12/16/06 Happy Holidays Dennis and Two Rivers Rotary! Life is well down under! Since my last update, in addition to going to school, I've switched host families, had some inbound/outbound briefings, and participated in my adoptive hometown's holiday festivites! Around the second week of November I sad farewell to my first host family, Rod and Elaine Sandell, and moved in with Kevin and Bernadine Taylor, and their son, JT (21) and daughter, Sandy (23). The Taylor's have been wonderful to me and I settled in very quickly. I truly feel like a part of their family. I'm now in the town of Warren, whereas I was on a farm property before. Being on a farm opened my eyes to a new way of life, and I am so appreciative of the farming lifestyle now and greatly respect it. One of the difficulties of farm life in the bush is getting into town. It's not exactly easy to get around when you can't walk anywhere because things are so spread apart, and there's no public transport. However, my transportation difficulties were nothing compared to some families in the outback whom I know must drive an hour or more each way on deserted (and sometimes dirt) roads just to get home everyday. Now, however, it's good to be able to walk anywhere I want with ease! The isolation of the bush has its ups and downs. Being a part of a small town is one of the best experiences for an exchange student, in my opinion, as they get to experience becoming an active part of a community in which they know everybody and everybody knows them. It's been no different for me in Warren. Having only three other students in my year at school has taken time to get used to, and I miss having a variety of people to interact with, but I've become a part of the close-knit group. There's something special about everyone saying hi and waving to you as you walk down the street. Sport in Australia at the moment consists of cricket and horse racing. My host father and brother are very keen on cricket, and I enjoy watching them play in the local team. It's a very confusing sport to me, a bit like baseball, and it lasts forever. England is playing Australia in the "Ashes" series at the moment, and the games last days. Horse racing is something everyone enjoys. America has the Kentucky Derby, and Australia has the Melbourne Cup, which is a national holiday in some cities. Warren has it's own racecourse, and I've attended some very lively race meetings lately. The highlight is usually the festivities afterwards, as people of all ages participate. It's a spectacle of Australiana, almost perfect stereotypes being fulfilled. The men, dressed in riding boots and bush hats, are drinking Victoria Bitter and Toohey's New beer, cigarettes hanging out of their mouth. Country and vintage rock music is played by the band, and glass bottles are strewn across the floor. The car park is filled with 'utes,' which are coupes with pickup truck backs (think El Camino), complete with 2 metre high antennaes (for mobile reception) attached to the brush guards (in case you hit a kangaroo). This is Australia at it's most authentic, far removed from the globalised city of Sydney. I deal with occasional boredom by working at a Garden Nursery/Café some days after school. I've learned some great vocational skills, and it keeps me in the loop with people of all different ages in town and puts me in a position where I can actively participate in the livelihood of the community, whereas otherwise I may just be a consumer on the sidelines. Drought. It's something that Warren has been struggling with for over six years. The serious long-term climate issue is at the core of everyone's worries, and it's worn down many people. Without excess wealth in the area, the population has declined and so have a few businesses. Most people I speak to say I couldn't have seen Warren at a worse time. Drought was a part of everyday life on the farm, but even now, with my host parents owning a grocery store, the effects can be felt. But the great thing about this small town is that everyone comes together, and there is still such a strong, palpable sense of optimism and community here. As always, the best friends are in the form of fellow exchange students! This district of 9670 is no exception, and recently we've had a few get togethers. In November, the inbounds came out to Warren to experience life in the bush. We toured megafarms, merino wool studs, and went on a wildlife safari, in addition to going to the great open-range zoo in Dubbo. The best part was just being together and enjoying each other's company! At the beginning of this month there was an inbound-outbound briefing, our last with the outbounds as, with Southern Hemisphere exchangers, they'll be departing on their journeys in January. It drew memories of our preparation for this wonderful experience. I'll be spending Christmas with the Taylor's and their extended family here in Warren, and let me tell you, they'll be no shortage of good food. Homesickness has not been an issue for me thus far, but Christmastime won't be the same without family, snow, and cold (the forecast is usually around 110F on the big day). Soon after, around January 6 th, I'll be leaving Warren behind for the clutches of suburbia when I move to Newcastle, 500kms away. The experience will be of mixed feelings, as Warren has been such a part of me and me of it for nearly five months, but it will be great to be on the coast, with access to so many new people and a metropolitan area. Thank you Rotary for providing me with this wonderful opportunity. It's been the best thing I've ever done. I believe that I've become a stronger person through the challenges and good times, and I finally grasp the unique culture of Australia (and all of it's slang!) I'm sure the next seven months will be just as, if not more, special! I wish everyone a very Merry (and cold and white) Christmas and a prosperous New Year! Best Holiday Wishes, Carl Schlegel
|
SOON TO RETURN