I started this blog as a way for family and friends to keep up on my life overseas. It has turned out that I have enjoyed writing this blog as much as many people have enjoyed reading it. It has become almost a therapy for me. I had no intentions of continuing bonvoyoz after my journey ended, but I have come to the oh so symbolic realization that the journey never ends. LIfe is one big journey, and although trips overseas, marriage, kids, mortgages, pets, plants, and other adventures may seem like the only journeys we take, I have come to realize that everyday is a journey in and of itself. I know, I know, I sound like some sort of spiritual, pot smoking, dread wearing, patchouli loving hippie, but its true. My journey is not over, and getting back into the "real" world of grad school, work, apt, car, health insurance, etc is my current journey. Since writing has become my new therapy, I have decided to let bonvoyoz live on. It may not be as exciting as it once was, with waterfalls, temples, meeting people of every nationality, and smoking god knows what on boat trips, but it will be my therapy none the less.
So, getting back to the states was in one word, weird. I landed in LA on Monday July 20th, and was instantly reminded of why I left LA years ago. Traffic. No need to say anymore. Traffic sucks. I had an amazing time bonding with my brother, his girlfriend and his dog and cat. We went to a CD release party of a band called "billy boy on poison", a free concert in the park, got my tattoo covered up with a kick ass koi fish, and overall had a great time. I caught up with friends who still live in LA, and got 11 inches of my hair cut off and donated it to locks of love. So basically with the new tatt, and new hair, I look completely different than when i left. This is perfectly fitting, because I am a completely different person. I am completely different in all completely good ways. As I said to my friend kate, in a joking manner (sort of joking) I am wayyy cooler than when I left. I hope I don't lose my relaxing, chilled out, go with the flow, open minded, easy going attitude any time soon.
After LA, I went to San Fran for a few days, and then hit up Colorado for a family reunion. It was wonderful to see even more family. I had some great bonding sessions with my cousins, and a gorgeous hike in the rockies. I always forget how you can really feel the altitude up there. I felt like my lungs were going to collapse at one point, and then I remembered that I am so horrifically out of shape, its probably not the lack of oxygen, but rather the excess of food, and booze I have overly consumed the last year. Shit, I think I need a detox.
I finally got back to the dirty jerz about a week ago. I found an Apt my first day here, and I am pretty excited about it. I will be living with a girl named Lisa. She is a friend of a friend, and she seems pretty chill, and sweet. So lets keep our fingers crossed she is actually a neat neat chick! I start classes in a few weeks, and will be meeting my academic advisor who has so far been completely useless. Lets hope she shapes up, or maybe ill be shipping out! (Side note: I think one day I will try to write a blog with as many cliches as possible, I think I would do a phenomenal job). I have spent a lot of time with my friends in Hoboken. Its been wonderful to see familiar faces, but it is truly shocking how nothing changes. Everyone is basically doing the same thing, hanging with the same people, have the same personalities, with the same dramas. How is it possible that I have changed so much, and the people around me have changed so little. hmmm... time to contemplate... OH YEAH, its because i went on the journey of a freaking lifetime!
My journey is continuing. It may not be the same journey I set out on nine months ago, but it is sill going on, and Im still going to write and have self induced therapy. Please continue to read, hopefully I wont bore you.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
blogs lost and found
Here are two blogs I wrote, but forgot to put online. They are a bit dated now, but I figured I would share anyhow. Enjoy my lost and found blogs.
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I leave in only a few days, and I am not sure what to think about it all. It doesn’t help that I am totally PMS’ing so that throws any logical emotional response right out the window. It is Thursday today, but by the time I get this post online it will be Friday, which means in 3 days I am on my first flight to Sydney. I have decided to take the last flight out of Adelaide on Sunday night, and just stay in the airport overnight since my flight to Auckland New Zealand is at 6:10 am Monday morning. It is going to be one LONG day/s of traveling.
On Sunday last weekend my friends planned a going away surprise for me. Up until Saturday night all I knew is that I had to be outside our friend Nick and Tom’s apt at 8:45 am, and to dress warmly. Unfortunately a facebook status update reading “I can’t wait for the Barossa Valley wine tour tomorrow” spoiled the surprise. Good job Tom! No worries however, I still had an amazing time. My friend Tamara organized the whole thing, and 12 of us got on a mini bus at 9 am and took the hour or so drive up to Barossa, and went to 5 different wineries. We started the day at Jacobs Creek, then made our way to Peter Leimans, Penfolds, Wolf Blass, and ended the day at Yulumba. Great wine, great company, great laughs, great day. Thanks Mara… you made me feel like I will be missed, and you can bet I will miss you all.
This week has been comprised pretty much of just tying up loose ends here. I had to file a tax return for 2009 and 2010, buy multiple plane tix, get a rental car for LA, buy some last minute mementos etc. I still cant believe that my trip is coming to an end. I am really quite emotional about it all. I cant believe how fast the last 8 months have gone. I am not ready to leave Australia, but I guess all good things must come to an end. Life here really is quite easy, and I will most certainly be back to this side of the world sooner rather than later.
My friend Jess left for Noosa today for a family vacation, and Andrew and 3 other guys leave for Vietnam tomorrow, so it sucks that this isn’t a band-aide goodbye; quick and painless. I have to say goodbye to people in spurts. I hate goodbyes.
Anyhow, time to wrap up. I am excited to see my friends and family, yet simultaneously I am devastated about leaving. I guess having mixed emotions about all of this is only natural.
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I am writing this from the Auckland airport in New Zealand looking out an airport window onto the tarmac. Behind the gray concrete slab occupied by larger than life planes are beautiful green mountains and hills. This makes me wish I could stay longer and see New Zealand for all the beauty it has to offer. Unfortunately this go around I will have to accept that my airport view is all I can get.
I left Adelaide on Sunday night after I fairly uneventful weekend. Friday night Andrew and the boys left for Vietnam. Although it was a sad goodbye, I was proud that I didn’t shed any tears. I am 100% positive that I will see them all again, its just a matter of when. After the boys got in a cab to the airport to start their 3 week holiday, my friend Luke dropped me off back home. I packed, and relaxed and had an early night. Saturday morning I went to the last of the amateur footy games that took up most of my Saturdays since being in Adelaide. Although Andrew, and Nick were off to Vietnam and not playing, my friend Cormac and Scotty were still tearing it up on the field. Cormacs girlfriend and I went to the game, and to be honest I’m glad to know that my next few Saturdays will not be taken up by amateur Australia Rules Football. Don’t get me wrong, I have learned to like the game and enjoy watching it, but sitting outside in cold, rainy weather watching the boys be all testosteroney and hit each other trying to prove they have bigger cojones than their counterparts is something I will take a miss on for the next few weeks. I think I should win roommate of the year award.
Anyhow, Saturday night I went to Tamara and Dana’s place where we drank lots of cheap champagne, ate a delicious 4 course dinner that Mara made, and watched “Beaches”. How fitting. A few people asked if I wanted to have a “bender” of a night since it was my last weekend in Australia, but all I wanted to do was spend time with the people that I grew close to, not forget the events of a massive night with people I don’t care about.
Sunday after finishing packing, and spending 2 hours ripping open my suitcase in pursuit of my lost passport (note to self don’t pack while drinking wine). Luke came over and we watched (yes you guessed it) Footy. I think the boys in Andrews group of friends have come to respect my opinion on different situations and especially when it comes to girls. I think they appreciate that I have an outsiders perspective and will give it to them straight. This no bullshit, say it like it is, attitude has gotten me into trouble in the past, however I now think this is more of an asset than a downfall. Anyhow, Luke, Andrew, and the other guys, ask me advice on a pretty regular basis. I’m glad I was able to make my way into their little dirty boys social club, but I do think that they sometimes forgot that I was a girl, and I wasn’t actually one of the boys. This is fine by me though, I like being one of the guys, as long as I don’t keep myself in that “friend” category forever.
Anyhow, I have digressed. Tamara and Dana picked me up to drive me to the airport on Sunday night and after a sad goodbye (still held back the tears) I boarded a fairly painless flight to Sydney. My plan all along was to take the last flight to Sydney sleep in the airport over night and check in for my first leg to New Zealand at about 4 am. Well little did I know they actually close the airport down every night from 12-4am. Awesome. What now?? All the airport guards heard everyone who wants to sleep there overnight into a room near the subway entrance. When I got kicked out of my cozy corner and cattle hearded into this area I asked if it was safe, their response. “(slight giggle) umm… yeah, you are on CC TV all night”. Hmmm great. CC tv, that’ll for sure keep me safe!! (sarcasm). Oh well, I had no other options so I followed another girl into this area, and I was pleasantly surprised to find about 10 other backpackers all cozzied up on an uncomfortable airport chair. I fell asleep a few times, but didn’t get more than maybe a total of an hours rest. At 4 am we were allowed back into the airport. A quick check in, flew through security, and bam, was on my first flight to NZ. I literally got on the plane, and passed out cold. I woke up to the flight attendant giving me my vegetarian breakfast, groggy and confused. I managed to eat the veggie bfast and pass out again immediately, only to be woken again by my ears hurting because we were landing. Sweet. I love flights like that. I hope my 13 hour flight to LA is similar. Although they are playing “Confessions of a Shopaholic” so I guess I have to stay up for a bit! ☺ (Completely serious, I cant wait to watch it).
I am really sad that I am heading home. I am not ready, and the more I think about it the more I just want to stay. While attempting to sleep in the freezing noisy uncomfortable airport in Sydney I kept just thinking, “what if I stay??” well I didn’t stay, and I’m sure Ill look back in one years time crazed with grad school and working, and think, why the fuck didn’t I stay. It was so easy there. I do think if I had a “real” job with a car I would have easily stayed in Australia until my VISA expired. Oh well, I’m still young. I can (and will) come back. I will come see NZ, and not just see the tarmac with luggage carts whizzing over the concrete from terminal to plane. I will walk in the mountains that I can see in the distance, and I will re-visit the life long friends I have made. I feel like I just left yesterday, I cant believe it has been 8 months.
It is now time to board my 3rd plane in the last 12 hours. The final leg to the good ol’ US of A.
-----------------
I leave in only a few days, and I am not sure what to think about it all. It doesn’t help that I am totally PMS’ing so that throws any logical emotional response right out the window. It is Thursday today, but by the time I get this post online it will be Friday, which means in 3 days I am on my first flight to Sydney. I have decided to take the last flight out of Adelaide on Sunday night, and just stay in the airport overnight since my flight to Auckland New Zealand is at 6:10 am Monday morning. It is going to be one LONG day/s of traveling.
On Sunday last weekend my friends planned a going away surprise for me. Up until Saturday night all I knew is that I had to be outside our friend Nick and Tom’s apt at 8:45 am, and to dress warmly. Unfortunately a facebook status update reading “I can’t wait for the Barossa Valley wine tour tomorrow” spoiled the surprise. Good job Tom! No worries however, I still had an amazing time. My friend Tamara organized the whole thing, and 12 of us got on a mini bus at 9 am and took the hour or so drive up to Barossa, and went to 5 different wineries. We started the day at Jacobs Creek, then made our way to Peter Leimans, Penfolds, Wolf Blass, and ended the day at Yulumba. Great wine, great company, great laughs, great day. Thanks Mara… you made me feel like I will be missed, and you can bet I will miss you all.
This week has been comprised pretty much of just tying up loose ends here. I had to file a tax return for 2009 and 2010, buy multiple plane tix, get a rental car for LA, buy some last minute mementos etc. I still cant believe that my trip is coming to an end. I am really quite emotional about it all. I cant believe how fast the last 8 months have gone. I am not ready to leave Australia, but I guess all good things must come to an end. Life here really is quite easy, and I will most certainly be back to this side of the world sooner rather than later.
My friend Jess left for Noosa today for a family vacation, and Andrew and 3 other guys leave for Vietnam tomorrow, so it sucks that this isn’t a band-aide goodbye; quick and painless. I have to say goodbye to people in spurts. I hate goodbyes.
Anyhow, time to wrap up. I am excited to see my friends and family, yet simultaneously I am devastated about leaving. I guess having mixed emotions about all of this is only natural.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am writing this from the Auckland airport in New Zealand looking out an airport window onto the tarmac. Behind the gray concrete slab occupied by larger than life planes are beautiful green mountains and hills. This makes me wish I could stay longer and see New Zealand for all the beauty it has to offer. Unfortunately this go around I will have to accept that my airport view is all I can get.
I left Adelaide on Sunday night after I fairly uneventful weekend. Friday night Andrew and the boys left for Vietnam. Although it was a sad goodbye, I was proud that I didn’t shed any tears. I am 100% positive that I will see them all again, its just a matter of when. After the boys got in a cab to the airport to start their 3 week holiday, my friend Luke dropped me off back home. I packed, and relaxed and had an early night. Saturday morning I went to the last of the amateur footy games that took up most of my Saturdays since being in Adelaide. Although Andrew, and Nick were off to Vietnam and not playing, my friend Cormac and Scotty were still tearing it up on the field. Cormacs girlfriend and I went to the game, and to be honest I’m glad to know that my next few Saturdays will not be taken up by amateur Australia Rules Football. Don’t get me wrong, I have learned to like the game and enjoy watching it, but sitting outside in cold, rainy weather watching the boys be all testosteroney and hit each other trying to prove they have bigger cojones than their counterparts is something I will take a miss on for the next few weeks. I think I should win roommate of the year award.
Anyhow, Saturday night I went to Tamara and Dana’s place where we drank lots of cheap champagne, ate a delicious 4 course dinner that Mara made, and watched “Beaches”. How fitting. A few people asked if I wanted to have a “bender” of a night since it was my last weekend in Australia, but all I wanted to do was spend time with the people that I grew close to, not forget the events of a massive night with people I don’t care about.
Sunday after finishing packing, and spending 2 hours ripping open my suitcase in pursuit of my lost passport (note to self don’t pack while drinking wine). Luke came over and we watched (yes you guessed it) Footy. I think the boys in Andrews group of friends have come to respect my opinion on different situations and especially when it comes to girls. I think they appreciate that I have an outsiders perspective and will give it to them straight. This no bullshit, say it like it is, attitude has gotten me into trouble in the past, however I now think this is more of an asset than a downfall. Anyhow, Luke, Andrew, and the other guys, ask me advice on a pretty regular basis. I’m glad I was able to make my way into their little dirty boys social club, but I do think that they sometimes forgot that I was a girl, and I wasn’t actually one of the boys. This is fine by me though, I like being one of the guys, as long as I don’t keep myself in that “friend” category forever.
Anyhow, I have digressed. Tamara and Dana picked me up to drive me to the airport on Sunday night and after a sad goodbye (still held back the tears) I boarded a fairly painless flight to Sydney. My plan all along was to take the last flight to Sydney sleep in the airport over night and check in for my first leg to New Zealand at about 4 am. Well little did I know they actually close the airport down every night from 12-4am. Awesome. What now?? All the airport guards heard everyone who wants to sleep there overnight into a room near the subway entrance. When I got kicked out of my cozy corner and cattle hearded into this area I asked if it was safe, their response. “(slight giggle) umm… yeah, you are on CC TV all night”. Hmmm great. CC tv, that’ll for sure keep me safe!! (sarcasm). Oh well, I had no other options so I followed another girl into this area, and I was pleasantly surprised to find about 10 other backpackers all cozzied up on an uncomfortable airport chair. I fell asleep a few times, but didn’t get more than maybe a total of an hours rest. At 4 am we were allowed back into the airport. A quick check in, flew through security, and bam, was on my first flight to NZ. I literally got on the plane, and passed out cold. I woke up to the flight attendant giving me my vegetarian breakfast, groggy and confused. I managed to eat the veggie bfast and pass out again immediately, only to be woken again by my ears hurting because we were landing. Sweet. I love flights like that. I hope my 13 hour flight to LA is similar. Although they are playing “Confessions of a Shopaholic” so I guess I have to stay up for a bit! ☺ (Completely serious, I cant wait to watch it).
I am really sad that I am heading home. I am not ready, and the more I think about it the more I just want to stay. While attempting to sleep in the freezing noisy uncomfortable airport in Sydney I kept just thinking, “what if I stay??” well I didn’t stay, and I’m sure Ill look back in one years time crazed with grad school and working, and think, why the fuck didn’t I stay. It was so easy there. I do think if I had a “real” job with a car I would have easily stayed in Australia until my VISA expired. Oh well, I’m still young. I can (and will) come back. I will come see NZ, and not just see the tarmac with luggage carts whizzing over the concrete from terminal to plane. I will walk in the mountains that I can see in the distance, and I will re-visit the life long friends I have made. I feel like I just left yesterday, I cant believe it has been 8 months.
It is now time to board my 3rd plane in the last 12 hours. The final leg to the good ol’ US of A.
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