Diamonds for the poor

-> For this second post, the topic has absolutely nothing to do with Australia or the new things and habits that I am reluctantly picking up, but instead it has to do with the relationships that we as humans, we as people, we as manifestations of our love experience and learn every single day.

-> I’d just like to focus on missing someone. I’m not about to say that we all are able enough to handle distance no matter who we are, because when it all comes down to it, no one really can. One may say: “Well ofcourse I know that I’ll be seeing them soon” which all in all is great and more power to you my friend, but although it is truth, the minutes feel like eternity; how cliche. You see when you truly and dearly miss someone, your entire being becomes a reality of which every little thing you thought you knew and made you happy encompasses all that this one person is and will be. Everything that once brought you joy and a feeling of security isn’t really there anymore. Physically that is. But you know that in your heart they always will be.

-> It’s the type of longing for this person’s touch, this person’s feel, this person’s laugh, that drives us to feel as though we have a gaping hole in our stomachs while we lay in bed, looking at the ceiling, waiting for time to fly by just so that we can see them again. It’s the type of longing that makes us think about every little thing that they are doing, everything that they see, and hear while you’re not even there with them. It’s the type of longing for someone’s company that makes us dream, and reminisce about them, just so that their very vague image can allow us to finally crack a smile in the midst of misery. Now, ofcourse you can never let this person know that you do this, why? because if they ever knew how much you missed everything about them, then it would ruin the reunion, and that sacred moment we all dream of.

-> So is there a solution for those in this world that carry on every day without the one or the thing that they care for the most? Can we really comfort them? Is there such thing as being composed when the very thing you wake up everyday to see isn’t there anymore? I personally cannot give any answer. But what I can say is that when all you know is missing someone each and every second of every living day, being away from them isn’t so hard. You know that eventually you will see them again and that feeling of being incomplete will fade with the coming night, but this still cannot solve the one problem that will never seem to go away, simply missing them.

-> So for those that are away from those that they care for the most, keep your chin up. I can’t promise you and tell you that everything is going to be ok because I myself don’t even know that, but what I can tell you is that there is light at the end of the tunnel, and although the journey through it may be dark and confusing, colors have never seemed so vivid until you see them again. And then, and only then, was everything worth it.

-> As the first post of this blog, I’d like to dedicate it to the country that houses me at the moment; Australia. The land of the burning sun as it is appropriately deemed is without a doubt not only the farthest away from home that I have been, but easily the most interesting. Being the tender age of twenty certainly has its disadvantages, but it seems that something as little as the drinking age hovering around 18 can change your perception on the world, which brings me to the first post: First Impressions of Down Under

-> Upon arriving in this far away land on July 15th, 2010, knowing almost nothing about the country made my feelings a bit uneasy. Thoughts of lack of approval from the Aussie’s and the concern with the money in my pocket made each moment feel like I was being interrogated and constantly under surveillance. However this feeling, while it felt as though a pit was slowly forming in my stomach, soon faded as soon as I first heard the accent. It’s funny how such a minor detail can change your view on everything, which brings me to explain Aussie talk and the difference it poses to the US.

-> Australians by stereotype are a rather chill people. Always easy going and interested in issues regarding the world which at times was a great thing because coming from Maine, easy going seems to run through your veins because with a grand total of 1.5 million people in the state, we really have nothing to worry about. That is, except for the winter time when I was too concerned with how cold it was going to be that day or even if my car was going to start to drive to school. But I digress. So first thoughts:

• The sky has never seemed so blue
• The accent and its twang in their o’s and their lack of an “r” sound is memorizing
• Sydney is probably the cleanest city I have ever seen with a population over 5 million people
• The Opera House is everything that I thought it would be and then some
• The minimum wage makes me cry; 18 dollars an hour
• Driving on the left side not only confuses me, but scares me at the same time
• McDonald’s never felt so close to home
• The currency actually makes sense
• Kangaroos have the coolest legs ever
• The generosity and friendliness astounds me
• The occasional palm tree makes my eyes glitter with the sight of paradise
• The birds are far beyond annoying however gorgeous to look at
• And the sun has never seemed so bright

-> All in all, it’s just the beginning for me. I have been here only a month, and I’ve learned more about myself and Americans than I ever have living at home. It’s funny how being away in a different country changes you and your perceptions of the world, because at my age, I don’t know what I want out of life, so I need all the help in direction as possible. Australia has made me appreciate the finer things in life, the little things. The things that we as Americans take for granted. The things that should matter, the things that are supposed to matter.

-> From what I am getting out of it, life isn’t about blackberries and iPod’s or Xbox’s and Expensive BMW’s, life is not materialistic, life is meant to be appreciated, not scheduled or stressed about or a status symbol. Australians certainly have it right, not only have I not seen many blackberries here, but I can count them on one hand. Life to them, is harmony, life on this planet, is enjoyable, they create this environment for everyone around them so in turn, absolutely everyone loves the people and the country they live in. I have never seen this type of pride before, and to be honest, it’s incredibly refreshing.

-> So as long and drawn out as that was, those are my first thoughts of my very first month here. Being away from home has never made me open my eyes more to the world around me, and I know that I have more learning to come; but I look forward to it.