At the end of Week 7, a few of us went to the Quiksilver/Roxy pro surf competition at Snapper Rocks. It was a longer bus ride away but it was neat to go. It was essentially just a beach day but cool to go to a different area and we got to see some professional surfers. At the end there was a small concert and the drummer from Foo Fighters was there. ISA, the program I came on had a weekend trip to Stradbroke Island. It was a nice/free trip and something fun to do but it isn't something I would need to do again. We kayaked and it was nice to float around in the ocean. I actually saw a stingray and a turtle!
The hostel we stayed in was a cement room with 2 beds in it. We ate in a dining center. It reminded me of going to summer camp.. even though I never went to summer camp.
At night there was one local bar and it was very much like a Wisconsin up north kind of a place.
We also sand boarded which was pretty neat! It was actually kind of funny. It was very hot that day and we had to walk a good distance to get to the sand dune. We had to walk through the forest and then on sand for a good 20 min in the middle of the day. Everyone was complaining and in a way it was comical.
The weekend was filled with a lot of activities and it was fun to do.
The following week was I'm assuming like the rest of my days at school. But it was nice to get readjusted to the routine.
The Wednesday I signed up for a FIFA tournament (video game soccer). It was $10 and it came with pizza. I figured it would just be something fun to do and I'd get a dinner out of it.
I was not surprisingly the token girl at the tournament. But... I did win my first game!! Haha. I think the guy was pretty mad he lost to me because it was a bracket tournament and if you lost you were out. I lost my second game but I was proud to just win one.
On Friday, Jenna, Hannah, and myself went to the beach but it was really windy so we didn't stay long. We went to this restaurant that was suppose to be good (organic or vegan or something healthy) called BSKT cafe. I got this pesto pasta zucchini dish. It was super good. half way through I was told that it wasn't actually pasta but zucchini in the shape of pasta. It was crazy. I didn't even realize.
We were going to meet up later that afternoon with other people but while eating dinner I realized I had a lot to do before my family came the next day early in the morning and that I should probably figure that stuff out. I had to leave my university at 4am to get to the airport in time for their arrival.. but that morning I realized that they were flying into the international airport and that they wouldn't actually come out at exactly 6:30am. They didn't come until about 8:30am. It was really nice to see them all. Mom made me cry a little. We all had a coffee and then got on the train to take us to the Gold Coast.
I was telling them on the train that the city never actually checks peoples tickets and you can easily just go on for free. About 3 stops later the transportation government people come on to check tickets. I accidentally didn't have money on my train/bus card which I kind of knew but I did scan onto the train so I wasn't sure if it worked. But it didn't so he was looking up if I had other reports. He gave me a warning but a ticket is $250!
When we got to the city we just got situated in their hotel and grabbed kebabs for lunch. Joe was a little crabby/hangry and I right away realized that even though we were in Australia and hadn't seen each other for 2 months... nothing changed. We still argued and we still had disagreements. Obviously we got along too. It was weird though... that nothing was different. It's almost like the first realization that not much changes. When I get home I will feel like everything should be different.. but everything will actually be the same.
On Sunday we went to the wildlife park so my fam got to see koalas and kangaroos. I think they really liked that. We also went to my favorite lunch place on the ocean and that was fun too.My fam and I (minus mom) went to the casino and I won! It was funny when we were walking there we were all power walking. haha. It's nice to be around others who like to gamble too.
Kayte slept over at my room the two nights which was fun. Sister sleepover.
On Monday we got picked up to go to the Whitsundays. The Whitsundays, like Cairns, is a place that has boats to go to the Great Barrier Reef. However, the Whitsundays is WAY prettier. Slightly more expensive, but since I was already in Cairns I thought it'd be fun to experience something different with everyone.
In Australia they weigh your carry on bags too so we were all concerned about our weight being over so we were trying to split up our things into the checked bags along with the carry on bags. We figured it out... but for future note the Holtz clan would not be very good at a teamwork activity.
The first day we just hung out at the pool and got dinner. Beautiful pool.
Tuesday we went to the Great Barrier Reef. It was my first time scubaing! Very different experience to scuba rather than just snorkel. Glad I did it.
At night we got a nice dinner for Mom's birthday ( a couple of days early).
Then after it was St. Pattys day so Joe, Kayte and I went to an Irish pub for a bit.
A lot of the day people were tanning outside on the boat but I didn't too much. It's weird. At the beginning of being here I wanted to lay out and get tan but now that I am tan I don't feel the need to really go lay out or get more color. I've never felt this way because in Wisconsin there's only limited sun and once its gone, it's gone for awhile. Such a new thought process for me.
Anyway, Wednesday night we just cooled out and made pizza for dinner and played cards. Thursday was Mom's bday.
Thursday was when we were leaving the WhitSundays. Everyone else was flying to Sydney, but I was flying back to Brisbane because Kelsey was flying in on Friday morning. So then we were going to fly on Friday to meet them in Sydney.
We all went to the airport but I left slightly later. The shuttle to the airport was slightly a rush because we didn't know when we were getting picked up and then they told us the shuttle was waiting for us at the lobby but none of us were ready! It all worked out.
It was nice to get back to my school so I could catch up with what I needed to do even though I felt bad leaving my mother on her birthday.
Side note: I officially am going to travel Southeast Asia after school is done for two weeks. It is just myself and one other friend who is coincidentally from Wisconsin and studies at UWM. We are starting in Thailand and going through Cambodia and Vietnam.
So on Thursday I needed to get my forms together so I could send my passport out to get my visas for the countries.
Friday morning Kelsey arrived. It was nice to see her! She got ready and then her, Jenna, and I went to the airport to go to Sydney.
When we arrived it was a little rainy and very windy. We picked up pizza for dinner and then we went to a Sydney vs. Melbourne soccer game! It was a neat activity to do. Soccer isn't as important to Aussies but all of us like soccer so it was fun! Melbourne won 1-0. 
Saturday we just walked around the city and explored and shopped. There was a lot of markets and tent sales which was fun. The girls went shopping and Dad and Joe did their own thing. I bought a hiking backpack for my SE Asia trip which was exciting!In the afternoon we met back up and walked a little more before we got dinner on the Harbour.
Sunday morning we just packed up and flew back to the Gold Coast. It was a nice trip and a good amount of time being there. Kelsey and I went back to my dorm and my fam went to the hotel. Later my fam came to my campus and I got to show them around. I liked being able to show them where I was going to school. After, we went to the Hub which is a hip restaurant right next door. They all agreed that it was a fun place and the food was great.
Originally it was suppose to rain on Monday but when we woke up it was actually beautiful out. So Kelsey and I met up with them at the hotel to lay out by the pool. It was fun to just relax and hang out. For dinner I took them to an italian restaurant I had ate at once before which was really good! When we got back to the hotel we went to the casino. haha. Had to get in one last family bonding!
It was tough to say bye but I will see them soon. When I got back to my room to unpack some things my mom gave me, she snuck some things in that I originally said no to. For example, she wanted to give me one of her shirts and I said no when we were together but when I got home I unpacked my bag and there the shirt was. Thanks mom... I actually wore it the other day.
I hope and I think they had fun and if nothing else they all made progress with their tans.
I am still one week behind on posting but I will just post this now and catch up on the week I am in right now, later. I have just been so busy with guests. It has been fun but a lot of energy.
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