Furthermore, we have not even to risk the
adventure alone, for the heroes of all time
have gone before us. The labyrinth is
thoroughly known. We have only to
follow the thread of the hero path, and
where we had thought to find an abomi-
nation, we shall find a god. And where we
had thought to slay another, we shall slay
ourselves. Where we had thought to
travel outward, we will come to the
center of our own existence. And where
we had thought to be alone, we will be
one with all the world.

-Joseph Campbell
Hero with a Thousand Faces

In a book about being an expatriate. The Adventure of Working Abroad: Hero Tales from the Global Frontier, by Joyce Sautters Osland. Very American, but definitely recommended for anyone who is thinking of, is currently, has in the past, or is friends with anyone who is working abroad!

Progress

I'm quite excited. I've had an idea for a consulting business that I could set up, and I believe I would truly enjoy every day of making it happen! Well, except for being super poor again at the start (hopefully only at the start!) and doing the finances part. I'll hire someone for that later. Whatever. Anyway, it's pretty exciting, cos there's lots of different things I'm interested in, and I just wasn't sure how to narrow them down, but now I think I've found a way to combine them! Yay! I guess I'm always thinking about it, but suddenly it just popped into my head! Anyway, I still need to work out what that means is best for me to do after July 06 when I finally graduate. AIESEC traineeship? Honours? Job in Adelaide or elsewhere in Aust? Job in Japan or China? Language Immersion course in China? The possibilities are endless.... I guess I should be thankful, but it doesn't make these sorts of decisions any easier!

Warm fuzzies

Big thanks to Ozkan, Hatice, and Max, three special people that I've been excited to get back in touch with in the last couple of weeks. I've been inspired by the feeling of talking (or emailing or chatting) with good friends that I never should have lost touch with for so long.

It's so great when everything changes, but nothing changes.

Yay for laughing together again

The last week of my 2 month holiday is over, next week it's winter school. I think I'm happy about it. Holidays are great, but mostly when they're full of good friends, adventures and spending money ;) And I have caught up with a lot of friends here, but I've spent most of the time reading, studying, exercising etc by myself. It's been good, it was really hard to get time to myself while I was in Beijing. Both cos of time restrictions and the lack of physical space! And I need time to myself. But I also need to spend time with people, and to be challenged, and I think starting uni again will be good for both of those things!

I have an interview with a recruitment agency this week, they want me on their books, so I'm totally excited! I've applied for trillions of HR, Program Coord and Reception/Admin jobs the last couple of months and not had a single interview, so it's exciting to hear someone say they think I have useful skills! I think I'll wear my new suit :)

I can't believe it's conference time in China and I'm not there! I was thinking back to our team's first conference in Beijing in November last year... I knew it looked good in theory, but I just didn't know exactly how things would go. It was super scary, but so rewarding. I'll never forget the feeling on the first night - a complete high from relief and excitment! I remember hugging Leer and both of us just not being able to stop grinning, cos people thought our session was great. Our team was working together and delegates appreciated it. I hope the new team is feeling this at the moment... Likewise the new team in Sydney :)

Uni

It's all a conspiracy, against students. Or maybe just against me, who knows. But what I do know, is that nothing is simple when you're dealing with universities. Just in trying to enrol for this semester (I shouldn't have gone cross-institutional!), I've come to realise some truths:

• Subjects may be cancelled and removed from your enrollment, but you won't be told about it for a week - I had this awesome-sounding subject lined up for this semester, "Citizenship in an International Context". At least now I know it disappeared for a reason.
• Academics won't be in their office the week that you want to speak with them
• No-one will reply to emails within a reasonable timeframe
• In order to get an answer, you need to consult at least one online source and at least 2 individuals (one of whom will be impossible to pin down)
• Different people give different answers, but each of them is sure they are right

Why are universities so hopelessly bureaucratic? Why don't different departments talk to each other? Why are things so complicated for students - a key stakeholder? I don't think privitisation is the key, they're all as bad as each other.

On a brighter note, I've found two cool (sounding) subjects to take this semester at UniSA. I'm doing Performance and Compensation Management as a vacation course, and Workplace Learning during the semester. Workplace Learning sounds SO cool! I just hope it lives up to my expectations. A 3 hour seminar in the afternoon? I'm pretty sure there'll be no army jumps or line dances to keep me awake, so the content and delivery better be damn good! Also Strategic Management at Adelaide Uni. I just need one more subject now, maybe something in politics or sociology...

Finally back to Uni in a week for Winter Vacation course....

I've read two books in the last couple of months that have something in common. Although they have been written several decades apart, and by different authors, they both take aspects of modern western society and show how ridiculous they really are. Especially "That Other Eden" by Ben Elton, as it's set in the future, where all of these traits or roles or rules have been exaggerated as time has gone on. The other book is by Kurt Vonnegut, I can't remember the title. I guess they're entertaining, cos they make me smile and want to keep reading. But they're also depressing, partly cos they make so much of life seem quite pointless, and because the books are just so... well, cynical, and it gets a bit much after a while. Upon reflection, it's quite similar to Seinfeld. Someone picking up on some rule or tradition in society, and pointing out how stupid it is. Only in Seinfeld it usually seems hilarous and not really depressing at all, I guess they choose the points and the way they're presented carefully :)

I discovered a tiny shop on one of the streets off of Rundle Street, called The Chocolate Bean, or something. And you know what they DON'T sell? Chocolate-coated coffee beans! Jeez, seriously guys.... and they didn't even sell that much chocolate. Disappointing, I'm afraid! Mind you, I do feel tempted to open a chocolate shop of my own somedays. I'm passionate about the product, I like smiling and chatting with people, and I would definitely stock chocolate-coated coffee beans!