Arianna: Second to last day

Well all, I realize I have been pretty lame lately as far as updating, oops, sorry. I’d say that things have been busy but really it has more so just been laziness and lack of effort. I’ve been focusing my time on other things, such as making this video, preparing for registration at the U, handing in final papers, watching Two and A Half Men and falling evermore in love with Charlie Sheen, etc. etc. etc. I know, I know, I’m a losah!

The past few weeks have seemed so slow, but at the same time have passed by so quickly. Jess’s brother Michael came to visit over the weekend, and the three of us spent the day at Sea World, which was a blast. Sometimes I think I am still twelve years old at the way I react to the sight of dolphins…. They left Monday to do some traveling, and it really sucked having to say goodbye to Jess. We have become so close over this trip that I still don’t think it has sunk in that she isn’t going to be walking through our apartment door in a few days and it will all be the same as before she left. It makes me sad just thinking about not having her part of my days each and every day, but it makes me cherish the friendship we have developed over the past few months even more.

Since she left, Melissa and I have for the most part been pretty lazy. Tomorrow is our last day, so we have to spend the day busting our butts cleaning the apartment and finishing packing. Then we have our last night at the Tav – it is going to be a blast, but sad at the same time.

I’m sure I’ll update tomorrow as I have time, but right now it is late, and I need sleep!

Arianna: OMG

I AM SO SICK OF WORK, SO SICK OF WORK, SO SO SO SICK OF WORK! My brain feels like jelly and I have read over thiry-five “scholarly” (aka, dry-written) articles to work on this final paper and I might tumble over and collapse. After finishing the two essays last week, I feel like I should be able to celebrate and revert back to my doing-nothing-but-laying-on- the-beach routine. What the heck!

Jess and I went to the beach today (mental preparation for the agony of paper writing for the rest of the week) and I am one big freckle explosion once again. I also found a really cool orange sweatshirt (see photos above) that smells like a very delicious smelling man. It sat there all morning so before we left I snatched it….. Jess is currently gagging and is appalled that I haven’t washed it, but like I told her, I am going to wash it, it just smells soooo gooooood……

Well, I suppose I better try to get back to work…. ugh…. two more weeks, two more weeks, two more weeks….

Arianna: One More Month

Well folks, I have officially five weeks left of my time in Australia. I can’t quite believe it and can’t even really contain my excitement for coming home. My roommate Melissa and I will both be flying back together Friday, November 13th (I know, don’t even say anything about the freaky date, please). It will be here before we know it.

Today marks the very first “true” rainy day we have ever had here. I woke up to it raining and now at 5:00 pm, it has stopped raining but the clouds are still covering the sky. I am pretty sure this is the first day we have had without the sun, and I have to admit I quite like it. Melissa and I (reluctantly) did our laundry, and I started researching for another one of my essays. It has been nuts trying to prepare for all my final essays and projects – I really have quite a lot on my plate these last few weeks. For Media Law, I have a final essay (either on Defamation or Copyright Law) as well as an exam (yikes), but that has been on the backburner for now. This past week I spent all my hours working on my final essay for Fame & Celebrity. Granted, it was one of the more entertaining papers I have had to write for university, but it was still a hell of a lot of work. For my essay, I chose to examine the ‘celebritisation’ of Scarlett Johansson, and argued how cultural intermediaries have commodified her on the basis of her sexuality and gender.

Now, I am centering my focus on my Sociology of Identity essay. We have a few different directions we can choose to take, and I have decided to examine the body and identity. Basically, I have to argue how the body is one of the principal sites for the construction and production of prevailing social values and norms. Specifically, I am going to argue how the ‘hegemony of thinness’ that exists within our modern society has contributed to body modification and eating disorders as a way of forming personal identity. Research thus far has already been quite interesting, and of course I think this topic will also be quite therapeutic for me to explore. So, even though I have a lot on my plate, at least it all is personally interesting to me. It is just a bit difficult because for most of these classes, my grade is more than 50% based on these essays. That is huge and so they are quite the project to produce. Oh, I also have an entire website to design for my Digital Publishing class, but I honestly can’t even think about that right now.

Arianna: the final stretch

I have only five weeks left in the semester and it is quite hard to believe time has flew by so quickly. In these remaining weeks, I have over 5,000 words of essays to write, final exams to take, as well as a whole website to design. A part of me is having a mini spazz attack at all I have to complete, but deep down I know I will get it done and it will all work out fine. The hectic schedule will probably benefit me in the long run, as I know the weeks are going to fly past and before I know it I will be stepping off the plane in the Minneapolis airport, trading my flip-flops for my beloved black Uggs (guilty pleasure) and wrapping up in my winter coat. I am so excited to go back to the States, but at the same time, I am enjoying every second of these last few weeks. I may never pass this way again, and I want to make the most of the time I have left with these people that have turned from strangers to friends, with the land that has transformed from foreign to familiar, with the four walls surrounding me that have become home. It really is a strange thing, but I am trying not to waste too much time thinking about it right now and just “being” in it.

Arianna: Being in the moment

So, I’ve done it again – I’ve slacked off. I have to admit, time here is different than it is back home. It slips by so fast, I lose track of it. There are only five weeks left in the semester and I feel like it has only just started. A part of me is really scared about that fact, because I hate the feeling that life is going by too quickly. But another part of me has an appreciation for this new found indifference to time. Normally I am counting down the days, always looking forward to next Friday, next weekend, next month…. But being here, I have learned that there is nothing like being present. Sure, I have had my moments, and of course I am looking forward to coming home to see all my family and friends again. And yet, I am okay with just taking things are they are and being in the moment. This trip has taught me to stop wishing your life away… to just live it.

And I have been. Well, for the most part. There is something to be said about taking the time to do “nothing” and just taking things day by day…. that seems to be the Aussie way. I am getting accustomed to random hour long conversations with the roomies in the kitchen, late mornings, and afternoon naps on the beach, so I have to say I am a bit worried about entering the “real world” and working for eight to ten hour shifts at a time. Yikes. But it hasn’t been all laziness. I am proud to say over that over the past 21 days I have ran 75 miles, so I am continuing to grow closer to accomplishing my goal of 100 miles in 30 days. In fact, based on my running plan for this upcoming week, I should hit the 100 mile mark by Thursday, beating my goal by four days. Ma, those new pair of running shoes you bought me before I left are most definitely getting put to use.

It is starting to get warmer with each day that passes. You can just feel it in the heat. I am tanner than I have ever been in my life even though I am obsessive about wearing my sunscreen since there is no ozone layer here. My face is freckle galore, but I have only gotten sunburned once so I think I am faring well. The next week is going to be a busy one for me: I have a big essay to finish as well as a project for my Digital Publishing class. The work will be worth it though, because by Friday, Ma will finally be here! I am so excited to share this with her and show her around. I wish I was Paris Hilton so I could fly my entire family out here to see me; I so badly wish we could have a BuzzendaWinkle party and rock the Village, but I also recognize how lucky I am to a) be here at all, and b) even have someone to come visit. Maybe if I make it big in Hollywood and start reelin’ in the big bucks I’ll be able to afford to fly everyone out. Someday…

Arianna: Brisbane Festival Fireworks

I’ve always loved fireworks, and these were amazing.

Arianna: Ahh, Fridays

Today I woke up to the sound of the rain pitter-pattering on my window, the clouds like a blanket over the blue sky, and the first thing I did was smile. The breeze had a coolness to it that I couldn’t help but to welcome in, even as I shivered under the covers. Rare is the day that it rains in Australia during the dry season, and so even though the rain lasted no more than a half hour, I enjoyed every second of it. The sound of it was like a song, and I just let myself take it all in, feeling the moment.

I had planned on going to the beach, but was content to just relax at ‘home’ instead given the weather patterns. Plus, I felt exhausted all over, and I have reason to be: this week was the first in my goal to run 100 miles in 30 days. Since last Sunday, I have put in 27 miles after my run today and my body is definitely feeling it, but not in a bad way. I feel very strong and it is rewarding to have something to work toward.

All in all, today was a lazy day. Jessica and I walked the two mile trek to get groceries this afternoon, and it was nice to restock up on my favorite snacks. I have officially become addicted to dried tropical fruit as the result of being here. It is simply amazing and is my new way of satisfying that sweet craving. And it is much healthier than my normal way doing of that! And of course, I am also taking full advantage of the opportunity to buy fresh fruit as well. The bananas and kiwi are a staple in my diet. Other than that, I am starting to cook a bit. My new favorite is boiled spinach mixed with carrots, as inspired by Chef Linda Winkle.  It really isn’t difficult at all, but I always am proud that I actually “cooked” something. Plus, I like seeing Jessica’s reaction as she gags and has a look of absolute terror on her face as I eat it.

I’m not sure exactly what is on the agenda for tomorrow. Jessica has an exam (on a Saturday! Yuck!) in the morning so we are taking it easy tonight, but possibly may go into Brisbane again tomorrow for market. Every Saturday, they have the cutest little market set up, filled with all sorts of antiques, clothes, and the like, as well as yummy food stands. I’ll take photos if we go. Sunday or Monday I plan to go to the beach, but only after I find another book to get my hands on. I have rekindled my love for reading (well, it has always been there, it is just that reading for school all the time has distracted me) and in just three days have finished Picture Perfect by Jodi Picoult. It is a fantastic book for anyone who is looking for a good read. I have very much missed getting lost into the world of fiction, falling in love and identifying with the characters, piecing together little moments that remind me of things that I see, hear, sense, and feel in my life everyday…. Used book shop, here I come!

Well, I hope everyone is doing well at home. I miss ya’ll and know I carry you all with me during my days here. Love you all!

Arianna: She’s Back

Well, I know it has (once again) been awhile since I have posted, but I have a legit excuse this time. For those of you who do not already know, I had an incident with my laptop a few weeks ago that forced to live without for (gasp) nearly a week. It is almost painful talking about it, but…. what happened, is my klutzy self spilled liquid all over my keyboard. Luckily after a keyboard transplant my baby is up an running, so I got off easy. I could have potentially completely wrecked the motherboard which would kill my laptop, and this is what I thought I did, so it was a big relief that all I damaged with the keyboard. Two-hundred some dollars later, lots of painful tears, and one full week of utter and complete helplessness, I have a new rule which prohibits me from having liquids in my room…. The risk is so not worth it.

So, what has been going on during all these weeks of silence? Well, quite a bit, actually. I had a presentation in my Sociology of Identity class on “Systems of White Privilege” and am happy to say it went well. I finally had the all-famous “kebabs” here with Jessica, saw “The Ugly Truth” and missed my brothers terribly since we always go to movies together, took a day trip into Brisbane, and went to the Gold Coast Show (like a summer fair) and took some photographs. It has been a busy couple of weeks and the trip seems to be going by so quickly, it is really unbelievable. I was doing my readings today for class and noticed that we are already six weeks into the semester. I feel like we just started.

School is getting busier so it is hard to find that balance of keeping up with my studies while still making the most of my time here. I have decided no matter how busy my weeks get, though, I am going to the beach at least once a week (I haven’t gone the past two and miss it terribly) to clear my head and find some peace of mind. Tonight I am going to finish my Media Law paper so I can cross that off of my “To Do” list.

Thanks again for all the support. Miss and love you all!

Arianna: Time is a Runaway

Well, another week came and went. Time is such a strange thing here. The days and nights can feel so long, almost painfully slow at times, and yet it seems in a blink of an eye a month has already flown past and it feels like I have only just arrived here. The older I get the faster time seems to fly by. And I have to admit, it is a little scary.

I am currently in between laundry rounds. Doing laundry is such a pain in the butt here…. not only do I have to pay $2 for a wash / $1 for a dry, but I also have to haul all of my stinky, dirty clothes all the way from my apartment down to the main building. It makes for major procrastination on doing the laundry, but it had to be done. That stuff stinks!

The past week went well. Class was busy as usual, heavy reading and soon I am going to have start working on some essays. Yikes.

Today I went for my run, although I pushed it a bit farther and just barely made it back. It is getting hotter here and I definitely felt the heat—not a humid heat, but a dry heat. I was also able to speak with my wonderful Nanny & Poppa this morning which was the perfect start to my day…it is impossible not to feel loved and happy after speaking with them. Tomorrow I have to catch up on reading, buy some groceries (joy), and start work on my essays, so definitely nothing too exciting, but I am actually looking forward to the quiet.

Until next time…love you all!

Arianna: I Know You All Are Sick of My Words

So here is some video footage to change things up a bit.  Australia through my lens…