Life from Sophie's Eyes

I was told when I was heading to Australia that the Australians abbreviate everything and that is true. When we landed they didn’t say “Welcome to Australia” they said “Welcome to ‘Straya.” They call McDonald’s Maccas. They also call Australia Oz. And the list could go on and on. I didn’t think that it would be hard to understand what the Australians were saying because we all speak English but they abbreviate everything and they have some different words (or don’t even know what some things are). I was talking to my home stay about what I usually eat for breakfast and I told her that I either have cereal or a bagel and she asked me what a bagel is. I wasn’t excepting that. I knew that I was coming to a different country but I guess I was expecting it to be a bit more like American than it is.

Sydney is one of the most beautiful places I’ve been to (other than Japan of course) and I love it because it is a cool mix of tropical and city. The houses in the suburbs have a charm to them that I can’t really explain. My home stay is a home that was built in 1924. It has the decorative ceilings and fancy lights. It’s just a really cute place. They have a beautiful garden in the back with palm trees and flowers that I haven’t seen before. There are also really weird birds here…some of them sound like upset babies. It’s been weird waking up in the morning to the strange bird sounds because they don’t sound like our “American” birds. But these things make Sydney so unique.

I love that Sydney has public transportation but it has been an adjustment from the Japanese public transportation system. In Sydney buses are generally late or might not even show up at all while in Japan buses and trains are always on time. The transportation is also not as clean as Japan. When I got on the train for the first time there was a soda on the seat and there is also graffiti on the seats a lot of the time. It’s also weird that the Australians don’t have a problem with PDA because that is a big no-no in Japan…I wish that they were more Japanese in that part. But the Australians do drive on the other side of the road like Japan. It’s been kinda cool being on the other side of the road again. When we were going from the airport to the school we passed another bus and got really close and everyone else was freaking out but it didn’t bother me because it’s like that in Japan all the time. It was funny.

I’ve already gotten to go to some of the places that Australia is known for: the Opera House and beach. The second night that we were here we went on a harbor cruise and we left from by the Opera House so we got pictures in front of it. Then we got on a ferry that went all around the harbor and we got to see the Sydney Harbor Bridge at sunset and it was amazing. Then on Saturday a bunch of the ASC group (ASC is the Australia Studies Center that I’m here with) went to Manly Beach. We had to take a ferry over because it’s on the other side of the Sydney harbor and it was amazing to see the harbor again. It’s so amazing. But the beach was beautiful. In my personal opinion it wasn’t as beautiful as the beach on Tokashiki Island that we went to in Okinawa but it was beautiful. There were tons of people there and several people in the group went surfing. It was a really cool experience, even though I got sunburned.

Australia is amazing, though. A definite culture shock but it’s not too bad. I think I’m going to enjoy my four months here but it’s going to be interesting and challenging.

I don’t have problems I have issues!

Luke 12:22-31

“Then Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

Consider how the wild flowers grow They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will He clothe you—you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.’”

Worry. A word that constantly is going through my mind. Something that I am constantly doing, especially throughout these last few weeks. This semester has been insane and I am constantly worrying and stressing about something. And once one assignment has finished and I finally think I have a break and don’t have to worry about it something else comes up and I start worrying again. I worry about my grades, classes, papers, projects, family, and so much more. But, honestly, why do I worry? It does absolutely nothing for me but stresses me out and makes me sick. It hurts me and doesn’t help me at all. Yet, day after day, I am worrying. God tells us not to worry but it consumes my life. Why? Is it because I’m not trusting Him fully? And I trying to control my life? I need to let go of these worries because He has taken care of me though every single moment in my life. I know that He is taking care of me and yet I’m still worrying. I need to let go of these worries. I need to give them over to God and let Him take care of them. He is in control and there is absolutely nothing to worry about. As Luke says He takes care of the birds and even the grass so surely He is taking care of me! God I give my worries over to You and I trust that You are going to take care of me.

This week is finals week at John Brown University and I honestly cannot believe that it is already here. This semester has flown by and it has been a blast. I’ve learned so much this semester about so many different things. I’ve made lots of new, amazing friends here. I really love John Brown University. One of my favorite things is the community here. I love being at a small school full of people from many different backgrounds but united by a common faith. I love being surrounded by people who encourage me and seeing random scriptures everywhere. JBU is just fantastic!

However, while I do love JBU, I miss Japan a LOT. I am soooooo homesick. I miss my family. I miss curry. I miss ramen. I miss fried rice. I miss Japanese people. I miss sticky pics. I miss three dollar movies. I miss not paying tax. I miss seeing vending machines everywhere. I miss public transportation. I miss speaking the little Japanese that I know. I miss youth group. I miss driving. I miss Ikego. I miss home cooked food. I miss military life…

I’m trying to get myself through this week by telling myself that it’s only a week until I go home…the twentieth. So soon. So close. And before I go home I get to see the Trans Siberian Orchestra in concert and I get to see my grandparents. But I really want to go home. There are so many things about home that I miss. Words cannot express how much I miss my family, especially my sister. I cannot wait for a break from school to just sit and relax. It is going to be fantastic. :)