Now, although it is a while off, I am just too excited about this - at JCU you can choose to study abroad for one or two semesters. As a marine biologist in the making, naturally, I was going to take advantage of this opportunity (and the fact I am addicted to travel and adventure may also have something to do with it :P). One of the Universities that students can exchange with, is San Francisco De Quito, in Ecuador. And the majority of the exchange is spent - you guessed it - on the Galapagos Islands!!!! I have already submitted my application and have been accepted! So while it is still a fair way off, as I am not going on exchange until first semester of my third year, I am just too excited!!! Following in the footsteps of Darwin, I will be privileged to live there for a few months and see one of the true, and slowly disappearing, wonders of the natural world!!! Does the dance!
So then, I am happy to announce that my blog will once again be privy to the travel adventures that are sure to come, and that once again I will be off, to see another little corner of the Earth :D
On another note, exams and assignments SUCK!
that is all
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
further ramblings
On an exceptionally happy note, I come off the crutches this week, which brings me great happiness! I am so excited, I am practically bouncing around on my crutches - very ready to come off them and start walking again, I am pretty sure the fracture has healed well and I am on the final stretch on the road of recovery - so party at my place! not really, I was joking
Uni is so hectic at the moment, everywhere I look I either have an essay, a report, a practical test, an exam or just general study and catching up on notes - there are not enough hours in the day. That being said, you may say why am I blogging if I am so busy. Well, I need a break. so there. But it has definitely hit that part of the semester where it's all hell breaking loose. And exams are not that far away at all, about a month now until the carnage begins, so brace yourselves as I am positive that I will be ranting an raving about exams.
Apart from that, life is good. I haven't had any mind blowing epiphanies lately, so i am afraid I am lacking in any sort of wisdom-giving this fine evening. Except to say that we humans are an interesting and complicated species. I mean, take a moment to look around you - watch interactions, observe people around you. I am not saying, "go forth and stalk", that is definitely not cool. But take a moment to look at the way we interact in our world, with each other and with other things that inhabit this crazy but beautiful place. And then look at our potential, both for creation and destruction. Sometimes I think, while we have both, we're tipping a little more towards the destruction side. that being said, we must be careful in our pursuit of creation and fixing our wrongs, for if they are done in the wrong way, it could cause even further destruction. There are many things going on around the world, such as the plans to place 60 dams along the Amazon river - it's in situations like those where I get upset with our species. Our greed can sometimes be seen to drive some of us more than others, and without any thought for consequence, we do things to benefit us. We don't think of the repercussions further down the line, whateve works here and now, we choose. Now I am not all doom and gloom, there are many who do not show these characteristics, but unfortunately the majority of people that do, are in some sort of position of influence and power. It has been said that the world will be a much better plae when the love of power is replaced by the power of love. We all have goodness within us, I am not one to believe that some people are inherently evil - everyone has some spark, not matter how small of crushed it may be - and people need to make sure that they keep stoking the flames, not allowing these sparks of goodness to be smothered by the muck of greed. Now, I am a realist, but at the same time an idealist. I know that we will never all agree - there are 6 billion of us here - for everyone of us to agree would be nothing short of a miracle. But it is our diversity, our opinions, that give such joy to life, the joy of pursuing knowledge, our curiousity - all of these things make the world that much more interesting. I mean, let's face it, if we were all the same, well, it would be pretty boring! God was wise in His plans and has given us all wonderful minds that are inquisitive and seeking.
Not sure where I was going with that. but there is my little philosophical squirt for the evening, even though I said I didn't have anything - my bad. Well, it's not really much, just ramblings. But if you've been reading my blog from the beginning, well, then you'll definitely be used to the bizarre things I blurt out.
Cheerio
Uni is so hectic at the moment, everywhere I look I either have an essay, a report, a practical test, an exam or just general study and catching up on notes - there are not enough hours in the day. That being said, you may say why am I blogging if I am so busy. Well, I need a break. so there. But it has definitely hit that part of the semester where it's all hell breaking loose. And exams are not that far away at all, about a month now until the carnage begins, so brace yourselves as I am positive that I will be ranting an raving about exams.
Apart from that, life is good. I haven't had any mind blowing epiphanies lately, so i am afraid I am lacking in any sort of wisdom-giving this fine evening. Except to say that we humans are an interesting and complicated species. I mean, take a moment to look around you - watch interactions, observe people around you. I am not saying, "go forth and stalk", that is definitely not cool. But take a moment to look at the way we interact in our world, with each other and with other things that inhabit this crazy but beautiful place. And then look at our potential, both for creation and destruction. Sometimes I think, while we have both, we're tipping a little more towards the destruction side. that being said, we must be careful in our pursuit of creation and fixing our wrongs, for if they are done in the wrong way, it could cause even further destruction. There are many things going on around the world, such as the plans to place 60 dams along the Amazon river - it's in situations like those where I get upset with our species. Our greed can sometimes be seen to drive some of us more than others, and without any thought for consequence, we do things to benefit us. We don't think of the repercussions further down the line, whateve works here and now, we choose. Now I am not all doom and gloom, there are many who do not show these characteristics, but unfortunately the majority of people that do, are in some sort of position of influence and power. It has been said that the world will be a much better plae when the love of power is replaced by the power of love. We all have goodness within us, I am not one to believe that some people are inherently evil - everyone has some spark, not matter how small of crushed it may be - and people need to make sure that they keep stoking the flames, not allowing these sparks of goodness to be smothered by the muck of greed. Now, I am a realist, but at the same time an idealist. I know that we will never all agree - there are 6 billion of us here - for everyone of us to agree would be nothing short of a miracle. But it is our diversity, our opinions, that give such joy to life, the joy of pursuing knowledge, our curiousity - all of these things make the world that much more interesting. I mean, let's face it, if we were all the same, well, it would be pretty boring! God was wise in His plans and has given us all wonderful minds that are inquisitive and seeking.
Not sure where I was going with that. but there is my little philosophical squirt for the evening, even though I said I didn't have anything - my bad. Well, it's not really much, just ramblings. But if you've been reading my blog from the beginning, well, then you'll definitely be used to the bizarre things I blurt out.
Cheerio
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
grades
What is it that drives people to excellence? What is it that drives a uni student to the brink of insanity in pursuit of those elusive grades of D and HD? Why is it so many of us need to be the best? I am one of these students, who is not happy unless the marks are phenomenal. A wise woman - my mother - told me to not put so much pressure on myself, and yet here I am, after receiving one bad mark, and feeling so down about it. And I started thinking about what it is that gets us here in the first place. So many other people I know are like me....I'm not saying it's bad, but maybe we do put too much pressure on ourselves?
But even as I make this admission (shock horror) I know I can be fairly hypocritical and while telling people that it is ok to not get amazing marks all the time, I will die a little inside when it happens. And I know I will go right back to expecting amazing marks from myself, even if I have had time off uni, or for any other reason.
So it begs the question - why? Where does this insufferable need for excellence come from? You might think I wasn't hugged enough as a child or something like that, but I was, and I was always encouraged and had a very supporting family - so where does this psycopathic need for a good mark come from???
Are we trying to show that we are the best, that we can handle anything thrown at us?
Is it some attempt to prove ourselves to others? Or is it trying to prove ourselves - to us?
And even when we say "it's ok, there is only improving from here on, and the only place we can go from here is up.." well.....do we ever end up believing it? I am not so sure.
We'll help our friends, tell them it is ok, it is just onebad grade, but do they, and do we, even believe it in our heads? Are we to the point in our society where being the best, getting the best grades is the be-all-and-end-all of university?
Now, I am not trying to sound like some depressed bum, but today it just really got me thinking about why so many of us are like this, and desperately desire what we term the be 'the good marks'.
Food for thought.
But even as I make this admission (shock horror) I know I can be fairly hypocritical and while telling people that it is ok to not get amazing marks all the time, I will die a little inside when it happens. And I know I will go right back to expecting amazing marks from myself, even if I have had time off uni, or for any other reason.
So it begs the question - why? Where does this insufferable need for excellence come from? You might think I wasn't hugged enough as a child or something like that, but I was, and I was always encouraged and had a very supporting family - so where does this psycopathic need for a good mark come from???
Are we trying to show that we are the best, that we can handle anything thrown at us?
Is it some attempt to prove ourselves to others? Or is it trying to prove ourselves - to us?
And even when we say "it's ok, there is only improving from here on, and the only place we can go from here is up.." well.....do we ever end up believing it? I am not so sure.
We'll help our friends, tell them it is ok, it is just onebad grade, but do they, and do we, even believe it in our heads? Are we to the point in our society where being the best, getting the best grades is the be-all-and-end-all of university?
Now, I am not trying to sound like some depressed bum, but today it just really got me thinking about why so many of us are like this, and desperately desire what we term the be 'the good marks'.
Food for thought.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
One of my friends shared this image with me - well, needless to say, such logic must be passed around. It sometimes reminds me of being a student, how we're always expected to think outside the quadrilateral parallelogram in which we live our lives - well, I would love to see the face of a professor if you answered with something along these lines :P
Nah, my professors are awesome .. but still......I wonder if such a smart alec comment would work well in an exam...... kidding
tales from the North
well well well.....we meet again, on the field of blogging. It has been a rather long time since I have done this - so forgive me, I am a tad rusty. It has been over a year now since my trip to Tanzania - this time last year, I was wandering around France and about to head off to Finland.....sometimes I look back on that trip and wonder how on earth I actually managed it. but it was an awesome experience. I have now enterred the new awesome experience of my life - university!
ENTER DRAMATIC MUSIC
Now now, no need to be so melodramatic- currently, it is not that different to my senior years at school....IB......shudders.....
Moving on - so, I successfully manouvered myself through first semester and am currently enjoying my second semester at uni. This year has been full of surprises for me - I think karma was after me from last year - because I had such amazing luck with my travels last year, this year was time for a bit of change. At the end of last year, in a foolhardy move, I managed to (what we believed at the time) sprain my ankle...quite severely....ending with me on crutches for 9 weeks, seeing doctors and a surgeon and then extensive physio. So, i though, sweet, road to recovery......wrong! lady luck had another idea. While down for the mid year break, I decided to have it looked at again as it was still sore and stiff and just alround annoying. So after multiple scans, and once I am back at uni, I receive a call.. on a monday morning....something like this
hello is this annie?
*looks at watch, 8:30 am....do I want to be Annie at this time of morning?* Yes, it is?
jolly good. yeah, look, the doctor has seen your scans, you need surgery... can you come in on wednesday?
.....I'm in Queensland.....
...Oh
*awkward turtle moment*
so anyway, after some very quick planning, I managed to get myself down for the surgery and all was hunky dory. surgery.....such a strange word.....and the gassy stuff, knocks you right out - literally! and keeps you rather out of it after the surgery...especially when they give you morphine...... :P
So currently still on crutches and hobbling around, i will be able to start to learn to walk again in just under a month, which is very exciting for me
On another note, uni in general - awesome :D college is amazing, I have made some of the most wonderfully awesome friends here - even found my doppleganger, it is insane!!!! she is awesome and every day I am reminded how lucky I am to have so many wonderful people that comprise my college/uni family. Life is truly good!
Uni work is pretty good, and I am enjoying my subjects - especially because I only had to do chemistry in first semester...now, don't go all hatin on me, it is a very interesting subject and I am sure if....certain things were different, I would have enjoyed it and appreciated it a lot more, but as I did not to chem in highschool, and only did prepchem for a few weeks before uni, being thrown in the deep end in a subject you have only just started understanding ... well, it can suck and potentially lead to a deteste of said subject. That being said, i did enjoy knowing about how things work - just not the whole "I'm assessing you so you better do well or else" sort of ..... pressure. But i had my awesome doppleganger and a plethora of other friends to help me through.
What else....what else......we have had a cat explosion at home, have I mentioned this? well, we went from one cat to three last year, and then this year y father found another abandoned kitten. so now, we're part way to becoming the crazy old cat people with 4 cats in the house. but it is fun.
Living away from home has its perks but it also has its cons. I do miss home quite a bit, and the comforts of home, like a hug from mum, or cuddling the cats. but again, I am really enjoying the uni experience.
And considering I have uni tomorrow, I suppose I should be a responsible student and go sleep....or should I????? my sleep patterns suck right now, not going to lie :P
anywho, that is a short update from me, hopefully I will be back on my blog more often, so expect some very random ramblings in the coming months :D
cheers!
Annie
ENTER DRAMATIC MUSIC
Now now, no need to be so melodramatic- currently, it is not that different to my senior years at school....IB......shudders.....
Moving on - so, I successfully manouvered myself through first semester and am currently enjoying my second semester at uni. This year has been full of surprises for me - I think karma was after me from last year - because I had such amazing luck with my travels last year, this year was time for a bit of change. At the end of last year, in a foolhardy move, I managed to (what we believed at the time) sprain my ankle...quite severely....ending with me on crutches for 9 weeks, seeing doctors and a surgeon and then extensive physio. So, i though, sweet, road to recovery......wrong! lady luck had another idea. While down for the mid year break, I decided to have it looked at again as it was still sore and stiff and just alround annoying. So after multiple scans, and once I am back at uni, I receive a call.. on a monday morning....something like this
hello is this annie?
*looks at watch, 8:30 am....do I want to be Annie at this time of morning?* Yes, it is?
jolly good. yeah, look, the doctor has seen your scans, you need surgery... can you come in on wednesday?
.....I'm in Queensland.....
...Oh
*awkward turtle moment*
so anyway, after some very quick planning, I managed to get myself down for the surgery and all was hunky dory. surgery.....such a strange word.....and the gassy stuff, knocks you right out - literally! and keeps you rather out of it after the surgery...especially when they give you morphine...... :P
So currently still on crutches and hobbling around, i will be able to start to learn to walk again in just under a month, which is very exciting for me
On another note, uni in general - awesome :D college is amazing, I have made some of the most wonderfully awesome friends here - even found my doppleganger, it is insane!!!! she is awesome and every day I am reminded how lucky I am to have so many wonderful people that comprise my college/uni family. Life is truly good!
Uni work is pretty good, and I am enjoying my subjects - especially because I only had to do chemistry in first semester...now, don't go all hatin on me, it is a very interesting subject and I am sure if....certain things were different, I would have enjoyed it and appreciated it a lot more, but as I did not to chem in highschool, and only did prepchem for a few weeks before uni, being thrown in the deep end in a subject you have only just started understanding ... well, it can suck and potentially lead to a deteste of said subject. That being said, i did enjoy knowing about how things work - just not the whole "I'm assessing you so you better do well or else" sort of ..... pressure. But i had my awesome doppleganger and a plethora of other friends to help me through.
What else....what else......we have had a cat explosion at home, have I mentioned this? well, we went from one cat to three last year, and then this year y father found another abandoned kitten. so now, we're part way to becoming the crazy old cat people with 4 cats in the house. but it is fun.
Living away from home has its perks but it also has its cons. I do miss home quite a bit, and the comforts of home, like a hug from mum, or cuddling the cats. but again, I am really enjoying the uni experience.
And considering I have uni tomorrow, I suppose I should be a responsible student and go sleep....or should I????? my sleep patterns suck right now, not going to lie :P
anywho, that is a short update from me, hopefully I will be back on my blog more often, so expect some very random ramblings in the coming months :D
cheers!
Annie
Thursday, October 14, 2010
the return
sorry for not blogging during england, i have been on the go all the time - all i can say is that I have had such an incredible time but I am exhausted after running around the UK for nearly a month - it has all been fantastic and wonderful, I have felt so independent and just all round, has been one of the best experiences of my life - this whole trip has really, I have had so many varying experiences and it has been wonderful. I am looking forward to going home, but I think I ma going to miss living out of my tortoise shell (Backpack) and being in a new place every couple of days or having a new adventure every day. But there are plenty of adventures waiting at home for me, I have uni next year and have so many things to look forward to - life is amazing.
if this trip has taught me anything, it is to always laugh, cry, explore, dream and do. I have learnt so much these past months. It has been great
my final blog from overseas, see you all back home.
Annie xx
if this trip has taught me anything, it is to always laugh, cry, explore, dream and do. I have learnt so much these past months. It has been great
my final blog from overseas, see you all back home.
Annie xx
Friday, September 24, 2010
'ello guvna! it's England!
Greetings and salutations
Sorry for the lack of blogging during Finland - I was having too much fun for the computer :P Basically, I had one of the best weeks of my life in Finland, a beautiful country spending heaps of time with an awesome friend - good times, good times. Hiking in the forest was really good fun, I got to learn some Finnish sign language which was very very good fun, I went horse riding on Finnish horses in the forest *chorus of Heavenly angels descend and start singing while Annie looks dramatically off into the distance remember the ride* and scene.
But in all seriousness, it was such an amazing week - sauna in Finland, as well as milk, is very big, and I braved the 75-80 degree wood rooms and actually found that for the cold weather outside, sitting in the sauna was very very nice. When I left Finland a week later, it didn't feel like a week, it had gone much too quickly for my liking - next time i shall have to come in the winter as I would imagine that it would look quite different than what I saw.
So, the jetsetter I am, I hoped on more planes and made my way over to England, or as my British friends say, the 'motherland' - landed in London and got myself through all ok - I need a UK passport though, the immigration line for all other nations was ridiculously long. Then you get up to the desk and realise that it is an exceptionally small world when talking with your immigration officer, you reveal you are going to university in Townsville and lo and behold, he knows Townsville. Very small world. So once I was through Immigration, finally, I could grab my bags, and quite literally it was the quickest baggage retrieval I have ever had, as just as I walked through the door it went past me, so I grabbed it and was off to customs. Now I went into the hallway that said things to declare, and as I walked through, thinking surely England would be like Australia in terms of customs and quarantine - the customs was closed. what the?......
This nice lady popped out of a door and was just like
.....oh, do you have things to declare??
....wood, seeds, food, knives
...do you have any meat?
...no
...do you have any animals?
...no
any jewellry or gifts worth over 390 pounds?
....no
...off you go then
....
So off I went, now understanding that Australia is in a league of its own in terms of customs and quarantine. I must admit though, when I get back to Australia, I am going to be so desperate to get out of the airport to see my family, I think I may just have to make a run for it as the process is sooooooooooo long
Anyway, got myself to the underground, got a ticket on the tube which for being underground has a surprisingly large amount of above ground sections - then i jumped off at Earl's Court, walked to my hostel and voila, hey presto, I had a bed and a locker and practically collapsed on my bed - I was exhausted.
I went out in search of food, did a little exploring and then crashed for the night. The next day, I walked towards Tottenham Court Station from Earl's Court, passing through Hyde Park, walking past the hard rock cafe, the ritz hotel, west end theatres, ending up at the British Museum where I got to see - guess - the Rosetta Stone! woot, it was sooo cool!! I as in full geek mode then. :D
after I finished at the museum I went and met my friend James who showed me all over the rest of London, taking me to Buckingham Palace, to see the guards, to Big Ben, the Westminster Abbey, Parliament House, the Thames - it was a very busy day. I then went into the Tower of London and saw the tower bridge before returning to my hostel, packing and then crashing - a girl needs her sleep.
Next morning, I checked out of the hostel, realising that the next time I check out of this hostel it will be to go home. Now there is a weird thought. Home. Home has meant so many different things these past few months. Home has been camp in Tanzania for a very long time. Home has been where my friends have been. And soon, home will once again be home, with my family.
:)
I got to Waterloo Station and sat waiting for my train to Weymouth and finally it was time to head off and begin the England hop. I was met at the station in Weymouth, after my 3 hour train ride by my cousin Dave and he showed me around Weymouth and took me to their house, where I met other relatives - I was then treated to my first English pub meal and then went and met Dave's brother. Yesterday, I went to Corfe Castle, to Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door, and was driven all over and shown the beautiful county that is Dorset. I really love it here, the landscape is divine and it is very much what I had imagined England to be - and it is COLD! eep!
Today I wandered around the town of Weymouth and just took it all in, seeing the streets and wandering along the beach - I went to Nothe Fort and Brewers Quay and just had a very good morning before retreating back to the house as I was losing sensation to my ears and nose. Shortly I will be heading back out again to track down some old books stores :) life is very good. Heading to Exeter tomorrow and then on Sunday i head to Bath, after which I will keep you all informed of my adventures. 3 weeks and 2 days to go.
Kwaheri!
Annie
Sorry for the lack of blogging during Finland - I was having too much fun for the computer :P Basically, I had one of the best weeks of my life in Finland, a beautiful country spending heaps of time with an awesome friend - good times, good times. Hiking in the forest was really good fun, I got to learn some Finnish sign language which was very very good fun, I went horse riding on Finnish horses in the forest *chorus of Heavenly angels descend and start singing while Annie looks dramatically off into the distance remember the ride* and scene.
But in all seriousness, it was such an amazing week - sauna in Finland, as well as milk, is very big, and I braved the 75-80 degree wood rooms and actually found that for the cold weather outside, sitting in the sauna was very very nice. When I left Finland a week later, it didn't feel like a week, it had gone much too quickly for my liking - next time i shall have to come in the winter as I would imagine that it would look quite different than what I saw.
So, the jetsetter I am, I hoped on more planes and made my way over to England, or as my British friends say, the 'motherland' - landed in London and got myself through all ok - I need a UK passport though, the immigration line for all other nations was ridiculously long. Then you get up to the desk and realise that it is an exceptionally small world when talking with your immigration officer, you reveal you are going to university in Townsville and lo and behold, he knows Townsville. Very small world. So once I was through Immigration, finally, I could grab my bags, and quite literally it was the quickest baggage retrieval I have ever had, as just as I walked through the door it went past me, so I grabbed it and was off to customs. Now I went into the hallway that said things to declare, and as I walked through, thinking surely England would be like Australia in terms of customs and quarantine - the customs was closed. what the?......
This nice lady popped out of a door and was just like
.....oh, do you have things to declare??
....wood, seeds, food, knives
...do you have any meat?
...no
...do you have any animals?
...no
any jewellry or gifts worth over 390 pounds?
....no
...off you go then
....
So off I went, now understanding that Australia is in a league of its own in terms of customs and quarantine. I must admit though, when I get back to Australia, I am going to be so desperate to get out of the airport to see my family, I think I may just have to make a run for it as the process is sooooooooooo long
Anyway, got myself to the underground, got a ticket on the tube which for being underground has a surprisingly large amount of above ground sections - then i jumped off at Earl's Court, walked to my hostel and voila, hey presto, I had a bed and a locker and practically collapsed on my bed - I was exhausted.
I went out in search of food, did a little exploring and then crashed for the night. The next day, I walked towards Tottenham Court Station from Earl's Court, passing through Hyde Park, walking past the hard rock cafe, the ritz hotel, west end theatres, ending up at the British Museum where I got to see - guess - the Rosetta Stone! woot, it was sooo cool!! I as in full geek mode then. :D
after I finished at the museum I went and met my friend James who showed me all over the rest of London, taking me to Buckingham Palace, to see the guards, to Big Ben, the Westminster Abbey, Parliament House, the Thames - it was a very busy day. I then went into the Tower of London and saw the tower bridge before returning to my hostel, packing and then crashing - a girl needs her sleep.
Next morning, I checked out of the hostel, realising that the next time I check out of this hostel it will be to go home. Now there is a weird thought. Home. Home has meant so many different things these past few months. Home has been camp in Tanzania for a very long time. Home has been where my friends have been. And soon, home will once again be home, with my family.
:)
I got to Waterloo Station and sat waiting for my train to Weymouth and finally it was time to head off and begin the England hop. I was met at the station in Weymouth, after my 3 hour train ride by my cousin Dave and he showed me around Weymouth and took me to their house, where I met other relatives - I was then treated to my first English pub meal and then went and met Dave's brother. Yesterday, I went to Corfe Castle, to Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door, and was driven all over and shown the beautiful county that is Dorset. I really love it here, the landscape is divine and it is very much what I had imagined England to be - and it is COLD! eep!
Today I wandered around the town of Weymouth and just took it all in, seeing the streets and wandering along the beach - I went to Nothe Fort and Brewers Quay and just had a very good morning before retreating back to the house as I was losing sensation to my ears and nose. Shortly I will be heading back out again to track down some old books stores :) life is very good. Heading to Exeter tomorrow and then on Sunday i head to Bath, after which I will keep you all informed of my adventures. 3 weeks and 2 days to go.
Kwaheri!
Annie
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
jambo sana Finland!!
I am still very much adventuring around the world - It has been quite a while now since I have written my blog - oops. my bad.
Anyway, I find myself back again at a computer, compelled to tell you all about the amazing travels that I am currently undertaking.
Paris was an amazing adventure, exploring the city, seeing the flea markets, visiting the museums and the monuments, and seeing places that I have only ever read about or seen in films - I loved every minute - it was great to be able to see Chili again after so long of not seeing her and exploring Paris was such good fun - being in the Louvre was amazing, being so close to so many incredible pieces of art and history - I loved it!! I saw the Chateau of Versailles, I have been to the Chateau de Vincennes, I have seen sculptures and paintings of the old masters, walked among some of the most beautiful buildings and scenery - all in all, I am an exceptionally lucky person :) I got to wander around Paris at night with Chili and Philippe which was incredibly fun!!
For a change of scenery, I went to Strasbourg for 3 days, to see another part of France, so took the train for 2 hours and found myself in the provence of Alsace, its capital being Strasbourg. It was simply stunning, exactly what you would imagine a medieval town to look like and I had such a good time there. It was so much fun to go somewhere completely new all on my own, find my own way to my hostel, get myself around - epic fun!! Met a very nice girl who I am now still in contact with, aas she and I shared a room at the hostel - you meet very nice people :) The second day I was there I visited the town of Selestat which is south of Strasbourg and went to the Chateau fort du Haut-Kroenigsbourg which is HUGE and right on the top of a mountain and epically cool!! I went o Montagne des Singes and got to feed monkeys and have them touch my hand and walk among them - heaps of fun!!!! After my time in Strasbourg finished, I returned to Paris, spending my last day in Paris climbing Notre Dame and exploring the city one last time. I flew out Monday morning.
I now find myself out of Europe and into Scadinavia, in Finland with a very good friend for a week. It is very cool, what I have seen so far, and nice to be in a place where there are still sights to see, but is much more laid back as when in Paris, you feel obliged to do EVERYTHING and it is very tiring - but awesome!
It took 3 flights for me to get here from Paris, and I havce decided that Scandinavian Airlines must be superstitious as none of the planes had a row 13 - the things you observe during travel :P my friend picked me up at the airport where it was raining and grey, but I love seeing rain again, and even though it is cold, it is not unbearable - though I can imagine in the winter it must be quite different - I will come back here one year in the winter, it would be awesome. I spent today just having a bit of a chill day, relaxing and recooperating, then went with my friend to a tower overlooking toi town and the surrounds - it was sooo much fun and so incredible to see the view, the lakes and the forests are so beautiful here. I love it already, and I am looking forward toi seeing more of the sights when I go hiking tomorrow afternoon with my friend :) it is going to be great!!!
I will keep you all informed, take care!
Peace
Annie
P.S just over one month till I touch back down on Australian soil :)
Anyway, I find myself back again at a computer, compelled to tell you all about the amazing travels that I am currently undertaking.
Paris was an amazing adventure, exploring the city, seeing the flea markets, visiting the museums and the monuments, and seeing places that I have only ever read about or seen in films - I loved every minute - it was great to be able to see Chili again after so long of not seeing her and exploring Paris was such good fun - being in the Louvre was amazing, being so close to so many incredible pieces of art and history - I loved it!! I saw the Chateau of Versailles, I have been to the Chateau de Vincennes, I have seen sculptures and paintings of the old masters, walked among some of the most beautiful buildings and scenery - all in all, I am an exceptionally lucky person :) I got to wander around Paris at night with Chili and Philippe which was incredibly fun!!
For a change of scenery, I went to Strasbourg for 3 days, to see another part of France, so took the train for 2 hours and found myself in the provence of Alsace, its capital being Strasbourg. It was simply stunning, exactly what you would imagine a medieval town to look like and I had such a good time there. It was so much fun to go somewhere completely new all on my own, find my own way to my hostel, get myself around - epic fun!! Met a very nice girl who I am now still in contact with, aas she and I shared a room at the hostel - you meet very nice people :) The second day I was there I visited the town of Selestat which is south of Strasbourg and went to the Chateau fort du Haut-Kroenigsbourg which is HUGE and right on the top of a mountain and epically cool!! I went o Montagne des Singes and got to feed monkeys and have them touch my hand and walk among them - heaps of fun!!!! After my time in Strasbourg finished, I returned to Paris, spending my last day in Paris climbing Notre Dame and exploring the city one last time. I flew out Monday morning.
I now find myself out of Europe and into Scadinavia, in Finland with a very good friend for a week. It is very cool, what I have seen so far, and nice to be in a place where there are still sights to see, but is much more laid back as when in Paris, you feel obliged to do EVERYTHING and it is very tiring - but awesome!
It took 3 flights for me to get here from Paris, and I havce decided that Scandinavian Airlines must be superstitious as none of the planes had a row 13 - the things you observe during travel :P my friend picked me up at the airport where it was raining and grey, but I love seeing rain again, and even though it is cold, it is not unbearable - though I can imagine in the winter it must be quite different - I will come back here one year in the winter, it would be awesome. I spent today just having a bit of a chill day, relaxing and recooperating, then went with my friend to a tower overlooking toi town and the surrounds - it was sooo much fun and so incredible to see the view, the lakes and the forests are so beautiful here. I love it already, and I am looking forward toi seeing more of the sights when I go hiking tomorrow afternoon with my friend :) it is going to be great!!!
I will keep you all informed, take care!
Peace
Annie
P.S just over one month till I touch back down on Australian soil :)
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Kwaheri Tanzania, Bonjour France!
Yikes. So, I know, it has been yonks since I last updated my blog but honest, I have been quite the busy bee.
Our time in Zanzibar was absolutely amazing and the bus journey down, all 8 hours of it, wasn't too bad - we were in quite a comfortable bus. We arrived in Dar es Salaam where we stayed he night and then caught the ferry across to Zanzibar at lunch the next day. We arrived in Stone Town and even from the sea it was a beautiful place, I loved the look of it. We were picked up and taken across the island to the town of Paje where we stayed at the guest house of the Arabian Nights hotel - we are also the last group to go through to Zanzibar as from now on the Camp will no longer send volunteers there, but to Tanga - yay for us, I loved Zanzibar!!
I snorkeled with dolphins on the Thursday after arriving which was ridiculously awesome - I was so close to them and I could hear them clicking and singing to one another which was a truly amazing experience to have and I wished I could have made it last longer, it was such a beautiful moment - you put our head under the water and all sound is suddenly erased, no more voices or anything, just silence - and then you are swimming above the dolphins, they swimming right past you, dancing and singing and out of the silence you can hear the distinct clicking, hear their voices. And it is mesmerizing. And as hard as you swim, they soon are beyond your reach and you watch them vanish into the water. But their voices can still be heard, if you listen really carefully
As much as I wish I could have made it last for hours, I also wish that I wasn't spending so much time being sea sick - I really need to develop my sea legs or I am going to be a terrible marine biologist :P the funniest thing was me being sick over the side, lifting my head and saying 'so totally worth it' before throwing my head back over the side of the boat. It was so worth it though. Every second.
We also got to explore Stone Town both on our own and with a guide, visiting the House of Wonders, The Palace Museum, the Old Fort and going to the night markets to try out the local catches and cooked food which was amazing and really nice. The colours and vibrancy of the market glowing in the dark is amaing as well, such an awesome atmosphere.
All too soon came the time for us to say goodbye - and let me tell you after spending 3 months living with them nd always having them around, goodbyes are a horrible thing. I hate goodbyes to be frank, worst thing ever invented. But I was always reminded hat saying goodbye to someone means saying hello to someone else.
The bus back left much to be desired in that it wasn't as nice as the bus there - but that I did not mind. I just didn't like people trying to scam us and stroking my head and the fact our driver drove like he was driving through a school zone the whole time which was quite different to the drivers we have experienced during our stay in Tanzania. In the end, it was al fine and we got back home to camp, admittedly very late at night, but to a warm welcome from Eliphas. The next day - even more goodbyes. It was like a symphony of goodbyes, horrible, really horrible.
Evenually, it was my turn to leave, and I went to my Fran and Rosa's house where I stayed until Monday morning - these friends I had met the last time I was in Tanzania and it was so amazing to caqtch up and to be able to spend some time with them I loved it. Got to see a private Zimbabwean sculpture exhibition, got to spend some quality time just chilling and got to catch up with my friends properly for the first time in 2 ears - was so wonderful to see them in the flesh again.
Sunday afternoon I went back to Tuleeni one last time. It was a sweet visit, as I left the kids sag to me and Mama Furaja gave me warm hugs and kisses. I will miss the children always, they were all so sweet. It was also a trip of revelations. Our group knew that there was one girl at the orphanage that was HIV positive and had AIDS. What i found out was that it was one of my best friends fro the orphanage, whom I had been talking to the whole time. I couldn't believe it, I felt like someone had kicked me in the stomach. It was really hard to take...
Monday morning, 3 am - more goodbyes, as I hopped in my taxi which took me to the airport. I was the first and only one there for a while, as the airport was on Tanzania ime and was therefore shut. But soon enough, more Mzungus were arriving and at 4:30 the airport was open - and I finally got the answer to my ticket mystery -
See, on the Saturday morning, Rosa's mum took me to the Precision Air office in Moshi just to confirm my place on the monday morning flight as it was a flight that was replacing my original one which was cancelled. Got to the office - oh look, no Annie on the passenger list - would you like to buy a new ticket ma'am??
After running around, calling people, getting my awesome mother to call agencies back home, it was finally confirmed that I was on the flight - hooray. It was very stressful though, 2 days from flying out and I had people telling me that I wasn't actually on the flight. Anyway, long story short, at the airport, the guy checking me in said the same thing, that he didn't have me on the list. But before I could either faint, throw a grade four hissy fit, tell him to look again, bol through to the plane or simply freak out, he said wait wait, you are confirmed on this flight - your ticket just hasn't been activated yet.
...........
ooooooooooh. gotcha.
So after a little scanning, hey presto I was on the list, and through immigration waiting in the departure lounge a 5:30 in the morning. I met some very nice people who were also on my flight to paris and whom I met up with again in Nairobi airport, where we got some food, looked around and then sat chatting waiting for our flight.
The flight from Tanznia, I must say, was very quick, and before I really knew it, I had left Tanzania - my home for 3 months and so much more - like a part of me being left behind, waiting to be picked up again when I go back someday. I was just so tired, though, being aake since 9 the previous morning, as i didn't want to go to sleep and miss my cab - it all passed in such a blur, like I was having an outer body experience. Before I really knew what was happening, I was in Paris, had my passport stamped, waited ages for my bag and then was out meeting my friend Chili. I also loved the fact there were no quarantine or customs to go through, like back home - made it so much quicker.
Tanzania was such a good experience, and while I had no delusions of saving the world when I left home, part of me wishes I could save the world or do something really ubstantial and useful to a huge number of people, to really make a difference. What we did was minimal, but hopefully it has helped some people back in Tanzania. It certainly helped me.
Paris is now where I am and it is absolutely amazing, like nothing I have seen so far, I really like it. I explored La Defence today and am heading into the city centre of Paris tomorrow - even as I write this, I am looking across to the Eiffel tower - a truly magnificent view and I am sill waiting to wake up back in my bed in our tent surronded by everyone in Moshi. I am getting quite a bit of reverse culture shock as well - being on tar roads all the time, paved streets, traffic lights, traffic jams, street lights, trains, shopping centres - it is all so amazing and so different to what I have been living with for 3 months. Very different.
Don't get me wrong, I am adoring travel, it is so amazing and so much fun. But Tanzania has become such a big part of my life. Just leaving it, in the dead of night, was so weird. And it was so quiet. Like watching a movie in silence, everything happening with no sound and in some kind of stupor.
I am also suffering from a bit of homesickness. Again, don't think 'you crayz idio you are seeing the world what is there to miss?' with everyone before leaving talking about going back home and seeing their family and friends and then coming into a family situation here in Paris, and after being away 3 months - well, you do start to miss home - simple fact.
Tomorrow and beyond are looking amazing - I have a beautiful, colourful and simply stunning city to explore, I am with a great friend and her family, I feel amazed at what I have done and seen so far and I have so many more adventures ahead of me, abroad and back home. To be honest, I have no idea exactly where I am going to be visiting between now and the time I come home - but that is even more fun! I have so much more exploring to do and I am really looking forward to it. The Tanzanian adventure is now over but still a powerful and strong memory - my next adventure one has begun.
I'll keep you posted.
Annie
Our time in Zanzibar was absolutely amazing and the bus journey down, all 8 hours of it, wasn't too bad - we were in quite a comfortable bus. We arrived in Dar es Salaam where we stayed he night and then caught the ferry across to Zanzibar at lunch the next day. We arrived in Stone Town and even from the sea it was a beautiful place, I loved the look of it. We were picked up and taken across the island to the town of Paje where we stayed at the guest house of the Arabian Nights hotel - we are also the last group to go through to Zanzibar as from now on the Camp will no longer send volunteers there, but to Tanga - yay for us, I loved Zanzibar!!
I snorkeled with dolphins on the Thursday after arriving which was ridiculously awesome - I was so close to them and I could hear them clicking and singing to one another which was a truly amazing experience to have and I wished I could have made it last longer, it was such a beautiful moment - you put our head under the water and all sound is suddenly erased, no more voices or anything, just silence - and then you are swimming above the dolphins, they swimming right past you, dancing and singing and out of the silence you can hear the distinct clicking, hear their voices. And it is mesmerizing. And as hard as you swim, they soon are beyond your reach and you watch them vanish into the water. But their voices can still be heard, if you listen really carefully
As much as I wish I could have made it last for hours, I also wish that I wasn't spending so much time being sea sick - I really need to develop my sea legs or I am going to be a terrible marine biologist :P the funniest thing was me being sick over the side, lifting my head and saying 'so totally worth it' before throwing my head back over the side of the boat. It was so worth it though. Every second.
We also got to explore Stone Town both on our own and with a guide, visiting the House of Wonders, The Palace Museum, the Old Fort and going to the night markets to try out the local catches and cooked food which was amazing and really nice. The colours and vibrancy of the market glowing in the dark is amaing as well, such an awesome atmosphere.
All too soon came the time for us to say goodbye - and let me tell you after spending 3 months living with them nd always having them around, goodbyes are a horrible thing. I hate goodbyes to be frank, worst thing ever invented. But I was always reminded hat saying goodbye to someone means saying hello to someone else.
The bus back left much to be desired in that it wasn't as nice as the bus there - but that I did not mind. I just didn't like people trying to scam us and stroking my head and the fact our driver drove like he was driving through a school zone the whole time which was quite different to the drivers we have experienced during our stay in Tanzania. In the end, it was al fine and we got back home to camp, admittedly very late at night, but to a warm welcome from Eliphas. The next day - even more goodbyes. It was like a symphony of goodbyes, horrible, really horrible.
Evenually, it was my turn to leave, and I went to my Fran and Rosa's house where I stayed until Monday morning - these friends I had met the last time I was in Tanzania and it was so amazing to caqtch up and to be able to spend some time with them I loved it. Got to see a private Zimbabwean sculpture exhibition, got to spend some quality time just chilling and got to catch up with my friends properly for the first time in 2 ears - was so wonderful to see them in the flesh again.
Sunday afternoon I went back to Tuleeni one last time. It was a sweet visit, as I left the kids sag to me and Mama Furaja gave me warm hugs and kisses. I will miss the children always, they were all so sweet. It was also a trip of revelations. Our group knew that there was one girl at the orphanage that was HIV positive and had AIDS. What i found out was that it was one of my best friends fro the orphanage, whom I had been talking to the whole time. I couldn't believe it, I felt like someone had kicked me in the stomach. It was really hard to take...
Monday morning, 3 am - more goodbyes, as I hopped in my taxi which took me to the airport. I was the first and only one there for a while, as the airport was on Tanzania ime and was therefore shut. But soon enough, more Mzungus were arriving and at 4:30 the airport was open - and I finally got the answer to my ticket mystery -
See, on the Saturday morning, Rosa's mum took me to the Precision Air office in Moshi just to confirm my place on the monday morning flight as it was a flight that was replacing my original one which was cancelled. Got to the office - oh look, no Annie on the passenger list - would you like to buy a new ticket ma'am??
After running around, calling people, getting my awesome mother to call agencies back home, it was finally confirmed that I was on the flight - hooray. It was very stressful though, 2 days from flying out and I had people telling me that I wasn't actually on the flight. Anyway, long story short, at the airport, the guy checking me in said the same thing, that he didn't have me on the list. But before I could either faint, throw a grade four hissy fit, tell him to look again, bol through to the plane or simply freak out, he said wait wait, you are confirmed on this flight - your ticket just hasn't been activated yet.
...........
ooooooooooh. gotcha.
So after a little scanning, hey presto I was on the list, and through immigration waiting in the departure lounge a 5:30 in the morning. I met some very nice people who were also on my flight to paris and whom I met up with again in Nairobi airport, where we got some food, looked around and then sat chatting waiting for our flight.
The flight from Tanznia, I must say, was very quick, and before I really knew it, I had left Tanzania - my home for 3 months and so much more - like a part of me being left behind, waiting to be picked up again when I go back someday. I was just so tired, though, being aake since 9 the previous morning, as i didn't want to go to sleep and miss my cab - it all passed in such a blur, like I was having an outer body experience. Before I really knew what was happening, I was in Paris, had my passport stamped, waited ages for my bag and then was out meeting my friend Chili. I also loved the fact there were no quarantine or customs to go through, like back home - made it so much quicker.
Tanzania was such a good experience, and while I had no delusions of saving the world when I left home, part of me wishes I could save the world or do something really ubstantial and useful to a huge number of people, to really make a difference. What we did was minimal, but hopefully it has helped some people back in Tanzania. It certainly helped me.
Paris is now where I am and it is absolutely amazing, like nothing I have seen so far, I really like it. I explored La Defence today and am heading into the city centre of Paris tomorrow - even as I write this, I am looking across to the Eiffel tower - a truly magnificent view and I am sill waiting to wake up back in my bed in our tent surronded by everyone in Moshi. I am getting quite a bit of reverse culture shock as well - being on tar roads all the time, paved streets, traffic lights, traffic jams, street lights, trains, shopping centres - it is all so amazing and so different to what I have been living with for 3 months. Very different.
Don't get me wrong, I am adoring travel, it is so amazing and so much fun. But Tanzania has become such a big part of my life. Just leaving it, in the dead of night, was so weird. And it was so quiet. Like watching a movie in silence, everything happening with no sound and in some kind of stupor.
I am also suffering from a bit of homesickness. Again, don't think 'you crayz idio you are seeing the world what is there to miss?' with everyone before leaving talking about going back home and seeing their family and friends and then coming into a family situation here in Paris, and after being away 3 months - well, you do start to miss home - simple fact.
Tomorrow and beyond are looking amazing - I have a beautiful, colourful and simply stunning city to explore, I am with a great friend and her family, I feel amazed at what I have done and seen so far and I have so many more adventures ahead of me, abroad and back home. To be honest, I have no idea exactly where I am going to be visiting between now and the time I come home - but that is even more fun! I have so much more exploring to do and I am really looking forward to it. The Tanzanian adventure is now over but still a powerful and strong memory - my next adventure one has begun.
I'll keep you posted.
Annie
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