Nostalgia

Yesterday, Friday, October 26, 2007, marked one-month for me here in Perth. The time has really flown by. Such a cliché phrase, yet it does ring true. Rather than recounting the week’s events, I thought I’d mix up the format for a couple reasons. (A) to avoid monotony and (B) to make use of one of my prominent personality characteristics: list-making. Those close to me can affirm that I am an avid list-maker—grocery lists, to-do lists, ‘upcoming concerts’ lists, ‘books I want to read’ lists, etc.—so, why not add a touch of creativity to my already perfected skill for your own blog-reading enjoyment? And what might this list be recounting, you must be thinking? Well, today is your lucky day because I have 2 for you! The first is a list of things that I have grown to miss in my beloved hometown of Nashville, Tennessee, throughout this past month. To counterbalance it, I have compiled a list of things that I enjoy and find interesting about my new home in Perth, Australia. Now, without further a due, let the list-making begin…

1. Nashville, Oh, How I Miss Thee

• Granny White Pike—now, I have driven the strip from Brentwood to Lipscomb multiple times a day ever since I can remember. One of my fondest elementary school memories is riding in the front seat of my daddy’s navy blue Mercedes to school. John and Anna were too young for school at that time, so I got to snag some quality one-on-one time with my Papi. Another fond memory was when I first got my license, driving my brother and sister to school while blasting Dave Matthews on my stereo. Friday mornings were my favorite because we’d leave home extra early to meet my friend Jessi at Starbucks for a caffeine induced, sugar-laden Caramel Frappachino. So, believing that I could drive this 6-mile stretch of road with my eyes closed, I never thought I’d actually miss it. Funny how distance makes one crave the familiar.

• Centennial Park—one of my favorite things to do on a lazy, sunny afternoon is to drive into West End and stretch out a blanket on the park’s grassy lot. Along with my ipod and a pair of over-sized sunglasses, I could spend hours immersed in a captivating novel or study material (with the occasional spouts of people-watching, I’ll admit.) A couple of my favorite Centennial Park memories include 2005’s Easter Sunday afternoon, throwing a frisbee and goofing off with the family and my many Shakespeare In the Park escapades. Umbrella Tent, anyone?

• The Nashville Music Scene—Nothing beats Nashville’s wide array of live music. One of my weekly highlights was devouring the Rage’s local concert section each Thursday and anticipating upcoming shows. Other than having to negotiate a decent parking spot in a shady part of town or coming out of a venue smelling like a dirty ashtray, I was always game for a night of musical bliss. So, for nostalgia’s sake, let me recount my top concert experiences at my most favorite Nashville venues:
o Ray Lamontagne and Tristan Prettyman at The War Memorial
o Damien Rice at The Ryman Auditorium
o Sufjan Stevens at The Cannery Ballroom
o Regina Spektor at Exit/In
o Tyrone Wells at The Mercy Lounge
o Mates of State at The End
o Dave Barnes at City Hall
o Landon Pigg at 3rd and Lindsley
Now, Perth’s music scene, on the other hand is quite lacking, to put it lightly. Being that it is the most isolated city in the world, many bands cannot afford to fly out here and perform. And if they do decide to make the trek, they charge major bucks for the show. C’mon Mr. JT, like you doesn’t already rake in enough dough!

• Maggie Moos/Cold Stone Creamery—As I alluded to in an earlier blog, I am a sucker for a delicious cup of ice cream. I’ve even created my own concoction that I’m sure you sweet-toothed ice cream lovers will enjoy, as well: cake batter ice cream with cookie dough pieces and fudge mix-ins. It far surpasses any of those Fresh Escapes Maggie offers. I have yet to find any ice cream parlor in Perth that resembles the design-your-own dessert treat, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t thoroughly investigated. I just don’t think the concept has been introduced to this side of the world. (hmmm…I could make a fortune….)

• My Relational Support System—Moving to a new city, and across the world for that matter, has made me realize the great importance of my deep, intimate relationships back home. Out here, all my friendships are new and still very surface level, which makes sense given the fact that I have only known these people for 4 weeks. Yet, I continue to long for the solid support system I have in Nashville. It’s especially difficult when I get worried, sad, or lonely and have that strong desire to pour out my heart to a friend or family member back home. I’ll just wrap up this section by saying, ‘thank God for Skype.’

2. Discovering the Joys of Down Under

• Tea Time—Although I am not much of tea drinker quite yet, I love the concept of taking time out of the day to fellowship with others and enjoy a nice hot drink of tea, coffee, or Milo (a chocolaty drink giving Hot Chocolate a run for its money). Tea at Sunday morning church service, tea at nightly Bible studies, tea at any and all friendly get-togethers. You get the picture. It’s such a great excuse to bring everyone together and enjoy just a little more of each other’s company before dispersing after an event.

• Rose Gardens—Let me start off by boldly stating that if my housemate Cathy and I entered a competition for Perth’s largest roses, I think we’d have a shot at bringing home the trophy. I’d dare to say they are the size of a newborn baby’s head. Not only are they gorgeously gigantic, but their peachy-pink color scheme is quite aesthetically pleasing as well. I got an informal tutorial from a 91 year-old rose gardener on Monday, in which he specified each color rose in his garden by name. Pretty impressive seeing that I always referred to them as the ‘red’ or ‘yellow’ rose.

• Toilets—okay, I realize this bullet point seems quite random and potentially vulgar, but bear with me while I explain. I find the flushing system on Australian toilets very interesting and want to enlighten all you Americans who don’t get to experience this important decision making process several times a day like I do. In America, a toilet has a single handle/button/knob that you push when you are done with “your business,” but here in Perth, there are 2 buttons, one button being noticeably smaller than the other. As preschool kids would say, you push the smaller button when you go #1 and the larger button when you go #2. The smaller flush uses less water, since flushing a pee takes less effort than flushing a poo. Australians are all about preserving the environment and saving electricity (recycling, hang drying their laundry, hand washing dishes, using public transport, etc.) so it makes sense that they would do the same with bodily waste. See, this section wasn’t as indecent as it might have seemed at first glance.

• Indian Ocean Sunsets—only on the coast can one watch the sun set over the ocean. And breathtaking it is! Of all the places I have stayed, I thought Arizona had the most beautiful sunsets until I moved to Perth. Watching the sun sink into the watery horizon is a testament of my God’s mighty handiwork. Just this week I was riding up West Coast Highway with Kim on the way to Josh’s house, and I was stopped mid-sentence by the picturesque view. The sun, a blurry burnt-orange ball, was slowly fading into the shimmery turquoise sea as the light reflected off the water, creating a blinding glow for us onlookers. Again, I found myself wishing I were one of those who keeps their camera closer than their cell phone or chapstick.

• Nightly Bible Studies—one of the most personally beneficial things that I have been a part of here in Perth is the nightly Bible studies. Luke and Janey Chapman host one on Monday nights at 8 pm, in which we just wrapped up our I John study. Regular attendees include Sam, Amy, Josh and Hayley, Kim, and myself. On Thursday nights, I attend a woman’s Bible study at the Nevill’s house. We eat dinner with Sam, Josh, and Mr. Nevill before Hayley, Mrs. Nevill, Darienne, Amy, and myself kick them out so we can read and discuss the book of James. I don’t think the boys mind at all because they just scurry off to crowd around the computer and watch downloaded episodes of The Office. Us girls can tell they are enjoying themselves as intermittent bursts of laughter boom from the adjoining room. Both these weekly devotional times have challenges me spiritually, propelling my love and knowledge of the Word. I enjoy spending time with these small groups of people who are passionate about the Word in a place where we feel comfortable asking questions and dialoguing about what it truly means to be a Christian.

So, there ya go. I have thoroughly enjoyed this fun list-making endeavor, and I hope that you enjoy it on the receiving end. Today is a glorious day as I celebrate my 23 years of life, love, and memories. To date, I have received 3 packages from the states, so thank you to those kind friends and family. And the many electronic birthday wishes are cherished, as well. I plan to celebrate in style tonight, kicking off the festivities with a dinner at Josh and Hayley’s, followed by a fun-filled night of cosmic bowling. Don’t you worry, my next blog will fill you in on the P-A-R-T-Y you so desperately want to be a part of! Until then…

-the birthday girl

When the moon hits your eye…

The weather these days is really bringing a smile to my face and energy to my soul. Last week it rained several days, but lately it has been sunny and in the mid-70’s with a nice ocean breeze coming in. As much as I miss Fall in Nashville—the changing of the leaves, the crisp air in my lungs, the pumpkin carvings, jackets, and “the bluff”—I am truly enjoying the idea of an endless summer here in Perth.

Sunday’s sermon was quite inspiring: Josh talked about how, as Christians, we are to BE the message of Christ rather than just preach the message. Through our actions we are to live out the gospel in order to bring glory to God (I Peter 2:4-12). He quoted Saint Francis of Assisi by saying, “preach the gospel on all occasions, and if necessary, use words.” After tea and cookies, a group of us (Josh, Hayley, Kim, Sam, Jade, Cath, and myself) headed to an annual celebration in Swan Valley called ‘Spring in the Valley.’ We hung out, had a picnic lunch, and just enjoyed the sunny weather. Once us girls got our fill of the Valley, we decided to head for the beach, while the boys stayed behind to throw a football and…engage in some male bonding time, I guess. The girls’ beach excursion ended up being a bust because it was far too windy and chilly at the ocean’s shore. So, we decided to go back to Hayley’s house and watch “X-Men,” which proved to be the optimal way to spend the lazy Sunday afternoon.

Monday morning I experienced another one of my Australian “firsts.” Josh came to pick me up for our weekly meeting at 9, and as I was carefreely heading down my front steps towards his car, he handed me the keys, saying “do you know how to drive a stick?” Let me tell you, my body practically froze up as my heart flipped in my chest for a couple reasons. (A) the last time I actually drove a stick shift was when I was 15, learning to drive my dad’s jeep wrangler, and (B) this meant I would be brushing up on my manual skills while driving on the opposite side of the road for the first time, uh, EVER! I thought learning to drive in Perth would be difficult enough using an automatic. I gotta mention, I was impressed that Josh had such faith in me and my driving abilities given my two hesitancies. So without much deliberation and Josh as my co-pilot, I successfully maneuvered around multiple round-a-bouts, all the while concentrating more on the clutch/gear-shifting technique than the actually road. Never-the-less, I am happy to inform you that I made it to my destination and back without any major hick-ups. Hooray! Now I can officially say that I am an ambidextrous driver. Okay, maybe I did just coin that phrase for my own personal celebration, of sorts.

Thursday evening, the Astro Girls were victorious again at our indoor beach volleyball game. We won 2 of the 3 matches and had a blast beating our 16-year-old bimbo-ish opponents. Our opposition seemed more interested in flirting with the referee than actually hitting the volleyball. It was quite amusing. That evening at the women’s Bible study, we only had 4 girls. I actually enjoyed the smaller number, seeing that it provided for more intimacy in conversation and equality in the group discussion. We continued with our James study, focusing on James 2. We talked a lot about favoritism and prejudice, as well as the whole “faith without deeds” concept. I believe that I have to be intentional and assertive about exemplifying my faith through deeds—service, self-sacrifice, community outreach, etc. I found Thursday’s study to reinforce how important it is for me to really show my ‘love in action.’

Friday night, I engaged in a classic girls’ night at Hayley’s house. She had nine girls over to make pizzas and watch a movie. First of all, the pizza making proved to be incredibly fun and creative. We had three trays full of every pizza topping you can imagine, and I constructed a delicious veggie concoction of mushrooms, capsicum (green and red peppers for us Americans), purple onion, and loads of mozzarella cheese. Yum! The real enjoyment of the evening came from meeting several new people and bonding with the girls I already knew—Jade, Amy, Darienne, and Hayley. Plus, a couple teenage girls came, which was great since those are the teens I’ll be reaching out to, ministry-wise. Meeting them and putting a name to a face is the first step in my missional journey.

Thanks again to all you blog-commenters. I find your words very encouraging, plus it is always fun getting on my website and having a new comment to approve. So, keep ‘em coming. Also, if you fancy venturing away from this technological advancement called the Internet back into the era of handwritten letters, here’s a little reminder of my post address:

7 Crosby Street
Floreat, WA 6014

Yet, if sitting down and taking the time to write a (sentimental/creative/heartfelt??) letter makes you antsy, have no fear. I will respond in kind and a glorious correspondence can flourish. Sounds exciting on my end, plus then I’ll get to put to use the lovely stationary my friends, Andy and Lindsey, gave me before I left.

Blessings to all,

-sk

Bump, Set, Spike it…

One of the highlights of my week was Wednesday’s hike with Sam in Bold Park. He picked me up around 10 a.m. and we headed off to this Radnor Lake-esque destination, without the large lake as a centerpiece. Yet, the Indian Ocean gleamed in the background. We hiked for a solid hour and a half, at one point stopping at the highest peek for a beautiful panoramic view of the Perth skyline. We could turn full circle and see my suburb Floreat, downtown Perth, the University of Western Australia, Rottnest Island, Hillary’s Boat Marina…you get the picture, I hope. I even packed a PB & J picnic lunch for us, and I am happy to say that my sandwich making skills passed Sam’s tastebud-test. For a couple months before I departed Nashville, my friend Lynsi Tucker and I made the effort to hike Radnor’s Ganier Ridge on a weekly basis, so it was nice getting back outdoors and working those gluteus muscles.

Backtracking a little bit: Monday night we had another Bible study gathering at the Chapman’s house. Hayley and Josh were out of town, so it was a small group—me, Sam, Amy, Kim, and Luke and Janey Chapman. We focused on I John 3, exploring what it means to be a child of God and the importance of love in action, rather than just being empty words. I find it quite uplifting and also challenging to dialogue about scripture and spirituality in such an intimate, open way. Monday nights are quickly turning into a favorite of the week.

Thursday evening I participated in my first ever indoor volleyball match with Hayley. The indoor volleyball concept is quite brilliant, actually. I think I could make a killing if I implemented one in Nashville. The specific gym has about eight courts, all netted off from floor to ceiling. Sand is imported in and provides the playing grounds with the beach-like atmosphere. We played three 15-minute games, four on four. The lack of agility due to the sand caught me off guard and it took me the whole first game to warm-up to the new arena. However, our team, awesomely named the Astro Girls, came out victorious with a 2-1 win! Who-hoo! This indoor beach volleyball activity will be a weekly thing, so more updates on our team’s progression (and domination, of course…)

After volleyball, Hayley and I went over to the Nevill’s for our women’s Bible study. We got there just as everyone was finishing up dinner and dishing out the ice cream. So, of course, I ate quickly and indulged in my favorite dessert. We started a new study on James, reading and discussing the first chapter. I think this will be a very thought-provoking and inspirational study for us all. More to come on this, as well.

So, you know when you’re playing those ‘get to know you’ games and the inevitable question of “if you could have any superpower, what would it be?” pops up…well, my answer has consistently been ‘teleportation.’ I’ve always thought it would be super-cool and extremely convenient to be able to wish myself somewhere else and instantly be there. I’ve never wanted that superpower more than this week. One of my best friends Jessi had her birthday on Thursday. It was hard being away from home, especially knowing that all my close friends would be celebrating in style. But mainly I just wanted to wish her a happy birthday in person. At least I can win The Coolest-Place-To–Receive-A-Birthday-Card-From Award. Okay, maybe I am just creating that competition to make myself feel better, humph! By the way I felt on Jess’s birthday, I am projecting that it’ll be 100 X harder to be away from friends and family on my special day coming up on the 27th. Aw, it’s all part of the adventure, I suppose.

Ending with some good news: no daunting scares from Magpies this week. Other than brief encounter with a pesky one trying to mooch off of Sam’s and my lunch on Wednesday, I have successfully stayed clear of those aggressors.

I wish you all a fun and relaxing weekend. I foresee mine being both!

-kater

The 100 Acre Woods

Well, here I am to deliver another Aussie update to all you blog readers. My week has been very social and exciting, to say the least, so I want to fill you in…

Monday was a national holiday in honor of the Queen of England, so most everyone had the workday off. I took a day trip up to Swan Valley with Josh and Hayley Nipps. This area is further inland and consists mainly of undeveloped land, nurseries, vineyards, and farms. We stopped by several wineries along the drive, but my favorite destination was the chocolate factory. They had free tastings, along with every imaginable type of chocolate concoction for purchase. Monday afternoon I went on a beach stroll with Hayley and a new friend, Cath James. It doesn’t get much better than having a nice girly chat, while digging your toes in the sand and watching the sun set into the watery horizon. Monday evening I went to a Bible Study at Janey and Luke Chapman’s house, a young couple from Westchurch. Josh, Hayley, Kim, and Sam were also there as we studied I John 2. I’ve never been part of a Bible study quite like this one, and I can already tell that it’ll be nourishment to my spiritual soul. The seven of us sat casually around the living room drinking tea and just sharing our hearts with each other. It was a safe and non-judgmental place to bring questions and dialogue about scripture and spirituality.

Tuesday, my housemate Cathy had the day off of work, so I went with her to the Karrinyup shopping center. We shopped around for her nephew’s birthday present, but more importantly, spent the time getting to know one another better. She is such a cool chick, and her British accent makes her even that more awesome. I could sit and listen to her talk all day long! She is also a wonderful cook. Tuesday night she made a delicious Asian dish, and we had a nice quiet dinner together.

Wednesday morning, Sam Nevill came and picked me up around 10:30 to take me to his uni, UWA. I enjoyed every minute of my thoroughly educational tour. The school’s architecture is brilliant with a very British influence. Plus, there are several garden areas for sitting and studying, surrounded by plush, vibrant trees and flowers. After seeing the highlights of the uni, Sam and I ate at a nice outdoor café on campus before he took me back home. That afternoon I met up with Josh at the Floreat Beach café. We spent a couple hours talking about my time here so far, how I have been adjusting, my perception of things, etc. But, the main focus of our meeting was to create a skeletal structure of what my weekly responsibilities/tasks/activities will be. I found it very beneficial to know what my loose routine will look like, and just in case you are curious, keep reading…

Sunday: 9am—morning church and afternoon activity
evening service of my choice
Monday: 8am—meet with Josh to go over the previous week and discuss the upcoming week’s agenda
10am-12pm—Bible study at the Taylor’s home; currently studying James
8pm—evening Bible study at the Chapman’s home; currently studying I John

Wednesday: alternating evening of prayer meeting or additional Bible teaching
Thursday: 6pm—indoor beach volleyball league with Hayley (whoohoo!)
7pm—dinner and women’s Bible study at the Nevill’s home
Friday: evening youth group activity with Mt. Lawley church

Now, in the midst of these activities, I am going to be ‘volunteering’ two days a week with a local primary and high school to tutor kids and help the chaplain and teachers with whatever tasks they might need accomplished. I will also aim to build relationships with the teens during their lunch breaks. I am also in charge of developing the Powerpoint presentation for church each Sunday morning. And in any free time I have, I will be meeting with teens (coffee, shopping, the beach, etc.) in hopes of building relationships and developing a trusting foundation with them that can eventually lead to talks about spirituality and Christ. I am also in charge of coordinating several fundraiser events for Westchurch’s India Mission Trip that will take place next year. Josh and I both talked about the importance of avoiding burnout so he suggested that I take 1-2 days off each week, which sounds like a nice idea, eh? I’m thinking Tuesdays and Saturdays, as of now. All-in-all our meeting was very productive and encouraging.

Thursday night was the Bible Study at the Nevill’s house. Joyce made us a nice meal of Mexican chicken nacho casserole and warm apple crumble with ice cream for dessert. It’s been a long time since I’ve sat around a dinner table full of people, laughing and sharing stories like our Thursday night’s go. It has been such a blessing these past two weeks. Both Hayley and Amy weren’t there, so instead of starting a new series, us girls just chatted, which was great because it allowed me to get to know the other ladies better.

Throughout the week, I have been introduced to several Australian foundations. Here are the highlights:

(1) Vegemite: this is a dark brown, salty food spread made from yeast extract. Many Australians enjoy (…?) eating it on buttered toast or crackers. The way I see it, vegemite is an Australian child’s staple, just as peanut butter is for us Americans. Hayley caught wind that I had not tried this Aussie ‘delicacy’ and quickly fixed that truth. This stuff is nasty. Maybe it’s because I have a sweet tooth rather than being one who craves salty foods, but I cringed as I swallowed this stuff. Never again shall I go near this goo, I declare!

(2) Kangaroos: I was taking a drive Friday morning with Helen and Ron Howe and we passed a pack of about eight kangaroos eating the grass in an open field. One even had a baby joey in her pouch. The most exposure I’ve had to a kangaroo is with watching shows and reading about Winnie the Pooh’s motherly friend, Kanga, as a kid. So, you can imagine my excitement when I saw a group of them not 10 yards away!

(3) Magpie: (and this was the most…traumatic…shall I say?) First of all, let me explain what a magpie is to those who don’t know. And no, I had no clue what one was until that dreaded Thursday morning. A magpie is a black and white colored bird in the crow family. These birds are between 18-24 inches long and a 2-foot wingspan. (I am detailing the size to set up my story.) So, go ahead and picture this hideously large squawker in your head, or better yet, google “magpie bird” before reading further. Okay, onto the story…Thursday morning I decided to go on a nice, quiet stroll along the Boulevard near my house. It was sunny outside, so I put my ipod earphones on and headed, innocently, out the door. I got about 15 minutes into my walk and out of nowhere I start hearing this high-pitched screeching sound, and before I know what is going on, this large animal starts swooping in front of me. Over and over, this bird darts around me, flying about a foot in front of my body. Now, I have never known a bird to be so aggressive and I don’t understand what is going on. But, before I can figure out what to do, this large, loud creature starts diving from the sky and pecking my head with its peak. Again, it flies high into the sky, makes it’s obnoxious cry, and b-lines towards my head. Three or four times this happens, as I run around in pure confusion and pain. By this time, I am freaking out, I tell you. I cover my head with my arms and start running across the street to the other sidewalk thinking that the bird will leave me alone. Oh no, was I wrong. This magpie follows me and continues to swoop me. Feeling defeated and on the verge of tears, I squat near the street in a semi-fetal position praying that this monster will go away. I am sure the passing cars are wondering what this crazy girl is doing, running around like she is getting attacked by a Japanese bomber. Finally, a nice woman pulls her car over and asks if I need a lift. Cautious not to just jump in the car with a stranger, I decline but ask her what on earth is happening with this bird. She goes on to explain that this daunting creature is called a magpie. It is nesting season for them and I must have gotten near a mother’s nest. Obviously, magpies are very territorial, to say the least. I honestly thought that mugger was going to draw my blood. Needless to say, I won’t be walking down that stretch of the Boulevard any time soon, if ever. Whew!

Just writing that made my heart race again, so I think it is time to wrap this blog session up. Thanks to those who have been commenting on my entries. I find it very encouraging so I’ll keep writing on. Have a blessed day and go eat some Maggie moos for me. I miss it already and it’s only day 9.

-sk