The end of my journey....

As I look back over the past four and a half months and the extraordinary journey that I have completed, I am so proud of how much I have grown and all that I have learned. In looking for something that would attempt to sum up all that I have done and all that I have became, I found a quote written by Mark Twain. He wrote,
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
This quote embodies everything that this experience has meant to me. Before I took this amazing leap into the unknown, I was timid and soft spoken, permanently a little homesick, and deathly afraid to leave my comfort zone. After flying halfway around the world (literally), and being escorted to my completely empty dorm room by a foreign student who spoke almost no English, I realized I was scared to death. I remember sitting on my bed, no internet, no phone, and no friends. I was alone and I was scared; I had just moved to a new city where I knew almost no one and was about to start at a new school, ten times the size of Saint Mikes, with nearly 20,000 students. I was overwhelmed and I didn't know how to use the trains or the buses. I felt nervous and scared and trapped. I didn't have a car, nor any of the essentials I needed to live. So, I took an adventure on the "green bus" in Wollongong and after a ride that lasted much too long, some terrible Thai food, and a trip to Woolworths, all was right in the world! I had done it; I had solved my first major dilemma! I had achieved both feeding myself and buying all the things necessary to begin my new life at International House(shampoo, toothpaste, clothes hangers, and a much needed box of "goon" ;) of course)!! I had overcome the first obstacle of my semester-long path to independence! And, I'll have you know, I did not stop there! I learned my way around, I traveled, and I experienced so much! I went to a play at the Sydney Opera House, traveled to Sydney, Melbourne, Nimbin, Byron Bay, The Blue Mountains, Cairns, The Gold Coast, I ran the Sydney Herald Half marathon, and the north island of New Zealand. I snorkeled The Great Barrier Reef and I went skydiving on North Wollongong Beach. I did every single thing that I wanted to do and more. But, most importantly, I made friendships that will last a lifetime. These new experiences and lasting friendships also taught me a lot about myself. I learned that I am impatient and I am stubborn. When I set my mind to something, it WILL get done no matter what the cost. Somewhere along the way, in between my always made bed, neatly stacked binders, and aligned shelves, I learned that I am anal. Totally, completely, anal. Thanks to my darling mother I am certain, I am a perfectionist. I have a routine and I stick to it. Same schedule every day. I like to eat the same things, go to the gym at the same time. I am a person of habit and I can't help it. So, I embrace it! I am predictable and I know it. Actually, I love it. What you see, is what you get. I wear my emotions on my shirtsleeve and you always know what I'm thinking. I used to hold back, I was indecisive and did not demand what I wanted. I took my food allergies lightly and accepted less than good service from both restaurants and my school cafeteria. It was like I was always depending on someone else to make change, someone else to advocate for me. Then, I arrived here, all alone. I was the only one who knew what I wanted, what I needed. With this, I learned that I have a voice. I learned to stand up for myself in a respectful and adult way. I learned that if I tell people what I need, they will get it for me. When I learned to communicate, I learned what a helpful tool it can be in every aspect of my life. We must communicate everyday, in relationships, with friends, at school, with parents. Communication allows one person to know what another person is thinking or feeling. Such a simple and necessary thing, yet we do it so rarely that it becomes something that we dread, even avoid. Why is that? Are we afraid of what others think of us, how they feel about us? If we let down that wall, allow others to hear and even see what we think, what we feel, we could be vulnerable. We are scared that we could fail or be rejected. I think this fear is always present, but I have learned in more ways than one, throughout my time here that I would rather communicate, tell others how I feel, what I expect, and what I want, than to hold it all inside and never express my feelings. I can honestly say that I have no regrets about my time spent here. I have put myself out there, I have let my guard down, and I have experienced everything I hoped I would. This amazing adventure has taught me to be fearless,to meet people, to travel, and to love with all my heart. I learned that if you find love, don't ever let it go. I learned that sometimes things are out of my control. I cannot control other people, or the weather, or what happens at home. I cannot minimize distance or turn back time. I am here, now, and I must live in the moment, and experience everything I can. I learned that I love my family more than anything in the whole wide world, and I can't imagine my life without them in it! This journey has made me realize the importance of a lot of little things that I didn't know I appreciated so much before I came here, like my car "Janie," she is my lifeline, my queen sized bed at home, my little (big!) pain in the ass brother, my extended family that luckily live so close to me, and my mom and dad whom I truly adore. They have enabled me to have this amazing experience and they mean so much to me. I now know, that I will always be close enough to have them in my life. I couldn't live without them. I have learned to challenge myself and to expect nothing less than the best. As I begin to look to the future, this journey has been a stepping stone for the rest of my life. I have new goals for my career and dreams of traveling. I now know that I am able and strong and capable of great things. I've overcome so many obstacles to complete this experience and I am so proud of myself and everything that I have accomplished. This will be my final post, as I only have 3 short days left in Australia. I have enjoyed writing this blog so much and I look forward to reading back through all of my posts and reliving this journey many more times. So, to all the wonderful people I have met this semester, goodbye for now. And for all my family and friends at home, I will see you soon! Thanks to everyone for reading my blog and for all your support. <3 -Britt

The Gold Coast!

Last Saturday, (Holy shit, it was already a week ago!) my friend Sarah and I went to Sydney to catch our flight to the Gold Coast. We left Wollongong a little bit early so we could catch a bus to Bondi Beach before our flight left. Neither of us had been to Bondi yet and we wanted to make sure we went there before we went home! It was really beautiful and we walked around all the little shops and took lots of pictures. Unfortunately, we are moving into Australia's winter months here now and it was way too cold to actually go to the beach, so we just observed it :) Then we caught the train to the airport and flew out to The Gold Coast! It was a really short flight, only an hour and a half! When we arrived, we took a bus to my friend Emily's apartment. She is a friend of mine from high school and she let us stay at her apartment! It was awesome to catch up with her; I haven't seen her forever! We reminisced about high school, friends, and boyfriends...we had some good girl talk! We explored Surfers Paradise, spent an afternoon at the beach, and watched tons of movies! It was a really relaxing trip! I got to sleep in and eat real food and study a a lot for my exams! Their apartment was wonderful, it was a two bedroom, two bathroom apartment on the 14th floor of Surfers Plaza. It had a gorgeous view and tons of space! Sarah and I had our own little room beside the living room with a pull out couch, where we could keep all of our stuff! It was a really great last trip and I enjoyed it a lot!
I had my first exam today and I have one more on Thursday and then I leave to go home on Friday. I can't believe my time here is coming to an end :( All my friends are slowly starting to leave and I'm getting really sad about leaving all these wonderful people behind! It has been a life changing experience that I will never forget.

I-House Formal/Farewell Wollongong :(

After a long night on Thursday, Friday night held even more festivities. It was the infamous I-House Formal. Everyone in my dorm got dressed up, took tons of pictures, and boarded a bus to the Portofino Wedding and Convention Center. It was a beautiful place and we were all really excited! They served us a three course meal and it was an open bar for all night! The "I-House Band" performed a few songs and then there was an awesome DJ for the rest of the night! It was a really great opportunity to see everyone one last time and say goodbye! We all finished classes last week and people are starting to head out. I have exams June 19th and the 24th and then I will be flying back to VT on June 25th. I can't wait!

IFSA Butler Farewell Dinner

This past Thursday, Kayla, Alex, James and I got on what would be one of our last journeys to Sydney :( We rode the train to central station and then caught a cab to Darling Harbor. Our dinner was on a floating restaurant boat called The South Steyne. It was made in the same shipyard as the Titanic, which I thought was pretty cool! We had a really nice, three course meal and watched a slide show of our semester, all of our friends, and lots of fun trips we've taken! It was nice to see everyone one last time, but really sad to say goodbye! I have made some wonderful friendships her in Australia, that I know will last a lifetime! I am so happy to have had this experience, but so sad to leave! It was a once in a lifetime opportunity!

Kuranda Rainforest, Barron Falls, Port Douglas, and Mossmans Gorge

On Sunday, our last day in Cairns :( we rented a car and went exploring for the day! First, we drove up to the Kuranda Rainforest and walked along a long path that led to the Barron Falls. It was a beautiful waterfall that came down a huge gorge. We took lots of pictures and then walked back to the car! Then we drove into Port Douglas, about an hour away to visit their Sunday Market. It was so amazing, there were vendors everywhere selling handmade crafts, jewelry, furnature, fresh fruit, chocolates, coffee, anything you could ever imagine! I bought some really cool jewelry and we ate lunch at this awesome little cafe (with gluten free wraps!!) soo delicious! After lunch, we walked back to the car and headed to Mossmans Gorge. It was a really pretty gorge with huge rocks and lots of swimmers! It was a really cool view and we wished we had more time so we could jump in! After visiting the Gorge, we headed back down to our apartment on Trinity Beach to get showered before our flight back to Sydney. Once we got to the airport, we had an hour wait to get on our flight, then a three hour flight into Sydney. After examining the train schedule, I realized that if we took a cab to Wolli Creek we could make the train at 840 back to North Wollongong. This is, if our cab driver knew anything about driving or directions! He got lost three different times, took us to three different train stations (none of them being Wolli Creek), sped the entire way flying over speed bumps and swearing, he barely spoke a word of English, and could not follow directions he got from anyone on the street. I was honestly scared for my life! FINALLY, after missing our train, we arrived at Wolli Creek and thankfully we were alive! After all that, he tried to charge us 33.00 for our ride! I couldn't believe it. He made us miss our train AND he was trying to charge us for his poor sense of direction! I was so angry and I told him that we were not going to pay that. We could get to Central Station in Sydney for 20 dollars and that was farther away than Wolli Creek. First he dropped it to 25, then down to 20 after much complaining on my part :) I was not in the mood for this guy and he definitely knew it! After getting ripped off by our cab driver, we had to wait fifteen for a train that didnt even go to North Wollongong. Then, after waiting 45 more minutes at the next station, and switching trains, we were on our way back to North Wollongong! After a 7and a half hour journey, we were finally back home!! The Leonards are staying in Cairns for a few more days and then coming back to Sydney on Wednesday. Kay and I are going to go up and stay with them on Wednesday night to explore Sydney and go out for my birthday dinner :) then, head back here at some point on Thursday. Thursday night, I am planning to go out to dinner with a bunch of my friends and then to a club in town called Hotel Illawara where they have Retro Night every Thursday. It should be a blast! I can't believe I am finally turning 21! I am kind of sad that I won't be home to celebrate with all my friends, but I'm excited to be here and spend time with all the awesome new people I've met! Only one more month until I head back to Vermont. I can't believe how fast it has flown by! I will write again soon!

Trinity Beach and Cairns!!

Thursday morning, Kay and I caught a train to Sydney where we met Martha and Jayme and caught our flight to Cairns. When we arrived, after our three hour flight, we were shuttled to our beach front apartment on Trinity Beach, about 20 minutes outside of Cairns. Our apartment was beautiful and we had a deck with an amazing ocean view! Our first night there, we got settled, went down and checked out the beach, and grabbed dinner to bring back to the apartment. We were all exhausted! Kay and I watched a movie and crashed early! We got up early the next morning to go scuba diving and snorkeling with Reef Experience. We had breakfast on the boat and drove about 45 minutes out to The Great Barrier Reef. It was 86 degrees and the water was 84 degrees; it was the perfect day! On our trip out, I got really seasick and dizzy. I sat out on the top of the boat and tried to sleep until we got there. Once the boat stopped, I felt a lot better! I put on my wet suit, flippers, and goggles and got ready for my first dive. They put a weighted belt around my waist and an air tank on my back. I felt like I weighed 500 pounds and I was going to sink as soon as I dropped in the water. I got in and began to practice using my airtank and going under the water with my instructor, Alex. I was secretly scared to death and I couldn't get my breathing right. It is so unnatural to breath solely out of your mouth; I always felt short of breath or like I needed to come up for air. Alex held my hand through most of my dive and I ended up having an amazing time! We dove to 25 feet and saw beautiful coral, hundereds of different types of tropical fish, and lots of other wildlife! It was gorgeous!! I don't think any words could explain what we saw! After my dive, we snorkeled around and saw lots more of the reef before lunch. Then we got back on the boat and ate and suntanned on the top of the boat. Then, all of a sudden, we heard rescue,rescue, rescue!! Immediately, a rescue diver and a rescue boat raced out to the last group of divers. A woman had a pain in her ear and shook her head. When she did that, her regulator had fallen out and she had inhaled so much water, she was frothing and puking. They called a rescue helicopter, but luckily once they got her on the boat and helped her, she was doing ok and she didn't have to leave on the helicopter. It was really scary and we were all glad she was ok!! After that long delay, we went out to our second destination on the reef and I snorkeled again! It was so much fun! Then, we got back on the boat again for wine, and cheese, and fresh fruit on our way home as the sun was setting. It was the perfect day :)

Sydney Herald Half Marathon!

I feel like I haven't written in forever! I've been crazy busy trying to get all my end of the semester work done and plan my last trips! Soo I have lots to write :) This past weekend, I went to stay with friends and run the Sydney Herald Half Marathon! The race started at 7:30am on Sunday morning, which was early, but it was a beautiful morning! I got to see so much of Sydney as I ran and I finished the race in 2 hours and 2 minutes. When I got to the finishline, my friends were all waiting! It was so amazing to have them there when I finished for hugs and support! I'm so lucky to have met such awesome people throughout my time here! I love my I-House family! Also at the finishline were Kayla's parents, Martha and Jayme Leonard! It is their 25th anniversary this year and they celebrated it by coming to visit Kay in Australia! It is so great to have them here!! I left for a quick shower and a nap and then met back up with them for dinner at this awesome pub in The Rocks. We had an awesome dinner and some wine to celebrate :) and listened to live music. Then, we caught a train home and I went straight to bed; I was so tired and sore!! Martha and Jayme came back to Wollongong yesterday to walk around the town, the beach, the campus, and attend the farewell ceremony. I can't believe that I am already attending farewell ceremonies, it seems like I haven't been here long enough to be leaving and I still have so many things I want to do!! Kay and I are heading back to Sydney tomorrow to meet her parents and catch out flight to Cairns in the afternoon. We're going to scuba dive and snorkel the great barrier reef, go to the rainforest, and soak up as much sun as possible!! I'm really looking forward to it! When we get back, we only have two weeks of school left, so I'm going to have to work hard to finish all my final papers and study for my final exams! For my last trip before I head back to Vermont, my friend Sarah and I are going to fly out to the Gold Coast to stay with my friend Emily from high school. It should be a fun trip for the end of the semester and it should still be really warm up there, so we can get nice tans before we head home :)

Weekend!

I just finished up classes for the week and I am looking forward to a weekend in Wollongong! I haven't been here for the weekend in over a month! I am looking forward to getting lots of work done and relaxing! Sunday, I'm going to the Comedy Festival in Sydney with a bunch of friends. It should be a blast! After this weekend, I'm running a half marathon in Sydney, going to Cairns to snorkel the Great Barrier Reef, and then the last weekend in mu is my 21st birthday!! My classes are done June 2nd and then my friend Sarah and I planned a trip to go to the Gold Coast to visit my friend Emily over study break! I have exams June 19th and the 24th and then I'm flying home June 25th! It is such a bitter sweet feeling to be coming to the end of this experience. I have had the time of my life, seen so many extraordinary places, and met lifelong friends! But it will also be so great to go home and see all my family and friends and go back to Saint Mikes to finish my senior year!I can't believe time has flown by so fast!

Back in Wollongong...

Yesterday morning, I got back from a beautiful weekend in Byron Bay. We enjoyed the sunshine and I think I even got some of my tan back that I've been missing so m
uch! The Mardi Grass festival in Nimbin can hardly be put into words. It was the most hippie/crazy/amazing day ever. I loved people watching and checking out all the crazy shops, live bands, and street performers. We sat in a little park area and watched a band we really liked called April Maze.then, we headed back to our hostel in Byron Bay, where we had a cookout, drank wine, and played cards before heading out to the bars. I was only out for a short time, before going back to lay on the beach and look at the stars. It was a really beautiful night! Sunday, we were all tired, but we had to check out of our hostel by ten am. So, we headed down to sleep on the beach all morning! After lunch, we went on a sea kayaking. Adam and I shared a kayak and we were the last to leave shore. After watching everyone crash, I was nervous but excited! We got in our boat and started out! I took a few big waves to the face, but thankfully I shielded Adam so he stayed nice and dry ;) We made it all the way out to the group without crashing! My arms were tired, but we kept paddling looking for dolphins in the water. Unfortunately, we didn't see any dolphins, but we saw lots of fish, a sting ray, and some ridiculous surfers! After waiting awhile for dolphins, we were unsuccessful so we headed back to shore. The leaders told us that we needed to wait for a wave, then paddle as hard as we could, and ride the wave into shore. Now, when I say "ride the wave into shore" it actually turned more into eating shit/drowning/nearly dying. When the wave came our boat just went straight down and I crashed into the water. Sand in my hair, bathing suit bottoms off, and water up my nose, I swam up gasping for air. Adam described the look on my face as priceless, but once he realized I was alive he went to retrieve the boat. I made it to shore finally and took off my helmet and unzipped my life jacket. All I wanted was to go back to the hostel and shower and change. After a shower and some food I felt much better! Then, we went to the beach bar and had a glass of wine and listened to a live band while we waited for the bus to leave. After a ten hour bus trip back, I made it to Sydney and took a train back to Wollongong. I had a really awesome weekend and loved Byron Bay and Nimbin!

byron Bay and Nimbin

This morning, we arrived in Byron ba after a brutal 10 hour bus ride. The bus was nearly full and we all had to double up in our seats. It was really hard to sleep and I was exhausted when we arrived! We took a long walk after we dropped our stuff at our hostle and explored the bay, a lighthouse, and the easternmost point of Australia. It was a really beautiful day out, its awesome to be up north where it is still really hot!! Its getting cooler in Wollongong now that they are moving into their fall and winter months. Then, there was a group of people taking surf lessons, but I was exhausted! So, I went back to the room and took a two hour, much needed nap! In the afternoon, I layed on the beach and went for a long run to explore. I just took a shower and got ready for our night out at Cheeky Monkeys for dinner and drinks. I'm rooming with my friends Adam, Alex, and James and they are all sound asleep. For once in my life, I'm ready early and just waiting for them to all get up! Tomorrow, we are leaving at 1030am to go to Nimbin all day for the Marty Grass festival, I heard it is supposed to be a crazy festival! It should be a really good time! Sunday, we are going sea kayaking and then headed back toSydney Sunday night. We will arrive back in Sydney sometime monday morning and then I have to get a train back to Wollongong. It was awesome last week, when we got home we had Monday off, so I could sleep all day. Unfortunately, this week, I do have class and I know I'm going to be exhausted! I am looking forward to having the weekend off next weekend to relax and study! It is much needed! I have been on the run for a month straight! Monday, I am meeting with one of the directors of my program to figure out my exam schedule and figure out my flight home. Still missin' everyone in VT...can't wait to see everyone in June!

The Blue Mountains!

Sorry I haven't written in a while, it has been a crazy week!! I had classes all week and then I spent Wednesday night and Thursday attempting to finish all my work before the weekend! Friday afternoon, some friends from Coogee came to skydive. I ran down by the beach and watched them dive and then brought Ian back to check out International House. It was my friend Lily's 21st birthday, so I left Ian with Kayla and a big group of 12 girls from our dorm all went out for Mexican!! We got jugs of homemade sangria and lots of yummy food! Then, we grabbed the bus back to I-House. I picked up Ian and Kayla and headed to North Gong Pub to hang out. After a few setbacks, we were back in I-House early and headed to bed :) In the morning, I went to Body Pump, did some homework, and layed outside to do some reading! Then, after dinner we met up with our friend Alex from orientation and we took the train to Coogee. We stayed in Coogee with some friends from orientation and went out to the Coogee Bay Hotel. It was really fun to see everyone!! Then, we woke up early in the morning to catch the bus with all the other IFSA-Butler kids, to The Blue Mountains!! It was a two hour bus ride and we all passed out on the way there!! When we arrived, they had morning tea, coffee, juice, and snacks waiting for us! We took pictures of the beautiful mountains and then headed out on a hike down into the valley, where we saw lots of wildlife and waterfalls! Once we finished the 1400 step decent, we took "The Steepest Railway" back to the top of the mountain. It was kinda scary and we were all holding on for dear life, as if we were going to fall out of the rail car!! Back at the top, we got on our bus and headed to the Megalong Valley Farm, where we had a bbq lunch and rode horses all afternoon! It was a beautiful day and so much fun!! I loved The Blue Mountains and it was great to spend time with friends I haven't seen for a while!! We got back to Wollongong, late last night and now I have to finish a paper before 5:30 tonight, so I'm going to be hard at work all day! I have class Mon, Tues, and Wednesday this week and I'm going to work hard to get my schoolwork done because I have a four day weekend trip this weekend to Melbourne and Victoria and then another one next weekend to Nimbin and Byron Bay! Should be a really fun end of the month! I only have 60 days left in Australia. I will be flying back to Vermont June 16th! I can't believe it has gone so fast!!

Back in Wollongong!

Yesterday, I checked out of my hostel at 10am and spent almost the whole day in the airport. My flight from Auckland back to Sydney was at 4pm. After I finally got on my flight, it was a 3 hour journey home. Once I got to the Sydney airport, I had to take a train and a bus to get back to Wollongong. By the time I got back to my room, I was exhausted!! I skyped with my mom (FINALLY!!) and went straight to bed! It was so nice to sleep in my own bed and wake up whenever I wanted!! I woke up around 9 and went for a long run on the beach, then went to brunch. I spent the rest of the afternoon doing homework and laundry and getting my life back together!! I watched Grey's and read before dinner. I spent the rest of the night online job-hunting, uploading pictures, and blogging. I have to go back to school tomorrow and I have a paper do about the transtheoretical model and the psychology physical activity. Then, this weekend I am going to Sydney to visit friends and explore the Blue Mountains!

Bethell Beach

Today, I enjoyed my last day in Auckland with Brooke and Lily. We took a bus tour from our hostel with a bunch of other people to Bethell Beach and then a small, private lake/sand dunes in Auckland. It was a blast and we got to see beautiful scenery! In the morning we hiked down to a sacred mauri waterfall and lots of people on the tour jumped in the freezing water! Then, we went to Bethell Beach where I got to experience black sand for the first time! It was really amazing and we couldn't have asked for a better day! Then, we finished the afternoon at a freshwater lake. We climbed huge sand dunes for about 20 minutes until we reached a beautiful clearing with mountains in the distance and a small, freshwater lake. It was really remote and relaxing and I had a great afternoon! Our tour guides were tons of fun and played music on the bus and were really interactive with us. It made the day much more fun, and they told us all about the culture and life in New Zealand! It was a blast! Then, we showered and grabbed some dinner. I think we're going up to the top deck of our hostel that overlooks Auckland tonight, to hang out with a bunch of the people we met on our tour today! Tomorrow, I fly back to Australia in the afternoon. I have to finish up some homework, do laundry, and unpack. Then, its back to school on Monday! Only two months left in Oz....

Back to Auckland!

We woke up early this morning to drive from Mt. Maunganui back to Auckland. We stopped at a really beautiful gorge and a memorial to take scenic pictures of the Auckland harbor. When we arrived, we checked into our Nomads hostel and tried to figure out what we were going to do with our last couple of days. We planned a trip tomorrow the the west coast beaches and Brooke decided to bungy jump today! So, we changed and headsed to the bus stop where we were bussed to the harbor bridge. Lily and I got to walk all the way along the bridge and up to the bungy jumping deck. It was a beautiful place to take pictures and console Brooke before she jumped! It was really awesome to watch the people jump, get dunked in the water, and then get pulled back up! After a crazy afternoon, we headed to the Victoria Market Place and looked around all the little stands and local shops. Then, we got some dinner and came back to the hostel. The top deck of our hostel has a beautiful view of the city, a hot tub, and a sauna! I think we are going to check out the top deck later tonight! Then, tomorrow we are leaving early for the west coast. It should be a blast! Then, Saturday I fly back to Australia. Today was the first day that I was really homesick. I'm not sure what brought it on, but I was like fighting back tears all day. I was emailing my dad and for some reason his email just made me really emotional and made me miss him and my family a lot. I think it is also because New Zealand reminds me so much of VT. It was all beautiful grassy mountains, cows, and farmland as we drove north from Wellington. It reminded me a lot of home and made me miss lots of little things! Although I'm having a lot of fun seeing and doing new things, traveling is overwhelming and hectic and sometimes really scary and lonely. I'm tired and stressed out and I think I'm missing the comforts of home. New Zealand has been fun, but I think I'm ready to head back to Australia and the comfort of my own dorm room. I'm excited to go out tomorrow and do something fun and keep myself busy! Ill write again to tomorrow to tell you all about my trip! Missin' home, -Britt

Mt. Maunganui

Today, we had an unexpected change of plans! We were supposed to stay in Rotorura for two nights, but there were problems with the bus that was supposed to pick us up on Thursday, so we had to leave this afternoon. I was really bummed because I ended up having to concel my white water rafting trip that I had booked for 2pm because the bus was coming to pick us up at 145. Lily and Brooke had gone on a tour of the glow worm caves this morning and I had no way to contact them. I was really scared that they were going to miss the bus and I was going to have to finish the rest of the tour on my own, but luckily they made it back just in time! In the morning, while I was waiting for the bus, I went to the Polynesian Spa instead of white water rafting. I sat in the natural hot pools overlooking the Rotorura mountains and then had a half hour mid and fruit exfoliating massage! It was great! I was on a massage table with water showering over me! My masseuse was wearing a bathing suit and flip flops; it was so cool! Then, I met up with Lily and Brooke and we got all our stuff together and got on the bus. We stoPped at a red wood forest and then in Mt. Maunganui. We hung out and had dinner and then went to relax in the hot salt pools. It was awesome! Tonight, I just hung out in my room with all the awesome people from my magic bus from holland, germany, ireland, sweden, and the u.s.!! Tomorrow, we have to wake up early to travel to Auckland. I will stay there for two nights and then catch my flight back to Australia on Saturday!!

Rotorura

Today, we left Napier early and headed for Lake Taupo. It was a gross, rainy day so we all just relaxed and slept on the bus. After dropping off people in Taupo, we continued on the bus to go see the champagne hot mud pools. It was really interesting, but realllllllly smelly!! The whole park reaked of rotten eggs because the hot pools are smoking with sulfur from the ground. There was a stinky fog that hung over the whole park. There were lots of acids in the water and rocks and it turned the water different colors like orange, green, and yellow. It looked like the slime from nickelodeon; it was so cool! Then, we continued on to Rotorura. I was exhausted and still a little sick when we got here, so I took a nice long nap. Then I woke up, went for a run and checked out the town and all the little shops. It is adorable here! I found a grocery store and bought food for the rest of the week, so that I won't have to spend so much money eating out. I got cereal, bread, milk, llunch meat, fruit, and some gluten free pasta. I was able to cook at my hostel and made pasta for dinner, it was great! It is so easy to be gluten free here! Everywhere I go there are gluten free options and tons of choices! It feels so good to not have to worry about eating all the time! I can relax and have fun and know there will be things for me to eat! I hope it becomes more popular in America in the near future!! Tonight, I'm just hanging out in the lounge with other travelers. They have American TV here!! Friends, Greys, and The Nanny were on tonight!! I can't get enough!! Tomorrow, I am going to a polynesian spa to try to get a massage and sit in their naturAl, hot water spa. Then, I'm going white water rafting at 2 o'clock for the rest of the day. I can't wait!! The raftabout instructor is going to pick me up right at my hostel; it is so convenient!! Then, Friday I am leaving for Mt. Maunganui and then, back to Auckland on Friday. I'm going to stay in Auckland Friday night and then catch my flight back to Australia on Saturday. I'm hopin for better weather tomorrow!!

Rotorura

Today, we left Napier early and headed for Lake Taupo. It was a gross, rainy day so we all just relaxed and slept on the bus. After dropping off people in Taupo, we continued on the bus to go see the champagne hot mud pools. It was really interesting, but realllllllly smelly!! The whole park reaked of rotten eggs because the hot pools are smoking with sulfur from the ground. There was a stinky fog that hung over the whole park. There were lots of acids in the water and rocks and it turned the water different colors like orange, green, and yellow. It looked like the slime from nickelodeon; it was so cool! Then, we continued on to Rotorura. I was exhausted and still a little sick when we got here, so I took a nice long nap. Then I woke up, went for a run and checked out the town and all the little shops. It is adorable here! I found a grocery store and bought food for the rest of the week, so that I won't have to spend so much money eating out. I got cereal, bread, milk, llunch meat, fruit, and some gluten free pasta. I was able to cook at my hostel and made pasta for dinner, it was great! It is so easy to be gluten free here! Everywhere I go there are gluten free options and tons of choices! It feels so good to not have to worry about eating all the time! I can relax and have fun and know there will be things for me to eat! I hope it becomes more popular in America in the near future!! Tonight, I'm just hanging out in the lounge with other travelers. They have American TV here!! Friends, Greys, and The Nanny were on tonight!! I can't get enough!! Tomorrow, I am going to a polynesian spa to try to get a massage and sit in their naturAl, hot water spa. Then, I'm going white water rafting at 2 o'clock for the rest of the day. I can't wait!! The raftabout instructor is going to pick me up right at my hostel; it is so convenient!! Then, Friday I am leaving for Mt. Maunganui and then, back to Auckland on Friday. I'm going to stay in Auckland Friday night and then catch my flight back to Australia on Saturday. I'm hopin for better weather tomorrow!!

Napier!

We made it to Weklington last night after a 12 hour bus trip from Auckland. When we arrived, we were hungry and exhausted, so we grabbed some food and headed back to the hostel to go to bed. We had to wake up at 630 this morning to start our first day on the Magic Bus! We got some coffee, got on the bus at 730 and met our tour guide. Then, we began our six hour journey to Napier, New Zealand. Along the way we stopped at Tui's Brewery for lunch and beer sampling. I didn't have any beer, but I had a really great salad and walked around the gift shop laughing at all the souvenirs. Then, when we got to Napier, better known as wine country, we went to the wine center and did a wine tasting. It was really fun and interesting! Then, we toured the city and all the little shops and walked along the beach. After a long day, we went to this Mediterranean restaurant for dinner..equipped with a full gluten free menu yay!! I got some cheese and tomato pizza...it was delicious..and saved the rest for our travels tomorrow! I'm trying really hard to budget my money, and I thin I've done a pretty good job. But food and hostels and excursions really add up after I already spent lots of money on a plane ticket and the magic bus tour!! After dinner, I just came back to the hostel to relax and go to bed early. I have a really bad cold and I'm hoping it goes away soon! I think it was just lots of germs between the plane, dirty busses, and hostels :( I've been feeling really shitty for two days but I'm hoping lots of rest will help me feel better! We leave at 745 in the morning and we are staying two days at our next stop in Rotorura. I'm really excited because I booked a white water rafting trip for Wednesday! Then, Thursday, we head to Mt. Manguntai and then Friday I'm venturing back to Auckland to catch my flight back to Australia on Saturday. I'm headed to try and sleep off this cold, but I hope everyone had a great Easter and is enjoying the warm VT weather! Miss everyone lots! Goodnight!

Auckland, New Zealand!

I flew into Auckland airport late Friday night and I totally lucked out, the lady sitting next to me was from Auckland and had been away in Australia on business. She said her husband was picking her up and they could give me a lift to my hostel! This saved me so much money!! I didn't have to stress about finding my way, they drove me right to the front door! The lady even gave me her contact info and told me if I got stuck or needed anything, to let her know! I was so lucky to meet them! At this point, it was like 2am and I was exhausted! I checked in and went right to bed! There is a two hour time difference from Australia to New Zealand, so when I woke up the next day it was actually noon!! I got ready and headed out to see the city! I went to the skytower and the Auckland city market, where I bought some awesome souvenirs for my family and friends. Then walked down to the harbor and signed up for a harbor cruise! It was amazing and I got to see all the little islands, the harbor bridge, the city etc. in one trip!! I got subway for lunch and then went for a long run to check out more city sights! I found a little market near my hostel with lots of fresh fruit and gluten free stuff I could eat, so I stocked up for the rest of the trip, instead of eating out! After my run I showered and got ready and headed downstairs to the hostel bar for a couple drinks. It was the most amazing place and I met tons of new friends!! I met a really great group from canada that I hope to meet up with again when I head back to Auckland on Friday!! Then, I headed back to my room to get some sleep before we had to catch the 730 bus this morning! My roommates and I fumbled around with our phones and watches, attempting to chang our clocks back an hour so we would get up on time! Finally, we figured it out and got ready for bed! Just as I was about to fall asleep, my friend Lily came knocking at the door! Her flight had landed and she made it to the hostel!! We made a plan to meet at seven in the morning to catch the bus. Right now, I am on a 12 hour adventure from Auckland to Wellington. We are going to stay in Wellington tonight and then meet our Magic Bus Tour at 8am. We will travel from Wellington to Napier, Rotorua, Mt. Maunganui, Tauranga, and then back to Auckland. My only plan so far is to go white water rafting in Rotoura! I can't wait!! I will write more and post pictures as we go! Happy Easter!!

Magic Bus Tour: North Island, New Zealand

Today, I am taking a bus to the airport (damn trains aren't running!) and then I am flying out of Sydney at 7pm and I will arrive in Auckland, New Zealand around midnight. I am staying at Base Auckland tonight and I'm going to explore the city tomorrow until I meet up with my friends that are flying in. Then, we are taking a bus Sunday morning to go to Wellington, New Zealand. We are going to stay the night on Sunday in Wellington and then catch our "magic tour bus" early Monday morning! We will get to travel all over thre north island on this chartered bus! When we arrive in each place we can decide how long we want to stay and what we want to do. Then, the bus picks you up every morning to head to the next destination! I'm a little nervous to travel alone, but also really excited!! There will be lots of pictures and blogs to come this week! Happy Easter!

The Fray Concert at Luna Park!

Last night, I went to Sydney with a big group of girls from my dorm. We got into Sydney early and went out for pizza before the show. I got a gluten free pizza...it was soo yummy!! I haven't had pizza forever! Sydney is incredible, they have so many options for me to eat! Almost everywhere I go, there is something I can order! It is so nice to have the flexibility to go places with my friends!! Then we walked to the train station and took it to Milson's Point. At the Milson's Point stop, we got off and walked to the entrance of Luna Park. We hung out in this little park that overlooked the Sydney Harbor Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. The view at night, with all the city lights was amazing! I took lots of pictures, but as usual, they will never do this place any justice. You must see it in person. I wish my family could come visit, they would absolutely love it here! I've been missing them a lot lately!
When the gate opened, we walked down and entered the venue. It was a really small show, only a few thousand people were there. We were able to make our way up through the crowd and we were right in the front in the center of stage. I was right next to the gate in front of the stage. It was probably one of the best concerts I have ever been to. There were three bands and The Fray was the last to perform. When they came on stage, everyone went crazy! I was singing and screaming the entire time, we even had a few crying moments. Isn't it funny how powerful music is? How it is capable of changing your mood, changing your mind....always making you think of someone, something? Brings back memories...helps create new ones. You can tie a songs to single moments in time...
The music was really intense and before every song the lead singer would tell a little story or something about his life that led him to write the song. He had so much passion and emotion, it was spreading over the whole crowd. He sang a song called Happiness (my favorite) and he talked about finding happiness and his journey to becoming himself. He talked about hardships and peer pressure and loneliness. Sometimes it can be a lonely road to success and independence and you're own personal happiness. It spoke so loudly to me and his performance of the song blew me away. He sang acapella and the entire crowd was silent, listening to his story. I can't put the experience into words. We arrived back in Wollongong at 3am in the pouring rain. It was the perfect night.

Happiness:
Happiness is just outside my window
Would it crash blowing 80-miles an hour?
Or is happiness a little more like knocking
On your door, and you just let it in?

Happiness feels a lot like sorrow
Let it be, you can't make it come or go
But you are gone- not for good but for now
Gone for now feels a lot like gone for good

Happiness is a firecracker sitting on my headboard
Happiness was never mine to hold
Careful child, light the fuse and get away
‘Cause happiness throws a shower of sparks

Happiness damn near destroys you
Breaks your faith to pieces on the floor
So you tell yourself, that's enough for now
Happiness has a violent roar

Happiness is like the old man told me
Look for it, but you'll never find it all
Let it go, live your life and leave it
Then one day, wake up and she'll be home
Home, home, home

Art Museum of NSW and Harbor Cruise!

Yesterday, I spend the day in Sydney! I had to wake up really early and catch a bus to Sydney for an Art field trip because the trains weren't running. I went with my two friends Kelsey and Erin from my class and we took the bus to central station. Our teacher had given us a map of the city and told us to meet him at the museum at 11 o'clock. It was quite an adventure to try and find the museum. Finally, hot, sweaty, and a little later than planned, we found the museum! We took a tour of the Yiribana exhibition at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. The exhibition was all beautiful,aboriginal art. It was really interesting to learn about the different artists and see the similarities of their work. After the tour, the girls and I decided to walk through the Botanical Gardens and head to Circular Quay for lunch. We ate at an outdoor pub called the Quay Bar, listed to live music, and had cold cocktails before the Harbor Cruise! Then, we walked through The Rocks, in an attempt to find our way to the dock where we would be meeting everyone and taking off. On our way, we found a little gluten free cafe that sold gluten free beer! So, I had to get one!! It was called Billabong and it was delicious! I was so excited to get to have a beer! Then, we met up with a bunch of friends from our dorm and found the harbor. We took a dinner/booze cruise from 6-9pm. It was a beautiful night and so much fun! It was an open bar filled with champagne, wine, and beer. Everyone had a blast!! When we got back, we went out in Sydney and met up with other friends from our orientation group and then headed back to Wollongong. I had a really busy, fun weekend, but now it's time to hit the books and get some work done before I leave for my spring break trip to New Zealand on Friday! Missin' home like crazy! Congrats to my Slam for Sudan champ...so proud of you bud!! <3

Illawara Dragons Rugby Game

Friday night, I went out to dinner and to my first rugby league game in Wollongong!! We saw the Illawara Dragons play the North Queensland Cowboys. Kay and I went with our other two friends from our IFSA-Butler orientation group, Alex and James. We went to the beach all afternoon then headed back to our dorm to shower and get ready for the night. Then, we walked to meet Michelle, our orientation leader and at at Mama's Pizzeria. Then we walked to the stadium and watched the rugby match! It was really fun and super intense! They play two forty minute halves and they absolutely kill each other! I couldn't believe how tough all the players were! The Dragons are ranked 2nd in their league right now and there were over 13,000 people in the stadium! We had a great time and it was really nice to get a chance to spend time with friends from orientation!

Ahh...Success!!

After skydiving on Sunday, I woke up Monday morning stiff and sore and tired. I woke up to a bad start that would begin a week filled with many more discouragements. Friday, I jogged to the pharmacy to pick up my prescription at the pharmacy and my credit card payment hadn't cleared yet, so I wasn't able to charge the medicine on my card. So, I left and woke up early Monday morning and jogged back to the pharmacy to pick up the prescription. Unfortunately, because I hadn't come back Friday afternoon, they had sent the medicine back. So, they told me they would have to re-order it and I would have to come back the next day to pick it up. So I jogged home, and jogged back the next day, to FINALLY pick up my medicine!! After many unsuccessful attempts, I had finally succeeded! Then, on Wednesday morning, I woke up and went to breakfast and as I was sharing my spring break plans to fly to New Zealand and Fiji, with others at my table, a boy that I didn't know spoke up and told me some very shitty news! Apparently, Fiji is in extreme political unrest right now and they are advising Americans and Australians to stay out of Fiji. He told me that it would be like traveling to Afghanistan right now. Discouraged, and really mad, I went back to my room to do some research of my own. I found the travel advisories and emailed them to my mom and talked with her about my options. We decided that it probably wouldn't be the best idea to travel there alone, under these circumstances. So, I set out to change my plans, in hopes of getting a refund on my tickets and road-tripping with some girls from my dorm up the coast all the way to Cairns. After about an hour on the internet and the phone, I realized that the tickets I had bought were non-refundable and non-transferable and because of this, there was no one that I could directly contact to help me. Instead, I had to email this automated email system about questions or changes that I had. It was awful! Finally, I think I have arranged to cancel my tickets to and from Fiji, and get a return ticket from Auckland instead. So, hopefully I will be spending 9 days on the North Island of New Zealand. My friend Lily from my dorm and her friend are also flying into Auckland and then taking a bus trip around the whole North Island. So, if all my plans work out, I am going to go with them!!
SO...finally after the week from hell, I think I have finally had some success! Now, I am beginning my weekend! Friday, I am going out to dinner and to a rugby game with my friends from orientation and then Saturday I am going on a field trip with my art class to an art gallery in Sydney and then on a dinner/booze cruise of the Sydney Harbor! It should be a really nice weekend!!

Skydive the Beach!!

Today I went SKYDIVING on the beach in North Wollongong!! It was the most incredible experience of my life! I absolutely loved it and I want to do it again...like everyday haha!! We had a beautiful day and I could see up the entire coast, from like Byron Bay to Jarvis Bay(which is a really long way!!!). We arrived at the skydive place and filled out a few forms and then we headed outside to suit up and meet our instructors. My instructors name was Max and he was so badass! He was originally from Italy and he had sleeve tattoos all over his arms! I was so pumped! He did an interview with me before we got on the bus and we got to talk and get to know each other. We drove about 20 minutes in the van, before we reached the small airport where we were going to take off. Then, we boarded the plane and Max and I boarded last, because we wanted to be the first to jump! There was 16 people crammed in the plane and just a tiny, see-through door between me and the wide-open sky!! We flew up 14,000 feet and then we got ready to jump. He told me that he wasn't going to tell me when we were going to go, so I wouldn't be scared. I secured my goggles and he pulled open the door and I was just kneeling, waiting to free fall! Then wam, he just pushed me over the edge and we were flying!! I was terrified that I was going to lose my stomach, like I was on a roller coaster, but that wasn't the feeling at all! The plane is flying horizontally, so fast that when you fall out of the plane, you kind of make a rainbow, instead of falling straight down as if you were bungee jumping. I free fell for 60 seconds, until we reached 4,000 feet, but it literally felt like 10 seconds. It all happened so fast! When he pulled the chute, he had me hold the handles an steer the chute while we floated around in the sky; it was amazing! I got to see the whole coast and the city of Wollongong from above. It was so beautiful! After about 3-4 minutes of floating, it was time to land. As we zoned in on the landing strip, a gust of wind hit our chute, and we were coming in really fast. Instead of landing on his feet, my instructor told me to life my feet and we came in fast and hard, landing on our butts in the middle of the field! It was really cool!! Then he unhooked me and I got to go see my friends that all came to watch! It was awesome! After everyone finished, we hung out and waited for our video and pictures! It was such a great experience and I am so glad I did it!! My certification lasts for 2 months and if I can find 5 more people that want to go skydiving, I can go again for free!! I had an incredible day and I can't wait to go again!!

Canberra: National Capital Exhibition, Australian War Memorial, Parliament

Yesterday, I went to the capital of Australia. It is a small town called Canberra, about three hours away from Wollongong. I woke up at 6 o'clock and left my dorm at 7 and walked about 20 minutes to catch the bus that was leaving from campus. Little did I know, when I signed up for this trip, that it was hosted by International Student Affairs. I just so happened to be the only American on the bus, crammed full with 65 people. For the first time on this trip and the first time in my life, I experienced what it was like to be the minority. I made my way to a seat, three wide with a Vietnamese boy and an older Indonesian man. It was a very interesting, and hot trip to say the least. About an hour and a half into our trip, we stopped in Goulburn for "morning tea and biscuits." I had a cup of coffee, stretched my legs, and went to the bathroom before we got back on the road for another hour and a half ride. When we arrived in Canberra, our first stop was at the National Capital Exhibition. It was a really cool exhibition of different historical facts about Canberra and the capital. You could watch a movie, or look at the different displays. There was also a great little cafe and an lookout where you could see Parliament and the rest of the small city. Then, we drove up a long hill and went to another really amazing overlook and took more pictures, before going to the Australian War Memorial and having lunch. The War Memorial was very interesting and informative. I learned a lot about Australian history and the people who lost their lives in war. I took lots of pictures and then laid outside in the grass and ate my lunch, read, and enjoyed the beautiful sunshine!! After about 2 hours there, we headed for our last stop at the Parliament building. It was incredible! I took tons of pictures inside and out! I cannot even explain the amazing architecture and beauty of this building! It was breathtaking! While waiting for the bus, I met a group of 3 Indonesian people. One man from Bali, a 40 year old student studying to get his PHD in Civil Engineering, really blew me away! He told me about his journey to Australia to study and better his education to support his wife and two small children. He told me that he would have to be away from them for four years and just thinking about how much he misses them, brings tears to his eyes. It was very amazing to talk with him and to hear how hard he worked to get where he is and the extremes that he would go to, to support his family. It reminded me a lot of my own father at home and it made me really sad; but, at the same time, it made me feel really lucky! It was a life changing conversation. After a tiring afternoon, we all packed back on the bus and rode for another hour and a half before we stopped at McDonald's for dinner. I walked around in search of mustard to put on the sandwich that I brought, but Australians don't use condiments other than butter, cream cheese, and hummus so I was out of luck! Instead, I climbed back on the bus and ate my sandwich dry. Sick of being crammed in with the two guys, I walked up to the front where the tour-guide was sitting and asked if she would mind if I sat with her. She collected her things and moved over so that I could sit beside her. It was right in the front of the bus and had so much more room than my previous seat!! I was in heaven. As we drove, we began to talk and I learned so much about her life and her culture! She was a 31 year old Muslim, Indonesian woman and she was in Australia studying to get her masters in Education. She was incredibly interesting and we chatted about American stereotypes about Muslims and different religious and cultural beliefs. She was also a very incredible, strong woman, who left her husband behind in Indonesia to come and study. When talking about her religion, she told me that, "It doesn't matter what clothes you wear, it is your heart that tells you if you are a good person." When I departed on the trip, I certainly had pre-existing stereotypes and I won't lie, I was intimidated, and even turned off when I realized who I would be traveling with. After finishing the day and creating all of these new friendships, it has completely changed my perspective and opened up my mind! I will never forget what she told me! This day was truly life changing and I am really glad that I did it on my own and was forced to make new friends and experience new things. We arrived back in Wollongong around 9:30pm and I was exhausted! I came back to my room, uploaded pictures, and went to bed!! Incredible day!

Spring Break Plans!!

Yesterday was Saint Patrick's Day!! I went to class and the gym and then came back to I-House for lunch and a nap. I got a care package from my family filled with magazines, food, coffee, money, cards, and pictures!! It was so nice...I loved it! Later at night, we all got dressed up in our green gear and headed to catch the bus to Glass House and Ivory. We hung out and danced all night...it was a blast!!
This morning, I woke up and planned my adventures for when I am in New Zealand and Fiji in a couple weeks! I planned a bus tour of Auckland, New Zealand, as well as a sailing/snorkeling/whale watching trip and a Sabeto Valley and Garden of the Sleeping Giant tour while I am in Fiji. I'm so excited for Fiji, my hostel is right on the beach! It should be a blast!! I am nervous to travel alone, but I think it will be really awesome at the same time!! I am going to hang out today and tomorrow and enjoy the 83 degree, sunny beach weather ;) and then on Saturday I'm heading to Canberra to explore the Capital and Sunday I am SKYDIVING with a big group of kids from my dorm!! This weekend should be incredible!!