Leaving Unicentral and USC!

This week has been filled with one last final, and hanging out with my new friends for some last bonding time. I've now said good-bye to everyone, which ended up being a lot harder than I originally anticipated. Saying goodbye to people you have known for 5 months is not easy, all I can hope is that those of us from the States can meet up for a reunion. Knowing that I may never see these amazing people again is very sad, especially since even if I do run into people, it will never be in the same place with the same situation as we have all had for these last 5 months.

Saying goodbye to Tahlia

Most of my friends have gone home now, whether it be back to their home country or back to their hometown in Australia. I had to say my goodbyes to Tahlia yesterday morning, which was hard because she was my closes Australian friend and when she comes back next semester, basically everyone that she has known since she's been here will be gone. I'm definitely going to miss her.

Jess's sister Sarah flew in yesterday, so Nikki and I got to know her and spend the day with them, which was fun. New uni students from the states started showing up to move in too, and it made me just want to get to know them and tell them all about life here on the sunny coast. Hard to believe my journey is ending and theirs just beginning. We went to dinner one last time in Mooloolaba, said so long to the beach, and headed home. Then we had to say goodbye to Hunter and Nic. Hunter decided to extend his stay to another semester, so he's going to let us know how next semester on the sunny coast goes. Nic is Australian, so she is staying obviously, but it was so nice getting to know her as well. They are two very nice and fun people to be around.

Sarah, Jess and Nikki at the last supper

Last but not least was Jess... the worst goodbye yet. We traveled the pacific with her and have made so many unforgettable memories. Life would not have been the same had I not met that crazy girl. I hope to keep in touch with her for a long time. Thank goodness I don't have to say goodbye to Nikki, because that would be aweful!!!! So glad we go to school together and can continue our great friendship.

I'm going to miss this girl so much!!!

Today Nikki and I are leaving Unicentral for good and heading to Brisbane before leaving for the U.S. on Tuesday. Hard to believe our semester is over. It has been by far, the best, most crazy, thrilling, adventurous, and challenging 5 months of my life, but I wouldn't change anything for the world. I will never forget the friends and memories I've made here in Australia. It truly has been a life-changing experience that I have learned a lot from. So, Its very sad to say goodbye to what I've called home for 5 months, but I have SO much to look forward to when I return home, and I can't wait.

Praying that Nikki and My flight is not delayed due to volcanic ash....its been happening a lot lately, so we're crossing our fingers! Thanks for keeping up with my blog, I hope I've been able to successfully share my incredible, and some not so incredible, experiences in the land down under, and maybe even persuaded you to explore this amazing country yourself.

Cheers!

Sydney and the Blue Mountains! The Last Hoorah!

Well everyone, this is sure to be one of the last posts I have before returning home to MN. It’s taken me a bit to get it done because I’ve been swamped studying for finals. Luckily, 2 are done and 1 to go! I can’t believe I only have 7 more days here! Time has flown by so fast! Here’s the scoop on Sydney!

On Saturday the 4^th, Jess, Nikki and I hopped on a flight from the Sunny Coast to Sydney, and were there and ready to explore by 1pm! It was a sunny, but chilly day, so we pulled out our map and headed towards Darling Harbor. Our first stop on the way was the Paddy’s Markets. Basically, vendors with souveniers, jewelry, shoes, and everything in between, for cheap prices. We only had a couple hours, so we were walking everywhere and finding lots of fun stuff. Had to resist on some of it though, it was overwhelming. After all that fun, we started walking towards the harbor, and decided walking through the park would be nice. There were sculptures, a ferris wheel, abstract fountains etc, and a very nice Mackas as well. Go figure. Soon enough, we reached the harbor by sundown. It was beautiful! There was a soccer game going on on a floating field, and action all around us. We decided to have dinner on the harbor and the check out the Sydney Aquarium! There were lego constructions everywhere and so many exotic fish and sharks. It was a very cool aquarium! We were pretty much the only people in it at the time because it was almost 8pm. Then we had some gelato in the rain, and headed back to our hostel. We had 5 roomies, Calum from Scotland, Ali from LA (supposedly he was some big time screenwriter…ya right), Stu from England and two girls who spoke a lot of some random language. They were all very nice, but Ali was creepy, 35-40 years old and a BIG time snorer. He kept me up all night for 2 nights… pleasant.

Paddy's Markets!

Me and Jess being tourists and finding our way to Darling Harbor

Alas, the Harbor

At the Sydney Aquarium

A type of jelly fish

the soccer game on the Harbor

Sunday we all got up and headed to the Blue Mountains to do some sight-seeing.  First we got to drive through the Sydney Olympic Park which was very exciting. We didn’t get to stop unfortunately, but it was smaller than I anticipated. Then we were off to the Mountains. They’re called the Blue Mountains because the oils from all the Eucalyptus trees leave a blue haze over them. They’re also technically plateaus, not mountains! Our first look out was ‘Flat Rock’ appropriately titled, and we got to see the mountains for the first time. So pretty! It was so windy though, so it made the day chilly. We drove on to multiple lookouts, got to see orphan rock and balls rock (because it looks like a dragon head from one angle and a pig head from another). We had lunch in a cute small town called Leura, and then drove up to Echo Point. There, we got to hear a couple Indigenous Australians playing the diggeridoo and see the Three Sisters Rock formation. We took a long walk down the mountain and got to see Katoomba Falls. Gorgeous! It was quite the hike though. Then we got to take the Worlds Steepest Railway up the mountain and back to our tour group. It was awesome! On the way home, we stopped to see some kangaroos in the wild, it’s weird how it didn’t phase us much because we’re so used to seeing them on campus. Later, I had fish and chips for dinner in the city. J

Me and Nikki at Flat Rock Lookout

The main Stadium at Olympic Park

Aborigines playing the Diggeridoo

The 3 Sisters

The Witch face in the rock on the Forest Walk

Katoomba Falls

The Blue Mountains

Getting Ready for the Railway Up

View From Inside the Railway Cart

Monday was our major day of exploration! We were off to the Circular Quay (pronounced Key) to see all the sights of Sydney. As soon as we saw the Sydney Harbor Bridge, we officially felt like we were in Sydney. We walked around the Quay, got to see all the boats going in and out of the wharf, and had breakfast at a Belgian chocolate café. Gourmet hot chocolate and pancakes! Sooo yummy. Then we took photos by the bridge, of course, and walked up to the Opera house!!! The stupid sun was in the wrong place and ruined some of our photos, but oh well. We took more photos, looked through the windows to see if we could peak inside, and then walked to the opposite side of the bay to get a better angle. Later, we walked to the Royal Botanical Gardens off the Sydney Harbor.. So peaceful and pretty. The government house was in the gardens, so we got to take a look around there too. After the gardens, we walked down to the Sydney Barracks Museum, where the convicts were held once upon a time. It was very interesting and cool to look around at everything. Then we passed the Music Conservatory, and headed to St. Mary’s Cathedral. It was breathtaking! The inside was very big, peaceful, dimly lit, and there were elegant tapestries and statues everywhere with stained glass. Absolutely gorgeous. It was a very long day of walking everywhere, but we walked more around the heart of the city, had some dinner, and walked back to the Quay. We happened to be in Sydney for the short period of time when they had the new Vivid Sydney exhibit. It was all around the Quay, bright lights, laser light shows, and exhibits all around. It was so pretty! Some were even interactive. We stood outside one building and got to see a very cool light show on it. Then we were off to the wharf to see the light show on the sails of the Opera house. So so cool! I was very glad we were able to be in Sydney for it. Then we took the hour long walk home to our hostel. It was cool to walk everywhere though.

Circular Quay

Gourmet Hot Chocolate!

Finally Made it!!

and inside view

Looked like a good resting spot in the Botanical Gardens... Til I fell off

Nikki and the Government House

on the grounds

I had an Obsession with Hibiscus Flowers in OZ

The Barracks Convict Museum

St. Mary's Cathedral

Part of the Light Show

Circular Quay at Night

One of many pics from Vivid Sydney

Yes, Lit up Jelly Fish!

Tuesday, our last full day, we hopped the metro to Bondi! It was Nikki and Mine’s first experience with that, so it was enjoyable and efficient! We then took a bus to the famous Bondi Beach. It was beautiful, but smaller than we anticipated. It was also winter and the coldest day in Sydney yet, so we were basically the only people on the beach. There were tons of surfers braving the cold though. We hung out at the pavilion and on the beach for a few hours, I took a walk, and then we found a small café for some lunch. I had sticky date pudding. So yummy!!! The sun was setting and we decided it was time to catch the metro home. We finally rested a bit and hung out in the common area of our hostel, watched part of a movie and then hit the town again. We had dinner at Pie Face, finally a real meat pie! I had steak and cheese. Very good! Then we froze while walking around and checked out the night life a bit while it was our last night in Sydney.

Bondi Beach!

Not exactly beach weather

Pie Face! Steak and Cheese :)

Wednesday we got up early and were off to the airport. We arrived back on the Sunny Coast around 11am and then had to be productive to finish our last assignments for the semester. Overall, I LOVED Sydney. I would go back in a heartbeat, especially since there are so many things I’d love to do again and things we didn’t have time for. It is truly an amazing city.

Here I am, only 7 days to go, and I’m trying to enjoy the time I have left with the wonderful friends I’ve made. It’s getting chillier out now, and even though I love Australia, I’m ready to come home to the Summers of MN.  I’ll write again soon, for one last update!

Cheers!