Many people think of New York City as this melting pot of cultures. Truth is, the city is more like an overloaded plate at an all-you-can-eat-buffet; the cultures are just there, not necessarily meshing together. No one has yet to see this ideal in action until they have left the country. Perhaps it is just the campus life here at Bond Uni, but I have met so many people from so many places. Norway, Germany, London, Sweden, Fiji, Singapore, New Zealand, Denmark, Peru, Sudan, and Tanzania to name a few. Sure, their accents and inquiries are cool but what is more remarkable is their outlook on life. So carefree, so humble, so inspiring. I have finally realized how uptight people from the States are!
This week's activity: Kayaking/Snorkeling/Tracking Wildlife. Well, apparently the Gold Coast has gotten more rain in one day than it has in an entire month so the water wasn't too snorkeling-friendly. We still fed the fish and watched them jump to grab the bread pieces! We soon paddled to Wavebreak and South Stradbroke Islands. Best part, no sharks! It was enlightening, and that is to say the very least. We were led by Mark, quite the cheeky tourguide, and another young man who was actually of the Aboriginal Culture. We will call him "Sea Eagle" (this is what his Aboriginal name meant). After our Billie-Tea Breakfast and a bit more kayaking, we walked about South Stradboke Island, which is the world's fourth largest sand island. Anywho, during Sea Eagle's traditional welcome dance, he smeared clay (which he got from a rock himself) on our foreheads, hands, and feet.
The answer? There is just so much more to life and the best part is learning from others.
This week's activity: Kayaking/Snorkeling/Tracking Wildlife. Well, apparently the Gold Coast has gotten more rain in one day than it has in an entire month so the water wasn't too snorkeling-friendly. We still fed the fish and watched them jump to grab the bread pieces! We soon paddled to Wavebreak and South Stradbroke Islands. Best part, no sharks! It was enlightening, and that is to say the very least. We were led by Mark, quite the cheeky tourguide, and another young man who was actually of the Aboriginal Culture. We will call him "Sea Eagle" (this is what his Aboriginal name meant). After our Billie-Tea Breakfast and a bit more kayaking, we walked about South Stradboke Island, which is the world's fourth largest sand island. Anywho, during Sea Eagle's traditional welcome dance, he smeared clay (which he got from a rock himself) on our foreheads, hands, and feet.
"Your mind, Your touch, and Your journey."Imagine the power you have with just those three things. Your mind: Your imagination, your thoughts, and what have you. Your touch: you can touch lives, you can change people/things for the better (or for the worse), and be good to your land. Your journey: the tracks you lay before you...enough said. Later on in our journey, we spotted a wallaby, threw some Aboriginal weapons, and heard tales how connected the Aboriginies are to the land. Cotton trees, warriors, dolphins and their sacredness, wallaby holes, emus, messenger birds, and everlasting memories =).
The answer? There is just so much more to life and the best part is learning from others.
2 comments:
"Imagine the power you have with just those three things. Your mind: Your imagination, your thoughts, and what have you. Your touch: you can touch lives, you can change people/things for the better (or for the worse), and be good to your land. Your journey: the tracks you lay before you...enough said."
this part really....got to me. it's amazing how strong we actually are, far more than we pride ourselves to be and certainly far more than we can even comprehend. i think if everyone were to look at life with that same inspiration and courage, the world would very well be a better place (:
that being said, i'm definitely looking forward to your upcoming posts. i've got wanderlust myself and i'm so glad ozzie's been amazing for you <3
Aww Latha! Isn't that concept just beautiful!? It's crazy because before I came here, I heard nothing but negative things about the Aboriginal people but they have such an amazing and humble approach to life.
Thanks for keeping up with my thoughts =).
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