In the Mountains

On December 30^th we visited the Sydney Olympic Park and the Blue Mountains.  The Sydney Olympic Park was fun to see and I found it interesting to hear how they are still utilizing all of the facilities.   Later in the morning, we got on a bus to go to the Blue Mountains (about 1.5 hours from Sydney).  The site was amazing! 

According to Wikipedia, the Blue Mountains were originally inhabited by the Gundungurra people.  After European settlers arrived in Australia, they learned of two of the Aboriginals’ routes across the mountains.  This discovery allowed the settlers to cross through the mountains and explore the land on the other side.  The mountain range was named because of the blue haze that sometimes covers the mountains. 

When we arrived in the nearby town of Katoomba, we watched a short IMAX movie called, “The Edge.”  Then we did a hike down the mountains, which took a lot longer than we expected.  It was mostly descending stairs, many of which were very uneven and jagged.  Along the path we encountered many tourists.  People from all nationalities and age groups were taking in all of the spectacular views. 

I made numerous observations throughout the hike.   There were many different types of trees and plants, including Australia’s national flower and some of the highest trees I have ever seen.  Also, the forest was filled with the noises of the kookaburra, the bell-bird, and the sound of rushing water.  As the sound of the water came nearer, I saw my first waterfall!  It was so pretty and extremely calming after our long hike.

The Blue Mountains are a great tourist site, because of the diverse activities that are available.  People could simply stand at the upper deck and take pictures of the scenic views, or if they were more adventurous could go down and explore.  Many different trails are open, so people can choose to get some exercise while exploring the site.   Also, a train was available to get from top to bottom, for children and others who would rather not walk down the large flights of stairs.  Since the Blue Mountains are only about an hour and a half away from Sydney, they should be highly promoted so that tourists visiting Sydney can experience another attraction.   

Our program guide, Russ, told us many different facts throughout the hike.  I learned about the erosion of the mountains and the coal mining that took place there years ago.  This visit tied into the second objective of the course which was to understand Australia’s place in the global economy through its history and settlement.

Aussie Arrival

We arrived in Sydney on December 28^th and spent the day on a walking tour of the city.  We learned a lot about the history of Australia and how it has developed.  In his book The World is Flat, Freidman spoke about the concept of Globalization 1.0.  Australia was born from this Globalization 1.0, because of its interconnectivity with Britain.  The first people to come to Australia were convicts, and later Australia became part of the spice trade, which brought new ideas and products to the country.  In order to reach globalization many factors are necessary.   In the article, “The World is Spiky,” Richard Florida refutes Friedman’s belief that the world is flat, because he believes that countries are uneven judging by their population, light emissions, and patents.   An internet connection can completely change how fast a company develops and how they compare with other countries across the globe.  Australia is “spiky” in the Eastern Coast, near Sydney, but the rest of the country remains fairly flat.

On December 29th, we went on a long walk along the coastline.  There were beaches along the way which were very interesting to observe.  We stopped at Bondi beach and spent the afternoon there soaking up the sun and playing in the ocean.  I was amazed at how much diversity was present at this beach.  I could walk toward the water and hear many different languages being spoken.  Numerous nationalities were present, including Swedish, Norwegian, American, Australian, and Indian just to name a few.  All age groups were present, but I would say the most prevalent was 20-30 year olds.  I assumed that many of these visitors were tourists, because this time of the year is very common to vacation in Australia.  Since it is summer in Australia, almost all Australians are “on holiday.”  They treat holidays much differently than we do in America, and almost everything shuts down. 

In Sharp’s article, “The Typical Australian,” he lists many stereotypes that people hold about Australians, including being fit, tan, courageous, lazy, proud, independent, and street-friendly.  Although Australia is a very diverse country, I believe that most of these stereotypes are true.  I have seen very few obese Australians, and even if many lay on the beach quite a bit they probably exercise as well.   Also a lot of them are proud to tell you they are from Australia and are extremely helpful when you ask them for directions or recommendations.  The beach trip ties into Friedman’s concept of Globalization 3.0, which emphasizes the individual.  As individuals we each have our own backgrounds, but are given many opportunities.  Even someone from across the world has the opportunity to come to Australia and hang out on the beach with many others.

Ready for an adventure!

The days before departure are getting fewer and fewer!  Actually I will be boarding the plane in hours (approximately 110).  This all is a little hard to believe.  When I think about the fact that I will be soaking up the Australian sun at this same time next week, I feel as if I am living someone else's life.  It still hasn't quite sunk in that I am actually doing this.  Ready or not, I am traveling across the world!!

Between finals and the upcoming holiday, I have definitely been preoccupied.  Now that things are finally calming down and my trip is literally hours away, I am unsure how to feel.  So many thoughts are spiraling through my head....How will I pack? What am I going to forget? Is the plane going to leave on time? What if the weather is bad? Are Australians friendly? What does kangaroo taste like?  Even though all these thoughts, fears, questions, and curiosities prevent me from falling asleep at night, I try to assure myself that it will all turn out ok.

Despite all of my worries, I truly am excited about my trip!  Growing up in small town, I have never had an experience quite like this one.  I have spoken with a few students who have traveled to Australia in the past, trying to remember as many of their tips as I can.  This trip will be a once in a lifetime experience, so I am thrilled to take full advantage of it.  Some things that I hope to accomplish are: scuba dive and snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef, attend a show at the Sydney Opera House, try kangaroo and other Australian specialties, spend a full day at the beach, watch the New Year's Eve fireworks display from Sydney Harbor, and of course learn about the culture of Australia!

 I am so excited to learn from these experiences and use this knowledge upon returning home.  My upcoming month could completely change my life and the way I view the rest of the world.  I will definitely miss all of my family and friends I am leaving behind, but I greatly look forward to the adventure that will soon begin!