Category: Australia

Tonight, I went with my friend Tom to the Missy Higgins and Ben Lee concert over in Centennial Park–it was an evening ‘under the stars’. We brought some food with us and had a great time watching the great show. It was really great. It’s amazing how talented people can be, and the scarier thought, is that they’re so talented and I’m starting to see that these people are younger than me…

Today was the last day of my lecture classes, and it really couldn’t have ended any better. I was dressed in my suit for our final presentation for my Business Communications class–our topic: The Bias against/for Bush regarding the Katrina Disaster. My Cross Cultural Management class professor, Prem, is this amazing Indian woman from South Africa. We were the first group to present early on in the semester and we set a high standard (per Prem’s comments) and we got High Distinction on our presentation mark–the highest in the class. So that set me for a good feeling for the exams. Then, Sneha, a Gujarati friend of mine made me all sorts of Indian food because she knew I loved India so much–so I had that for dinner–It was EXCELLENT! She’ll be going back to India for the summer. Then, in Business Communications, our group went first and did a great presentation, so I finished all my classes with a bang. Just finish exams and then I’m off to see Rebecca in Hawaii!!

My friend Nikola sent me a frightening link the other day–the Colour Quiz. After quickly selecting the colours right when I looked at them (not giving any thought, as I think these quizes are a little lame), out came the freakishly accurate self-analysis:

Needs warm companionship, but is intolerant of anything short of special consideration from those close to him. If this is not forthcoming, is liable to shut himself away from them.

Feels that life has far more to offer and that there are still important things to be achieved–that life must be experienced to the fullest. As a result, he pursues his objectives with a fierce intensity that will not let go of things. Becomes deeply involved and runs the risk of being unable to view things with sufficient objectivity, or calmly enough; is therefore in danger of becoming agitated and of exhausting his nervous energy. Cannot leave things alone and feels he can only be at peace when he has finally reached his goal.

The situation is preventing him from establishing himself, but he feels he must make the best of things as they are.
Very exacting in the standards he applies to his choice of a partner and seeking a rather unrealistic perfection in his sex life.
Preoccupied with things of an intensely exciting nature, whether erotically stimulating or otherwise. Wants to be regarded as an exciting and interesting personality with an altogether charming and impressive influence on others. Uses tactics skillfully so as to avoid endangering his chances of success or undermining others’ confidence in himself.

The fear that he might be prevented from achieving the things he wants leads him to play his part with an urgent and hectic intensity.

Today, I worked at the cafe at the Paddington Markets–I got there at 10am and met the other workers who were tons of fun! I learned the cash register and learned about all the different cafe type foods and the coffees. I did pretty well if I say so myself, but I did make a funny mistake. As a non-drinker of coffee, all the words of the different coffees and such didn’t make much sense to me–like Flat white, long black etc.. One womany came and asked if we served ‘Oyst’ coffee, to which I thought it was a brand name, turned and asked if we served ‘Oys’ coffee.. Everyone started cracking up as it was just a woman asking for ‘Iced’ Coffee. Anyhow, the afternoon went by fast, and I made some good cash, so I’m hoping I’ll work again this Saturday to help alleviate the cost of my Halloween party this Saturday night! Last week of classes here I come!!

Tonight I headed over to North Sydney to Kirribilli Avenue, the street that faces the Harbour from the north side, also where good ol’ John Howard lives. (AUS PM). Rie was throwing a soba party and so I arrived around 6 to an amazing spread of fresh foods, vegetables, and Paula’s AMAZING caramel brownie dessert. Most everyone was from a musical background at the party, so I was a little out of the loop, but there were some randoms there like myself as well. I met some really nice people. The view, as you can see from the picture on the right, was incredible, and you can’t stop looking at the city–I left with Brendon, as he was going to the cross as well, and had quite an interesting train ride home with him–I believe we met about fifteen people on our way home! LOL.

Tonight, as I was surfing for pictures of a characature of Bush’s face, I stumbled across the Bushism site. What’s a Bushism you might ask? Well, go to Wikipedia and find out! The term is so widespread that USA Today even used it in their article titled: New ‘Bushism’ born at bill signing — where they write, “President Bush offered up a new entry for his catalog of “Bushisms” on Thursday, declaring that his administration will “never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people.” If you go to a site like this, you’ll love how time simply flies by as you read what the president of the most powerful nation in the world is quoted saying–in his native tongue! I also found a site that has all the Bushisms translated in Japanese–this for me was hilarious, as the way they explain why his sentences are oh so wrong kept me laughing out loud for hours. It’s fun for all ages, so go ahead and try it!

I can’t believe that I am pushing into finals week soon! I have finished my intensive Brand Management course, though there is still a lot of individual and group work required for the grade. This month has been the most stressful month as all the group work and such, as groups tend to work, wait until the last minute. Two of my groups have been horrible to work with, but I’ve also made some really good friends from some of them as well. So, I guess it all evens out. Next semester I will be a little more careful of where I sit the first day! I have finals on Nov 10th, 15th, and 17th, so I will be studying hard for the beginning of November. Hawaii won’t be here soon enough! I can’t wait to have the coursework and grade behind me and know that I did ok.

Tonight I started my first night of tutoring two Japanese children in English. I took the train to North Sydney, which is such a fantastic ride–the train goes across the Harbour Bridge and you see beautiful Sydney, the Opera House perched out on the waterfront, Luna Park… it’s great. Once the mom opened the front door, I started to speak in Japanese, and the mom whispered, no Japanese! Then the girl walked by and in Japanese said, ‘he can speak Japanese!’ So, we then convinced her I couldn’t because I would make a blank stare throughout the chat about me not being able to speak and eventually she believed me. The two girls were nice and could understand English pretty well. It was funny though, because when they don’t understand, they whisper to each other in Japanese saying, ‘does he mean such and such?’ and I have to act like I can’t understand them. It’s funny in my mind. Anyhow, I’m glad I got a couple of students, and hopefully this will lead to more.

Lately I’ve been having to do a lot of research for a Business Communications class about bias in the media–surrounding natural/national disasters. As I was reading this article about Pakistan’s latest earthquake tragedy, I just wonder how long the US can keep sending ‘cash’ to aide other countries before we just run out of our own. And, I couldn’t help but laugh when Bush is quoted saying that many Americans will “be asking for God’s blessings on the people of Pakistan.” How would Americans react if when the Hurricane Katrina took out New Orleans, that we received blessings from Allah via the people in Pakistan. What ever happened to the separation of church and state, where Bush should be saying, we will pray for the people in Pakistan, instead of specifying that only the Christian Americans will be asking for blessings–while ignoring all the other denomiations within US borders that are sending their blessings as well.

So during class today, we were watching a presentation by a fellow classmate named Dan. Dan started talking about a brand of rowing boats because he did rowing a while back. As he started talking about the prices and such, it seemed like he was pretty good. So at the end of the presentation, the teacher asked, so are you any good? He said, well yah, I guess so, I have a couple of silver medals from the Olympics. We all clapped and were pretty impressed that here, sitting amongst us in Brand Management, was a 2000 Sydney Olympics Silver Medalist!