[Originally posted at: http://mbdownunder.blogspot.com]
I do still intend on following up my last post, but this evening I just wanted to drop in and say hello to my faithful readers :). I hope you all are doing well! Here's a brief update:
Thursday is my last day of classes this semester - where has the time gone?! I have a paper due on Friday, another paper due on Tuesday, and two final exams (those aren't for another two weeks). I never got back into the "study hard" mindset after our two week fall break and consequently will suffer tremendously during the next ten days. Alas, I have no one to blame but myself.
Insufficient studying and related stress aside, I've been enjoying Australia and its people immensely. There was a huge birthday party two weekends ago, a huge James Bond themed birthday party this past weekend, a fantastic afternoon of soccer and pizza on Sunday... This Thursday is my belated 21s birthday dinner and party, and Saturday is B&G's Farewell to the Foreigners party, sending most of the international exchange students home in style. (My friend Sven and I think we're the only study abroad students staying for the entire year.) When there's not a big bash planned, there are always feasts to spontaneously cook, movies to watch, cups of teas to drink, shopping to do.
All the fun has taken a tole on my sleeping habits; most nights in May I didn't go to bed before midnight and didn't get up until 10am, at the earliest. For the past two weeks, Amy has been coming to my room when she wakes up (10am or later)... We lie around for fifteen minutes or so before washing our faces and stumbling into the kitchen where we enjoy an 11 o'clock breakfast and brainstorm ways to turn ourselves into more productive human beings.
Speaking of Amy, the two of us are flying to Melbourne for a few days after we finish our exams. On June 26th, Melissa, Elle, and Will arrive in Sydney, and we will begin what we hope is an epic three week adventure up Australia's east coast. They fly home on July 15th, and I plan on staying in Sydney with Hannah (she arrived last week) until she finishes her "summer" course and internship. Thenwe plan on going on an epic adventure before returning to Canberra for Bush Week, the first week of second semester classes (i.e. no work required). This year's theme is Christmas in July... On July 24th, there will be an ANU-wide New Year's Eve party. Sweet.
I know I keep saying that time is flying... but it really is. It's a little unbelievable. This is a fantastic country, and I've made and continue to make amazing friends. Leaving is going to be difficult. People are already asking me, "So do you think you'll come back to Australia when you graduate?" My answer is still, "I doubt it," but the longer I'm here, the more appealing that option becomes. That, however, is twelve months away.
Amy and I playing in the autumn leaves.
(Most of the trees are bare now.)
Sunday's afternoon soccer game
with the Navigators.
Vicky, Allee, and I did not exercise...
We ate Australia's version of Cheese Puffs, instead.
Hayley, Laura, Mary, me, and Hannah
at our friend's 21st birthday party, James Bond style.
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