Friends, Frisbee, Food and Fun

What an amazingly-fun easter weekend!! I honestly couldn't think of a better way to spend easter than with the people i met and spent with in Charleston (South Carolina).

We left midday on Friday and didn't reach the hostel until 10pm that night - so it was a long drive (due to road detours) - but we sang & danced to fun music and had deep convos the whole way :) so the time was well spent.

that night we went out and explored the streets. we ended up at a park with old canons, fountains, large trees, and a gazebo which was surrounded by a dark bay. we met up with the other crowd going, and i ended up dashing through a fountain and getting drenched but it was worth it for the chilly laughs and screams of delight.

the city was decorated with old buildings with quaint architecture and we walked down cobble-stoned streets. it was fun to pier into huge houses with chandeliers and cute green courtyards. i marveled at what it would have been like to live in these places back in the day.

the next day, we went to a cute little restaurant  called "hominy" (which i originally thought Morgan was saying "harmony", and so was confused why he kept dropping the 'R's' - americans tend to want to mimic me, hehe). i ordered earl grey tea with banana and walnut pancakes. it was delightful. i also tried grits (and not sure im a big fan!).

that afternoon we walked to the Charleston city market and i heard about significant slavery that happened within this city from tour horse carriages passing by (i stalked them from the sidewalk). we also headed into a block lego store, where you could make your own buildings, fun! once we got to the markets i noticed stalls that sold flowers and baskets made out of sweetgrass, artwork, jewelry, local souvenirs, food, and wooden crafts.

then it was the beach - we played frisbee, went swimming in warm water w harsh currents, sun baked while sand blew in our faces, and i read philosophy with Marko, walked on the pier and past a dance party on the beach!!

that night we went to a seafood restaurant where i sipped white wine and ate coconut shrimp... it was delightful and i heard people's testimonies on how God has worked in their lives, and laughed about a variety of different things.. all in all a good night. when we got back i met an aussie at the hostel who i thought sounded extremely ocka but they apparently sound very much like me (they were from canberra too - boys grammar... mmmm haha) so bizarre!

the next morning i got up for the sunrise easter service and watched as the sun rose over the water as they spoke of how Jesus rose from the dead... it was amazing to watch, and so moving! I wish i'd captured it, but alas had sleepily forgotten my camera.

the rest of the day was chilled with me sleepin on the beach, and enjoying a nice car ride home with  great company...

an encouraging verse

Psalm 72:4, 12-14

"He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; he will crush the oppressor.... he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death. He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight."

tired resolution.

I have resisted writing a blog that engaged in the "Kony 2012" debate as I knew that I had such an emotional reaction towards people's cynicism and negativity, and was challenged to re-examine my own thoughts about 'Invisible Children' and why I have supported them for 5 years or so.

Watching the CEO crumble under stress, was heartbreaking. To know that someone who had personally and emotionally engaged in the conflict, with best intentions, get slammed - was saddening. 

I have questioned how I best want to fight injustice - I have tossed between what it means to do 'humanitarian' work - without arms or with arms. I have questioned how we fight terror and what ways is appropriate... is advocacy just words in the air - or is it effective. Over the years I have watched how Invisible Children has impacted global leaders and been amazing at progress and changed my perspective to see how advocacy can really produce change. At the same time, I want to consider what kind of change I support. 

I don't agree with a 'hero complex' but is that what they are doing? It seems being 'white' makes it so that you're eurocentric all the time. I feel a burden myself for just having white-coloured-skin that comes with privilege and wealth. Sometimes I wish I could change my identity to make my words or actions gain some validity and show sincerity. 

I really liked how the author of this article summed up her perspective on Invisible Children and Kony 2012, the author seemed to be working through the same struggles I feel I have been with questioning and challenging our perspectives on humanitarian pursuits.

If anything the criticisms and the affirmation of Invisible Children and how they are combatting the LRA war in 4 african countries - makes me re-evaluate development, justice, humanitarian efforts, aid, advocacy and my place in it all.

I am at a stage where I have not come to a conclusion as how I best fit into the debate, as I can recognise both sides of the coin and feel both perspectives are valid. How to act when fighting social injustice is so complex and has a variety of different consequences that a 'one-size-fits-all' umbrella is ridiculous.  The fact Invisible Children has produced a world-wide discussion on social justice is no small feat and i applaud them for bringing such things to light. 

cute voice

A new song my auntie introduced me too - and i think it's so cute :)

Tybee Island & Savannah - Georgia

I'm surprised its only been a week - as so much has happened since I've been here! I'm currently sitting in a small cafe on a couch sipping hot chocolate (though yet to have lunch and its 2pm - should get onto that). I'm also wearing a new grey hat i bought with blue stitching and a cute flower - i love it! 

Last wednesday, Sarah and a bunch of her friends and I all went down to Tybee Island near Savannah, Georgia. We stayed in a cozy little wooden cabin and had a campfire almost every night :) We spent most of the first day at the beach and we all got lovely tans (and some burns)! I went for a lovely run along the beach, however injured my foot from the hard sand... so was wobbling the rest of the trip haha. 

We had a lovely day walking around cobbled-stoned streets in Savannah which had so much history! Every street corner seemed to have a beautiful green park with monuments or fountains. We walked into cute cafes, clothes stores, op shops, and honey makin stores. We also went to a huge church which blew me away, as it had blue marbled pillars and huge ceilings. I had to catch my breathe and mediated in the pews, so nice! 

I spent a large amount of time reading a book that my workmates gave me "God of small things" by an Indian philosopher and it kept me enraptured the whole trip. 

To describe my thought patterns and experience i guess i could say it as 'a slowly winding down clock'. I feel my life in Canberra was soo fast pace and i hadn't had much time to think about life and what i wanted for the future. The last week or so has been nice to grab some time to stop and think about things, and just have time to write and journal. 

I have been challenged in my perspectives on God and Justice as well as what it means to be open about my struggles or hurts. My family are very big on 'grace' (meaning God's unmerited favour upon us). And so i've been trying to learn that my 'negative thoughts' of the past should not hold a grip on me due to being forgiven. This is very freeing - but i'm still learning how to understand this fully. 

A shrimp boil

A taste of the USA

Landed in LA and was swept through customs speedily (compared to non-citizens... hehe) so was relieved. Had jokes about "throwin' shrimps on the barbie" and had a few laughs. Then walked to the left escalator and was confronted by stairs rolling down... paused confused and then moved to the right laughing. 

Rapid Mobile Re-charger

They have 're-charge mobile phone' booths - saved my life! Stick your phone into the charger and voila - phone charged $3. We need this in Australia (for those that have experienced me hang up on you due to 'no battery' you would agree!) 

Got on the plane to hear the announcement "Excuse me ladies and gentleman, we currently do not have a pilot, we're trying to sort this out as soon as possible will let you know"... an hour later a pilot arrives. sigh. (glad my phone was charged). They also had cheeseburgers as a choice for food with the other option being thai salad... crazy!

Biscuits and gravy
Mine was like this but with double the gravy!

They have a lot of 'diners' here. You can sit at the 'bar' area and drink coffee and eat food, i realised it was similar to american tv shows ... just never commuted how strange it felt.

So this morning we went to one for breakfast and I had a taste of 'biscuits and gravy' - which are similar to scones but more cakey and the gravey was white - i thought it might have been mushroom sauce, but apparently its 'sausage gravy'? Interesting - definitely a cultural experience haha. 

God bless America - Psalm  118:24

Drank a 'peanut butter and banana' milkshake - AMAZING - and on the cup it stated "God bless America, Psalm 118:24". Verses of the Bible on Take-away cups now that's new (and awesome haha). 

I met up with my cousin that just got back from NYC. You can take a 'mega-bus' from Tennessee to NY for $1-5?!?! Can you believe that? Cheap travel all the way! 

We met up with some of Marko and Sarah's friends and took a walk in the "bush" (they called it a 'park' but i was thinking playground and they were thinking 'national park') or woods and located some places to go caving, which would be great fun. We explored an old quarry with no water in it - and ate fruit and veges in the shade :)

Then tonight we had a family dinner so all the priestley's (my fam) and partners were together and we sat around the fire and chatted about politics, love, and guns.... haha. My cousin Marko is trying to convince me to go to the shooting range - while im curious - i really feel its something i would abhor, haha.

But so far i've felt really comfortable - my bed is SO SOFT! I'm glad to have time to just hang out with family and have chats in the car and in cafes.

Marko and Sarah Priestley

I watched 'Machine Gun Preacher' the other night. It touched on issues close to my heart - the war going on in 4 countries in Africa due to the Lord's Resistance Army' War . If you ever want to watch a powerful movie... that exposes you to some of the brutality that is going on - this is a good one. It also shows how we're not meant to just sit on our but and indulge in luxury - but make change. It may be controversial in how he does it (ie. shooting) but for me - he's saving children's lives!