Last Day in Albany

We woke up Sunday to pouring rain which was kind of a buzz kill. Still, I knew I wanted to go to church in Perth and had found a service at Trinity Church on St. George’s Terrace that I could attend before we had to meet at the museum. So I dressed in my new yellow skirt, put on my raincoat and set off for church; within a block my skirt was completely soaked and my raincoat was starting to leak water onto my shirt. I made it the few more blocks to the church, stopping a few times to wring out my skirt. When I finally arrived I ducked in and began to wring my skirt again only to be asked if I was actually coming in or just avoiding the weather. I said coming in and the lady was very excited, but told me they didn’t have a spare set of clothes for me (not that I would ever have expected that at church), but she settled me in a seat right next to the heater. As I looked around the sanctuary, though, I realized she must have found me absolutely crazy; I was wearing what were obviously spring clothes – a light skirt and a short sleeved shirt – while everyone else was decked out in winter wear (sweaters and long pants). I later found it only necessary to say that I lived right next to the U.S.-Canada border for them to realize that low 60s really isn’t cold weather to me, but still I felt like a sore thumb in the church.

The service itself was interesting. I had researched churches a little bit before I came and discovered that I should find a Uniting Church, which combines several different Protestant faiths in Australia including Presbyterian. Therefore a number of churches from several denominations all work together and support each other in their faith, a principle which I find very cool. While I would have liked to attend the Presbyterian service (timing didn’t work out) it turned out that it was actually super-switch Sunday which is held once a month, so the Methodist minister in the cohort was leading the service at Trinity that month. He was a very jovial and approachable man and gave an interesting sermon which included watching part of a DVD – definitely a first for me to watch TV in church!

I had a little bit of time between the service and our class meeting at the Western Australia Museum which is just a few blocks away, so I walked through the Katta Djinoong exhibit on Australian indigenous peoples again to think some more about the musem project. I’m pretty excited about the assignment as it is right in line with what I am planning to go to grad school for, but on the other ahnd I’m wondering how much time I’ll have for such reflective work when I go home as I’m set to go to work right away. I’ve decided, though, that my exhibit will be based on a large flex room at the end of the Katta Djinoong exhibit, so that it really expands upon the museum’s permanent exhibit and enhances the themes already present.

After our group meeting in the lobby at the museum I had a little bit of time to kill before meeting Ellen to go to the markets in Fremantle. There is a great art museum next to the Western Australia Museum, so I took a turn through the gift shop there and a few of the exhibits on the lower level. I love visiting art museums by myself; there is something very peaceful about being alone with a piece of art. I like to think about what the artist is saying specifically to me through each piece.

I ended up being the only one to meet Ellen to go to the Freo markets, but it was definitely a worthwhile trip. There were a ton of cool booths at the indoor market and I was able to get my sister her Christmas present (ha! You thought you’d find out, Kim, but I’m not telling!). I just love the hubbub of everyone bustling around, the joy of the hunt, and the clamor of incidental and purposeful noise.

We made it baqck on the train just in time to not have to buy a return ticket (as best we could tell) but on the ride back train police got on to check tickets. I held my breath as they looked at ours and said we had gotten on the train at Freo, but a few people on the train either couldn’t find their ticket or had an expired pass and received fines – it was definitely a bit nerve-wracking wondering if we’d be next!

I headed back to the hotel once we arrived back in Perth to pack and tidy for our early departure tomorrow. Carrie, Margaret and I watched Sister Act on TV while packing, deciding what needed to be packed, what could possibly be left and how to make it all fit.

Our group met for one final dinner together at Balti, this Indian restaurant two blocks from our hotel. Over mountains of curry, we rehashed the trip, sharing our highs and lows. It was a great last meal and a chance to say goodbye to people I probably won’t see again for a few years!

Ok we have a very early departure tomorrow (in the 3 a.m. hour) so I need to get some sleep! All for now!

Peace,
Jill