Adventures Down Under & Presidential Insights
Australia’s East Coast: A Six-Month Journey
Marine, a young woman, spent six months exploring Australia’s East Coast. Along the way, she discovered ‘paradise on Earth,’ made new friends, and found work.
Arrival in Cairns: Gateway to the Tropics
Cairns, a city with temperatures around 30 degrees Celsius, greeted Marine with an incredibly blue sky. Everyone seemed tanned and relaxed. Here, Marine met Yannick, a French traveler who had just bought a van. Eager to drive along the East Coast, Marine decided to join him.
Van Life: 3000 Kilometers to Sydney
After traveling 3000 kilometers in their van, affectionately named ‘Poncho,’ they arrived in Sydney. They agreed that van travel is the best way to discover Australia, offering unparalleled views of its diverse landscapes.
Poncho: A Home on Wheels
Poncho truly was a home on wheels, remarkably well-equipped with a fridge, a sink, two beds, and a table. This mobile setup offered the luxury of stopping wherever they pleased.
Airlie Beach: Paradise Found
Marine described Airlie Beach as ‘paradise on Earth.’ Imagine swimming amidst a vibrant array of fish – black, yellow, green, striped, big, or small. Beyond the fish, she encountered turtles and giant seashells, making it an unforgettable experience.
New Friends on the Journey
During her travels, Marine met Sanne, a 23-year-old Dutch girl. Sanne was described as funny and very likeable, adding to the richness of Marine’s adventure.
Fishing Adventures in Town 1770
In the small town of 1770, Marine learned to fish. She managed to catch a rather ‘gross-looking’ fish, notable for its big rabbit teeth and yellow spines on its cheeks, successfully pulling it out of the water.
Finding Work in Australia
Australia, an enormous country, offers numerous casual job opportunities, especially in rural areas. Options for casual laborers often include volunteer work like WWOOFING or paid roles such as fruit picking.
WWOOFING: Organic Farm Experience
WWOOFING (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) involves working a few hours each day on organic farms in exchange for food and accommodation. Marine met David, who had experience working on such a farm.
Fruit Picking: Macadamia Harvest
They encountered a farmer who offered them a job picking macadamia nuts. The work system was straightforward: collect the macadamia nuts and place them into sacks. On their first day, they impressively filled 32 sacks.
Reflecting on the Obama Presidency
Amidst global challenges, including the aftermath of a tsunami, Barack Obama was elected President of the USA, famously campaigning with the slogan ‘Yes, We Can.’ People held high expectations for his administration to achieve significant goals.
High Expectations: Too Much for One Leader?
These expectations proved to be a lot to ask of one man. Years later, many people no longer believed in the inspiring slogan ‘Yes, We Can.’
Leadership Challenges and Perceptions
From the first day, challenges arose. Obama did not deliver his speech as expected, and while he thanked people publicly, his actions in Washington surprised many. He was perceived as vague and cautious. The worst impression a president can give is that of indecisiveness.
Navigating Political Divisions
As Harry Truman famously said, ‘If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.’ With Republicans and Democrats deeply divided, Obama promised to calm tensions and work in harmony with Republicans. However, this effort was largely unsuccessful.
International Diplomacy: Soft Power & Hard Choices
Theodore Roosevelt’s advice was to ‘speak softly, and carry a big stick.’ After coming to power, Obama seemed to embody the ‘speaking softly’ part. However, some critics felt he did not always carry a ‘big enough stick’ in international diplomacy.
Addressing the Financial Crisis
As Bill Clinton famously stated, ‘It’s the economy, stupid.’ America faced significant economic problems, arguably more so than Europe at the time. However, these issues predated Obama’s presidency and were not his fault.