Each One is Different, But it’s Always the Same

So our hostel is a hole. That’s not a huge deal because – like I told Sara to calm her down when we first came into the dump – we’re not ever really in the building. Outside of sleeping and doing random e-mailing and such in the mornings and late nights, we only sleep at the hostel – though that’s not particularly easy either, considering the place doesn’t have heat.

In fact, when I asked the man at the front desk if they had heat in the rooms, he replied, “Well, didn’t you bring a blanket??” Looking back, I would have asked that question just as much as I should have called Taco John’s to ask if they delivered. It’s on that level.

When I talked with people about studying in Australia for 5 months, probably the two responses I received most (excluding “G’day mate!! Throw another shrimp on the barbie!!”) were, “You have to do it while you’re young, ‘cause you’ll never be able to some day,” and “It’ll be great to see a new culture and live in it for that period of time.”

Those probably couldn’t be truer as I’ve figured out in the past week. Two former Senecas and future Bobcats, my brother (Brian) and sister (Sarah) officially ended their high school years with a graduation party at our house a week ago today. I can’t even count the number of times I heard the phrases, “They grow up so fast” or “Gosh, the time really flies” in conversations between my mom and other adults who have kids. I’m going to be a senior in college, which is scary in itself – in about a year, I’m socially-expected to know what I’m going to do with my life. No pressure.

As for the latter statement – again, couldn’t be truer. When I signed up to study in Australia, it was mainly due to my inefficiency to learn another language. Little did I know that I could stand in the middle of different landmarks in Sydney and hear what seems like 5 different languages all around me. So much for that.

And it’s the little things about culture that really throw you off. Driving on the other side of the road seems simple enough, but what about crossing the street?? Luckily in Sydney there is “Look Left” or “Look Right” painted on the street right beside the crosswalks so pedestrians know where to check for the stray crazy taxi driver. But the other thing about walking is that I have to consciously think about walking on the left side of the sidewalk as people go the other way on the right side (similar to traffic patterns on roads). If you think it’s easy, try going opposite sometime, it’s ridiculously tough to remember – especially with a number of people walking through a large city like Sydney (about 4 million people).

A positive experience, however, comes from the general happiness/friendliness of Australians. While Sara and I dragged our suitcases through the streets of downtown Sydney, we had a few people ask us if we wanted help or actually stop to help with the luggage. I have complete confidence – and accompanying disappointment – that in the U.S. we wouldn’t have received even a glance or a thought.

Sara and I purchased a “See Sydney” card that allows us free or extremely-reduced admission into various tourist attractions. Today we took a tour of the famous Sydney Opera House and it was pretty amazing. And it’s on the other side of the world from the home country, so I’m fairly confident if I hadn’t taken this trip, I would have never seen it. Check out the pictures on my facebook profile album when they’re posted (I don’t have consistent internet access right now, so it may be a bit). If you have a chance to travel, my experience thus far, though limited, says take that chance. If nothing else, it proves that you can adapt.

Love you all back in the states, check back for more updates.

From the other side of the globe, this is Kevin Hunt.

If you want to see me soon, start digging.