Easy Cruisin' with the Bats

Hi there!

Last week in my first blog post ever, I didn’t really introduce myself, so I’m taking this time to tell you a little about myself.

My name is Gabi and I’m a sophomore in the College of Communication and Information studying to become a journalist. I was born and raised in Knoxville and now that I’m going to UTK I can add that I will also graduate from Knoxville. Despite living in the same house my entire life, I absolutely love to travel and usually get lost wandering around trying to find new places to see. I’m an avid reader and writer. I’m actually a writer for The Daily Beacon, UT’s student newspaper. Which, I am currently working on my very first Vlog so feel free to check in to see what I’m covering on there! I speak four languages: English, Polish, French and fluid sarcasm. Coffee is the best drink, hot or cold, and I truly believe chocolate can solve any problem you have. That, or hugging a dog. 

Anyway, now onto the blog.

So, for those of you interested in joining the CCI Global Scholars program, you’ll also be participating in a Cultural Communications class which is awesome! One of the assignments we had this past week was to go out somewhere in Sydney by ourselves and just sit down to observe your surroundings. This assignment really shows that in two weeks of being here, you really do become comfortable in being in Sydney. For my observation, I was originally going to go to the Custom’s House by Circular Quay and watch the tourists lingering about and people going home at the end of the work day. Instead, I ended up sitting in Hyde Park which was a really interesting and great experience that ended with bats.

Before I get to the bats though, I wanted to just talk a little bit about Australians. Australians are the nicest, friendliest and most laid-back people I have met. On Australia day, when Victoria and I were heading back to Urbanest, we didn't know where we were going so we asked people and everyone pointed us to where we needed to go and even offered to walk with us so we wouldn't get lost. While doing my observation in the park, I had this feeling of ease too. I felt like I could just lay down in the grass and take a nap and be completely fine. Back home, I always felt comfortable in the park, but taking a nap by myself wasn’t really something I did feel comfortable with doing. I think it’s because the people around me were giving off this message of ease that I honestly felt it too. It was also interesting to observe how people did just take 20 minutes from their commute home to lay down in the grass to nap or sit down with friends for a quick chat before continuing onward.

Being here in Australia has also made me realize what I really like about my own culture back home. I love the fact that people back home in the South talk loudly, but they also take the time to ask about your day. That while walking down the street, people will ask “How are you?” and it’s normal to start a conversation with the cashier while checking out of the store. You really don’t notice the small details about your culture that you’ve come to love so much until you are in another country. This program has already shown me that culture is such an important key in how we communicate and learning about Australian culture is interesting, but it has also taught me about American culture. It’s a great experience overall, and if you have nothing to do at home or just want to procrastinate before doing homework, go out somewhere and observe. You don’t have to be in Sydney, Australia to notice these little things.

Now, onto the bats. So, towards the end of my observation, I was so focused at observing the people around me that I hadn’t really paid attention to what was happening above me, until one flew right over my head. As the day was drawing to a close, I happened to look up after feeling something above me and the sky was full of bats just hanging out in the park in the middle of the city. It’s so completely normal here that most people weren’t even paying attention to the bats. So, yes, bats flying around a park in Sydney during sunset is completely normal and also kind of awesome.

It Was the Best of Times and the Worst of Times...

So how many people have been dumped by their significant other of two and a half years four days after arriving 9,000 miles away from home to live and work in Sydney, Australia for three, almost four, months? I'm hoping not many because wow...it sure is unpleasant, huh? And that'd just be depressing.

I'm not writing this blog post to complain about my shiny new ex or rant about the timing or do any of those uncomfortable oversharing moments that emotionally vulnerable and jet-lagged University of Tennessee students may tend to have. Because I sure have had my fill of moments over the past week and a half. But to be honest? Even though it has been emotionally draining to deal with all the stuff I have going on at home and in my personal life while being in Sydney, especially when I still feel like I haven't settled in, my unique and somewhat horrendously painful experience really has shown me that Sydney, Australia is exactly where I'm supposed to be.

A lot of people last week wrote blog posts about our small group of UTK students becoming a loving and welcoming family. Of course, I wasn't one of them. I wrote about history. That gooey emotional stuff just seemed, well...too gooey and emotional for me. No offense.

It is true, though. The past two weeks that I've been here, I've received an overwhelming amount of love and emotional support from every single person in our group. Everyone's ability to listen and care so deeply about someone who, quite honestly, they should probably still consider at least kind of a stranger has been such a heartwarming and inspirational experience. In the past two weeks alone, I've made friends here who I feel comfortable leaning on in times of crisis, who I feel like understand me, and who I feel like really, really care about how I am as a person. It's been like, what...15 days? That's crazy.

More than that, being in a place as beautiful and open as Sydney, Australia, with all of its beaches and Chinese restaurants and Hungry Jack's (Jacks', Jackses, Jacks's? For a journalism student, I sure don't understand English) has really opened my eyes to the idea that this trip isn't about classes or making friends or petting kangaroos or internships. It's about growth. Personal growth. The painful kind of growth. The kind that things like breakups and graduations and moving 9,000 miles away from home cause you to do, whether you like it or not. And all because Dr. Swan talked to your orientation group about going to Australia and you thought it'd be pretty funny if you convinced your mom to let you go.

And being here in Sydney has definitely been good for me, at least in terms of personal growth. It came a little faster than I thought it would. And it has definitely been a little more painful than I thought it would be. But it's happening and no matter the outcome, I know it'll be good for me. Making some of the best friends after less than two weeks, learning how to deal with heartbreak and disappointment away from home, and just figuring out how to keep my head up, stay positive, and keep going.

I'm absolutely convinced that Sydney is exactly where I'm supposed to be, both professionally with my internship and personally with all the friends I have made and the growth that being here has forced me to go through. From hiking to Bondi Beach, visiting the Museum of Contemporary Art, and attending classes every day, I'm still continuing to have the time of my life because this study abroad program is the opportunity of a lifetime and no matter how things are at home, nothing can get in the way of that. I'm so grateful for everyone who has been here for me, supporting me even though we just met, helped me open my eyes to how I can grow from this experience and been encouraging me to just let it go and have fun and learn every day.

Being in Sydney has already proven to be one of the most intense processes I have ever gone through in my entire life and it's been painful, but I've been fully embracing the opportunity to learn more about myself and Australia and my goals for the future. So again, thank you to my brand new best friends here for helping my keep my head and never forget...Live free, be brave.

Through the eyes of a tourist

Before arriving in Sydney, I compiled an Australian bucket list. On this list, I included typical tourist attractions like touring the Opera House, climbing the Sydney Harbor Bridge, and visiting the Taronga zoo. I also included cute eateries and places to travel on the weekends. So far, I have marked off many of the typical tourist attractions, and this Sunday I’m climbing the Sydney Harbor Bridge. Even though the word “tourist” typically has a negative connotation, I’ve found that I enjoy myself more when I see things through new eyes.

Through the eyes of a tourist, everything is new and exciting. The first time I saw the Sydney Opera House through the window on the train, I almost cried. Seriously. After seeing pictures of this beautiful building for months, it was finally in front of me. I can’t imagine the day I go to Circular Quay (the area with the Opera House and the Harbor Bridge) and not feel the same butterflies in my stomach.

Bondi Beach is known as a tourist beach and is actively avoided by locals for this very reason. I immediately fell in love with Bondi because of its laid back vibe and beautiful scenery. Through new eyes, I noticed little details that many locals may look over because they are immune to the beauty of their own city.

When I think about locals not fully appreciating their surroundings, I get frustrated. How could you not fall in love every time you step on the yellow sand on Manly Beach? How could you ever get tired of the city skyline overlooking an immense, endless blue sky?

And then it hit me. I, myself, am guilty of becoming immune to my beautiful hometown surroundings. I have had the Great Smoky Mountains in my backyard my entire life, and I am no longer phased by their beauty. Sure I get excited when the leaves change colors, but I no longer have that spark in my eye like a tourist.

During my short time in Sydney, I’ve discovered that life is better when you slow down. When I return to East Tennessee, I hope I am able to see my town through the eyes of a tourist.

Swooping in Sydney

I grew up with fairy tales. My grandma and I would have movie picnics in the living room on a blanket with grilled cheese, pickles, and chocolate milk and rewatch Sleeping Beauty or Cinderella for the millionth time. Growing up with these stories I began to believe in the messages and characters such as the fairy godmother. She swoops in at a time of need and magically helps everything fall into place. My mother has always been my fairy godmother but unfortunately she couldn’t travel to Sydney with me. So who was going to swoop in when I needed swooping in Sydney?!

I didn’t realize that there could be so many fairy godmothers in such a short period of time but I guess being a young American in a new country sends out signals to FG’s in the area. Leslie was FG #1. She came into our lives out of no where, fabulous, in charge and incredibly knowledgeable about the city of Sydney. It was only our first week in Australia and we didn’t know anything. We didn’t know how to get around the city, where the cool beaches were, where the good pubs were and she planted herself on the boat tour we were on and spilled all of her well earned knowledge on us. I filled up and enter page of notes, just from talking to her on where we should go and when, and what places have deals and discounts. That day, I don’t believe we knew we needed a fairy godmother but I am definitely thankful for that encounter and can’t wait to try out some of her suggestions. 

Then came FG#2, Emma. Emma swooped in in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Australia Day at Manly Beach. Our group had spent a fabulous day on the beach relaxing with no worry at all that we would have the frantic afternoon in store for us. We had just finished stuffing our faces and realized the ferry was leaving…without us. We got down to the docks and realized that the ferry’s weren’t running anymore, the other boat that was about to leave was full and we started panicking because we were about to spend the night on Manly beach with the bats and jellyfish. Cue FG#2. Emma swooped us up and took us back across the street to a bus stop and rode with us all the way back to the city. She was free spirited and had a laugh that deeply reminded me of my high school AP english teacher, so I liked her. If she hadn’t helped us figure out how to get home that day, we would have been stranded in Manly and who knows what would have happened. 

Instances like these remind me what my grandma “Tee” told me before I left the states. She said that she was sending her angels out to look over me while I was on this adventure. Whether these women were fairy godmothers or angels, I take comfort in knowing I have somebody constantly looking out for me while I am experiencing this amazing trip. Looking out for FG#3!

Pursuing the Best Outcome

This last week, I began to miss more and more about home and the United States. While Australia has many similarities to the US, there are just as many differences, a lot of which I began to recognize this past week. I started to really miss my family, friends, and hot wings. Most Australians do not even know what wings are, which I still can't believe. However, last week I had an experience that allowed me to deal with everything that I missed and continue my journey of learning and exploring in this amazing place.

Last week, I was able to attend a church service at a nearby church called Hillsong. During my time at Hillsong, I was able to meet many great people and was treated incredibly by everyone I met. While meeting these people was great, this is not what made my experience at Hillsong so incredible. The pastor's message really connected with me and helped me during a time in which I was missing home.  Preaching about how to deal with being faint or weak, the pastor stated, "Faint yet pursuing, your resolve in pursuing determines your outcomes." These words really made me think. While I may miss home, I must continue to pursue the outcome that I came here for. 

Due to my experience at Hillsong, this last week was another great week. I had the opportunity to celebrate Australia Day on Friday and witness fireworks in the Sydney Harbor, which was an experience that I will never forget. Saturday I spent the day with friends on Bondi Beach, while Sunday I had the opportunity to see the US beat FIJI in Rugby. I was also able to make my own buffalo wings. While I miss certain aspects of home, I must remember to continue to pursue for the best possible outcome, of this so far incredible journey. I look forward to many more weeks of persevering in this similar, yet different country. 

"Shelly and Mckayla"

First of all, I wanted to introduce myself since I forgot to do that in my last post. My name is Liza and I joined this program to step out of my comfort zone. I know that seems cliché, but it has already been so rewarding. In fact, Sydney has far exceeded my expectations. I am so thankful for the many friends and memories I have made thus far, and we have only been here a little over two weeks. One of my most recent memories was the celebration of Australia Day, which is sort of equivalent to the 4th of July in America. I had one of the best days ever. We started out by going to this cute little country club scene called "The Greens" where we listened to live music, bought a "watermelon kegger" drink (pictured below), held reptiles, and even tested our luck with slot machines. When I held a python (pictured below), it started to actually choke me and the man had to rip it off of me which I am sure was entertaining to observe.
After The Greens, we decided to venture down right outside of Sydney Harbour and station ourselves  at a bar before the fireworks started. We got to know a lot more about each other, and shared a bunch of belly laughs which was really special. We actually stayed at the bar for three hours and didn't even realize it because we were so invested in our conversations, so when we saw the first fireworks shoot into the sky, we got up and sprinted to the harbour. Unfortunately, we found out that the harbour was at max capacity, and security guards were not going to allow anyone else to enter by the time we got there. We started to panic. We absolutely NEEDED to get the full Australia Day experience, so we had to think on our feet. A scheme was forming. Don't judge us, but we sort of bent the truth by saying that we were staying in one of the hotels in the harbour and that we "just wanted to get to our room." It almost actually worked when we started to say, "We are so sorry but we are new here and don't know what else to do." I actually didn't do the talking, because I sweat and panic when I lie, so I stayed in the back of my group of friends and just nodded my head quietly. One of the guards asked us to show our key card to prove that we actually lived in the hotel, so we all pulled out our generic Urbanest key card, and somehow he was convinced. He told us that once he got the area cleared, we would be allowed through. Unfortunately, the guard who gave us that assurance disappeared and a new guard came up to us and kicked us out.
With sad expressions on our faces, we went around the corner to see if we could try our luck with a new set of guards at a different gate. Out of nowhere, two of my friends made up a story that we were trying to meet our Australian friends and that our phones were all dead so we were lost. The guards asked what the names of our friends were, so we looked at each other and panicked. One of us said "Shelly", and another one of us said "Mckayla," so naturally our whole group said "Shelly and Mckayla" in unison as if it was rehearsed. They weren't gonna let us in. It was tragic, but they asked us where we were from. We said Tennessee, and one of the guards blurted out, "Australia is better." We weren't sure how to respond, so we just sort of giggled. He then said, "Well, our government is better." We did not want to have to respond to his comment, so we said, "If you see our friends, let them know we tried" and walked away. For whatever reason, God spoke to us in the most majestic way. A glowing revolving door a few yards away was unlocked. We peeped in and saw a hidden staircase that led right down to the harbour. After everything we had gone through with both the hotel and the Shelly/Mckayla schemes, we somehow were able to just waltz right into the harbour for the firework show. I felt kind of bad since several families with children were begging the previous guards to let them in, yet we were able to just slide right through. It was spectacular. The atmosphere was stunning, and it is something that I will never forget. There was live music, a view of the water, and one of the most fabulous firework shows I have ever experienced. The national pride that the people of Australia had gave me goose bumps. That moment was when I realized that Sydney was exactly where I needed to be. I have met the most incredible people that I fully intend to remain friends with for a long time, and I already know that I will be sad to leave Australia in April. To my fellow CCI Global Scholars, I love you and I am so thankful I get to experience this wonderful place with all of you!

Until next time,
Liza


P.s. follow me on Instagram
@liza_cunningham to see my adventures!

Rugby Day Fun Day

I think the most fun part of my trip so far has been the Rugby tournament. In the United States, we do not have any sporting events that compare to the atmosphere of a rugby game. Almost everyone dresses up in costumes, wigs, paint, and anything else that is festive. There was a family in front of us that wore ponchos and sombreros to the event. They even brought a cooler filled with ingredients to make tacos and had a Mexican picnic inside the stadium. You could tell they had a lot of experience going to games because they brought water fans and spritzers to cool themselves off. They even shared them with us so we could cool down as well!  The best part of the event was witnessing how excited everyone was to be there and how many of them got involved in all the different games. There were at least a dozen countries that participated in the event where they played two seven-minute quarters and the winner moved on to the next round. Our group had the privilege of watching the United States play in the quarterfinals when they beat Fiji in a major upset. However, it was short lived when we played South Africa in the semi-finals and they beat us by a large margin.

Despite the United States losing, I still had a great time and enjoyed seeing the culture that surrounds rugby in Australia. On the day we went to the game there was a small amount of cloud cover, but it was short lived when the sun came back out. Everyone in our group was shocked at how hot it was that day. We tried to put on sunscreen and stay hydrated but the intensity of the sun caused many people in our group to leave early. I even had to create a makeshift hat out of a noise maker because I forgot my Australian bucket hat. Although the U.S. lost in the end, I am still glad I stayed to watch them play South Africa. A few of us walked down to the front row of the stadium to watch the game and it was an eventful experience. A player from South Africa broke free from the main line, but an American defender named Bennett was waiting for him and made a terrific stop. Bennett stopped the South African and threw him down to the ground with one arm. I have never seen or heard such an intense stop in my life. You cannot appreciate how powerful and big the rugby players are until you watch them from the front row. Overall, the rugby tournament was an incredible event to attend. If anyone has an opportunity to attend a rugby game they should not let it pass. 

           

Peace and Quiet in the Garden?

This past week, I visited the Royal Botanical Gardens. Let me start off with saying how truly beautiful it is. The vibrant colors and smell of flowers and harbor views are amazing. It is a great place to relax and get some work done, or so I had hoped…

My intentions on going to the gardens were to sit by myself, have some peace and quiet, and write a paper. When I first arrived it seemed like that’s exactly what I was going to do. I walked around a bit taking in the scenery and scouting for a good shady place to sit and write. The garden was lively with people reading, chatting with friends, and relaxing, so it was hard to find a good spot that hadn’t already been taken. Finally, I saw the perfect place. There was a bench in the shade under a big tree and that a man had just vacated. It was facing the wind so my hair wouldn’t blow into my face and it had perfect harbor views. I took a sharp turn to change the direction of my path straight towards the bench. As I got about 10 feet away, I noticed that the man who had just gotten up from the seat was just standing a little ways behind it. I asked if he was still sitting there, and he told me that he wasn’t and I was welcome to take it. I gladly sat. I was eager to get this paper done and enjoy some time to myself. The man came closer to the bench and told me that he was just looking for a place to throw away this plastic bag that he had. I told him I didn’t know where any trash cans were and I was sorry I couldn’t be of more help. He proceeded to ask me where I was from and he came to sit next to me.

The man was from Colombia, probably in his 40s or 50s, he was tan and had dark unruly hair. His shirt was untucked and he had a small black backpack. His face was friendly and he was very chatty. He ended up talking to me for about an hour. Normally I would welcome the chance to meet and talk with new people but I had been looking forward to sitting alone and writing my paper. I wasn’t quite feeding into the conversation either; I mostly responded with short but still friendly replies and then he would just jump to another random topic. He shared lots of stories with me about his life, some stories that I would’ve rather not known. He was extremely open and didn’t shy away from any subject. The things he shared with me are things that I would never share with a complete stranger, but I had to act like it didn’t surprise me. I was a bit uncomfortable and taken aback at how open he was. At one point during our conversation, a spider come from what seemed like out of nowhere and landed on the back of his head. Of course I had to tell him about it, but I was uncomfortable. First of all, I don’t know this person and secondly, spiders are terrifying. To make it worse, the spider was on the back of his head so he couldn’t look at it after I warned him to shoo it away. I timidly told him that it was there and he calmly asked me what size it was, what color, what did its markings look like. I tried the best I could to describe it while standing up and backing away out of fear. He leaned forward and handed me a leather wallet sort of thing and told me to get it off of him. I had to hit him in the back of his head with the wallet. To say the least, the entire interaction with this man was not my favorite. He told me some stories that offered too much personal information about his life, he talked to me for about an hour when I wanted to be alone, and I had to hit him in the back of his head because there was a spider on him.

When I looked back at this strange time in the garden, I realized that there are so many different people in the world. Maybe being very open about your life with new people is something that is normal in the Colombian culture. Perhaps I came off as rude because I didn’t share much about myself. However, I know first hand that across cultures spiders are something to be feared. It was a little inconvenient because I had other plans for myself, but life doesn’t always go as expected. However uncomfortable and annoyed I may have been, it makes for a good story and broadened my horizons. Not everyone I encounter will have the same thought processes as I do. It is important to be open minded when coming into contact with new people because we might have no idea what sort of background they come from or what is ‘normal’ to them. You might make a plan for your day as simple as taking some time to sit alone and get some work done, but be ready for those plans to turn the complete opposite way.

Happy ‘Straya Day

I was so excited when I found out that I would be in the Land Down Under for Australia Day. At the time, I did not have any context for what the day really meant and the thoughts surrounding it, but I knew I was thrilled. I expected Australian flags everywhere, people putting shrimp on the barbie, and the “Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi” chant. Now, taking an Australia history course at the University of Sydney, I understand the background for Australia Day. While the day is a celebration for many, it is a time of mourning for others. The indigenous people of Australia, the Aboriginals, view the day as when their culture was stolen from them. Some even argue that the date should be moved to another time in order to remember the pain of the Aboriginal people. With this in mind, my plans for Australia Day changed; I had the opportunity to see the day from both perspectives.

            I started my day off at the Aboriginal Festival in Victoria Park, right next to the university. My history professor recommended the festival to the class and I thought it would be a great way to experience the day from a new perspective. I was riding the bus on my way to the park when an announcement came over the intercom informing the driver that all transportation must cease due to a march happening. After this news, the bus pulled over and everyone got out to walk to their destinations. While I was walking, I ran into the march and saw that it was a protest for Aboriginals to be recognized and to receive better treatment. The march was very peaceful, but still full of passion. Everyone was chanting and had signs, Aboriginal flags, and t-shirts. The protest was marching to Victoria Park where they would end at the festival, so I got to witness the march for a while. Once I got to the park, I was blown away by all the tents, events, and people at the festival. There were hundreds of tents selling Aboriginal art work and giving out information about the indigenous group. There was a main stage where speakers, dancers, singers, and bands were playing and celebrating their culture. On the other side of the park, there was another stage that had Aboriginal dance groups performing all day. Around this same area, a storytelling tent was set up where people could recall stories of their ancestors or talk about their own lives. I enjoyed every minute of going around the tents and learning more about the ingenious people and seeing their performances. The Aboriginal Festival was the perfect start to Australia Day; it was so interesting to see the Aboriginal community come together to celebrate their culture and their ancestors.

            After a few hours at the festival, I caught a ferry and celebrated Australia Day like all the natives do: by going to the beach. The beaches in Australia are absolutely breathtaking. The water here is a blue I have never seen and none of the pictures I capture do the scene justice. It was so nice to just lay on the beach, relax, and observe. There were a ton of Australians around me enjoying the day and spending time with their family. Although I did see some Australian flags and t-shirts, the Aussies do not go as all out as Americans do on the 4^th of July. Instead, they focus more on their family and relaxing.

            As I spent a few hours on the beach, it was getting closer and closer to what I was most excited about for Australia Day: The Circular Quay celebration and fireworks spectacular. I caught the last ferry back the Circular Quay and was greeted by huge crowds of people already lining up for their spot for the fireworks. I had no idea where I was going, but somehow, I ended up in the best place to watch the fireworks. While everyone waited for the fireworks to begin, performers took to the stage in the middle of the harbour and the stage in front of the Opera House. I had a perfect view of both stages and the Sydney Harbour Bridge; I could not have been luckier. Alongside of the performances, there were boat races, ship decorating competitions, and people doing tricks while being propelled into the air by the water from jet skis. Once it was dark enough, mini firework shows and light up sailboats accompanied the performers leading up to the big finale. Each firework show was about two minutes long and the fireworks were shot off the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The finale was truly spectacular. The ground was shaking from how many fireworks were let explode into the dark sky at once. The harbour and the bridge were the perfect backdrop for the scene. I found myself shaking at the end of the finale; I have never seen a firework show quite like that before and cannot recall anything that compares. The awe of the crowd told me that I was not alone in this feeling. There were people as far as you could see and I was informed later that they had to shut Circular Quay down due to the amount of people in attendance. Leaving the celebration proved difficult because of the massive amount of people causing the trains and buses to shut down as well. Although the walk was a long one, I enjoyed witnessing all of the Aussie’s continuing their celebration in the streets. It was like one big party everywhere you went.

            Once I was home safe and sound in Urbannest, I watched the videos of the fireworks finale like one would watch the videos they took of their favorite band after their concert. I also thought it appropriate break out my box of the famous Australian TimTam chocolate on the great day; I give it a definite five stars and am sure I will be missing it when I return to the states. Looking back on Australia Day and the two weeks I have lived in the Land Down Under, I am just so thankful to be able to be a part of this journey. The decision to come was frightening, but the adventure is so worth all of the work and worry. 

Cheers,

Victoria