Byron Bay Week 1 Update

Well we're a week into our trip in Byron Bay. The surf has been great, the weather even greater, and the atmosphere at our hostel even greater still. The Arts Factory, as its called, is truly an amazing and unique place. I can't tell you how happy I am. Good friends and scenery make it all the more better, and I'm meeting a ton of new traveling people. Most of them are Europeans, and their friendliess and surprise at meeting Americans is refreshing to say the least. Rather than lose myself in self righteous reverie, however, I will simply accept that I'm happy and this is an experience that has truly been unforgettable. I'm running out of time on my timed internet thing so I'll have to hit you with a proper update in a week once I return to Melbourne.

Take it sleazy.

D

So much fun on my mind it's all I remember

Sorry I haven't been updating at all, mom. I know I'm bad about calling as well, but you haven't figured out a way to call me so I don't feel so bad. I am calling you now...

In other news I bought an authentic Australian Crocodile Dundee hat at the QVM. I'm a tool, I know...but I'm gonna need some serious sun protection for two weeks in the gold coast. I'm about 500 words from completing my Terrorism essay and it's no sweat seeing as 200 words alone are a conclusion.

The past week was pretty solid. We had the MUSEX booze cruise, which featured a ton of drinking at an open bar and pizza whilst floating down the Yarra river. I can't say I recall the finer details but a great time was had by all and I found out I was attending the day of, so I threw together a Mad Hatter outfit as quickly as I could. It turned out looking slightly like Willy Wonka but whatever. Here's a shot (from left) of Castille, Miranda, myself, and Christina.
Thursday and the weekend continued and I spent all of my time either writing papers, blowing off steam with the guys around the village, or going to Bimbo's on Brunswick to get the $4 pizza deals. Probably my favorite place to eat here, certainly the cheapest, and I vow to try every pizza on the menu before I leave. I've got two months and I'm well into the menu so I think I can make that happen.

On Sunday Emmi was nice enough to cook for me and she cooked me a traditional Scandinavian combo, meatballs with some sort of amazing sauce and mashed potatoes. I wasn't sure how I'd like meatballs and mashed potatoes together regardless of the fact that I like both but I really enjoyed it. I'm going to have her make it again, but first I'm going to see how she likes my fettuccine Alfredo with shrimp...that's right I've still got that Ace up my sleeve. She even brought two cupcakes for dessert. What a sweetheart. For you, mom, here is a picture of us that night. Notice neither of us are smiling because we don't really even like each other that much...


...Okay so maybe I'm kidding.






I'm no longer able to remain warm with my own body heat. It's becoming a problem. I'm going to have to start doing work during the days and packing my stuff for class when I spend the night elsewhere (Unilodge, which is actually closer to campus, anyway), so that I can make it to class in time. Whatever.

Tomorrow I'm off to the Gold Coast-Byron Bay and Surfer's Paradise-for the next two weeks. I am so fucking excited!!!! Tonight is the last Taco Tuesday for a while, and the last of September, so it's gonna be epic. HUGE things in Room 2 tonight. I'd like to take this time to give a shoutout to my roommate, Ben Freeman. Lots of love for the guy for being a phenomenal dude and a stand up roommate. Cheers to you.

I'll hit you with an update when I return. Peace E-Z.

D Rose

River Picture

The Yarra just off of Swanston St. Beautiful Saturday afternoon September 5th, 2009. If only I could hold this moment, kept away from everyone else...

The Good, the True, the Pure, the Beautiful

This week may have been the best yet. On Tuesday I had my American Psycho presentation. Three of us were presenting so we had to keep it to five minutes. Since I'd prepared a fifteen minute presentation I had no problem talking quickly and succinctly and made my points before the class knew what hit them. The tutor said I did great and proceeded to ask me a few questions about America, Neoliberalism, and how I like the states. I think they just liked my American accent, but at any rate I'll take what I can get. That's one major assignment done with, and I'm nearly certain I got a high mark.

Wednesday was great since I spent the evening at a park with a special someone. Afterward we went to my room to watch The Simpsons and other stupid shows until the time came for me to walk her home.

Wednesday faded into Thursday and I had what would be one of the greatest days I've had in quite some time. I'll keep the details to a minimum on that but I finished my Australia Now essay and had a great night, and made it in bed early enough to ensure a good surf day on Friday.

Friday we went out to Torquay. The surf was perfect! Great sets, small waves, clean breaks, and light rain. Here's a shot of the northern shoreline. If you paddle out just south of the rocks you can get behind the waves and the current will carry you down the shoreline. For a few of the sets we had a good five to ten minute intermission between them. During the calms, I sat there in reverie floating on my board thinking about how lucky I was to be here in Australia, spending Fridays surfing every week, battling the beautiful sapphire waves the ocean breathed into me, feeling the salty spray of seawater on my face and tasting it on my lips. I thought back to where it all began in my hometown. I never dreamed I'd be down here so far from what was once my entire life as I knew it, living at the edge of the earth before I saw a day past two decades. I think a bit harder and realize it's all thanks to my parents. They always valued my education over anything. At the time I hated it-towards the end of high school at the Albuquerque Academy I couldn't have been more apathetic at times, but I realize now that this is where it all pays off. This is what I put the hard work and long hours in for-so that I could transcend the small world most are left within, for better or for worse. So I thank you, mom and dad, for showing me the path to the good, the true, the pure, and the beautiful. I'm trying more and more to find a deeper meaning in my life and not conform to the thinking plaguing most Americans that leads them to believe that acquiring capital is the only way to be happy. Sometimes it's like a sick joke-the better educated you are the more you look for in your life. The more it takes to make you happy. Money isn't enough-better yet, money isn't even what I want, it's no longer an end or a goal. The more philosophy I dig up and the more I take from great minds the more I learn about the world around me. I'm trying to figure out how to find beauty and harmony in everything I do, with every being I interact with, and I feel as though living in a city as international as Melbourne, by befriending European and Asian peers, by dating and becoming more close to a Scandinavian girl than I ever imagined I would, that I'm on the right path. Each day I learn more and meet great new people and I have so much more to learn but I couldn't have come close to where I am now if I didn't have your support. Thanks for everything; you know how much this means.


Today is Sunday and we went to the Queen Vic Market to buy some foodstuffs. I gotta say it is still probably the greatest place ever. Imagine a mixture between flea markets, live animal sales, the largest selection of farmer's produce, a butcher shop, and a fish market. Above see Chris surveying the scene at a fruits stand. Below is the indoor meat section, where they sell bascially any cut of meat from any animal you could want by the kilo. If you go at the right time they will cut the prices drastically, and sometimes you can even haggle. It's awesome.

Finally here's a shot of me at the Torquay surf academy where they let us borrow the lockers, change, and use the showers for free. Great guys. Here I am with my new girlfriend proving that I'm still young at heart and quite boyish underneath everything. And no, mom, this isn't the board I bought, so don't worry...



I went to the river yesterday (Saturday) with Emmi and I'll throw up a picture or two in the next update. She has my camera right now (I left it in her purse), so until I get that back I can't hope to post you any pictures. Until next time my friends.
DMR

Life happens fast

Okay I'm sick of thinking and talking about the party camp, but I promised some pictures so let's make this quick. Above you see Kenny (so funny when people hear him talk and his thick Irish accent slaps them in the face), Zander, Jonathan from Sweden, myself, and Pat. We brought a taste of American fun to the camp with the game wizard staffs, where you drink beer and each one you finish you save and tape to the previously consumed beers. Over time, it lengthens into a staff and once that staff is taller than you are you can cast spells on the non wizards and make them do your bidding. In this particular case once we all hit wizard status we destroyed our staffs and sang songs around the campfire. Great fun.


The week carried on as normal, although I have to start thinking about assignments which is no fun at all really. Wednesday night a drunken someone came knocking at my door demanding kisses, but other than that I can't say anything remarkable happened. Thursday even sucked, and Terrorism lecture was so boring/useless I left halfway through to finish my reading for the Tutorial I had in a few hours. The Swedes breathed new life into my week by throwing the aptly dubbed "Inga Party," where they played a number of songs repeatedly, namely Inga from Sweden's songs. Inga from Sweden is a presumably Swedish girl who sings original pop songs in English with an exaggerated Swedish accent. Her electronic beats and simple seductive lyrics are extremely catchy, so beware. Mom, show this link to CJ-I think he would appreciate it. Her XXXmas isn't pornographic, although the name might imply that it is. http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=25069436


Friday we went surfing and Zander and I had a great day. Caught some good 3-4 foot waves and rode three or four in clean. Just phenomenal. Zander had to head back early to make a dinner date so Chris and I stayed out a bit longer, only to get completely pummeled by 6 to 8 foot waves. Way out of our league. Sometimes it's good to get your ass kicked, though. Reminds you to respect the ocean and her majestic power. A guy let us shower off and store our stuff in a locker for free and his dog was named Jack, which made me nostalgic for the times I'd gone swimming with my own dog Jack. The guy gave us some pointers on how to control our surfing and for that critical moment with the bigger waves that I'm eager to try. After hitting go to noodle, we made our way back.

My camera broke so I bought a new one at Target. It's a Samsung 10.2 MP with a zoom and the works you would want from a point and shoot cam. I'm looking into getting a casing for it and hopefully I can use it as my personal camera for underwater diving. We'll see. Here are some shots of the RMIT village I took while dicking around on it.


Here's the fountain. I have a waking view of it and its the symbolic center of the village, although due to the weather nobody really hangs out there. Maybe once spring hits. This is the view from my balcony, which is really a patio since I have a ground floor room. Below is the pool area. I haven't used it yet but the rumor is that it's heated. Come Spring time this will be essential, although I'm sure it will be overrun. Sadly it closes during night so raging pool parties will have to be kept to afternoons, which is perhaps for the best.



On the agenda for this week is making a case for the novel and film American Psycho as a satire on Reagan's America, which I am more than prepared to do after reading the book and studying American politics in depth. I also have to write a 1500 word essay for Australia Now on the Bra Boys surf/gang documentary I watched and incorporate Australian cultural themes into it. I started yesterday and have two sources and 600 words, so no worries on that. Otherwise I have the normal shitload of reading, so I have to keep on keepin on. Sadly my grades do transfer over so A's are a must if I want a good Law School to pick me up in the future. Thus far it's been mostly play and no work, so nose to the grindstone is probably a mode I should work myself back into. Catch up with y'all next week.

I can't say why...

...but I have this insatiable urge to light firecrackers off. Better yet, I'd love to get some with the waterproof fuses and throw them into a pond and watch them slowly sink out of sight, then moments later explode and with a flash and the smallest pop, dampened by the water, fade into nothingness.

The weather here is pissing me off. One minute it's nice the next it's terrible.

Today everyone was drinking for prosh week but I honestly don't have the time for that shit. I've got to read the entire American Psycho book, prepare an oral presentation and lead the class in it, and then write 1500 word essays for two classes for back to back incoming Fridays.

I can't bring myself to focus enough to complete my readings for tomorrow. I'll have to do them during the day. Every now and again I get carried aloft on daydreams I can't escape. I need to backpack through Tasmania. I need to find a cheap flight to Sydney. I could care less about Australian culture as an academic study or the larger, more profound consequences of the pernicious effects of neo liberalism in the modern world right now. I want to dive again, to identify species of marine life, and to know that what I'm doing resonates with who I am and what I believe in. The academic life is so detached from reality it sickens me at times. I need to know that what I'm studying isn't just filling my head with hot air, useless information, or more trivial information that I'll only value or hold onto (for that matter) until the next exam or paper is written.

Now if you'll excuse me there's a bottle of vodka I pocketed from the MUSEX camp in my freezer with my name on it.

The MUSEX Party Camp

Words can't really do justice to the time spent at camp MUSEX, so I won't try to crystalize my experience or the miscellany of different feelings I have after the weekend. I can. however, list some of my personal highlights (if only to help myself remember the smaller details for the years to come).

I especially liked the bus ride over-they did it lightning style so we had to constantly change seats and sit next to different people while drinking goon and hoping our bladders didn't burst. I met some great new people and somehow, with a shot of random luck, I wound up sitting next to the special birthday girl herself. Fortune favors lovers at opportune times I suppose. We were both very jovial and happy and would sneak a few kisses in before arriving at our destination a few minutes later.


Strangely enough, on the bus ride back four of us "vagrants" would sit on the back of the bus, kill two boxes of goon, and I would have no choice but to break an empty bag open with my teeth, cover myself with my North Face shell and piss in the empty goon bag. I would later drop it off when we took an official pee break alongside the road.

The first night was fun-the Toga party. I realized how spoiled I am hailing from California-all the girls there are fucking experts at making togas. I mean seriously I've been to at least a dozen of those damn parties and the only two I've gone to here I've had to stumble my way through making my own toga, only to have it come undone and eventually fall off. I wasn't in the highly populated cabin which made me sad but the birthday girl moved her stuff to share a bed with me and we got to keep each other warm throughout both nights. Late night talks sure get into strange realms after firewater has warmed up your veins and altered your brain chemistry.

Did I mention the birthday girl kept falling down? One time while she was walking with me, hurting her ankle pretty bad. Poor thing.

Saturday was....well I'll just say it was amazing. Four of us went on a country hike throughout the West Gippsland countryside. The trees were in bloom with yellow flowers and contrasted with the natural greens of the grass and leaves alongside the tree's bark and the crystal clear sky I must admit I haven't seen anything so beautiful since I was in Colorado early last summer (still this summer in the N. Hemi). After that we got back to drinking and played wizard staffs. More on that soon when I can steal some pictures friends took...The night wrapped up well with a community bonfire and drunken singing-mostly between the American and Swedish males, though sometimes the larger crowd would join in. Towards the end of what would be my night one of the MUSEX (musex is the club that made it all possible) guys approached me and asked if I liked the girl standing across from me on the other side of the fire. In the orange amberglow of the fire I had to admit she was pretty and she seemed a bit older and was Australian-two definite pluses. Even so, I told myself I was going to be a good boy and focus on the one beautiful girl I already had waiting asleep in our bed for me and I respectfully declined. As long as I maintain presence of mind, even when trashed, I can keep things under control. Plus let's face it-I have a lot to lose and throwing it away on a single thrill isn't what I'm trying to do. I wouldn't regret my decision-I shared one of the warmest nights and greatest talks I've had in quite some time....perhaps in forever...and the night came to a close.


Sunday we drank.

I mean DRANK. We killed a bunch of goon on the bus ride back, hit up Hungry Jack's (the Australian Burger King), and went to see Inglorious Basterds. Quite the film, I must admit.


Unfortunately I spent too much time drinking to buy food so I had to eat noodles and butter for dinner for lack of anything else. OH and I left a bunch of shit at the camp so I have to replace things like contact solution, a towel, shave gel, etc. These things are replaceable but the cost adds up quick, so I'll have to get on being more responsible.

I'll add more pictures soon I promise. Until then keep it real...and don't believe the hype; Tupac lives.