I believe this is my first blog entry in 6 weeks or so, and I apologize for that!
I've been so consumed in the midsemester exams (aka midterms) and doing personal projects. Also, one of my two Canon camera lenses and my cellphone camera broke about three weeks ago and I haven't been able to take pictures.
However, I'm going to start blogging with more regularity to keep everyone up to date, starting off what I did a week ago; it's a bit long at 750 words or so, but I'm trying to make up for lost time.
I had the honor to compete in the 2010 Northern Uni Games (NUG) for Bond University last week, and it was the best part of this study abroad experience.
So far.
The NUG is where different universities get together, play sports competitions and party together. If I had to compare it to something back at St. Bonaventure, imagine spring weekend on steroids with sports competitions with all the western New York colleges.
I left Bond with teammates Dhruv, Andre, Ben, Matt, Andrew and Cheyenne (clockwise) to Toowoomba - a city about 2-hours away - on Sunday morning and returned back to campus Wednesday night.
It's been a week since the NUG, but today is the first day I feel, um, recovered.
Like I said, spring weekend on steroids (I also made a video of the trip, which can be found at the bottom of the blog).
During the 4-day, 3-night trip, I got to witness and be apart of the Australian culture in a way a textbook or a tour guide could never show me.
One thing that stood out is the camaraderie. In my opinion, the U.S. social culture is more about groups, cliques and labels; the Australian culture is more like when we were in kindergarten, when meeting a stranger and introducing yourself in a friendly way was as natural as breathing.
Even my teammates could've treated me differently since I joined at the last minute, but now we're all friends and hoping for another golf trip before the semester ends.
Also, there is less judging and stereotyping here compared to the U.S. I'm not saying Australia doesn't have its handful of negative people and/or racists, but the general population is progressive, educated and positive.
There is another thing called a kangaroo court, which is when a group gets together and laugh about certain, um, transgressions or comical things that happened.
Australians laugh about, and not laugh at, things that happened to someone. There is far less fear of becoming a social outcast for doing anything. If Americans had a kangaroo court, a lot of jealousy, labeling and backhanded compliments would've been said and taken the wrong way.
Speeches and toasts is another thing that stood out. A genuine show of affection and appreciation with poignant words makes everyone feel good and it only takes a minute. What happened to that in the U.S.?
All - not even exaggerating - Australians I've partied or hung out with made me feel like a close friend. In U.S., that's rarely the case. Here, it's about having a good time together without the expense of someone and more Americans should learn from the Australians.
But the mutual respect for everyone is by far the most impressive thing I’ve witnessed.
I saw a group of people helping out a friend that was completely wasted, putting wet towels on the back of someone's neck while that person's crouched over a toilet. Back in the states, a Sharpie would've found that person's face.
I saw partiers respecting students that needed to study and not peer pressuring them into partying. People also stayed out of their rooms to give them privacy and found other places to rage.
Everyone always had designated drivers, traveled safely in groups and chipped in for cab fares and drinks immediately.
Everything I've pointed out roots from having respect for each other. Who can drink the most, score the best in competitions, wearing the hottest brands or having the most money is valued far less here than the States.
It was about respecting one another and what everyone brings to the table, and it was refreshing.
Now I'm probably making it sound like Americans are horrible, but that is not my intent. It's just that, in my honest opinion, more Australians are respectful and friendly and the American culture can definitely learn a thing or two.
I truly had a trip of a lifetime. I have to thank the St. Bonaventure Study Abroad office - especially Alice and Sarah - and everyone else that recommended Bond.
And as a personal thank you to everyone I've met at the NUG, I directed and produced a video titled "Shenanigans in Toowoomba." I'm glad I brought a camera, but disappointed I didn't bring a charger and got more footage.
This video, however, has a lot of alcohol drinking and curse words (if I had to rate it like a movie, it's a PG-13, leaning towards R). It accurately describes the NUG experience, but may not be suitable for children.
Hope you guys enjoy!
[Photo courtesy of Andrew Galligan]
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