Or as the locals call it, LEBkemba.

I went to Lakemba the other day, and what else can I say? It was like another world. When I stepped out of the Lakemba station, it was like setting foot in an Arab country or something (think something like the shithole Tripoli, Lebanon), with bunch of bearded guys and kebab shops and Arabic signs on shops. I originally went to get some meat from a butcher there and I thought to myself since I’m brown I could blend in well. Wrong. I stuck out like a sore thumb and had all types of people staring at me, some with dirty looks, as if I was white or something. Granted I don’t have a beard nor do I look Lebanese, but still, it was rather odd that people were looking at me in an unusual manner. 
Then I went to this Lebanese restaurant in Lakemba because I was craving some Shish Tawook and I left with bitter disappointment, because it tasted like shit and it looked like shit. Even though I ate a majority of it (had to since I paid for it), I made my disappointment known to the owner, and then they got mad because I dissed on their food, and then started making fun of me because I was a “stupid American” and a “seppo”, which I politely told them to go back to Tripoli and gave them the finger since they couldn’t adopt proper customer service. I don’t know how a restaurant can stay in business yet can’t handle mere criticism. I should have called them a yahoodi to piss them off some more, but by then it was too late.

After finishing eating, I got some meat from a butcher and had some customers get mad at me because they thought it was their place in line even though I was there before them. But they wanted to fight me lol which I told them to go fuck off because I had a train to catch back home (and didn’t feel like getting into a fight). They looked ’swede’ if that helps to picture the unruly customers. Then they told me that I was a bad Muslim and that I’m going to Hell because I didn’t let them go first lol but I shrugged it off because they’re just whining like little girls. I got my cheap fresh cut meat from there so that’s what I’m happy about. I guess they expected to be served first because they may have sold the butcher a donkey in a village from ages ago but I digress.

I dunno if I’ll return to Lakemba anytime soon nonetheless, but I’ll check out Auburn to see if its better out there.

No wonder why Lakemba has a bad reputation these days.

Reposted from another message board that I post on reguarly:

 

I attended orientation for study abroad and exchange students at Macquarie University yesterday and one of the presenters asked for volunteers to eat a toast with vegemite on it and being the dumbass that I am, I volunteered to taste it. 

As I ate that toast with vegemite, it was one of the worst feelings I’ve ever had. Salty would be an understatement, and even attempting to shoving it down my throat would have backfired since I felt like puking the entire time. Even after my failed attempt to consume the entire toast, the remnants of vegemite were still evident in my mouth. Only a Subway sandwich that was offered by the staff did wonders to eliminate the remaining evidence of vegemite in my mouth, but I am still scarred from it.

I don’t know which would be worse: consuming a “cockmeat sandwich” or a vegemite toast. 

To me, being forced to consume vegemite is worse than being subjected to waterboarding at Guantanamo Bay.

I had a vow not to place an emphasis on posts pertaining to politics as much, but due to the shocking relevation, I have to make this an exception.

News of declassified reports of a nefarious plan by the U.S. government to test lethal weapons on ‘Diggers’ in the 60’s has really made me upset and angry. I am getting more and more disappointed and disillusioned with this government’s policies. This is just the spark that lit the fire in me. Our government wanted to do this, to an ally that has been the closest to us since the post-war years. Due to the ANZUS treaty, the ANZAC’s have been instrumental in backing the U.S. in virtually every conflict from Korea to Vietnam (yes, Vietnam) to Bosnia to Afghanistan and Iraq (until recently), and for us to even contemplate doing this is remarkable and disgusting. I don’t blame any Australian for holding a different view of the U.S. in light of this unspeakable revelation.

I’m sure the Aussies are asking themselves, “With friends like these, who need enemies?”.

As an American, I will say this, from the bottom of my heart, to the Australian people, that I am extremely sorry for the actions of our past administrations for even contemplating such a thing. It is beyond disgusting and cannot be excused one bit.

I present you the obligatory welcome to the “land down under”

Enjoy.

P.S. Any electronic music nuts who want the Andy Page remix of the song, check out Hybridized and look for the Hybrid’s set in Canberra from March 2004. It’s in there.

Cheers.

It’s a bit odd to start off a post sans the Intro with a topic about vehicles, but since this is a blog geared towards Australia combined with my love of automobiles, I decided that it is rather appropriate to make a post about vintage Australian vehicles.

Part 1: Here’s a selection of Holden vehicles from 60’s to the present:

Part 2 will consist of Ford muscle cars, and part 3 will consist of Australian-marketed Chrysler muscle cars (including the Valiant Pacer)

Cheers.

G’day mates. This will chronicle my journey to the opposite end of the world, in the land down under. I am about to embark on a journey to Sydney, Australia, where I will be spending my 6 months studying at Macquarie University in which I am looking forward to immensely. I am to depart from the U.S.A. on July 22nd, where I will spend a brief (open to interepretation) layover at LAX and then off to spend 4 days and 3 nights in Cairns for my Program Introduction with AustraLearn and then make it to Sydney after that. In this blog, I will document my travels throughout not just Australia, but also the South Pacific as well. In addition, you may encounter a political commentary or two since this trip will concide with the U.S. Presidential Elections to gauge the opinions of Australians on their view of the election race. Also, for the car nuts, you will also see an assortment of vehicles that we in the states long to receive, such as Holdens and the Fords, as well as Subaru Liberty’s and what not. For the history buffs, I will hopefully dedicate some time to visit the capital Canberra and take photos of memorials dedicated to the Diggers. All in all, I’ll do my best to make sure this is a suitable blog to document my experience studying abroad in another country that isn’t in Europe.

A little about me, to start it off a bit:

My name is Danial, but a lot of my mates/friends call me Pepe. Either one is acceptable to me. I am currently a student at University of North Texas, working on my undergrad currently. I am a Political Science major with a minor in International Studies. I’ve lived in the U.S. my entire life in California and Texas,  although I was born overseas. I’m 23 years old and I hope to be done with my studies by fall 2009, if that. My interests consist of current affairs, world politics, history, occasionally learning about theology, automobiles (especially Australian-made vehicles by the likes of Holden and Ford Australia), motorsports, cricket, football (soccer), electronic music, and indulging myself into different cultures. I hope to make this stay the most exciting moment in my life, and I am awaiting the moment I depart from Americaland come 22nd!