Globetrotter Journeys

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!

Now, I’ve uploaded all the photos to my server so, enjoy looking at the fun times! For all the friends that I made, any requests for higher res photos for print are welcome. Thanks to all of you who made my trip so much fun! Click here and go to Whitsundays under Australia.