Where is the whisky?
I am ready to go Down Under.
Really. No, not really ready, but at least almost packed. Finding out that I will be charged $500 for my luggage for a 1.5 hour flight from Sidney to Brisbane, made me research other options for TWO DAYS. And I found an option. Applause. Thanks. I will pack my bike box with a complete roadbike and a MTB frame, so that it is 28kg. I did handcraft a special bike box so that they will fit. I will pack 2 luggage pieces with 20kg. The bike of 28kg will fly for free to Brissy. The 2 bags I will dropp of at a Post Office in Sidney, one needs to be repacked and one will already be packed into a carton of 105cm x 30cm x 40cm. I made it myself, as you can see in the picture to the right. Yes. All that work was nuts. But that will safe me 460$. !! I am genius. But still I have too many possessions. Please email me at sumarion@web.de and buy it. Thank you. (I can further deal with it in September, when I am back on Oahu for vacation.)
As for all that don’t know it already, I am moving to Brisbane, Queensland, Australia on Sunday. Most of you don’t even know how I ended up here, so here is a quick input.
I have a degree in Biotechnology (BT). The BT school required high school and abitur for entry, but they made an exception for me because I was among the best 5 in school, ever since I entered school. After getting my degree I worked in Freiburg at the University as an assistant in
Biotechnology.
(the picture shows Kaiserstuhl, training site of me and Jan Ulrich). I was cutting and damaging and changing DNA in bacteria and did radioactive tests. Somehow really interesting, but somehow I found myself spending most of my time exercising in the gym or running or googling everything exercising. A co-worker of mine qualified for THE IM and it was a big deal for me at that time to know somebody to enter the Hawaii IM. (she was not even that good..). So somehow I was admiring those triathletes in town and decided one day I will do that. Time went by for a year and ½ and job was not challenging enough. I decided to do something more hands on. Rescuing the rainforest (a childhood dream job). Finding out more about this adventure, I decided that I don’t want to rescue the rainforest but instead devote my energy and knowledge in BT to researching the coral reef and its bleaching. That meant: University in Townsville, famous for its work at the G
reat Barrier Reef in Australia. So how would I get there? They needed me to have a BA, then would be able to come. Or at least, they said, I need an internship in Marine Biology. So that is what I did (easier said than done, believe me). I searched for an internship. It took me 1.5 years of proofing and daily paperwork and organizing a paid internship with InWent. I applied and was accepted at several universities (Malaysia, Phuket, Bangkok, Phillipines and Hawaii). I chose Hawaii, printed a picture of Coconut Island of Kaneohe in front of my worksite and suddenly I found myself in Hawaii. I didn’t know anything nor anybody about Hawaii. Except Kurt Chambers; a triathlete whom I met online while searching for a place at craigslist. We did not end up becoming roommates, but he said I should go to masters at UH. So I slowly got into triathlons. Then I had crash on a particular guy, and decided I would train as hard as I can with the goal to impress him. I trained and did not enter any race until I knew I would be top 3. I never ended up dating that guy, but that is how I got stuck with triathlons. I seem to be good at it. But in my heart I am a gymnast and dancer. So more into fine motorik stuff. That is why I love doing
swim drill session. More fine motoric, you know.
After the internship (1.5 years) I went back to Freiburg, Germany not meant to come back to Hawaii. But I kept training off road triathlons, like a pro. I trained a lot. Xterra Germany was right around my corner in Titisee and I for the Worlds in Maui in October. I packed my stuff and planned to stay for 1 month in Oahu. Once there, however, I decided I am gonna stay, I would go back to school, change my major to Exercise & Sport Science and live in Hawaii for a couple more years and then go to Australia. This time, Brisbane Uni of Queensland, most famous for its degree in Human Movement Studies and their accomplishments on the Olympic level. Living Hawaii changed my life so insane much. I have been here 7 years and looking back, I feel like this is my home here. Since being here, I have been dominating the triathlon szene and became 2x World Champion, raced Pro, did an apprentice with
Dr. Mike McMahon, and developed my own
coaching business. Never would I have dreamt of getting so far. But as the saying goes, “reach for the stars, … [I forgot the rest of it]. . Anyways, I love what I do, I love Hawaii and it is breaking my heart to leave. I still can not believe it, it is not accepted by my mind yet. But it is time to grow more, to nurture and challenge my personality and grow educational and career wise. It will be all good. Signs are present that all is meant to be. You will see, just follow my blog and my life.
It has been truly insane intense here, especially the last 2 years. I will miss Hawaii and all my close friends. Please don’t forget about me. Some tears are rolling down my cheek right now. Hug Pleasee..?! Thanks.
When I left Germany for Hawaii, I somehow knew how great it will be. I postponed my entry to UQ 4 times, as it never felt right to leave Hawaii. Now I am due. I have the same feeling for Australia. The lesson I learned while in Hawaii; just be nice and smile and put on a german accent.
Second reason: (see picture) I have not seen the sunset at Kaimana for a while. So I went down to the beach for my after track-workout shower. Taking a shower at Kaimana beach at Sunset is always something special. As I pulled into the parking lot, I noticed a concert was happening at the Aquarium. Kaumakaiwa Kanakaole, an Hawaiian female singer, who won several Hoku awards was performing. It was stunning. I listened for a while, but then had to leave because of the third reason I went to town.
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