Thai Town 

This week kicked off the start of the second block of classes: Contemporary Politics and International Marketing. While I’ve only had three classes each, my socks are blown off, especially for contemporary politics. The instructor, Aim, is amazing. She’s originally from Thailand and received an academic scholarship that allowed her to study in the States, and it seems she’s been everywhere since then. Our first lesson was centered around food because she believes that food is just a large part of understanding a culture, and culture comes from history. To understand today, you need to know the evolution of getting to today. I will deliver a presentation on the 20th with Sienna and Ariana, analyzing the history of Pad-Thai and its cultural and contemporary relevance. Aim strongly suggested that we all try our dish or ingredient in preparation for the presentation. Being from Thailand, we asked for a recommendation for good Thai food, and Aim quickly rattled off some suggestions. Class ended a bit early, and she had an open invite for anyone who wanted to accompany her to Thai Town as she shopped for groceries.

All my roommates, plus a handful of others, took her up on her offer. It may have been a ten-minute walk from the UTS campus. Still, looking back, it seems impossible as we learned so much from that walk, about Thailand and why businesses were set to look certain ways or the significance of various things but also general Sydney information. For example, there is a Starbucks just before Thai Town, but it doesn’t do well here because of how much better local coffee shops are here (she is not the first person to say this since I’ve been here). I feel for Aussie’s talking passionately about how good the local coffee shops are and down on Starbucks is their equivalent to me strongly defending New Jersey bagels and dismissing every other state’s bagel. Anyway, we made our way through the new Thai gate and headed into the strip of Thai town. Aim led us into the grocery store, and it was like I was transported to another area; I could no longer hear the cars or the passersby outside but rather the music of a totally new environment. I quickly observed that the supermarket was small, with just two aisles. However, there was no lack of products. Aim would pick up various fresh produce or point out refrigerated meats and rice and explain its significance. For rice, I remember she pointed out the different types of grades of rice, and here I was thinking that rice was just rice.

I just really appreciated that she took the time to share and go the extra mile to show her culture to us and how it fits into Sydney. I had a great time in Aussie Life last block. I can read or watch as much as I want about Australia, but I’m only here for so long, so getting to experience Thai Town firsthand just had me in awe all week.

On Thursday, after class, Ariana, Sienna, and I went to the restaurant Aim had recommended, Chat Thai— not even to be dramatic. Still, after my first bite of Pad Thai, I first said, “This is the best thing I have ever eaten” (I am including dessert in the mix). I have no idea what made it so incredible, but the combination of rice noodles, chicken, hen egg, dried shrimp, bean sprouts, garlic chives, tamarind, palm sugar, and peanuts —it was heavenly, to say the least. After dinner, I came to the conclusion that my “snobby world adventurer” attitude upon returning home will be if someone mentions pad thai, I will say, “Oh, I had the most amazing pad thai in Thai Town in Australia, and the authenticity is something that the States cannot recreate.” So, I am a Pad Thai fan. I never considered myself a foodie, but upon reflection on these now five blogs alone, I realize I am, in fact, a foodie. 

I LOVE PILATES

I love working out. I’ve always had a lot of energy, and whether it was from playing sports growing up, running, or walking, I’ve always needed space to burn that energy. Over the years, working out has also become my “me time”—a space to reflect, clear my head, work through emotions, and do something that’s solely for me. At Bucknell, I evolved into weightlifting, and to say I’m addicted would be an understatement. I work out 5–6 times a week at school, plus an active recovery day like a long walk. Since being in Australia, I’d say I’m closer to 4–5 times a week, which is fine because I’m having more active recovery days.

This week, Ariana’s gym had a Valentine’s Day promotion where you could bring a friend to a Pilates class. I’ve done Pilates YouTube videos before, and I even went to a class at Bucknell with my friend Jasleen that was brutal. I went in cocky, thinking my strength training would make it easy. I was quickly humbled. However, in neither instance did I get to use the reformer machine, and I’d always wanted to try it.

Ariana graciously invited me, and Wednesday was my big day. This time, I developed the mindset to expect the worst and that it would be tough but that the challenge would be a good thing for me, and I just needed to have patience with myself. So, Wednesday morning, Ariana and I walked to her gym, and at 10:30am, the class started. Ariana told me I had to inform the instructor it was my first time so she could keep a closer eye on me in case I needed help. The instructor kindly asked me to pick a reformer closer to the door so she could easily get to me. Unbeknownst to me, of the three rows of roughly eight reformers, I chose the row that faced the other two rows, and as someone who does not like being the center of attention, especially when I’m out of my element, it was my worst nightmare. Ariana was a trooper, though, and graciously went right next to me, and together, we faced the two rows of other Pilates goers. 

Class started promptly, and it was really neat how six TVs displayed the movements so you could follow along, and the instructor was free to walk around and offer words of encouragement. So, with a pilates reformer class, you get equipment, not only does the reformer have various elements that all have special vocabulary terms, but there is also a basket of equipment, such as lightweight dumbbells that mysteriously weigh a ton when you have to hold them in the air for a while, a large circular ring, a grippy mat in case you don’t have special grippy socks (that’s right reformer pilates is a shoeless activity it was a good thing I wore matching socks), a foam block, and a mini squish ball. Ariana had warned me there were many moving parts, but she wasn’t kidding. I’d say that I held my own during the first half of class. Several of the movements were variations of weight lifting exercises I frequently do, but when it came time to the leg portion where you had to put your legs through these straps, it kind of reminded me of being like preparing trapeze choreography as your legs are up in the air for a while. So, I needed some help from the instructor, and I took my time attempting to mirror the TV and Ariana. Eventually, the class ended, and honestly, I was sad it was over. It was the fastest 45 minutes, and you are moving the entire time!

I felt so invigorated after the class. What I really loved and appreciated about reformer pilates is that the focus is all on form and moving slowly; momentum is your enemy, as the instructor repeated throughout. This is the same philosophy that I have for how I approach my strength training; I would rather do 10 reps of slow, controlled, perfect form than 2 reps where I almost break my back because I’m swinging my hips just trying to move the weight a little bit more. I also loved that there was an instructor. When I lift weights, it’s just me, and I determine my fate, such as how far I will push myself or what exercises I’m doing. But in Pilates, I got to settle in a bit more and focus on these new movements, and I had someone else encouraging me along the way. Finally, I loved the compound movements and the patience I had for myself. While weightlifting, I have specific days designated for working on selected parts of the body. Pilates incorporates everything, so my entire body got to be a part of the workout. I felt balanced and, strangely, at peace. That could also be attributed to the fact that I did not get upset with myself when I couldn’t figure out something on the first try or I didn’t do the maximum weight on the reformer. I let myself be a learner without fear of failure or “failing forward”, as we call it in MIDE. When I didn’t quite like a rep, I would start again, taking what went around and learning from it. During the closing stretching portion of the class, I remember thinking I could do this for the rest of my life.

If the reading through the lines wasn’t clear enough, I will continue with Pilates. In Singapore, Ariana and I will be looking for a place to go together, and I cannot wait!

Staying Active: Miscellaneous 

Thursday before class, Sienna and I went for a walk as I was way too sore from Pilates to do my usual Thursday lift. We walked to and from Bondi Beach from our accommodation and stopped for breakfast near the beach. It ended up being a roughly five-mile walk, but it was fantastic. For breakfast, Sienna identified a place called Lox in a Box. I got a bagel with avocado smash, and as previously mentioned, you can’t beat a New Jersey bagel—not even Australia. 

Friday was Valentine’s Day, but with my boyfriend back home, it was Galentine’s Day. After class, all the roommates went out for a hibachi dinner. It differed from home because we had to play “games” to get food. We had to catch eggs in bowls, catch egg pieces in our mouth’s-mouths instead of the usual veggies, and then catch our rice bowl, and mine has flipped upside down mid-air! Sadly, there was no yum-yum sauce, but the food was still solid. After dinner, we called it a night, but not before playing a game called Knock (card game). Slowly but surely, everyone is learning, and before I know it, I’m going to have some serious competition on my hands. 

Saturday was a free day, so we went to Camp Cove Beach. Although it was more like a lake of the calmness of the water, I preferred it. That was the first day I got to bust out my Sun Tent, which my mom sent me from Amazon. It worked quite well; my skin remained unburned. I got my second favorite orange juice on the trip. You could see and smell the oranges they were juicing, and you can’t go wrong with fresh OJ. Saturday night, we went to Bar Jullius; it was very classy, although a little chilly inside. Of course, I forgot a sweater, so I ordered some chamomile tea to keep me warm. Although my heart felt quite warm because we all played Knock. When I go out to dinner with my family, we usually play cards, so getting to not only share the game with my roomies but also play in a public setting to just complement our conversation made my heart happy. 

Sunday was our tour of the Opera House. I was excited because we started seeing the Opera House from our hotel window. We got closer and saw it during our walking tour of Circular Quay, rode by it on the ferry and Australia Day, and then stared at it from pretty close up when we went to the Opera Bar. So it’s been comical that slowly but surely I’ve been getting closer to the Opera House. Then we actually have to go inside! It was really fascinating. I had done a quick Google search before heading in, and all the facts I had learned were woven throughout the tour. Arnold Schwarzenegger won his final Mr. Olympia body-building title in the Concert Hall of the Opera House. Or that Queen Elizabeth II was there to open the Opera House, this one surprised me because Australia has had its independence since 1901 from Britain, so I was surprised they didn’t get an Australian to be the opener. After the tour, we quickly browsed the Rocks Market before heading to Find Nemo.

I regret to inform you that 42 Wallaby Way isn’t actually real. Lucky for you, I told you that; meanwhile, I learned after walking 20 minutes in the heat with my heavy beach bag on my shoulder. Then, having to do the walk of shame 20 minutes back to the ferry. So, ironically enough, I couldn’t find Nemo. We chalked it up that someone had fun and messed with Google Maps to provide a fake location. But it’s all good; some things are better left to the imagination, but Disney is missing out on a big opportunity. 

Luckily, Ariana, Sienna, and I went to Manly Beach, so that was a good distraction from my disappointment. I got to catch up on some reading before we went to a Mexican restaurant for dinner, where Sienna and I split corn ribs (apparently, that’s a thing) and beef empanadas. 

Week five was fun-filled and full of sunshine. It was meant to rain all week and all day, but the sunshine prevailed. As my mom always says, we believe my grandpa is on the weather committee up in heaven. So, despite my weather app telling me one story, we’ve had so many great weather vacations, and I like thinking he plays a role in that. Because he chose to live in Puerto Rico for most of his life, I know he loves the sunshine and wants me to join his time, too. I always thank him out loud for giving me good weather or making the rain start after I get on the bus so I stay nice and dry (that happened this week). I felt Grandpa deserved a special shoutout on the blog, too.

Thanks for continuing to read, stay tuned for what I’m sure will be another sunny and great week in Sydney.

Cheers!

-Alexa