The Land of Oz

It seemed only fitting that The Waifs, an Australian band that has been
one of my favorites forever, blasted on my ipod when I deplaned in
Sydney about a month ago. As the sister group belted the following
words: "Take it in. Take it all in. Now is the time that will not come
again. Take it in. Take it all in. This is the day and its here for
the living," I couldn't help myself from getting emotional. Once again I
was starting a new leg of my adventure, and finally getting comfortable
with embracing the constant state of limbo the Watson is. Always on the move,
I am finally getting to the point where I don't need to remind myself to
take in the breathtaking beauty of the people, places, and things I am getting
to experience and soak in. Finally I'm coming to the long awaited feeling
I have been looking forward to: MY LIFE ROCKS!

A week into my stay in Melbourne I rode 50 kilometers out to
Frankston, Victoria to participate and observe the Hip Cat Circus
Program. My friends in Australia tell me that Frankston is filled with
Bogans. What is a Bogan? I have no idea. I think it might be the
equivalent of a red neck back in the states? Anyways, set directly on
the beach, Frankston seems similar to your typical slightly down-and-out
city suburb. What sets Frankston apart however, is the gigantic,
state-of-the-art, community arts building it boasts. Hip Cat Circus
began as an offshoot of West Side Circus, a social circus in
Melbourne. In the two weeks I got to watch and participate in the Hip
Cat circus I found myself continually impressed with the community
they have created there. Thankfully, I wrote down the games, community
building, and art building activities they did. So far, Hip Cat has
been the best community I have seen in youth circus to date.

Near the beginning of my stay in Melbourne my friend at 'Ultimate
Victoria' was supposed to teach Frisbee in Frankston, for Disabilities
day. He happened to be away that day and asked if I would fill in for
him. I was particularly excited because there was a circus skills booth at
the event as well. So I gladly obliged and took the hour long train out to
Frankston and taught Frisbee for a couple hours to people of all ages
that were autistic, blind, deaf, paralyzed, developmentally disabled, and
more. After the Frisbee session was over I went and joined the circus
station. To my delight the people there were welcoming and had lots to say
about all-access circus and other events and groups dedicated to arts
empowerment within Victoria. Therein lay new connections here in
Melbourne: Hip Cat Circus, Ready Set Play Kids, and AcroYoga
Melbourne. The three facilitators were experienced in everything from
Acroyoga, fitness, circus, arts administration, personal training, and
more. AWESOME! All three were inspiring and were able to help send me
in some new directions for my time here. Not that I needed more
opportunities here...

In the short three weeks I was in Melbourne I somehow managed to meet
with five circuses, contact four more, take pole, dance, parkour,
aerials, do training on my own, and take tumbling. I also conducted interviews with
people from all of the above. I have somehow managed to play frisbee
five times and played in 2 tournaments. I went on multiple runs,  took numerous
 trams and trains, rode on a motorbike, went to a benefit
concert, went to the NICA graduate showcase, ate the best kebab (say
my Aussie friends) in the city, ate kangaroo (See picture of me eating
Kangaroo and enjoying it! Also note that I have since dumped most of my
clothing and what I wear in this picture is pretty much what I wear everyday.
Nothing like lightening the load!), biked over 150 kilometers, taught disabled
people frisbee and circus, taught some future team Australia teens some frisbee
skills, walked a huge amount of the city, discovered some of the best pubs
and cafes in Melbourne, met some amazing people, been too sore to walk,
and laid in the grass doing absolutely nothing. I feel so alive. Actually as I just read
back what I just wrote I sound a bit like a robot... But I knew what I
was getting into when I arrived. I tried to fit in as much as possible
when I got here seeing as Melbourne is one of the best places to study
circus in the world. I also spent minimal time outdoors when in
Indonesia, so am more than appreciating the outdoors here in Australia.

Sophie camp has begun again. I spent my time in Melbourne observing
social circus programs, and training myself in circus. As I have come
to realize, it is incredibly helpful to be able to do circus if you
want to teach it. I also spent lots of time with friends I have met
playing new games I have learned. What kind of games you ask? Imagine
a bunch of hyperactive early 20s closing their eyes and seeing who can
sprint faster into a fence 20 yards away. Yeah, I told you my maturity
level is dwindling!

What was next? Well...after completely depleting myself of energy I,
of course, hurt myself! So I went to Sydney and spent a few days on the
Northern beaches running the beaches, scrambling over the rocks, looking
out into the gorgeous scenery, making some new friends, and relaxing. I then
hopped on a bus up to Byron Bay. I have come to think that this is my
favorite place in the world. If you get outside the few kilometers of
Byron Bay tourist town you seen endless rolling grassy hills,
waterfalls, vast ocean views, and the kindest people I have come
across on my trip. The past two days have been spent running around
the hills taking in the beauty, observing the couple of circuses in
these parts, and training, training, training on the trapeze and
fabric. I love it.

What is next? Tomorrow I leave to go up to the Woodford Folk Festival.
This festival has been described to me as the following: a mix between
Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Burning Man, and Woodstock. I will be
volunteering at the circus tent from xmas to new years in exchange for
free admission to the festival. I have some intensive courses I will
be taking through January, and then have hopes of heading out into
central Australia with a couple guys I met for an undetermined amount
of time. We'll be bringing a whole lot of discs and juggling balls and
hope to teach some circus and ultimate for a couple of weeks. But as
always, I really am just winging it! The Watson freedom will allow me
to take advantage of whatever opportunity crosses my path in the
coming weeks. Crossing my fingers that it works out. I can't wait for
the rest.

Happy Holidays All! Happy New Year! I miss you all dearly!