Surfs Up Dude

catchin awesome waves on the boogie board...brah'

So this week was my mid semester break, which marks the midway point in the academic career in Sydney.  Of the many things I'd like to do with my time in Australia, surfing was definitely on the checklist.  So yesterday (courtesy of Clay and Bec), we headed to one of the northern beaches.  It was a little cloudy, with a hint of wind.... just the way I like it.  Well, i've never surfed before (despite Californian stereotypes), so I was anxious to give it a go.  So... when we first stepped onto the beach, it was pretty chill.. except for a couple noteworthy observations.  I was made aware of 'blue bottles'.  Contrary to the cute name associated to coffee chains from Nor-Cal, these small little jellyfish, about the size of teaspoon (or tablespoon), deliver a little sting and seemed to be in bunches (as they were washed up on the beach).  Luckily, there were some people in the water and if they weren't afraid, I wasn't gonna wuss out cause of some faceless rubberbands.  Well, we strolled along the beach to set up camp.. meanwhile passing through some lifeguard training. 12-year olds practicing saving lives? alright cool, but I didn't see any other 'adult' (read: proper) lifeguards around... so if something were to happen, my life would be in the hands of some pre-pubecent youngsters.  Luckily, I'm fairly confident in my swimming abilities.  We headed out to the waves.  As the water is pretty clear, we could see the sand for a while.  Pretty far out, I spotted some dark patches below... suddenly, i panicked.  All those news reports and tv shows (River monsters) flashed through my mind... oh god, i could see the headlines now: "Foolish International Attempts Surfing, Ignored Warnings From Internet.. More News at 6".  Luckily, Clay comforted my fears and determined I was tripping out cause I saw some seaweed or rocks, rather than sharks or rays.  Anywho, after some boogy boarding and body surfing, I decided to pull the trigger and do what I set out to do.
So we headed out to the break and patiently waited for some good waves.  During this time, I was constantly drifting away from where the waves were breaking so i was continuously paddling horizontally back to the 'spot'.... I can't emphasize how tiring paddling is.... also my balance is pretty bad already, but the board has wax to keep me from sliding off.  Unfortunately the wax is also pretty unfriendly against bare skin... watev.  Eventually, I saw it... the wave I wanted to catch.  I paddled, caught it right after the break, and stood up..  .  (even though when I got to standing up, the wave had almost died down).   It was magnificent... for all of 2 seconds.  then I 'wiped out'.. and found myself in flurry of sea and sand.

before

after

Somehow I got back to the sand (probably washed up on shore) and called it a day.  I was so exhausted.  Caught a wave, stood up,.... .  Finished off the day with some hot chips and chicken salt.  yep mission accomplished

donezo

Biennale18

buttons & cups

art ... everywhere

middle of the room art

closeup

arches & color

Alright... now that I got all that art photos outta the way.  These are some of the art exhibitions of the Biennale (an art show that comes to Sydney every 2 years).  All the exhibits above were located on Cockatoo Island, just a little island in the bay.  Note: the island used to be a prison, then a shipyard, and now  it's just a bunch of abandoned buildings (with campgrounds).  Anywho, the art show is free and I had time, so off I went!
So a lot of this is exhibition art which varied on different scales and media.  From the complex strings and colors to a video of 4 people laughing for an hour (yes, this was an actual exhibit.. 4 people, in colored suits... just laughing... for an hour).
Well describing the art work will take rather long, and i'd probably bore you to death, so i'll describe the experience and such.

To get to this island, there was a (free) shuttle, which ran from the city.  Getting around the island, though pretty small, took a couple hours.  Mostly cause we tried to inspect and see every corner of the exhibits.  Some of the art were located in a main industrial warehouse,.. others were in the old living quarters or tunnels.  To make the point short.. it was a good trek outside the city.

The great thing about the Biennale, is there are multiple venues.  Right down the street from my crib, there was the performing arts exhibition.  We checked it about, but there were no performances.. so we headed to the pub (a very Australian thing to do.. i assume).

The other venues were at the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Art Gallery of New South Wales and a set of old piers (wharfs).  Again, I won't go into detail about how 'deep and meaningful' the art was, but the amount of exhibits were just too much to count.   Going to each venue, I felt more and more confused.. When I though I was getting to understand some of the art (or at least appreciate it), ther'd be something outta left field and BAM... mind blank.

I've taken a couple art classes before and have a basic understanding of 'introduction to contemporary visual art'.  Since then, I 've been trying to understand the 'soulful expression' of artists and their 'struggle to define art'.. but usually end up calling SHENANIGANS!! and realize why they usually have to make frappaccinos to supplement their income.  Though this art show was pretty amazing.. I think I was just awed with the size of the art works and use of space to display their talent. .... Yes. talent.  I haven't been to many art shows.. (usually just art and wine festivals), but here, I really felt that there was a variety of talent used to imagine and materialize thoughts and ideas.

I was a pretty good experience to see all the Art throughout Sydney and, dare I say, I even felt a little more 'cultured'.  Who knows, perhaps I may even trade in my laptop for one of those apple computers and write this blog at a cafe that only serves fair trade coffee while eating organic radishes and sport a hemp scarf, fedora and skinny jeans....  nah....

Victory!!

Well Hello readers, sorry for skipping a week, but i'm sure you've made it through the week without the guidance of my blog.  Anyways, the reason/ excuse I came up with is the bane of student life: a midterm.  Oh jesus, I had a midterm and needed to study for that, so lemme reflect on this experience (especially when I read this entry in a few years time, i'll be able to reminisce on this experience).  As many of you know, i'm a science guy.  I love science. science science science. love that jazz.  Throughout my schooling career, i've had plenty of exams.  Finding addition, subtraction, fluid dynamics, hell yeah.  Give me an equation and i'll solve it (or at least look at it really hard).  When there weren't calculations, I had to write reports (such as I'm accustomed to as a grad student).  Well all and dandy, but this was the first midterm that I had in a long time.  To make things worse, this hour-long midterm was answering a couple questions... on paper.  yeah, I had to write things.. on paper... with a pen.  SAY WHA? (what when through my head).  I can't remember the last time I had to have a written midterm with essay questions... maybe high school?  maybe regarding the heroics of Atticus Finch.

credit to  Dave MacDowell.. damn straight I cite my sources

Anyways, if I wasn't nervous enough, the midterm was for my international business class.  I have never taken a business class in my life!  so i'm in a bit of a panic.  entrepreneurs, corporate strategy,... uhhh   and to top it off, all my class mates have some sort of business/financial/marketing (read: money degrees).  Well, I studied like no other.  For days, I pondered the theory of industry markets and innovative trends.. and on exam day.. I was ready.  well, almost.  The one thing I didn't prepare for was the amount of fatigue my hand would have to endure during the exam.

my preferred method of pen holding

 The intensity of the exam just goes to your head, and you're allowed one-hour to vomit as much information on to the 8"x11" booklet.  Holding your precious pen, thoughts flying through at 100 mph (160km/h).. you're on a roll.  And suddenly, you hit the wall.  not a mental block, but the agonizing numbness in your fingertips.  It occurs without notice and suddenly, your words-per-minute rate plummet.  Try to shake out the pain and get the blood flowing back into your hand, but it's only minimally better (also, I probably looked like an idiot).  At this point, the 20 minutes I've allowed for each question needs to be readjusted due to the slowing writing pace and my atrocious handwriting begins to look even more heinous..  it was like my handwriting slowly reversed in time, and soon my handwriting reverted back to the 5th grade.   Oh boy..

10 minutes left:  i'm almost halfway done with the last question.  Good pace, I just gotta push through for a little while longer.

7 minutes left: wish there was more time.. gotta step up the pace a bit.

2 minutes left:  wrapping up the question, just about finished--HAND CRAMP! oh god,... why now.  what do i do?  switch left handed? nah, too risky.  shake it out? nah, too little time left.  last resort...switch grips and write BIG.  my scribbles seem to barely pass for words...watev, good enough

13 seconds left:  i've done it.. finished with the exam.  looking over my answers (and subsequent de-evolution of my hand writing).  answered questions as good as I could and felt satisfied.  I was proud

1 second left:  Think I heard someone fart... (maybe... still suspicious)

Time up: Pencils down and exhale.
Whew, exam done.  It's all behind me now.  Victory.