True story of 9 strangers...

This is the true story of 9 strangers, picked to live in a dorm. Travel together and have their lives taped to find out what happens when people stop being polite and start getting real.

There’s Megan: the loud one and the one with the boyfriend. This caused her to stay in many times to skype him; however, when this girl goes out on the town, she really knows how to party.

Jaclyn: the party girl. She never wants to miss a crazy night out on the town. If you want to have a good time, then don’t forget to take this girl with you.

Joe: the sweetheart. Always has an open ear to listen and an open arm for an embrace when needed. His big heart and sensitive side attribute to his title, but he is also known for his manliness through his “Joe Smith Work Outã” plan. Loves to party and has dance moves blow the roof off of any club.

Mike: the handyman and the rallyer. You need a quick tip or a repair? Just ask Mr. Fixit—you name it, he’ll fix it. He get’s two names because both of his titles are equally important. Not only can this guy provide advice and fix just about anything, he is also most known for his epic rallying ability. No one rallys quite like Michael Geib. His drunken rallys will go down in a record book one day.

John: the bootyshaker. Also know as Clark Kent, John is a ladies man. This is probably because he is not afraid to shake his booty in public. Like Joe, this one’s a sweetheart. Always down for a goodtime.

Addison: the nudist. In touch with his body, Addison is not afraid to show it off. Confident, this young chap tells it like it is and speak his mind. If you are looking for the brutal and honest truth, Addison will be the one to give it.

Then there’s Sara most known for her alter ego when she’s drunk: the Wildecat. RAWR. The name says it all and needs no further explanations.

These strangers knew of each other, maybe had some perceptions of what each other are like, but in reality, had no idea who exactly each other were. Starting off in the breathtaking town of Queenstown NZ, this group of strangers were thrown into a 3 bedroom apartment without cable, internet, and telephones forcing each other to interact on a different level. These activities included: Bungee jumping, white water rafting, super bowl party, 21^st birthday, Climbing the Ben Lomand, and you can’t forget teapot time. Before these strangers knew it they were leaving NZ and flying to Cairns for two full days of snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef on a cruise boat in the middle of the ocean. Leaving Cairns a lot redder than when they got there, these strangers were off for an action pact week of drinking and touring the Emerald city, Sydney. A month of vacation flew by and it was off to meet up with 25 other strangers in a place they called home for the next four months—the great city of Fremantle. Case days were had, rap artists were discovered, clubbing was had, travelling was in order, Road trips down up the West Coast, discovering the great country of Thailand, and very little studying was to be accomplished. These 9 strangers met up with the 25 others, stopped being strangers, and ultimately formed a close-knit family. Now this (once strangers) family’s real world experience has come to an end heading back to their homeland. Going in, as strangers and gaining a family with memories that will last a lifetime.

But on all serious note,

WOWWWeeeeewowowoww, I can’t believe this semester flew by. Everyone left Fremantle and the group I travelled with at the beginning of the trip (minus Megan) and me were the last to leave. It was nice ending this experience with the same group of people I began it with. We spent the last two days Wandering around Fremantle like homeless people—in reality that is what we were. We got kicked out of our on Saturday afternoon and decided that we didn’t want to have to pay for a hostel. We were able to leave our bags in the P&O and then we stayed at one of our Australian friend’s houses for the night. It was really weird walking around Freo and being the very last group to leave. In general, it was a weird feeling leaving this place I called home. It was like an empty feeling inside. I never meant to get weepy, but I couldn’t help but reminisce on the memories and the fun times that were had all around Freo. I will never ever have this same experience with the same people in the same situation every again—which makes me really sad. We did have all day to dillydally around with no place to just hang out. We sat around at our stomping grounds—the Orient—for the rest of the night. A lot of us even passed out on the back benches in the Orient—what a bunch of bums! We seriously looked like homeless backpackers. After the Orient, we made our way over to Sail&Anchor because one of our good friends (the guy whose house we were staying at) was playing in the band there that night. The next morning when we woke up, we once again walked around Freo. Aric (my professor) had all of us over and said we could hang out at his place for as long as we wanted to until our flight came. It was really convenient because it was a place to lounge where we didn’t feel homeless. That day, we went back to Sail&Anchor for the afternoon because they had beer and sample tasting. Free beer?—Why not! It was all very good, but I got drunk off of samples of beer because I hadn’t eaten much that day. For the remainder of the day, we walked around Freo snapping various pictures and picking up last minute souvenirs. That night, we decided to walk out to the lighthouse one last time to watch the sunset and take a group photo. I ended up loosing my camera in the rocks on the pier. I have the worst luck with electronics! I watched it fall further and further down the cracks in the rocks and I could not do anything about it. We were soon off to the airport to catch our flight. Everyone got checked in fine except for me. I must have pissed off a travel karma god because everything seemed to be going wrong. Our Quantas flight switched from Quantas to Jet Star and the booking lady booked all of our flights the wrong way. It was entered that we had 0kg for luggage, so then we would have had to pay $180 for two bags. Of course I was the only one that was stopped for this. We finally sorted it out after I had to buy internet and prove my booking details to the headhoncho and, in the end, I didn’t have to pay. To add to that, I had to go through security twice and was the only person randomly checked for explosives. I really did piss off a travel god. Goodness. Now I am in the Melbourne airport and waiting to get onto this flight to America. Well Australia, it’s been real. I will never forget you and miss you dearly, but it is time to go home! P&O and ANNA and all other friends, thanks for making this semester the greatest one yet. It has been truly a blessing to be friends with all of you. MUCH LOVE xoxo.

Cheers Mate,

KatieJ

Holy Emotions!

So I made it back to my dorm room from Thailand in one piece and with my dignity still in tact. I would definitely call that a success. Flying home from the layover in Singapore, I say the coolest sunset while flying into Perth. Every single color of the rainbow was in it. Amazing sunsets never get old, no matter how many times I see one. Really going to miss this aspect of Australia-seeing a sunset every day. This past week and this coming week are final weeks, play on words because my finals are in these weeks as well as my final weeks in Australia. I had my moral philosophy final on last Monday and it actually wasn't too bad for being 40% of my grade. Although, I did feel like I was taking the ACT. I was placed in a huge classroom with about 400 other students taking all different finals, assigned a seat number, and needed my ID to make sure it was me. Talk about hard core! After my final was done, I had all week to relax because I had 9 days off until my next final. I love having two weeks of finals instead of cramming 4 finals into 4 days. But I do have 2 finals on Wednesday and then my last final on Friday at 2:00. The very last final slot-I always get stuck with the last final slot on the last day of finals when everyone has been done for a few days. #yikes! So I have one final last week and then cramming 3 finals into 4 days. I would have rather had a few last week. Oh well, I have exactly one week left!

I went to the Perth Zoo Friday with some of my guy friends and then My RS Anna. That was a good break from being around Freo. It was the perfect day for the zoo: not too hot, not too cold and not raining. I saw some interesting animals, some that I have never heard of before. There were some baby dingos which were adorable, and a baby orangoutang which was only a week old. Freakin adorable. The monkeys were my fav. They had a huge display of all sorts of monkeys, and some that were no bigger than the palm of my hand. It is always an interesting time going to a zoo that is not your home zoo and seeing all the different animals that other places are home to. We went to a kangaroo exhibit and one of the kangaroos got out and was waiting by the gate for someone to let it out. I felt bad for it because people started taking photos with it and then it started boxing. I knew the stereotype of kangaroos boxing, but I never knew it actually happened. I was able to see a kangaroo box in its 'natural' habitat. I mean it is harmless, but we didn't want to stick around to see what happened next, we quickly got out of the kangaroo exhibit.

poor little guy, just wants to get out into the real world where people aren't going to stare at him all day.

Baby dingo, so fricken cute. If it wasn't a wild animal, I would want one as a pet. Surprisingly, the zoo trained these ones really well!

One week old orangoutang. 

We went to an elephant show and it was pretty neat, They put paint in the elephant's trunk's and the elephant sprayed paint onto this easel to paint this picture.  

Brad (in his corn rolls) me and Josh at the entrance to the zoo. 

Us three with the city of Perth in the background. What a beautiful city!

After the zoo was our goodbye dinner with the Putnam's. We went to a muscle bar on the pier the overlooked the ocean bay. I had the risotto which was phenomenal. We had left over money from out program fees so the Putnam's decided to use the money to take us out to a fancy goodbye dinner. This whole last weekend was a weekend full of goodbyes. I have been feeling pretty good about going home until this weekend hit and reality sunk in that I do not know when I will be coming back to this place that I have called home for the last 5 months and going to see all my Australian friends again. We had a goodbye day on Sunday, which consisted of relays (all three dorms against each other). The P&O came in 3rd.... out of 3. haha. Then we had afternoon tea and goodbye videos and speeches. Very sentimental.  One of the P&O residents, Gavin, left for home this afternoon already and I still have 3 finals left! how fair is that! haa. The mood around the P&O is a very different one lately. A lot of hugs, tear, and shared memories of the semester.

Sunday morning I went to go see the Dalai Lama. I don't really have previous knowledge of the Dalai Lama or Buddhism, but hey, he is a world leader and I wanted to hear what he has to say. Surprising, I really enjoyed it (besides the fact that I did fall asleep through the economy part because it was a 2 hour talk at 9am). He didn't stand up there and shove his religious views down my throat, he stood up there and talked about compassion and inner piece. He talked about how his religion is not that different than my religion and Buddha is just another name for my God. Given the fact that I already knew all of this, it was refreshing to hear it from his mouth. He discussed problems about the economy and addressed topics such as the killing of Osama Bin Ladin. But the theme that underscored all of the Dalai Lama's comments was finding peace of mind. He stated that every human being has the ability to show compassion through out common experience of the love we get from our mother. It is by use of human intelligence that we understand the long-term benefit of this inner value. A local Aboriginal man welcomed the Dalai Lama singing a song that is significant to his people. The Dalai Lama spoke for the treatment of indigenous people in Australia and said they should also make the effort to seek out modern education while preserving their culture. I thought this was surprising that the Dalai Lama was not only aware of everything going on in Australia even though it didn't pertain to him, he addressed the issue and had insight into the matter. Overall, I was very impressed by his talk and his cute old man laugh brought a smile across my face.

Tonight, I went to my host family's house for one last dinner. It was the first of many goodbyes--SO SAD. 

This is all of us: Peter & Samantha (dad&mum), Mackenzie, Zane & Macy (sisters & brother) and then us, Kelsey, Heather & Me. Such awesome memories with great people. I will miss them dearly. I said goodbye to Gav and this amazing family today... many more goodbyes to come. This week was full of its ups and downs, making me want to head home, but yet stay here and make some more memories with these amazing people. Talk about hard core mixed emotions. Soon enough I'm going to start feeling nothing because my emotions won't be sure what to feel anymore.

Vacation Ending

I leave for OZ bright and early in the morning. In these past two days, little to no work has taken place, but there was a whole lot of RnR--perfect timing before finals week. This vacation was a very good stress reliever and mental break. Yesterday, I got a $10 full-body hour massage, a hot tub, an ice bath, a steam room/sauna, laying out in the sun, and a swim up bar. It was 100% pure awesomeness. It was a much needed self day. Today, I woke up on the early side and laid by the pool all morning (got a little burnt) and then once again headed into Patong city. That pretty much consisted of my whole day--not too much went on, but another awesome day to say the least. I had an iced coffee at McDonads for 40Bat, which is a little over one dollar and some Tai food today for 80Bat, which is about $2.50. I wish I had these prices back home! --first time I am able to say that.

It's weird, but being in this Asian country, it reminds me more of America than Australia does. Its the little things like the food tastes more american, I don't have to pay for ketchup AND the ketchup tastes the same as it does in the states, there is burger king here instead of hungry jacks, everything isn't ridiculously over priced, there is skippy peanut butter here, ... I could go on. It just feels like this is kind of like the China Towns we find in the US. I never thought being in an Asian country would feel more like America than a westernized country like Australia.

Just some photos from the trip:

Thai Money, Bats

First beach we went to

Blue Hawaiian: SO GOOD! my very first cocktail since I have been legal.

Gav and I meditating.

Our elephant made out of towels

Some of us at the bar

Lez and I all dolled up

Mood lighting, in the hotel

Here is an outside bathroom at the hotel, I love the architecture. 

All mirrors

You can't really see but there are flames in the background

Me at the pool

A closer look.

The pool and the ocean!

Patong city

Patong

Coming to Thailand, I didn't really have an image in my heard about it. I have seen gorgeous photos of a perfect paradise, and I heard stories of the country being really dirty and sketchy. I had heard stories of people coming here and hating it and heard stories of people coming here and loving it. I was not really sure what to expect with the mixed stories and photos I have in my head prior to my landing. In reality, this country is a little of both aspects. I can get a really clean, pristine paradise, or I can get a really bad horrible experience depending on where I am. While staying at a gated resort, I get the perfect paradise, but when I go into the city, I see a lot of garbage everywhere, dirtyness around the streets and now a very good standard of living. Driving on the highways, the lines are the street are basically just a suggestion and the laws here are not really enforced. --or, if a law is enforced.. it is extremely enforce:

JEEZ! They don't mess around. We take a taxi everywhere we go because our resort is in just a excluded resort area, so we are able to see a lot of the island. I am glad sometime I am in a taxi and not on the streets. I look to my right and there is trash ever where and run down looking shops/house, and I look to my left and there is a really nice house, or nicer looking shops. It is not necessarily a town that is a run down neighbor, but it depends upon the house. Today, we went to the city of Patong. It is like one major  town in Phuket. I absolutely loved it! 

Kinda can't tell from this photo but it is basically exactly how I pictured it would be.. a recipe of part dirtiness, shops all on top of each other, a black market of brand name things, and toss in total awesomeness. Not a lot of people like cities like this one, but I'm not most people. As long as I stay out of trouble or danger, I am lovin it. I would never ever want to live or work EVER in a place like this, but it makes for some good shopping and experience. 

Another good thing about Thailand is all the Thai food! If I studied abroad here, I would gain a ton of weight. It is about 2 dollars for a decent size scrumcious meal! I am in Asian food heaven. 

My lunch this afternoon, after I even ate about a fourth of it. Pha Thai. 80 Bat, which is about $2.30ish? MMM... 

We also went to an outlet mall today that looked like if you disregard the palm trees it came straight out of Albertville. 

  

There were a lot of recognized stores there like nike, addias, north face, ed hardie, etc. except the prices were pretty comparable to the states prices so none of us bought anything.

Here are some photos from our hotel from the rest of the day:

Phuket

After no sleep and another 2 hour plane ride, we finally made it! We left our place at 5:30 pm yesterday and got here at 9:30 am this morning with very little sleep on the various air places. The hotel is unbelievable! We are staying at the Mariott off the ocean and even got 'layed' once we got here. Pictures to follow soon. Holy tamole this place is sweet. AHHH goodness. Loving this country so far. Interesting to say the least, but lovin it. Every one here wants to wait on us hand and foot and it is 31 Aussie dollars to the Thailand Bot. woooaaah! talk about cheap. It is extremely humid and tropical. This place looks like a perfect honeymoon paradise. More updates to follow soon. In the meantime, here is the resort we are staying at, Photos are from the web.

Feakin sweet.

Singapore

It is 5:17 am and sitting in the Singapore airport for at least another 5 hours. I am definitely in Asia. It feels weird standing out like a sore thumb in a country that is predominately Asian. The countries I have been to: Italy, Ireland, New Zealand, and Australia, at least I don’t stick out until I open up my mouth. Here, everywhere I walk, I stick out. Welcome to Asia! I would actually love to come back to this place and visit it. It looks beautiful, hot, and tropical. Plus, there is a universal studios here—my kind of place! First thing I do when I roll into Asia for the first time, get McDonald’s. Typical American. We saw the big yellow arches—a universal symbol that no matter where you are, when you see that sign, it feels like home. So I get McDonalds and go to sit down in a row of seats. I’m sitting down sipping on my iced latte when this lady directly in front of me (facing me) starts to fall down. At first, I thought she was just asleep and doing the whole head bob shindig, but then I saw her twitch and I knew that she was definitely not just sleeping. This lady was having a mini seizure/heart attack (whatever it was) in front of me and for the first time in my life I got this whole “oh shit, what do I do” feeling. I am in a foreign country, I do not have a cell phone, and even if I did have a cell phone, what is the number for 911 in Singapore!? (Side note, there should be a universal 911 number! In NZ it is 111 and in AU it is 000. And now for a life lesson: every new place you go, make sure you know the emergency number!) The people the lady was with called medical and we went to go find medical. No one really reacted around this lady because I don’t think anyone knew what to do. Security called for backup meanwhile, we got her to sit up and be conscious. Medical did not come for another 10 minutes. I am definitely not in America anymore. First experience of hardcore culture shock and I am not even in Thailand yet, I am  just in the airport. If this is any indication of how the rest of this trip is going to be, I am definitely in for an interesting ride. 

5000 word paper

As the title of this suggests, I had a 5000 word paper due this week. AHH!
and I thought writing a 2000 word paper was bad enough. GOODNESS.
actually, if I enjoyed writing paper, this is one that I would have enjoyed to write. It was
about identity pertaining to immigrants in Australia. The basis of it was about the question how does an immigrant keep an identity while trying to assume the new culture/traditions? It was basically about how immigrants struggle with finding an identity in a completely new culture and way of life with a shout out to racism. It was actually really interesting to read up on and find out all about this stuff. I just did not enjoy the part where I had to write 5000 words on it. Alright, enough complaining, it's DONE! whoohoo! and now tonight we have a party bus that we are all going on and then leaving for Thailand tomorrow. Probably the two best cures for beating myself up over this paper. Last day of class was today and I just said goodbye to my friends staying here--the semester is really coming to an end: WEIRD. It seems like I have been here forever, but yet not at the same time. I am getting homesick, but I think that is the sole sake that it doesn't feel like I am in a foreign place anymore, but rather I am in my dorm room writing papers and preparing for finals while I see all these photos of my friends at home in the summer without school work. Or the fact that I see a ton of photos of all my friends back together for the summertime, and I am still so far away in a school environment without everyone. There are aspects of home I miss a lot, but yet I know when I get home, there are aspects of Australia I am definitely going to miss. Likewise, going home will be bittersweet for sure.

Here is where I am off to: Phuket, Thailand! We are staying in a Mariot--classy for like $100 for the 5 days I am there. Excited for cheap prices!



I searched google images of Phuket, Thailand and this is what came up--beautiful. I hope it looks like this when I am there and not some really dirty town. You better believe I'll have an update. Praying for safe travels and a safe experience in a new country! I have no idea what this experience will be like.




Here are some travel tips that I will take into consideration ... Mom && Dad, I will be sure to ignore rule 4:) --only kidding... but I will make sure to do rule 10!