I have been thinking a lot about next year. My job finishes in January and my plan is to go overseas.
I keep changing my mind, a few months ago I thought South America then Canada. Now I am thinking of applying for a People in Mission placement in the pacific, looks like Fiji or Kiribati (pronounced kiri-bass).
Im half way through the application form, and it seems like a good idea. The only issue I see in terms of being ‘accepted’ into the program is if they freak out about the depression stuff. For me, it doesn’t matter where I go or what I do, I am going to have to be aware of my mental state and how things are affecting me. For them, I might be seen as too high risk.
Im almost ashamed to admit this, but the main reason I am hesitating is that spending 9 months or so in a placement is almost like committing to stay single for another 9 months. Im 26 now, Im not sure I like the idea of staying single all the way through my 20’s. (for those of you who don’t know I broke up with Matt when I was 20, well, a few days before I turned 21). It seems so selfish.
I am going to apply, its just all a bit scary .
Filed under: travel
For those of you who want the family friendly verson of greenbelt go to my travel blog – There is a link on the side of the page.
Greenbelt was great. I spend large amounts of time in the organic beer tent, drinking all different beers, largers and ciders.
I generally didnt go to many events becuse I has having a great time chatting with people in the bar. I made friends with some of the bar tenders. One of them was really cute and really nice, we had a coffee date (we actually had juice) on Monday, but he had to leave that arvo to get back for work in London on Tuesday.
Im hoping to keep in touch with people through facebook – yes, I am still a fan of facebook.
There is a whole story about the married juice stand owner but I might not put that up.
It was interesting being with a group of people from the Uniting Church. People like Rob Hanks & Collard were great, but there were others who seemed to have a problem with me not ‘going’ to enough things. I think I went to enough. There is a massive difference in who we look at life. They were thinking, I have paid around $6k to be here so I want to get the most out of it (in terms of learnins as mich as possible). I figured that Im on holiday and I should realx and enjoy myself, learning some stuff is good, meeting people is good, watching a drama is good. Why be stressed about it?
Im running out of time on this computer – At some point I will post something about my new theory on life. Something like, what would happen if we (I) stopped living life ‘in case I dont die’ and start living ‘in case I do die’ too much to go into now. basically, what happens when we give up security?
Well, I am completely exhausted.
I have been running around a lot trying to make sure that things are all good for me to go away for 4 weeks.
I think that most work stuff is covered. I still need someone to cover scripture on Tuesdays, and someone to hang out with Lauren maybe, apart from that I think it is ok. Its not as good as I had wanted to make it, I had been hoping to modularise everything for kids club to make it easier for everyone, but I didnt get that far. I do have the bible story for each week though.
As for actual holiday plans, They are almost done too. I just need to find a way to get from Århus to Paris. It looks like I will have a weekend in Paris which is a nice suprise. That had not occurred to me until today, I have to arrive at Taize on a Sunday, so it makes sense to spend a couple of days in Paris before going there.
My energy levels aren’t coping with the increased activity. I feel like I haven’t stopped for about a week and its showing. I have forgotten to eat two days in a row. Thats something I need to work on.
Thats probably enough for one post. At some point I am going to have to blog about my run-in with the scripture teachers at the scripture teachers meeting. I have decided that I dont have a problem with conservative christians, I just have a problem with them pushing their view on everyone else. There is no space for differing opinions or beliefs with those people. I find it hard to deal with. I guess what I am saying is believe what you want, but dont expect me to believe it too.
Filed under: travel
I finally booked my flights. Well, some of them at least.
I leave on teh 13th August and get back on the 16th Sept.
The plan is to spend the first few days with Dan in London. Then catch a train and go to Stonehenge and whereever else I decide thats for a few days of random travelling around. Then go to Greenbelt for 4 days. Then fly to Copenhagen and spend some time with Laura and help them get stuff ready for the wedding. Then catch a train to Aarhus to see Dan Lau for 5 days or so. Then fly to france to go to Taize. Then fly home.
Its going to cost a fortune, but it will be good. Im glad I dont have to pay for much accommodation, it would break the bank.
I still have to finalise all my travel once I am there, but I at least have my main flights sorted.
Filed under: travel
SO Im going to take the safe option.
Im going to fly to England, then to Denmark and then to France and then home.
I want to be more brave than that, really I do, but im just not. The places that I want to go arent really a good choice for a white woman travelling alone. I think its probably better to go with someone.
The trip is going to be great, I have a bit over a week in England, some of that time in London. Not too sure what I want to do and see there, I have always wanted to go, but now I cant remember why.
Filed under: travel
OK, I am finally getting my act together and arranging my trip.
Its in 3-4 weeks time. Im only going to the other side of the world, who needs to be organised??
At the moment im at a bit of a stale mate, It is a holiday and I should do stuff I like, but it just seems like a waste of my time. (which is interesting because I waste time a lot)
I cant decide if I sould spend a week in London and a week at Taize or if I should skip both of those and spend 10 days or so in Israel, Gaza strip and the West Bank. Im seriously leaning towards the Israel option. Yes, its more dangerous, Yes, it will probably cost more. But I dont know too much about what is going on there because I put it in the ‘too hard to think about’ basket.
Im thinking that spending time talking to people and learning what life is like there might be the better use of my time.
Im hoping to get some contact details of some christians living there soon so I can work out if its possible for me to do it. I think that if I can, I will.
It means that I might not actually get to see Dan (England Dan not Denmark Dan) and I wont actually hace much time in Denmark with Dan or Laura. It really does seem like a better use of my time dont you think?
I have decided that I am leaving Australia for a few years next year. The problem is that I dont really know where I want to go.
I have wanted to go to the UK for some time, I dont remember my old reasons, but the new ones are that I love the idea of being able to move around every 6 months or so and live so many different experiences. That sounds a bit odd, but Im thinking of how great it would be to spend some time at Iona, some in Northern Ireland at Ikon, being able to go to France and the Taize community there etc. I feel like the UK is so far ahead of us with Alt Worship stuff and I am keen to check it all out. See how it goes, experience it, live it.
Taking 2+ years to travel around seems (to me) like a selfish thing to do. I feel like I could contribute more by not traveling, but I really want to. Going to the UK and spending time learning and experiencing some of the faith stuff could be really beneficial, not just for me, but for everyone I come into contact with after that.
Another option is to go to Canada, the only reason for going to Canada is the snow. Some parts have a 5 month snow season. I really love snowboarding, and I would love to work in a ski resort again, but I dont see what I (or anyone else) would get out of it. I would get heaps better at snowboarding, make some new friends, have heaps of fun.
Then there is the least selfish option of all, this is the go on a long term mission type trip. This would probably be to somewhere in Asia, it would be great, I would be helping people, learning a new language and all that. I just dont think I am willing to give up the UK or Canada options to do this. It is selfish, but it is my life.
I feel like crap today. This cold is getting the better of me, my sinuses are all blocked up and I am really tired. I went up to Coronet Peak for a little while today. I had intended to go to The Remarkables but I missed the bus because I got up too late.
There was a massive fight in the room beside mine last night. All these English guys. One stabbed the other with a butter knife and then lied and said it was a 7 inch blade. He was taken to the police station. I dont really know much more about it. It happened at 7am but they had not been to sleep yet. Weekends in Queenstown are fairly big nights. I was planing to go out tonight but with this cold I might just take it easy again.
I have been thinking about maybe going to Canada for their ski season after this. I could stay in Canada for a few months or a year then head to the UK. Im not making any set plans yet, but I have always wanted to travel more so Im thinking that this might be a good time in my life to do it. I also want to go to India and Africa but I dont think that I would be game enough to do that alone. I really wish I could speak more than one language, it would be brilliant.
Anyway, Im not stressing about any of that yet. Still have to get healthy and fit. Just need some more snow on the mountains. Today was the first day that I have thought that I would have been better off going to the Australian snow fields. It is meant to get better soon though. I want it to snow really heavily for the next few days, even if it means they have to close the roads. That would be good.
I think I am getting a cold again. Im not really all that happy about it, as Im sure you can imagine. I have been eating better and looking after myself better that I ever have before and I am still feeling shit. I think I need a new immune system.
Im still going really well. Im really surprised that I havent had any anxiety or depression problems yet. Im really enjoying having no commitments and nothing I ‘have’ to do. I havent tried very hard to find a job and I dont think I am going to. Well at least not for now. The money side of not working really sucks, but I dont want to do anything that might stress me out.
Tonight I am heading back up to the church that does free food on friday nights. They call it ‘Pasta Cafe’ Its massive. This town really needs something like Uniting Spiritually. There are heaps and heaps of young adults around and no young adult Christian groups or activities. It really surprises me because this would be a great environment to do something in. It also makes me wonder about the rest of the ski towns around the world, I wonder if they are all lacking this?
I am coping quite well not having any set activities. Usually I load myself up with things to do and responsibilities so that I don’t have any time to be still. Here I have no responsibilities at all, I can spend my days and nights doing almost anything I want. I have been taking it quite easy, Im not loading myself up like I usually would and its good.
I joined a gym and have my snowboarding pass so I am doing a lot more exercise than I am used to, I have been eating better too. Making sure I have 3 meals a day and im snacking on almonds and cashews and pistachios.
Its really good and peaceful. Im not used to feeling relaxed.
I have been thinking quite a bit, I was trying to remember I time I was happy. I think I was thinking that I could try to mimic that again, but I cant remember being happy. The last year, year and a half, have probably been the best of my life when it comes to that. I want more though, I want to be happy without the feeling like I need to be better or do more.
I have also been thinking that it might be useful for me to go and visit the farm that I grew up on, the last time I was there I was 15 and scared. Maybe it would be good to go and have a look around and decide that I am stronger than all those memories and that the place itself isn’t ‘bad’. Not sure about this one, it could be a bad idea, plus I don’t even know who lives there any more.
I haven’t found a Church here that I like, they all seem to have services in the morning but nothing in the evening and I have been sleeping in.
Now that I have accepted that the cost of this might be a bit over what I had originally planned I am feeling a lot more settled and calm. This is a big learning experience for me, not to have structure, and I have to take it seriously.
