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.