St. George Down Under

Collision

April 11, 2009 at 9:35 pm (Uncategorized)

Tomorrow the parents come. MAN! They’re in the air right now, somewhere over the Pacific. I don’t envy them right now. 

It’s hard for me to fathom what it’s gonna be like seeing my parents in Sydney tomorrow. I’m to meet them in front of their hotel tomorrow at noon, then we’ll head down to the Circular Quay area to see the Opera House and all that touristy stuff. I just can’t wrap my head around seeing them. It’d be like randomly seeing Nick and Chad jamming on the wharf for a bunch of tourists or running into BR watching Ed and Taylor surfing at Bondi; my mind can’t comprehend it. For nearly three months this place has been my own. I knew literally nobody when I moved here, and there is nothing here from my life back in Oregon except for the suitcase of my belongings. 

Then, seeing my parents, who are somewhat the symbol and icon of my life back home, in MY new town; I just don’t know what to think. It will be a collision of worlds. I’ve been on my own here, obviously, and as parents they of course will come in and want to parent. And I understand this. I’ve just got to remember that and roll with it. 

I’m kind of looking at it as a sort of Round 2 of my Eagle Project, in terms of parental interaction. I worked with my father closely throughout the completion of my Eagle Project and we had to keep reminding ourselves that I was in charge, I was the leader, not him. And it was difficult, as it was the first time in our lives that these roles had been reversed. It was also incredibly intriguing and interesting, as I would say, “No, I think we should do it this way,” or “Dad, please let me do this. I need to be planning this,” things like that, and he had to listen. I’m expecting these next two weeks to be similar to that experience.

I am so pumped though. Many people think I’m kind of strange for being as excited as I am for them to come, but I actually think of my parents as cool people. Fun people, nice people, interesting people. People I would like to hang around with if I wasn’t their son. I think it might be due to the fact that I don’t have siblings. I don’t know how to back this up, but it seems as though, from experience, single children have stronger relationships with their parents then children with siblings. 

I can’t wait to show them my life here. What I do everyday, where I go, what I eat, where I shop, my campus, the culture. And they will love my flat mates! Vasya is cooking a fish dinner tomorrow which they’ll be here for, so that should be fun. I’m also gonna bring them Tim-Tams, the best cookie in all of Australia, possibly the world. Dad will love ‘em!

Tomorrow is going to be so exciting! I sure hope I can get some sleep tonight…

Below is our tentative itinerary.

MONDAY—Explore Downtown–Walk around the Circular Quay area  (Sydney Harbour Bridge/Opera House) , Botanical Gardens—-Possibly dinner at my apartment, meet roommates, etc.

TUESDAY—Blue Mountains—Leave around 830 am . Have an early lunch around 11am at Mountain Ridge Café (Kangaroo Steak anyone?!), then take the bus all around Blue Mountains. 

Wednesday—Finish up Blue Mountains, mess around a little bit in the cute town of Leura, head back into Sydney. Hit up a pub with Reese for some good beer and mussels. 

Thursday—BEACH!-Bondi Beach or Manly Beach or Palm Beach or another—you research and choose! I’ve only been to Bondi. Or I can ask around and choose. 

Friday—The Aussie Experience-See my side of town. Walk around campus a bit, check out the mall, walk through the neighborhoods, maybe check out a rugby club. Opera House show at 8:00pm. If we want to do dinner at the Opera House, get there at 6, maybe even 5:30. If not, 7:20 or so.

Saturday—Another chill day in Sydney—QVB Building/Hyde Park-Waratah rugby game @ 7:30. Would like to get there at 6:30, 6 if we want to get dinner on the premises. 

FOLLOWING WEEK-

Sunday-Fly to Christchurch, New Zealand

Monday- Christchurch to Akaroa

Tuesday-Leave for Greymouth

Wednesday-Leave for Hamner Springs

Thursday-Leave for Picton

Friday-Leave for Wellington

Saturday-Fly back to Sydney