More comments on froglessness from my previous post. Quite honestly I'm not sure I want to be frogless. As a human, it's through my senses that I learn about the world and the beings in it, and it is the understanding I gain from external as well as internal exploration that allows me to engage with others in a beneficial way. Part of the Bodhisattva path seems to be to leave my plate behind and jump to where I can make the most difference. If I didn't have the faith and courage to jump off the plate, I wouldn't be here, and I am certain it is good that I am.

People have asked for the mundane details of life here so here you go. This morning I woke, made a cup of tea on my little gas stove that has to be lit with a match, sat in the lounge room and wrote in my journal a bit. Then I meditated for a while, then made breakfast of muesli and fresh fruit while flipping through the phone book to find a yoga studio to try. Naomi came in and made some breakfast for her and Stephan, pouring boiling water over muesli and cashews and adding ginger, shredded apples, banana, and yogurt. Stephan is her boyfriend of only a few weeks, who spent most of the weekend over, kindly helping us both with household chores. Naomi hung some blinds, making her room look more like a hut on a Thai beach, and I built a table for my room. Stephan is a documentary film maker whose film on Palestinian refugees in Lebanon will be aired on tv next week, but despite his adventurous travels around the globe, he is so shy his posture seems a bit hunched, protected. Even his deep blue eyes seem hidden. Very sweet though. I finished my breakfast and and went out for a run along the creek behind the house, listening to birds and crickets and the flow of the stream, amazed that this is my backyard! It's a gray misty day today, reminds me of home, a perfect day for a run. I'm out of shape though. Is it really possible that I did a triathalon a few months ago? I ran a short distance then walked. I stood under a grand weeping willow that reminded me of when I was light enough to swing from a similar tree's branches, out front of my grandparents house. I glanced across the creek to the lookout point on the adjacent cliff, and my mind wandered, wondering why there was a little memorial/grave just across the path. A young man must have died here 9 years ago. Flowers, a small pic and a gravestone in the shape of a shamrock reading RIP, Nicholas McNulty, 11/4/69 - 30/7/97.It made me appreciate the fortune that I am experiencing to be here, alive and well. When i returned home, I showered and dressed and by that point the rain was coming down heavily. Naomi kindly offered to give me a lift to Fitzroy on her way out, so skipped the tram and rode down here to do a bit of shopping, exploring and internet cafeing. I'm in search of some cheap canvas, and drawing paper, tp and some various household items. I bought an incense burner from a cute guy at a shop called Happy Herbs, and am here at the cafe for a bit, but when I finish up I'll head to the $2 stores across the street. Moments ago in the green lushness and so quickly here in the vibrant graffitti stained streets of the urban center. I'll write more on graffiti, art and social commentary later, but this is long and my bill must be getting large so I'll end here. just say that today for the first time I actually heard myself say "How ya going?" I'll be an Aussie yet.

Happy Australia Day!

Just thought I'd post this poem that Kim sent me, thanks Kim! I've always been a frog.

froglessness

The first fruition of the practice
is the attainment of froglessness.

When a frog is put
on the center of a plate,
she will jump out of the plate
after just a few seconds.

If you put the frog back again
on the center of a plate,
she will again jump out.

You have so many plans.
There is something you want to become.
Therefore you always want to make a leap,
a leap forward.

It is difficult
to keep the frog still
on the center of the plate.

You and I
both have Buddha Nature in us.

That is why
the first attainment
of the practice -
froglessness is its name

- Thich Nhat Hanh

I've been waiting to post something, hoping to be able to upload some pictures, but I've been having trouble doing so, so thought I'd at least write a short bit. What comes to mind today is how easy it is to recognize American over-consumption contrasting it against the habits of another country. Everything here comes in smaller, reasonable portions, and I don't just mean servings at an expensive restaurant. Want to buy tea at Safeway? You have plenty of options in a ten-bag size, or tuna for example, you get a can about half the size of ours. Speaking of tuna, any keen business people out there want to start an enviro-friendly dolphin-free gourmet tuna line? In the states you have tuna in oil or in water, and you have to put something on it, like unappetizing mayo. Here they have 100 flavors of tuna, so no need to put anything on it; lemongrass and thai basil, sundried tomato and olive, lemon and pepper, panang curry, you name it, they make it! Why hasn't anyone done this in the states? But I digress. Yes, everything comes in appropriate sizes here which is refreshing.

I mentioned before the lack of global chains, and I must admit that I've seen more and more, and McDonalds here all seem to be 3-storey monstrosities, but I still maintain that there are fewer than most places, and that there definitely is support for small business here, especially cafes, coffee shops, bookstores, etc. However, I did find myself in two scarey malls looking for affordable furniture and housewares. I thought I'd buy used, but it's rather challenging to transport a bed via tram or train, so without a car I'm left to use businesses that deliver and on a budget that meant IKEA was my first stop.

I better keep this short, must tidy up the flat where I've been staying before they return home. Will write more later, and add pics soon.

Week One

I'd say I'm starting to settle in, judging by the fact that today for the first time I instinctively looked right before left when crossing the street. I've been surprised at how hard it is to rewire the left-looking instinct and have had some near misses, so this is a welcome advancement (of course I'll always be left-leaning regardless :)). The other major achievement today is that I found a place to live. Last Wednesday I wandered down the street to The Friends of the Earth to glance at the shared housing postings in the window, and it was the first listing I read. A pretty little card with Asian inspired art, a mention of meditation and neat writing, it caught my attention. I knew then that it was the right place, but it took a couple days for her to return my call so in the meantime I called two or three other people, and went to see one other place, not expending much energy, waiting. That's how it happened with my last housemate Samantha too. I knew she'd move in, I just had to wait a few days for her to return my call. Then Saturday, after visiting the other house which just didn't feel right, I wandered around neighborhoods scribbling down numbers from postings on cafe walls, unsure if I'd contact them, then returned home to a message from Naomi.

She's another young woman who seems similar in lifestyle, and whose differences will probably be a good influence on me, and the location of the little terrace house, just north of the city, is perfect. Okay, so there are some dodgy looking houses next to the graffitti covered train station a few blocks away, but the house is also a stone's throw away from a creek, beside which is a popular bike/running trail. If I follow the trail about 3K due west, it leads to the park that's northernly adjacent to campus, and it's a quick tram, train or bus ride to the city as well. The address is right off of High Street and Westgarth in Northcote, a "suburb" (anything outside of the central business district is considered a suburb..it's like calling Queen Anne a suburb of Seattle) that has become the new hip part of town as the suburbs of Fitzroy and Carlton have gentrified, making them too pricey for young artsy folk. The Westgarth shops include some cafes and restaurants, a juice bar, an organic food shop, vintage clothing shops and an old theatre, among other things. Click here for more on the neighborhood and some pics.

While procrastinating on finding a place to live, I kept busy this last week, socializing a great deal as well as exploring, meeting as many people as possible while I still had my tour guide. We went to nice restaurants, trendy pubs, cafes, and coffee shops, a dinner party/barbeque, the bush, the cinema, had brunch in St. Kilda (a suburb by the beach), hosted a picnic in one of Melbourne's gorgeous parks (it's like Olmstead gone crazy here), where I played my first game of cricket! (I would have tried Aussie Rules, but no one brought a football !), and made lots of new friends. Now that that whirlwind is over, I look forward to spending some time familiarizing myself with new parts of the city, walking, reading, meditating, sleeping, finding furniture, a bike, and a Dharma center...and figuring out how to connect my computer to the internet so I can upload photos to share. I also have plans to visit the national gallery, wine country, and a wildlife sanctuary soon.

Perhaps inspired by the plethora of artistic events and opportunities in this town, or the influence of my new artsy friends (oddly almost all of Jason's friends are architects or designers, and my new housemate is a creative art therapist), I've noted down a couple of possible painting classes and drawing groups and can't wait to delve into creative expression. I've also been keeping an eye and ear open for meditation group options since the FPMT center is over an hour away via public transport, so may be more of an irregular refuge. We'll see, there are plenty of groups nearby. I think I found a way to play soccer too. I'd be the only woman, and I'm not sure how that'll go over with the rest of the guys, but some of them invited me out, their wives urging me on with visions of Bend It Like Beckam in their heads. We'll see.

That's about it for now. Will send out my new contact info when I have it.

By the way, I deleted my last post because I realized that not only was I writing from a place of frustration, but it also is unfair to share my dirty laundry when it involves another's as well. My apologies.

G'Day from Melbourne!

Just a very quick note to say I arrived in Melbourne safely on Monday and am enjoying exploring the city. I've been going non-stop since my arrival, despite the fact that my body clock hasn't adjusted and I've had very little sleep, so pardon my lack of coherence or perhaps brevity. I tend not to be able to filter well when tired. One of my favorite things about the city so far is the (relative) lack of global corporate chains. Go to New York, London, Paris, Tokyo, and you see the same Starbucks, Gap, McDonalds, littering every street corner, and I am sure that exists here somewhere as well, but I've wandered around the city neighborhoods and the only chains I recognize are things like designer clothes (in one specific area) like John Fluevog Shoes and groceries like Safeway. On Tuesday we drove out of the city and there along the highway I did notice a string of McDonald's , KFC, Hungry Jack's (Burger King) and Subway, but here in the inner-city suburbs (that's what they call them but isn't that a contradiction in terms?) it reminds me a bit of parts of New York. There are small businesses, cafes and coffee shops, that appear to be mom and pop operations, on trendy streets, next to thrift stores or eco-friendly community centers, with few if any chains in sight, and everything is a bit more subdued, comfortable, less glitzy, like parts of the city need a good washing or painting, but not in a neglected sort of way, just in a laid back sort of way, as if it were a ten year old VW to the American BMW SUV.

The one major drawback to this is that everything is much more expensive than I had imagined so living on student loans will be challenging. We went out to an average (in price) Chinese restaurant called Mao's that felt like a commercial for the PRC, complete with Mao pins, and murals and a bubbly waitress eager to educate us about Hunan, Mao's birthplace. The food and service were great but it wasn't a high end place and each of the 6 of us put in $30 for our share, a bit pricier than Seattle isn't it? Maybe The Pinochet Cafe or the Pol Pot Pub would be cheaper. Kidding. :)

My second and third favorite things so far are the friendly and generous people (half an hour into my short flight from Melbourne the woman sitting next to me had already offered me her mobile number to make sure I was taken care of with ride and accomodation when I arrived), and the architecture (unique single story terraced houses, mingled with the modern and the Victorian). Jason set me up with a beautiful little B&B for the first two nights where the owners were incredibly kind and helpful, and now his best mate Dennis is letting me housesit while he's in Thailand on holiday. I am very well cared for (no worries mom! :))!!

I'll write more about all that and my trip to the Bush where I met a Horse Whisperer, very soon but now I must run and clean up for dinner. Speaking of generosity, despite having to attend a funeral today, Jason's made a booking for dinner with some friends again tonight so I can make more introductions, and everyone is just wonderful. Great people.

I hope you all are well. Chat more soon.

Last Day of Winter

Berries in Snow
Originally uploaded by reneenoelle.

I had planned to write a poetic farewell to my beloved city Seattle, and my dear friends and family here, with a pic of the rainwashed landscape or some of the sort, but I ran out of time, have just a few minutes before heading to the airport, and after days with little sleep, feel less than creative with words and camera. So, I'll just say bye for now and encourage you to stay tuned for tales from Down Under.

I thought I'd also post one last photo from winter since I'll be flying towards the summer sun.

Take care and I'll see you all soon.

Thanks everyone for the Renee Love Fest last night! It was a bit like being at my own funeral, roses and all. You all are amazing, and I don't just mean because you held back with the embarrassing stories. He, he. Thanks for all your support, I couldn't do this without you. Love to all of you. Cheers.