The Aussie Diaries: Life as a Brisbane Groundskeeper

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Well, it's my second to last day in Brisbane before my journey and I've spent all day staying in bed and drinking water in an effort to stave off a cold, so I can start on my trip to the Northern Territory with a clean bill of health.

I'm looking forward to getting out on the road again in true traveler style. I'm staying in hostels the whole way, so I will be able to see what this backpacker thing is all about. My thoughts on Brisbane? I like it. It has the excitement and movement of a city, but you feel very comfortable and at ease walking through it. The weather has been dry, sunny, and windy the entire time I have been here.

I love commuting to it from Queensland University, where I work and live, by City Cat. Especially after a hard day's gardening, It is good to feel some fresh air blow through my hair as I whiz down the river.

Australia is very excited about the Olympics. Everywhere somebody is talking about a certain element of it. Such things as the USA swimmers vs. the Aussie swimmers, China drug dopes, or the torch relay. Having the Italian team walking around the grounds on the campus where I am a groundskeeper makes things interesting. It feels the Olympics really are in my own backyard.

I have never been so removed from American news. Without the USA Today, like I read in Ireland, I don't have much idea about what's going on. The presidential election is heating up and all I've heard is that George W. called some reporter an asshole. I also miss the NFL.




Note: The Aussie Diaries are a XX part series. The entries come directly unabridged from the journal I carried around with me on my first post-university adventure to the southern hemisphere. They are a bit on the rough side.


added october 28, 2005

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Photos

Brisbane Botanical Gardens
A peaceful spot in the city.