28.7.2010

I love it here. Compared to the last few months of school at Central, Brisbane should be called “Breeze”bane. But it’s not all fun and games and parties. I am here to study and further hone my skills. Among other personal objectives: Grow up, and figure out a little better who I am and what I want.

I’ve met so many new people. Well, technically everyone here is new. And some of these people are amazing. Of course there are those you’re introduce to, and hear their stories and know the friendship is superficial (as in, it’s not going to last past Aus.) then there are those where you just find a bit of something different. THESE are the ones I’ll call/hang out with/keep in touch with when we all go our separate ways.

This is the first time where athletic obligations are no longer an issue. Where I’m not overloaded with classes or working at a job that treats me like crap. It’s weird being so free and having time and being social and I do struggle with this. I’ve spent the last three weeks exploring a culture I’ve never been apart of (the partying/clubbing scene, not Australia.). And let me tell you, it’s exhausting. I went to the NorSK Pub Crawl tonight. I wanted to see familiar faces and have a drink or two. But while I’m at the third bar, sober, listening to the lewd and inappropriate comments about the women within earshot, with no friendly face in sight I realized: this still isn’t me, and I don’t want to be here.

So I left. Calling it a night at 9:45pm. I am enjoying my time here. But this was one of those moments where I wish my friends from home were here sharing this experience with me. Letting me make pop culture references (and have them understood…) and terrible jokes and not feeling judged for being American (I’m proud of where I come from and how I was raised.).

I wish it wasn’t all parties and drinking (it’s not. But it seems like it.). I’d like a real connection with the people around me and be able to talk about things that mean something to someone. Anyone. Something of substance, anything at all. For now, I’m giving Australia the fail.

Really what I’m trying to say is, I miss you guys and I wish you were here.

-James