Another great day in Boston. I'm starting to learn where everything is in my surrounding area, as well as other parts of Boston (contributing to this is my greater understanding and knowledge about the T system). Today, before work, I went to the Post Office to mail a few things, which happens to be located (conveniently so) right near my house. On the T, I read the "Metro" newspaper... a little newspaper highlighting events going on in Boston, as well as political/religious/etc. debates going on in the city. At work, we eat lunch outside, or "al fresco" as most like to call it, which is really wonderful because it's so nice outside : )
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_fresco_dining
I left work around 5:30 and despite my Tom Tom's estimate that I'd be arriving home at 6:05 p.m.... I pulled into the house parking lot at 6:35. Navigating your way through Boston rush hour traffic is like pulling teeth. Between stop-and-go, bumper-to-bumper traffic and weird round-abouts, I decided that I'd rather utilize public transportation anytime. After I got home, I went to meet all the Manzi fellows (my internship this summer is through a Colgate fellowship program, made possible by the gracious Mr. Jim Manzi) who were having a picnic at 7 on the river. It was 7:35 when I was walking and realized I still had a ways to go to get to the picnic site... so I turned around to avoid having to walk home in the dark an hour later! Epic bust. Instead of eating dinner on the river, I had a nice Ravioli dinner with some friends in the Phi Delt dining room.
After dinner, I watched an episode of "Pretty Little Liars" with my friend, Katarina. We wanted to watch a show the other night online... but we couldn't think of any shows we needed to catch up on. So instead, we started watching a series neither of us had seen before! It's one of those over-done, "I can guess what's coming next" sort of shows... but addicting, nonetheless. Who doesn't like a show about four teenage girls, faced with the sorrows of a dead friend (who's actually seemingly not dead), all while hiding secrets of the past?
Again, this afternoon, I was faced with the on-rush of crazed Red Sox fans as they headed to Fenway Park. I realized about an hour ago that the Sox game only added to rush hour traffic... probably making traffic worse than usual. I had to move my car from the spot it was in earlier... and again, I saw hundreds of fans leaving Fenway. Third night game in a row! It's actually pretty cool though how close I live to Fenway Park; from the doorstep, you can clearly see the stadium lights of the baseball park. Not many people can say they've lived that close to Fenway Park : )
Off to Lake Winnie, NH again tomorrow for some fun family reunion time!
P.S. I forgot to talk about our camp motto's, which I mention in the title of this post. There are several, such as "fair is not always equal" and "lead by example." My personal favorite is "fake it 'til you make it." I think I'm going to try to fake my way through things more (things which I don't have much confidence in), to see if people believe me (i.e. like I know more about a subject than I really do, or that I know how to do something, or that I'm more confident than I really am in certain activities). We've all done it, right? I think being able to "fake it" is a good leader quality, as sad as that sounds, because the people following a leader need to have confidence in the person leading them. Or else all hope is lost. Because people need to know there's someone above them (or beside them) who knows what they're doing. But that doesn't necessarily mean that leaders need to KNOW what they're doing, merely ACT like they know what they're doing.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Exploring the City
Work was great today! One moment that stands out in my mine (oddly) is when I sneezed... and of the eight people sitting around me, five said "bless you." You forget this simple social norm exists when you go to Australia and never hear it spoken once. In that moment, I was exceptionally thankful to be back in the U.S.
On my way back from work, I was accompanied by several Red Sox fans on the T. Apparently, there was another game today! I think I might be converted to a Red Sox fan... well actually, I don't know if converted is the right word because I was never a fan of any baseball team to begin with! I think all my Bostonian relatives would be glad to hear that : ) Instead of going home right away, I took the T to the Museum of Fine Arts... a really, really large art museum right next to Northeastern University. I went with my friends Leo and Julio, and my roommate, Janice. Instead of studying each and every art piece, we mostly caught up with each other, exchanging stories about work and our weekends. Although, we did pay close attention to one of the exhibits there... "Chihuly: Through the Looking Glass." Within this exhibit, there were nine large pieces, each representing something different. The art in this exhibit was all glass that had been blown and shaped... there were intricate, twirly designs, glass shaped like different mosses on logs, and glass shaped like chandeliers. It was awesome!
http://www.mfa.org/exhibitions/chihuly
After going through the museum, well actually only the first floor of the museum, we went to Panera for dinner. Also another thing I love about America--our pickles. I had a delicious chicken ceasar sandwich and soup... but I really had a craving for a pickle after seeing one on another girl's plate. So, I went back up to the register and politely asked the man working if I could have a pickle...he graciously brought me to the back counter and prepared a plate of four pickles... haha. I would do that. I took the T and walked back to my house. And of course, Janice and I ran in to all the Red Sox fans as they were leaving the game, which had coincidentally just ended. Also coincidentally, after I walked up the stairs out of the subway, I walked by four older men wearing Colgate stickers on their shirts. It took me a few seconds too long to process what I had just seen in order to muster a "go Colgate!" as they walked by. I'm almost positive the Colgate Club of Boston had arranged an event at the Sox game tonight... so these are the things I can look forward to upon becoming a Colgate alum : )
And now here I am, writing on my blog at 11:30 at night. Gotta go to bed now.. that's the working life for you!
On my way back from work, I was accompanied by several Red Sox fans on the T. Apparently, there was another game today! I think I might be converted to a Red Sox fan... well actually, I don't know if converted is the right word because I was never a fan of any baseball team to begin with! I think all my Bostonian relatives would be glad to hear that : ) Instead of going home right away, I took the T to the Museum of Fine Arts... a really, really large art museum right next to Northeastern University. I went with my friends Leo and Julio, and my roommate, Janice. Instead of studying each and every art piece, we mostly caught up with each other, exchanging stories about work and our weekends. Although, we did pay close attention to one of the exhibits there... "Chihuly: Through the Looking Glass." Within this exhibit, there were nine large pieces, each representing something different. The art in this exhibit was all glass that had been blown and shaped... there were intricate, twirly designs, glass shaped like different mosses on logs, and glass shaped like chandeliers. It was awesome!
http://www.mfa.org/exhibitions/chihuly
After going through the museum, well actually only the first floor of the museum, we went to Panera for dinner. Also another thing I love about America--our pickles. I had a delicious chicken ceasar sandwich and soup... but I really had a craving for a pickle after seeing one on another girl's plate. So, I went back up to the register and politely asked the man working if I could have a pickle...he graciously brought me to the back counter and prepared a plate of four pickles... haha. I would do that. I took the T and walked back to my house. And of course, Janice and I ran in to all the Red Sox fans as they were leaving the game, which had coincidentally just ended. Also coincidentally, after I walked up the stairs out of the subway, I walked by four older men wearing Colgate stickers on their shirts. It took me a few seconds too long to process what I had just seen in order to muster a "go Colgate!" as they walked by. I'm almost positive the Colgate Club of Boston had arranged an event at the Sox game tonight... so these are the things I can look forward to upon becoming a Colgate alum : )
And now here I am, writing on my blog at 11:30 at night. Gotta go to bed now.. that's the working life for you!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
And This Raider Moves on to Boston
After arriving back in the United States, I drove to Boston, MA a mere seven hours later! Talk about a quick turn-around. Good family friends of ours, the Ecker's, were conveniently driving to Boston the day I needed to come here. So they helped me move in to my fourth story room on the edge of the Charles River. I live in a MIT fraternity, Phi Delta Theta, with about 35 other people. It's about half girls/half guys and everyone is so nice. Recently, we had a "southern soul food" night.... we all piled in to the huge dining room to eat fried chicken, waffles, and homemade macaroni and cheese. What college student doesn't love that combination of food? Move in day was pretty uneventful; I unpacked for a few hours and then slept for the rest of the day... jet lag's a (you know what).
The next day, I was determined to find out how I was going to get to work (in a town that's actually a suburb of Boston). So, like a rookie, I took a piece of paper with my work address and made my way down to the Kenmore Square T-Stop (the train line that runs through Boston). I was sitting at a large, somewhat confusing-looking map, when a woman walked up to me and asked me if I needed help. At first I put up my "No, it's okay, I can do this on my own...," I surrounded to her help after learning she used to work on the same street I was trying to get to. This kind woman showed me how to get to Waltham (the town where Drama Play Connection is, the non-profit I'm working for). After that, I walked around Kenmore Square (which is right near Cambridge, just across the Charles River); I saw Fenway Park and went to the grocery store. The following three days were nice... I went to work every day on "the T," like a regular working class woman. I had to figure out how to buy a ticket, how to know where to get off, how to catch the right train going in the right direction, and how to figure out when the trains arrived at the station. Thanks, studying abroad, for teaching me how to independently figure out all modes of transportation.
One night, I met up with a good friend, Leo, to go to Quincy Markets for ice cream. Another two afternoons I ran along the Charles River and strolled around the MIT campus. There are SO MANY things to do in Boston, so I plan on making a list tonight of things to do after I get out of work... because there's a solid three hours of daylight after work ends to enjoy the beautiful city!
Today, I drove back to MA from NH (huge family reunion in NH... always a blast!) at 6 a.m. in time to arrive at work by 9 a.m. I'm working at a summer theatre camp for kids with Asperger's Syndrome, Social Anxiety Disorder, etc. The past week, I've learned all about Asperger's, learned how camps runs, set up camp at Regis College, and today I read camper charts all day (to learn about the specific needs and impairments of each camper). Throughout the duration of the camp, campers learn about drama techniques, pragmatics... all in preparation to make their own full-length film, starring the campers themselves. So, during the week, campers attend workshops on drama pragmatics, attend field trips, and film scenes for the video. At the end of camp, there's a movie premiere showing the film they made... this year we'll be helping to produce "Ghostbusters"!
http://www.dramaplayconnection.com/
Because I only slept four hours last night, I think tonight is going to be an early night. But tomorrow I plan on taking advantage of the sunny afternoon in Boston!
Peace out Girl Scout.
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Oh, also! Today the Green Line on the T (that's the line I take... there's four different lines) was down, so I had to take the bus home. As I walked back to my house, I was greeted by hundreds of people in the streets, all milling about, eating, drinking, and taking pictures in preparation for the big Red Sox game tonight. Because there were so many people on the streets, I nearly hit a man next to me on the sidewalk with the luggage I was carrying. Instead of saying "Oh, you're fine," like an American, he said "You're alright"... a classic Australian phrase. Was he Australian? I'm not sure. But it sure made me feel like I was back in the land of kangaroos and boomerangs : )... a subtle reminder of the past five months of my life.
The next day, I was determined to find out how I was going to get to work (in a town that's actually a suburb of Boston). So, like a rookie, I took a piece of paper with my work address and made my way down to the Kenmore Square T-Stop (the train line that runs through Boston). I was sitting at a large, somewhat confusing-looking map, when a woman walked up to me and asked me if I needed help. At first I put up my "No, it's okay, I can do this on my own...," I surrounded to her help after learning she used to work on the same street I was trying to get to. This kind woman showed me how to get to Waltham (the town where Drama Play Connection is, the non-profit I'm working for). After that, I walked around Kenmore Square (which is right near Cambridge, just across the Charles River); I saw Fenway Park and went to the grocery store. The following three days were nice... I went to work every day on "the T," like a regular working class woman. I had to figure out how to buy a ticket, how to know where to get off, how to catch the right train going in the right direction, and how to figure out when the trains arrived at the station. Thanks, studying abroad, for teaching me how to independently figure out all modes of transportation.
One night, I met up with a good friend, Leo, to go to Quincy Markets for ice cream. Another two afternoons I ran along the Charles River and strolled around the MIT campus. There are SO MANY things to do in Boston, so I plan on making a list tonight of things to do after I get out of work... because there's a solid three hours of daylight after work ends to enjoy the beautiful city!
Today, I drove back to MA from NH (huge family reunion in NH... always a blast!) at 6 a.m. in time to arrive at work by 9 a.m. I'm working at a summer theatre camp for kids with Asperger's Syndrome, Social Anxiety Disorder, etc. The past week, I've learned all about Asperger's, learned how camps runs, set up camp at Regis College, and today I read camper charts all day (to learn about the specific needs and impairments of each camper). Throughout the duration of the camp, campers learn about drama techniques, pragmatics... all in preparation to make their own full-length film, starring the campers themselves. So, during the week, campers attend workshops on drama pragmatics, attend field trips, and film scenes for the video. At the end of camp, there's a movie premiere showing the film they made... this year we'll be helping to produce "Ghostbusters"!
http://www.dramaplayconnection.com/
Because I only slept four hours last night, I think tonight is going to be an early night. But tomorrow I plan on taking advantage of the sunny afternoon in Boston!
Peace out Girl Scout.
The T-line map.
"Raider Out"
I would like to apologize to everyone for not finishing out my Australia experience with one last post (before I write about my Boston experience)... so here goes : )
I can say with full confidence that the best decisions I've made regarding college are going to Colgate for my undergrad and leaving Colgate for a semester. I don't think I've grown so much as a person as I did these past five months. Traveling with 15 other wonderful students from Colgate, meeting and becoming friends with other Americans and Aussies alike, and experiencing all there is to experience in a foreign culture comprise one of the most influential experiences of my life. It all began with an unforgettable trip to New Zealand, where my friends and I were introduced to the in's and out's of international travel. From there, I experienced an "Orientation Week" worthy of any hardcore party-goer... complete with barbeque's, pub crawls, and other fun events. I spent many hours at my professor's house cooking and eating dinner with my fellow Colgater's, traveling to Jervis Bay and the capital, Canberra, driving up the east coast to Cairns, and down the coast to Melbourne. And within all this traveling I experienced the death of a close friend... an event that helped to define what I value most and how to make the most out of my life. This tragic event brought me closer to everyone I met in Australia... so even though you weren't there for my whole abroad experience, George, you were there in spirit : ) Running along the Pacific Ocean, standing and the Wollongong lighthouse looking out over the coast, skydiving over the beautiful beach, watching the sun rise on Fairy Meadow beach--these are things I will never forget. Not to mention the wonderful people I experienced all these things with : ) So, here's to lookin' at you Australia, for helping me to realize the importance of spontaneity, surrounding yourself with those you love, and challenging yourself... you'll always hold a special place in my heart <3
I can say with full confidence that the best decisions I've made regarding college are going to Colgate for my undergrad and leaving Colgate for a semester. I don't think I've grown so much as a person as I did these past five months. Traveling with 15 other wonderful students from Colgate, meeting and becoming friends with other Americans and Aussies alike, and experiencing all there is to experience in a foreign culture comprise one of the most influential experiences of my life. It all began with an unforgettable trip to New Zealand, where my friends and I were introduced to the in's and out's of international travel. From there, I experienced an "Orientation Week" worthy of any hardcore party-goer... complete with barbeque's, pub crawls, and other fun events. I spent many hours at my professor's house cooking and eating dinner with my fellow Colgater's, traveling to Jervis Bay and the capital, Canberra, driving up the east coast to Cairns, and down the coast to Melbourne. And within all this traveling I experienced the death of a close friend... an event that helped to define what I value most and how to make the most out of my life. This tragic event brought me closer to everyone I met in Australia... so even though you weren't there for my whole abroad experience, George, you were there in spirit : ) Running along the Pacific Ocean, standing and the Wollongong lighthouse looking out over the coast, skydiving over the beautiful beach, watching the sun rise on Fairy Meadow beach--these are things I will never forget. Not to mention the wonderful people I experienced all these things with : ) So, here's to lookin' at you Australia, for helping me to realize the importance of spontaneity, surrounding yourself with those you love, and challenging yourself... you'll always hold a special place in my heart <3
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Nan Tien Buddhist Temple
This past Sunday, Abby and I went to Nan Tien Buddhist Temple, the biggest Buddhist temple in the Southern Hemisphere. Nan Tien is a Chinese term which means "southern paradise."
Nan Tien is one of the branch temples of Fo Guang Shan, founded in 1967 by Venerable Master Hsing Yun,which has over 120 branches worldwide. The temple is one of the largest Buddhist temples in the southern hemisphere.
It was funded by and constructed under the auspices of the Mahayana Buddhist sect known as Fo Guang Shan, and completed in 1995. The sect itself was founded in Taiwan in 1967 by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, and has 120 branches throughout the world. The site of the Australian branch's temple was reputedly chosen by Hsing Yun due to its proximity to Mount Kembla, which is said to have an auspicious resemblance to a recumbent lion. It overlooks both Mount Keira (I hiked this mountain!) and Mount Kembla. The land was donated by the Australian government.
The Nan Tien complex was built using traditional techniques and materials by Chinese craftsmen, but with numerous modern features. Occupying a semi-rural hillside site several square kilometres in size, and set amidst landscaped gardens.
In addition to various meeting rooms, a museum, cultural, conference and accommodation facilities and a restaurant, the Nan Tien temple complex includes two massive prayer halls (known as the Great Mercy Shrine and the Great Hero Hall) within which are located multiple monumental Buddha and Bodhisattva statues, as well as a 7 level pagoda intended to house the cremated remains of 7000 people. The front hall houses the Thousand Handed Avalokitesvara (known as Kuan Yin in Chinese culture) and the main hall in the back houses the Five Dhyani Buddhas, Amogasiddhi, Ratnasambhava, Vairocana, Amitabha and Akshobhya. Both halls have thousands of tiny statues of Buddha on the walls. The complex also has amenities for monks, nuns and visitors, and a large garden with a pagoda.
The architecture of the complex is notable because it incorporates the features of several styles of Buddhism. The pagoda is distinctly Chinese, with flying eaves and an angular profile. The main temples incorporates features of Tibetan monastic architecture, with multi-storey painted temple buildings set atop high stone platforms (see the Potala Palace). The courtyards feature Japanese-style gardens, while the statues and shrines often incorporate bright, South-East Asian colour schemes, in contrast to the more sombre and austere styles favoured in China. The halls are carpeted, and pilgrims and visitors are required to remove shoes before entering, a practice more common in India, Korea and Japan than China.
The temple is one of Wollongong's major tourist attractions, and conducts regular weekend retreats for visitors interested in Buddhism in general, and Chinese culture in particular. Retreats can involve classes in tai chi, calligraphy and meditation.
Accommodation for retreat participants and members of the general public is available at the Pilgrim Lodge, a 100-room motel-style facility located in the temple grounds adjacent to its large lotus pond (Abby and I accidentally walked into this lodge and one of the monks seemed irritated we had wandered in there... oops).
It is regarded as an "orthodox" Buddhist temple by local Chinese Buddhists, in contrast with some other shrines which worship Buddhist, Taoist, and mystical heroes in the same building. It frequently hosts festivals.
Yes, I got that all from Wikipedia. It was easier than explaining all about the temple, and I learned a little bit in the process! Abby and I walked through the Main Shrine, the courtyard, and the pagoda. When we arrived at the temple, there were several (what we thought were) monks meditating around a pond. Later, we found out they weren't actually monks, just people on a weekend retreat meditating. It felt really weird walking near the people who were trying to meditate--this weird space where tourism and personal growth collide. How should people navigate the line between obnoxious, photo-taking tourist and honest-to-goodness citizen attempting to connect with their good kharma? I'm not sure... I guess questions like this surround all religious sites that have been turned into major tourist destinations.
Anyway, we actually did run in to a few monks. One thing that surprised me was I saw mostly female monks and their heads were shaved. You really only see male monks with shaven heads in the media, so it was sort of strange to see women in the same Buddhist garments with the same lack of hair.
So now it's exam time and I've started studying for my finals. And the end is near : (
Nan Tien is one of the branch temples of Fo Guang Shan, founded in 1967 by Venerable Master Hsing Yun,which has over 120 branches worldwide. The temple is one of the largest Buddhist temples in the southern hemisphere.
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Fo Guang Shan Buddhism is rooted in the Mahayana tradition which emphasises that Buddhahood is within everyone's potential reach. Fo Guang Shan followers strive to bring Buddhism into daily life and describe their philosophy as "Humanistic Buddhism."
The Nan Tien complex was built using traditional techniques and materials by Chinese craftsmen, but with numerous modern features. Occupying a semi-rural hillside site several square kilometres in size, and set amidst landscaped gardens.
In addition to various meeting rooms, a museum, cultural, conference and accommodation facilities and a restaurant, the Nan Tien temple complex includes two massive prayer halls (known as the Great Mercy Shrine and the Great Hero Hall) within which are located multiple monumental Buddha and Bodhisattva statues, as well as a 7 level pagoda intended to house the cremated remains of 7000 people. The front hall houses the Thousand Handed Avalokitesvara (known as Kuan Yin in Chinese culture) and the main hall in the back houses the Five Dhyani Buddhas, Amogasiddhi, Ratnasambhava, Vairocana, Amitabha and Akshobhya. Both halls have thousands of tiny statues of Buddha on the walls. The complex also has amenities for monks, nuns and visitors, and a large garden with a pagoda.
The architecture of the complex is notable because it incorporates the features of several styles of Buddhism. The pagoda is distinctly Chinese, with flying eaves and an angular profile. The main temples incorporates features of Tibetan monastic architecture, with multi-storey painted temple buildings set atop high stone platforms (see the Potala Palace). The courtyards feature Japanese-style gardens, while the statues and shrines often incorporate bright, South-East Asian colour schemes, in contrast to the more sombre and austere styles favoured in China. The halls are carpeted, and pilgrims and visitors are required to remove shoes before entering, a practice more common in India, Korea and Japan than China.
The temple is one of Wollongong's major tourist attractions, and conducts regular weekend retreats for visitors interested in Buddhism in general, and Chinese culture in particular. Retreats can involve classes in tai chi, calligraphy and meditation.
Accommodation for retreat participants and members of the general public is available at the Pilgrim Lodge, a 100-room motel-style facility located in the temple grounds adjacent to its large lotus pond (Abby and I accidentally walked into this lodge and one of the monks seemed irritated we had wandered in there... oops).
It is regarded as an "orthodox" Buddhist temple by local Chinese Buddhists, in contrast with some other shrines which worship Buddhist, Taoist, and mystical heroes in the same building. It frequently hosts festivals.
Yes, I got that all from Wikipedia. It was easier than explaining all about the temple, and I learned a little bit in the process! Abby and I walked through the Main Shrine, the courtyard, and the pagoda. When we arrived at the temple, there were several (what we thought were) monks meditating around a pond. Later, we found out they weren't actually monks, just people on a weekend retreat meditating. It felt really weird walking near the people who were trying to meditate--this weird space where tourism and personal growth collide. How should people navigate the line between obnoxious, photo-taking tourist and honest-to-goodness citizen attempting to connect with their good kharma? I'm not sure... I guess questions like this surround all religious sites that have been turned into major tourist destinations.
Anyway, we actually did run in to a few monks. One thing that surprised me was I saw mostly female monks and their heads were shaved. You really only see male monks with shaven heads in the media, so it was sort of strange to see women in the same Buddhist garments with the same lack of hair.
So now it's exam time and I've started studying for my finals. And the end is near : (
Monday, June 13, 2011
Happy Birthday Queen of England!
Yesterday, NSW celebrated a territory-wide holiday--the Queen of England's birthday. Many businesses were closed for the day... the library even shut down at 6:00 p.m. on a week day during exam week (must be a really important holiday then to tell students they can't study in the library!).
Below is an e-mail I received from the Director of Campus East describing the holiday:
Please be reminded that New South Wales celebrates The Queen's Birthday with a Public Holiday on Monday, 13 June, 2011.
Government departments, business and some services do not operate on that day. Campus East Administration will be open, as for weekend hours, from 1.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m.
For international students who may be unfamiliar with this occasion, by way of background, The Queen's (or King's as may be the case) Birthday is usually celebrated in the United Kingdom on the first, second or, rarely, the third weekend in June. In Australia it is a Public Holiday on the corresponding Monday.
The Queen's Official Birthday does not coincide with when she was born. King Edward VII, whose birthday was on 9 November, in autumn, moved the ceremony to summer in the hope of good weather. Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her actual birthday on 21 April.
The only civic occasion of note associated with the day in Australia is the release of the "Queen's Birthday Honours List," in which new members of the Order of Australia and other Australian honours are named. In the United Kingdom, the major event is the annual Trooping of the Colour (also known as The Queen's Birthday Parade). See www.royal.gov.uk if you're keen.
For us at the University of Wollongong, the Public Holiday provides a day off from exams ... so happy studying!
Below is an e-mail I received from the Director of Campus East describing the holiday:
Please be reminded that New South Wales celebrates The Queen's Birthday with a Public Holiday on Monday, 13 June, 2011.
Government departments, business and some services do not operate on that day. Campus East Administration will be open, as for weekend hours, from 1.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m.
For international students who may be unfamiliar with this occasion, by way of background, The Queen's (or King's as may be the case) Birthday is usually celebrated in the United Kingdom on the first, second or, rarely, the third weekend in June. In Australia it is a Public Holiday on the corresponding Monday.
The Queen's Official Birthday does not coincide with when she was born. King Edward VII, whose birthday was on 9 November, in autumn, moved the ceremony to summer in the hope of good weather. Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her actual birthday on 21 April.
The only civic occasion of note associated with the day in Australia is the release of the "Queen's Birthday Honours List," in which new members of the Order of Australia and other Australian honours are named. In the United Kingdom, the major event is the annual Trooping of the Colour (also known as The Queen's Birthday Parade). See www.royal.gov.uk if you're keen.
For us at the University of Wollongong, the Public Holiday provides a day off from exams ... so happy studying!
Monday, June 6, 2011
Last Time in Sydney
Yesterday, my roommate, Pat, and my friend, Abby, and I went to Sydney all day yesterday. We caught the 7:30 a.m. train from Fairy Meadow to Sydney. After arriving in the beautiful city of Sydney, we went to Paddy's Market, a market frequented by tourists on the hunt for cheap souvenirs. And I found just what I was looking for! A few great souvenirs for my family. After that, we got back on the train to head to a different part of Sydney. That's something I've learned since I've been here... Sydney is so big, there are several train stops within it. I've usually stayed on the "Inner City Circle," which brings you to the main part of Sydney. We got off at "Central" to go to the markets and then we got back on to head to "Circular Quay," where the famous bridge and Opera House are located. Actually, the train is situated above the roads and is surrounded by tall buildings. However, after several minutes of riding from Central to Circular Quay, all of a sudden there are no buildings anymore and you can see all across the Sydney harbor... at the sun glinting off the bright water, the metal of the Sydney Bridge beaming, people walking along the boardwalk near the ferries... it's just an incredible sight. I think that's one of the sights I'm going to miss the most after leaving here.
Anyway, after leaving Paddy's Markets, we went to Circular Quay to go to a different market. We ended up not being able to find it, so we went to St. Mary's Cathedral instead. According to Wikipedia, "
The Metropolitan Cathedral of St Mary is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney, seat of the Archbishop of Sydney Cardinal George Pell. The cathedral is dedicated to “Mary, Help of Christians”, Patron of Australia. St Mary’s holds the title and dignity of a minor basilica, bestowed upon it by Pope Pius XI in 1930." Also according to Wikipedia, St. Mary's Cathedral is the biggest cathedral in Australia (although not the tallest).
Anyway, after leaving Paddy's Markets, we went to Circular Quay to go to a different market. We ended up not being able to find it, so we went to St. Mary's Cathedral instead. According to Wikipedia, "
The Metropolitan Cathedral of St Mary is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney, seat of the Archbishop of Sydney Cardinal George Pell. The cathedral is dedicated to “Mary, Help of Christians”, Patron of Australia. St Mary’s holds the title and dignity of a minor basilica, bestowed upon it by Pope Pius XI in 1930." Also according to Wikipedia, St. Mary's Cathedral is the biggest cathedral in Australia (although not the tallest).
Abby and I standing in front of the Cathedral.
"Mary Helen MacKillop (15 January 1842 – 8 August 1909), also known as Saint Mary of the Cross,[1] was an Australian Roman Catholic nun who, together with Father Julian Tenison Woods, founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart and a number of schools and welfare institutions throughout Australasia with an emphasis on education for the poor, particularly in country areas. Since her death she has attracted much veneration in Australia and internationally. On 17 July 2008, Pope Benedict XVI prayed at her tomb during his visit to Sydney for World Youth Day 2008. On 19 December 2009, Pope Benedict XVI approved the Roman Catholic Church's recognition of a second miracle attributed to her intercession.[2] She was canonised on 17 October 2010 during a public ceremony in St Peter's Square at the Vatican." Saint Mary is the only Australian to be recognized by the Roman Catholic Church as a saint.
Inside St. Mary's Cathedral... photo credit to some random photographer off Google images.
Upon leaving the cathedral, we took an hour ferry ride to Sydney Olympic Park (where the 2000 Summer Olympics took place). Pat told me it took Australia seven years to build the Olympic Park, including all the sporting arenas and a small town, which served as a place for all the athletes to live. We went to an NRL game (National Rugby League)-- the South Sydney Rabbitohs versus the Melbourne Storm. It was great! They played at the stadium used in the Olympics. Below is some video footage I taped during the game.
Notice the three guys riding the bikes on the sideline... does this happen in American sporting events? Little warm-up while waiting to get back in the game?
After watching the rugby game, we headed back to Central via a train... the ferry was nice, but the train was faster to get back. Pat left and Abby and I to go visit his family, so Abby and I hopped on another ferry to go to a Manly, a beautiful suburb of Australia. Sadly, we had just missed "The Taste of Manly" food festival, which from what I collected, was tons of booths from local restaurants handing out free samples. Too bad we missed it! By the time we arrived in Manly it was dark, so we walked along the sidewalk, looking at all the stores. At the end of the main road was Manly Beach, a beautiful white, sand beach, stretching pretty far down the coast. On one section of the beach, there were several volleyball nets set up--permanent nets for volleyball games/tournaments. After eating dinner we got back on the ferry and headed back to Circular Quay. As we headed in to the harbor, we were greeted by the Sydney Opera House, all lit up for "Vivid Sydney," a festival of "light, music, and ideas." Huge light projections from across the harbor were beaming light patterns onto the side of the Opera House... swirling patterns, box patterns, dot patterns... all in different colors. It was one of the coolest things I've ever seen. All around the harbor, there were small light exhibitions. One building just outside the train station was my favorite... lights lit up the entire side of the building, changing to make different patterns. For a few seconds the building looked like it was filling up with water (as blue lights worked its way up the side of the building) and then right after it looked like some giant hand was throwing patches of paint all over the building. Pretty cool, right? There was an interactive light show... where kids could stand in front of a massive building... their shadows moved on the building wall, so that kids could pretend they were throwing pain on the wall.. and the building actually looked like it was being covered in paint (in the exact locations the kids were pretending to throw paint at). There was also an awesome fire show. You know that Christmas commercial a few years ago... where some Christmas light fanatics set up their house lights to blink on and off to the tune of a rock-style Christmas song (it was the Trans-Siberian Orchestra to be exact). Well, this show was really similar... shots of fire went in the air to the tune of "Firework," by Katy Perry. See below : )
Awesome light show! Wish I had video taped more.
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