A Hammy Joy

“Unless you fill yourself up first, you have nothing to give anybody. Therefore it is imperative that you tend to you first. Attend to your joy first. People are responsible for their own joy. When you tend to your joy and do what makes you feel good, you are a joy to be around and you are a shining example to every child and every person in your life. When you are feeling joy you don’t even have to think about giving. It is a natural overflow…All your joy is on the frequency of love—the highest and most powerful frequency of all…when you love you are in complete and utter harmony with the Universe.”

-The Secret

Some of my friends in Australia have been reading and applying the words of Rhonda Byrne’s book “The Secret.” They were quoting it left and right and all around the roundabouts, so I decided I needed to investigate such inspiring material. Being my nature to be a bit critical of any book, or anything, that talks in absolutes, I have quite a few criticisms about this little self-help recipe book. However, in between it all there are gems of truth, sparking reflection, life the quote above.

There is something incredibly magnetic about a person who loves his or herself. I’m not talking about being conceited or arrogant but rather a healthy self-respect and inner knowledge of the his or her necessary uniqueness to the world. I think almost all people struggle with this. The ones who seem to not be affected are the very young and the wise (duh). Today when I read this quote, I understood it through an experience of just this morning. Little Hammish (9 months) is the happiest baby. Amidst the chaos of a sick mother, overworked father, older brothers with their own fears and needs, a new puppy, and a fresh au pair, the little guy completely “hams” out all the time. When I put him down for a nap, I started making this cooing/humming noise in my throat and the kiddo just belly laughed with such joy!!! And ya know what, I completely laughed too. I think that is a good summary of Bryne’s work, although I’ll add my own twist. Little Hammish often exists in perfect harmony with The Sacred. It flows out of him for the harmony of us all.

Speaking of joy. I had a weekend full of it, as I bonded with my Aussie mates at a water park called Jambaroo (yeah no joke). It rained on our way in and burned us on the way out! I thought maybe my “cheetah” tan from an unfortunate spray sun block incident the weekend before would be toned down but alas I still look a bit spotted, or skin tone diseased! No worries. Plenty of sun time ahead. Sorry all you States residers. Enjoy your snow angels! And the Super Bowl (Go Colts!!! That’s for Amy ;) ).

On the horizon, I have another weekend brimming full of people I care about. Andrew is here to visit! Along with Ameila and Cailey, we’re dolling up and going out! Yvonne has promised a drop in too. Then, Saturday is the declared day to celebrate Samantha’s birthday. Another night of dressing to the nines topped with the usual joviality. I’ll be traipsing all over the city and back for my people but don’t care a tinge.

Next Wednesday is Moving Day. We’re moving a couple suburbs over. Then, life will settle a bit on the work/home front. I think.

Alright, here’s my awards:

“You’re Brilliant” goes to the kids’ cousin Di Di. She’s 24 and stops in regularly to help out Jason and Judy. She’s a little bit of sunshine for everyone. The first time she popped in, I had just been thinking about how nice it would be to have someone to talk to (my age) and then there she was!!! Sweet as.

“Lame as” goes to the lady you yelled at Kreton and I that the mall was closed where we were when it wasn’t. And we were walking away from the closed area. And the gates weren’t down. And Kreton was being nice and finding me amongst the maze of closed up shops (did you know the shops close at around six in Australia…ummm yeah I couldn’t’ believe it either). Ah well. We had the best milk shakes from Max Brenner Chocolate Shop.

Contact info!!!

I want to hear your stories too!!! Here's how to get a hold of me....

Address starting Feb. 9:

22 Sentinel Ave.

Kellyville, NSW 2155

Australia

Aussie mobile number:

04 1571 4413

(calling from the U.S.??? you'll have to add international codes and drop the first zero from this number)

Email:

corjoy@bethel.edu

Facebook:

Look up Joylynn Renee Corum

Skype:

joylynnrenee

xxxx loves!

Light up, Light up!

****WARNING: I will be exploding heaps of typeface onto this first blog. I haven’t even started yet and I know it’s gonna be a book….

I’ve had brief moments of “what are you doing, Joylynn” throughout my life. I was sprawled out on the Manly Ferry on Australia day, trying very hard NOT to put my feet on the seat across from me (yes it is against the rules, yes I have gotten chastised for doing it). I had just left behind the “no shoes, no worries” of Manly and was heading into the first part of my last leg to Sydney’s western ‘burbs. All about were blue flag bedazzled Australians crazed with the excitement of celebrating their country. Now, none of my Aussie friends can tell me why January 26^th is Austalia Day. No historical significance apparently. But that in and off itself is Australia. It is a land of celebration and, what’s more, celebration for the sake of high spirits (and spirits in general) and frivolity. I, myself, nearly shouted out “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie” in response to the overly animated “cheerleader” Australians on the rival ferry but realized my American accent would call me out. I laughed out loud at my silliness, our collective silliness.

My brief moment of “freak out” had come about a week earlier, as I prepared myself to leave, yet again, the faces (and warm embraces when they let me) of all “my people” for the newest adventure. Unlike four months earlier, I’d be making this latest trip to the Down Under on my own. And I would be living in an unknown family’s home. And I would be away from the travelers’ hub bubs, so making fast food quick friends would not be happening. I live a spirited life, occasionally a brave one, but the sudden idea of having a very holey support net made me freak. Not to mention, I felt as though I was leaving a bunch of loves in a bit of lurch with my impending absence. For years I’ve designed my life to fit around the joys and sorrows of those I care about. Did I really want to miss weddings and proposals and late night girl fests and moves and birthdays and graduations and, God forbid, tragedies???

As my feet somehow made it to the seat across from me without me allowing them to, I looked up from my lovely Ann Lamot book, to see a father (grandfather?) follow a chubby toddler all about the ferry. The man is only three or so steps behind, letting the young one explore all the crannies of our vessel. He doesn’t stifle the little footsteps but he definitely doesn’t take his eyes from his precious little guy. I had noticed them earlier. The father had plopped the boy down and gave him some home packed breakfast of some sort. The two of them munched together happily. Now, the father scooped him up and began to thoroughly wipe sunblock from ear tips to chubby big toes. The little boy just sat on his lap and smiled contentedly. The thought popped into my head. THIS is the real life illustration of God being my daddy through this all. His sunblocked covered hands have been all over this latest adventure from its birth.

One Sunday in early December, I found myself feeling extremely frustrated with how stuck I felt in my current life situation. Nothing seemed right in a place that was so right before my first Australia trip. So, I started cruising an au pair website I had signed up for back in September when I first got back from Australia. Literally, hours later a family contacted me, interested in me to work for them as an au pair. A few emails later and a skype interview, I had a job halfway around the world. In less than a week. The visa took 24 hours. The plane ticket was inexpensive (as international travel goes). I would arrive in time for Australia Day. I could stay with my dear friends in L.A on my way out of the States. My beautiful cousin, who I never see nearly enough, volunteered to pick me up at LAX and treat me to dinner (along with her very impressive new diamond ring and equally impressive fiancé). Two brilliant gentlemen mates assured me they would pick me at the Sydney airport after my long weary hours of travel and safely deliver me to Manly. Another friend from my Outback workdays made room for me on her double mattress to rest for my first days back in the “Holy Land.” Um yeah. No need to freak out, ay?

I had someone following three steps behind me and, of course, three steps ahead. In 24 hours before I left, I had a sequence of fortunate events that made me just sit contentedly. I was invited to an Aussie Day BBQ. My best friend and his fiancée had me over for a breakfast of champions. Starbucks, quickly followed by outrageous telling of black listed stories to my friend’s boyfriend, thrown in with some laughing faces of my closest Sioux Fallsians, mixed together a joyous farewell brew. And as I burned the midnight lights, one kindred spirit curled up on my bed, telling me to definitely bring two pairs of high heels. My parents bestowed upon me St. Christopher, the Saint of travelers, and a prayer for safety and serendipity. The security check kept me from tears. My cell phone warned off loneliness.

I laugh and shake my head at my own worries. Why am I always amazed by how well loved I am? Once more, is that it doesn’t stop there. Oh no. It all exceeds my humanly hopes. Little moments along the way that have bolstered my strength. Travelers who become my friends and a part of my story. Residents of Australia who embrace me into their homeland. Amelia taking me dancing and us having to make a run for it when a guy was mad about her drink being spilled on him. Rescue missions for “family” in icky circumstances. Walking for 30 minutes because the bus failed to come and knowing its worth it when I see Yvonne waiting outside of Maca’s. A splendid Barbie on a super hot day. Bubz keeping me company and chuckling at my pineapple cutting skills. Christine and I talking about the wonderful world of nursing (because I failed at talking about WoW), even though she doubted my coolness after discovering my love for “Twilight.” Trying to sing with Sam for Wii Guitar Hero (“trying” is so key here). Finding a kindred moment with Riaaz. Knowing in my gut the family I live with are good people. Successfully driving on the left side of the road. Skyping at 6 a.m (with crazy hair and sleepy eyes). with best friends when I needed to just hear the voice of someone who “sees” me (Avatar reference anyone? Love it). And all of those mini stories could have their own chronicle. Wow. The meaning of “no worries.”

I put on my running shoes today and the song I started pumping my legs to had my flinging out my arms and raising my face. My ipod shuffled me to “Run” by Snow Patrol.

“Light up, light up

As if you have a choice

Even if you cannont hear my voice

I’ll be right beside you, dear”

This is my adventure, my latest moments of inspiration and intrigue. As if I had a choice.

;)

As Chris suggested, I’ll be doing a bit of a Colbert report rip off to end my blog…

“That’s Brilliant” award goes to the ginger haired kid getting his hair cut today. His red hair was cut all asymmetrical and haphazard in the Aussie style I’ve come to love. Why is that only Aussies can really pull that off?

“Lame as” award (yes there is only suppose to be one “s” there) goes to the driver that honked at me in the roundabout yesterday. You were going waaayyyyy too fast. Who thought roundabouts were a good idea anyway? Or driving on the left side of the road?

Ending to Begin Again

EPILOGUE

One of the questions people have been asking since my arrival back in the States is whether I'll be continuing my blog. It started out as a means to communicate to a vast amount of people in several areas of my life as I traveled the globe. I didn't reckon it would in fact facilitate one of my greatest personal discoveries. I want to be a writer. I enjoy telling stories. I like making people laugh at life's messes and joys. I like inspiring our human spirits. Maybe what I write will hit it big, maybe it won't. But it's my art and I have been encouraged throughout this latest adventure to take the risk. My many greyhound hours led to brainstorming what I want to pen. I have a couple of brewing ideas....until my book signing here are a few last stories and reflections from my Down Under tramping...

~Due to washer machine winds, Andrew was unable to take us on our New Zealand scenic flight. Our disappointment was overcome by a healthy dose of laughter from the kiwi comedy delight "Eagle vs. Shark." Do you like "Flight of the Concords?" Then this little outrageous movie will be your new cinematic dessert.

~We said goodbye to Andrew and Toni, flew into Sydney on a very disappointing Jet Star flight (Emirates would have never asked us to pay for snacks!), checked into our hostel, and immediately set about saying goodbye to our peeps. We went out with style, indulging in all the joys of life. People. Food. Entertainment. Sites. Emotion. Our best friends from Australia, the fabulous Frenchies Caro and Vinci, had booked their flight to Singapore at the same time as our ticket to the U.S. We packed out a taxi with our luggage and had our last meal together at the airport. As Tara and I walked away from their embrace and cheeky kisses into the Customs queues, my heart fell. Shattered. With them, at least, I knew it was only a temporary absence. However, that goodbye was the naughty kid who pushed the porcelain vase off the table. Shattered.

~To be true "shattered" was the first word that popped into my head the morning of September 21st, 2009. I had created something whole and wondrous with Tara in Australia. It had people from eclectic backgrounds and lifestyles, people who spoke English as a second language, it had places that spoke of Sacred brilliance, risks, and self discoveries. This wholeness came from an anvil and hammer refined friendship with Tara and the blossoming of a new community for me. It holds my heart. Now this "wholiness" was ending. I felt shattered. Here's the thing, though. I'm ok with shattered. Before Australia, I finally was realizing the inexplicable joy of freely giving my heart away to people. It's so easily broken but I know me. I know I'll be ok. Love is worth the shattering. Perhaps, even, love is the shattering.

~This four month adventure abroad really made me contemplate my thoughts on "community." Community is built amongst people all the time. It is a support system that liberates and nourishes. Often, I've thought of truest community coming from relationships built intentionally over long periods of time. During the trip, I also have repeatedly witnessed community springing up instantly. I was taken care of by so many and cared in return. I have found kindred spirits. Solidarity of human spirit. That is community too. I've also realized the importance of relationships in understanding myself. With Abby coming, I was reaffirmed in some aspects of my core being that I had forgotten. I needed to be reminded and freed from my mind. Our friendship is essential to me knowing who I am, as are all of the relationships I have with my closest friends and family. Humans were created to exercise who they are in relationship, to themselves, to others, and to the Sacred. Life's greatest visual aide.

~My last important reflection. I am so happy. I have finally let go of needing to be a person who progresses throughout life in a logically building manner. For too long, I've been trying to mold into what I deemed I should want...a career, a home, a spouse, 2.5 children, a dog, etc. I should start saving more money. I should get a master's. But wait I should figure out what career I want first. Ugh. I didn't understand how people just knew. It's not that I don't want to do anything. Rather, I want to do so many things! I want to be a nurse, a chaplain, a counsleor, a physical therapist, a massage therapist, a social worker, an ambassador.... I want to see the world. I'm sure I'll want to put roots down somewhere with someone someday but until I know what that looks like, I'm forging on this risky no shoulder mountain road to continue finding out who is Joylynn. As a person who passionately loves people, it is hard to constantly be leaving the people I love. But here's the thing I've found upon my homecoming. Life evolves whether I'm on board or not. Kindred spirits dance through the change.

My plans now? Rest in the decisions of others (aka sponge off my parents...wonderful people). Pay off debt. Get some jobs. Save my money. Do it all again. Seize my life. Join it with others.

My last words must go to my traveling mate....

Tara, dearest, flexing my inner self, transforming, processing, and adventuring with you has been Sacred. Have courage, Sunshine, have courage.

Making "Her"story

Our trip is winding down. Tara and I are near tears most nights as we realize that this adventure is starting its last chapter...or perhaps even the closing lines. Epilogue please? New Zealand has been a balm for our souls. We spent heaps of time with each other in the car, trying not to fall off any of the treacherous mountain roads. We went through all of our playlists, often picking songs for each other that made us shout with road weary enthusiasm or bring us down to reflective debriefing moments. From Nelson Bay, we drove (stay left, stay left!) to the Abel Tasman Forest area. It was raining and we were quite disappointed since we wanted to put on our hiking boots for once (admittedly we are a bit too posh and had only our stylish city boots to climb in but that wasn't going to deter us). Our plan B was to just drive into the area until some sort of inspiration came along and that's where our next adventure begins...

I was driving along, trying to see between the raindrops, when we turned a bend in the road. Tara pointed dramatically at the ditch and I followed her finger to behold a male backpacker with his thumb stuck high and mighty. He had a goofy grin and seemed so content to be in the drizzly Kiwi weather. In the the matter of ten seconds Tara and I had this conversation...

"Joy. Pull over."
"Tara this is exactly what our dad's told us we should never do."
"Whatever you think."
(long pause)
"I can't believe we're doing this."

I slammed on my breaks and made it over to the non-existent shoulder (there never seems to be those in New Zealand...more sheep traffic than people traffic) about fifteen feet after the backpapcker. Tara and I shove all of our luggage to one side in the backseat. Besides, the quick stop that was the second amazing feat in the last 30 seconds. We soon welcomed Paul from Paris in our little white Toyota Corrolla (fondly named "her"story...because we're making "her"story in it). Paul turned out to have a remarkable story of being born in France, growing up in Boston, and living his adult life in Paris. He fell into fashion photographer assisting and entertianed us with stories of the rich and famous. One of the most vivid tidbits of his stories involved him meeting the main guy from Nine Inch Nails in a bar by happen chance and when Paul asked him how he stayed inspired over the years and so many musician changes in the band, he replied,"Love man. What else is there to make music about." Paul was escaping a series of unfortuante events and needed sometime away. He booked a flight a day before he took off and had been backpacking around New Zealand for about a week before he flashed his goofy grin at us. We found a lovely cafe called the Naked Possum in the middle of the New Zealand wilderness, pulled up to an outside fireplace, ate homemade soup and pies, and finished it off with some flat white coffee. All in all, a very risky decision. But apparantly this time the risk paid off with a beautiful new friend.

From Abel Tasman, we went south to Franz Josef....a very long trip that brought us into some of the most stunning moutain meet shoreline scenery. We found little tourists places along the way, including seal colonies and pancake rocks. We came into Franz Josef at about eight at night and everything had shut down. We could find no place to stay except a motel that had a cabin for way way too much. But we had learned our lesson about sleeping in the car at the "Cork and the Keg" so we gulped down our bitter loss of precious funds and did the only thing we could do.....use all the resources we paid for!!! We used all the blankets, all the pillows, all the towels, all the coffee, all the hot chocolate, all the tea, all the channels of on the TV until three in the morning, all of the hot water, all the time we wanted in the bathroom, and all the heat we could absorb from the cranked heater. Take that Franz Josef. In the morning we did a glacier walk. I would tell you it was a breathtaking two hour walk but all Tara and I did was phase out and talk about men. Don't worry we took heaps of photos once we realized that there was a very large block of ice swooping down toward us.

From Franz Josef we made it to the thrilling mountain city of Queenstown. This is where Tara benevolently agreed to go on a Lord of the Rings tour. We did it the only appropriate way...on horseback! Tara even had a movie star of her horse. Trevor the Brave was used in "Prince Caspian" in the scene where Caspian is running away from the bad guys through a river. Like most movie stars, Trevor was a bit of a dunce. He kept nearly falling but Tara told me one of the nicest things about how she came to roll with the punches. "Joy. When I realized how clumsy Trevor was I stayed calm because I realized through you that clumsiness doesn't mean something bad IS going to happen but rather it NEARLY happens. Everything is ok in the end."

Also in Queenstown we learned that no matter how many Kiwi's are parked on a broken yellow line that does not mean it's ok to park there as well. We had our first criminal offence in New Zealand. Sixty dollars later and we were cleared. There goes a few Starbucks coffees.....

Also, ran into our friend from Noosa Heads, Craig. Once again, we exist in the smallest of worlds.

From Queenstown, we zoomed over to the student riot capital of Dunedin. We arrived late and the hostel lady was absolutely not impressed with us. Our roomies were a little bit more pleased. We stayed up until one in the morning playing the tried and true childhood game winner...Guess Who. Really tore up the town....but we did find our Starbucks before heading on highway 1 to Oamaru, the home of penguins. We saw one...........thus our decision to move on.....

We stopped at a cheese factory. The nice man told us about a small French style village called Akaroa on Banks Peninsula. We had fueled up with plenty of gas to make it there but we didn't count in the fact we'd be climbing the most hair bending turns up into unknown heights (it was pitch black). The fuel light started blinking on and all of the five person towns along the way had dark petroel stations. As we started our descent from the hills, Tara and I were inspired to put the car into neutral and coast to save gas. This was a quite fun activity that made us burst into nerotic stressed out laughter (our food stores also were depleting...stress eating...) until I switched the car from drive to neurtal to reverse (the "you are a hazard" sound came on!!!). Don't worry I switched it so quickly back that "her"story didn't even flinch. Just like Trevor the Brave....NEARLY catastrophe. More stress eating.

From Akaroa we made our final journey home through Lyttleton to Christchurch, where our friends Andrew and Toni picked us up from Jucy Rentals. We are living in the lap of luxury (Internet access, chef prepared dinner, and a warm place to rest our heads). Tomorrow Andrew, the pilot chef, will be taking us for an all day scenic flight over the majestic mountians, sounds, and whale waters. I reckon it will be a very good day.

Saturday we're back to home...Sydney. Then our birth home, the States. And our epilogue begins....

Kiwi Krazy

Tara and I took off for New Zealand on the eighth of September. It was a dream we both have had for so long and we decided to just go for it even though everything's getting a little tight here at the end of the trip. Well worth it...

1. In our typical haphazard manner, we had to go on a wild goose chase for a print off of our ticket out of New Zealand before we could board our plane to go there. We are flying out with a different airline and couldn't quite remember what we booked, thus our adventure began. At least we showed up 2 1/2 hours early because we knew something like this would happen.

2. We flew for the first time ever with Emirates airline. Absolutely the best airline I've ever been on. It even beat out Qantas with their ice cream treats. Get this. Before we board they have a whole range of magazines and newspapers you get to pick from to read on the airplane (and keep!...we asked). Tara and I naturally nabbed up some Vogues (I did consider getting a Sydney newspaper but knew that on holiday I would never take the time to read it). Then, we had hot towels given to us to wash our hands. Our seats reclined like true recliners, where your seat moved not just the back. We had our own individual TV screens with TV and movie options. I finally got to see the latest X-men movie! Our brunch consisted of an cheese and capsicum omelet, cheese and crackers, chocolate, roll with butter, fruit, oranged juice, coffee, and CHEESECAKE! The bathrooms were incredibly spacious (definitely enough room for two people...now I understand...hahaha). They had a full length mirror in them. I can't even fathom what first class would be like. This airline put every American line to shame. Hands down.

3. Immediately after arriving in Christchurch (one of the biggest cities on the South Island), Tara and I rented a white Toyota Corolla and took off on our Kiwi adventure. Yes that's right. I am currently driving on the left side of the road, navigating round abouts, nearly always remembering to yield to the right, and trying not to be too much of a hazard....at least when I back up their is this horrendous blaring backing up noise...Tara and I joke that it's like a neon sign "stay clear, we are a tourists." I think we're finally getting the hang of it...although there was one point where I had to shout "give way! give way! give way!" to Tara because she forgot to yield to the right as a car came spinning around the roundabout. Death look. Sorry. Hazard.

4. We ended up in the town of Kaikoura for the night. The next day we indulged in wonderful tourist fare such as a sheep sheering show, holding and feeding baby lambs, walking amongst a seal colony, and eating at a seafood BBQ shack along the road.

5. We left Kaikoura in the late afternoon for the wine country around Blenheim. We weren't too impressed with the small town, so we continued to the town of Renwick (like 20 minutes away). Tara had read about a small English style pub called the "Cork and Keg" with home brewed beer and cider. We stopped in and felt instant love for the little pub! After grabbing a New Zealand cider, we pulled up in front of the flaming fire, and a cat jumped up into our laps for a cuddle. Daisy started purring and I noticed some liquid falling on my sleeve. I told Tara, "look I'm making her drool!" Tara promptly put me straight, "Cats don't drool. That's snot." Which promptly made me deposit Daisy to the floor. We met the owners Diane and Larry. They treated us to warm company, cider, nachos, and blanket (kindnesses that bring backpackers nearly to tears...which we almost did a couple times that night). Tara and I had one of the best heart to hearts we had on the trip and soon Diane joined. She works with special needs and mentally ill patients and just had so much wisdom and encouragement to share with us. The blankets were most welcome as Tara and I decided to sleep in our car in their car park that night. It seemed like a good idea until we both were fidgeting so much and trying not to notice our bodies were numb with cold. At one point, I hit the hazard lights and in our half awake and slightly tipsy minds, we had no idea what was going on. I somewhat panicked before Tara realized it was merely that we were the hazard, as usual, and pushed them off. At 4:30 a.m. we gave up our car sleeping adventure, returned the blankets with a thank you note, and drove off to our next adventure....pumping petrol.

6. We stopped in a small sleepy town for coffee and brekky, as the sun rose and revealed the stunning landscape. Yes it is as beautiful as everyone says. Tara and I continue to drop our mouths in awe that such a place exists. It's green. It's full of hills and mountains and seemingly untouched streams and sheep and cows and incredible trees and the most impossibly windy roads that all the natives take at break neck speeds. The beautiful thing about having a car is we can make our own agenda at our own pace. At one point we decided we wanted to off road to see what the French Pass was about...about ten minutes in we realized it was a two hour drive out of our way...so we turned about...took another pic of the amazing scenery....and found a touristy "pioneer house" to visit. Mind you it is only seven in the morning at this point and we're creeping around on someone's property to see it. Didn't look too hard core. The guest book even said "better than my house!"

7. At about eight in the morning we came to our next destination, Nelson. It's one of the bigger town's at about 43, 000! We booked into the "Green Monkey" hostel and snuggled under our double bed to warm up and nap. The afternoon comprised of us walking the small mountain-esque town, window shopping, and finding a Starbucks! We're off tomorrow to do some national park hiking, perhaps even some sea kayaking. This is a gallop about the South Island trip and we have no time to really soak in any place long. Tara and I agree...this part of our adventure has been nothing but refreshing and exhilarating!

8. How are we taking pictures without our cameras??? Well we've reverted back to our childhoods. We have disposable cameras!!! We have no idea what's turning out but we're having heaps of fun capturing our New Zealand adventure.

9. I look forward to Lord of the Rings scenery and a flight with my friend Andrew from the Outback over the mountains!


A reflection:

In my final days in Sydney before leaving for New Zealand, I had begun to fill as though it was time to go back to the States. I had seen so much, created community with so many. Nothing turned out to be as expected, a mantra of our trip. It's almost humorous that just as I was gearing up to leave, visit New Zealand, and come home to figure out my next adventure abroad, I find something new. It is unexplainable and completely unexpected. It is beautiful how the actions of others perfectly combined to bring on a chance encounter, a new risk to be taken up. It would happen this way. The mantra still holds true, even in our last days. My life has been building toward a moment like this. I've been refined. It's kindred. It's instant. It's raw. It's grace. It's sacred. It gives hope. In the end it is about seizing the day, dancing joyfully in the moment, and perhaps taking the risk to not let go.....

Look out for crazy

One of the best things about traveling is creating an international community. Australia is a HUGE country, yet we are always running into people we've met again and again. Just two days ago, we were walking through the Sydney central business district and literally crossed paths with our friend Rachel from our Whitsunday trip! The night before, we ran into our friend Craig from our stay in Noosa Heads on the steps of a bar. We saw a french couple in three different cities after we said goodbye in Airlie Beach. On Fraser Island we came upon our friend Jill laying out in the sun. We saw a woman who seemed perhaps to have schizophrenia and was our roommate in Brisbane and then again in Noosa. We met up with Vinci and Caro in Townsville and will see them again tomorrow in Sydney. And the list goes on...we text our friends from the Outback and from all the places in between...we share our lives with so many. I am so blessed with this community.

Unfortunately (or fortunately) we also run across "crazy" people. Here's a couple unbelievable stories...

1. In Noosa, we met a woman who had fusia hair and was clearly chugging whiskey (she showed me her Jack Daniels bottle in her purse). She sat with us and proceeded to spin this tale that she had met a man in an Irish pub down the road and went back to his place for a "root." He had stolen her money (yet her purse was with her?), so she got him back by breaking into his hotel room and stolen his Jack bottle. She said she had climbed up a pipe and went in through the window, all while not waking his roommate. We had quite the colorful conversation about all things inappropriate before she started hitting on me. About that time (thankfully), she was kicked out by the hostel authorities. The whole way down the hill she screamed at the hostel workers. Our friend Craig had told us about how this crazy fuscia hair woman was talking to herself in the 7/11 earlier in the day. She had approached him and said she couldn't believe that a guy had stood her up! Then she showed up at our hostel! Later, we all went out dancing. Yvonne came running up to find me as I was paying to get in and she pulled me to the stage. There was the fuscia hair woman doing a drunk dance as a challenge! Eventually, she was kicked out of there too. Just not her night...

On our way to Newcastle from Sydney about a week ago, we had just arranged all of sprawling luggage on the train seats, when a guy approached us and asked us if we were ok. We said we were and then he asked again. Again, we're ok. I kind of gave him a bewildered look because he kept asking Tara if she was ok. When he turned around and saw me, he proceeded to flip me off, then laugh crazily, then said he was only kidding. He walked away. Then he walked back through the car. He introduced himself. We ignored him. He stationed himself near the door and began asking other passengers if they were ok, then freak out on them, etc. He introduced himself as "cannabis" to one guy. Explains that one. He was all over the place until he left the train a few stops down but didn't bother us after more passengers were around.

Tara and I joke about watching out for "crazy" and are fascinated by social dynamics wherever we go. We often mutter "social experiment" under our breaths. As a lover and studier of people, there is nothing like traveling.

P.S. I was just about to publish this when my friend Amelia from William Creek stuck her head in front of my computer screen and gave me a big hug!!!! The last I heard she was in Alice Springs and now we just had an extremely girly moment of hugging and chatting! Unbelievable.