Where ever you are, be there.

It's amazing how relativity can mess with your head. Breakfast at 7:30? Holey-moley, that's sleeping in! This morning's run wasn't quite as perky as the rest, since the sky threatened rain the entire time. However, I managed to download the Northstar podcast from last week (thank you Sydney Opera House for wifi) and listened to it on the run. Darrell, you did a great job.

On my way back I nearly was railroaded by hundreds of runners equipped in their fancy-schmancy workout clothes, each streamlined for the optimum running time in the Sydney half-marathon. And here I was, in shorts and a t-shirt (not matching of course). Under-dressed?

This morning post-run was rather hectic, calling quite a few different companies to ensure the proper arrangements for tomorrow's flight and coach ride. People in Australia sure are grumpy in the mornings. I'm pretty sure the Qantas guy thought it was a complete idiot.

In the ADDO lecture we had a guest speaker, Suzie, who had grown up in Germany and was raised in England. She went to school in Scotland, has worked for Google and basically lives an incredible life. Her lecture, though short, was very intriguing.

Marta then took her turn for lecture on water usage in Sydney. Having had the water for life class back at VT, I was actually more interested in it than I thought I'd be.

Afterward I had a quick lunch and then walked down to the weekend market with Mandy, Nicola and Bob. Not much food-wise, but a lot of fun souvenir-type items that might have been fun given enough funding. Planning ahead, I dropped by the local supermarket for some groceries when the food scientist in me reared its ugly head. I spent at least 5 solid minutes talking to the cashier about how the banana milky way is quite possibly the most bizarre candy I've seen in quite some time. Apparently it sells much better than the twin pack. Weird. Banana. Really, people?

Rest was hard to come by, even (especially) on our day off. I spent the afternoon, along with the other faculty, calling places where we were scheduled to stay and figuring out the flight plans to Brisbane. I'll spare the details... what. a. mess.

Kevin had told me about a church he went to last week, Hillsong, that we planned on going to tonight. We asked the front desk where to go and how to get there.. and we got a vague bus number/route recommendation. Map in hand, we tramped to the bus station by Circular Quay and took the 301 towards Redfern.

That bus driver was mean. Not just mean, but grumpy, rude and unkind. I didn't know people could be that rude and not feel bad about it.

Kevin and I adamantly followed the bus's route on our rudimentary map (at several points the bus went into the key area- unhelpful) until a group of about 5 college-age guys hopped on. They blatantly asked the bus driver if that bus went to Hillsong, and I immediately creeped: “OMGEE WE'RE GOING TO HILLSONG!!!”

Problem solved. Turns out they're a group of guys who, after finishing college, felt called to do a mission trip around the globe for a full year. Starting in Haiti, they started helping with home rebuilds and with orphanages. The short walk from the bus stop (the driver might as well have thrown us off by the way he dismissed us) didn't offer me much time to learn more about the mission, but the group is planning on going to India tomorrow and from there to Africa for a few months. Amazing.

Hillsong church was like Athens church except even more over the top and loud. The music wasn't familiar though it was in a similar style to what I'm accustomed to. The church, and I speak of the attendees, was the most diverse group I've seen. I think every single ethnicity was represented. The sermon itself was about pressing on which was an uplifting sermon about living in the now rather than the past. The speaker, name eludes me, referenced a good bit of scripture particularly the story of Lot's wife. When the sermon ended, Kevin and I wandered over to the welcome party where we hung out with a friend of his from his many travels. I'm amazing how connected he and Garret are.

We took the free shuttle from Hillsong to the Central Station where Kevin and I decided to walk back to the YHA since 40 minute walk is about comparable to paying for a train and the time it would take to figure out which train to get on. Honestly, I'm just trying to save money. 

Earrrlyyy morning tomorrow..