with our sequel producing movie company skit. It was so much fun putting it together with everyone.
About now is the time I should start working on papers and assignments and everything else. But it’s so hard to get motivated, because I’m totally still in summer mode. And I’m in Sydney, Australia and homework is the last thing I want to experience in my free time. But hey, if I get it all done now there’ll be time for the beaches when it’s warm, right?
current song: Mistress Mabel by The Fratellis
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
take the sun off the shelf
Aaaugh, I feel like there have been so many happenings, but actually not really.
I’m starting to get into the swing of things, I think. I’m still into a lot of the touristy things here, and I really want to buy a stuffed kangaroo. I’m glad one of our required classes does stuff like that and takes us on harbor cruises, because it gives me an excuse to do those things without being a total square.
Friday we did a ‘Tribal Warrior’ harbor cruise, where we sailed around Sydney Harbor with the tour guide pointing out historical Aboriginal places. Then we landed on a tiny island and learned some more about the indigenous cultures before having an Aboriginal dance party. Pretty good stuff.
On Saturday I experienced my first, live Australian Football League game. And it is now probably my favorite sport. It is SO crazy, and SO fast, and I had no idea what was happening most of the time. It was great. So many things going on all over the place. Like my cousin Andrew said, it looks like all the players on the field are following a bunch of complex rules. But they aren’t. They’re just running around. It’s kind of like a cross between NFL, Rugby, and Quidditch. But you can punch the ball like a volleyball. And it’s played in an oval. There seriously is no other sport like it.
Sunday was a great day full of family. Just a brief explanation to anyone reading this who isn’t related to me: my second-cousin Andrew lives in Sydney with his wife Kate. Kate has 2 brothers, Paul and Mark. Mark is married to Emily and they have baby Josiah. Emily has a brother Michael. Jeff also is in Sydney, but he’s Andrew’s friend from school. And Andrew’s parents are Jim and Debbie. So on Sunday, EVERYONE got together for a picnic by the wharf in Manly. It was such a beautiful day, and Manly has pretty much the best beaches I’ve ever seen. After lunch, some of us walked around Manly and the shops there before going to church that night.
I really love the church I’ve been going to. Andrew and Kate and Jeff have been going there, and I tagged along last week, but I think I’ll keep up my attendance. The service we go to is pretty small, so the community is really great. I’d love to get to know people there better, and maybe join a small group. Also, they usually have dinner every night after the service. So it’s like a bonus. And the pastor is an Australian version of my brother. For reals. I wish I could show a video comparison. Maybe I can sneak one next week.
Classes are finally all figured out and I think I am really happy with the ones I am officially in. There was a lot of adding and dropping and adding classes. But it’s good. I really like my Rise of Early Christianity class; the professor is pretty great. And I think I’m really going to like Faith and the Contemporary Artist. And since everyone wants to know how Hip Hop dancing is going, it’s going. Ha. We just learned the Roger Rabbit and the running man before going into stepping and locking. I pretty much am not good at them, but I think I’m getting better. I hope I’m getting better. So by the time I’ll come home you’ll probably see me on So You Think You Can Dance.
Also, I’ve just been so thankful for all my friends (and family) back home who are so encouraging and great. I seriously know the best people in the whole world, and am even related to some of them. So thanks so so soooo much everyone for being awesome.
current song: Gloomy by Matt Costa
I’m starting to get into the swing of things, I think. I’m still into a lot of the touristy things here, and I really want to buy a stuffed kangaroo. I’m glad one of our required classes does stuff like that and takes us on harbor cruises, because it gives me an excuse to do those things without being a total square.
Friday we did a ‘Tribal Warrior’ harbor cruise, where we sailed around Sydney Harbor with the tour guide pointing out historical Aboriginal places. Then we landed on a tiny island and learned some more about the indigenous cultures before having an Aboriginal dance party. Pretty good stuff.
On Saturday I experienced my first, live Australian Football League game. And it is now probably my favorite sport. It is SO crazy, and SO fast, and I had no idea what was happening most of the time. It was great. So many things going on all over the place. Like my cousin Andrew said, it looks like all the players on the field are following a bunch of complex rules. But they aren’t. They’re just running around. It’s kind of like a cross between NFL, Rugby, and Quidditch. But you can punch the ball like a volleyball. And it’s played in an oval. There seriously is no other sport like it.
Sunday was a great day full of family. Just a brief explanation to anyone reading this who isn’t related to me: my second-cousin Andrew lives in Sydney with his wife Kate. Kate has 2 brothers, Paul and Mark. Mark is married to Emily and they have baby Josiah. Emily has a brother Michael. Jeff also is in Sydney, but he’s Andrew’s friend from school. And Andrew’s parents are Jim and Debbie. So on Sunday, EVERYONE got together for a picnic by the wharf in Manly. It was such a beautiful day, and Manly has pretty much the best beaches I’ve ever seen. After lunch, some of us walked around Manly and the shops there before going to church that night.
I really love the church I’ve been going to. Andrew and Kate and Jeff have been going there, and I tagged along last week, but I think I’ll keep up my attendance. The service we go to is pretty small, so the community is really great. I’d love to get to know people there better, and maybe join a small group. Also, they usually have dinner every night after the service. So it’s like a bonus. And the pastor is an Australian version of my brother. For reals. I wish I could show a video comparison. Maybe I can sneak one next week.
Classes are finally all figured out and I think I am really happy with the ones I am officially in. There was a lot of adding and dropping and adding classes. But it’s good. I really like my Rise of Early Christianity class; the professor is pretty great. And I think I’m really going to like Faith and the Contemporary Artist. And since everyone wants to know how Hip Hop dancing is going, it’s going. Ha. We just learned the Roger Rabbit and the running man before going into stepping and locking. I pretty much am not good at them, but I think I’m getting better. I hope I’m getting better. So by the time I’ll come home you’ll probably see me on So You Think You Can Dance.
Also, I’ve just been so thankful for all my friends (and family) back home who are so encouraging and great. I seriously know the best people in the whole world, and am even related to some of them. So thanks so so soooo much everyone for being awesome.
current song: Gloomy by Matt Costa
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
i'm not really fussed
So you know how as soon as you complain about something it gets better? Yeah.
The past few days have been so busy and good. I don’t know where to begin.
Saturday I spent some time exploring Glebe, which is a suburb really close to the city. Every Saturday there’s a market with handmade purses and jewelry or clothes, and it’s a really trendy part of Sydney. Lots of sunglasses and skinny jeans.
That night I did my first time at my service placement. Every ASC student has to log 35 hours of service with a local mission we’re assigned to. I’m doing mine with Jesus Cares, a food van. We made about 12 million sandwiches before having a short worship/prayer service with the other 8 or so volunteers and then headed into the city. We stopped at 3 places, set up our tables of sandwiches, soup, cake, cookies, tea, coffee and meat pies, handed out food and fellowship, and then packed up and moved out. I haven’t had much experience at all with ministering to homeless. I did help at the Grant Co. Rescue Mission for a little bit, and went to Indianapolis for it once, but I ever really purposefully engaged with homeless before. And it was so much fun. Most of the guys we gave dinner to were regulars, and had become good friends with the Jesus Cares volunteers. And they were so funny, too. One guy, Colin, was all about telling and hearing jokes. And another man was singing and dancing and making everyone laugh. Except for at Woollomooloo, which is a part of Sydney that is apparently a little dodgy. When we stopped there, one of the regular volunteers told me ‘This is a different kind of homeless,’ and I believe her. There was no laughter or singing; people just got their food and left. Bill, the head of Jesus Cares, said that the people there were practically unemployable, and most of them don’t have a lot of hope. It is so strange to see what a huge difference that makes. I’m so glad I was put in this ministry, and I’m really looking forward to going back out and exchanging jokes with Colin.
Tuesday night some Australian friends invited us Americans to an ‘Australian Initiation’ which began with Thai food dinner and ended with licking peanut butter off someone’s foot. We had a night where we all tried classic Australian food like Vegemite, Musk candy/dryer sheets, and Milo among others. After all that, we had some extreme dares where people ate spoonfuls of Vegemite, sang patriotic songs to neighbors and yes, licked peanut butter off feet. Luckily, I didn’t have to do any of those things.
Sorry this is forever long, and I didn’t even get to talk about going around the city on Sunday, or the church I visited, or (most importantly) Dominion: the greatest board/card game invented by the Germans. When I get around to it, I’ll try to put some pictures up so you can all see the sights.
current song: Ruby by the Kaiser Chiefs
The past few days have been so busy and good. I don’t know where to begin.
Saturday I spent some time exploring Glebe, which is a suburb really close to the city. Every Saturday there’s a market with handmade purses and jewelry or clothes, and it’s a really trendy part of Sydney. Lots of sunglasses and skinny jeans.
That night I did my first time at my service placement. Every ASC student has to log 35 hours of service with a local mission we’re assigned to. I’m doing mine with Jesus Cares, a food van. We made about 12 million sandwiches before having a short worship/prayer service with the other 8 or so volunteers and then headed into the city. We stopped at 3 places, set up our tables of sandwiches, soup, cake, cookies, tea, coffee and meat pies, handed out food and fellowship, and then packed up and moved out. I haven’t had much experience at all with ministering to homeless. I did help at the Grant Co. Rescue Mission for a little bit, and went to Indianapolis for it once, but I ever really purposefully engaged with homeless before. And it was so much fun. Most of the guys we gave dinner to were regulars, and had become good friends with the Jesus Cares volunteers. And they were so funny, too. One guy, Colin, was all about telling and hearing jokes. And another man was singing and dancing and making everyone laugh. Except for at Woollomooloo, which is a part of Sydney that is apparently a little dodgy. When we stopped there, one of the regular volunteers told me ‘This is a different kind of homeless,’ and I believe her. There was no laughter or singing; people just got their food and left. Bill, the head of Jesus Cares, said that the people there were practically unemployable, and most of them don’t have a lot of hope. It is so strange to see what a huge difference that makes. I’m so glad I was put in this ministry, and I’m really looking forward to going back out and exchanging jokes with Colin.
Tuesday night some Australian friends invited us Americans to an ‘Australian Initiation’ which began with Thai food dinner and ended with licking peanut butter off someone’s foot. We had a night where we all tried classic Australian food like Vegemite, Musk candy/dryer sheets, and Milo among others. After all that, we had some extreme dares where people ate spoonfuls of Vegemite, sang patriotic songs to neighbors and yes, licked peanut butter off feet. Luckily, I didn’t have to do any of those things.
Sorry this is forever long, and I didn’t even get to talk about going around the city on Sunday, or the church I visited, or (most importantly) Dominion: the greatest board/card game invented by the Germans. When I get around to it, I’ll try to put some pictures up so you can all see the sights.
current song: Ruby by the Kaiser Chiefs
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