Thursday, August 27, 2009
Videos Of Me Eating Things
We took a camcorder to the US. I took a lot of footage, of which i'm not entirely sure what i am to do with. So why not make some slightly entertaining youtube videos? The song is Stevie by Lisa Mitchell. I like the beat.
I also really like american food. Peanut butter oreos are amazing. and the burgers are actually exciting! we ate a lot of burgers.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
back in the gong.
It's been a week since we were in the land of the free/home of the brave and for the most part it's been good. I did miss a lot of uni, so there is some catching up to do there- most of which has already been covered in a few days...does this speak to the quality of the honours year in my particular area of degree?...probably haha.
However, the more important thing has been catching up with friends and the wollongong mode of life.
While it always seems like nothing ever changes when you return from a long holiday, you do return with brand new eyes (paramore @ soundwave!!) and things do take on something of a new light. People's faces look that little bit friendlier, the sky looks a little bluer, and even uni work seems less of a drag with each passing day (well, kind of...). This is simply another example of cliched proverbs finding perfect application in real life- that absence does indeed make the heart grow fonder.
Our final days in the US were spent wandering the streets of New York, missing a connecting flight in LA, and gaining a bonus day in LA which we spent at a beach and an airport. As I have shared with some people already, we spent so long in New York we almost felt like it was our 2nd temporary home, so by the end of it we were sick of tourist things and were basically walking miles and miles between meals.
I wanted to go to a hip hop dance class- drop-in at 10:30 for $18- at a pretty well-known dance centre courtesy recommended by a friend (thanks Laura!) buuuuuuut unfortunately by the time my family got ready and we left the hotel it was too late. We had no plan that day. We decided to walk south a couple of miles towards chinatown for lunch and figure it out from there. I saw some people lining up for MTV show It's On With Alexa Chung. Taking Back Sunday were playing the Monday after we lef the US, but i didn't know that at the time. I asked the girl in line: "what are you lining up for?", "It's On With Alexa Chung" sounded like "Race On With Electrons Song"or something..."Uh, ok".
The day consisted mostly of walking through the heat and doing some last minute lower east side shopping.
Chinatown lunch was awesome- great malaysian place called Nyonya. Funny how we had to travel all the way to New York to find great authentic malaysian food. That night, Sara and i did manage to attend a Blue Man Group performance off-Broadway in an intimate venue called the Astor Theatre- the original home of Blue Man Group. It was beautifully unique, entertaining and even poignant at moments- it blew me away. Definitely something to take the family to. Or judging by the couple making out in front of me, a prospective spouse. We had late night pizza afterwards.
I miss late night pizza.
Heck, i miss late night anything. Wollongong is so dead past 9:30. And no, wollongongnightlife.com.au does NOT count.
In the meantime, i soothe the drudgery of everyday life with quality hang outs with quality people and the smooth smooth taste of bubble tea.
(:
However, the more important thing has been catching up with friends and the wollongong mode of life.
While it always seems like nothing ever changes when you return from a long holiday, you do return with brand new eyes (paramore @ soundwave!!) and things do take on something of a new light. People's faces look that little bit friendlier, the sky looks a little bluer, and even uni work seems less of a drag with each passing day (well, kind of...). This is simply another example of cliched proverbs finding perfect application in real life- that absence does indeed make the heart grow fonder.
Our final days in the US were spent wandering the streets of New York, missing a connecting flight in LA, and gaining a bonus day in LA which we spent at a beach and an airport. As I have shared with some people already, we spent so long in New York we almost felt like it was our 2nd temporary home, so by the end of it we were sick of tourist things and were basically walking miles and miles between meals.
I wanted to go to a hip hop dance class- drop-in at 10:30 for $18- at a pretty well-known dance centre courtesy recommended by a friend (thanks Laura!) buuuuuuut unfortunately by the time my family got ready and we left the hotel it was too late. We had no plan that day. We decided to walk south a couple of miles towards chinatown for lunch and figure it out from there. I saw some people lining up for MTV show It's On With Alexa Chung. Taking Back Sunday were playing the Monday after we lef the US, but i didn't know that at the time. I asked the girl in line: "what are you lining up for?", "It's On With Alexa Chung" sounded like "Race On With Electrons Song"or something..."Uh, ok".
The day consisted mostly of walking through the heat and doing some last minute lower east side shopping.
Chinatown lunch was awesome- great malaysian place called Nyonya. Funny how we had to travel all the way to New York to find great authentic malaysian food. That night, Sara and i did manage to attend a Blue Man Group performance off-Broadway in an intimate venue called the Astor Theatre- the original home of Blue Man Group. It was beautifully unique, entertaining and even poignant at moments- it blew me away. Definitely something to take the family to. Or judging by the couple making out in front of me, a prospective spouse. We had late night pizza afterwards.
I miss late night pizza.
Heck, i miss late night anything. Wollongong is so dead past 9:30. And no, wollongongnightlife.com.au does NOT count.
*****************
Obviously, the trip has given me a lot to think about. Still mulling them through my head. And will be for a while i think!Looking back on our time in the US, i see many things i loved. Enough to make me realise that life in Australia is sorely lacking in many departments. But there's always a flipside to the coin, and there are things lacking in America that only Australia has. Spending a week in LA, DC, and Boston at a time allowed us to really adapt to the local environment and holidaying as the Loos do, we managed to see a lot of things not included on any tour package.
There are many little things i miss in the US already. For example:
There are many little things i miss in the US already. For example:
- the vast variety of fast foods and restaurant chains. Its bountiful glory and financial ease is countered by none. Carl's Jr., Sbarro, Panda Express, Wendy's, Jack In A Box, In 'N Out Burger, Denny's, IHOP, Johnny Rocket's...if you know me, you know i like food. Just writing this is making me hungry.
- shopping is so cheap and the shops are great. But little less could be expected from the birthplace of capitalism.
- Frozen yogurt shops. Yum.
- DISNEYLAND!
- Being azn in America vs being azn in Australia. very very interesting topic. I think i will save this for another post in the future.
- The sense of national identity and patriotism is much more than a 'sense'. It's a way of life. Politics is simply so much more engaging there.
- The Christian experience is also very different and intriguing in the US when compared with here.
- DISNEYLAND!
In the meantime, i soothe the drudgery of everyday life with quality hang outs with quality people and the smooth smooth taste of bubble tea.
(:
Monday, August 10, 2009
Our US adventure draws to a close. My posts are getting short because...i don't know why. Sometimes these things just happen.
Today we watched Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors in the Boston Commons (a park in the middle of the city). It made me laugh. We ate a lot of dim sum for lunch. A ridiculously pretty girl served me frozen yogurt with strawberries, mochi and Cap'n Crunch (on her recommendation) after dinner.
It is 1:36am and mum is folding the laundry that just came out of the dryer and I am listening to Thrice- Of Dust And Nations. I was such a doon for not realising they weren't playing my Warped date. (-.-"). Mum just hit me telling me to go to sleep.
Tomorrow we catch a bus back to new york for 2 more days, and then we fly back. Awww. Life in the US is tre bien. But it will be good to be back home in my own bed after a month or so of living out of a suitcase.
Cheerio
Today we watched Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors in the Boston Commons (a park in the middle of the city). It made me laugh. We ate a lot of dim sum for lunch. A ridiculously pretty girl served me frozen yogurt with strawberries, mochi and Cap'n Crunch (on her recommendation) after dinner.
It is 1:36am and mum is folding the laundry that just came out of the dryer and I am listening to Thrice- Of Dust And Nations. I was such a doon for not realising they weren't playing my Warped date. (-.-"). Mum just hit me telling me to go to sleep.
Tomorrow we catch a bus back to new york for 2 more days, and then we fly back. Awww. Life in the US is tre bien. But it will be good to be back home in my own bed after a month or so of living out of a suitcase.
Cheerio
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