Sunday, February 2, 2014

Australia-bound!

As I prepare to once again leave America, this time to Australia and for five months rather than five weeks like when I went to China, I will continue with my travel blog.

I fly out Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2014 to the wonderful and intriguing island/country/continent of Australia! I will be studying abroad in Sydney for four months, and traveling for the first month after I arrive. I have had quite an extended Winter Break, as most of my friends have been back in classes for two or three weeks. It has been a great and relaxing break, but I am ready for the excitement and travelling to commence!

Studying abroad through an exchange program for a semester is (already) much different than when I studied abroad through a school-sponsored program last summer. Everything is much more independent and do-it-yourself this time around, such as booking flights, finding housing, acquiring a visa, etc. In this sense and many others, I believe studying abroad and traveling a foreign country last summer was extremely beneficial, because I have already experienced stressful flight connections, unfamiliar territories, and so many other things that happen while traveling, and all in a country where they didn't speak English! So Australia should be quite different and easier for me to manage. I've already noticed a change in my attitude before going abroad this time just from my packing habits. Last summer I started packing about two weeks before I left for a five week trip. Here I am this time, just pulling a suitcase out of the closet to start packing about four days before I fly out... The laid back Aussie attitude has already gotten to me I suppose.

I thought the flight to Hong Kong last summer was long (about 13 hours), but I am about to embark on a 19.5 hour direct plane ride to the Land Down Unda!! So please pray for my safety and sanity both. I have yet to figure out where I will be living, what classes I will be taking, basically everything...so it's all very exciting!! All I have is a plane ticket and some luggage, so let the fun begin!

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