Two Weeks in Australia: A Brief Reflection, If You Will

Do I feel any different? Have I developed a slight Australian tinge to my, in comparison, very plain and ordinary American accent? Do I inhale Vegemite? Drive on the other side of the road without panicking? Tack on Aussie phrases such as "I couldn't be bothered," "How're you going?" or "I need some petrol and an Angus Burger from Mackas" at every opportunity possible? Do I wear hipster skimmers or listen to Jessica Mauboy on repeat?

I mean, it's only been two weeks...

I will admit, however, a feeling of freedom and excessive happiness. Granted life in Australia--life on the farm, in particular--isn't 100% what I expected it would be, but somehow it's all worked out. I already feel that the experience of a) not getting a "real" job immediately after college, b) traveling into the unknown, and c) overall just taking oh so many risks, has proven itself to be a once-in-a-lifetime kind of dealio. Natalie will tell you: the first week here I had a minor panic attack...Would I ever be able to get a job when I returned to the States? What the hell was I doing, throwing away 20 years of education and instead taking a break to work on a farm? For a few seconds there, I figured I had perhaps been insane when I decided to buy that one-way plane ticket to Sydney back in April...

But look at me now. Yeah, it's only been 2 weeks, but I've already learned so much. I can tell you that chickens lay more eggs when the weather is warmer; that Vegemite is not something to be piled on your toast, but instead spread tastefully and modestly with perhaps a bit of cheese; that Tasmanian weather does indeed change every 5 minutes; that all McDonald's Down Under have free wireless (and that McDonalds in the US should institute a similar idea); that no one except for Americans call Down Under "Down Under"; that driving on the other side of the road really isn't all that scary; that kangaroos aren't hopping around everywhere as I had maybe hoped/expected they would be; that life isn't all about what's going to happen next--it's about the now (yeah, I know...that's way deep).


In less than 2 weeks, Natalie and I will begin our next mini-adventure: The Great Ocean Road. We've found ourselves a little week-long help exchange (2 hrs of work/day for free accommodation) at this beautiful hostel in the lovely beach/coastal town of Apollo Bay. We'll keep you all posted, of course.

Until then, keep on reading about our Tasmanian farm adventures. More personal epiphanies to come.

p.s. Shout out to the "lurker" (I see you Papa S...)