Having to meet at school by 6am on a Friday is not on any one's list of favorite things to do, forgive me for making this assumption if your one of the weirdos who disagrees. Regardless of your stance on it I will tell you it was no fun at all. Haha. Especially knowing there was a 4 hour bus ride ahead of us to go visit foreign embassies.... Ughhhh, not quite the draw to get out of bed at 430am. Anyway, I slept most of the trip until we first arrived and drove up to the top of the hill to see the view of Canberra.
All along that middle red path are the Oz embassies and war memorials and important governmental buildings. Very exciting I know! Our first stop was the capitol Parliament house.... not very exciting in my opinion. Just a waste of money on a huge marble creation of a building, with so much marble and gold coated empty space.... really? Is that necessary? After that we went to the Aboriginal embassy.... which people kept calling the "tent embassy". I figured tent would mean something a little nicer than what it was, a camping tent out in front of the old Parliament building (which was basically the size of our white house). We stood out in the rain for an hour listening to two aboriginal men talk about how the government does not acknowledge them as the original inhibitors of the country and how they destroy their land, wildlife, and plants kicking aboriginals out of their homes and not giving them anything in return. Obviously standing out in the rain in front of this beautiful building which cost billions of dollars to build listening to two guys speak in the rain about how they have been taken advantage of. They spoke so kindly and humbly to us, but you could tell there was so much anger behind their words, but I would probably feel the same way if I were them. It was heart breaking and opened my eyes so much. I don't even know what I can begin to do to help them, and when we asked what we could do for them they just asked us to spread what we have learned here. Help people to become more aware of what is really going on. When you see it first hand there is no way you can possibly deny it unless you are really good at lying to yourself. Even so I still see it as quite the challenge. Well after that we were all soggy and freezing we headed off to the Indonesian Embassy, of which we heard an hour an a half lecture from a man we could not understand a word from, while we were wet and cold. Fun fun fun. Needless to say it was very hard to keep the eyes open. Our last visit of the day was to the American Embassy. I have to say it made me want to vomit. It has been over a month since I have been exposed to American arrogance.... ugh the lady speaking telling us that America is so far ahead of everyone and blah blah blah and everyone else just needs to deal with it and acknowledge our power, ughh, kill me now, no wonder no one likes Americans. This is what they think we are all like. They were trying to convince us how we are so influential and what not that other countries would have to have so much progress for so many years to even catch up to us, which in fact may be true, but do they really need to come off like that? I mean if we don't want to start getting bombed it might be a good idea to be a little more humble about our power? Maybe? Well I could vent for hours, but I will try to contain myself. That night we stayed in a hostel, for my first time ever, it was actually a pretty cool
establishment. Lots to do, pool (both kinds), lounge areas, video games, regular games, bars.... however I was way too tired to take much advantage of the accommodations. But it did ease my nerves for my trip to the Great Barrier Reef in two Weeks where we will be crashing in a hostel for 4 nights! Woo!!! Anyway our next day in Canberra was a little more exciting and artsy. Our first stop was the national portrait gallery, which after taking art classes was a pretty amazing experience. Followed by the museum of Aussie history and culture. It was awesome!!!! Did I forget to mention museums are free in this country!!! Its spectacular. Sadly my camera was on its way out so I did not get very many pictures, and when your exhausted the last thing you want to do is be creative. After that and a
nice lunch of subway on the bay we headed on to an art museum. Which was a lot cooler than the ones in the States, and I am trying to figure out why this is, and I think it is because they have such a new collection of pieces than we do back home everything is new and exciting. Plus everything seems to be more exciting in the land of OZ. Our last stop of the trip was the Canberra war memorial, which was amazingly cool. We have been learning a lot about Australian history and events it was actually interesting to see some real pieces from wars. Plus, how they had the place set up was very educational and un-boring =) Real technical term there. They had huge models set up of different battles giving you a good idea of what the conditions were. They also had real helicopters and planes you could play in (which of course I did, don't even think I didn't) and faux submarine set ups you could go
through. It was really fun. I think all historical war monuments should be this fun. Plus the architecture was not bad either. Excuse the crooked angle I was leaning against a column, haha. Well the trip ended on a note of about 9 out of 25 of us being sick, and I think now almost everyone is sick. I spent the afternoon yesterday waiting in a waiting room with my romies and Mum, it was way too much fun. However, I do have to say the man at the counter was very attentive bringing us drinks and out own boxes of tissues. That was rather entertaining =) At the moment I am still healthy with 3 sick roomies, so I am praying for good health and for all of them to quickly recover. All of the classes were cancelled today (Monday) for the Americans because they want us to rest and feel better. So basically we are under quarantine, haha. Oh the joys. As for now I am off to take a nap, I am doing my best to stay healthy and try to fight the sicknesses!! Wish me luck!
All along that middle red path are the Oz embassies and war memorials and important governmental buildings. Very exciting I know! Our first stop was the capitol Parliament house.... not very exciting in my opinion. Just a waste of money on a huge marble creation of a building, with so much marble and gold coated empty space.... really? Is that necessary? After that we went to the Aboriginal embassy.... which people kept calling the "tent embassy". I figured tent would mean something a little nicer than what it was, a camping tent out in front of the old Parliament building (which was basically the size of our white house). We stood out in the rain for an hour listening to two aboriginal men talk about how the government does not acknowledge them as the original inhibitors of the country and how they destroy their land, wildlife, and plants kicking aboriginals out of their homes and not giving them anything in return. Obviously standing out in the rain in front of this beautiful building which cost billions of dollars to build listening to two guys speak in the rain about how they have been taken advantage of. They spoke so kindly and humbly to us, but you could tell there was so much anger behind their words, but I would probably feel the same way if I were them. It was heart breaking and opened my eyes so much. I don't even know what I can begin to do to help them, and when we asked what we could do for them they just asked us to spread what we have learned here. Help people to become more aware of what is really going on. When you see it first hand there is no way you can possibly deny it unless you are really good at lying to yourself. Even so I still see it as quite the challenge. Well after that we were all soggy and freezing we headed off to the Indonesian Embassy, of which we heard an hour an a half lecture from a man we could not understand a word from, while we were wet and cold. Fun fun fun. Needless to say it was very hard to keep the eyes open. Our last visit of the day was to the American Embassy. I have to say it made me want to vomit. It has been over a month since I have been exposed to American arrogance.... ugh the lady speaking telling us that America is so far ahead of everyone and blah blah blah and everyone else just needs to deal with it and acknowledge our power, ughh, kill me now, no wonder no one likes Americans. This is what they think we are all like. They were trying to convince us how we are so influential and what not that other countries would have to have so much progress for so many years to even catch up to us, which in fact may be true, but do they really need to come off like that? I mean if we don't want to start getting bombed it might be a good idea to be a little more humble about our power? Maybe? Well I could vent for hours, but I will try to contain myself. That night we stayed in a hostel, for my first time ever, it was actually a pretty cool 
establishment. Lots to do, pool (both kinds), lounge areas, video games, regular games, bars.... however I was way too tired to take much advantage of the accommodations. But it did ease my nerves for my trip to the Great Barrier Reef in two Weeks where we will be crashing in a hostel for 4 nights! Woo!!! Anyway our next day in Canberra was a little more exciting and artsy. Our first stop was the national portrait gallery, which after taking art classes was a pretty amazing experience. Followed by the museum of Aussie history and culture. It was awesome!!!! Did I forget to mention museums are free in this country!!! Its spectacular. Sadly my camera was on its way out so I did not get very many pictures, and when your exhausted the last thing you want to do is be creative. After that and a 
nice lunch of subway on the bay we headed on to an art museum. Which was a lot cooler than the ones in the States, and I am trying to figure out why this is, and I think it is because they have such a new collection of pieces than we do back home everything is new and exciting. Plus everything seems to be more exciting in the land of OZ. Our last stop of the trip was the Canberra war memorial, which was amazingly cool. We have been learning a lot about Australian history and events it was actually interesting to see some real pieces from wars. Plus, how they had the place set up was very educational and un-boring =) Real technical term there. They had huge models set up of different battles giving you a good idea of what the conditions were. They also had real helicopters and planes you could play in (which of course I did, don't even think I didn't) and faux submarine set ups you could go 
through. It was really fun. I think all historical war monuments should be this fun. Plus the architecture was not bad either. Excuse the crooked angle I was leaning against a column, haha. Well the trip ended on a note of about 9 out of 25 of us being sick, and I think now almost everyone is sick. I spent the afternoon yesterday waiting in a waiting room with my romies and Mum, it was way too much fun. However, I do have to say the man at the counter was very attentive bringing us drinks and out own boxes of tissues. That was rather entertaining =) At the moment I am still healthy with 3 sick roomies, so I am praying for good health and for all of them to quickly recover. All of the classes were cancelled today (Monday) for the Americans because they want us to rest and feel better. So basically we are under quarantine, haha. Oh the joys. As for now I am off to take a nap, I am doing my best to stay healthy and try to fight the sicknesses!! Wish me luck!
3 comments:
What I dislike about the "American way," like you were talking about, is that (in my opinion) we take so much time trying to build up this power just to gloat about it more. Maybe if we actually used it to help out a bit more instead of using it to brag we might be getting somewhere! That is what I get out of it, I don't know if I am right (in a way) or how others think of it. How awful you had to listen to that...
I see you are practicing for our trip by staying in a hostel and all =D Even I am excited for your GBR trip in a few weeks! I hope you can get your hands on an underwater camera because that is something I really want to see and experience myself. Pictures will have to do for now! Maybe a story if you can't get the underwater cam of course.
Sorry for the sicknesses and blah experience with the embassies. But the good news is you have the Ward immune system...no no, let me rephrase that, you have the great Whitney immune system in you, so you can't get sick - or at least not that badly. Heh. I hope for your health nonetheless!
PS I miss you too, most days it feels like you are still in/near Seattle and I have even thought of calling up to see if you wanted to do something before. Disappointed ensued. Sigh. As long as the Aussies are treating you well I guess I can manage... Gush moment over =)
PPS Still taking stunning photos!
PPPS I read everything, even if I don't comment on it. I feel my posts would be obnoxiously long if I did, sort of like this one is gradually becoming. Hehe.
Oh good! Something to talk about.
I have to disagree with Whitney about American power and all that. Helping out is great and all, but I think that is one of this country's biggest failing.s We interfere far too much. Case and point: The middle-east. I mean, really? Do we need to be there at all? I think not.
How about he millions, even billions, of dollars we give to other countries? For what? For them to have a stupid American embassy set up in their po-dunk country so we can jib-jab about how wonderful we are and how they owe us for helping them? Hate to say this, but that 9-11 happened surprises me less every day. Don't think for a second I believe we deserved it, no. I'm just saying I can understand other countries hatred of us.
I don't think we should 'help' anyone at all. I believe in what our founding fathers wanted, that we should have no dealings with foreign affairs unless they directly include us.
Hostels are great places if you're ok with little to no privacy. That's the downer. Dean and I stayed in one in Chicago and there were three, maybe four, sets of bunk beds in the one room. It was all guys, so that was good, and just two showers, but still. If you wanted to prance around naked or something a hostel isn't the place. Unless you're into that kind of thing I guess... yewwwww....
I don't think you should feel all that bad for the Aborigines. I mean, sure, that's a real bummer they've been getting the short end of a short stick for 200 years. You said that right? 'Oz' has only been a country for about 200 years? Well just think how long we've been slaughtering and mistreating our very own Native Americans. You hear about the 15% unemployment rate in Detroit, sure you do, but you don't here about the 80% (EIGHTY PERCENT) unemployment rate on the reservations in this country. It... (deep breath Del) sickens me. We're oooh sooo tolerant of homosexuals and Muslims and illegals, that's fiiiine. Be two men and marry. Fly planes into our buildings, that's ok! Scurry across our borders and come to our schools. We'll study your culture, your people, and see how WE screwed up. What?! We'll write the instructions for your new MP3 player in English AND Spanish. No mind you're an illegal, that's ok! But how long have we mistreated the very people that have roots in this country far longer than white men have been walking around here?
Anyways I should stop ranting. It'll help nothing, never does. I'm glad your trip has been, at the very least, an eye opening experience.
Whitwhit I will start with you! I love commenting on your comments fyi. I agree with the whole America should use there power to help thing. Now I know we already "help" but if you look at the numbers, for the amount of wealth and power we have we are not very high up the list of lending a helpful hand to those in need. Now to sort of bring Del's comment into the mix, I don't think the war in Iraq was very helpful.... well I mean I don't know, my views have changed quite a bit. I know now they are over there trying to help them establish their government so that when they pull out all of their efforts wont crumble. Which if that were 100% true that would be fine... but lets be honest, that was not their reason for going over there in the first place. And I do agree 9/11 was horrible, but I am not surprised that it happened either. There are levels where we do need to mind our own business, but at the same time becasue we are a "super power" I feel like it is our responsibility to help out more than we do.... and by help I do not mean go to war... I mean I don;t know exactly what I mean by that, but I do know no one likes the rich uncle who buys and amazing house, isolating himself from the rest of the world while jumping up and down on his bed throwing 100$ bills into the air. He isn't actually happy. That is why he is the grumpy old uncle. For the record hostels aren't bad.... but they are bad when you want to invoke naked friday =) Also, no one but the 28 of us standing in the rain for an hour (obviously part of the reason we are all sick) can even say not to feel bad for the Aboriginals. No matter what any of us thought before that we all came out of there with heavy hearts realizing the arrogance of man. Not to say I do not feel the same way about Native Americans.... we are comparing the two a lot and they are both sensitive subjects. I am not happy to know that I am from a country which started in the way it did with the Native American "relations". I know it will come back to bite us in the end.
Any who, I love it when you guys rant and babble! please keep it up! It def gives me something to do on days like today when the world seems to be moving oh so slow! <3 <3
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