Wine Country (Splendid Art)

Wine Tasting at Yangarra Estate Vineyard

Goodbye and Farewell University of Sydney.  

It was a wild ride with friends gained and experiences never to be forgotten. This goodbye was sprinkled with a sense of accomplishment in jumping into a new curricular that pushed me to learn differently and grow through a foreign academic terrain. My last exam at USYD was for my law and contemporary society class on a striking morning that represented the grandeur of law. Just like the law, my time at USYD followed the rules of my own character along with the emotional and situational factors that caused me to reevaluate my own rules and what I wanted to accomplish with my life.

My last glance at USYD turned into the view of a clear blue sky as I flew above the clouds and into one the friendliest places on earth, known as Adelaide, South Australia.

Adelaide

November 12^tjh

Ellie and I traveled to this wonderful city of friendly folks in aims of exercising our bravery through WWOOFING.

Willing Workers On Organic Farms, aka WWOOF, is a program that allows those willing to work 4-6 hours a day the chance to travel and discover new environments and cultures on a budget. In exchange for working on an organic farm, the host family provides all meals and accommodation along with additional perks (i.e. educational lessons, farming techniques, scenic tour) depending on the hostess.

After receiving our membership, Ellie and I searched through every participating host farm in South Australia to gauge what we thought would be the best fit. We knew we wanted to get the most out of our time in Australia and had both never been to the south. After days of researching and email threads we finally decided on two farms – an organic oyster farms 9 hours away from Adelaide and an organic vineyard 45 minutes away from the city.

Ellie and I checked into our Youth Hostel Accommodation (YHA) - an affordable, friendly and clean hostel that I recommend for those wanting to travel around Aus.- and explored Adelaide for the day. We fell in love with the slow and lazy pace of the city and could hardly fathom the kindness of the people of Adelaide. People, left and right, willing to direct us wherever we wanted to go and make friendly small talk in exchange for nothing but a smile it seemed. Why were these Adelaideins so friendly? Was it the peaceful way of life in the south? Or the feelings of warmth only a community of do-gooders and pure hearts can expose? It was neither. Well, maybe it was a little of both. The people we encountered were kind to us because that’s exactly who they are. They weren’t putting on a show or trying to gain anything in return, rather, they were exercising the inner workings of their greatest talent in being themselves.

And that, that in itself is the definition of what it means to be human.

That day in Adelaide was filled with an enriching balance of local creamy gelato paired with the sweetness of compassion surrounding me and my humble existence.

Churning Butter

Plans fall apart so better experiences can fall into place.

Ellie and I trotted to the bus station with the guidance from an elderly man who enjoyed exerting loud and long winded conversations with anyone willing to listen. Bless his heart.

As it turned out, the bus fair to and from Angel Oysters would cost $275 and a long bus ride of an estimated 20 hours in total. We felt defeated. We had traveled all the way to South Australia to work on an oyster farm to experience work that would provide us with knowledge, personal challenges and growth through experience. We sat down in the hard chairs of the bus station with no plan and limited funds. Some would call this a fork in the road, a speed bump, a barrier hindering our aims. I call it, churning butter.

Just like butter, the most rewarding experiences are produced by a mixture of ingredients such as obstacles and triumphs. After a long exertion of physical and intellectual power of the one churning the materials, the smooth and silky butter is produced. Otherwise known as a golden reward that can be used to enhance the taste of other foods or future experiences.

Just like that fresh butter, Ellie and I used this golden obstacle to think on our feet, move on, and be optimistic for the future. We called The Yangarra Estate Vineyard in hopes of being able to arrive early to WWOOF. As fate would have it, our wwoofing host would be in Adelaide the next day picking up supplies (and us).

We couldn’t have been more grateful. All we had to do was tough out the churn to create an experience dictated not by ourselves but by the forces of an unplanned direction.

Home is a Concept, Heart is Constant

November 13^th

To make the most out of our day, Ellie and I decided to educate ourselves about aboriginal culture at the Museum of South Australia before our WWOOFing host (Peter) came to pick us up and drive us to the vineyard.

We enjoyed the taxidermy of various animals and later broke off to explore aboriginal, contemporary and Asian art separately.

A painting of an aboriginal from all angles 

As I read about the aboriginal culture and how they once lived, I felt close to the people and their way of life. Their simplicity of living and the constant struggle to survive and fight off danger seemed exhilarating yet terrifying. Although living off of the Australian land alone would provide a strong connection to mother earth, I couldn’t possibly fathom living only for survival. While finding solace in nature is the goal, there must be a balance in finding joy in educational pursuits such as learning the art of philosophy or arithmetic. While their natural instincts were magnificent, they still yearned to learn the art and theoretical world (as shown through aboriginal art). 

The meat of the matter is, they too were curious. Curious for life beyond survival and a constant urge to feel connected to the dirt that kept them alive.

Their home was a concept. A place where they could find nourishment and shield themselves from danger. A notion of security.

But their heart, oh their heart, was a constant. An unceasing tie of heart and land where they found solace through the grounds of creation.

Yangarra Estate Vineyard (WWOOF)

November 13^th – 27^th

The Vineyard

Yangarra Estate Vineyard is a “biodynamic wine farm” located in Kangarilla, South Australia.

Row after row of green luscious vines, ready to prosper into maturity and be picked off by the harvester. A sight for the appealing eye that could only invoke feelings of amity and wonder. 

How fortunate were we? 

We received the opportunity to work in wine country, to breathe the fresh scent of soil, and to feast our eyes upon the rustic state of natural infinity.

We ended up setting home base with Peter in his humble abode located on the winery.

Our duties were far from what we expected. Again, an unplanned direction. Although disappointed to not have been able to pick the grapes from the vine (Harvest is in February) we were fortunate to have learned about ourselves through other sorts of manual labor.

A list of tasks accomplished

• -          Feed hay to the horses at 7 A.M. and 6 P.M. During the evenings, mix a variety of grains, salts, and so forth for Peter’s horses.
• -          Place rugs on the horses depending on the weather. Choose from different rugs for different weather conditions
• -          Feed dogs a balanced meal each evening and feed cats
• -          Haul sticks to burn pile
• -          Weed and fill holes with manure
• -          Domestic house duties (weed, mow, weed wack, laundry, dishes etc.)
• -          Spread wood chips in the garden

While the weather was bipolar our feelings of affection for our temporary stay were stagnant.

Dealing with the bipolar weather of thunderstorms to sunshine

As a native Californian, Mexican food is a lifeblood and a part of life. In Australia, it is not.

The alternative, “Family meals” every night that mostly consisted of Mexican food made by two young girls who played chef and a man who could actually cook.

In addition to the food, the beverages were superb. Although not a fan of red wine, Peter’s red wine was the most flavorful I have ever tasted.

Oh the perks of life.

As a reward for working with the horses, Peter saddled me up on one of his favorite horses (Katie) and we went for a ride along the endless rows of vineyard.

I enjoyed feeling powerful yet powerless on the back of an athlete who could knock me down to the dirt or build my adrenaline high.

Kisses 

Watching the rows of vine through the guiding light of sunshine was a spectacle of beauty for those with an appreciation for the unalloyed elements of soil and water.

To some visitors, Yangarra Estate Vineyard represented nothing but a means to wine – a necessary component but not the main attraction.

To me, the vineyard was a splendor of art.

It is a fruit of wine and chemistry. A tedious but rewarding job for those with pallet. A way of life. 

Just like the aboriginals, the vine tenders connected to the dirt that provided a platform for growth not only for the vines but for those willing to dig the soil and dig life. 

It’s Melbourne Mate!

November 1 – 5

Travel with your heart.

Let it be filled with endless experiences.

For one day you will grace the earth with its bursting seams.

Lately, I have been obsessed with inspirational travel quotes, always seeking new and poetic words to fill my changing wallpaper, to remind myself of whom I am and why I do. As I sit here in this plastic and cold chair in a dimly lit corner of the library, I can’t help but think, “Why do I search for quotes to explain my travels? They don’t define my experiences but lightly murmur the surface feel.” 

Therefore, I have decided to quote myself – as shown above. I believe there is a poet inside all of us. It is hidden but always present. The difficulty is in pulling those experiences and translating them into a few words that punch the gut of the reader and send ripples down the spine and electric shocks to the heart.

The poet arouses the sentimentalism and brings the emotionally dead to life. She is the mirror to her own adventure and the vicariously lived. So don’t be surprised if she often stares, facing her own adrenaline, daring it to grow a thickening layer of maturity to coat her naïve heart.

Although far from a poet, I am a young woman with an adventurous spirit, always thirsting for growth through travel and an exigency to lengthen that growth through reflection.

Dear Day One: A Strange Endearing City

My latest escapade with my best mate (Cristal McClure) was to the breathtaking city of Melbourne (literally breathtaking, since I caught a bug that made it hard to breathe between coughing fits).

Melbourne, a city paved in art and filled with cute cafes and delicious coffees. The city is quite large with sidewalks that double in width and buildings that tower overheard. Although a vast city, there seemed to be a small disproportionate amount of people filling the streets. In other words, a large city with not a lot of people. I digged it. I enjoyed walking the near empty streets with my mate, getting lost within the parameters of the district and the constructs of my own mind.

Melbourne

We explored the streets and watched the people, one of our favorite pass times and method of growing comfortable in a new place. The day was spent on foot at a ground perspective, as Cristal and my adventures usually are. We stumbled across a digital arts type museum and a Nepal festival that aimed to preserve the Nepali cultures. Cristal and I enjoyed the art and farmers markets while appreciating the chilly weather in comparison to the heat of Sydney. We ate out and feasted on the delicious food Melbourne had to offer: a pastry snack from a local bakery, a grilled sandwich in a cobblestone backstreet littered with cafes, and a hot bowl of pho from a Vietnamese restaurant we couldn't possibly pass up.

Thanks to the kindness of a mate Cristal met during a case competition at the University of Washington, we stayed with her and her boyfriend outside the city along the water. The apartment was beautiful and the hospitality of Nicole and Alex was beyond what we could have ever asked for.

If this day taught me anything it’s that genuine compassion and heart span beyond the cold walls of evil that surround the selfish and spread light on our natural human tenderness. A city may just be a concrete jungle to some, but it is much more than that. It is a place where diversity festers and communication between cultures never stop. It is a platform for travel where the only limitations are the ones you put on yourself. People are inherently good; it’s just searching far enough and long enough to realize how kind communities choose to be.

Thanks Melbourne.

Although the city provided us with an outlet to feast on our curiosity, we wanted more. Something was missing and that something would become the most memorable and important part of our trip – the natural world.

Dear Day Two: You Are Magnificent (The Twelve Apostles and Great Ocean Road)

The Twelve Apostles

Sea salt, clear skies, white beaches, one winding road.

The long and winding road…. Yes, the start of a song and an overused metaphor that has been “metaphored” to death. We are all guilty of it. I am guilty. But in this case, the road played a crucial role in facilitating a pathway to beauty.

The road trip

Cristal and I booked a Great Ocean Road tour for our second day in Melbourne. Our day commenced at 6:00 A.M. and ended at 9:30 P.M. 

The tour consisted of morning tea along the beach with new mates, koala and bird watching, a pleasant walk through a forest and the main attraction, the Twelve Apostles.

Based off the shore of Port Campbell National Park in Victoria, Australia, the Twelve Apostles (Eight are left), stand tall against the crashing Pacific waves and frothy white water. The comparison of rigid cliff and smooth sand provide two drastically different perspectives of beauty that coexist in complementation.

I stared in awe, feeling as if I too could be a pillar. A pillar of strength and resilience to keep standing no matter what tribulations come my way. Just like those magnificent limestone stacks, I felt the roots of divinity and the power of physical existence.

Dear Day Three: A Race to the Finish (Melbourne Cup 2014)

Cristal and I at the races

“We’re those people”

Hello Flemington Racecourse. The journey to the stadium was no easy task. Instead of taking a cab, limousine, or helicopter, as most of the fans seemed to have arranged, Cristal and I decided to work our legs and walk to the Race Course in our fancy ($15) dresses and floppy sun hats. Being the economical travel buddies that we are, we wanted to save some cash and enjoy the hour or so walk to the races. We ended up walking next to a highway, speeding under overpasses trying not to get hit. 

We cracked a couple jokes and laughed the way there although having sore feet and tired arms from holding our hats down against the rushing winds.

As soon as we arrived to the outskirts of the racecourse, we knew we would be in for an interesting experience that we would take with us back to the states.

We walked through the gates under a tunnel of blossoming roses and sunshine peeking through grey clouds. The people were dressed in their fanciest attire. Men wearing well fitted suits and shiny shoes and women wearing colorful intricate dresses and matching hats.

Some of the spectators at the race dressed up in their finest attire

Champagne and blended cocktails was the drink (and meal) of choice for most gathered at the stadium, waiting for the horse races to begin.

Cristal and I took our place among the “general seaters” on the grass and positioned ourselves right next to the railing that blocked us from the athletic horses and jockeys. The announcer tuned on the loud speaker and the horses gathered in their stalls. The gun was shot and the race was off. We saw them racing on the big screen as the crowd went wild. The horses finally appeared from the distance as the ground started to shake from the speedy race to the finish. They zoomed past us in the matter of a split second with a wind that caught my hair and fluttered the strands until coming to a dramatic halt. People all around jumped in their fanciest attire and spilt their drinks while cheering for their favorite horse, hoping for some kind of payoff for their calculated bets. The horses, bolted past the finish line with the jockeys whipping them sore. They crossed… and another race would presume.

Start, Repeat, Start, Repeat.

The Melbourne Cup would become an event we would never forget. I don’t think I will ever be able to forget the picture of the wealthy and those pretending to be out of my mind. I felt fortunate to have attended and been a part of a historical event that is Australia’s most popular race. But I realized who I am is not what others would want to be. Most people I have come across are in a frantic race, a race to the finish line of wealth and prosperity. Money. Money is the goal and money is the motivation behind the step. To me, money is a means, not a lifestyle. I realized the depths of my values and the disgust I find in superficial living. People, never wanting to challenge themselves and pursue their passions for the greater good out of fear of failing without a security net of funds to catch them. But then, what’s the fun in knowing the ending when the best part is not knowing where you’ll end up?

The experience taught me life and sport. Two horses died that day, one from over training and another from a wound acquired during the race. After learning about the devastating deaths I decided to do some research on horse racing in relation to Australia and the world. Like any business, this business had its skeletons in the closet. I felt ashamed. How could I have participated in a sport that encouraged animal abuse? Although feeling guilty, I felt grateful for the event and all that it taught me. If we hadn’t attended, I would have never thought to research and find my standing ground on the controversial issue of horse racing.

The day concluded with a laugh and a sigh in growing together as mates and taking part in a new found knowledge of who we are and why we travel.

Because it is never a race to the finish, but a ride along the contours of experience and integrity in being exactly who you are.

Intern, Intern, Intern (and Study) ... ABROAD!

Source: The University of Sydney (http://sydney.edu.au/)

Journal Entry 8/26

Becoming a Better Me: The Internship Experience

My journey began at the University of Sydney Business School on August 6^th 2014. I was interviewed for the position of marketing and communications intern by my two supervisors and was hired later on that day.

At first, I was quite skeptical about the internship since I had previously worked at the UCLA Anderson School of Management Executive MBA Program (Global Access Program) as a student assistant, and wanted to expand my scope and work in a different field. As long as I can remember, I have always been passionate about writing and journalism. Back home, I write for my newspaper every week and have been itching to interview and report ever since I arrived in Sydney, Australia. I wanted to intern at a company that pushed me to become a better writer and journalist. Little did I know, this internship would do just that.

I was surprised to learn what all this internship entailed. So far, I have been working on composing social media posts for articles and events (LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook), posting and editing blogs for our Marketing Matters and Opportunity Blog, analyzing and tracking our social media likes, shares, followers and comparing them to other business schools and utilizing excel and PowerPoint for additional projects. Although I had used excel in my previous job, I had never explored its fancy features and format details.

So far, I have found editing to be my most challenging task. At UCLA, I worked as the Community Editor at the Daily Bruin for a couple months. After being an editor and adapting to a specific journalistic style of writing, I thought I knew everything to look out for. Editing the blogs has shown me how much I have to learn not only about editing but about my own writing and grammar. I find myself constantly googling words for possible spelling errors (ex. Australians spell some words with an ‘s’ instead of a ‘z’ (realise)) and grammar mistakes such as semicolons and apostrophes. After reflecting on my internship and my own writing, I feel as if this is my weakness, something I will have to constantly strive to better myself at. With hard work, a little research each day and a positive attitude, I believe I will be able to improve my editing skills for my internship, future employers and the journalism world.

Journal Entry 9/9

A Holistic Approach to Education and Self

These last couple weeks I have worked on the goal I had set for myself in my previous journal, which is, researching universal grammar rules and rules only specific to Australia writing. Although it has not been the most exciting task, I have found that researching one rule (ex. use of commas) each day before work has immensely helped me with editing blogs throughout the day. Although I do not have the best memory and revert to “googling” words and sentences to double check my judgment, I feel as if I am more confident in editing and presenting my findings to my supervisor.

Lately, I have been doing more than editing and posting the MBA, Opportunity and Marketing blogs. My supervisor has extended my editing sphere to include proof reading our business school’s e-newsletter, a monthly letter with various articles featuring clubs/societies, professors, financial donors, etc. In addition to editing the letter, I look over the design of the page and check all of the links online to ensure everything looks professional and runs smoothly. I have caught a few errors and have presented them to my supervisor (something I feel extremely proud about).

Besides editing, I have been learning an immense amount of knowledge in the area of marketing. For our monthly e-newsletter, we use the online platform “campaign monitor.” This site traces our online distribution, audience, subscribed, unsubscribed, soft bounce and hard bounce emails. At first I was quite scared to tackle on this project of tracking down and recording these figures since numbers and math is not my strong suit. After a short information session with my supervisor, I no longer felt scared to try, rather, I felt excited to undertake such an interesting assignment that lies far beyond my realm of expertise.

Although I wouldn’t choose marketing as a career, I found the exercise in using a tool that marketers use to be very exciting and eye opening. I had never realized how much companies really do take note of our every move online and how this information can assist in catering to customers and employers.

Ultimately, my reflection from these last couple weeks can be defined as “you learn something new every day.” May it be researching, learning new editing skills, or testing the waters of a different career, every experience I have encountered so far has contributed to not only a holistic approach to my education, but also, of myself and what I can achieve.

Journal Entry 9/23

Career: A Way of Life

My normal tasks I complete during my day to day shift have gone smoother and faster than they have ever been. Lately, I have been working on our September social media power point report in addition to my other responsibilities. I have found myself sifting through the statistics with ease and confidence as I prepare the report. I have learned that with time comes confidence and experience in the workplace.

Because of my familiarity with my tasks and the increased speed in which I have accomplished them, my supervisor asked me if I would be interested in writing a blog for the Big Opportunity page after editing and posting the MBA students contributions like I normally do. I more than jumped at the opportunity and felt privileged to be able to complete such a task that I felt was extremely valuable in helping me grow as a writer. After I wrote my blog for the business school, I reflected on what had gotten me to this very point. As a marketing and communications intern, personal blogging is not usually tied with the job. I realized that because of my hard work in the office, my supervisor probably wanted to provide a creative outlet for me as a thank you for my efforts. With hard work comes a reward so bright and wonderful which makes the work not seem like work at all, rather, a learning process to the ultimate prize of self-growth.

This week I celebrated my 21^st birthday, which did not go unnoticed by my coworkers. I was pleasantly surprised with a pre-birthday morning tea since my birthday was the following day. I was absolutely blown away by their kindness and good vibrations for me. They showed me how much they cared by taking the time from their own busy schedule just to wish me a happy birthday and ask me about my plans. In that moment, I understood why the business school functioned so well. Because of my co-workers’ natural concern for people and their caring demeanor, their professions were more than just a place of work to them but a way of life.

From this simple but impactful experience, I learned that no matter what profession you go into, you must believe in what you do and give your best in everything. Success can be equated with having a positive attitude and genuine care. May it be a birthday or an assignment, a person’s true character will always shine through and will not go unnoticed by a supervisor or by a thankful intern.

Journal Entry 10/15

It’s a Wrap

As of October 20^th 2014 I will have officially completed my 120 hours working at the University of Sydney Business School as a Marketing and Communications intern. These last few weeks have seemed to fly by as my supervisor has kept me busy with my normal projects with an added bonus of assisting with photography shoots of the Business School faculty. I have learned the importance of lightening, background, and people in taking photographs. While analyzing the photographer, I focus on the way in which he creates a “safe” environment of positivity and humor. Although some of the faculty members came in nervous and pessimistic in being the subject of the photograph, the photographer and myself joked around and made the experience fun and enjoyable. In effect, the faculty members left with smiles not only for the camera, but also for themselves.

From this seemingly insignificant experience, I learned more about the business industry than I ever thought I could. In any career we choose, we must learn how to connect with our co-workers in order to sustain a comfortable environment of mutual trust (ex. the faculty members trust that the photographer will take a flattering photo of them). While an exchange or a business deal can be just that, we must go the extra mile to encourage and motivate others to aspire to their full potential (ex. the photographer encourages the one being photographed to smile so as to capture the most beautiful and authentic picture of happiness). If so, the other person we do business with will remember us as a hardworking and driven individual and will network with us in the future. In other words, you reap the benefits of your work in full and only get out as much work as you decide to put in. So why not dive in feet first, splashing in a couple mistakes along the way and learning from them, until completely submerged within the best reality we could have never dreamed of. Living passion.

My time here was short, but the benefits I have received are everlasting. I came into this program with a skeptical view of how much I could really learn from a seemingly familiar job I had worked at before. My initial perspective couldn’t have been more incorrect. What I have gained is more than I could ever write on a resume. Through sociological lenses, it is the way in which we communicate. It is diligently working, genuinely caring about your cause, and always trying to better yourself. While my internship may be over, the path to my own definition of success has just begun.

On the Road: A Pathway to Growth

An account of my mid-semester break in Australia.

Check out the adventure here. A blog contribution to The University of Sydney Business School.

In addition, check out an earlier post of mine, Beyond Borders . I discuss the differences between Australian and American cultures and education. A blog contribution to The University of Sydney Business School.

There’s Nowhere to Go but Up

Day 1: Challenge Accepted

On the cold rainy morning of August 29^th, my two flatmates and I left our small humble apartment in the city to venture out to the beautiful Blue Mountains of New South Wales, Australia. We caught the train to Katoomba that morning, hiking gear in tow, along with other members of the Learning in Outdoor Education class. Two hours later we arrived at the station and ventured to the Blue Mountains via bus.

Before heading on the trail we broke up into small random groups composed of about 12 people. I once again ended up with the punny Wayne Cotton as my knowledgeable instructor and hiking guide. From there, my group and I slowly made our way along the trail, stopping frequently for a lesson in trees, birds, plants and waterfalls. One of the first waterfall’s we encountered looked like a deformed human face protruding from a cold hard slab of rock as water rushed down the contours of the stone.

The "face" rock

The farther we went into the mountains the more and more beautiful the trail became. Dark green plants and trees surrounded the trail on both sides, pushing wanderers along a path filled with fresh air and remnants of life. The day was peaceful and the weather was cool and lazy. And then the challenge fell upon us. Wayne stopped our hiking group at a cave with a small opening on the side of the pathway, a hole so small that it was almost invisible to the regular outside explorer mossing along. At this point, I was awaiting a long speech about life and a metaphor about the cave and our own lives. Instead, I was surprised with Wayne’s short but sweet statement. He said something along the lines of “It is your choice to crawl through the cave opening. What does it mean if you do it? It can mean nothing or it can mean anything. It is simply a challenge.” Being a dare devil at heart and one to never step down from a test, I thought, “Challenge Accepted.”

A couple students before me slowly crawled through the cave opening and popped out the end. I squeezed my way into the whole and felt the cool dirt brush against my rain jacket and pants. I used my elbows to crawl forward and my feet to push me ahead deeper into the narrow whole. As I got towards the end, the cave opening got narrower and narrower, my breathing increased in rapid succession and my heart pumped faster and faster. I felt as if I couldn't move another inch without squishing my whole body against the roof of the cave. With baby crawls and slow movements I finally made my way out of the opening of the cave into the sunlight (which had never felt so good). I was dirty but feeling fresh and alive.

Other students followed through the cave opening not long after, with others struggling as well. Some students stopped mid-way in and proclaimed they couldn't go further and thought about climbing back out the entrance. The team at the other end, including myself, shot out encouragement and positive words to help egg on the others to keep moving forward and not look back. That day, every single member of my group took on the challenge and made it through in one piece.

A member of our hiking group coming out of the cave's narrow opening happy and alive

So, what did horizontal climbing through an old narrow cave opening filled with dirt and spiders mean? To some it meant they simply did it, to others it meant they overcame their fear of claustrophobia, to me, it meant so much more. 

In my own life I have faced challenges, struggled to get through them and have succeeded against all odds. Some people view me as an overachiever while others view me as being “naturally smart.” The truth is, I am neither. Just like the cave crawl, I accept challenges to learn and to grow. I know what I can accomplish and will not settle for less than what I believe I can achieve. Just like the narrow portion of the cave, there will always be struggles. People telling me I can’t reach my goal and that it’s impossible. Funny enough, I am usually my worst critic. When things get tough or a challenge becomes harder, I emotionally beat myself up. I tell myself a girl from a small country town couldn't possibly compete and make it out on top. She has no advantage, she didn't attend a high achieving school, she doesn't come from a family of fortune, and she is and always has been self-supporting. 

But then I see the light at the end of the tunnel. 

Just like the cave crawl, I stop, look around, and slowly move forward. I shrug off my own criticism and replace them with positive thoughts. Thoughts of how far I have come in my life and the long list of goals I have yet to accomplish, goals that I WILL accomplish. As I crawl, I realize I have every advantage in the world. Because what I have is something that can never be broken, I have heart and an abnormal determination. A passion so bright that it couldn't burn out even if someone tried to force it to. And just like that, I leave my dark cave of self-criticism and accomplish the greatest challenge of all. That is, overcoming the only person that could ever stop me, myself.

After the cave adventure, we made our way along the trail onto the ledge of a cliff. Long and behold, the Three Sisters sat in eyesight, radiating its beauty to every beholder.

The Three Sisters

Later in the day, during the last portion of the hike, we stopped for a breather before climbing up along the stairs to Echo Point.

A photo collage of a couple students and myself journeying up the Giant Stairway to Echo Point.

The trek up the stairs was long and hard. Despite the massive staircase, my hiking mates and I laughed and joked around. We even sang along with Niko to “Baby Got Back.” Although my calves were tight and my breaths were short, I was totally immersed in the beautiful scenery of the Blue Mountains during the climb. With every step up, the view became richer and fuller while my pain seemed to roll away into oblivion.

One step led to another and then to another until finally:

A panorama view of the Blue Mountains

Perfection.

Our hiking group selfie at Echo Point

Day 2: Beauty is Subjective

6:45 A.M.

Could my alarm be any louder?

The day started out rainy and dreary as my four cabin mates and I left to join the others at the bus. We arrived at a random lookout point in the Blue Mountains where the fog seemed to cover the trees like a thick spread of peanut butter.

Ellie, Cristal and I dressed up in our rain jackets and ready for the fog that filled the valley

We received the privilege to choose our own hiking instructor. I took one look at Ian and darted over to his side. Ever since I joined the class I wanted to experience Ian’s method of teaching outside of lecture and in nature, so you could say I was beyond excited to start out the day with my mates (Cristal, Ellie, Sarah) by my side. We started out by venturing down the cliff into the valley, stopping frequently to learn about the different kinds of wildlife and trees.

My hiking group and I striking our silly pose with the "paint" of a turpentine tree marked on our faces

As we slowly made our way down, I felt as if I was deep into the Amazon forest with nothing but a God like presence behind and before me.

The thick green trees and plants were rich with life

A picture of me crossing a stream

During the hike down, Ian stopped us in front of a cave opening that plunged down vertically into darkness. Ian and Juan (aka “Juicy Juan”) hoped down into the opening to help students make their way down. While some students were scared of the challenge, I once again felt excited and daring. My mentality: “Challenge Accepted.” After making our way through the cave and out into the open, the plan was for the group to wait outside the opening until everyone had made it through. Unfortunately, this was not the case. As I made it out of the cave I noticed everyone scattered around in different directions. As such, I made my way down a path to enjoy a small waterfall with a couple others as we waited for the other students to make it through the cave. After listening to nature’s music, I followed the track up and told Ellie and Cristal about the lovely falls.

After a little while, everyone made it through safe and sound. The group commenced in line formation on the trail and a routine head count was called by the leader. We made our way downhill for about an hour until making our way into the valley where the river bed was housed. We stopped for lunch along the river with two other hiking groups to replenish our energy and rest.

During lunch, Juicy Juan and I discussed some good places in Sydney to go dancing at and he told me he liked to salsa. Being that I love to dance but have never salsaed before, I asked Juicy to teach me how to salsa in front of my peers, instructors and mother nature herself.

The other hiking groups soon left and continued their journey as we settled in and ate our lunch. Suddenly, Sarah asked where Ellie and Cristal were. We looked around nervously at each other and realized we had broken one of the cardinal rules: Never leave a mate behind. Ian and Juan scurried back up the cliff as the rest of us waited by the river. At that moment, I had realized what happened. I told Ellie and Cristal about the waterfall but failed to check if they had rejoined the group. I couldn’t have felt guiltier. Here I was salsa dancing and having the time of my life as Cristal and Ellie were lost and afraid. I had a quick look through my pictures and found a selfie of Ellie that she must have taken on my phone. I looked at it and thought… this may be the last time I ever see her beautiful face.

My friend took this beautiful selfie on my phone. The last image I would have had of her.

Fortunately, 20 minutes later, Ian and Juan had returned to the group with my two friends by their side. Oh did they have a story to tell. But I’ll let them tell it through their blogs.

From that experience I learned more than I was expecting. I learned how crucial communication is, especially during unfamiliar trips in the outdoors when being lost can be dangerous and life threatening. Teamwork is more than the art of working together; it is the linkage of emotions and consciousness thoughts about others. Lastly, I realized how much these two ladies have come to mean to me and the positive impact their friendship has had on my life.

The journey continued and it couldn't have been more beautiful. While the scenery along the river bed was breathtaking, the connection I formed with Cristal was just as amazing. During the trail Cristal and I spoke about subjects we hadn't explored together but had thought separately about. We talked about growing old and the importance of gaining wisdom and strength through the natural world. Our topics spanned from our goals in life, to how nature impacts our feelings, to death and to the meaning of life.

One with nature

After making our way through the valley, we entered the last stage of our hike: The difficult and physically draining uphill track. We started along hiking full speed ahead and gradually slowed down.

At this point, I felt exhausted. My calves burned with every stride and the steps kept multiplying without giving any lee way. The trees and moss no longer seemed to have their magnificent glow as I stopped enjoying nature’s splendid glory. I started questioning my choice of joining the class as negative thoughts crept into my mind about my own physique compared to others in the class that were more physically fit.

Suddenly, I stopped.

I took a minute to re-orientate my thoughts. Took a deep breath, and gazed at the spectacular world that surrounded me.

Like with any challenge, comes a choice. A choice to continue onward and grow or a choice to stay stagnate.

I chose growth.

“There’s nowhere to go but up” I thought.“There’s nowhere to go but up.”

The tall and glorious waterfall to the left and me hiking along the cliff towards the right with the waterfall in the background

Day 3: I Am

The last day of the hike proved to be one of the most remarkable in terms of scenery and self-discovery. Before going on the hike, Ian led the group in some stretches to soften up those stiff muscles from the day before.

I chose Ian’s group once more before starting the hike. As we made our way down the path, Ian tested our knowledge from the weekend by having us recall certain trees and animals we had learned about from the previous two days. I instantly thought of the lyrebird, an Australian native bird that mimics other birds and sounds.

The morning was peaceful and slow, a perfect way to start of a day basked in nature’s serenity.

We enjoyed each other’s company and the bountiful amounts of waterfalls that accompanied the path.

A couple different waterfalls along the path

Later on in the day, we stopped for lunch at a large towering waterfall. The same waterfall we would be climbing up and over. 

During the hike up to the cliff base, I felt every part of my body as my legs stung and my heart raced. I felt satisfied knowing that I was exerting myself and pushing my body beyond its normal stopping point.

At the cliff base, there were some gnarley stairs in cages that made me feel secure as we made the vertical hike up along the mountain’s edge.

My friend Jessica and I in the "cage" along the mountain's cliff 

This uphill fight against gravity turned into one of the most powerful experiences I have encountered in nature thus far. I felt limitless yet heavy as my body stood suspended on the mountain’s edge as my thoughts floated effortlessly across the clear blue sky. As I grasped the rock and man-made structure all I could think about was the perfect combination of human connection and natural world bestowed upon our human race. As is so, contemporary society is slowly destroying both.

I felt so free, free to laugh, free to smile and free to just live. How could it be that I felt so close with nature yet so fearful of her ability to take my life away in an instant? That’s when I realized what is truly beautiful and worth fighting for. It’s moments like this, where living is not living unless you are feeling. Feeling every breath you take, the cool breeze on your skin and the sweat on your forehead. It’s being one with the natural world and appreciating its wonders and splendor that we can only remotely understand.

From then on I realized why the Blue Mountains would forever change me and my perspective on the world. I finally understood why life has a meaning and why writing will always be my purpose. An answer I could only find through self-reflection and the exertion of body and soul in the divinity of the natural world.

I am.

A picture of me soaking in earth's beauty. Feeling peaceful simply in "being."

Author’s Note:

As part of the class, it was required to write about my experiences using a blog as a tool to communicate my self-reflection. I enjoyed using this medium and have taken it a step further by creating other blogs of my own. Combining my photos, video and writing gave me the opportunity to think deeply and understand myself through Learning in Outdoor Education. For this kind of learning I believe an essay or a “turn in” assignment wouldn't have done the program justice and would have stifled the learning experience. Through blogging, I have felt that I can be intimate with my thoughts and freely profess them as I would in a journal. It has given me the space to not only share my feelings, but to reflect on them and the impact of nature on my livelihood. I would like to recommend this tool for anyone who enjoys nature and would like to deeply explore the impact it has on their character and thoughts.

While I do believe in the positive power of the blog (since writing in any form is seductive), there are some cons. The experiences one feels in nature and the pictures and videos posted can only go so far. Anyone can view them but not everyone can understand the meaning. Sometimes the experiences you receive are just that, experiences; an experience that can only be felt while doing and in the moment. I fear that some will use this tool to live out their own so called “experience” through the eyes of blog writers and will be deterred from going out and seeing these sights first hand. I can only hope that people will not only read my blog, but will be inspired to shut down the lap top, live and explore.