Schools Out, Gold Coast, Trying to fit in, and Rotary

Schools Out

School is out for Winter break and I am glad to have a little break! The exam week was pretty hectic but I have finished all my classes for this semester and hope to receive good marks for my classes. What’s next on the agenda? Well, my parents are flying over on June 26th and we have a great trip planned for the three of us. I will first be touring them around Brisbane then we will head down to Sydney for two days. After that we will catch a flight up to the Great Barrier Reef in Cairns. Finally, we will take a train back down to Brisbane to conclude the trip around July 12th. I am very much looking forward to this and seeing my parents. So, what else has been going on with me since the last blog. Let me tell you….

Gold Coast

I went to the Gold Coast this week for the first time to surf. Most of my previous surfing experiences have been in Noosa at the Sunshine Coast (see previous blogs) but I really enjoyed the Gold Coast and its closer to Brisbane. The Gold Coast is an hour South of Brisbane, situated in the southeast corner of Queensland.  It is known for its great surfing, nightlife and laid back city life. It consists of 35 miles of coastline with some of the best surf breaks in Australia and in the world, which is why it is often referred by its other name, ‘Surfer’s Paradise.’ 

This was my third attempt at surfing and this experience was much different from all my others. Why was it different Morgan? Well because the waves were freaking huge. The first place me and my friend James went to was an area where the waves were large and deep. These were not the kind of waves I experienced in Noosa, as most of the waves in Noosa were surface waves and did not contain the same size and depths that these did. In all reality, I should have not been trying to surf these types of waves as these are really for the more experienced surfers. I would compare this to a beginning snow skier trying to go down a black diamond slope. They may make it down, but it’s going to be ugly.

James and I decided to give it a try. The result was not good. I never got up on a wave but got pretty close one time (I say close to riding one but really I would have stood up on the board for less than a second and fallen off. That counts right?) Anyway, one of the bigger waves of the morning began to approach James and I with both of us basically saying, “O my God” (in our own ways). James insisted that this wave had my name written all over it. So, being expert and all, I started paddling as fast as I could in the direction of the coast. The wave caught me and it began to crest with me at the top. Trying to stand up and ride this was nearly impossible for me as when it crested I felt like I was literally about to slide off the roof of my house. The drop scared me so I bailed (I say I bailed but I really just failed at riding the wave).  My board flew up so high and I went tumbling underneath the waves. After this experience James and I decided we needed to go to some waves that we could handle. We made it to another place and had a better result! Even did some boogie boarding which was a lot of fun. I hope to go back to the Gold Coast when it gets warmer (it was really cold) so I will look forward to challenging these waves again. 

Trying to fit in

I told myself, before I left Mississippi, that I would do my best to maintain the southern guy that I am.  What does that mean? It means that I would not change the way I talk or the way I dress. However, this has become harder than I thought. One thing remains intact.... the accent hasn’t changed even though I do use Australian lingo in my language more than usual and say, ‘ya’ll’ less. However, I have lost the battle in ‘the way I dress’ department. This is a very recent change, as I went shopping yesterday and bought a lot of new clothes. Clothes don’t define a person, but they do make an impression on people. When I first arrived in Australia one look at me and my dress simply said, 'American'. It was easy to spot. Polo shirt, khaki pants, and loafers or loose t-shirt, khaki shorts, and Chocos/Crocs.  Now, granted, I have never been the most fashionable person out there. I usually am more about comfort than what’s cool or fashionable (my dad is this way too) so I can only go up from here right? Anyway, this change came up as I was about to go to The Valley (a hot spot for Uni students which contains a lot of night life like dance clubs and bars, etc.) when my friends at my house stopped me before I walked out the door. The conversation went something like this:

Housemate: “Are you wearing that?”
Me: “Yeah, I feel pretty dressed up.”
Housemate: “You won’t get into a bar in The Valley dressed like that."
Me: Ok, I guess will change but need to borrow some clothes tonight.

Anyway, the pictures below will help you see the difference. This is what I would wear now when I plan to go to The Valley or city. I can go to a local bar dressed like the first picture but other places call for the attire in the second picture.
 

Southern Morgan

Australian Morgan

Rotary

Rotary speeches continue. I gave two speeches this last week. The first one was to my host club, The Rotary Club of Albany Creek. I had been looking forward to speaking at my club for some time and really have enjoyed my time with my club. They have been so hospitable towards me and they found my presentation on Mississippi to be very interesting. I look forward to another semester with them.

President Ken and I exchanging banners.

The following day I gave another speech to the The Rotary Club of Ashgrove the Gap.  It’s interesting to mention how I was scheduled to speak at this club. Haden Hughes, a man from Mississippi in my district and close friends with my family, went to the Rotary International Conference in New Orleans last month. As Haden was going to some Rotary workshops, he sat next to a man from Brisbane named John Lane. Haden mentioned that I was in Brisbane and to look me up. John knew who to contact. A member in his club, Shaughn Forbes, handles the inbound Rotary scholars and was one of the first people I met in Rotary when I arrived in Brisbane. So naturally, the connection was made and the next week I was speaking at their club. Pretty cool.

Shaughn is pictured on the right in the red.

I have had several small world connection moments. For instance, this last week at the Gold Coast I met an Australia girl whose parents have relatives in America. I asked where and she said Mississippi. I asked where in Mississippi and she said Jackson. Small world right? Anyway, the last name of her parent’s relatives is Barrett and they have since moved to Crystal Springs. Not sure if there is any relation to Dr. Gene Barrett so I will have to check. 

That's all for now. Have a good day!