Rocket Man

Packed my bags last night, pre flight... Zero hour, 5 a.m.

What a trip! I spent my free day relaxing, and it was amazing. Took a walk up and down the beach, went to pancackes on the rocks, took a nap... It was great. I wish we had multiple free days in Gold Coast. I wish the sky diving hadn't been so expensive. I probably would have gone. That and I'm not paying to jump tandem. I took my training wheels and pull-ups off a long time ago. I'm actually pretty glad I spent my day relaxing and catching up on sleep. The sound of the ocean made it easy.

This 18 days has flown by! It seems like just yesterday we took of from Charlotte and Cassie was the only person I knew (because I met her on the plane). Now we're one big weird family. A fun one though. Part of me is ready to get home, and a part of me wants to stay. The younger part (I feel like) wants to stay and live in Gold Coast as a back packer. I could definitely do it. 

Looking back, I wish Gold Coast was longer... Then again, I wish the whole trip were longer. I had a great time in Cairns. Sydney was awesome, but pales in comparison to the other two stops. This has been an amazing experience either way. I'm very grateful to have been here. Now it's time to head to Pittsburgh and watch the Pens win another cup! Then on to more summer classes... None of them will be as awesome as this. And I doubt I'll be as close to my classmates. I'm gonna miss this comraderie. It's not the same as the military, but it's the closest I've been with traditional students. I really hope I can make grad school happen at Bond!

Progression of Awesomeness

I'm not sure if it was planned this way intentionally, but each destination has been better than the last. Gold Coast is incredible. Cairns is a very close second just because of the reef and the rainforest, but this place takes the cake. Dr. Carroll is a really cool guy. I can imagine he's a really fun professor! When I got a football in my hands (Aussie or not) I was like a kid. I've been feigning for some football. I'm really bummed we got delayed and had to forego the Aussie Football games. I'm sure the ladies loved the surf shop. And it was pretty cool. But I can buy Billabong on Amazon for less. I think us guys were just wandering around and looking at boards. I was a bit disappointed with the "surf lessons." Granted, having not surfed in 13 years, I didn't do very well anyway. But every time I did get up on the board, I either sank because the wave wasn't big enough for my heavy ass, or I had to wipe out to avoid impaling someone in front of me. No surfer I know would pack that many people in that small of an area for 30 minutes and call it a surfing lesson. The hotel rooms are awesome (even though the A/C is crap), and the view is unbelievable! Several of us went out for Mexican and I had some delicious tacos. Oh, how I miss San José.

I'm not a club guy. Period. We went out to the club and it took all that I had not to start breaking noses when guys were constantly bumping into me, obviously trying to bump their way to a young lady. Looking over the crowd I was slightly amused and mildly disturbed. Everyone with me had a good time, and that made it worth it. Will is probably the most talented rapper I know, personally. Unfortunately, I had to suffer through my mysterious Daintree virus during the surfing lecture and Dr. Yeargin and Dr. Mazoue's time, but I made it with the help of some coffee. It's pretty wild to consider all of the surf clubs they have here, and the shear number of life savers that augment the life guards. I have always planned to do my undergrad and grad school at USC, but between Dr. Yeargin's advice and the visit to Bond University, I think I may want to diversify my education. Maybe Bond, maybe Pitt... I spent the afternoon after those lectures napping, doing laundry, getting a haircut, and enjoying the hot tub. Then it was off to an amazing dinner, and - face plant into the bed. Damn the Daintree virus.

I was barely able to get up this morning after taking the night time medicine last night. I was a bit hesitant to take the day time meds after Arslan went toes up in the classroom. I'm glad I made it through the lectures though, because Dr. Orr blew my mind. I know he contradicted a lot of what we think we know, and I like it. Just "sounding confident" doesn't get you a job with SOCOM. There's gotta be something behind all that. He had a reference for every word, and his explanations were outstanding. I would love to come study under him for a Master's - even if it didn't necessarily get me ahead for my PhD. I think it would still be worth it. The facility was awesome as well. That gym had me pretty hyped. I can't wait to get back to meal preps and daily workouts... Other than that, I could just stay here for a few more weeks!

Savage Lecture Reviews, et al.

So, I definitely stayed out too late on Tuesday night. I felt it during the morning lectures at James Cook University. I still managed to pay attention and soak up most of the information. It was pretty wild to see what all researchers and health providers must go through to reach the indigenous communities in the bush. All of those scenarios were very thought provoking. Some of it reminded me of interacting with communities in Iraq, Africa, and Afghanistan. "Winning hearts and minds", as it were. The heat chamber wasn't very hot - it kinda reminded me of spring back home. And clearly Dr. Deakin didn't come prepared for Dr. Yeargin. That was a scolding review on the bus! I'll be sure to check my sources around her! Dr. Bird seemed very knowledgeable. Though, I suppose you have to be to coach an Olympic team. No offense to him but I still have a hard time seeing badminton as an Olympic sport... The intense rock music in that video was probably better suited for rugby. I had fun in the gym though. I like when there's interactive components to lectures.

The trip to crystal cascades was nice. I think it was a bit short, but it was fun. I would've liked to have found some higher rocks to jump from. The water wasn't as cold as I expected, which is always welcome. The longer break between lectures was perfect. Made the last two easier to look forward to. As much as I have strayed from any decent nutrition plan as of late, the nutrition information really interests me. I'll be starting EXSC 507 as soon as we get back. The Physio didn't seem like he was too interested in being there. His lecture seemed a bit more dry and less engaging. I apologize to everyone for the chips... Y'all know I have to eat a lot, and it was that or a candy bar (no sweet tooth here).

I'm incredibly sore from this week. I ran the morning before we had the first fitness class, swam all day Tuesday, swam more on Wednesday, then went to the boxing class Thursday morning. That was a tough class. It was a lot of fun, especially once we all got gloved up. I love that most everyone joined in on the Rocky theme during the run, and I'd pick Maz to have my back in a fight. He had some pretty solid combos.

The Daintree was amazing! Now that water hole was cold, but we had fun eavesdropping on English conversations and saving babies from the deep abyss. The zip line was a bit short and slow for my taste, but the staff was cool. I tried yo have a song ready for each line. I think everyone had a great time at PK's and Ferntree. It got a bit wild, but it was definitely entertaining.  I'm still blown away that there are two bars that nice in a town of 65... That said, I'm pretty sure I got sick from sleeping in that room at PK's where it was -200°. I feel miserable (not at 'man cold' status yet). The free day was short but it was worth it to stay the night in the rainforest. We napped and got coffee after, bought souvenirs, took a quick dip in the lagoon, and went off to dinner at Mondo. I do wish we had one more day in Cairns. Friday night had the potential to a great time!

If I don't come home from Australia...

...then I'm probably somewhere in Cairns, working on a dive boat or bartending, and living as a backpacker. I love this place. The Army duck ride was cool. Even though it had nothing to do with military history, I enjoy riding in old military equipment - for obvious reasons. The tribal stuff was cool too. I can now say that I've learned - and performed - an aboriginal dance, and attempted to throw a boomerang. The hostel is much different than the ones I stayed in in Europe. I'm not a fan of toast for breakfast, but it'll do with some cereal. I like free. The food out in town has been good. I do miss eating at the great southern. The weather here is perfect. I love the heat, so I've been looking forward to the temperature change from Sydney. The nightlife is pretty fun... Us guys have had to play catch up after sleeping through the first night at woolshed. That long rest was much needed though.

I had a good time at the zoo. I think the amount of time between the farming explanation/boat ride and the snake and croc shows was a bit excessive, but we had a deck of cards to keep occupied after seeing all there was to see. That said, the snake and croc shows were awesome. Those guys know their stuff and they know how to entertain a crowd. The croc guy was hilarious. I was honestly a little disappointed in the fitness class. I'm not saying it was easy, but I thought we'd be running up the beach and using the cool machines they have set up along the running trail. I could've come up with a more complex and interesting workout off the top of my head.

Diving the Great Barrier Reef was indescribable. That entire day was just beyond words. The ride, the crew, the food, the dive, happy hour with the crew after... By far the best part thus far. I almost got cheap and didn't dive. I'm glad I changed my mind. It was just me and the instructor. We found two giant oysters that were chiiling wide open. He rubbed one and it slammed shut. Then I witnessed a live crown-of-thorns starfish execution when he peeled it off the reef and stabbed it in the mouth! I snorkeled the second reef and found Nemo. Being the anchor on the net for that drag was bad enough once, let alone twice. I ingested way too much salt water on the way back. When we did get back a couple of the girls and I went to happy hour at Pier Bar with the crew. That's a great bunch. I ended up hanging out with them a little later than I probably should have... But it was fun.

When in Cairns...

Finally connected in Cairns

Holy Wi-Fi! Now that I can actually access the internet for more than 30 seconds, I believe I'll blog about it. To catch up on academics, Dr. Pappas was awesome. It's an honor to have been in his presence after learning about all his accomplishments. I'd say the lectures in Sydney were hit or miss with respect to being awesome or boring.

The Sharks game was a lot of fun. I think everyone put in the extra couple bucks to grab a shirt and represent. The atmosphere was great, and everybody loves a good comeback win! The Sydney Olympic site is gigantic. I really wish I could've seen it in all its glory when all the seats were still there. I feel like we just got to see the carcass of a landmark. But Mr. Driscoll made it worth the trip. I love free souvenirs and that scarf is really soft. - Still a Sharks fan - I was happy to see dry needling covered, considering I get it done every 2 weeks at the VA. It works really well for me. I was hoping to do the running technique analysis, but I suppose Pilates will do. Gotta have those buns of steel.

My free day consisted of the Rocks Market, El Camino, the Sydney tower, and a visit to a few Military monuments. It was a good time.

Day One (and two, I was preoccupied)

Yay me! I managed to stay up until 8:30 p.m. Sydney time on the plane, so the adjustment wasn’t too bad. The tour was awesome, Bondi was great (shout out to Andre for letting us get a lift in), and I’m gonna start saving for one of those beach houses when I get back. The food at the hotel is amazing – that Hawaiian schnitzel was absolutely incredible.

I think the discussion was just as good, if not better – no offense – than the lectures themselves. I’ve had experience with concussions in sports and in the military. It’s interesting to consider how similar the issues are. You get your bell rung in football, coach grabs you by the shoulders, asks if you’re ok, and sends you back in. Similarly, on deployment, you get your bell rung (usually by an explosion), your medic checks you out, makes sure you’re not bleeding out, and you carry on. There are a lot of grey areas and lines that have to be drawn, both in adult sports and with kids. Where do you draw the line between protecting your child and raising a snowflake in a bubble? I doubt many will agree on how to draw all of those lines.

The cruise was way too short. It was beautiful. I love being out on the lake (Murray), so any chance to hit the water is welcome. I’m glad I remembered the flag this time. The nightlife on the rocks was awesome too. I don’t think I’ve experienced anything here yet that wasn’t fun and awesome. We found a place to salsa, and made our way to the 3 Monkeys that Mark pointed out on the tour. The DJ was killin it with American hip-hop. So far, I see a lot of similarities to some cities in the US, but also some obvious differences (Damn the Metric system). I’m not in a hurry to leave Sydney, but I’m anxious to see how Cairns compares. 

Headed Down Unda' - Finally

World View of an Invader

Granted, not every continent I've visited was due to a war-zone invitation. I had a great time in Europe every time I went; always on vacation. Except Paris - that wasn't all that fun. South America was my first (after North America, obviously). We were there in '05 for training exercises. We were on our way back when Katrina hit, so we got stuck assisting with the aid effort for the next three months - 18 hours on, 6 off is grueling. Next was Asia; I was deployed to Iraq in 2006 and spent a year in the southern and eastern parts of the country. I spent my "mid-tour leave" in Germany with some of my friends from the unit. In 2009 I deployed to east Africa (Djibouti), and was able to visit several countries surrounding the area. That really made me appreciate some of the 'luxuries' we have in the US that we don't even consider 'luxuries'. After leaving active duty in 2011, I accepted a job in Afghanistan and spent the next 22 months working there. I took a vacation on my way home in Europe and visited London, Edinburgh, Dublin, Barcelona, Paris, and Amsterdam. 

I've been around. However, almost every trip I've made has been under orders or on official business. Even my "vacations" have been accompanied by an undertone of my active military status. I never minded. I still carry that "veteran attitude", as it's been called. I just recognize that seeing the world as a Sailor (though I didn't do much of that on the sea) has shaped my world view. In Asia I was the invader; in Africa, the savior; in Europe, the GI on leave from war. I saw parts of each continent that most would not - either for want or ability. 

Now I visit Australia. An invader no more, but still with the mind of a veteran. That will never change. Going as a student already seems significantly different - lighter, certainly - and I'm pretty excited about that. I couldn't help myself... I've already completed security assessments, registered with the State Department, printed proximity maps, found police stations and embassies, looked up phone numbers, researched weather... but now I sit back and think about how care-free (relatively) I can be. 

I honestly have no idea what to expect from the Aussies in regards to their view of us. I got along great with all the Aussies I met in Iraq and Afghanistan. My dad (Air Force) loved Australia. He said he had a blast. One of my former co-workers, who had been on a ship, told me that the Australian girls would write their numbers on tennis balls and throw them at the ship as it pulled in, hoping to get a call from an American Sailor. I know we're viewed very differently in many parts of the world. I've gone from being a beloved ally to a hated enemy in less than an hour in the same country. It's all relative. For the most part, I believe Americans are generally viewed as superior, or at least feeling so. American exceptionalism is not lost quite yet. And unfortunately, most Americans are ignorant to most international issues, foreign customs, or even the very relevance of anything outside of America. I know that in our allied countries (Australia being one) we are welcomed a bit more fondly, but even there I'm sure there are plenty who have an opinion we'd rather not hear.

My new Mission

...because every Sailor needs one. 

This trip is incredibly important to me. I'll be graduating next May ('18) with my B.S. in Exercise Science. I then plan to attend USC's Doctor of Physical Therapy school. I want to start and facilitate a program that utilizes physical fitness to rehabilitate disabled veterans (I could go into SO much detail, but I'll leave it at that, for now). Australia has already pioneered this field with their Physiotherapy programs, and I have referenced their research in multiple papers/studies. I cannot wait to delve deeper into this program!

I'm not anxious. I haven't been anxious about travelling abroad in over a decade. It seems to fade with time. Especially once you encounter accept the fact that your fate doesn't care if you're anxious or not. Most of my friends, being veterans and students, are jealous. I can't say that I've received much advice other than "Don't try stabbing a shark" or "Take pictures with a Crocodile". A few jokes have been made about karma coming for me because I named my boat "Steve Irwin" - and it's a Stingray. 

I don't foresee our group of 31 bonding the way I'm used to. I'd love to be proven wrong. Unfortunately through most of my time at USC, I've only been a part of a few "cliques", and one of them is the Student Veterans Association. Even my smaller classes have been overpowered by cell phones and earbuds, rather than conversation. I don't know who all will actually read this, but - mohawk, beard, and tattoos aside - I'm a pretty easy guy to talk to. Piss me off and I'll break your soul in half, but I'm a good friend. I guess it's more like a dare, and only those brave enough to accept it find out who I really am. Most of my peers tend to shy away. I hope this group functions well as one, and mixes up the groups each time. I think we'll get the most out of our time that way.

I'm looking forward to everything that's been planned for this trip. The lectures, the visits, the outings, the views, the very fact that we'll be doing it all in Australia. I'm already out of my comfort zone. I think these days I'm trying more to expand my comfort zone, rather than just be out of it.