Traveling to Lismore

Imagine four girls, each with two large suitcases, backpacks, and totes/purses, walking out of their hotel, through downtown Sydney, across many intersections and stop lights, and up hill to the Central Train Station. Add on some intense heat from the late afternoon sun, a massive group of people just staring at us in awe, and a very sore back mixed with laughing at the sight of ourselves in the shop’s windows. That was on last Thursday, before we got on the train to Lismore. We arrived in Lismore on Friday yet it seems like weeks ago. The train ride was the most interesting transportation I’ve ever experienced. It was such a horrible ride that it became humorous eventually. There was a group of older, scraggly, frightening chain smokers that lurked in front of us. And by that, I mean the one guy, or leader of the pack as I saw him, stood the entire 12 hours. How do I know this? Because I was awake for the complete time (4 pm to 4 am.) This is for a number of reasons.  The chain smokers would run of the train at every stop and make a big deal as to how to maximize their smoking time. They found it hilarious that they were sneaky enough to get off and walk to the end of the train so that when its leaving they can get on the very back and make their way back to their seats. There was an especially frightening lady who made it clear to the whole train that she had rode this train over 30 times and knows everything there is to know about it. In fact, she got in a heated argument with the leader of the pack about if they switched drivers at the 10^th stop or not. She was convinced they did not. This argument should have been over before it started, yet it maintained for a good 20 minutes. These people in front of us somehow found the most unusual topics and (very loudly) discussed them between their smoker’s cough for hours upon hours. Did I mention you can purchase alcohol on this train? Well, it was quite evident when around 1 am a lady…a very drunk lady, went to every single person with this huge bag of popcorn and made people try some. She came to me and I pretended like I was sleeping and just couldn’t help but crack up when she got close and put popcorn to my face. She was rejected by everyone, and that made her so angry that she had an actual hissy fit. I did some serious meditating, or at least tried to, and came to the conclusion that when things don’t go how you imagine them, they are even better. And if they’re completely worse, they make for a good blog. I do have to mention besides all the on board distractions, the country side and scenery along the way was breath-taking. We saw wild kangaroos hoping along the greenest fields, and rivers that went on for miles and hills that covered the land like soft dollops of (green) whipped cream. After a long, long 12 hours, we arrived at 4 am in the Lismore train station, and Christine, the nicest student advisor ever, picked us up at 4:30 am and took us to Maccy’s (McDonalds) for some brekky to go. I had to order from the shuttle bus, and it was on the other side of the car and confused me so much. I ordered for all the girls in the car and it was such a challenge because I couldn’t understand a word the guy was saying. I guess an Australian accent, extreme exhaustion and early, early morning ordering of breakfast just isn’t a good mix. After all that, we got food, which is all we wanted, and headed the five minutes to Orion college in the Lismore village.  It was such an unusual day, because we hadn’t sleep since two nights before that, and we didn’t want to fall asleep because we wouldn’t wake up till the afternoon. Instead, we walked around campus at 6 am and saw a couple wallabies around the pool and forested area. They are so much more incredible in pure nature. The first day was filled with moving in, buying all the essentials, and settling into our different apartments where I was the only one with no flat mates. After a couple days, two of them showed up. The other three still have to come, but I think they will be Aussies because the locals don’t come until after orientation week. My first two flat mates are guys…one from Minnesota and one from Philadelphia. It’s been an interesting few days living with strangers and realizing they are the closest to family that you have at this point. Bizarre. 

Speaking of family, I miss you all so much already, and I feel your support and love with me always. I am so grateful.