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If you have followed 70’s Big you’ll know that there is typically a post on every week day. Currently I’m in Australia hanging with some fantastic people, doing neat things, and eating good food. The frequency of posts will dip slightly as I’m gone, but I have some good content for you.

With that being said, I suggest that Americans from the U.S. make an effort to visit another country. Sydney is still has a similar culture and lifestyle, yet it has many unique traits. In countries like the U.S., Canada, the UK, and Australia, the governments function in a way that results in a free citizen. None of the governments are perfect, of course, and we can point to policy that limits our removes freedom, but generally speaking we are free to live how we want and are able to partake in luxury. Part of that luxury is that we are free of the worry of how to obtain or maintain freedom. We don’t have to care about the functioning of our government, foreign policy, or what else is going on the world because our respective governments won’t mess things up too much to force me to pay attention. Some of you may disagree, but the end result is that people only have to worry about themselves. This egotism is especially prevalent in American culture since it’s not as common to travel to other countries (I know people who have never left their own state, much less the border of the U.S.).

In the two trips I’ve been here, I’ve grown to have an appreciation of humanity. Sydney is interesting because the people that populate it are different. The proximity of Australia to Asia, the pacific Islands, and even the Middle East creates a different melting pot. However, it also seems that there are more Europeans that visit or live here, and a lot of folks here eventually travel abroad. My experience is that they seem a bit more “worldly” than people in the U.S., and I think that’s pretty cool.

I will say this: Australians are great fucking people. They have a good sense of humor, they’re not sensitive, and they are extremely generous. Hanging out with Australians in any setting is always a good time, and if you visit, make sure to try and make some friends (the other night, a bloke who doesn’t train that I was with was offered a cigarette, and he looked at me before saying defiantly, “No, we’re elite athletes.”). I’d like to thank and commend Tom Vale, Shannon Green, and Peter Upham for entertaining this unworthy American.

And fuck me drunk, son, the food is good here. That aforementioned melting pot with a large population means there are a plethora of places to eat. Yesterday I had octopus tentacles right before having lamb skewers (yes, it was a grilled version of this). They don’t have smoked meat and chili, but there’s some damn fine food here to make a trip worth it.

I would recommend that you make it to another country. I haven’t been to many, but I know I enjoy Australia quite a bit. Immersing yourself in another culture will make you appreciate the diversity in humanity, but it lets you appreciate the freedom you have in being able to safely experience it all. GLHF.

24 thoughts on “News”

  1. I have to second the recommendation to travel, it will broaden your horizons, introduce you to different ways of life, and truly make you appreciate what we have here.

    Also, super LOL at GLHF, thats better than a Game of Thrones reference for my money.

  2. Australia is the bomb, been twice. I’ve been to a bunch of foreign countries and Australia is definitely my fave. Just wish it was a bit closer.

  3. I haven’t been to many other countries, but I heartily recommend Belize if you get a chance. I spent a month there in college studying tropical ecology. The food is really good. There is lots of stuff to climb up ( ruins, mountains), and more wildlife than you can shake a stick at.

  5. Backpacking thru Australia at 18 has provided me with skills/confidence/knowledge of people and absolute self awareness of my strengths and weaknesses as an individual. It is the single most challenging thing other than basic military training, I have done and I credit that experience for my “balls” to go after things in my life today.

    I think if all the times I shoulda died for stupid decisions, very similar to weightlifting. You learn, you grow, you become better.

  9. You climbed the harbour bridge? I was too young/short when i went the first time to do it. My brother did though, i can imagine a front double bi at the top of that would look impressive.

  10. I second the recommendation to visit Australia. I spent 6 months there during college and it is to this day the most fun I’ve ever had (its been 11 years). So much to do, I spent the whole time on the East Coast from Wollongong to Cairns.

  13. The first time I remember ever wanting to go overseas was in 7th Grade and an 8th grader I knew from pee wee football had a whip he got from a trip to Australia. I totally wanted to go, just to get a whip. It is still on the agenda.

  14. Please share any giant Australian bird-eating spider stories.

    There was a giant spider in the house the other night. I wasn’t enthused.

    –Justin

  16. @beonick. It’s not bird eating but it is a giant spider story.
    When i was out there my family was driving back from somewhere in sydney one night when the biggest mother fucking spider i have ever seen or ever want to see (i am terrified of them) crawled up the back of my dads seat, the drivers seat, of which i was sat in the seat behind. I recon there is a pretty good chance that i will never scream like that again. The spider disappered into the depths of the car and we could not find it to get rid of it so we just got a new hire car.
    This beast had more hair on it that me and was no doubt bent of the destruction of my entire family starting with my fathers head.
    True story.

  17. @maslow, howd u do in your competition?

    I just had mine this sat and performed pretty poorly but was able to secure 1st in the 85 class. anyone else at the capitol city open?

  22. Yep, overseas travel is something special. Get out of your comfort zone, meet strangers, learn. I had a blast doing an undergrad study abroad in Helsinki. TL;DR – good vodka, better metal. Only regret was I hadn’t started lifting yet and missed some fun training opportunities.

    @nobodystopsdblob – what order are your days for heavy/medium/light? I’ve been doing heavy Monday, medium Wednesday, and light Friday, but not sure if that actually makes sense.

    Your order makes sense, Nick (I use the same). How has it been working out for ya?

    –Justin

  24. @Gumbo
    That is what I have been doing. My Monday is heavy squats and dead and Wednesday is a medium squat day, I press Mondays and Bench Wednesday but alternate 3×3 and 3×5 each week. Friday is accessory work. So it is light on squats (none) and other big lifts but I like to thinks the curls are pretty heavy.

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