Last post from Australia! I am boarding my flight in just a few minutes... next stop L.A.!
It's been 10 months and 3 weeks since I've stepped foot in America.
Gonna be strange... strange as.
I have so many things I want to say, but not enough time to say them. Really, I don't have enough time to try and put them into words... just a big jumble in my mind.
I'm gonna miss all the amazing people that I've met...
Most of all, I'm gonna miss Arron. I'm leaving him behind in OZ. He leaves in 2 weeks to go back to Canada. I know I'll see him again, someday... but, to not see him all the time and have him just a text away is weird.
I'm gonna miss you Panda Bear.
Love,
Michaela
Monday, September 20, 2010
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Sweet As.
Hi, sorry... I seemed to have fallen off the face of the earth.
Well, really I'm not so far off... hello from New Zealand... what seems like the edge of the world. I had heard how amazing New Zealand was, but you can only believe so much of what you hear... but, I can now say with certainty... New Zealand is magical.
But, first...
I ended my 4 month stint in Melbourne by having a few drinks with some of my close friends before heading off to Sydney and the East Coast. Arron wrote a blog post about this, saying he was now dreading his departure because he had been there for mine. He said I seemed distant and sad... I remember getting home that night at about 2am (having to leave for the airport at 3:30am!) and just thinking "this may be the last time I ever am here." How big is that? It could be the last time I ever see these people. Eat this food. Sit on this seat. etc...
I flew out of Melbourne at 6 that morning, arriving in Sydney bright and early to go meet my high school friend Lea, who had just flown in from America. We spent one day there, where I showed her the sights, and then we flew up to Cairns, which is the most north I ever made it to in Australia. The weather was muggy and cloudy, the beach was non existent (low tides and lots of mud), but we still had a good time. We met a very sleepy Arron, who had done what I had done the night before and not had any sleep. We rented a car a few days later and drove up north to the Daintree Rainforest (check "see a rainforest" off my list) and to Cape Tribulation. We didn't see any crocodiles, which they are famous for, but we did see lots of exotic birds and plants. A very gorgeous area and some of the most amazing beaches.
We then took an overnight bus down to Airlie Beach, which is home to the Whitsunday Islands. We were to take a 2 day/2 night sailing cruise to these islands (check "go sailing" off the list). I saw a beautiful sunset... dropped my camera in the ocean...saw whales and dolphins and sea turtles and sting rays wild in the ocean... sat/swam on Whitehaven beach, which is THE best beach I have ever been to. White sand and crystal clear blue waters. I also went snorekling on the great barrier reef (check "see great barrier reef" off list).
We ended the trip by spending one last night in Sydney... where, the next morning, I flew out to beautiful New Zealand. For about 5 years I have wanted to come here. Granted, it's only a 6 day stint, but it's enough to make me want to come back again and again. If you know me well, you know I have this "thing" for kiwis/kiwi culture... so, new life plan is to marry a New Zealander... yup, you heard me.
Anyways, I spent my first night in Christchurch, which was a vicitim to a 7.7 magnitude earthquake about a week and a half ago. They have experienced about 350 aftershocks since then, and I was peacefully eating my dinner on the night of the 12th, when my table and chair begain to shake. It only lasted about 4 seconds, but it was enough. It was about a 4.5 magnitude. Apparently there were 4 more overnight, which I slept straight through.
The next morning I made my way to Greymouth, NZ (west coast) and we drove through some of the most amazing scenery I have ever seen! Then down to Franz Josef (Glacier). I climbed the glacier the next day. I hiked up in my crampons and waterproof gear (it was pissing rain/hail!) and made my way through ice caves. Amazing! Although, I couldn't feel most of my extremities.
The next day I made my way down to Queenstown, where I am now. I hope to go to Milford Sound tomorrow, but apparently the road is closed due to fallen snow, and I will find out tomorrow morning if it is open. This is a ski town, for sure. It's nestled in between some of the most beautiful mountains! I leave for Christchurch on the 18th, then Sydney on the 19th... then to LA on the 20th. I am so near the end I don't even know what to think.
I'm excited for the next chaper of my life. So much has happened, but I believe so much more can happen in the future. I will write again soon.
Love,
Michaela
Well, really I'm not so far off... hello from New Zealand... what seems like the edge of the world. I had heard how amazing New Zealand was, but you can only believe so much of what you hear... but, I can now say with certainty... New Zealand is magical.
But, first...
I ended my 4 month stint in Melbourne by having a few drinks with some of my close friends before heading off to Sydney and the East Coast. Arron wrote a blog post about this, saying he was now dreading his departure because he had been there for mine. He said I seemed distant and sad... I remember getting home that night at about 2am (having to leave for the airport at 3:30am!) and just thinking "this may be the last time I ever am here." How big is that? It could be the last time I ever see these people. Eat this food. Sit on this seat. etc...
I flew out of Melbourne at 6 that morning, arriving in Sydney bright and early to go meet my high school friend Lea, who had just flown in from America. We spent one day there, where I showed her the sights, and then we flew up to Cairns, which is the most north I ever made it to in Australia. The weather was muggy and cloudy, the beach was non existent (low tides and lots of mud), but we still had a good time. We met a very sleepy Arron, who had done what I had done the night before and not had any sleep. We rented a car a few days later and drove up north to the Daintree Rainforest (check "see a rainforest" off my list) and to Cape Tribulation. We didn't see any crocodiles, which they are famous for, but we did see lots of exotic birds and plants. A very gorgeous area and some of the most amazing beaches.
We then took an overnight bus down to Airlie Beach, which is home to the Whitsunday Islands. We were to take a 2 day/2 night sailing cruise to these islands (check "go sailing" off the list). I saw a beautiful sunset... dropped my camera in the ocean...saw whales and dolphins and sea turtles and sting rays wild in the ocean... sat/swam on Whitehaven beach, which is THE best beach I have ever been to. White sand and crystal clear blue waters. I also went snorekling on the great barrier reef (check "see great barrier reef" off list).
We ended the trip by spending one last night in Sydney... where, the next morning, I flew out to beautiful New Zealand. For about 5 years I have wanted to come here. Granted, it's only a 6 day stint, but it's enough to make me want to come back again and again. If you know me well, you know I have this "thing" for kiwis/kiwi culture... so, new life plan is to marry a New Zealander... yup, you heard me.
Anyways, I spent my first night in Christchurch, which was a vicitim to a 7.7 magnitude earthquake about a week and a half ago. They have experienced about 350 aftershocks since then, and I was peacefully eating my dinner on the night of the 12th, when my table and chair begain to shake. It only lasted about 4 seconds, but it was enough. It was about a 4.5 magnitude. Apparently there were 4 more overnight, which I slept straight through.
The next morning I made my way to Greymouth, NZ (west coast) and we drove through some of the most amazing scenery I have ever seen! Then down to Franz Josef (Glacier). I climbed the glacier the next day. I hiked up in my crampons and waterproof gear (it was pissing rain/hail!) and made my way through ice caves. Amazing! Although, I couldn't feel most of my extremities.
The next day I made my way down to Queenstown, where I am now. I hope to go to Milford Sound tomorrow, but apparently the road is closed due to fallen snow, and I will find out tomorrow morning if it is open. This is a ski town, for sure. It's nestled in between some of the most beautiful mountains! I leave for Christchurch on the 18th, then Sydney on the 19th... then to LA on the 20th. I am so near the end I don't even know what to think.
I'm excited for the next chaper of my life. So much has happened, but I believe so much more can happen in the future. I will write again soon.
Love,
Michaela
Friday, September 3, 2010
Forever doesn't exist.
Tonight is my last night in Melbourne. I fly out tomorrow morning. I am headed out to see all my friends one last time (although some won't be there).
We went out to Mikey's show last night, and it was the last time I will see him (either ever or in a long while). I have tried not to think about it. I can't think about saying goodbye to people, it's too hard.
On a side note, Mikey plays keys/vox for King Cannons. Check em out. They were just signed to EMI. :)
Anyways, I'm out for one last night in Melbourne
Love,
Michaela
We went out to Mikey's show last night, and it was the last time I will see him (either ever or in a long while). I have tried not to think about it. I can't think about saying goodbye to people, it's too hard.
On a side note, Mikey plays keys/vox for King Cannons. Check em out. They were just signed to EMI. :)
Anyways, I'm out for one last night in Melbourne
Love,
Michaela
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
"I feel that when I'm old, I'll look at you and know, the world was beautiful."
Why hello world, it has been awhile.
Here I am, sitting at Arron's place, living up my last few days in Melbourne. I leave this Saturday to meet an old friend from high school up in Sydney. I have 18 more days in Australia.
A week and a half ago I went to Tassie (pronounced Tazzie) with my English friend Rob. We went and spent a few days in Hobart, which is a sleepy sea-side town. Ironically, it's the capital of Tasmania, but felt more like a small town. There was no "city bustle." I then arrived back in Melbourne at about 9:45 pm on Monday night, slept in the airport, just so I could fly out the next morning to Alice Springs with Arron and Jess. Yes, you read that right, I slept in an airport. I use the world "sleep" pretty loosely too. Mostly, I stared at walls and walked aimlessly around.
Alice Springs is located in the Northern Territory, which is the center of the Outback. This is the "true Australia" out there. We did a three day/two night camping tour of the Outback. We saw The Olgas, Ayers Rock, and Kings Canyon. I saw true aboriginals, walked through Red Dirt, ate a kangaroo (or two), slept outside under the stars (saw the milky way AND the southern cross!), hid my shoes from dingos, and made damper (an aboriginal delicacy cooked over the fire). It was so different than anything I have ever done before, but I loved it. Most of the people in our group were from Korea (South, not North), and it was hilarious listening to them introduce themselves. We all had to go to the front of the bus and say something about ourselves and sing a song. They all mostly sounded like: "Hi, I am [insert common Korean name here], but you can call me Anne. No speak Engrish well, but here is my song. [insert common Korean song where rest of bus joins in by singing and clapping.]"
I got up and sang a little bit of Loretta Lynn's "Ain't Woman Enough." The funny thing is, years ago I wouldn't have done it. I would have been too terrified to make a fool out of myself. It made me put into prospective the person I am today. I take risks that, years ago, would've made me rather dive off a bridge. On our way back to Alice Springs we had to sing another song, so I sang the chorus to "Achy Breaky Heart." Like I had said before, I have become more country by getting out of America. Save me!
Ever since coming back, I've just been hanging out, enjoying my last week. Sunday there was a celebration at Harbour Town Hotel for Melbourne Ice winning their final game, so I hung out with people from work and the Melbourne Ice team. Still find it weird that I moved 15,000 km from home just to hang out with a bunch of hockey enthusiasts? I do. Although, according to Arron, people here know shit about hockey. Forgive him, he's Canadian. It's all they're good at. :P
Anyways, lots of other developments have been happening outside of my Aussie world. For one, I'm pretty sure my family has been stalking me on facebook. I kid, I kid, but seriously, you all are coming out of the woodwork. My step mom and dad added me on facebook... it's like my past is slowing creeping up to me, forcing me to embrace it. Long lost cousins and aunts as well (these are okay... step mom and dad are taking a bit of getting used to). But, I found out that my Uncle Jeffry died a few days ago. He was 39 years old. 39. That's so young, and he had a heart attack. Really, it just makes me want to live my life to the fullest even more. Take more chances, because you never know when it will be your last.
On top of all that, Kipp sent me a friend request on facebook. Okay, I get it, it's just facebook. What harm would come out of us being facebook friends? But, that's the point, facebook makes it so easy for us to get information on anyone's lives without having to really be connected to them. Can't I just make a clean break? Years ago, if you wanted to rekindle something with someone or just catch up, you called them. You sent an email. You sent a letter. You didn't just send a passive friend request, just so you could read their status updates and stalk their pictures just so you could feel more connected to them. Facebook disconnects us from each other. But, that's besides the point.
I sent him a message a few days later asking "why?" Also, telling him that I can't. I have no ill will towards him and only wish him the best, but I cannot be his friend. He responded saying that he reads my blog, just wants to be friends, and wishes me the best. "Reads my blog??" Holy shit. I mean, I know people read this sometimes, but anytime someone actually says they do I go back and read a bunch of posts just to get an idea what someone else might see when they stumble upon this. I know what Kipp reads. I remember the parts where I talked about him... the things I've revealed. Do I really want to be friends with an ex when they know so much about me? They know how fragile they left me? It's taken me 8 months of not talking to Kipp to get to the point where not responding to his message is okay. I don't think about him every day. I ignored the friend request, and it didn't really bother me. Being his friend would bother me more than not being his friend. I've grown too much to regress back to that. Maybe we can be friends someday, but not today. Not anytime soon.
Thank you for reading that ramble... I hope I have updated you on my life. I can't believe I went half a month without posting!
Love,
Michaela
Here I am, sitting at Arron's place, living up my last few days in Melbourne. I leave this Saturday to meet an old friend from high school up in Sydney. I have 18 more days in Australia.
A week and a half ago I went to Tassie (pronounced Tazzie) with my English friend Rob. We went and spent a few days in Hobart, which is a sleepy sea-side town. Ironically, it's the capital of Tasmania, but felt more like a small town. There was no "city bustle." I then arrived back in Melbourne at about 9:45 pm on Monday night, slept in the airport, just so I could fly out the next morning to Alice Springs with Arron and Jess. Yes, you read that right, I slept in an airport. I use the world "sleep" pretty loosely too. Mostly, I stared at walls and walked aimlessly around.
Alice Springs is located in the Northern Territory, which is the center of the Outback. This is the "true Australia" out there. We did a three day/two night camping tour of the Outback. We saw The Olgas, Ayers Rock, and Kings Canyon. I saw true aboriginals, walked through Red Dirt, ate a kangaroo (or two), slept outside under the stars (saw the milky way AND the southern cross!), hid my shoes from dingos, and made damper (an aboriginal delicacy cooked over the fire). It was so different than anything I have ever done before, but I loved it. Most of the people in our group were from Korea (South, not North), and it was hilarious listening to them introduce themselves. We all had to go to the front of the bus and say something about ourselves and sing a song. They all mostly sounded like: "Hi, I am [insert common Korean name here], but you can call me Anne. No speak Engrish well, but here is my song. [insert common Korean song where rest of bus joins in by singing and clapping.]"
I got up and sang a little bit of Loretta Lynn's "Ain't Woman Enough." The funny thing is, years ago I wouldn't have done it. I would have been too terrified to make a fool out of myself. It made me put into prospective the person I am today. I take risks that, years ago, would've made me rather dive off a bridge. On our way back to Alice Springs we had to sing another song, so I sang the chorus to "Achy Breaky Heart." Like I had said before, I have become more country by getting out of America. Save me!
Ever since coming back, I've just been hanging out, enjoying my last week. Sunday there was a celebration at Harbour Town Hotel for Melbourne Ice winning their final game, so I hung out with people from work and the Melbourne Ice team. Still find it weird that I moved 15,000 km from home just to hang out with a bunch of hockey enthusiasts? I do. Although, according to Arron, people here know shit about hockey. Forgive him, he's Canadian. It's all they're good at. :P
Anyways, lots of other developments have been happening outside of my Aussie world. For one, I'm pretty sure my family has been stalking me on facebook. I kid, I kid, but seriously, you all are coming out of the woodwork. My step mom and dad added me on facebook... it's like my past is slowing creeping up to me, forcing me to embrace it. Long lost cousins and aunts as well (these are okay... step mom and dad are taking a bit of getting used to). But, I found out that my Uncle Jeffry died a few days ago. He was 39 years old. 39. That's so young, and he had a heart attack. Really, it just makes me want to live my life to the fullest even more. Take more chances, because you never know when it will be your last.
On top of all that, Kipp sent me a friend request on facebook. Okay, I get it, it's just facebook. What harm would come out of us being facebook friends? But, that's the point, facebook makes it so easy for us to get information on anyone's lives without having to really be connected to them. Can't I just make a clean break? Years ago, if you wanted to rekindle something with someone or just catch up, you called them. You sent an email. You sent a letter. You didn't just send a passive friend request, just so you could read their status updates and stalk their pictures just so you could feel more connected to them. Facebook disconnects us from each other. But, that's besides the point.
I sent him a message a few days later asking "why?" Also, telling him that I can't. I have no ill will towards him and only wish him the best, but I cannot be his friend. He responded saying that he reads my blog, just wants to be friends, and wishes me the best. "Reads my blog??" Holy shit. I mean, I know people read this sometimes, but anytime someone actually says they do I go back and read a bunch of posts just to get an idea what someone else might see when they stumble upon this. I know what Kipp reads. I remember the parts where I talked about him... the things I've revealed. Do I really want to be friends with an ex when they know so much about me? They know how fragile they left me? It's taken me 8 months of not talking to Kipp to get to the point where not responding to his message is okay. I don't think about him every day. I ignored the friend request, and it didn't really bother me. Being his friend would bother me more than not being his friend. I've grown too much to regress back to that. Maybe we can be friends someday, but not today. Not anytime soon.
Thank you for reading that ramble... I hope I have updated you on my life. I can't believe I went half a month without posting!
Love,
Michaela
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