Last week in the Gold Coast

It seems like the talk of the town is how few days we have left here. What you're most excited for when you get home/least excited for. What are you going to miss here/miss the least here?

Friday morning I facetimed with mom for awhile which was really nice and I felt like I really got to catch up with her!

On Saturday I had my first exam and I think it went pretty well - I should pass.

Saturday afternoon a bunch of us went to Byron Bay to spend the night. We went shopping a bit and got dinner at a mexican restaurant. Then some people from Bond rented a house for the night so we went there for a bit before we went out.

Sunday morning we got some acai bowls and ate them by the ocean. Then we headed back to Bond.

Sunday afternoon I felt pretty bad. I had a really bad tummy ache and fever. I went to the doctor Tuesday for Malarai pills for SE Asis and the doctor thinks I might have got something from Bali so I will take medicine for the stomach ache and hopefully that gets better before I leave for Thailand!

Monday I facetimed both the rents and caught up with them on everything. In the afternoon I mainly just studied for my exam which was Tuesday morning.

Tuesday I had my exam and went to the doctor. This exam was definitely tougher but I should pass the class. hahaha that sounds so bad but grades don't transfer only credits.

Wednesday night after leaving the library it was weird walking back home through campus knowing that school was basically over. I felt kind of sad and was trying to take pictures of campus because it looks really pretty at night but the pictures don't do it justice.


Picture is just outside of the dorms.




Thursday morning I had my last exam and I was officially done with the semester! I headed to the mall to run my last errands.

Friday morning I got breakfast with Hannah and Jenna and then went to the beach with Hannah. For dinner Jenna, Hannah, and I went to the Cardamon Pod.



Friday night (now) I am packing up my room. It is a very weird feeling to realize that my time in Australia is over. I am very very slowly packing haha. I am also packing for Southeast Asia so it is also weird that I am leaving Australia and I am sad, but I am also excited to travel to Thailand tomorrow. Very mixed emotions.

April 25th, the day that was built up to be the end of my time here, is tomorrow. In a way it felt like this day would never come because of how accustomed I got to living here. There are so many people that I just won't ever see again. Which, obviously, is a fact of life for a lot of things, but since I came on this trip alone they are all the people that I created my life in Australia with.

Weird is honestly the only adjective that could describe how this all feels. I am also definitely sad. However, I do look forward to coming home and for the things that I have planned this summer. But at this moment it is hard to fully comprehend the reality of leaving Australia.

I'm really going to miss this campus and view.

I have heard so many people say that when you get back home you feel like you have changed, but not much at all changed back home. I can 100% see that being true. I am excited that two of my roommates studied abroad though so we can talk about it all.

I'm officially a senior! So weird to think. How fast my semester at Bond went but as well as college having only one more year left.

For SE Asia, I don't really know what to expect. I am excited. It's funny because my mom thinks that I am going to die, but the people that helped me plan my trip are saying like I'm going to have a blast and its beautiful and I'm going to love it. Haha two very different expectations.

Anyway, there isn't much that I would have done differently while here. I wish more people came alone rather than with friends or schools from home. I think that created a lot of separation between people and groups before even arriving. Other than that, I am so appreciative of how much I've been able to experience and see and loved my time in Australia.
It's crazy to think of how on edge I was about coming to Australia. I didn't really think about what my experience would be like much because it was so hard to even imagine Australia and life abroad. Before leaving people would ask me what day I was leaving and I would say the date as if it would never actually come. As if I wasn't actually leaving.

The days before I left I hung out with a lot of friends and family. I had so much fun and was so happy to be with everyone. I was in the moment and was so content with life and questioned why I was leaving. But the only reason why I was so in the moment was because there was such few days left until I was leaving. There wasn't anything but the idea of Australia to look forward to. So I wanted to focus on the now and not think about leaving.
Looking back, I was beyond nervous to leave and to avoid the nerves I tried to not really even imagine being gone. It's like I put up a mental block. I knew I was going, but the concept was too large and I couldn't wrap my head around it. I thought I'd like studying abroad, and I knew I'd learn a lot, but didn't want to think about it much.
Now, I couldn't even imagine not studying abroad. To experience what I've experienced and becoming more independent are things that I wouldn't have gotten back home in the comfort of the familiar. I can't put into words how happy I am that I was able to study abroad and that I went through with it.

I look forward to bring what I've learned here, back home. I think I have a new perspective and appreciation for how fast time flies by and the importance of making the most of it.

Well, time to finish packing. See you all in 17 days.

Bali, Indonesia

Going into the trip there was a lot of different reviews. There were a few girls that I am acquaintances with who said that Bali wasn't their favorite and that they felt unsafe while there. Other people said that it was their favorite trip.

I thought Bali was great and at no time did I feel unsafe. Yes there were store shop people trying to get you to look at what they were selling and people on the streets but if you just said no to them they would stop trying to sell to you.

 We arrived in the afternoon in Kuta, Bali. Kuta is a more touristy city and much more knock off brands in stores. But very cheap. Before going we were told that Bali is very cheap and to negotiate for everything. They sell corn on the cob on the streets and I got a couple of those for $1.

The first night some of the girls decided they wanted to go to the Hard Rock Cafe. We got there and I looked at the prices and any meal was between $20-$30. I thought that was ridiculous since we were told how cheap Bali was. So we sat with the girls for a bit and then Jenna and I went to go to a different restaurant. We found a place just down the road that had a live band and it was really good! My meal was $5 for chicken with peanut sauce and rice and cocktails were $4! The chicken satay I got was a really common dish offered everywhere.

The next morning we got picked up early and taken to the ferry stop where we were taking it to Gili Trawangan, an island off Bali. A few of us sat on the top of the boat and it was just amazing views all around. We made a few stops before we were at the island we were getting off at. When we were pulling up to one of the stops at a different island there were Indonesian women trying to sell things to us on the top of the boat. They were like offering soda and pringles and trying to reach to us on the top of the boat. I thought it was really funny. I went down to go get money and got off to negotiate with them for a soda.


 Picture of me hanging out with the boat crew on top of the boat.







 I actually got kind of burnt just from that boat ride because I didn't notice how much more intense the sun was and we were moving so it wasn't super hot.


The island doesn't have any cars and is very small. Their taxi's were actually horses with a 2 wheel wagon attached to it!

When we got to our hotel we just hung out and laid by the ocean area.
 This is where we stayed. Each one had 2 bunk beds and then an outdoor shower.






We got an early dinner and went to these swings in the water. This is a common sunset there! I wish I could resubmit my high school year book picture with this one.

The next day we rented bikes and wanted to go around the whole island. It took under 2 hours to go around the whole thing.














We got a nice buffet breakfast with a view.
Then we stopped at one of the beaches. I got a 30 min massage for $8. There were also people selling bracelets and such.



We went back to the hotel and hung out there for a bit and then again got an early dinner because we were eating bigger breakfasts and skipping lunch and eating earlier dinners. It was one of the girls, Alison's, 21st birthday so we got cocktails at dinner and spent a couple hours eating there. Afterward, myself, Jenna and Alison went into the town for a little bit and a lot of places had promotions for your first drink free so we went to a few of those. There were a couple places with live bands and it was a lot of fun. It was interesting because almost everyone we met was Australian. Bali is a vacation place for Aussies.

On Sunday we got a breakfast again in town and then got on the boat to head back to Bali. Once back we wanted to go to this place that was suppose to be super pretty for sunset but we got there just past the sunset so we couldn't see too much. We explored it a bit and then got dinner there. I got a large Bintang beer - which is the beer of Bali and a large water. You can't drink the faucet water so I had to buy water bottles everywhere. I hated having to pay for water since I normally don't mind drinking tap water. At restaurants they upcharged the water bottles to like $2 for a small one where you can go to a convenience store and get a 1500ml water bottle for 80 cents!

The next day a couple of us had an off stomach. The food at that place was definitely the cheapest we ate at. I got chicken cordon bleu- I don't know why I thought that would be good because on the menu it was spelt "chicken gordon bleu" and it ended up having gravy on it. The water also tasted a little funky so I just stopped drinking that water and didn't get anything that would upset my stomach. By the end of the night I felt better.

So many people drove mopeds in Bali! Literally you would see an entire family on one. There was once a guy, a women, and their child on one. This was more common though with the parent driving with the kid in the front.







Monday morning we went shopping and I was able to get a tank top and a few things for really cheap. $4 for the tank top and a pair of shorts for $4. Then we got picked up to go to Ubud which is another city north of Kuta in Bali. It is a more spiritual and quiet area compared to Kuta.

We had a lot of our transportation set up before we went to Bali... it was nice to have it pre arranged but I think if we would have set it up there we could have got it for a lot cheaper because it is so easy to negotiate and I've heard that transportation is normally really cheap there.

Anyway, we got lunch right away and this was the view at lunch. There are a lot of rice fields there and it was very pretty.

 Picture of our hotel in Ubud. This is obviously only one angle but there was actually two pools and the otherside was just as pretty looking.

There were so many of these flower like things on the ground everywhere in Bali. Finally someone asked what they were and they are offerings put out by the people. Like something for their religion or beliefs.

Ubud also has a lot of wild monkeys. They told us not to leave anything on our balconies because the monkeys will take them. We were also told that some are nice but some can be mean so just to be careful. But when we were arrived they were literally everywhere! There were always like three on the streets just walking around and you could see a ton just on roofs and in the trees. This picture is one where a guy gave it a banana.








That day I got an hour massage on the street for $8! At night we just ate at the hotel because we got one free dinner. It was pretty good and just relaxing to hang out.

Tuesday we had a free buffet breakfast and then got picked up to go to the safari park to ride elephants.

Right when we got there we just walked in and they gave us food to feed them and we could touch them and then we just hopped on the elephant where the seat was. It's crazy how little rules they tell you compared to the states.

But it was a neat experience! Then we watched a show where the elephants did different tricks and like walked on a balance beam. 













 Afterward they had a buffet lunch for us which was super good! Then we got taken back to the hotel and we hung out by the pool for a bit.





Then we went shopping and we were then going to get dinner. While shopping it started down pouring! Since we were in Bali it rained almost everyday but typically for a short period of time. However, this time it was raining harder than any other time and it didn't look like it was going to stop. So we all just started sprinting to the restaurant. The monkeys were freaking out too and they were so loud running through the trees.

This picture was taken less than 20 minutes after it started raining and look at those puddles already! 


 But dinner was super good and we all reflected on our time in Bali so far.





 Wednesday, our last day, we again had buffet breakfast and got picked up for our rice field ATV trip. The description of the trip was something like, "enjoy a nice ATV ride with a view of the beautiful rice fields." Haha it was so intense and dangerous feeling! I got to ride on my own but most everyone else rode in doubles. One worker showed us how to shift gears by saying "up 1,2,3,4. Down 4,3,2,1" and that was the directions. Haha I have driven a bike with manual gears but no one else had so everyone was so confused! When we were driving at one point I could hear someones engine so loud because they weren't shifting gears but they just didn't know really when or why to shift gears.

Anyway, we were going down some very steep, narrow paths in the middle of the rainforest and the workers were often off their bikes directing us on how to get down the next hill and standing there in case anything happened. Going down a few hills they hooked up our ATVs to a rope so they could maneuver us down! It was a lot of fun. We would drive on the road where it was beautiful views going kind of slow and then we would go into these paths with the intense terrain.




Picture is of a man waving in the rice fields.







After our trip we had lunch at the place and then was taken back to the hotel. Everyone we encountered in Bali was so nice.











 Back at the hotel I got one last massage. My forehead was peeling a little bit from being burnt earlier and during the massage everytime she touched my forehead I knew it was just getting worse. Haha afterward I looked in the mirror and she made it so much worse. It was kind of funny.

But we all got one last dinner in town and went shopping for a few last things before we got picked up that night to head to the Denpasar airport. Our flight left at 10:30pm and we arrived in Brisbane at 5:30am. The flight was only 5 hours but there was a two hour time difference. Luckily the flight wasn't full so I got an entire row to myself so I could sleep a bit. However once I finally got back to my room I took a 3 hour nap and was still pretty tired all Thursday.

Overall, Bali was a great trip and I had a lot of fun! It is crazy that, that was only 7 days and Southeast Asia is going to be about 15!

I've heard that the Vietnam airport employees rip you off when you try to return to the country... However, in Bali that didn't happen and I couldn't see how that would happen because it seemed like the employees were all pretty legit and we were in an international airport. I'm assuming SE Asia will have similarities to Bali but I could be completely wrong.

Also, when getting back to Bond I thought that I would just kind of be going my own way again and that I wouldn't really see anyone I knew. But right when I got back I saw a good amount of people that I've met here who asked me how my trip was and acknowledged they haven't seen me in awhile. It was weird to realize that I actually have made a network while being here with familiar faces and acquaintances.  


One girl went to both New Zealand and to Bali. She said that Bali was a better experience, but New Zealand was a better trip. Because in Bali she got to see more that she wouldn't normally see but New Zealand was like more where she could see herself living. I wish I could have fit New Zealand into my traveling but the more I think about it, I think it will be better that I do it at a later time. If I did it at the end I don't think I would be as appreciative of it because I would just be wanting to go home at that point. Where if I plan it for say, next year, I will be looking forward to it and it will be an exciting vacation!

One week left in the Gold Coast. For most people, they are going home in one week. I will write one last blog before I head off to SE Asia and leave Bond Uni forever!

Continuation of Week 10-12.5

Tuesday and Wednesday I had class so Kelsey hung out at the pool while I did school. We would have breakfast and then we would go our own ways. I think it worked out best. She would wake up earlier than me too but she would go into the lounge area and read a book.

Wednesday night we went to the Hub for trivia and the theme was Friends and Kelsey is an avid watcher. I am pretty bad at trivia but I really enjoy being in the atmosphere. We sat with 2 other girls I knew and Hannah met us there later. Kelsey was basically a one man team. We won a free jug (pitcher of beer) in the middle but overall we lost by half a point! It was really fun though.

Thursday I had a doctors appointment in the morning for my travels to get vaccinations and to take some drink so I don't get diarrhea. Afterward, Kelsey, Jenna, and I went to Burleigh Heads the beach and hiked up the hill/mountain to get to the other side and hung out there. We had dinner at BSKT cafe which was really good.

Friday we booked travels for the following weekend. Kelsey decided to extend her trip a week which is when Taylor was going to be here. It was nice that she did that because then her and Taylor could do a travel and see more of Australia and also I could go to class while they were gone and have some free time.

But for the following weekend we booked a travel to go to Byron Bay and Nimbin and rent a car. I was really excited to drive on the wrong side of the road! We would do this all with Taylor, Hannah and Jenna.

That night Kelsey and I went and saw the movie Focus at the movie theater. The movie was pretty good but it was fun to see how the theaters are and see a movie in Australia.

Saturday morning is when Taylor came. We had a lot planned right away for when she arrived. She dropped her suitcase off and her and Kelsey went to book their trip that Monday-Wednesday for Cairns at the Great Barrier Reef.

Then we met Hannah's friends who were in town that were long boarding the east coast of Australia. They started in Melbourne and were finishing in Brisbane so their stop in the Gold Coast was at the very end. They were very energetic!

We all went to get lunch at the country club place on the ocean near the koala park and then went to see the koalas and kangaroos. I think everyone enjoyed it. At night Kelsey, Taylor, and I went to the Hub and just got drinks and hung out.

Sunday morning we had to wake up at 3am because we were going hot air ballooning! It was an early start. We got picked up and drove out to where we were going up. It was crazy to just rise up into the air. It was so pretty out in the morning too. Really neat that I got to do that.

Afterward we were driven to O'Reileys winery to have a champagne breakfast which was super good. It was also a beautiful area where we were.

When we got back I was exhausted. Taylor and Kelsey went to the beach and I had to take a nap at my place before I met up with them a couple of hours later.





That night we got dinner at the Cardamon Pod which is the healthy restaurant that I actually think is really good with everyone and Jenna.
Afterward we just went back to my place and watched a movie because Kelsey and Taylor had to go to the airport early in the morning Monday.

Monday I had some class and it was really nice to just have some alone time. I also worked out for a bit both Monday and Tuesday which was nice to do.

Tuesday I also had class and in the afternoon Sydney and I went to the casino to play some blackjack. I lost but it was fun.

Wednesday I had class and finished an assignment that would be due while we were in Byron so I just finished it up before Kelsey and Taylor got back. It sounded like Taylor and Kelsey really enjoyed Cairns and it was nice to hear about their trip.

That night we got dinner at Slyders which was a new burger restaurant near campus and it was good. I got a fish burger and they had all different ones. Afterward we went to the Hub for trivia. The questions were more difficult and random and had more Harry Potter questions that neither Taylor or Kelsey really knew much about. But again, I just enjoy being around trivia... and I knew maybe one answer.

Thursday morning we got breakfast and then I went to go pick up the car. It took awhile to get the car because the worker was a bit chatty. He also told me that since I didn't want to pay for insurance I was signing off for liability of $3500. He then said that I was risky and that no one has taken that risk in a few years. Haha. He made me nervous so I took the $22 a day insurance. Even though I made it back safe and sound... now I wish I would have saved the $66 haha :)

It was pretty crazy to drive on the wrong side of the car and the wrong side of the road! It was exhilarating. I got back and picked everyone up and we were off. It was on and off rain and it said it was suppose to rain the whole time we were there but it ended up being very small times of rain and otherwise nice out!
Also, there was a festival going on in Byron Bay that we didn't have tickets for and we were unsure if the city would be blocked off or if it would be easy for us to find cheap tickets or what. We were mainly planning on not going to the festival because it was expensive. Turned out that the festival was a few miles away so the town itself wasn't too busy which was super nice. Even though all the hostels were booked out and we literally got the last beds.

We shopped a bit when we were there and got dinner. Then we went out at night and there was a lot of live bands performing and it was a really fun night.

In the morning we got breakfast and hung out. Byron Bay is just so relaxing and the town itself has such a calm feeling to it. We were walking toward the beach and there was a market going on. It ended up being like an Easter weekend market and it was really big and fun.
They also had these crazy portapotty bathrooms on the beach that was like an elevator. you push a button and the door slides open. Then inside there is elevator music and it tells you that you have a time limit of 10 minutes. Then you push a button for the toilet paper. Then to flush the toilet you have to put your hands under the sink. Everything was by the push of a button or swiping your hands.

We got a parking ticket because we were in a 2 hr spot and we spent well over that there. We tried to get out of it but we just had to split it.
(Don't worry mother).
 We then went to the lighthouse and hung out up there for awhile because its so pretty. 

We got dinner and it was my last goodbye to Byron Bay. Then we drove to Nimbin and the roads to get there is all side roads and super windy and like up mountains. My ears popped a few times but it was really pretty. But also intense since I was driving on the opposite side of the road. We go there kind of late and so we just hung out at the hostel. Our beds were in a teepee! It was raining a lot so it was loud in the teepee and night with the rain hitting the tarp like roof. It was actually not the greatest sleep. Definitely looked and sounded cooler than it actually was.

Saturday morning we went into the town and shopped around and had breakfast. Its an interesting town and Im glad Taylor and Kelsey got to see it. We weren't there too long and by noon or so we left to head back to campus.

Saturday afternoon we decided to return the car and then grab some dinner. I parked the car on campus and we got ready before we left. When we got out to the car the car didn't start... I realized I left the lights on. oops. Anyway most people were out of town because it was Easter weekend. We found a few people who wanted to help but no one had jumper cables. Finally one guy came and he helped and we got the car going!
Overall, driving a car in Australia I got one parking ticket, killed the battery only once, and got everyone home safely... I'd say it was a success.

Dinner was good but it was at a more healthy place. I've just been eating so healthy lately and its all really good food but more recently all I've been wanting was some substantial meals. Like a solid meat dinner or BW3 or Panera or something like that.

After dinner we just went back to my room and I taught Taylor and Kelsey how to play blackjack and poker.

Sunday morning (Easter) and the final four basketball game was on. We planned on watching the game in the lounge of my dorm drinking mimosas but we couldn't find the channel. So at half time we went to a bar near campus and watched the game there. So cool we won! We were the only 3 watching the game.

We went to the beach in the day and for dinner we went to a sushi train place. Neat you could just grab your food from the conveyor belt.






That night we went to a blockbuster just to check it out since all of them are gone in the states. It's funny because Netflix was never in Australia but it is in the states and thats most likely why Blockbusters are gone back home. Literally 2 weeks ago it came to Australia though so I'm curious how long the Blockbusters last!



Monday morning Taylor left. She left so quietly it was weird waking up to her not being there! I had some homework to do so Kelsey went to the beach all day and we met back up later. We went to the hub and had some drinks and dinner for her last meal.

Overall I think and hope that Taylor and Kelsey had fun! I'm pretty sure they did because I had a good time too with them here! They were here for a long time haha but it was fun to have people to do things with all the time. They got to spend some good amount of time with the friends I made here too so I'm glad we all mingled.

Tuesday was the Badger championship game so I went to the bar near campus with some friends. There was a better turn out of people to watch the game and it was fun even though we lost.

Wednesday (today - finally I'm all caught up on this blog) I had a lot to do before leaving for Bali tomorrow! I had class in the morning (my last class!!). Facetimed the parents while eating lunch. Went to the mall to run errands and then came back, worked out, and facetimed Julie. Glad I got to talk to everyone!

It is so weird that Bali is tomorrow. We planned this trip so early in the semester and I remember thinking that Bali signified the end of school... and now Bali is here. I extended my trip but it is still weird to think how fast things have flown by! I am excited for Bali but I also don't know what to expect. I think it will be a lot of fun. Their currency is like 10,000 rupees = 1 Australian dollar. So I exchanged money and I have millions of dollars!

I have talked to a good amount of people who are kind of homesick and are ready to go home. I wouldn't say I am ready to go home. However, I do have more thoughts now than in the beginning that I miss people and things back home. It is weird that if I hadn't extended my trip I would be going home in 18 days! Now it is 32.
When I fly back to Australia from Bangkok I have one last day in Australia before I fly home. I think I will feel very weird arriving back in Australia. Southeast Asia will be a big culture shock so returning back to Australia which has felt like home, will feel comfortable. But then to have the thought when getting back to Australia that I'm 'home' but really I am then leaving the country that I would call home the following day.
I am starting to be excited/nervous to return home. Since school has ended I feel like home is sooner than it actually is. Bali is a week and then I just have finals when I get back from Bali which is a week long.

I keep imagining the drive from O'hare to New Berlin and me just sitting there realizing that, that part of my life is completely over. The biggest chapter in my life, to date, has closed. I may have wrote this before haha but it is just the craziest thought! I can't even fathom the diverse amount of emotions I'll have. Anyway, writing this is making me over think it more than I already do. I will just have to continue living and appreciating every day I have here!

oops. Week 7-9 (Still behind)

Well I have a lot of catching up to do. Some things will be pretty brief since I have a lot to write and I don't really remember the small parts.


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.

Then after that we went to a red freshwater lake which was really fun and refreshing. Probably the best part of the trip.

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.

Wednesday we sailed to the Whitsunday Island and went to Whithaven beach which is the 9th prettiest beach in the world. It was very pretty! The sand is silicon or something like that so it never gets too hot. The water was so calm and refreshing!

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.

Half way mark

Writing these blogs is becoming more difficult. I'm going to continue writing them because it is nice to reflect on my experiences and my thoughts on everything I am doing. However, as more time goes by, living here feels more and more like it is my actual life. I would compare it to living in Madison... I wouldn't be writing a weekly blog on what I did each week.
So when writing these blogs it feels as if I am writing about what I am doing in my life rather than a once in a lifetime experience. Although I know this is a once in a lifetime experience, I don't actually know because it is my current life and it feels much more permanent. (It's like I know... but I don't really know - if that makes sense).  Anyway, in the end I know I will be happy I continued to write these.

First off, the cyclone was a disappointment in the Gold Coast. It just rained continuously for multiple days but the cyclone didn't make it to our city.

The days during the 'cyclone' felt pretty long because it was just dreary out and not much to do.

Saturday I met Aunt Lori at the airport. Like I previously mentioned, it is very easy to go through security so I decided to go through security and just meet her right out of the gate! It was great to see her. It didn't feel as long as it has been since I last saw her.

That night we checked into the hotel and got some dinner and had our first beer together.

Sunday we explored Brisbane. It was on and off rain which made it a little difficult to walk around but the city is really pretty.

 We did a ferry ride down the river which was my favorite part of Brisbane. It was really pretty and neat to see different suburbs on the river.

Brisbane is very much a walking city and there isn't anything specifically to do so we really just strolled around. In the afternoon we went to a random italian restaurant I found online. It was in a random location but it was really good. After we went back to go on the huge ferris wheel to see the city at night!

 Picture of the Brisbane river on our walk to the italian restaurant. There were a lot of people with fancy cameras out on this hill because the sunset was so pretty with the reflection of the clouds.












On Monday and Tuesday I had class but I met with Aunt Lori in the afternoon to hang out. On Monday it was still on and off rain from the remnants of the cyclone but we still were able to make it to the beach for a bit. Monday night Jenna, Aunt Lori, and I got Thai food for dinner. It was really good.
On Tuesday my Aunt and I went to this restaurant that had $10 chicken Parmesan with chips and a beer! I have been eyeing up this place for awhile now because of the chicken parm and the deal so I'm really glad we went there! It was pretty good and really good size portion. There was also a cricket match on so we watched that for a bit and I explained some of the limited knowledge I had to Aunt O. That night we also played a little cribbage!

On Wednesday I had class and then met up with Aunt O to head to the airport to go to Sydney. When we got there it felt like our hotel was in a slightly odd location... On a busy road and there seemed to be some sketchy people that walked by us. But it turned out that it was really close to the University of Sydney and was just on the outskirts of the downtown. haha our thoughts though initially we were a little worried. We got dinner at a burger place that had burgers from all different countries. I got a fish burger from a random country that had curry on it and it was really good! Afterward we just went back to the hotel, drank some beer, and I beat Aunt O in the card game Charlie.

Thursday we finally got to see the Sydney Opera House! There was a free tram that we could easily get on that took us right down town. We walked around a bit and it was amazing to finally see this in real life.









 We went to Manly Beach around noon and you have to take a ferry there. It was really pretty to see the city from afar and I really enjoyed the part of Manly. It is much calmer and easy going feeling. We got some fish and chips and ate on the beach and then strolled around. We walked a path to Shelley beach and laid out there for a bit. It was very relaxing but around 4pm we had to head back because we had to get ready for our Opera show! Getting back took a little longer than expected because of the public transportation we were using and the busy time of the day. We didn't get back until a little before 6. Our plans went from us both showering to us just taking a body shower to neither of us showering and just changing our clothes and washing our faces because of the time restrictions that we didn't expect. After changing we went back to the Darling Harbour and grabbed a bite to eat. The food was really good. We got to the show around 7:45pm and it started at 8pm. The doors opened at 7 and the seats we had were first come first get so we were initially planning on getting there closer to 7 so we could get the best seats. However, when we got there, we still got the best seats in our section because the show wasn't sold out so we were rushed for no reason!

The show was great and it was called Club Swizzle. I am so glad we went to a show at the opera house! How neat to say that. It wasn't an opera nor really a show that had a plot but it was an entertaining show to watch and was very funny.

On Friday morning we did our morning ritual where we got ready and went down for the free breakfast and coffee. It was really just cereal and bread but it was still free. It was also kind of funny because when we were playing cards the other night we saw them putting out the breakfast AND the juices at 11pm. So those juices sit there ALL night until breakfast is over. Haha I still had some orange juice.

We rode one of those tourist buses that drives you around the city. It was a beautiful day and it was neat to see the city with a tour guide and just sitting and observing.

In the photo is part of the bus and a shot of the opera house. I think this is a pretty picture. 

 Hey
 Oma!
















 There was a cricket game going on between West Indies and South America. The game started at 2:30 but since the games can go for 10 hours we decided to go around 4:30. The game wasn't sold out so we were able to really sit wherever. South America was up first and they were doing so well and it was really entertaining with how many hits they were getting. Then the West Indies were up and they were not getting nearly as many hits.

We stayed for the entire game and South American ended up winning by a good amount. I really enjoyed going to this game. We stayed for about 4 and a half hours and watched the whole game. We looked it up and it turns out that the world cup games are every 4 years and each time it is in a different host country. So it was even cooler to realize that we were seeing such a rare game. 






When there is a wicket or a player hits 6 points fire goes off in the stadium. Haha Aunt Lori and I loved the fire and it was one of our favorite parts. Real fire.












That night we got back we just played Charlie in the lobby and relaxed a bit before heading to bed.

Saturday morning we went to a market which was really neat but had a lot of hipster clothes and neither of us bought anything. Then we went to another market which was in Chinatown and had a lot more touristy things and we bought a decent amount there.

We then had to head back to the hotel to grab our luggage for the airport. Getting back to the Gold Coast was nice because of how much of a rural feeling it has to it compared to Sydney. I greatly enjoyed going to Sydney, but it is not somewhere I would ever want to live or stay for an extended period of time just because I am not a huge city person. I would equate the city to New York City. So if someone loves NYC they would love Sydney. I enjoy NYC when I go for a short period of time as the same with Sydney.

Saturday afternoon Aunt Lori and I got dinner at a restaurant near my school. It was very calm and a good dinner. Afterward we headed back to her hotel and we stayed there.

Sunday was going to be our busy day. We went to a market in the morning which was pretty neat. We both bought an egg and bacon sandwich as well as an iced coffee which were really good and great purchases. I also bought 2 tie dyed tank tops.

Then after that we headed to the wildlife park. The koalas were so cute! Aunt Lori got to hold one and I'm super glad she got to experience something that she has been wanting to do for years (literally). I also got to pet one and on Aunt Lori's camera there are a bunch of great photos of the koalas if you're looking for a better pic.

We also got to pet and feed the kangaroos which we both enjoyed too. We also heard Dingos howling at one another. There were other animals we saw but we decided that the koalas and kangaroos were our favorites.










 Afterward we were waiting at the bus stop to head back but we then saw a rummage sign. We decided to head to our first Australian rummage sale. There was a little Aussie girl outside and she was acting as our salesperson. She was really cute with her accent. We didn't buy anything.

Then we were both really hungry and there was a beach right up the street so we decided to see if there was a restaurant nearby.

Turns out there was this country club esq place and it was absolutely beautiful! It was like a 360 degree window view of the beach and ocean. The food was great and overall amazing ambiance. So glad we found this place and I am definitely going back.








 In the afternoon there was another market we went to in Surfers Paradise. Surfers is much more touristy and it was very busy for a Sunday night. We were able to find some more touristy things to buy in stores but we weren't at the market very long.
That night I helped Aunt O pack up and we played one last game of cribbage and Charlie. I beat her in cribbage and she might have beat me in Charlie... I don't remember... I already repressed the memory.

It was nice to get back to my school. We were going and doing so much it was nice to feel that sense of calm. I had such a great time with her but returning to my daily routines and life felt nice. It was a weird feeling because my "life" that felt so familiar and comfortable was being back in the Gold Coast. It was also odd to realize how independent I have been and that I have only had to be responsible for myself since I've been here.

On Monday it felt kind of weird being back at school because it felt like I was gone for awhile. Tuesday, like most Tuesdays, was my favorite day. I got to see a bunch of friends. At night I played volleyball and then a few of us went to the casino for the drink deal and I also won $50! I'm sure I could have won a lot more but one of my friends made me stop playing.


I read someone elses blog today and there was a quote that said the days at the start of the program, "110. That’s so much time, I thought, until I arrived and suddenly that number has already been halved."

This is such a perfect quote. Where has the time gone. It felt like just the other day I was planning with aunt O to visit me. Now she has already left! It is going to be so hard to leave in 2 months.

However, I have been thinking a lot about certain things that I have been doing here that I want to do or implement in my life when I get back home. First off, I need a new wardrobe. Jk mom. But really, I haven't been very stressed since being here and although school is much easier and I don't have a job.. I still am very relaxed. I do want to find a way to continue this more relaxed lifestyle. I don't know how yet... but I still have some time to figure it out.

There are also so many activities in Madison that I don't attend and I've realized that doing events or being with people is what I enjoy most so I am going to try and participate more in events back home. That doesn't mean put more on my plate and be in more student orgs or have more jobs. Just, with friends go to different events or activities nearby. 

Although I am not in the greatest mood every single day, I think I have been very appreciate of the beautiful days and my ability to experience Australia in the way that I am. Almost every morning when I open the drapes and see that it is nice out I think to myself what a beautiful day and it adds a little positive 'light' to my day.

Week 4, Melbourne, Week 5

The days before we left for Melbourne went by pretty fast. We left Wednesday afternoon so we had a very short week. Sunday I was able to catch up on school work so I wouldn't be thinking about homework I had to finish while on vacation. I was excited to continue my traveling.

Wednesday afternoon Jenna and I left for the airport. Hannah met us in Melbourne the following day. At the airport the security was a joke. We were laughing about how our expectations on the security far exceeded the actual security. We got there and we both started chugging our water bottles before security. While doing that a TSA came over and said we didn't have to do that and that there was no restrictions on liquids with carry ons. Then we notice no one is taking off their rain coats or shoes or anything to go through the metal detector. Rather, people are at their own will just walking through it. I was waiting for someone on the opposite side to tell me I was allowed to walk through but then I realized it was more of a you just walk through. Once I walked past I grabbed my bags and we were done. It was all in all less than a 10 minute process. Then once boarding the flight they just looked at our boarding pass that we printed from online to tell us where our seat was! Never asked for ID's or anything.

We got to our hostel around 1am so we just went to bed. It was an 8 bed room we were staying in so it was weird at first going to bed with all these random people around you.

We decided that every day we would wake up early so we could experience Melbourne as much as possible while there. Melbourne is really known for its art and culture and food/coffee. So of course we were going to try and eat at as many places as possible!

Thursday morning we tried to learn the streets of the city and just figure out where things were. We had breakfast in a restaurant alleyway which was cute.

I ordered a mocha and received a very sugary coffee drink with ice cream in it. I was pretty disappointed because it was not what I wanted at all. After breakfast I ended up just getting a coffee at a different coffee place which was really good. Ordering coffee is very difficult in Australia because their coffee names are much different than back home. Even ordering a regular "coffee" is called something different. I'm still trying to learn.

We met Hannah at the hostel and we got a late lunch/dinner at an italian place in an alleyway. Turns out that this alleyway all the hosts compete with others to get customers into their restaurant. They almost attack you and start offering you deals and once you show hesitation they stack on an additional offer! We were first offered free appetizers and then when we were considering it he was like okay okay and your first drinks free. All the places in the alleyway did that. (picture shown is a typical alleyway in the CBD downtown)

 There were cool alleyways like this but more to just walk down.

We then went to a happy hour which was buy one cocktail get the second free... so for two cocktails it was only $18!! It's basically like they were giving them away for free! (hah). 

Friday morning we had to wake up early to get on our tour bus to the Great Ocean Road and to see the 12 apostles. We left around 7am. The tour was a bus of 25 people. It felt like we were a part of an Asian tour group haha. It was my two friends and I and then one girl from the UK that we met and the rest were from different parts of Asia.

The tour guide was chatty. He likes biking. Loves cycling. He's 28. Born in Melbourne. Traveled and biked around Asia for a year. His best friend was getting married the next day and the following day he had a short bike competition he was in. haha learned too much. He would say he was going to stop talking for a bit.. and then 5 minutes later he would start talking about something in the microphone. Did I say he liked to cycle yet?

 Jenna (left), Hannah (middle), and myself at the start of the Great Ocean Road.













Anyway,  the ride on the great ocean road was beautiful. Although it was long, we had amazing views. We stopped a few times on the road to take pictures and to look around but for the most part we were just driving.

 We arrived at the 12 apostles around 2pm. It was so neat to see. It's something that you think you will never actually see in person. The 12 apostles are so well known and photographed and it was weird that I was actually there witnessing it with my own eyes!

We were able to walk around different parts of the 12 apostles for a few hours. That way we got to see so many different angles and views of the formations.

At around 5:30pm we left to head back and just stop quickly for dinner. We got back to the hostel around 10pm and we were pretty tired. It was a very long day with a lot of driving but well worth it.

I'm so glad that I experienced this tour. It is a must if you are in Melbourne. I'm pretty sure it is on a top 10 list of must see's or must drives. Either way, it is absolutely beautiful and I would recommend it to anyone if they have the opportunity.





On Saturday we woke up early to go to the Queen Victoria market that is everyday. It was cute and had a variety of things but we weren't there for too long. I could have probably spent a couple additional hours there but most of the shops were similar. So then we went to get breakfast. We were recommend to go the Melbourne's first tea shop. It was tough to find and it was nothing that any of us were expecting. I originally thought it was Melbourne's first cafe but it was a first teashop. It was very cute! I really enjoyed this morning. It felt like a place that people would go back in the day and share their gossip with one another. The food was very good and the ambiance was spot on. (The ambiance is really what it's all about).

 Then we again were just going to explore the city because it was raining in the morning but it quickly turned into a beautiful day. We saw a good amount of people wearing Australia jerseys or green and gold.  We realized that there was a cricket going on that day but we didn't know when or where. We asked someone wearing a jersey about the game and they gave us details and that there was a first round game in Melbourne at 2:30pm. I was super excited and really wanted to go. I bought a jersey which was actually only $15! We were going to walk back to the hostel, change, get lunch, and then head to the game.

For lunch we went to Chin Chins which is Melbourne's 2nd best restaurant. It was pretty good. Very different from anything I've ever really had. I had a breaded fish and caramelized pork salad which had a zing to it but very good.

Then off we went to the game. It was the first match of the cricket World Cup and it was a big rivalry between England and Australia.
People don't really scalp tickets like they do in WI. However, there were people selling 3 tickets because they accidentally bought too many tickets. So we got those and went in.

We were sitting in our seats for about 10 minutes just watching this game where we had no clue what the rules were. Suddenly, something happened and the crowd went wild. On the big screen the word "wicket" was flashing big. This is a moment I will never forget. The crowd is so excited and yelling and I am just confused looking at the crowd. Then I look over to my two friends and they too have just a look of confusion on their face and are looking at the rest of the crowd. We all started laughing because we had no clue what was going on and we felt so out of place. It was such a weird/funny moment to be a part of.

I ended up asking a couple that was sitting next to us for the rules. They were from England and it was one of their first games too. But of course they knew the rules because their country plays the game. I started to catch on to the game and found it pretty interesting. It could be compared to our MLB. It's pretty long, not too exciting, but still has a huge fan base and people get excited for it.

However, I think I like cricket more than baseball. I'm going to try and watch the games during the world cup. It's a 6 week tournament. Australia is favored. I already put a bet on New Zealand winning against England this Friday... I should win!

Anyway, the games are typically very long. The allotted time was 2:30pm-10:30pm! We only stayed for about 2 hours. I am so glad we went to that. I hope to be able to go to another game while I am here but how neat that I went to a World Cup match!

For dinner we went to Lygons street which is known for fancy Italian. Since it was Valentines Day we decided to treat ourselves. The food was really good and I love Italian food so it hit the spot.

At night we wanted to go to a funky/different bar and asked for recommendations. We were told to go to the Croft Institute. It was difficult to find. You had to go down an alley way and you will run into garbage cans and you think there is nothing further but you had to keep walking past them and then turn down another alley way and then finally you were there.

 It is themed after a creep hospital/mental institution. The drinks you drank with syringes. It was a cool bar. We weren't there for long but we were glad we tried something different!

 On Sunday we signed up for a Sweets tour where we would walk around the city with a tour guide and taste test different sweets etc. It was something different and since Melbourne is known for it's food it was the place to do it!

Initially I wasn't going to do it because I'm not a huge sweets fan... but it was fun and there were so many options that you could find something you liked.

The people on the tour were all from different parts of Australia and it was neat meeting them and hearing about where they are from/suggestions they had.







A lot of the places we went to were owned by famous chefs. The guy on the right was our tour guide. He was on MasterChef Australia! He gave us all the inside information on the show and his experience. The guy on the left is a famous chef and he went on the show as a guest.

Overall, another good experience in Melbourne.

After the sweets tour we wanted to head to the beach just to see what it was like. It was a very hot day out. I thought the beach was absolutely beautiful. People say that you don't go to Melbourne for the beach which made me think it would be a crappy beach. But it was great. I think that saying means more that there is so much to do in the city you don't want to waste your days at the beach. But we walked around and were only there for a couple of hours but I loved all the boats and the skyline in the background.

For dinner we heard that this place called Movidas was good. The menu was very confusing and we didn't understand really any of it.

It's not that it was bad... but again our expectations for the food were much different. In the picture was my dinner. I ordered trout and was told that it was a more "substantial" dish. I was expecting a huge fried fish that would be very filling. This was very airy and light. Jenna and I were laughing at the food because of how different it was. Our waitress I think was getting a little annoyed. Then Jenna ordered this cheese dish that was $9 in addition to the trout. The waitress told us it was similar to a cheese platter.. because we didn't understand what it said on the menu. I wish I would have taken a photo of it because we were laughing so hard. It was literally 5 of the thinnest pieces of cheese ever! After the dinner I ordered more bread which I'm sure is politically incorrect but I was still hungry after my substantial dinner. The waitress charged us an extra $1.

Overall Melbourne was a great experience. I don't think I will make it back there during my time abroad so I am very glad I got to go. It was a different experience going to a real city rather than being in a beach city.

When we got back Monday morning a few people asked "how was Melbourne?" That is such a tough question.... I usually responded in "it was good" or it was fun. Unless they asked for more details then I would give them. How do you sum up such a diverse weekend into a short enough response that the listener actually wants to hear?

It made me realize that when I get back home and people ask "how was Australia" I am going to struggle in responding haha. Again, a whole semester abroad and a life changing experience can't be described in a few adjectives. But people also don't want to spend more than a few minutes listening. (Besides the few people that actually read my blog - you are the minority. Thank you).

Anyway, back at school on Monday was a little hectic. I had a project/presentation due on Wednesday that I was planning on completing Monday. But then a bunch of unexpected things came up. I had no money. The bank back home wasn't sending the correct bills. My iphone wasn't receiving or sending messages. My credit card balance was messed up. It was and it is tough to deal with these kinds of things being here.

Tuesday was a great day. I had class and got to see a bunch of friends throughout the day. Then at night the casino nearby has Tuesday night drinks $3. Which is an AMAZING deal. One of my friends asked if I wanted to go with her and some of her friends. Its crazy how such a small gesture can really influence my day.
I went to volleyball in the afternoon and then came back to my room to get ready. The bar was fun but then we went into the casino for a bit. I always knew I loved gambling... but I love gambling. haha. I played roulette once and lost my money. I decided I don't like that game that much since it is mostly based on luck. Then I moved to the blackjack table which I really enjoyed. I played that for a bit and my friends were just hanging out and watching since they didn't know how to play. I was trying to teach them a bit. I wanted to just keep playing. I honestly could have stayed there for another few hours/days. (hahaha). I ended up winning $20!

Wednesday (today) I did my presentation in my Drugs, Alcohol and Crime class. I chose my topic on money laundering with drug trafficking. I chose a pretty difficult topic compared to what others did. Overall I think it went well but I definitely made the presentation more difficult for myself because of my topic choice.

I also had the free lunch which is the BBQ on campus. At dinner they changed the menu.... and they took off chicken parm!! I was/am so disappointed! Literally my favorite food just not offered anymore!
Then at night was the Res Wars and it was basketball. It was fun and something to do.

There is suppose to be a huge rain storm coming to the Gold Coast in the next couple of days. I think it might be a cyclone and there are warnings for floodings. I am pretty excited for it. The few days when the lake on campus was flooding and the benches were completely under water... there were no warnings. I can't even imagine how much rain is to come! It will be interesting. I have big expectations for this. Pictures to come!

Aunt Lori flys in on Saturday afternoon. The heavy rain should be done by then. I am excited to see her! I feel as if I have really settled into my life here. I expected to be homesick at this point. I thought that by mid February I would really be wanting to see a family face.

I knew I would make friends abroad, but I thought I would be making temporary friends. Friends that would be my friends for the time being. I didn't really consider that I would make new friends here and that they would become the people I would go to. Friends that I would talk to about anything I would talk to my friends from home about. They aren't just people I will forget about the day I get back home.

With Aunt Lori coming I am excited. I am excited to see her in a way that I am excited to have a family member visit and experience this with me. I am glad that it is not an excitement based on homesickness and the desperate need to see my family. I look forward to her visit and my families visit and my friends visit. I continue to look forward to experiencing Australia with a range of people whether it be family, old friends, or new.