St. George Down Under

Ramblings of a _________

March 22, 2009 at 6:04 pm (In AUS) (animals, anxiety, australia, bush, depression, hike, rugby, running)

Today started out very much a blah day. While being in such an incredible and new place it seems like one is burdened to have absolutely amazing, mind-blowing days every day. And when that doesn’t happen, it puts me in a kind of depressed funk. I’ve never lived in a place like this before (actually, never lived any place other than EUG), so I think I’m still treating it as a vacation, which is incorrect and a mistake. Therefore, if I don’t have a memorable day, it feels like somewhat of a loss, even failure.

Today I talked to my parents for the first time in a few weeks, and it was wonderful to see them! I really got pangs of longing when Dad held Charlie in front of the camera. While we were Skyping he jumped onto the table outside to notify the parents of his desire to come in. That and just seeing him and his cute face…ugh, I need him.

This experience is really making it painfully obvious that I need animal companionship in my life. As I head out for runs I pass a ground-level apartment that has two black labradors. A few weeks ago it just hit me how much I missed that kind of company. I just kinda stood there watching them, with this huge smile on my face. Ahhhhh, I need a furry companion here!

Money is making things a little stressful, so I think that is another one of the reasons for the blahs. It’s kind of a vicious cycle, because to do stuff means money going out. I want to check out Melbourne or get to Uluru, but the flights to those places costs money. (duh). I kinda feel the calling to get a job, but I’m resisting. Should I? Also, I’m having trouble getting in contact with a friend by phone about doing these things, so that’s frustrating.

Not hanging out with the American group and getting drunk with them has kinda hurt me in the long run, I think. Well, probably the medium-run. Ryan and the group headed to Melbourne this weekend…I just heard about it. Whatever. I have made Australian friends while they haven’t. The ones he knows he met through me. Still, it sucks, I wish I could be in that group with them.

For all of this, today was very, VERY important, and kind of helped me to realize the differences of how they are experiencing Australia vs. how I am. When I feel down it always, ALWAYS helps to go for a run. So, I went for a run! Ran through the neighborhood, down to a small river/creek to explore. There was this set of steps that I had seen a few times before and I really wanted to check them out. So I crossed the road and followed them up…turns out they just lead to a street with houses. That was kind of frustrating…I just sat on a rock up there, above the street, and thought some depressing, dark, and scary thoughts.

I decided to head back, crossed the road and bridge again, and saw this little pathway that looked like it headed down to the creek. “Might as well explore”, I thought, and followed the trail. Turns out that this pathway did head down to the creek, but also forked to go alongside it. It was somewhat of a city-sanctioned trail, with little markers of information about the surroundings along the way. One said to keep an eye open for Eastern lizards (I think it might have been the Eastern Water Dragon). Another was underneath a rock outcropping and said that there might have been Aboriginal rock paintings, but it might have been desecrated by graffiti. I was in the bush! (even though it was in a Sydney suburb…)

I walked along the path, which turned out to be approx. 1-2 miles. At first I went quite slowly, because when I walked I saw small lizards scurrying away and it kind of frightened me. It was a scorching 80º outside, but it felt cool and breezy, maybe 68º-ish in the bush area. The water was quite disgusting at points, with trash and such, but it was absolutely beautiful in there, with wonderful trees, birds making a commotion, and the scurrying of lizards at my feet. There were times that I thought about going back, but decided that I wanted to see one of those Eastern lizards.

After about 45 minutes or so I finally reached the end, going without any Eastern lizard sightings.

I had no idea where I was, just another suburb of Sydney, so I decided to check it out a little bit and see if I was closer or further to my home…I had no idea. I walked up the street and came upon a field. Rugby was being played, with supporters in the stands and on the grass, and a restaurant/club overlooking the action. Awesome! I watched the rugbygame  for a little bit,  maybe ten minutes. Enough time to see them score a bit, see a few hard hits, tackles, and people cheer. I was very thirsty tho, afraid of passing out, and decided I should head back. 

I found the trail again, and this time kind of booked it. I saw a weird, shiny/smooth lizard in a tree that was quite interesting, instead of a tail it had kind of a nub…it looked like it was in the evolutionary phase between lizard-with-legs to lizard-without-legs (and lizards without legs aren’t snakes, they’re legless lizards). It was quite cool! Also, passed a woman walking her dog…kinda reminded me of walking Beau through the forest by our house.

I got towards the end of the trail, and heard something that sounded reasonably sizable get spooked and run away. I stopped, then slowly proceeded, and came upon the EASTERN LIZARD! It was absolutely beautiful. It had hopped upon a log, and was just kind of waiting for me to pass. I got about within 5-10 feet of it and just stared at it. It was about two feet long, with half of that being its tail. I saw its eyes move around in its head which was pretty awesome! It looked kinda scaley/spiny, and was a shade of dark brown. I walked past it, and it stayed where it was. Then I saw another scurry away. I had found them!

This is an Eastern Water Dragon. Now, I'm not sure if this is what I saw, as I don't remember the 'Dragon' label, but it looked like this, only darker...I will find out the actual name soon!

I was soo happy to have seen those!! Man! Well, I headed back up the hill and got back into the neighborhoods, happy to be in civilization again. I was a little scared being in the bush! As I was walking I passed two boys, probably around 9 or 10, playing cricket. It made me so happy!!! One boy was standing in front of the wicket holding a bat about half as tall as himself while the other b0y stood in front of a stake in the ground, lobbing the ball at the batter. Once the batter hit the ball, he would run to touch the stake that the bowler was standing in front of, then back to the wicket. I think you get points for how many times you do this. But I’m probably wrong!

I think they thought I was weird, as I just kept looking at them, watching them intently with a smile on my face. To me it was this profound cultural experience, to them just another day, another time of innocent fun. As I was past them the batter hit the ball over the fence. I sooo wanted to hop it and get it for them, an excuse to start up a conversation. But as I headed back towards them they somehow had retrieved the ball. 

This is what I was talking about earlier, about how my experiences are different from my American friends. Today I walked along a path that Australians walk their dogs on, stumbled upon a rugby game where Australians go to relax and cheer for their favorite team, saw some incredible native wildlife, and got a glimpse into what Australian kids do to just play and have fun. While I was doing this my friends were in Melbourne, another big city, no doubt  a weekend full of booze and tourism. And there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s just different. And I like my experiences! I am here to live like an Australian.

I got back and got some information on the rugby team. I was in the suburb of Eastwood, watching the Eastwood Rugby Club play Randwick at the field named T. G. Millner. Apparently they’re pretty legit. I’m planning on seeing more of their matches…

This is the restaraunt/club area at T.G. Millner, with the field right in front of it.