Squeaky Sand

We have done lots of adventuring with Aussie friends (who have a car on campus!) For Lindsey’s 21^st birthday we went to Lennex Head which is partly a dog beach. There is a Christian group in the community that generously volunteers their time taking uni students around the coast. I think I’m finally used to the driving situation here, although I don’t think I will end up behind the wheel anytime soon. The Aussie who took us to Lennex shared lots of interesting things such as why it seems like everyone here drives a manual. Apparently, having an automatic car makes you seems entitled and only older people and professionals drive cars “the lazy way.” Also, a lot of them say that they would fall asleep from boredom if they drove an automatic.

The sand squeaks at all the beaches here. Walking around on the sand creates a choir of squeaks which makes for a pretty fun audio experience. I walked down about a half a mile and found a group of Aussies playing volleyball so I joined in for a while. It was unbearably hot within an hour of jumping in the sand and diving for the ball. (Even in a casual beach volleyball game, my competitive side comes out!) After the fun game I ran straight for the water and dove into the medium sized waves. The ocean is the perfect balance to the unbelievably intense sun. A day of sand and surf later, and we headed back to campus. 

Sugar cane field

Every time I’m in the car, it’s a feast for my eyes, with the endless deep green rain forests and hills that turn into miles of sugar cane fields. It is breathtaking here. I am so glad the program is in the hills of Lismore with its unsurpassed beauty of nature, compared to the busy streets and tall buildings of Perth. (That was the other option for studying abroad in Australia.) You feel enriched just staring out at the lush land during the long drives.

Another beach we have been to a few times now is Evans Head. The aboriginal people have deep roots in this particular area and a very long, complex story that precedes it. A simplified version of their story is this:

One day, a bird’s screech was heard from a distance by a group of animals. The animals knew this was the sound of a bird being threatened and attacked by a brown snake. The animals knew what to do as they headed to where the goannas were. A goanna is the protector of the land, and the archenemy of the snake. As the goanna heard the disturbed bird, he quickly made his way to the animal in harm. As he was moving, his body created the curved river that is inland. Because he was already wet from laying by the ocean, the dirt covered land turned into a brown river. When the goanna approached the brown snake, he told him to leave the bird alone or there would be consequences. The brown snake let go of the bird and started to attack the goanna. The snake left red stained marks on the goanna which turned the land red and cut up. Cleverly, the goanna escaped the snake and took another path that lead to the ocean. Here, a creek was formed because the goanna was moving very quickly. The snake was catching up as the goanna tricked the snake into going straight into the sea, where he could not get back because the tide is very strong in this bay. Till this day, the goanna lies, protecting the land, and the whole coastline of Evans Head is in the shape of the goanna.

These are cuts on the goanna from the snake

Being in such a spiritual place is spectacular, especially when you know how much it means to a group of people. As I walked the beach at sunset, I thought about reality. People usually say “back to reality” as a negative thing, as if their reality is a heavy load that they want to rid themselves of but can’t. I don’t blame people for living a life away from that heavy load, and make choices to live with “less”.  In turn, they are getting so much more, and their reality is an incredible thing. Then, I thought about how that day, at a gorgeous beach in Australia with a beautiful sunset, I was in my own reality.  

 I am grateful for, and loving my reality.