9:45 pm - Monday, 25 June 2012
First off, WOW I cannot believe I've already been here for over a month! That means that my halfway point is very quickly approaching. I'm going to have to take a survey of what I've done so far and what I still need to do.
Now, to the real meat of the day...heads up, I'm still chewing over this and it's not fun for me to think about, although I think it's important to revisit from time to time.
In church yesterday, we approached the subject of retaliation. We're reading through Matthew, working our way through the Sermon on the Mount. We picked up the passage in chapter 5, verses 38-42:
"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you." (ESV)
Along with the passage, we read an editorial article from the local newspaper remarking on the prevalence of quick tempers and the tendency of people to retaliate quickly when provoked. (For example, at a footy game, road rage, or just plain whenever one feels like it.) It asked the question, "What the h*** is wrong with us?!"
We batted the topic and the question back and forth. The main points we reached were as follows:
Jesus was speaking in this way to Jews, who knew the law and had been raised with a thorough understanding of everything it said. He also knew that it was nearly impossible for the Jews of His day to separate the actual desire of God from the twisted and convoluted traditions that accompanied it. We need to stay in context when reading this passage. They (like us) had become a society of litigation, where people were sue-happy and they had no qualms about bringing the tiniest little matters to a courtroom and demanding their restitution.
However, the people had twisted the original meaning and purpose of the law. If you read in Numbers and Deuteronomy, you quickly see that the "eye for an eye" principle was in answer to the question, "What happens when someone is wronged?" It was God's desire that people seek out justice for the victim, and the proper repayment was to give just what had been taken. If a man killed another man's animal, he repaid the man or replaced the animal. It was the social judiciary policy that created a sense of justice and restitution in the culture.
There was one major problem: There were people involved. As anyone in ministry can tell you, that's the one minute that everything starts getting all messed up. The aspect of "justice" became a type of revenge. Instead of seeking what was the right thing and the desire of God, people had turned it into an 'I'm going to get what I deserve' party that put the victim's own right and agenda as the main goal. Rather than causing the person in the wrong to do the right thing and repay the victim, it became a prideful way to backhand the one responsible into doing far more than God required. It became a situation where social justice became social injustice, and it was applauded and encouraged by the people.
Jesus was not disagreeing with what God had said, nor is He rewriting the book on justice. He is speaking to a specific group of people about a specific problem that needed to be addressed because it involved the attitude of the heart and obedience. He is urging the group of self-serving religious people to put aside their own agenda and what they claim as their "right" so that they can make their priority something of eternal significance.
This is important: Jesus was not saying to never defend yourself, nor was He saying never defend the victims. We are definitely not called to be doormats for everyone else to walk upon, and we are most definitely called to stand up to defend the weak and helpless. He was clarifying God's intent and giving us an avenue by which we can separate ourselves from what the world does and showing ourselves as people of grace who follow a loving God. I may have every right to retaliate or get even--the world even goes so far as to tell me that seeking revenge is the right thing to do--but I am choosing to obey what Christ desires and be obedient to the standard which He sets for me. I should be choosing to forgive for the sake of peace, not retaliate for my own personal pride. If someone doesn't stop the cycle of retribution and revenge, it will swallow everyone involved.
Besides, in Romans 12:17-21, Paul writes that God will have the justice. "If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the LORD.'..for by so doing you will heap burning (or fiery) coals on his head." (vs. 18-19, 20b, ESV) Basically, God says, "Be still and let Me handle it."I hate this idea, because it goes against everything in me, but I recognize that it is truly the right thing to do'; it is no longer an issue of "Do I get what I deserve?", but rather "Am I doing what God desires me to do?" I don't like thinking about it and I am most definitely still learning how to even think about it properly (much less begin to do it), but it's nice to know I'm not the only one on the journey.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Friday, June 22, 2012
we say to-MAY-to, they say to-MAH-to
3:00 pm - Saturday, 23 June 2012
I have alot of random thoughts running around in my head; for some reason I've gotten this creative streak in the past few days that is just driving me CRAZY. So I'm going to just spit out what I've been scribbling on assorted pieces of paper and hope it makes sense to you all. (If you don't like disconnected ideas or nice tidy thought packages all wrapped up in constructed paragraphs...I apologize for what's about to happen.)
begin transmission
~ There's an older guy who comes into the shop every weekday to get coffee and breakfast. He always gets the same thing, and he always gets a second cup. And when he does, he always tells the same joke: "You did so well on the first one, I think I'll have another go-around." BUT, this week we must've messed something up, because he didn't get a second cup.
~Yesterday was only the second time since I got here where I was truly wondering if a person was speaking to me in English. His accent was so strong that I couldn't understand a word he was saying.
~Then later yesterday, a younger guy came in with one of the most beautiful Australian accents I've heard. It was the makes-you-go-weak-at-the-knees kind of accent, the kind of accent that made me smile just because he was talking.
~Mark asked me if I needed sugar for my coffee, and I replied with, "Nope, don't need it. I AM sugar." He retorted, "Oh, wow, I think I threw up in my mouth a little."
~It has been cold and rainy for most of this week. Yesterday there was even sleet in the city center. YIKES.
~That racehorse Black Caviar is beautiful. I hope she wins her race in England tomorrow/tonight. And I think it's adorable how her handler got her a stablemate who is an 8-year-old gelding and she's "fallen in love with him, they're nearly inseparable."
~I read a newspaper article yesterday about the Australia Census that mentioned some statistics about things like religion that were fascinating. In the 2011 census, 4.8 million people (22%) claim that they have no religion (up from 18.7% in 2006). In South Australia (the state where I am), the numbers are even worse: 28% claim no religion. Another interesting statistic was on marriages; gay or straight, 3 out of 4 marriages are civil ceremonies rather than religious.
~Doppleganger: a stupid-sounding word with a weird idea behind it. I've been kicking around a screenplay idea for the past few weeks about a person besought with mistaken identity that isn't entirely mistaken; since the idea has come to me, I've had three different people in three different environments refer to me as a "doppleganger" for somebody they know. ODD. Am I really a doppleganger for multiple people? Is this...dopplegangerception?
~What IS ministry burnout? How do we get it and why? Is it failure to do God's will? A result of attempting to do something on your own power without God's help or the assistance of others? Is it continuing a ministry that God doesn't want to continue but we're too married to the idea of it and simply can't let it go? Is it a result of pressure and/or attacks from enemies or the devil? Is ministry burnout something to be endured, or something to be listened to and used as a tool for growth, or is it a symptom of a bigger problem, or should it be ignored?
~I finally reached a decision on my host home situation. I've gathered counsel from multiple people, and everyone comes back with the same reply. (I'll write about it when it's settled down.) Please pray that I will say the right things and do what's right for everyone involved. Thank God for His provision that I've got options and choices when it comes to my housing situation here.
~I've already been away from home for a month. I miss home alot; I miss my family, familiar food, spicy food, seafood, (okay fine enough about food), my dog, my room, clothes dryers, watching movies with my family/friends, going to the movie theater, working at the movie theater, my coworkers, my youth group and young adult group, playing Ultimate Frisbee with my coworkers, building relationships with friends that I've recently gotten close to, DRIVING, my car, Nintendo Wii, using my own cell phone, my church family, summer, wearing my Chacos, Netflix, New Orleans, Greek yogurt, the word "center" not being spelled "centre," and even knowing that I'm on the same sleep/daytime schedule as most of my family and friends.
~I miss seeing redheads. At home I have quite a few redhead friends (my "ginger posse"); here I've only seen two redheads the entire time I've been here, and I'm pretty sure neither of them were natural-born.
~They say alot of words really differently.
tomato We say "to-MAY-to," they say "to-MAH-to".
scone Us: "scone" (rhymes with "phone") Them: "sconn" (rhymes with "on")
mocha Us. "MOE-kah" (rhymes with "loca") Them: "MOCK-ah"
tangelo Us: "TAN-gel-oh" Them: "tan-GEL-oh"
nasty Us: "NAH-stee" (rhymes with "plasty") Them: "NOH-stee" (rhymes with "costy")
~They use alot of different words.
sweatshirt -- They say, "jumper"
trunk of car -- They say, "boot"
French Fries -- They say, "chips"
football -- They say, "American Football," then they have Aussie rules "footy"
candy -- They say, "lolly"
~I love Australia. I love the people, the accent, the different culture, my friends I'm acquiring here, the way you can turn electrical outlets on/off, Wheat Bix, Tim Tams, MasterChef, Hamish and Andy, shortening every word (like "arvo" and "lolly"), the style of humor, the combination of Old World feel with modern-day cosmopolitan/European influences, the history behind everything, and the excitement when I see a koala or kangaroo in the wild.
end transmission
I miss you all and hope to hear from you soon! Keep the prayers of encouragement for Soul Food coming!
I have alot of random thoughts running around in my head; for some reason I've gotten this creative streak in the past few days that is just driving me CRAZY. So I'm going to just spit out what I've been scribbling on assorted pieces of paper and hope it makes sense to you all. (If you don't like disconnected ideas or nice tidy thought packages all wrapped up in constructed paragraphs...I apologize for what's about to happen.)
begin transmission
~ There's an older guy who comes into the shop every weekday to get coffee and breakfast. He always gets the same thing, and he always gets a second cup. And when he does, he always tells the same joke: "You did so well on the first one, I think I'll have another go-around." BUT, this week we must've messed something up, because he didn't get a second cup.
~Yesterday was only the second time since I got here where I was truly wondering if a person was speaking to me in English. His accent was so strong that I couldn't understand a word he was saying.
~Then later yesterday, a younger guy came in with one of the most beautiful Australian accents I've heard. It was the makes-you-go-weak-at-the-knees kind of accent, the kind of accent that made me smile just because he was talking.
~Mark asked me if I needed sugar for my coffee, and I replied with, "Nope, don't need it. I AM sugar." He retorted, "Oh, wow, I think I threw up in my mouth a little."
~It has been cold and rainy for most of this week. Yesterday there was even sleet in the city center. YIKES.
~That racehorse Black Caviar is beautiful. I hope she wins her race in England tomorrow/tonight. And I think it's adorable how her handler got her a stablemate who is an 8-year-old gelding and she's "fallen in love with him, they're nearly inseparable."
~I read a newspaper article yesterday about the Australia Census that mentioned some statistics about things like religion that were fascinating. In the 2011 census, 4.8 million people (22%) claim that they have no religion (up from 18.7% in 2006). In South Australia (the state where I am), the numbers are even worse: 28% claim no religion. Another interesting statistic was on marriages; gay or straight, 3 out of 4 marriages are civil ceremonies rather than religious.
~Doppleganger: a stupid-sounding word with a weird idea behind it. I've been kicking around a screenplay idea for the past few weeks about a person besought with mistaken identity that isn't entirely mistaken; since the idea has come to me, I've had three different people in three different environments refer to me as a "doppleganger" for somebody they know. ODD. Am I really a doppleganger for multiple people? Is this...dopplegangerception?
~What IS ministry burnout? How do we get it and why? Is it failure to do God's will? A result of attempting to do something on your own power without God's help or the assistance of others? Is it continuing a ministry that God doesn't want to continue but we're too married to the idea of it and simply can't let it go? Is it a result of pressure and/or attacks from enemies or the devil? Is ministry burnout something to be endured, or something to be listened to and used as a tool for growth, or is it a symptom of a bigger problem, or should it be ignored?
~I finally reached a decision on my host home situation. I've gathered counsel from multiple people, and everyone comes back with the same reply. (I'll write about it when it's settled down.) Please pray that I will say the right things and do what's right for everyone involved. Thank God for His provision that I've got options and choices when it comes to my housing situation here.
~I've already been away from home for a month. I miss home alot; I miss my family, familiar food, spicy food, seafood, (okay fine enough about food), my dog, my room, clothes dryers, watching movies with my family/friends, going to the movie theater, working at the movie theater, my coworkers, my youth group and young adult group, playing Ultimate Frisbee with my coworkers, building relationships with friends that I've recently gotten close to, DRIVING, my car, Nintendo Wii, using my own cell phone, my church family, summer, wearing my Chacos, Netflix, New Orleans, Greek yogurt, the word "center" not being spelled "centre," and even knowing that I'm on the same sleep/daytime schedule as most of my family and friends.
~I miss seeing redheads. At home I have quite a few redhead friends (my "ginger posse"); here I've only seen two redheads the entire time I've been here, and I'm pretty sure neither of them were natural-born.
~They say alot of words really differently.
tomato We say "to-MAY-to," they say "to-MAH-to".
scone Us: "scone" (rhymes with "phone") Them: "sconn" (rhymes with "on")
mocha Us. "MOE-kah" (rhymes with "loca") Them: "MOCK-ah"
tangelo Us: "TAN-gel-oh" Them: "tan-GEL-oh"
nasty Us: "NAH-stee" (rhymes with "plasty") Them: "NOH-stee" (rhymes with "costy")
~They use alot of different words.
sweatshirt -- They say, "jumper"
trunk of car -- They say, "boot"
French Fries -- They say, "chips"
football -- They say, "American Football," then they have Aussie rules "footy"
candy -- They say, "lolly"
~I love Australia. I love the people, the accent, the different culture, my friends I'm acquiring here, the way you can turn electrical outlets on/off, Wheat Bix, Tim Tams, MasterChef, Hamish and Andy, shortening every word (like "arvo" and "lolly"), the style of humor, the combination of Old World feel with modern-day cosmopolitan/European influences, the history behind everything, and the excitement when I see a koala or kangaroo in the wild.
end transmission
I miss you all and hope to hear from you soon! Keep the prayers of encouragement for Soul Food coming!
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
bogan
6:00 pm - Wednesday, 20 June 2012
First, before I get into my "deeper thoughts," a little local culture for you all...
In the big news here, the word "bogan" was inducted into the Oxford English Dictionary. Wikipedia states that a bogan is "Someone whose idea of a good time is meat pies, beer, cigarettes and playing the poker machines at the local football club." The guy interviewed in the Adelaide Advertiser stated that being called a bogan is "not flattering, but I'm proud of it...I've grown up with a love of beer, footy, and rock n' roll."
Basically, a bogan is pretty close to what we in the States call "redneck" or "trailer park trash." Problem is, Australia doesn't have trailer parks, so they make do with what they have. Beer, cigs, mullets, acid jeans, "flannos" (open flannel shirts over a t-shirt), AC/DC, etc. But today, bogans are finally recognized by the rest of English-speaking people as their own sub-species.
Okay, back to the real deal.
Tuesday
I spent my morning editing photos and in general enjoying the quiet (well, with the exception of the family of screaming magpies outside--they have one of the funkiest songs I've ever heard). A college-age girl named Yanni from Glen Osmond Baptist came and picked me up and we drove to Glenelg Beach, one of the more beautiful beaches around. Obviously, it was too cold to be in the water, so we had lunch before she had to head on home. I wandered around the small town, but most of the shops were closed because the town thrives on summer tourism. One of the older men who was fishing off of the pier talked to me for a few minutes; he was fishing for squid but wasn't having much luck.
I rode the tram back to the city center and then the bus from there to Tea Tree, and then I walked the rest of the way home. I was enjoying the beautiful weather, watching the sun set and listening to the birds settling down for the evening. I walked up to my host home and realized that I had left the house keys on the dining room table. (It's been years since I locked myself out.) So I sat on the front porch, expecting my host family to be home in a little while. (This was at 4:30.)
I read my Australian Geographic magazine for a bit--yeah, I WOULD be the person to find it. You know National Geographic? Australia has their own localized version of it that is focused on Australia (and building up international tourism to places like Thailand, Bali, and China). But it was FASCINATING. There's an article in the journal (I bought the January/February one for $5) about this couple that is taking the "Big Lap" around Australia on Highway One. H1 runs all the way around the perimeter of the continent, tracing the coast and visiting nearly every major city in Australia. This couple is taking about a year to do it, and their photojournal about the first leg of their trip is amazing. How many of us would drop everything to take a year-long roadtrip around the entire Australian continent?!
It started to get dark because the sun had set. It eventually got so dark that I couldn't read anymore, so I put the mag down and looked at the time. (6:00 pm.) My host family still wasn't home, and Flick doesn't have a cell phone; Glenn doesn't get off work until 7 at least. I just pulled up my sweatshirt ("jumper") hood and curled up.
It gave me time to think about all the things that have happened to me in the past 3 weeks. I've been in Australia for 3 1/2 weeks already, and I'm just now beginning to feel like I'm learning the people and the culture. I'm just now beginning to get relationships with people to where we're talking about more than just culture differences, Hugh Jackman, and how weird bogans are. I'm having conversations with people about church, God's place in their lives, and the future of cultural morality. I'm in that weird spot where I'm surprised that I've already been here for 3 weeks, but I feel like I've been here forever.
By this time, it was 6:30, and it was starting to get really cold. Finally Flick drove up and I prepared myself for the inevitable commentary. Haha great. The ONE time I leave my keys in the house...
In other news...
Please be in prayer for the people of Melbourne, who just experienced a 5.5 magnitude earthquake yesterday. No significant damage was done, and as far as the authorities know, nobody was injured, but alot of people are really rattled and frightened. I praise God for His provision and protection, but I also pray that this experience opens doors for the local churches to minister to peoples' lives--particularly through Maggie, Taylor, and Ashton (the three girls with whom I came). They're in the area and they have already posted on Facebook about it. Please pray that this minor quake will open doors and allow people to let their guard down long enough that Taylor, Ashton, and Maggie might have opportunities to speak into their lives and show the love of Christ in an uncertain time.
First, before I get into my "deeper thoughts," a little local culture for you all...
 |
| This one here calls HIMSELF a bogan. Something about "bogan pride." |
Basically, a bogan is pretty close to what we in the States call "redneck" or "trailer park trash." Problem is, Australia doesn't have trailer parks, so they make do with what they have. Beer, cigs, mullets, acid jeans, "flannos" (open flannel shirts over a t-shirt), AC/DC, etc. But today, bogans are finally recognized by the rest of English-speaking people as their own sub-species.
 |
| And yet they're somehow familiar... |
Tuesday
I spent my morning editing photos and in general enjoying the quiet (well, with the exception of the family of screaming magpies outside--they have one of the funkiest songs I've ever heard). A college-age girl named Yanni from Glen Osmond Baptist came and picked me up and we drove to Glenelg Beach, one of the more beautiful beaches around. Obviously, it was too cold to be in the water, so we had lunch before she had to head on home. I wandered around the small town, but most of the shops were closed because the town thrives on summer tourism. One of the older men who was fishing off of the pier talked to me for a few minutes; he was fishing for squid but wasn't having much luck.
I rode the tram back to the city center and then the bus from there to Tea Tree, and then I walked the rest of the way home. I was enjoying the beautiful weather, watching the sun set and listening to the birds settling down for the evening. I walked up to my host home and realized that I had left the house keys on the dining room table. (It's been years since I locked myself out.) So I sat on the front porch, expecting my host family to be home in a little while. (This was at 4:30.)
I read my Australian Geographic magazine for a bit--yeah, I WOULD be the person to find it. You know National Geographic? Australia has their own localized version of it that is focused on Australia (and building up international tourism to places like Thailand, Bali, and China). But it was FASCINATING. There's an article in the journal (I bought the January/February one for $5) about this couple that is taking the "Big Lap" around Australia on Highway One. H1 runs all the way around the perimeter of the continent, tracing the coast and visiting nearly every major city in Australia. This couple is taking about a year to do it, and their photojournal about the first leg of their trip is amazing. How many of us would drop everything to take a year-long roadtrip around the entire Australian continent?!
It started to get dark because the sun had set. It eventually got so dark that I couldn't read anymore, so I put the mag down and looked at the time. (6:00 pm.) My host family still wasn't home, and Flick doesn't have a cell phone; Glenn doesn't get off work until 7 at least. I just pulled up my sweatshirt ("jumper") hood and curled up.
It gave me time to think about all the things that have happened to me in the past 3 weeks. I've been in Australia for 3 1/2 weeks already, and I'm just now beginning to feel like I'm learning the people and the culture. I'm just now beginning to get relationships with people to where we're talking about more than just culture differences, Hugh Jackman, and how weird bogans are. I'm having conversations with people about church, God's place in their lives, and the future of cultural morality. I'm in that weird spot where I'm surprised that I've already been here for 3 weeks, but I feel like I've been here forever.
By this time, it was 6:30, and it was starting to get really cold. Finally Flick drove up and I prepared myself for the inevitable commentary. Haha great. The ONE time I leave my keys in the house...
In other news...
Please be in prayer for the people of Melbourne, who just experienced a 5.5 magnitude earthquake yesterday. No significant damage was done, and as far as the authorities know, nobody was injured, but alot of people are really rattled and frightened. I praise God for His provision and protection, but I also pray that this experience opens doors for the local churches to minister to peoples' lives--particularly through Maggie, Taylor, and Ashton (the three girls with whom I came). They're in the area and they have already posted on Facebook about it. Please pray that this minor quake will open doors and allow people to let their guard down long enough that Taylor, Ashton, and Maggie might have opportunities to speak into their lives and show the love of Christ in an uncertain time.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
fruit from the vine
10:50 am - Wednesday, 20 June 2012
Sunday
At the cafe in the morning, our sister church (Glen Osmond Baptist) came and produced a children's activity. It was simple, really--coloring sheets, craft activities, and a short Bible lesson--but it brought in a crowd of people, some of them from the community around Soul Food. It provided many opportunities to converse with people in an intentional way, and many new relationships were built. It caused the Soul Food group to consider putting on similar activities once a month, because it was so successful. (It was also REALLY busy; it took us over an hour to clean up and shut the place down.)
At our service in the evening, I shared part of my testimony. I also told them that there are people in the United States who, as a result of me being part of Soul Food, are now aware of some of the situation and are praying for this little group. They were very thankful and couldn't believe that churches around the world in America were concerned about them and were praying for them. (They said to say thank you, that your prayers are very encouraging.)
Our service turned into a very thick discussion about John 15 (the Vine and the Branches, producing fruit in ministry). One of the members brought up the question, "What is fruit? What is this thing we're looking for? Is it producing converts, multiplying members, growing our congregation, discipling, putting on a good ministry, being accepted as a legitimate church, doing what God wants, or none of the above?"
Obviously, people have their opinions about it, but when it comes down to it, really, what IS "fruit?" What do we as churches or groups of believers strive towards? Is it about production, multiplication, and growth? Or is it about simply doing what God wants, even if the results are not what we expect?
Look at Jeremiah; his ministry was decades-long, and he was clearly doing exactly what God wanted him to do; yet he saw no converts in his entire ministry, no results of his preaching, no life-changes or drastic movements. Was Jeremiah a failure?
We so quickly say, "NO! He was not!", and yet we live our lives and serve in our churches as if he was. In the back of our minds, we secretly pray that our lives would not be as Jeremiah's. Some would make the case that this is human nature and thus unavoidable; I believe that it is possible to live one's life as if God's will is the only fruit we are seeking. There are stories of missionaries who trained for years to go on the field, and are killed the minute they set foot there. Do we look sadly on their lives as wasted, as lost potential? Or is it possible we can look at their time on the earth and praise God for their obedience, even if the results are not as we would have them?
Enough about that; I'm uncomfortable just thinking about it, even though I know I need to wrestle through it.
Monday
Flick drove me to Tea Tree Plaza (the biggest shopping center here; I tend to spend alot of time there) and I got on a bus to the city center. It wasn't the prettiest of days, but I had some sights I wanted to go see!
First, I walked to North Adelaide (probably a good kilometer or so) to the St. Peter's Cathedral. (See pictures on Facebook, it's GORGEOUS!) The history of the cathedral is interesting; initially building began in the 1860s, but it had to be completed in pieces as the money was available. It took over 100 years to finish the cathedral, so there is mismatched woodwork, different styles of stained glass, and differently colored stonework. I was half expecting a modernized cathedral, but this was the old-style church--high stone arches, soaring ceilings, a massive and ornately carved wooden altar, and multiple smaller prayer rooms and chapels contained within the main building. I was probably in there for an hour, just staring at the craftsmanship and thinking about the people who are immortalized in the glass, stone, and wood.
When I left the cathedral to walk back to the city center, it had decided to rain. This made everything wet and cold, but it also provided alot of beautiful views. Being wet and nasty as it was (btw, apparently "nasty" is considered an "American" word?), I decided to go to the South Australian Museum which is a block away from Rundle Mall (the main shopping center). Entry is free, so I wasn't expecting much.
What I got was an education in fossils, opals, aboriginal life, and expeditions into Australia's interior in the early 1900s. The building itself is beautiful, a combination of brick and steel/glass. There are exhibits varying from a life-size giant squid model, to a skeleton gallery, to an entire hall of ancient Aboriginal tools of life, to the different minerals found in Australia.
Although it was heavily biased, I learned alot from the exhibits featuring Aboriginals, the original inhabitants of Australia. Having a bit of Native American in my ancestry and a lifelong fascination with American history, I am familiar with the struggles of the indigenous population in America against explorers, pioneers, and settlers. The situation in Australia is drastically different, and it's an issue that affects life even today. The first European settlers in Australia assumed that the land, though inhabited, had no claims on its property. They believed that God had given them this land to claim and take control of. (Sounds familiar so far.) When they first landed, they brought European diseases like smallpox and measles, as well as invasive species such as rabbits and rats. The Aboriginals rarely fought for their rights to the land; they usually just moved on and watched sadly as their ancestral grounds and sacred familial communities were destroyed in the path of European superiority.
As time went on, the European settlers began to notice that there were other people on the continent, and missionaries started their push into the indigenous communities. Just as in other parts of the word, the missionaries to the Aboriginal communities insisted on forcing the people to conform to "white" traditions and customs in order to be considered "saved" or employable. Today, the situation is almost as dismal, with the majority of the Aboriginal remnants living in rundown communities, fully dependent on the government for financial handouts, education, and means of survival (alcohol, drugs, etc.). The majority of people of Aboriginal descent now struggle against a system that is highly discriminatory, forcing them out of jobs, away from education, and giving them a life that destines them for failure. It's depressing, but that is the unfortunate foundation for much of the racism that is alive and well in Australia.
I left there and headed home, where I got to talk to my family via videochat for over two hours. It was good, because I got to see them, but in a way it was sortof not good, because it started me thinking that I've been here for 3 weeks already (away from home for 3 1/2). In a way it feels like I just got here; and in a way it feels like I've been here forever.
Sunday
At the cafe in the morning, our sister church (Glen Osmond Baptist) came and produced a children's activity. It was simple, really--coloring sheets, craft activities, and a short Bible lesson--but it brought in a crowd of people, some of them from the community around Soul Food. It provided many opportunities to converse with people in an intentional way, and many new relationships were built. It caused the Soul Food group to consider putting on similar activities once a month, because it was so successful. (It was also REALLY busy; it took us over an hour to clean up and shut the place down.)
At our service in the evening, I shared part of my testimony. I also told them that there are people in the United States who, as a result of me being part of Soul Food, are now aware of some of the situation and are praying for this little group. They were very thankful and couldn't believe that churches around the world in America were concerned about them and were praying for them. (They said to say thank you, that your prayers are very encouraging.)
Our service turned into a very thick discussion about John 15 (the Vine and the Branches, producing fruit in ministry). One of the members brought up the question, "What is fruit? What is this thing we're looking for? Is it producing converts, multiplying members, growing our congregation, discipling, putting on a good ministry, being accepted as a legitimate church, doing what God wants, or none of the above?"
Obviously, people have their opinions about it, but when it comes down to it, really, what IS "fruit?" What do we as churches or groups of believers strive towards? Is it about production, multiplication, and growth? Or is it about simply doing what God wants, even if the results are not what we expect?
Look at Jeremiah; his ministry was decades-long, and he was clearly doing exactly what God wanted him to do; yet he saw no converts in his entire ministry, no results of his preaching, no life-changes or drastic movements. Was Jeremiah a failure?
We so quickly say, "NO! He was not!", and yet we live our lives and serve in our churches as if he was. In the back of our minds, we secretly pray that our lives would not be as Jeremiah's. Some would make the case that this is human nature and thus unavoidable; I believe that it is possible to live one's life as if God's will is the only fruit we are seeking. There are stories of missionaries who trained for years to go on the field, and are killed the minute they set foot there. Do we look sadly on their lives as wasted, as lost potential? Or is it possible we can look at their time on the earth and praise God for their obedience, even if the results are not as we would have them?
Enough about that; I'm uncomfortable just thinking about it, even though I know I need to wrestle through it.
Monday
Flick drove me to Tea Tree Plaza (the biggest shopping center here; I tend to spend alot of time there) and I got on a bus to the city center. It wasn't the prettiest of days, but I had some sights I wanted to go see!
First, I walked to North Adelaide (probably a good kilometer or so) to the St. Peter's Cathedral. (See pictures on Facebook, it's GORGEOUS!) The history of the cathedral is interesting; initially building began in the 1860s, but it had to be completed in pieces as the money was available. It took over 100 years to finish the cathedral, so there is mismatched woodwork, different styles of stained glass, and differently colored stonework. I was half expecting a modernized cathedral, but this was the old-style church--high stone arches, soaring ceilings, a massive and ornately carved wooden altar, and multiple smaller prayer rooms and chapels contained within the main building. I was probably in there for an hour, just staring at the craftsmanship and thinking about the people who are immortalized in the glass, stone, and wood.
When I left the cathedral to walk back to the city center, it had decided to rain. This made everything wet and cold, but it also provided alot of beautiful views. Being wet and nasty as it was (btw, apparently "nasty" is considered an "American" word?), I decided to go to the South Australian Museum which is a block away from Rundle Mall (the main shopping center). Entry is free, so I wasn't expecting much.
What I got was an education in fossils, opals, aboriginal life, and expeditions into Australia's interior in the early 1900s. The building itself is beautiful, a combination of brick and steel/glass. There are exhibits varying from a life-size giant squid model, to a skeleton gallery, to an entire hall of ancient Aboriginal tools of life, to the different minerals found in Australia.
Although it was heavily biased, I learned alot from the exhibits featuring Aboriginals, the original inhabitants of Australia. Having a bit of Native American in my ancestry and a lifelong fascination with American history, I am familiar with the struggles of the indigenous population in America against explorers, pioneers, and settlers. The situation in Australia is drastically different, and it's an issue that affects life even today. The first European settlers in Australia assumed that the land, though inhabited, had no claims on its property. They believed that God had given them this land to claim and take control of. (Sounds familiar so far.) When they first landed, they brought European diseases like smallpox and measles, as well as invasive species such as rabbits and rats. The Aboriginals rarely fought for their rights to the land; they usually just moved on and watched sadly as their ancestral grounds and sacred familial communities were destroyed in the path of European superiority.
As time went on, the European settlers began to notice that there were other people on the continent, and missionaries started their push into the indigenous communities. Just as in other parts of the word, the missionaries to the Aboriginal communities insisted on forcing the people to conform to "white" traditions and customs in order to be considered "saved" or employable. Today, the situation is almost as dismal, with the majority of the Aboriginal remnants living in rundown communities, fully dependent on the government for financial handouts, education, and means of survival (alcohol, drugs, etc.). The majority of people of Aboriginal descent now struggle against a system that is highly discriminatory, forcing them out of jobs, away from education, and giving them a life that destines them for failure. It's depressing, but that is the unfortunate foundation for much of the racism that is alive and well in Australia.
I left there and headed home, where I got to talk to my family via videochat for over two hours. It was good, because I got to see them, but in a way it was sortof not good, because it started me thinking that I've been here for 3 weeks already (away from home for 3 1/2). In a way it feels like I just got here; and in a way it feels like I've been here forever.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
an american flag day in an australian land
11:30 pm - Thursday, 14 June 2012
As my alarm went off this morning, it also came with a note that today was Flag Day (USA), a day that we Americans set aside to honor and pay tribute to our flag, a banner of our country. (Australia's is Sept. 3.) A flag is a symbol of one's allegiance to a particular country or cause, and it increases in significance when flown during a time of war or residence abroad. It serves as a reminder to the displaced citizen of their home country/cause, and it becomes a beacon of purpose to those in the surrounding region that immediately identifies who its adherents are. Flags are a thing of sentimental value, an emotional connection with a place or an idea.
All day I've been thinking about the differences between Australia and my home country of the United States of America, but I've been focusing on the differences in church culture that I've already perceived. Because I'm here on a mission trip with a Christian group, I need to focus in on my purpose in being here and what I want to accomplish. (Further considerations will be posted later this week, as I will be staying in a different host home and will have more time to think about such things and less time on the floor putting together Winnie the Pooh puzzles with a 6-year-old. :(
When I first got here, I wondered what I would be actually doing that could classify this trip as a "mission." To me, this isn't your typical mission trip. It even sounds like a borderline extended vacation, with the notable difference of volunteering five days a week in a nonprofit cafe. But the more I think about it, the more I realize that I'm here with the purpose of watching God work, even if it's not in the way I expect Him to.
At first, my mother helped me come up with the idea that I was doing a "Martha" mission--basically, I see a need, and I have the time/energy/resources to fill that need, so I go. It's focused on the physical needs of other people serving in the ministry, a focus on how I can free them up to be able to do other things. Although I still kindof think that I'm definitely here to physically help, my view has expanded (and will continue to grow as time moves--after all, I still have 6 weeks in Adelaide).
Then, I got the idea that I'm here to learn--to be a sponge, soaking up the culture and the church environment of the area. I felt that I needed to see firsthand the Aussie church, to hear the frustrations and the success stories, to know the pulse of the local church and hear opinions from those on the "front lines" in the community. I also wanted to learn the differences between the American Church where I grew up and which I understand, and the Australian Church which is entrenched in a very different war and fighting with drastically different weapons. I desire to learn the advantages and disadvantages of both, to find out what the different approaches are, and to bring back the "word from the field" to the U.S. so that we may know better how to equip, invigorate, and encourage our brothers and sisters around the world. So often we in America think that we're the only ones who have answers, we're the only ones going through this war, we're the only ones dealing with issues of complacency, apathy, isolation, or an aggressive culture. Already I have seen firsthand that we are definitely NOT the only ones struggling in this battle of "intellectual religion" and ethical fluidity.
The overwhelming feeling that I'm getting (the more I think about this, the stronger it gets) is that I'm here to provide support and encouragement to a church that is discouraged and getting worn out. Over the past couple of weeks, I've gotten the sense that the small Christian community in this area is being worn thin. Their ideas aren't working, and they're not seeing the fruit they expected from their ministry. (And not just Soul Food--other ministries, as well.) So far, my impression is that the Australian Church is fighting a new battle with old weapons that are outmoded and ineffective. The Australian Church is having to learn the difficult way how to go out and reach out to the community, rather than waiting for it to come to them and their programs. This is not a new struggle--I think the global Church is constantly having to figure it out--but it's a very real, very prevalent daily war that the Aussie Christians are fighting. And they need reassurance that what they're doing is not in vain.
Which brings me back to Flag Day. For a couple of months this year, I am learning what it's like to literally be a stranger in a foreign land. I'm completely out of my element, totally without the comfort of my family and friends, and devoid of the level of independence to which I've been accustomed for years. I'm without my church family, and I'm minus a paying job. I'm not used to the culture, I don't understand most of the popular references, and I still don't get the television advertisements (then again, not many people do--Aussies make some weird TV commercials). It's been a long, LONG time since I didn't get a joke. I have allegiances and roots in a completely different part of the world, something that's going to become blatantly apparent next month during the 2012 Olympic Games. I'm going to be proudly cheering my country on, despite being surrounded by people who are supportive of one of our competitors.
But isn't that what it's like to be a Christian on Planet Earth? After one becomes a follower of Christ, s/he exists in a world that becomes completely foreign to them. Their allegiance and fealty is sworn to a different place, one that is in constant struggle with the place where they actually physically live. A follower of Christ on Planet Earth is surrounded by people who do not agree with them and actually sometimes go on the attack against them. Even sometimes a follower of Christ loses the support of their family and friends, simply on the grounds that they are now from different worlds and "cheer" for different teams. To be an alien in a foreign land is the daily life of a devoted follower of Christ.
But our life is found in Christ. We cheer on God the Father. And our banner is the Holy Spirit.
For the next few days, if I happen to cross your mind, or if you chance to think about Australia and what God is doing here, please pray for your brothers and sisters here. They desperately need your support and encouragement (and if you feel led to do so, I can pass along notes of encouragement to some of them). They are tired, worn thin, and out of ideas. The older generation is watching sadly as their system of life and way of living is deteriorating; the middle generation is caught inbetween an outdated way of doing ministry and a new problem of assimilation; and the younger generation is facing an increasingly complicated tangle of how to follow Christ in a world rife with situational ethics and universal salvation theology. They need you, their fellow adherents to the Way and followers of the banner of Christ, to remember them and pray for them.
More on this topic in the coming weeks. God is showing me some crazy big stuff...
As my alarm went off this morning, it also came with a note that today was Flag Day (USA), a day that we Americans set aside to honor and pay tribute to our flag, a banner of our country. (Australia's is Sept. 3.) A flag is a symbol of one's allegiance to a particular country or cause, and it increases in significance when flown during a time of war or residence abroad. It serves as a reminder to the displaced citizen of their home country/cause, and it becomes a beacon of purpose to those in the surrounding region that immediately identifies who its adherents are. Flags are a thing of sentimental value, an emotional connection with a place or an idea.
All day I've been thinking about the differences between Australia and my home country of the United States of America, but I've been focusing on the differences in church culture that I've already perceived. Because I'm here on a mission trip with a Christian group, I need to focus in on my purpose in being here and what I want to accomplish. (Further considerations will be posted later this week, as I will be staying in a different host home and will have more time to think about such things and less time on the floor putting together Winnie the Pooh puzzles with a 6-year-old. :(
When I first got here, I wondered what I would be actually doing that could classify this trip as a "mission." To me, this isn't your typical mission trip. It even sounds like a borderline extended vacation, with the notable difference of volunteering five days a week in a nonprofit cafe. But the more I think about it, the more I realize that I'm here with the purpose of watching God work, even if it's not in the way I expect Him to.
At first, my mother helped me come up with the idea that I was doing a "Martha" mission--basically, I see a need, and I have the time/energy/resources to fill that need, so I go. It's focused on the physical needs of other people serving in the ministry, a focus on how I can free them up to be able to do other things. Although I still kindof think that I'm definitely here to physically help, my view has expanded (and will continue to grow as time moves--after all, I still have 6 weeks in Adelaide).
Then, I got the idea that I'm here to learn--to be a sponge, soaking up the culture and the church environment of the area. I felt that I needed to see firsthand the Aussie church, to hear the frustrations and the success stories, to know the pulse of the local church and hear opinions from those on the "front lines" in the community. I also wanted to learn the differences between the American Church where I grew up and which I understand, and the Australian Church which is entrenched in a very different war and fighting with drastically different weapons. I desire to learn the advantages and disadvantages of both, to find out what the different approaches are, and to bring back the "word from the field" to the U.S. so that we may know better how to equip, invigorate, and encourage our brothers and sisters around the world. So often we in America think that we're the only ones who have answers, we're the only ones going through this war, we're the only ones dealing with issues of complacency, apathy, isolation, or an aggressive culture. Already I have seen firsthand that we are definitely NOT the only ones struggling in this battle of "intellectual religion" and ethical fluidity.
The overwhelming feeling that I'm getting (the more I think about this, the stronger it gets) is that I'm here to provide support and encouragement to a church that is discouraged and getting worn out. Over the past couple of weeks, I've gotten the sense that the small Christian community in this area is being worn thin. Their ideas aren't working, and they're not seeing the fruit they expected from their ministry. (And not just Soul Food--other ministries, as well.) So far, my impression is that the Australian Church is fighting a new battle with old weapons that are outmoded and ineffective. The Australian Church is having to learn the difficult way how to go out and reach out to the community, rather than waiting for it to come to them and their programs. This is not a new struggle--I think the global Church is constantly having to figure it out--but it's a very real, very prevalent daily war that the Aussie Christians are fighting. And they need reassurance that what they're doing is not in vain.
Which brings me back to Flag Day. For a couple of months this year, I am learning what it's like to literally be a stranger in a foreign land. I'm completely out of my element, totally without the comfort of my family and friends, and devoid of the level of independence to which I've been accustomed for years. I'm without my church family, and I'm minus a paying job. I'm not used to the culture, I don't understand most of the popular references, and I still don't get the television advertisements (then again, not many people do--Aussies make some weird TV commercials). It's been a long, LONG time since I didn't get a joke. I have allegiances and roots in a completely different part of the world, something that's going to become blatantly apparent next month during the 2012 Olympic Games. I'm going to be proudly cheering my country on, despite being surrounded by people who are supportive of one of our competitors.
But isn't that what it's like to be a Christian on Planet Earth? After one becomes a follower of Christ, s/he exists in a world that becomes completely foreign to them. Their allegiance and fealty is sworn to a different place, one that is in constant struggle with the place where they actually physically live. A follower of Christ on Planet Earth is surrounded by people who do not agree with them and actually sometimes go on the attack against them. Even sometimes a follower of Christ loses the support of their family and friends, simply on the grounds that they are now from different worlds and "cheer" for different teams. To be an alien in a foreign land is the daily life of a devoted follower of Christ.
But our life is found in Christ. We cheer on God the Father. And our banner is the Holy Spirit.
For the next few days, if I happen to cross your mind, or if you chance to think about Australia and what God is doing here, please pray for your brothers and sisters here. They desperately need your support and encouragement (and if you feel led to do so, I can pass along notes of encouragement to some of them). They are tired, worn thin, and out of ideas. The older generation is watching sadly as their system of life and way of living is deteriorating; the middle generation is caught inbetween an outdated way of doing ministry and a new problem of assimilation; and the younger generation is facing an increasingly complicated tangle of how to follow Christ in a world rife with situational ethics and universal salvation theology. They need you, their fellow adherents to the Way and followers of the banner of Christ, to remember them and pray for them.
More on this topic in the coming weeks. God is showing me some crazy big stuff...
Monday, June 11, 2012
have I already been here two weeks?
4:23 pm - Tuesday, 12 July 2012
Adelaide, SA, Australia
(Somehoe my Blogger is refusing to put the correct time on this entry...hmmm)
Yesterday was the Queen's birthday--yes, the Queen of England. Because Australia is still a Commonwealth of the United Kingdom, the Queen's birthday is a federal/national holiday. Kids were out of school and people were off work. The Johnsons wanted to take me on a family outing, which if you know me, I'm ALWAYS up for one!
We got up later than usual (which was fine with me, this cold weather just makes me want to sleep) and left the house at around 10am. We headed for the Adelaide Hills and took a scenic drive around. On the way, we passed flocks of sheep, a mob or two of kangaroos, and a tree full of cockatoos! (All while listening to Van Halen. It's an awesome driving soundtrack, once you think about it.)
Our first stop was Gumeracha (pronounced "gum-err-OCK-uh"), the home of the largest rocking horse in the world! Yes, someone really did build a huge steel rocking horse and made it into one of the biggest tourist attractions of the region. We climbed to the top of it and looked around at the hills, but the horse is not in the most scenic of places.
Right next door to the horse is a wooden toy factory. We went in and walked around the shop. You can't actually go into the working area, but there is a window where you can see in. All of their toys are truly handmade, and it was almost like being in Gepetto's shop (I half expected to see Pinocchio hop up on a shelf).
Our next destination was in the town of Woodside--Melba's Chocolate Factory. YES, a FACTORY of chocolate! Located in an old Farmer's Union building that has been restored, the factory is a step back in time. There is a main shopping area, and around this area are several rooms where the candy is made. There is a mixing room, a coating room, a fudgery, a cooling room, and a packing room. For the most part, I recognized the candies (Aussies call them "lollies") and chocolates, but there were a few that I had no idea what they were. (For example, Aussies call raisins "sultanas." So when I saw a bag of "dark chocolate covered sultanas," I was understandably confused until someone told me what it was.) I bought a bag of dark-chocolate-covered coffee beans, but my REAL prize was a set of Mustache cookie cutters. FOR THE WIN! There are five different shapes of mustachios (Aussies call them "mo's"--they like shortening everything): the Baron, the Imperial, the Walrus, the Woolford, and the Bristle Brush. Should I? Did I? Heck yes.
In another restored building right next door to Melba's is a local cheese making shop. I have never seen so many fancy cheeses in my life! Goat cheese, cow cheese, goat AND cow cheese, aged cheese and fresh cheese, Camembert, truffle-infused, grape-leaf wrapped, flavored, unflavored, salted...and every single one was good! The cheese maker is known for her gourmet touch, and it definitely lived up to the hype (as well as the high price tag expected!).
We hopped back in the car and took off on another beautiful drive to the town of Hahndorf. Now wait, you think, that sounds German! You'd be right. Hahndorf is a small community of German settlers high in the Adelaide Hills who were seeking religious freedom from the oppressive Church of England. Their descendants still live and farm there, and many of the original buildings are still standing (some of them dating back to the 1850s).
Hahndorf is uber-popular, and because it was a public holiday, the streets were bustling with people. Now me, I enjoy crowds and (being used to New Orleans-style Mardi Gras) I'm used to them. The kids weren't, and we had a rough time of it finding a place to eat lunch. Because of the busy-ness of the town, we unfortunately did not get to go into any of the small shops (such as the leather, alpaca, German Christmas shops, etc), so I'm definitely going to try to get back to Hahndorf sometime.
Our drive back was beautiful and extremely peaceful because the day had worn the kids completely out. They all slept almost the entire way back home, and the three adults enjoyed the views.
I was only home for a couple of hours before Ella came to pick me up for an evening out in Adelaide. Ella is a little bit younger than I, but she is one of the people with whom I've really connected while I've been here. We went to Chinatown in the city center for dinner, and then to Glenelg Beach for coffee/hot chocolate. We had some fantastic conversation about dating, God's plan for mankind, how screwed up America's politics are, the presence of racism in Australia, and our drastically different journeys to becoming Christians. It was absolutely fantastic to spend time with her and I'm already looking forward to the next time!
This morning I actually slept through the mayhem of school preparation and didn't get out of bed until 8am. I had a leisurely breakfast, did my laundry (which included hanging it outside on the clothesline because the Johnsons don't have a dryer--apparently not many Aussies do! It was probably only the third time in my life I've ever done that), read Robinson Crusoe, and gradually got ready to go out.
I had a nice 20-minute walk to the nearest shopping center named Tea Tree Plaza, where I spent the afternoon wandering through shops and checking out the local people. For some reason, my favorite people-watching (in this order) is at a theme park, at the beach, and at a mall. I find that I get alot of understanding of local culture whenever I do that. Over lunch, I watched people walking by and figured out that Adelaidians are extremely fashion-minded--but not in the posh, snooty way that big-city people are. And they aren't vain, they just pay attention to how they dress. Sure, you see the occasional sweatpants and Uggs, but most of the people are well-dressed, walk with a purpose, and are observant of their environment.
I bought a few random things that I've been needing. I also FINALLY found the book on Australian history for which I've been looking! I'm excited to read it and begin learning the history of this fascinating country. I also picked up a book about Aussie money and why there are certain people and symbols on their currency. Finally, I found out that there's a MOVIE THEATER in Tea Tree Plaza! WOOT! Although movies cost ALOT more money than at home, at least now I know where I can go to see Brave/The Dark Knight Rises/Abraham Lincoln/Spider-Man!
Today has been a very peaceful and restful day, a time where I've been able to just be quiet and enjoy my surroundings. The kids just got home and they're excitedly beating down the door to play, so I gotta go. Surely we'll play another round of a board game, for which I'm re-discovering my love!
Adelaide, SA, Australia
(Somehoe my Blogger is refusing to put the correct time on this entry...hmmm)
Yesterday was the Queen's birthday--yes, the Queen of England. Because Australia is still a Commonwealth of the United Kingdom, the Queen's birthday is a federal/national holiday. Kids were out of school and people were off work. The Johnsons wanted to take me on a family outing, which if you know me, I'm ALWAYS up for one!We got up later than usual (which was fine with me, this cold weather just makes me want to sleep) and left the house at around 10am. We headed for the Adelaide Hills and took a scenic drive around. On the way, we passed flocks of sheep, a mob or two of kangaroos, and a tree full of cockatoos! (All while listening to Van Halen. It's an awesome driving soundtrack, once you think about it.)
 |
Right next door to the horse is a wooden toy factory. We went in and walked around the shop. You can't actually go into the working area, but there is a window where you can see in. All of their toys are truly handmade, and it was almost like being in Gepetto's shop (I half expected to see Pinocchio hop up on a shelf).
 |
| Melba's Chocolate Factory |
In another restored building right next door to Melba's is a local cheese making shop. I have never seen so many fancy cheeses in my life! Goat cheese, cow cheese, goat AND cow cheese, aged cheese and fresh cheese, Camembert, truffle-infused, grape-leaf wrapped, flavored, unflavored, salted...and every single one was good! The cheese maker is known for her gourmet touch, and it definitely lived up to the hype (as well as the high price tag expected!).
We hopped back in the car and took off on another beautiful drive to the town of Hahndorf. Now wait, you think, that sounds German! You'd be right. Hahndorf is a small community of German settlers high in the Adelaide Hills who were seeking religious freedom from the oppressive Church of England. Their descendants still live and farm there, and many of the original buildings are still standing (some of them dating back to the 1850s).Hahndorf is uber-popular, and because it was a public holiday, the streets were bustling with people. Now me, I enjoy crowds and (being used to New Orleans-style Mardi Gras) I'm used to them. The kids weren't, and we had a rough time of it finding a place to eat lunch. Because of the busy-ness of the town, we unfortunately did not get to go into any of the small shops (such as the leather, alpaca, German Christmas shops, etc), so I'm definitely going to try to get back to Hahndorf sometime.
Our drive back was beautiful and extremely peaceful because the day had worn the kids completely out. They all slept almost the entire way back home, and the three adults enjoyed the views.
 |
| Me and my buddy, Bethany! |
This morning I actually slept through the mayhem of school preparation and didn't get out of bed until 8am. I had a leisurely breakfast, did my laundry (which included hanging it outside on the clothesline because the Johnsons don't have a dryer--apparently not many Aussies do! It was probably only the third time in my life I've ever done that), read Robinson Crusoe, and gradually got ready to go out.
I had a nice 20-minute walk to the nearest shopping center named Tea Tree Plaza, where I spent the afternoon wandering through shops and checking out the local people. For some reason, my favorite people-watching (in this order) is at a theme park, at the beach, and at a mall. I find that I get alot of understanding of local culture whenever I do that. Over lunch, I watched people walking by and figured out that Adelaidians are extremely fashion-minded--but not in the posh, snooty way that big-city people are. And they aren't vain, they just pay attention to how they dress. Sure, you see the occasional sweatpants and Uggs, but most of the people are well-dressed, walk with a purpose, and are observant of their environment.
I bought a few random things that I've been needing. I also FINALLY found the book on Australian history for which I've been looking! I'm excited to read it and begin learning the history of this fascinating country. I also picked up a book about Aussie money and why there are certain people and symbols on their currency. Finally, I found out that there's a MOVIE THEATER in Tea Tree Plaza! WOOT! Although movies cost ALOT more money than at home, at least now I know where I can go to see Brave/The Dark Knight Rises/Abraham Lincoln/Spider-Man!
Today has been a very peaceful and restful day, a time where I've been able to just be quiet and enjoy my surroundings. The kids just got home and they're excitedly beating down the door to play, so I gotta go. Surely we'll play another round of a board game, for which I'm re-discovering my love!
Sunday, June 10, 2012
freezing is not an option
The past few days have been relatively similar. I walk to work, the cafe is relatively busy, then someone gives me a lift home. It's been cold (around 35-45 degrees F), but it only rains at night. The birds calling still sound weird to me (I hope to get a recording of one soon, they sound crazy). Sometimes I watch TV in the evenings with Michelle (including Australia's Got Talent, which had an immensely entertaining yodeling drag queen); sometimes I watch part of a movie with the kids (including the classic stinker Superman III); sometimes I just go to bed.
Saturday and Sunday, however, were different.
Saturday was a full day! I had a video chat with my family (minus Scott--work sucks, don't it?) and got to chat with them for a few minutes. Soon, my family had to leave (they went to see Snow White and the Huntsman). But it was good to see them for a few minutes and be able to talk with them "face" to "face".
By the way, movie tickets here in Australia are ridiculously expensive. I'm not so sure I want to spend $23 on a movie ticket. After not paying for my movies for the past 2 1/2 years, I guess I have some time to make up. No wonder the movies make so much money overseas, the ticket prices are higher!
Anyway, back to Saturday...I went to the shop and actually got to work on the espresso machine. Yep, that's right--after years of no working on a machine, I picked it back up again and it was as easy as riding a bike. There are a few differences, though: their cappuccinos are only about 2-4 cm of foam on top, where the typical American cappuccino has around 1/3 foam, 2/3 drink. The biggest difference, however, is the fact that they don't have "brewed" coffee like we do; instead, they have "long blacks" and "flat whites" (a long black is a shot of espresso with water to fill the cup; a flat white is a shot of espresso with warm milk to the top but NOT foamed milk because that's a latte). But I picked it up pretty quickly. BONUS: My hands smelled like coffee all day. :)
After closing the shop, some of the older men from the group were going to a local "footy" game. ("Footy" is "football," but it's Aussie rules, not American football and it's completely different.) This was the local state league, so it was kindof like a AAA league from baseball. The entire thing was more family-oriented, with the fans going on the field between quarters to try their hand at playing footy. The two teams were the Norwood Red Legs (whom we were cheering for and were undefeated) and the North Adelaide Roosters (the home team). Unfortunately, the previously undefeated Red Legs lost 71-72, and I was informed that I was never allowed to come to another game again because I was the jinx. ;)
Although it seems so on the surface, Aussie rules football is nothing like rugby. It really is alot more like soccer. They can't throw/toss the ball, they have to "handball" it (which is kinda like punching it so it moves) or they can kick it. If it goes out of bounds for any reason it gets tossed back in by the ref. If a player is tackled on top of the ball it gets tossed by a ref. The players can't block around the neck or in the back. There are four goal posts; if the ball goes in between the middle two, it's a 6-point "goal"; if it hits the bars or goes in between the outer two, it's a 1-point "point". If a player catches the ball and it had traveled for more than 15 meters without anyone else touching it, it's a "mark" and he has 30 seconds to throw/kick it, in which time nobody can touch him. The field is huge, the hits are huge, and it's constant movement and adrenaline the entire time. I've never seen so many FIT guys on the same field before, these guys are unbelievable athletes. Rugby looks like wrestling in comparison.
On Sunday, I slept in as much as I could with the kids playing music in the computer room next door. These walls are really thin and the floors are all hardwood on a hollow foundation, so every noise in the house is transmitted throughout the place. So I heard "Gummy Bear", "I Can't Wait (To See You Again)", and 1Direction over and over and over before I finally decided to get up. I'm not used to having kids in the house, but it's really fun. (It also means I sleep really well at night and I'm in bed by 10pm, which makes me feel like a little old lady!) I had a beautiful walk to the cafe, where I had a great shift with some awesome girls.
When I got home, I fully intended to write this blog post. I came in my room with my tea and settled down...and Zac and Bethany decided they wanted to come in and see what I was doing. It very quickly turned into them wanting to watch America's Funniest Home Videos to see if it is the same as Australia's Funniest Home Videos (newsflash: IT IS. Stupidity is universal) and I didn't get any of my blog writing done, but I did get some really good laughing out of it.
Church this week was a bit different as we met here at the Johnson's house. It was a lot cozier and people opened up more. I started to see how this is a good idea. Fellowship and good conversation afterwards made for a thoroughly enjoyable evening.
Today is the Queen's Birthday (Queen Elizabeth of England, that is--remember that Commonwealth thing?), so the kids have off school. The family is taking me up to the Adelaide Hills and into a small German community called Hahndorf. Apparently there is some awesome chocolate and strudel in store for today. I'm down with that!
Saturday and Sunday, however, were different.
Saturday was a full day! I had a video chat with my family (minus Scott--work sucks, don't it?) and got to chat with them for a few minutes. Soon, my family had to leave (they went to see Snow White and the Huntsman). But it was good to see them for a few minutes and be able to talk with them "face" to "face".
By the way, movie tickets here in Australia are ridiculously expensive. I'm not so sure I want to spend $23 on a movie ticket. After not paying for my movies for the past 2 1/2 years, I guess I have some time to make up. No wonder the movies make so much money overseas, the ticket prices are higher!
Anyway, back to Saturday...I went to the shop and actually got to work on the espresso machine. Yep, that's right--after years of no working on a machine, I picked it back up again and it was as easy as riding a bike. There are a few differences, though: their cappuccinos are only about 2-4 cm of foam on top, where the typical American cappuccino has around 1/3 foam, 2/3 drink. The biggest difference, however, is the fact that they don't have "brewed" coffee like we do; instead, they have "long blacks" and "flat whites" (a long black is a shot of espresso with water to fill the cup; a flat white is a shot of espresso with warm milk to the top but NOT foamed milk because that's a latte). But I picked it up pretty quickly. BONUS: My hands smelled like coffee all day. :)
After closing the shop, some of the older men from the group were going to a local "footy" game. ("Footy" is "football," but it's Aussie rules, not American football and it's completely different.) This was the local state league, so it was kindof like a AAA league from baseball. The entire thing was more family-oriented, with the fans going on the field between quarters to try their hand at playing footy. The two teams were the Norwood Red Legs (whom we were cheering for and were undefeated) and the North Adelaide Roosters (the home team). Unfortunately, the previously undefeated Red Legs lost 71-72, and I was informed that I was never allowed to come to another game again because I was the jinx. ;)
Although it seems so on the surface, Aussie rules football is nothing like rugby. It really is alot more like soccer. They can't throw/toss the ball, they have to "handball" it (which is kinda like punching it so it moves) or they can kick it. If it goes out of bounds for any reason it gets tossed back in by the ref. If a player is tackled on top of the ball it gets tossed by a ref. The players can't block around the neck or in the back. There are four goal posts; if the ball goes in between the middle two, it's a 6-point "goal"; if it hits the bars or goes in between the outer two, it's a 1-point "point". If a player catches the ball and it had traveled for more than 15 meters without anyone else touching it, it's a "mark" and he has 30 seconds to throw/kick it, in which time nobody can touch him. The field is huge, the hits are huge, and it's constant movement and adrenaline the entire time. I've never seen so many FIT guys on the same field before, these guys are unbelievable athletes. Rugby looks like wrestling in comparison.
On Sunday, I slept in as much as I could with the kids playing music in the computer room next door. These walls are really thin and the floors are all hardwood on a hollow foundation, so every noise in the house is transmitted throughout the place. So I heard "Gummy Bear", "I Can't Wait (To See You Again)", and 1Direction over and over and over before I finally decided to get up. I'm not used to having kids in the house, but it's really fun. (It also means I sleep really well at night and I'm in bed by 10pm, which makes me feel like a little old lady!) I had a beautiful walk to the cafe, where I had a great shift with some awesome girls.
When I got home, I fully intended to write this blog post. I came in my room with my tea and settled down...and Zac and Bethany decided they wanted to come in and see what I was doing. It very quickly turned into them wanting to watch America's Funniest Home Videos to see if it is the same as Australia's Funniest Home Videos (newsflash: IT IS. Stupidity is universal) and I didn't get any of my blog writing done, but I did get some really good laughing out of it.
Church this week was a bit different as we met here at the Johnson's house. It was a lot cozier and people opened up more. I started to see how this is a good idea. Fellowship and good conversation afterwards made for a thoroughly enjoyable evening.
Today is the Queen's Birthday (Queen Elizabeth of England, that is--remember that Commonwealth thing?), so the kids have off school. The family is taking me up to the Adelaide Hills and into a small German community called Hahndorf. Apparently there is some awesome chocolate and strudel in store for today. I'm down with that!
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
on a hike today I met a boring koala
This morning, Kate P picked me up from the Johnson's home. She asked me where I wanted to go, and I shrugged. (As if I know where stuff is.) She said, "Alright then, I'll take you to one of my favorite places ever."
We took a beautiful scenic half hour drive through some of the most gorgeous hills I've seen since California. Deep gorges covered by tall bushy gum trees, a winding road flanked by tall rock faces on one side, and some beautiful overlooks combined to make me a very happy person...and that was just the drive up! We drove through a small town (I forget the name of it) that is a decently-sized Italian community--apparently they all live together in one town--and pulled off the road to a small-looking park named Morialta (Kate pronounced it "more-ee-aht-uh"). She showed me the map of the place, and it was definitely not small!
Even though Adelaide is a city of about 1.5 million people, the government has mandated where the city limits are and they protect the wilderness that juts up next to it. Basically, you have the ocean and a small strip of beach/wetlands. Then a long, narrow plain where the city and surrounding suburbs are. Then a long line of interconnecting hills that are carefully preserved as wilderness treasures. Then the back country, which is borderline outback. It makes for some really clear and definite lines where city ends and country starts.
Morialta, although it's less than a kilometer from a decently-sized suburb of Adelaide, is a completely wild strip of land that is carefully kept up so that it's a local treasure that is easily accessible to everyone. Kate goes up there all the time. She said it's where she met God for the first time, and after walking around it with her today, I can definitely see how she calls it God's house. It's very peaceful and serene, and definitely not what I think about when I think of Australian landscapes.
The first thing I noticed is that Morialta has alot of wildlife, particularly birds. I saw galahs (a bright pink and grey parrot that is apparently really loud and annoying) as well as several other brightly colored parrots; there are singing frogs along the banks of the creek; and I got cross one animal off my bucket list.
YES, I SAW A WILD KOALA. Two, actually.
It was interesting, we were walking along and all of a sudden Kate looks up and goes, "Oh, there's a koala," and keeps walking. I, of course, being the crazy American I am, stop to take pictures and I start gushing, "Awww he's so cute, wow he has claws, he looks so soft and cuddly!" So there. I've seen the two animals in the wild that I set out to see: kangaroos, and koalas. Everything else is just icing on the cake.
We walked along wide gravel trails for a bit to get to the waterfalls. There are three waterfalls in Morialta, imaginatively named after the order in which you encounter them: First Falls, Second Falls, and Third Falls. The walk up to First Falls wasn't that difficult, and it actually had alot of water rushing down it, so it was a pretty magnificent sight. It was maybe 35 feet high, and if you know me you know that I love waterfalls.
The walk up to the Second Falls very quickly became a clike (halfway between a hike and a climb--and no, that's not an Aussie term, that's Ashley slang). It was super-steep and really difficult. Halfway up there was a bench with a scenic overlook that was blocked perfectly by a huge dead tree. Kate says there must be some spiritual significance to that tree, but God hasn't told her what it is yet. I dunno what she means by that, I just saw a dead tree. ;)
However, the hike up to the Second Falls also showed a different landscape. The really tall gum trees became fewer and farther between, and the path got rockier. When we finally got to the Second Falls, it was pretty amazing how far we'd come in such a short time.
On the way, Kate and I had some really good conversation about her life, her past, and the situation with the churches in Adelaide with which she has been involved. Apparently, most of the churches in the area are dealing with some serious problems, not the least of which is the problem of being outmoded. She feels that alot of churches are stuck in outdated, old ways of doing ministry that don't work anymore, but they're not sure how to bridge the gap between their old-fashioned faith and the new way of adapting to (without conforming to) the newer generations. Their other big problem is not having energetic leaders who are solid in their faith--apparently there's no shortage of people who are self-proclaimed "pastors" but are actually not that strong in their faith and are susceptible to being assimilated into society or borderline false teaching.
The hike to the Third Falls was much easier, although muddier. The landscape changed again, but this time to grassy, blackberry-vine-covered rocks. Although the trail was more narrow, it was in a wider creekbed and wasn't nearly as steep. The Third Falls were the smallest of the three, but I think I liked them best. It is a path not often traveled because people assume the trails continue to get harder the higher up you go, so it's more secluded and less crowded.
We took the other side of the valley on the way back, and we got some breathtaking scenic overviews and passed by a red cave in the side of the hill. When we passed by our koala friend on our way out, he hadn't moved an inch. An hour and a half later, and he was still sound asleep in a tree about 20 feet off the ground. Lazy bum.
Kate and I went out for lunch and then she took me on an hour and a half long drive through parts of Adelaide. We drove by the beach, through some small towns that have recently been assimilated into Adelaide's suburbs, and past some of the industrial areas in Port Adelaide. She told me all about the way Adelaide is designed and how it works, and we drove the scenic backroads route to the Johnsons. We had a merry old time, and I think next time we're going to hike the harder, steeper trails around Morialty...or maybe we'll just go to the nicer south end of the beach.
When I got back to the house, I was nearly tackled by the kids. We had a good time reading books and doing puzzles until dinner time. Ella, another one of the 20-something girls in the area, came by for dinner, and she, Michelle, Evan, and I had a rousing conversation about American politics vs. Australian politics and how the Church needs to be more community-focused. I told them about the Paul-Barnabas-Timothy model of discipleship, and they all really enjoyed hearing how that has been put into practice at Trinity (my home church). The entire time, the CD of Louisiana music that I gave the Johnsons was playing in the other room, and it was a little taste of home for me. :)
We took a beautiful scenic half hour drive through some of the most gorgeous hills I've seen since California. Deep gorges covered by tall bushy gum trees, a winding road flanked by tall rock faces on one side, and some beautiful overlooks combined to make me a very happy person...and that was just the drive up! We drove through a small town (I forget the name of it) that is a decently-sized Italian community--apparently they all live together in one town--and pulled off the road to a small-looking park named Morialta (Kate pronounced it "more-ee-aht-uh"). She showed me the map of the place, and it was definitely not small!Even though Adelaide is a city of about 1.5 million people, the government has mandated where the city limits are and they protect the wilderness that juts up next to it. Basically, you have the ocean and a small strip of beach/wetlands. Then a long, narrow plain where the city and surrounding suburbs are. Then a long line of interconnecting hills that are carefully preserved as wilderness treasures. Then the back country, which is borderline outback. It makes for some really clear and definite lines where city ends and country starts.
The first thing I noticed is that Morialta has alot of wildlife, particularly birds. I saw galahs (a bright pink and grey parrot that is apparently really loud and annoying) as well as several other brightly colored parrots; there are singing frogs along the banks of the creek; and I got cross one animal off my bucket list.
YES, I SAW A WILD KOALA. Two, actually.
It was interesting, we were walking along and all of a sudden Kate looks up and goes, "Oh, there's a koala," and keeps walking. I, of course, being the crazy American I am, stop to take pictures and I start gushing, "Awww he's so cute, wow he has claws, he looks so soft and cuddly!" So there. I've seen the two animals in the wild that I set out to see: kangaroos, and koalas. Everything else is just icing on the cake.
We walked along wide gravel trails for a bit to get to the waterfalls. There are three waterfalls in Morialta, imaginatively named after the order in which you encounter them: First Falls, Second Falls, and Third Falls. The walk up to First Falls wasn't that difficult, and it actually had alot of water rushing down it, so it was a pretty magnificent sight. It was maybe 35 feet high, and if you know me you know that I love waterfalls.The walk up to the Second Falls very quickly became a clike (halfway between a hike and a climb--and no, that's not an Aussie term, that's Ashley slang). It was super-steep and really difficult. Halfway up there was a bench with a scenic overlook that was blocked perfectly by a huge dead tree. Kate says there must be some spiritual significance to that tree, but God hasn't told her what it is yet. I dunno what she means by that, I just saw a dead tree. ;)
On the way, Kate and I had some really good conversation about her life, her past, and the situation with the churches in Adelaide with which she has been involved. Apparently, most of the churches in the area are dealing with some serious problems, not the least of which is the problem of being outmoded. She feels that alot of churches are stuck in outdated, old ways of doing ministry that don't work anymore, but they're not sure how to bridge the gap between their old-fashioned faith and the new way of adapting to (without conforming to) the newer generations. Their other big problem is not having energetic leaders who are solid in their faith--apparently there's no shortage of people who are self-proclaimed "pastors" but are actually not that strong in their faith and are susceptible to being assimilated into society or borderline false teaching.
We took the other side of the valley on the way back, and we got some breathtaking scenic overviews and passed by a red cave in the side of the hill. When we passed by our koala friend on our way out, he hadn't moved an inch. An hour and a half later, and he was still sound asleep in a tree about 20 feet off the ground. Lazy bum.
Kate and I went out for lunch and then she took me on an hour and a half long drive through parts of Adelaide. We drove by the beach, through some small towns that have recently been assimilated into Adelaide's suburbs, and past some of the industrial areas in Port Adelaide. She told me all about the way Adelaide is designed and how it works, and we drove the scenic backroads route to the Johnsons. We had a merry old time, and I think next time we're going to hike the harder, steeper trails around Morialty...or maybe we'll just go to the nicer south end of the beach.
When I got back to the house, I was nearly tackled by the kids. We had a good time reading books and doing puzzles until dinner time. Ella, another one of the 20-something girls in the area, came by for dinner, and she, Michelle, Evan, and I had a rousing conversation about American politics vs. Australian politics and how the Church needs to be more community-focused. I told them about the Paul-Barnabas-Timothy model of discipleship, and they all really enjoyed hearing how that has been put into practice at Trinity (my home church). The entire time, the CD of Louisiana music that I gave the Johnsons was playing in the other room, and it was a little taste of home for me. :)
Monday, June 4, 2012
the king of pop in the backseat
This morning I got up early and went with the family to drop off Zac and Bethany to school. The three of them (Georgia was with us but she was sick so she didn't have to go to school) were in the back seat of the van, Evan was driving, and I was in the front seat. On the way, the kids insisted that Evan play "the Michael CD," which I found out was Michael Jackson's album, Bad.
I couldn't help but laugh when they all started singing Smooth Criminal. Every last word. BY HEART. All three of them. It was hysterically funny to hear three little kid voices with Australian accents singing along with Michael Jackson. Bethany finally stopped and looked at me, saying, "Whaaaaat? We like to sing!"
And I said, "I know, and I like listening."
"Then why are you laughing at us?"
"Because it's funny!"
"No it's not. We just like singing."
Apparently it's like that every morning on the way to school. I just thought it was precious. Evan's sick of the CD.
We dropped the two of them off, and Evan, Georgia, and I drove to the city center of Adelaide. Evan gave me a quick driving tour of the city, and then he dropped me off near the main shopping center called Rundle Mall. Basically, even though the city of Adelaide contains around 1.5 million people, the actual city center is only about 1 square km. It's laid out in a nice tidy grid that is surrounded by a ring of green park area, called the Terrace. When the first settlers came to Adelaide, they put a huge emphasis on building an orderly European-style city. Funny enough, several times I felt like I was in a European city. The architecture is a beautiful blend of old French Renaissance, English Parliamentary style, and a contemporary steel-and-glass design. Brand new skyscrapers might be sandwiched by squat stone buildings that bear plates on them proudly proclaiming, "Est. 1885" or the like.
I barely scratched the surface of things to do. I basically wandered around Rundle Mall for a few hours and then started looking at the bus routes to get home. There's a really nifty thing called the O-Bahn (apparently supposed to resemble the expressway on Europe's Autobahn?), which is a direct bus route from the center of town to a major transportation center near Redwood Park named Teatree Plaza. The O-Bahn is a separate track for buses only, and it allows them to go 80kph without having to deal with pesky things like traffic or stoplights.
A really cool thing: Teatree Plaza is not far from where the Johnsons' home is. I picked up another bus that dropped me off literally three blocks from home and I walked the rest of the way. Talk about another boost to the Empowerment Meter! Now I know how to get to the center of the city, where there is awesome shopping and some really cool walking trails that I want to do.
Today I also got back into the 21st Century. I got my Aussie cell phone. :)
Mark and Karen have had a prepaid cell phone on hand to lend to the American students who come to the area in the past. They passed it on to me and now I am within reach of anybody in the area. (Also of my mother if she needed to get in touch with me. I know she'll be glad to know that.)
Tomorrow is a big day, I'm getting picked up by one of the girls and I think we're going hiking or driving or something. Either way, I'm going to get to see more of Australia and I am excited about that!
I couldn't help but laugh when they all started singing Smooth Criminal. Every last word. BY HEART. All three of them. It was hysterically funny to hear three little kid voices with Australian accents singing along with Michael Jackson. Bethany finally stopped and looked at me, saying, "Whaaaaat? We like to sing!"
And I said, "I know, and I like listening."
"Then why are you laughing at us?"
"Because it's funny!"
"No it's not. We just like singing."
Apparently it's like that every morning on the way to school. I just thought it was precious. Evan's sick of the CD.
We dropped the two of them off, and Evan, Georgia, and I drove to the city center of Adelaide. Evan gave me a quick driving tour of the city, and then he dropped me off near the main shopping center called Rundle Mall. Basically, even though the city of Adelaide contains around 1.5 million people, the actual city center is only about 1 square km. It's laid out in a nice tidy grid that is surrounded by a ring of green park area, called the Terrace. When the first settlers came to Adelaide, they put a huge emphasis on building an orderly European-style city. Funny enough, several times I felt like I was in a European city. The architecture is a beautiful blend of old French Renaissance, English Parliamentary style, and a contemporary steel-and-glass design. Brand new skyscrapers might be sandwiched by squat stone buildings that bear plates on them proudly proclaiming, "Est. 1885" or the like.
I barely scratched the surface of things to do. I basically wandered around Rundle Mall for a few hours and then started looking at the bus routes to get home. There's a really nifty thing called the O-Bahn (apparently supposed to resemble the expressway on Europe's Autobahn?), which is a direct bus route from the center of town to a major transportation center near Redwood Park named Teatree Plaza. The O-Bahn is a separate track for buses only, and it allows them to go 80kph without having to deal with pesky things like traffic or stoplights.
A really cool thing: Teatree Plaza is not far from where the Johnsons' home is. I picked up another bus that dropped me off literally three blocks from home and I walked the rest of the way. Talk about another boost to the Empowerment Meter! Now I know how to get to the center of the city, where there is awesome shopping and some really cool walking trails that I want to do.
Today I also got back into the 21st Century. I got my Aussie cell phone. :)
Mark and Karen have had a prepaid cell phone on hand to lend to the American students who come to the area in the past. They passed it on to me and now I am within reach of anybody in the area. (Also of my mother if she needed to get in touch with me. I know she'll be glad to know that.)
Tomorrow is a big day, I'm getting picked up by one of the girls and I think we're going hiking or driving or something. Either way, I'm going to get to see more of Australia and I am excited about that!
Sunday, June 3, 2012
culture shock
"Culture shock is the personal disorientation a person may feel
when experiencing an unfamiliar way of life due to immigration or a
visit to a new country, or to a move between social environments...Culture shock can be described as consisting of at least one of five
distinct phases: Honeymoon, Negotiation, Adjustment, Mastery and Reverse.
"The Honeymoon: the visitor experiences a love for the new food, the pace of life, and the locals' habits. During the first few weeks, most people are fascinated by the new culture. This period is full of observations and new discoveries...
"The Negotiation: differences between the old and new culture become apparent and may create anxiety. Excitement may eventually give way to unpleasant feelings of frustration and anger as one continues to experience unfavorable events....
"Adjustment: after some time, one grows accustomed to the new culture and develops routines. One knows what to expect in most situations and the host country no longer feels all that new. One becomes concerned with basic living again, and things become more "normal". One starts to develop problem-solving skills for dealing with the culture and begins to accept the culture's ways with a positive attitude. The culture begins to make sense." Wikipedia
Maybe I haven't experienced culture shock on a grand "normalized" scale, but I've definitely been experiencing it on a smaller scale. Just in the past week I've gone through sadness at leaving home and excitement at leaving home, anxiety over traveling so far and elation over traveling so far, desire to be immersed in a new culture and yearning to be returned to my own. The best I can describe it is to say it's been an experience of extremes. One minute I'm loving what's going on or what I'm doing/eating/experiencing. The next minute I'm sad because I miss home or I wish certain people were here. And a few minutes after that, I'm back to loving whatever it is that's going on in the moment. It's weird and I don't think I've gone through something like this since being at Walt Disney World for my college program.
The most recent one: Today is Sunday. The shop is open for a few hours in the morning, and I went in to work. My awesome supervisor gave me a map the other day showing me how to walk from my host family's home to the shop. This morning, I felt confident enough in my bearings to try walking...and I made it! When I say it was a boost to my Empowerment Meter, I'm really not joking. I was feeling pretty good about myself. Honeymoon Phase.
Kate was at work today, and we had a jolly old time of it. For the first time, I felt completely comfortable in the environment at the cafe (and my poor supervisor got her first taste of Ashley-is-comfortable-and-unwinds-her-craziness, which the kids at Hollywood 14 know very well). Kate drove me home, and I was having a great afternoon. The kids were watching How to Train Your Dragon, which is one of my absolute favorite movies of all time. I was having a textbook, grand scale, all-is-right-with-the-world episode of the Honeymoon Phase.
Then we went to the church service at the cafe. When I say it was unlike anything I've ever experienced before, I'm not exaggerating. A group of 13 of us (total--kids included) sat in a circle in chairs. Most of the people in the group are older. (There were only two of us who were between the ages of 13 and 30.) We went through a quick kids' lesson and then our leader put on some music via an iPod. A quick read-through of a passage of Scripture and a time of prayer, and then we had a fantastic potluck dinner. It was good, but it was crazy-different from anything I've ever experienced. I started feeling that old "Man, I wish my friends were here" thing. The vibe from the group was very passionate about the community around us, but I've never had discussion quite like that before. I had the whole Negotiation Phase feeling, where I was comparing it to other groups I've been involved in.
After church, Mark and Karen took me and the other younger girl to a Bible study at Flick and Glenn's home. We read through John 7 and had a deep discussion about what Jesus was trying to accomplish and why He went about it the way He did. The faith maturity of the individuals in the group was vastly varied and provided some awesome conversation that I'll be chewing on for a few days (at least). Best of all, 6 of the 9 of us were under 25 years old! Finally, I got some quality time with more than one Christian college-age person at a time. I definitely slid back over into the Honeymoon.
It's been a struggle back and forth like this all week. Meeting awesome new friends in Sydney, have to say goodbye two days later. Sightseeing on the beach with said friends one day, working in a neighborhood cafe with total strangers two days later. Being around older people all day, hanging out with a young person or two in the evening. Getting amazing Facebook messages from best friends at home, being depressed about the changes in my youth group and the fact that I can't be there to help. It's crazy how much I've been through in just this short period of time--I mean, I've barely been in Australia for a week, and already I've done so much and met so many people!
Surely God is doing something big through this. Culture shock isn't easy, but at least I have one solid Rock to stand on.
"The Honeymoon: the visitor experiences a love for the new food, the pace of life, and the locals' habits. During the first few weeks, most people are fascinated by the new culture. This period is full of observations and new discoveries...
"The Negotiation: differences between the old and new culture become apparent and may create anxiety. Excitement may eventually give way to unpleasant feelings of frustration and anger as one continues to experience unfavorable events....
"Adjustment: after some time, one grows accustomed to the new culture and develops routines. One knows what to expect in most situations and the host country no longer feels all that new. One becomes concerned with basic living again, and things become more "normal". One starts to develop problem-solving skills for dealing with the culture and begins to accept the culture's ways with a positive attitude. The culture begins to make sense." Wikipedia
The most recent one: Today is Sunday. The shop is open for a few hours in the morning, and I went in to work. My awesome supervisor gave me a map the other day showing me how to walk from my host family's home to the shop. This morning, I felt confident enough in my bearings to try walking...and I made it! When I say it was a boost to my Empowerment Meter, I'm really not joking. I was feeling pretty good about myself. Honeymoon Phase.
Kate was at work today, and we had a jolly old time of it. For the first time, I felt completely comfortable in the environment at the cafe (and my poor supervisor got her first taste of Ashley-is-comfortable-and-unwinds-her-craziness, which the kids at Hollywood 14 know very well). Kate drove me home, and I was having a great afternoon. The kids were watching How to Train Your Dragon, which is one of my absolute favorite movies of all time. I was having a textbook, grand scale, all-is-right-with-the-world episode of the Honeymoon Phase.
Then we went to the church service at the cafe. When I say it was unlike anything I've ever experienced before, I'm not exaggerating. A group of 13 of us (total--kids included) sat in a circle in chairs. Most of the people in the group are older. (There were only two of us who were between the ages of 13 and 30.) We went through a quick kids' lesson and then our leader put on some music via an iPod. A quick read-through of a passage of Scripture and a time of prayer, and then we had a fantastic potluck dinner. It was good, but it was crazy-different from anything I've ever experienced. I started feeling that old "Man, I wish my friends were here" thing. The vibe from the group was very passionate about the community around us, but I've never had discussion quite like that before. I had the whole Negotiation Phase feeling, where I was comparing it to other groups I've been involved in.
After church, Mark and Karen took me and the other younger girl to a Bible study at Flick and Glenn's home. We read through John 7 and had a deep discussion about what Jesus was trying to accomplish and why He went about it the way He did. The faith maturity of the individuals in the group was vastly varied and provided some awesome conversation that I'll be chewing on for a few days (at least). Best of all, 6 of the 9 of us were under 25 years old! Finally, I got some quality time with more than one Christian college-age person at a time. I definitely slid back over into the Honeymoon.
It's been a struggle back and forth like this all week. Meeting awesome new friends in Sydney, have to say goodbye two days later. Sightseeing on the beach with said friends one day, working in a neighborhood cafe with total strangers two days later. Being around older people all day, hanging out with a young person or two in the evening. Getting amazing Facebook messages from best friends at home, being depressed about the changes in my youth group and the fact that I can't be there to help. It's crazy how much I've been through in just this short period of time--I mean, I've barely been in Australia for a week, and already I've done so much and met so many people!
Surely God is doing something big through this. Culture shock isn't easy, but at least I have one solid Rock to stand on.
Friday, June 1, 2012
organic pizza
The past couple of days at the shop have been getting easier. I'm gradually learning where things are, how to perform certain tasks, and trying to remember how to properly steam milk for a latte versus a cappuccino. I'm also meeting more people that I really do like.
For example, there's Peter, an older gentleman who generally does the dishes for a few hours on weekend days. He's mostly deaf and his hearing aids don't help him much anymore, but he loves making obscure jokes and discussing history. When he found out I will be pursuing a degree specifically in film history, he was completely amazed that the American educational system allows for such specialization in a thing like history, which apparently is overlooked in most Australian schools in favor of sciences and math. He and I have already had a long conversation about the actual political status of Australia and her relationship to England. (For those in the back, Australia is still technically a commonwealth in the United Kingdom, which means her head of state is none other than...Queen Elizabeth. True story.)
Another amazing person is Kate Z. She's a little younger than I, and she's absolutely hilarious. Like so many people I've met in the past few days, she's a true blue born-and-raised Adelaidian. Michelle (the matriarch of the family with whom I'm staying) invited Kate to go along with a few of us ladies last night for dinner out on the town. (Honestly I've never had a more amazing organic Margarita pizza in my life.) Kate and I hit it off right away, and we spent a good part of the evening talking about theological problems with which we both wrestle. Big stuff, like, "Why does a good God let bad things happen?", "Are aliens really real?", and "What about the times in life when God is completely silent and you need Him?" To be completely honest, Kate was asking some questions I've never thought about in a non-Christian way--a couple of which I had to admit that I have no idea what the answer is. She challenged me in a way that I haven't been for a while, and it was truly refreshing.
This cafe has an amazing vibe in that it has brought people as varied as Kate, Peter, me, and so many other different personalities together with a common goal and a shared passion for good food and good coffee...and something bigger than ourselves. Everyone has differing levels of investment, but the same desire to be part of it.
On a different note: I'm dealing with some serious loss of independence, and I'm not going to lie, it's tough. It's been a long time since I experienced a complete and utter lack of transportation, a dearth of people my age whom I know well, and a total ignorance of my surroundings. I have no idea where anything is, which direction is the city/hills, how to contact anyone if an emergency happens, etc. I can't go anywhere without asking someone for help, and if you know me, you know that takes alot out of me. It's difficult for me to ask for help, but I'm slowly beginning to accept it.
Also, one of the other girls in Melbourne got to go to the Man From Snowy River cabin up in the hills and I'm TOTALLY JEALOUS. ;) I haven't had a chance to go exploring yet, and I'm more in the city than the country.
On the upside...that was some darn good pizza.
For example, there's Peter, an older gentleman who generally does the dishes for a few hours on weekend days. He's mostly deaf and his hearing aids don't help him much anymore, but he loves making obscure jokes and discussing history. When he found out I will be pursuing a degree specifically in film history, he was completely amazed that the American educational system allows for such specialization in a thing like history, which apparently is overlooked in most Australian schools in favor of sciences and math. He and I have already had a long conversation about the actual political status of Australia and her relationship to England. (For those in the back, Australia is still technically a commonwealth in the United Kingdom, which means her head of state is none other than...Queen Elizabeth. True story.)
Another amazing person is Kate Z. She's a little younger than I, and she's absolutely hilarious. Like so many people I've met in the past few days, she's a true blue born-and-raised Adelaidian. Michelle (the matriarch of the family with whom I'm staying) invited Kate to go along with a few of us ladies last night for dinner out on the town. (Honestly I've never had a more amazing organic Margarita pizza in my life.) Kate and I hit it off right away, and we spent a good part of the evening talking about theological problems with which we both wrestle. Big stuff, like, "Why does a good God let bad things happen?", "Are aliens really real?", and "What about the times in life when God is completely silent and you need Him?" To be completely honest, Kate was asking some questions I've never thought about in a non-Christian way--a couple of which I had to admit that I have no idea what the answer is. She challenged me in a way that I haven't been for a while, and it was truly refreshing.
This cafe has an amazing vibe in that it has brought people as varied as Kate, Peter, me, and so many other different personalities together with a common goal and a shared passion for good food and good coffee...and something bigger than ourselves. Everyone has differing levels of investment, but the same desire to be part of it.
On a different note: I'm dealing with some serious loss of independence, and I'm not going to lie, it's tough. It's been a long time since I experienced a complete and utter lack of transportation, a dearth of people my age whom I know well, and a total ignorance of my surroundings. I have no idea where anything is, which direction is the city/hills, how to contact anyone if an emergency happens, etc. I can't go anywhere without asking someone for help, and if you know me, you know that takes alot out of me. It's difficult for me to ask for help, but I'm slowly beginning to accept it.
Also, one of the other girls in Melbourne got to go to the Man From Snowy River cabin up in the hills and I'm TOTALLY JEALOUS. ;) I haven't had a chance to go exploring yet, and I'm more in the city than the country.
On the upside...that was some darn good pizza.
basically, now I'm in Adelaide
I got here Wednesday afternoon...well,
back up a bit. The five of us were having a great time together at our
camp in Sydney but I picked up some sort of sinus cold. When I got on
the plane to fly from Sydney to Adelaide, my sinuses went haywire and
basically gave me excruciating ear pain the entire 2 hour flight. By the
time I got off the plane in Adelaide, it felt like I had earplugs in my
ears; I couldn't hear hardly anything...which of course led to great fun that evening.
I met up with my contact, Flick, in the airport. She drove me around a bit and explained the basic layout of Adelaide. Redwood Park (the area where we are) is on the north-northeast side of Adelaide. (You can see Soul Food on Google Maps.) She stopped for coffee with me and explained the basic needs that Soul Food has that they expect me to fulfill, the basics of who's who, and the general feel of the cafe. She and Evan (the pastor of the church and the father of the family where I'm staying) have this idea that I should have more goals than "I'm filling a need" for my trip, so I guess I should come up with those goals pretty quickly. Mostly so far I've had this idea that I'm simply filling a need for them, sort of like Martha in the Bible. She saw a need and had the energy, resources, and gifts to fill that need. That's kindof how I've seen it so far.
On a side note, a funny thing about this area: Apparently it's rude to call people "Mr." and "Mrs.", or to say "ma'am" and "sir." I guess it makes them feel old or like you're mocking them or something. Let's just say they've all been laughing at my "quaint" habit. It's really difficult to call people my grandparents' age by their first name and to just say "Yes" when I reeeeaaaally want to say "Yes Sir." I was chatting with Paula, one of the ladies at Soul Food, and she said it's a shame that Australian culture has removed those terms from its vocabulary, she agrees with me that it's a term of respect for elders. Everyone else I've asked has said it's generally frowned upon, but that nobody will get upset with me if I accidentally slip up because I'm American and they apparently are used to forgiving alot of differences like that.
Anyway...Flick took me to the Johnson's house (the place where I'm staying). The family is made up of Evan and Michelle, Georgia (10 years old, she's really cute), Zac (around 8 I think, he's at a farm camp for the week and I didn't meet him until last night), and Bethany (6 years old and freakin' adorable). It's kindof difficult for me to read Evan because his sense of humor is very stonefaced, but I love the girls. I like Michelle, we stayed up for about an hour just watching TV (me asking questions and she explaining things from advertisements and their reality shows). Flick and her husband Glenn (he's one of those gentle and kind people) came over to the Johnson's for dinner, and they asked me a whole bunch of questions about where I'm from, what kind of church I go to, what y'all are like, what I want to do when I grow up, etc. They all made full use of the fact that I couldn't hear anything, and I'm pretty sure they were joking alot. ;) It was a really pleasant time with them, but I started getting sleepy at around 8. I guess I was still dealing with jet lag.
I got up Thursday morning and went with Kate (one of the employees at Soul Food) to the cafe, where we worked until 5 pm. It was a bit overwhelming to have so much information thrown at me all at once: the cafe is espresso drinks, milkshakes, basic food (burgers, sandwiches, soup), and desserts like cake and cookies (or "biscuits"). Everyone was really nice to me and I had a good time, even though most of my day was spent shadowing Kate and doing prep work/cleanup.
The cafe is really cute (pictures coming soon). It's in a little strip mall, and it's really little. Well, it's little when you factor in the children's play area. It was alot of locals and people from the surrounding neighborhoods who meandered in and out all day. As soon as I can get a hang for the rhythm and procedures of the place, I think I'll be really comfortable around there. A few of the other members of the church group came in and hung out and met me. They all seemed really nice, and one couple was super-personable. Their names are Paula and Steve, and they are super-funny, really friendly, and very easy to talk to. They live up in the hills a few miles away on an acre of land, and they offered up their "caravan" (otherwise known as a garage that has been converted into a guest house) for a weekend if I want to stay with them. They also have a wildlife park across the road from their place that has a "hold a koala" attraction! WHAAAAT! ;)
It's amazing to me how many of the church members really have invested in this ministry. Most of them don't get paid to be there, they all donate things to the ministry (whether it's dishes, toys, food, or merchandise), and yet they all absolutely love being there and freely volunteer at least a few hours every week. Even Christian people who attend other churches come in and volunteer at Soul Food. Kate drives 50 minutes each way, and yet she repeatedly told me how much she loves her job (she and I had some really good conversations and I think I may get close with her, too). Although the ministry is barely making ends meet, everyone believes in it and fully trusts that its needs will be provided in time. There are even some non-Christians who come in and volunteer every so often, just because they like being there (and because they get free coffee).
I met up with my contact, Flick, in the airport. She drove me around a bit and explained the basic layout of Adelaide. Redwood Park (the area where we are) is on the north-northeast side of Adelaide. (You can see Soul Food on Google Maps.) She stopped for coffee with me and explained the basic needs that Soul Food has that they expect me to fulfill, the basics of who's who, and the general feel of the cafe. She and Evan (the pastor of the church and the father of the family where I'm staying) have this idea that I should have more goals than "I'm filling a need" for my trip, so I guess I should come up with those goals pretty quickly. Mostly so far I've had this idea that I'm simply filling a need for them, sort of like Martha in the Bible. She saw a need and had the energy, resources, and gifts to fill that need. That's kindof how I've seen it so far.
On a side note, a funny thing about this area: Apparently it's rude to call people "Mr." and "Mrs.", or to say "ma'am" and "sir." I guess it makes them feel old or like you're mocking them or something. Let's just say they've all been laughing at my "quaint" habit. It's really difficult to call people my grandparents' age by their first name and to just say "Yes" when I reeeeaaaally want to say "Yes Sir." I was chatting with Paula, one of the ladies at Soul Food, and she said it's a shame that Australian culture has removed those terms from its vocabulary, she agrees with me that it's a term of respect for elders. Everyone else I've asked has said it's generally frowned upon, but that nobody will get upset with me if I accidentally slip up because I'm American and they apparently are used to forgiving alot of differences like that.
Anyway...Flick took me to the Johnson's house (the place where I'm staying). The family is made up of Evan and Michelle, Georgia (10 years old, she's really cute), Zac (around 8 I think, he's at a farm camp for the week and I didn't meet him until last night), and Bethany (6 years old and freakin' adorable). It's kindof difficult for me to read Evan because his sense of humor is very stonefaced, but I love the girls. I like Michelle, we stayed up for about an hour just watching TV (me asking questions and she explaining things from advertisements and their reality shows). Flick and her husband Glenn (he's one of those gentle and kind people) came over to the Johnson's for dinner, and they asked me a whole bunch of questions about where I'm from, what kind of church I go to, what y'all are like, what I want to do when I grow up, etc. They all made full use of the fact that I couldn't hear anything, and I'm pretty sure they were joking alot. ;) It was a really pleasant time with them, but I started getting sleepy at around 8. I guess I was still dealing with jet lag.
I got up Thursday morning and went with Kate (one of the employees at Soul Food) to the cafe, where we worked until 5 pm. It was a bit overwhelming to have so much information thrown at me all at once: the cafe is espresso drinks, milkshakes, basic food (burgers, sandwiches, soup), and desserts like cake and cookies (or "biscuits"). Everyone was really nice to me and I had a good time, even though most of my day was spent shadowing Kate and doing prep work/cleanup.
The cafe is really cute (pictures coming soon). It's in a little strip mall, and it's really little. Well, it's little when you factor in the children's play area. It was alot of locals and people from the surrounding neighborhoods who meandered in and out all day. As soon as I can get a hang for the rhythm and procedures of the place, I think I'll be really comfortable around there. A few of the other members of the church group came in and hung out and met me. They all seemed really nice, and one couple was super-personable. Their names are Paula and Steve, and they are super-funny, really friendly, and very easy to talk to. They live up in the hills a few miles away on an acre of land, and they offered up their "caravan" (otherwise known as a garage that has been converted into a guest house) for a weekend if I want to stay with them. They also have a wildlife park across the road from their place that has a "hold a koala" attraction! WHAAAAT! ;)
It's amazing to me how many of the church members really have invested in this ministry. Most of them don't get paid to be there, they all donate things to the ministry (whether it's dishes, toys, food, or merchandise), and yet they all absolutely love being there and freely volunteer at least a few hours every week. Even Christian people who attend other churches come in and volunteer at Soul Food. Kate drives 50 minutes each way, and yet she repeatedly told me how much she loves her job (she and I had some really good conversations and I think I may get close with her, too). Although the ministry is barely making ends meet, everyone believes in it and fully trusts that its needs will be provided in time. There are even some non-Christians who come in and volunteer every so often, just because they like being there (and because they get free coffee).
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