No place like home.

So I've been home now for about a week...and have been meaning to update this blog one last time for about a week. I've been incredibly busy since I've been home...and loving it. Aside from getting adjusted to the time change and catching up on sleep, I've been preparing stuff for graduation, grad school, my cousin's wedding, this summer (and the fact that I don't have a job..) the list goes on and on....

The rest of the week in NZ went slow...we were all ready to go home. We went black water rafting one day- worst experience EVER. The water was cold, the cave was creepy, and the tour guide was a jerk. Upon returning to Auckland, we still reaked of sulfur and were exhausted. We stayed in the hotel for most the remaining time, aside from leaving for Wendy's and a hilarious comedy club (oh, and tracking down our rental car after it got towed!) We spent the last day in NZ catching up with the rest of the BSU group in the Auckland Airport. The flights were fine...I actually liked the 13 hour flight better than the 5 hour flight (LAX to NC.) We had a 10 hour lay over in LA so we took a bus to Santa Monica and sat on the beach all day (like we didn't get enough beach time in the past 3 months!) Although, I was so so so happy to see my mom and dad at the airport Monday morning, it was depressing saying goodbye to my friends which quickly had become my "aussie family." We went though a lot together...

I have learned a lot in the past three months. I learned more about myself than anticipated. I realized I'm more independent and mature than I thought (surprise!) I learned that everything really does happen for a reason and life will take you unexpected places, if you let it.
I have stories and inside jokes with life-long friends that I will always cherish. I've experienced more than I ever could imagine...things I'm fairly convinced only happens in such a place as Australia. I took my last undergraduate "final" exam in a rain forest with a koala in the trees above as a member of the audience. I witnessed a girl at Subway making my sub without any shoes (no worries, mate?) Unfortunately, I sat through two wonderfully-long (LONG LONG LONG) trips to Ballina hospital (including an x-ray and crutches...for less that $120...wow!) I dove to the depths of the ocean and jumped out of a plane in the heights of the sky. I even went to church (for an accidental 2 hours. . . I didn't get the memo about day light savings time!)In the past three months, I have sat on 15 different plane rides...and managed to come home with a LITTLE bit of money left. I did everything I could in the time I had. . . and relaxed as much as possible! I am blessed for this opportunity in my life. Thank you to all that have followed this blog...I'm glad I could share some of my Aussie stories with you. I have many other great stories to share and even better stories not to share! Some things are better left down under. :)


Like I said, I have been back for a week...and I feel like I had never left. I am really happy to be home although I really miss Australia. Life there seemed like a dream. . . and as awesome as that was- there really is no place like home.

I WILL go back to Australia...some day. Until then, I plan on taking life one day at a time, enjoying every minute of it!