School's out for . . . . oh wait . . .

I guess it's a good thing I'm getting back into the swing of things, but did that really have to include classes and homework?! In a way I'm looking forward to classes because it means I'm one step closer to finally finishing my degree and moving on. It also means that once I finish uni I am free to move back to Australia (which has certainly not left my mind, nor will it for a very long time, if at all!). However, how fun can uni be once you've left for a year and a half? I suppose we will find out. :-P

In amongst the flurry of moving back and readjusting to the states, I've managed to reorganize my room completely and I got rid of over seven full garbage bags of clothing, donations, and rubbish. It feels good to have a clean and organized room. That's one less thing to keep me from doing homework! I've also made the effort to catch up with friends and spend time with family. My family has been pretty awesome since I got back, especially since they saved a Christmas celebration specifically for me. :) The weekend was filled with fun with the family including a symphony concert. Carmina Burana was fabulous!

My week has been beyond busy without many moments to stop and relax. However, that's not necessarily a bad thing. Busy is certainly what I need right now, but I'm sure tired as well! My hectic schedule has helped keep me distracted from missing what I left behind in Australia, but I certainly cannot outrun those feelings forever. They eventually caught up with me this week. It's not been easy leaving such a great place, but I have a goal to return and as long as that goal remains, I will continue pushing myself to finish school and save, save, save!

Now it's back to reading for class tomorrow. In some strange way, it feels good to be a student again. :) Much love!


~A

Helloooooooo, Wisconsin!

It may be pretty...

After a year of sun and sand, I've returned to the land of frozen tundra. Though I may now be frozen to the core, it's good to be back. Seeing family and friends is something I've been looking forward to all year.

But it's not like going to the beach!

I had quite the trek back to the states with my total travel time equaling well over 24 hours. You'd think I'd be extremely tired after one layover, two flights, multiple time changes, and a general lack of sleep, but after stepping off that plane in Chicago, the adrenaline was pumping. Lots of emotions were seeping out, but the one that shown brightly was excitement. I didn't realize the pace I took walking off the plane, but I made it down to baggage claim in no time flat. I saw my parents and I thought they saw me, but I soon came to find out, they didn't even recognize me! Although, I suppose with a bit of a changed hairstyle and new clothes that's to be expected. To say the least, I was quite amused that they didn't recognize me. :)

Remy <3

After some hugs, a hot latte, and putting on my new uggs, it was time to hit the road for the last leg of my journey home. Wow! I was not ready for the cold and apparently it wasn't even that cold. My blood sure had thinned over the last year! =P That last hour back to Milwaukee seemed like an eternity, but we finally made it and I was eagerly greeted at the door by my little darling, Remy. He was so excited to see me and snuggled up to me as soon as I was in the door. Sure does feel good to be loved!

Sleep didn't come soon enough and morning came all too soon. But I had some great motivation to get me out of bed - a visit with my niece and nephew! Storytime was calling and I was not about to miss that call! I was a bit tired, but I eagerly awaited the arrival of my two favorite kiddos. Sophie didn't know who I was (to be expected) and Andrew just seemed very confused by the whole thing, but I at least got a hug out of him. After a little while I asked Andrew if I was supposed to be on a computer screen instead of sitting next him. He looked at me with those big eyes and simply nodded "yes." =P Luckily he got over the confusion and we were soon playing trains and reading books like the good old days. :)

Winter Wonderland

Not only was I greeted by family and friends today, but another visitor came to call. I didn't want to answer for this particular visitor, but I obviously had no choice. As expected, my dear friend, snow, came for a visit today and has decided to stay for a while. The snow is pretty, but I'm not ready to be in a winter wonderland again. I better adjust quickly! =P

What a mess!

My room is now in shambles from my bags exploding all over the place. So the coming days will be filled with unpacking and organizing. I'll also catch up with old friends and of course, I will be getting heaps of sleep! It's still a bit surreal being home and realizing my year down under has come to end, but that just means I have another whole year of adventures ahead of me! :)


~A

See You Later, Oz!

All good things must come to an end.

Parting is such sweet sorrow.

 This isn't goodbye, just until we meet again.

Whatever it may be, today still marks the end of a spectacular year spent exploring, adventuring, and enjoying such a beautiful country. This year has been filled with ups and downs, mostly laughter and smiles, and regaining a focus on my life. Before I left for Australia, I was stressed and torn about what to do with my life. Thanks to the outpouring hospitality of this country and the love and support of new found friends, I now have a better focus and have come to accept that it's okay not to know what's ahead and to always remember to enjoy the ride. "No worries, mate. She'll be right."

See you later!

I've met some pretty amazing people this year that made it that much more exciting and fun to be spending a year abroad. I certainly hope these friendships will continue throughout the years regardless of where in the world we each might be. Thank you to all who made this a fabulous year away. I will certainly never forget the role each of you played in my life. No matter how big or small that role was, each was just as important and meaningful as the next. Special thanks to:

     The Kirby family for letting me be part of your family for the year.
     St. John's Lutheran Church for so warmly welcoming me into the fold.
     My PYWC girls for such a spectacular year of music and new friendships.

     All my dear friends I've met along the way - Brad, Karen, Caitlin E., Katina, Maya, Camilla, Karina, Exi, Lovena, Emma, Josh, Pete, Andre, Greg, Pam, Armi, Lara, Caitlin B., Alinta, Thea, Louisa, Caitlin A., Ellie, Kate, Jane, and anyone I may have forgotten.

     And I mustn't forget all the people I've met on my travels to Kuala Lumpur, Melbourne, and Sydney.

Let's see what this new year brings as I put this new love of life and focus to the test! Bring it on! I'll see you soon USA. You ready for me?! :)

Goodbye Perth, Hello Sydney!

Sydney Opera House

Leaving Perth was certainly not an easy task. Between packing, selling my car, flight arrangements, and final goodbyes all the while still trying to enjoy my last week proved to be quite the challenge, but it all ended quite well and I wouldn't have changed it for anything. The week was a bit tearful on my part as I said goodbye to friends made throughout the year. However, I kept a smile on and made the best of the bittersweet time. After a wonderful last week in sunny Perth, I made my way to the east coast to suss out Sydney before I head back to the states.

I was fortunate enough to have my good friend, Caitlin, living in Sydney so I was set for accommodation during my short stay. Unfortunately, due to her work schedule, we were only able to spend a portion of my stay together. Although that did not stop me from venturing out and exploring Sydney on my own!

Harbour Bridge

Sunday I found myself wandering around the city on a 3 hour walking tour. The tour was phenomenal and what was even better was that it was free! :) On our little trek we managed to hit almost every single Sydney icon (that was within walking distance of course!). The journey began at Town Hall which is now primarily used as a concert hall. We continued down George St. - the main street of the city- and explored Pitt Street Mall and then continued on to Hyde Park, the "Rum" Hospital, and the Sydney Tower. We eventually found ourselves at Circular Quay - the main water hub for Sydney. The tour took us through The Rocks (the oldest part of Sydney) and finally to the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. What a sight! Both are absolutely spectacular, but I must say that after walking through Sydney, I still much prefer Perth and Melbourne. Although, I might be a little biased. :) My day finished out with a lovely dinner at a tiny Thai restaurant with Caitlin. It was certainly great to catch up with her after so many months!

Chilling with my new friends :)

Blue Mountains

A tour to the Blue Mountains was on the docket for Monday and they were absolutely breathtaking. The day was perfect for the trip - sunny, blue skies, and 27C! Beautiful! The journey to the Blue Mountains from Sydney takes about 2 hours, but to help break up the time a bit, the tour stopped at Featherdale Animal Park where I got to feed kangaroos and pet a koala. Along the journey, we also stopped to learn how to throw boomerangs! We finally made it to Wentworth Falls after a short stop in Leura for lunch. After exploring for a bit, it was on to the Three Sisters and Kitoomba Falls where we were taken on 2 cable cars and the steepest railway incline in the world - 52 degrees! I made friends with a Welsh couple on the tour and we explored the rainforest around Kitoomba Falls. The tour's last stop before hopping on a ferry was to the Olympic Park at Homebush. Unfortunately this was just a quick stop, but I still managed to find something interesting under the Olympic Flame. All of the medalist from the 2000 Olympics each have name plates below the sculpture and I found my host dad's plate. :) The ferry ride back to Circular Quay gave way to some spectacular views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House as well as different views of the city. After a long 10 hour day touring around it was time for a pint and some grub while chatting with Caitlin. We reminisced about Perth and the time we shared there. I even managed to make her laugh so hard she cried. =P

Bondi with Caitlin

For my last full day in Australia, there was no better choice than to hit the beach! Caitlin and I spent the better part of the day soaking up the sun and splashing in the waves. I somehow even managed to get burned! The plane ride won't be quite as enjoyable now. =P After a fun day of sun, surf, and bubble tea, it was time to say goodbye to Caitlin. Certainly not a fun task, but we have great memories! :)

Now I must finish up some last minute packing and head off before my big day of travel begins! Much love!


~A

A Punting We Will Go

Dress by Katina :)

What better way to end 2011 than attending the Perth Cup with my favorite guy and rocking a gorgeous dress my friend made for me. :) It was a fabulous New Year’s Eve and probably the most unique I’ve had by far. The races are an all-day event with nine races in total. Punting (or betting) is a very big part of the day and I even played my part and made a few bets. Obviously I had no idea what I was doing, but it was still good fun getting in on the action and even making a few dollars on the Perth Cup with my horse placing 2nd.

Perth Cup

The ebb and flow of the event was quite fun to watch. As betting closed for the race, everyone would make their way to the course to get a good view of the race. As soon as the race finished, a sea of people flooded back to shade, booze, and more punting. With each race, the grounds became more saturated with people and the enthusiasm during each race was incredible. Everyone was cheering and pushing for their horse to win.

The year ended with a quiet night in with my guy watching movies and enjoying the Sydney fireworks on tv. I couldn't have asked for a better day. :)

Hopman Cup

Caroline Wozniacki

I finished out my time in Perth by catching up with friends, venturing to the beach a couple more times, and attending the Hopman Cup. This was the first time I've ever seen tennis live and I had a blast (even though the US lost)! This was probably the best atmosphere to learn about the game of tennis. It was relaxed, casual, and so fun and now I actually understand the game for once! I even started getting into the game a bit and cheered for the players, but I ended up frightening the lady in front of me because of how loud I was. Oops! Needless to say it was a great time and I'll certainly be keeping a close eye on the Australian Open in the next couple of weeks. :)


~A

Oh, the Weather Outside is...Gorgeous!

The 12 Apostles

As my time is Australia winds down, I’ve been keeping plenty busy. Packing and moving house filled a bit of time, but the most memorable part of the last few weeks is definitely visiting Melbourne and having a bright and sunny, warm Christmas.

Melbourne CBD

Just before Christmas, I returned from a week long holiday in Melbourne with my boyfriend. He spoiled me so much by taking me to Melbourne. Between the city, sites, music, and food, I was in heaven. I don’t think that week could have been any better and I definitely fell in love with the city. Lots of leisure time was had as well as seeing the sites and doing the tourist bit. :)

Sleepy Koala

Great Ocean Road

The foodie in me had a chance to come out again and go on a bit of an adventure. We ate at some great restaurants and had some pretty fabulous food and wine. I must say that I will certainly be missing Oysters Kilpatrick when I head back to the states. *And if you don’t know what that is, Google it and tell me it doesn’t sound amazing!* My foodie side also had a bit of a sweet tooth this trip and I supplied it with plenty of chocolate. I treated myself to a Chocoholics tour in the city and what amazing chocolate I had! I visited a few different chocolate shops and tasted some of the best truffles ever. By far Koko Black had to be my favorite, but Ganache came in at a close second. To satiate my new found love of wine, we went on a wine tour in the gorgeous Yarra Valley. Before stopping at the wineries, we visited an animal sanctuary in Healesville where I saw, for the first time in Australia, a couple koalas. One even “smiled” at us. :) We then proceeded onto two very beautiful but large wineries – Yering Station and De Bartoli. They had some wonderful wines, but I think I still like Margaret River wines better. :)

In addition to heaps of good food, we saw some absolutely breathtaking sites. Even though Brad is originally from Melbourne, he was nice enough to venture along on a tour to the Great Ocean Road where we visited the 12 Apostles and London Bridge. Though these structures are only huge limestone rocks, they are still quite amazing to see and the coast line of the Great Ocean Road is so beautiful. The lush green of the forests that play off the deep turquoise of the ocean is something not to be missed. I would definitely go back in a heartbeat! We also visited a few small towns around Melbourne and stopped at Sovereign Hill in Ballarat where we panned for gold and visited the old confectionary. Such good candy!

London Bridge

We were also able to experience some fabulous music while in Melbourne. Brad took me to a little jazz club, Bennetts Lane, for the launch of the debut album of Rita Satch. To say I loved it would be an understatement! The pianist rocked the keys, the bass player was killer, the drummer had some great beats, and wow! did that girl have pipes. Not going to say I wasn’t a bit jealous, but she was amazing. Props to her for putting herself out there and going for it!

Unfortunately, the week away came to an end all too soon, but it was certainly great fun and it will be a great memory. A day after returning from Melbourne, I packed up from the Kirby’s house and moved to a friend’s house about 5 minutes away for the remainder of my time in Perth. I still can’t believe how little time I have left, but so far every bit has been absolutely great!

Delicious Christmas Eve Dinner

Breaking of the Bread

Christmas came and, for lack of better words, it was kind of weird. It was sunny, warm, and my family was nowhere in sight. However, with that being said, this Christmas was so much fun and I wouldn’t change it for anything. I spent Christmas Eve with my friend’s family. For the first time ever, I had a Polish Christmas – so much food and booze! After church the 12 course feast began. The night started off with the breaking of bread with family and friends and followed with a dip made of herring (salatka ze sledzia) a shot of vodka. Yum! We then proceeded to have champagne, barzcz with uszka (beetroot soup with little dumplings), croquette (pancakes stuffed with mushrooms), ryba (fish), bigos (Hunter’s stew made primarily of cabbage and is vegetarian on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day meat is added), salatka jarzynowa (vegetable salad), pierogi (Polish dumplings), sparkling wine, and enough cake (makowiec - poppy seed cake and sernik - cheesecake) to keep me full for the next week! The family even included me in the opening of presents and I received a very special Aussie movie. :) It was a great way to spend Christmas Eve! Na zdrowie – Cheers!

Makowiec

Yay for Christmas Crackers!

Christmas Day started with church as usual, but it was a tad bittersweet as I realized this was last time I would be at St. John’s for a service. I got through the service and then it was onto Brad’s house for Christmas dinner! I think I gained a few kilos over the weekend from the immense amount of food that was had, but I’m not complaining because it was such good food. :) Brad’s sister made homemade croissants and they were soooo tasty, probably some of the best I’ve had. We also had delicious cheeses, a fruit platter, seafood galore, salads, and my cheesecake that unfortunately everyone was too stuffed to eat. =P I also received some pretty awesome gifts from his family including two Australian cookbooks, koala oven mits, an Australian scenery book, an Australian address book, and an Aussie Beanie Baby bear named “Ocker.” Can you see a theme? :) Needless to say it was nice being included in his family Christmas and I couldn’t have asked for anything better!

The next two weeks are going to be filled with lots of fun and great events. On New Year’s Eve I’ll be going to the races here in Perth and on January 2^nd I’m headed to the Hopman Cup. I’ll also be filling my time with coffee dates and dinner with friends and visiting the beach a few more times. :) My time isn’t up yet and I’ll be using every minute I have to the fullest!!

Merry Christmas from down under and much love for the coming year! See you all soon!!

~A


*Post dated*