goodbyes :(

Greetings from summer down under!

The weather (when it isn't raining) has been spectacular, and it really feels like it is the end of something wonderful. The past few nights have reminded me of the end of a summer camp or something, with the warm weather and all of the sad goodbyes. The past few weeks have been incredible, I have really gotten to explore Wollongong and "live like an Australian." It has been raining a ton, so I have taken that opportunity to venture into town and discover cool new places I hadn't found in the past 4 months. I spent one afternoon at the lovely public library, have found cafes with delicious desserts, attended local arts festivals, played outdoor basketball on a court by the ocean and wandered through the beautiful botanical gardens. We celebrated Halloween by dressing up as trolls and going on a pub crawl! The ocean water is finally warm, the other day I played in the water for nearly an hour! I have been spending a lot of time with my roommates and other people, the feeling of limited time is definitely in the air! It is finals week, so there is a lot of time spent in study rooms with books open, but it has been excellent bonding. All of the American kids that met here have created a facebook group with our phone numbers so we may all get together when we return home. We became a pretty tight knit group and its going to be awful to leave one another. Many people have already started end of the year trips, and the goodbyes have been worse than expected. While there is a lot of bitterness, going home is going to be pretty darn sweet! My parents come in less than 1o days and I CANNOT WAIT! They are going to love Australia and its going to be a blast to show them my home away from home and experience it from a fresh point of view. For now, its time to pack, study, swim and laugh with the wonderful people I came to love while studying in the country I fell in love with. It has been an incredible semester and I am so thankful I was given this opportunity. I'll write once more to discuss the trip with mom and dad! Cheers!

End of Session

Again, time has slipped away and I haven't written in several weeks! The weather is absolutely beautiful here, and its definitely summertime. We live at the beach, breakfast and lunch are the only things that draw us back to campus. We often run to the bus after getting out of the water, I never thought I would sit in class in a bathing suit with no shoes. Lately it has been lighter much later so we can stay in the water until 6:30 or 7 at night! I am definitely having a love affair with the ocean, and our time is limited! This week is the last week of class, I have two papers due before we are given a study week the first week in November. Exams are spread over two weeks, and I only have two tests so I still have a fair bit of time to hang and relax. There are many end of the year parties, including some fun "awards" ceremonies we are doing for the individual dorms. Halloween isn't a big deal here but because so many Americans come to study everyone plans on dressing up for a big night out, several of us girls have figured out how to do "troll hair" so if we can make the costumes we will be going out as little colorful trolls! We have also decided to give the gift of a Thanksgiving feast to the Australians before exams. Some people on campus have kitchens so a full traditional Thanksgiving has been scheduled for the first Thursday in November. People are starting to prepare for the journey home, and friendships are feeling the weight of long distance. There is much talk of visits, both Australians coming to America and the Americans visiting one another once we are back in North America. I look forward to a few more trips to Sydney, a lot more time in the sun and many more nights with the wonderful people I have met here. My parents come one month from today and I couldn't be happier. I am so excited to show them this place I have come to love and can't wait to see them... 4.5 months is definitely a long time! Its amazing that my journey is almost over, but every second has been valuable and worth while, I look back at it with great fondness. With one month left in this beautiful country I plan to live it up! Hope all is well, stay warm :) Cheers xx

Home Sweet Home!

I am back in Wollongong after a two-week trip around Australia and Indonesia. It was absolutely the trip of a lifetime, full of laughs, adventures, complications, learning, relaxation and pure joy. The trip can never be described in words or pictures fully, but I will try to give a brief overview of each destination to give a general idea of what I experienced.

Perth: I took a train to Sydney from Wollongong and from there caught a flight to Perth on Saturday, September 18. Travelling in Australia is much easier than America, and I thoroughly enjoyed the feeling of freedom I got from crossing the country alone. In Perth, I met up with my three travel companions. While I was only in Perth for a night and a morning, I felt that I was able to get a feel of the city and Western Australia. Although it is mostly mental, I undoubtedly felt more isolated and removed from home and “the world” in Western Oz. A large majority of the country resides on the Eastern coast, leaving Perth all alone. It gives the city an interesting feel, as it is closer to Asia than to its fellow capital cities on the East coast. Further, It is the most affluent state in Australia and this was very apparent as we walked along the beach near our hostel and drove to and from the airport. On Sunday morning we boarded a plane at Perth International Airport headed to Densapar, the city in which the Bali airport is located.

Bali: On the flight to Bali we flew over northwest Australia- the most desolate place I have ever seen. There are hundreds of thousands of acres on which only one family may reside. In Australia if you spread all of the people out, there would be two people in every square kilometre, and over 90% of Australians live on the coasts. It was an interesting view from above to say the least. What a strange lifestyle! Upon arrival in Bali, I experienced immediate culture shock. It was busy, confusing and a bit dirty in the airport. We struggled our way through customs and currency exchange (after being warned we may be ripped off, we were sceptical). We caught a taxi to Legian, the touristy city just outside of Kuta (the capital) where we were staying. We stayed in a beautiful hotel with a pool, restaurant and easy access to the beach. The streets are full of Indonesians selling cheap goods, shopping is one of the biggest activities for tourists there. The American dollar is worth about 8,500 Indonesian Rupia, we ended up paying no more than 20 dollars for various items including, dresses, hats, dinners, and art! Bali was definitely the luxurious part of our road trip; we spent most days either in the ocean or at the pool. The ocean is significantly warmer up there than in Wollongong so it was lovely to be able to swim without hyperventilating. We went out a few times at night and met a lot of very cool Australians on holiday. The Balinese people were awesome, however it did get old being hassled for your money every time you walked down the street. One day we rented motorcycles to get around the island and saw so many wonderful things. The architecture is so uniquely Bali it is absolutely exquisite. We accidentally got lost, ending up in a “neighbourhood,” and we were saddened to recognize the reality of the island people’s lives. A majority of the people live well below the poverty line, and that is not easily recognizable when you stay within the resort areas. Another day Janon and I went to a wildlife reserve in which we got to play with monkeys and tigers and ride an elephant! It was the most incredible experience; the monkeys are so human like your heart just melts when they reach out for you to hold them. One night we watched the Rugby semi-final in a bar with all of the Australians and the Sydney Dragons ended up winning. I haven’t been so into a game in such a long time! The Australians passion for life and sport is certainly very contagious. Bali was the biggest culture shock I have ever had, and it definitely wet my palate for further travel adventures to exotic places! The only downside to Bali was the tendency for it to rain for several hours every morning. Both Bali and Australia are very outdoor destinations, and the rain really put a damper on our fun. Fortunately, It cleared up every afternoon and we definitely needed escape from the sun, so we would sit under umbrellas and read.

Darwin: Darwin is the capital of the Northern Territory in Australia. It is very multi-cultural and has the largest Aboriginal population out of all the places I have seen. We flew from Bali to Darwin on Sunday night, arriving around 5:30 am after a gruelling time in the Bali airport and torturously long delays. We rented a car so we could drive around 3 hours to get to the famous national park in the NT called Kakadu. We arrived there around 9 am completely exhausted and it was excruciatingly hot. While this was probably the hardest day of the trip, we still managed to take advantage of the incredible location. We went on a hike that leads you past rock art done by the aboriginals hundreds of years ago. It reminds me a lot of the cave dwellings and rock art in America done by the Native Americans. The history behind it was fascinating. There was a lookout on the hike that gave one of the most awe-inspiring views I have ever seen. We sat in wonder and reflection for well over an hour. Each of us commented that it reminded us of the scene in The Lion King when Simba is held up for the entire kingdom to see. That night we stayed in an awesome campground with a pool (thank goodness) and a great little kitchen where we got relief from eating peanut butter sandwiches and made spaghetti. The next day we set off to drive back to Darwin via several little towns to catch a flight at one am. The trip turned out to be a true adventure, as we stopped in the world’s smallest town and filled our unleaded car with diesel on accident. The town of 30 people seemed to come together to help us get on our way again, a case of true Aussie hospitality. We then planned to stop at some natural pools along the way that turned out to be closed because of a crocodile sighting. Very disheartening. We ended up heading straight to Darwin and finding a salt-water lake to swim in to get relief from the sweltering heat. The worst part of the NT is because of crocodiles the ocean is off limits. That night we boarded our last plane, headed to Brisbane- commonly called “Brisvegas”.

Brisbane and the Gold Coast: When we landed is Brisbane we headed to “Wicked Camper” to retrieve our home on wheels for the next week. The van we got was a Toyota Mini Van well past its prime with Billy Idol painted obnoxiously on the side. Billy as it came to be known became very dear to our hearts; I now understand how some people get attached to their cars. The first day we went to a Koala and Kangaroo sanctuary where we were able to feed kangaroos in an open field and interact with them. Surprisingly, I had been in Australia for three months and this was my first encounter with a kangaroo! Brisbane is the third largest city in Australia and definitely the most “American.” It is the California or Florida of Australia, giving it a very different feel. Below Brisbane is what’s called the Gold Coast, a very popular vacation spot. The next day we went to Surfer’s Paradise, which felt a lot like Miami. The weather was awful the entire time we were road tripping so beach time was out of the question. We walked around the strip and looked at all the luxury shops before returning to our campsite in the middle of the city (what a weird clash of environments) to get ready for our big night out in crazy Surfer’s. The nightclubs are glitzy and too wild for my taste, but when in Rome… The next day we continued our journey down to Byron Bay, which turned out to be my favourite place I have seen in Australia. It is the real surfer’s paradise; it is filled with backpackers, surfers and a lot of really chill people. It is a lot like Boulder, Colorado. There we met up with some friends from Wollongong, walked around the town and just took a breather from the whirlwind of travelling we had been doing. We had our only meal out of the entire week while in Byron at the Sushi Train, and it was well worth the wait, yum! We took a daytrip to a strange little town called Nimbin. It is set inland from Byron, the vegetation looked a lot like English countryside (or so the girls that have been there say). It is a community that came together when the Australian government elected to make marijuana illegal. “Hippies” from across the country congregated in this little town to fight this new law tooth and nail. The law enforcement has turned a blind eye to Nimbin and it has become a place where people live their lives to buy and sell weed. The stores sell paraphernalia, there is a museum that explains the history and the people are all very passionate. While I didn’t participate in this “alternative lifestyle” it was fascinating to see the village and the people that inhabit it. There are 70-year-old men with dreadlocks and bell-bottoms and women with rose coloured glasses and peace signs around their necks. Travel is about broadening the mind, and Nimbin certainly stretched mine!

The last day we were supposed to take one more stop as we made our way back to Sydney but the rain continued to fall and we had had just about enough of being soggy in our leaky van. We decided to drive 12 hours straight to just get to our dry beds! It wasn’t the best end to the trip, but our two weeks were so amazing not much could have ruined them. Obviously four paragraphs doesn’t do such an adventure justice, but it is important to me to attempt to give you some idea of what I experienced. Arriving “home” I realized how much I really do think of Wollongong as my home and these people as my friends. At the same time, as time is dwindling I find myself excited to go back to Denver, and see my friends and my mom and dad! It is just enough time for me to enjoy here, yet I know that the end is in sight, and part of me is very excited about that too. I am very content now, and about as happy as I can ever remember myself being. Life is such a blessing, and mine is the best J Love you all, keep in touch! xxx

mid-session already?!

We are halfway through the semester, can you believe it? My goodness, where does time go? Life has been wonderful lately, although moving at a very fast pace, leaving me feeling very sick. The past two weekends I have left the Gong to go backpacking, since the biggest sights of Australia are found in the wilderness. The first hike I completed was about 45 minutes north of Sydney. We took the train and hiked about 7 hours the first day (including one hour in the dark) and spent the night next to a gorgeous bay, however the insanely strong winds made for a very long night. We made the best of it, however and hiked to the next train station in the morning. I went with two guys and we definitely bonded in our misery, and it has made for some excellent stories. Last Wednesday was a Campus East Rubix cube party. You were required to find clothing of the 6 colors on a rubix cube that you didn't mind losing and at the party you would trade with people until you were all one color. It was a very fun night, definitely a lot of laughs. This weekend me and two other girls decided to take on the Coastal Track, a breathtaking hike that goes along the cliffs and beaches of the coast in between Wollongong and Sydney. Our final distance walked was around 32 kilometers. The hike was incredible, the views were dizzying, and my legs are still very sore. After these two excursions, I don't think I will be keen on eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich again for a very long time, as that is the only food that was taken on each trek. The weather has been fabulous after the incredible windstorm that took trees down last week, and all of my free time is now being spent at the beach. The weeks to come are full of lazy days in the sand :) On Thursday night we are leaving for Sydney in order to catch a 6 am flight to Perth Friday morning. After that, we are headed to Bali for a week, Darwin for the weekend and rounding the trip out by flying to Brisbane and camping our way down the coast to Sydney. I will return to Wollongong on October 4th. I am so excited for my adventure, I am only taking a carry on bag for 18 nights! I know I must really love this place, as I am already sad about missing my friends during these two weeks. Now it is off to finish some homework before dinner and a night at the local pub. Life is good! Love you all :)

rain rain go away!

Hello all! Life is progressing at lightening speed, and our limited time here is really beginning to become a reality! Last weekend we went to Sydney for the Harbour Cruise, sailing by the Opera House at night with everything all lit up was positively magical. After the cruise, we went out in downtown Sydney, it was amazing to go out in the city.. what a cultural experience! It was the first Australian hostel experience I have had, and it was such great fun. You meet so many cool people in hostels! Upon returning to Wollongong we got a huge group together to watch Titanic, we were so inspired by our evening on the boat. Wednesday marked the first day of spring, so we celebrated by jumping into the ocean at sunrise! The picture attached was taken around 5:45 am. I have gone swimming twice this week, the first time someone paid me 5 dollars to jump in with my clothes on. I can't wait until its warmer so your skin doesn't hurt when you get out of the water! This weekend we are going camping despite the fact that it is supposed to rain all across New South Wales all weekend. We are just going to go for it anyways, it is good to get out of Wollongong for a few days and we will undoubtedly have some good stories. All of the rain has made for a bit of a melancholy mood around campus, and I have felt some traces of homesickness lately. I think getting out for a few adventures is just what the doctor ordered! Tonight we are going out for 10 dollar steaks and drinks at the local hotel in North Gong and we board the train tomorrow morning for the camping trip! Next weekend we are embarking on a 26 kilometer hike/camping trip all along the coast, it is supposed to be breathtaking. In only two weeks we leave for the 17 day road trip, so over the next two weeks much school work must be done since I will be missing one week of class and will have no time for homework over the break. The stress now will be well worth it when we are hiking volcanoes in Bali and skydiving the beach in Brisbane (don't worry mom, I won't tell you when I am doing that until I am already on the ground :) ). As of now, I need to brave the rain to go into town to buy some warmer clothes for my adventure this weekend. Sun, come back gosh darn it! As fall is approaching in the United States, I hope everyone is settling into the hustle and bustle that comes with the end of summer!

Lovin' Life!

Hey all, sorry for the delay in my weekly update! Life has been crazy lately, although much of it is due to schoolwork. It seems that this week school has really started picking up and we are spending a lot of time studying. It sure is hard to focus on homework when the sun soaked beach is just a short walk away! Aside from hitting the books, I have just been having fun enjoying every minute! A group of kids on campus have started playing a lot of volleyball, we bought a net to take down to this beautiful cove on the beach to play in the sand. Nothing like starting your morning by listening to the waves and watching the sun come up as you play beach volleyball! We also joined a competitive league in the next town over where we will play in tournaments every Tuesday night. It has been a great way to make friends and stay active. We have also started an intense, ongoing Scattergories challenge in our room, and I am yet to lose a game :) We are working hard to learn all of the Australian slang so that we can minimize the communication breakdowns with the Aussies. My new favorite word is "tweasy," which is somehow translated into "see you later." This weekend is Harbour Cruise in Sydney, and we are going up before to go to the Wildlife Reserve where you can pet Kangaroos and other native Australian animals. Upcoming events include several backpacking trips, one along the cliffs next to the beach, learning to surf, a trip to my roommates farm in Wagga Wagga and the 17 day adventure! Aside from that, I am completely content hanging out with the wonderful people of UoW. The time is flying, I can't believe its been 6 weeks! The picture attached is of Bondi Beach, one of the most beautiful and hip coastal towns I have ever seen. Love and miss you all! xx

It is finally beginning to warm up! Hooray! Running on the beach and watching our friends surf has been one of my favorite activities lately. The surfer atmosphere is so much fun, such a laid back, peaceful way of life. Life has been full of wonderful experiences lately. Classes are becoming more interesting as we progress deeper into the material, and the tutorials have been very intellectually stimulating.

The UoW Harbor Cruise is fast approaching, so campus is preparing to head up to the Sydney Harbor for a school-wide party on a boat! It is supposed to be one of the most fun events of the year. We recently had a "characters" party at a local pub, it was very fun to relive our childhoods and wear costumes of our favorite cartoons. This upcoming week is the final "footie" game of the season and we are looking forward to going and cheering on the Wollongong Lions! I am definitely going to miss footie when I return to the states, it is great fun to watch.

This weekend we created a movie theater in my living room and we had nearly a dozen people come for a movie night! So much fun, lots of laughing and group naps. An Australian friend was house sitting her uncle's condo on Bondi Beach in Sydney this past weekend and we spent Friday and Saturday in Bondi Beach. It is an incredibly beautiful place, although a bit expensive :/

The midsession break is the time in which most of my traveling will take place, and me and three other girls are solidifying the plans on a 17 day road trip! We plan to travel to Perth, Bali (!!!!!), Darwin, and roadtrip in a camper from Brisbane to Sydney as the final leg of the trip. Experiencing such different places in a short period of time is bound to be an exhilarating and life changing trip.

As friendships continue to blossom and the weather gets warmer, Oz just keeps gettin' better! Love you all, stay happy :) xx