Thursday, March 16, 2006
Venting.
I just had my first bad day here. Actually it was only a bad afternoon. But on the bus ride home from work I wrote a "venting"-type blog entry in my head. But I've decided to just write a few random happy things about today instead.
My iPod
Salsa dancing
"Comfort drink" (soy chai) from Gloria Jeans after a hard afternoon
Pretty rain
Remembering my umbrella
Sweet bus driver smiling and saying, "That coffee sure smells excellent" (I was so glad to hear someone say something nice, that I didn't have the heart to tell him it was tea)
Dan helping me out at work
Radio, newspaper and TV showing up at the event in Dubbo today. Promises from all 3 on tomorrow's event as well.
Talking to "Captain Starlight" on the phone (Dave) and him telling me that he felt like a celebrity with all the media there
Voicemail from Lauren L, email from Krista
Being able to really know that this internship is from God and that it's so good for me
The pics on WebShots take FOREVER on my computer. Are y'all having trouble viewing them as well? Let me know. Here's one more of Sam, me, and Dana.
Currently I'm watching the England vs. Australia rugby 7s game. It's probably one of the biggest matches of the Commonwealth Games. There's no telling how much those crazy people in Melbourne paid for tickets. Rugby 7 is insane- to me it's basically wrestling, football, and full-contact soccer with no padding or helmets! All those sports will seem boring, slow, and over-refereed after watching this. I'm surprised at how much I'm enjoying it. I can't wait to go to a game.
I would like to say, however, that these guys' rugby shorts are entirely too short.
Cheers!
Mich
(England just had a major breakaway and now they're winning 12-7)
My iPod
Salsa dancing
"Comfort drink" (soy chai) from Gloria Jeans after a hard afternoon
Pretty rain
Remembering my umbrella
Sweet bus driver smiling and saying, "That coffee sure smells excellent" (I was so glad to hear someone say something nice, that I didn't have the heart to tell him it was tea)
Dan helping me out at work
Radio, newspaper and TV showing up at the event in Dubbo today. Promises from all 3 on tomorrow's event as well.
Talking to "Captain Starlight" on the phone (Dave) and him telling me that he felt like a celebrity with all the media there
Voicemail from Lauren L, email from Krista
Being able to really know that this internship is from God and that it's so good for me
The pics on WebShots take FOREVER on my computer. Are y'all having trouble viewing them as well? Let me know. Here's one more of Sam, me, and Dana.
Currently I'm watching the England vs. Australia rugby 7s game. It's probably one of the biggest matches of the Commonwealth Games. There's no telling how much those crazy people in Melbourne paid for tickets. Rugby 7 is insane- to me it's basically wrestling, football, and full-contact soccer with no padding or helmets! All those sports will seem boring, slow, and over-refereed after watching this. I'm surprised at how much I'm enjoying it. I can't wait to go to a game.
I would like to say, however, that these guys' rugby shorts are entirely too short.
Cheers!
Mich
(England just had a major breakaway and now they're winning 12-7)
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
What is PR anyways?
Good morning everyone!
Pictures of my weekend with CVA are up on http://lisamichelle2006.blogspot.com. I don't like how they put the captions on top of the pictures, but hopefully you will know what you're seeing.
I just got through watching the opening ceremony for the Commonwealth Games which start tomorrow in Melbourn. It's a huge deal here- sport always is for Aussies, and especially in Melbourne. I'm working again tomorrow and 6:30 comes awfully early, so just a few short notes...
Many of you probably have wondered what exactly it is that I'm majoring in, and coming home from work today it occured to me that I have a better idea myself now that I've done a week of interning at Starlight, and I thought I'd share that, especially for you parental types. =)
Basically Carmel, Nicole, Danny and I are responsible for getting Starlight's great events into the media so that people will hear about the organization and support it financially so we can have the money to reach more sick kids. When I came in this morning Amanda told me that "Captain Starlight's" van is travelling through the small town of Dubbo tomorrow. He'll be doing 2 shows at Dubbo Hospital for really sick kids and taking 5 families to the zoo for a special overnight program. I was responsible for "pitching" the story idea over the phone to 3 local radio stations, 2 papers and 2 TV stations. Editors and journalists get tons of calls a day and trying to grab their attention from the beginning is intimidating. I have to use the proper terms also ("Starlight escape" as opposed to zoo trip, "Captain Dave" as opposed to David Dowley, "seriously ill children" as opposed to kids with cancer.) While I phoned, Nicole frantically wrote, re-wrote, edited and re-edited a press release on all the events with the details. Then Danny and I emailed the info to the editors and I followed up with them on the phone, scheduling interviews with the captains for each reporter, seeing who wanted photo opportunities, which events they wanted to come to, which children have permission to be photographed, etc.
I felt so clumsy all morning. Aussies use different phrases and when they're talking quickly through a bad phone connection I'll miss bits and pieces. I kept saying the wrong thing or just forgot to say things all together- I'm sure I sounded unsure, awkward and rushed. Nicole always sounds so beautiful and composed on the phone.) But when it all started to come together in the afternoon it was rewarding to see the results. It's fun to know the media is going to get some adorable coverage and that the children and families will get a thrill out of it as well. I know I'll get better, I just hope Nicole knows.
Anyways, that's kinda a snapshop of what I'll be doing.
Tomorrow will make one month since I left the states. I can't believe it's already been that long. At the same time, I can see that I'm comfortable here now- I don't have to concentrate when I cross the street at a round-about, I naturally walk on the left, I don't have to look out the window the whole time on the bus because I know I'll feel my stop...
Christina and Walt: thanks for the emails, I promise I'll write back this weekend.
Gran-O: Don't work Granddaddy too hard on his first day off! =)
Jackie and the kids: So glad you're in Houston for a visit and wish I could be there for it! Have a wonderful time!
Daddy, Walt, Jenny, and the Stubbs: I promise I'll get an email out to y'all this weekend about travel stuff. (Dan is a certified diver and he took a month to dive around Oz so he told me lots of things about it today.)
Bailey: Have you heard of the Commonwealth Games? I wonder if they are even on the TV in America? I hope you can see the picture of the hopping wallaby I took!
-R.I.P my little plant. (I forgot to ask my rommates to water him while I was away for the weekend.)
-Hummus is my new favotite thing. I eat it all the time and on everything.
Cheers,
Mich
Pictures of my weekend with CVA are up on http://lisamichelle2006.blogspot.com. I don't like how they put the captions on top of the pictures, but hopefully you will know what you're seeing.
I just got through watching the opening ceremony for the Commonwealth Games which start tomorrow in Melbourn. It's a huge deal here- sport always is for Aussies, and especially in Melbourne. I'm working again tomorrow and 6:30 comes awfully early, so just a few short notes...
Many of you probably have wondered what exactly it is that I'm majoring in, and coming home from work today it occured to me that I have a better idea myself now that I've done a week of interning at Starlight, and I thought I'd share that, especially for you parental types. =)
Basically Carmel, Nicole, Danny and I are responsible for getting Starlight's great events into the media so that people will hear about the organization and support it financially so we can have the money to reach more sick kids. When I came in this morning Amanda told me that "Captain Starlight's" van is travelling through the small town of Dubbo tomorrow. He'll be doing 2 shows at Dubbo Hospital for really sick kids and taking 5 families to the zoo for a special overnight program. I was responsible for "pitching" the story idea over the phone to 3 local radio stations, 2 papers and 2 TV stations. Editors and journalists get tons of calls a day and trying to grab their attention from the beginning is intimidating. I have to use the proper terms also ("Starlight escape" as opposed to zoo trip, "Captain Dave" as opposed to David Dowley, "seriously ill children" as opposed to kids with cancer.) While I phoned, Nicole frantically wrote, re-wrote, edited and re-edited a press release on all the events with the details. Then Danny and I emailed the info to the editors and I followed up with them on the phone, scheduling interviews with the captains for each reporter, seeing who wanted photo opportunities, which events they wanted to come to, which children have permission to be photographed, etc.
I felt so clumsy all morning. Aussies use different phrases and when they're talking quickly through a bad phone connection I'll miss bits and pieces. I kept saying the wrong thing or just forgot to say things all together- I'm sure I sounded unsure, awkward and rushed. Nicole always sounds so beautiful and composed on the phone.) But when it all started to come together in the afternoon it was rewarding to see the results. It's fun to know the media is going to get some adorable coverage and that the children and families will get a thrill out of it as well. I know I'll get better, I just hope Nicole knows.
Anyways, that's kinda a snapshop of what I'll be doing.
Tomorrow will make one month since I left the states. I can't believe it's already been that long. At the same time, I can see that I'm comfortable here now- I don't have to concentrate when I cross the street at a round-about, I naturally walk on the left, I don't have to look out the window the whole time on the bus because I know I'll feel my stop...
Christina and Walt: thanks for the emails, I promise I'll write back this weekend.
Gran-O: Don't work Granddaddy too hard on his first day off! =)
Jackie and the kids: So glad you're in Houston for a visit and wish I could be there for it! Have a wonderful time!
Daddy, Walt, Jenny, and the Stubbs: I promise I'll get an email out to y'all this weekend about travel stuff. (Dan is a certified diver and he took a month to dive around Oz so he told me lots of things about it today.)
Bailey: Have you heard of the Commonwealth Games? I wonder if they are even on the TV in America? I hope you can see the picture of the hopping wallaby I took!
-R.I.P my little plant. (I forgot to ask my rommates to water him while I was away for the weekend.)
-Hummus is my new favotite thing. I eat it all the time and on everything.
Cheers,
Mich
Sunday, March 12, 2006
A Weekend of Wallabies and Wombats
Hi, everyone!
I just got back from a weekend in Kangaroo Valley with CVA (Conservation Volunteers of Australia). There were 12 other people from the Village that went, plus two CVA workers, and we had such a great time! I'll write more about it when I have the time. Here are some quick (or not so quick) highlights...
Seeing a bunch of wallabies (mini kangaroos) in the mornings/evenings
Seeinga wombat (so cute!) walk across the road (May I please have a wombat and a kookaburra?)
Crazy games of Spoons, including much laughing, shrieking, and even some flying glass
Crossing rivers barefoot, swimming
Cooking meals with 14 other people in a huge kitchen
Great breakfasts- tons of fruit with natural yoghurt, honey, and coffee
Taking a nightime "wildlife walk" with 3 very nervous and skiddish girls
Talking to David and Sarah, classic Aussies, about places to go and things to do while we're here
Driving down switchbacks into the valley; the gorgeous scenery in general
Digging holes, chopping trees, using poison, saws, huge clippers, rakes, hoes - all on an island
Jumping in a massive pile of leaves
Riding in a 4 wheel drive jeep with the windows down and the music up
Going to the most amazing beach today, body surfing and loving it, perfect water and weather
Seeing a 60 year old man surfing
Seeing a 3 year old girl "surfing"on her boogy board, coached by her surfer dad
Excellent fish and chips in a small surfing town
Coming home with a few impressive bug bites and scrapes, but still no sunburn!
There is still so much to say and I can't wait to get some pictures online! Unfortunantly, 2 essays, a presentation, and lots of intern paperwork need to be done so I can get to bed and be able to wake up for work tomorrow.
Bailey- I went body surfing today and it was so fun!! I was only scared one time, but that's because I was in the wrong place and a giant wave broke on top of me. As long as I stayed close to Dave (our guide who is a surfer) then I was fine. It's not exactly the same as real surfing though so we'll see how that goes. =)
Christina and Thursday night group- Thanks for thinking of me! It's still too early to think about coming home but I KNOW I will be so glad to come back to our Bible study!
Gran-O and Granddaddy- Remember that crazy swithback drive we went took in Kauai to the little coffee factory? The one into Kangaroo Valley reminded me of that drive.
Happy spring break to all my college friends! I'm missing the rodeo, so please have lots of fun and take pictures in all your cowboy gear. Everyone here is shocked that I don't have a Texas accent... I'm glad to be a city girl =)
Lauren L- Let's go backpacking someday.
Lauren W- If you're thinking of studying here, look into the University of Sydney- I think you'd love it!
Bethany and John- so happy to hear from both of you. y'all must come here one day with your spouses (??!!) and see all the wildlife -including the island with penguins.
I wish I could just take one weekend at a time, but I've GOT to start planning for spring (autumn) break and other trips. My roommate, Teya, just came in and we were talking about how overwhelming it all is... work, school, reading and essays, researching trips, taking trips, hanging out, laundry and cooking... With a smile she said, "people should really feel so sorry for us because this is all so stressful." =)
OK I'm going to try and get some stuff done. Sorry there isn't more to this post- things are busy right now, but everything's due on Tuesday so I'll have more time after that. I think I'm going to stay in town this weekend and work out travel details, eat dinner at the Hanna's house, find Amy's coffee shop, figure out my cell phone plan and bus pass, and go on a tour of Hunter Valley.
Goodnight to me. Good morning to all of you.
"I want to open up my eyes and see a more beautiful world; Let the hand of God Almighty sweep His colors through my life. I want to hold tight to the laughter and ride it like a child on the winds that billow joyfully through the sky... Let me live to give you praise; let me praise you for the grace by which I'm saved. Lord, let me sing."
-Andrew Peterson
I just got back from a weekend in Kangaroo Valley with CVA (Conservation Volunteers of Australia). There were 12 other people from the Village that went, plus two CVA workers, and we had such a great time! I'll write more about it when I have the time. Here are some quick (or not so quick) highlights...
Seeing a bunch of wallabies (mini kangaroos) in the mornings/evenings
Seeinga wombat (so cute!) walk across the road (May I please have a wombat and a kookaburra?)
Crazy games of Spoons, including much laughing, shrieking, and even some flying glass
Crossing rivers barefoot, swimming
Cooking meals with 14 other people in a huge kitchen
Great breakfasts- tons of fruit with natural yoghurt, honey, and coffee
Taking a nightime "wildlife walk" with 3 very nervous and skiddish girls
Talking to David and Sarah, classic Aussies, about places to go and things to do while we're here
Driving down switchbacks into the valley; the gorgeous scenery in general
Digging holes, chopping trees, using poison, saws, huge clippers, rakes, hoes - all on an island
Jumping in a massive pile of leaves
Riding in a 4 wheel drive jeep with the windows down and the music up
Going to the most amazing beach today, body surfing and loving it, perfect water and weather
Seeing a 60 year old man surfing
Seeing a 3 year old girl "surfing"on her boogy board, coached by her surfer dad
Excellent fish and chips in a small surfing town
Coming home with a few impressive bug bites and scrapes, but still no sunburn!
There is still so much to say and I can't wait to get some pictures online! Unfortunantly, 2 essays, a presentation, and lots of intern paperwork need to be done so I can get to bed and be able to wake up for work tomorrow.
Bailey- I went body surfing today and it was so fun!! I was only scared one time, but that's because I was in the wrong place and a giant wave broke on top of me. As long as I stayed close to Dave (our guide who is a surfer) then I was fine. It's not exactly the same as real surfing though so we'll see how that goes. =)
Christina and Thursday night group- Thanks for thinking of me! It's still too early to think about coming home but I KNOW I will be so glad to come back to our Bible study!
Gran-O and Granddaddy- Remember that crazy swithback drive we went took in Kauai to the little coffee factory? The one into Kangaroo Valley reminded me of that drive.
Happy spring break to all my college friends! I'm missing the rodeo, so please have lots of fun and take pictures in all your cowboy gear. Everyone here is shocked that I don't have a Texas accent... I'm glad to be a city girl =)
Lauren L- Let's go backpacking someday.
Lauren W- If you're thinking of studying here, look into the University of Sydney- I think you'd love it!
Bethany and John- so happy to hear from both of you. y'all must come here one day with your spouses (??!!) and see all the wildlife -including the island with penguins.
I wish I could just take one weekend at a time, but I've GOT to start planning for spring (autumn) break and other trips. My roommate, Teya, just came in and we were talking about how overwhelming it all is... work, school, reading and essays, researching trips, taking trips, hanging out, laundry and cooking... With a smile she said, "people should really feel so sorry for us because this is all so stressful." =)
OK I'm going to try and get some stuff done. Sorry there isn't more to this post- things are busy right now, but everything's due on Tuesday so I'll have more time after that. I think I'm going to stay in town this weekend and work out travel details, eat dinner at the Hanna's house, find Amy's coffee shop, figure out my cell phone plan and bus pass, and go on a tour of Hunter Valley.
Goodnight to me. Good morning to all of you.
"I want to open up my eyes and see a more beautiful world; Let the hand of God Almighty sweep His colors through my life. I want to hold tight to the laughter and ride it like a child on the winds that billow joyfully through the sky... Let me live to give you praise; let me praise you for the grace by which I'm saved. Lord, let me sing."
-Andrew Peterson
