So it’s here. My last day in Toowoomba, AUS. It really hasn’t hit me at all that I will be leaving here for good in less than 12 hours. The last few days have consisted of me taking exams (I’m done!), packing (not quite done) and hanging out with friends here. Lauren and I discovered that we have the same Qantas flight from Brisbane to LA tomorrow morning so we are getting pretty excited for our in-flight movies and TimTams while flying across the Pacific.
Today was spent pawning off my bike (cha-ching) while Daniel got a tattoo of the Southern Cross on his wrist (don’t worry Mom, no one else got one…) Tonight should be fun as we are celebrating everyone’s last nights in Toowoomba.
This has got to be short because 1.) I still have to finish packing and 2.) any worthwhile stories I can tell you in person soon enough! I think I calculated out the time and with all the crazy time differences, I have some 30+ hours of traveling ahead of me. GREAT.
One thing that I would greatly appreciate are your prayers for my friend Alex. He had to leave AUS early on Wednesday night because he found out that his Dad was sick and has metastatic cancer. We haven’t heard anything yet, but your thoughts and prayers would be great.
I can’t wait to see all of you and to be back in the good ole USA.
Much Aussie love, Stephanie
6.25.2009
6.21.2009
Bittersweet Symphony
I literally cannot believe I have less than one week here. Seriously, I can’t wrap my mind around it. I think it’s the weather that’s been messing me up. My internal seasonal clock wants to break out the Christmas wrapping and holiday cheer because that’s what I usually want to do when it gets cold for too long. But instead, I have to constantly remind myself that everyone at home is still in flops and bathing suits. Two things that have been buried in my closet for several weeks.
Last Saturday was my last day at the Breath which was probably the saddest part of it all. I loved working there and the people were just so great. Occasionally, on weekend nights, someone will dress up in the blindingly bright pink pig suit and wave/take pictures with the kids. I’ll give you one guess as to who was the lucky girl that got to do it Friday night. That’s right. And I loved every minute of it. Saying bye to everyone on Saturday was bittersweet and I left with several gifts/Hog’s Breath paraphernalia. :)
So lately, I’ve been thinking about things that I’ve wanted to do in Australia before I left and I was mentally going through the list. Visit Sydney and walk the bridge? Check. Swim in the Pacific (from the other side)? Check. Learn to surf? Check. See a kangaroo? Check. Eat kangaroo? Now that one had not been done. But it just so happened that my friend Steffen had bought some and cooked it up for his dinner the other night, so he let me try a piece. And so now I can officially say I’ve tried kangaroo. In all honesty, it wasn’t anything special, and if you hadn’t told me, I probably wouldn’t have known. But it still kind of made my day.
Another noteworthy thing that made my day was the amazing package filled with cookies that my grandparents sent me! I mean really, what is more exciting than getting a box full of Grandma’s cookies all the way on the other side of the world? Not much.
While the Aussie accent doesn’t really faze me anymore, I still can’t get over certain words. Here are some new ones for you:
Sunnies= sunglasses
Mozzies= mosquitos
Rellies= Relatives
Pushy= A bike (specifically my hot pink Southern Star that I’m currently trying to sell)
Bickies= Biscuits (like cookies)
I probably shouldn’t be writing this post right now instead of studying for my exam that I have later today, but someone’s gotta inform of you all of the life down under. I miss you all SO much and will see many of you in less than a week!!
6.15.2009
A Movie Script Ending
Last week there was frost on the ground. Actual frost. And at the moment, my heater is on full blast. Not exactly how you picture Australia, huh? Everyone thinks its sun and surf all year round here… not quite the case. The one perk about it being this cold, however, is that people have taken pity on me at work and have been offering me rides. So I’m not complaining. Speaking of work, I’m actually starting to get really sad about leaving The Breath. While the biking to and fro isn’t my favorite, I have really liked my job there and love the people I’ve gotten to work with. So it’s all starting to get bittersweet in some ways.
Although I will tell you, finals are over in less than 2 weeks and that’s looking pretty good. Pretty much my life has resorted to studying the 4 subjects I’m taking here inside and out now that classes have ended. Work finishes up this weekend and all that’s left is the 4 exams! It’s a bit crazy in a way: I’ve been envisioning going home and imagining what it will be like for so long and now when I think of something from home, it just seems so close. For example, I discovered this candy place in the mall here that specializes in American candy (for our Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup and peanut butter M&M cravings). They also sell Pop Tarts. For $11. Ridiculous. I don’t even like Pop Tarts that much, but knowing that I could have one in 12 days if I wanted to (for free since our house is usually stocked) puts a smile on my face. Not much else is going on here, besides the work, the studying, the cold, and the mental countdown I have going until I get home to America!
Also, although I have not developed the Aussie accent, as hoped, I have picked up some slang. It’s actually in my vocabulary, not just words I think are funny. I found myself saying “how you going?” the other day without even realizing it. So you may hear me say that, among other words such as “heaps”, “whinging”, and “feral”, all of which are in my every day vocabulary. (whinging= whining and feral= disgusting/trashy. Similar to how my mother uses the word “skanky”). :)
Although I will tell you, finals are over in less than 2 weeks and that’s looking pretty good. Pretty much my life has resorted to studying the 4 subjects I’m taking here inside and out now that classes have ended. Work finishes up this weekend and all that’s left is the 4 exams! It’s a bit crazy in a way: I’ve been envisioning going home and imagining what it will be like for so long and now when I think of something from home, it just seems so close. For example, I discovered this candy place in the mall here that specializes in American candy (for our Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup and peanut butter M&M cravings). They also sell Pop Tarts. For $11. Ridiculous. I don’t even like Pop Tarts that much, but knowing that I could have one in 12 days if I wanted to (for free since our house is usually stocked) puts a smile on my face. Not much else is going on here, besides the work, the studying, the cold, and the mental countdown I have going until I get home to America!
Also, although I have not developed the Aussie accent, as hoped, I have picked up some slang. It’s actually in my vocabulary, not just words I think are funny. I found myself saying “how you going?” the other day without even realizing it. So you may hear me say that, among other words such as “heaps”, “whinging”, and “feral”, all of which are in my every day vocabulary. (whinging= whining and feral= disgusting/trashy. Similar to how my mother uses the word “skanky”). :)
6.08.2009
Tension is a Passing Note
So the countdown has begun. It starts to become real once you realize there’s less than 20 days. Life here is… well… let’s just say I’m anxious about coming home.
Work is coming to an end. Although not before they max out my student visa work limitations, it seems. I have a full week of Hog’s Breath in front of me and I KNOW I’ve been working there too long when I saw the first person I actually knew there last week. It’s kind of like working at the Dexter DQ, where every other person you know is someone you went to high school with, except it was weird because I don’t really live here. Anyhow, it’s keeping me busy and is somewhat of a nice distraction from studying. My last class is tomorrow (!) and then finals start next Wednesday. Finals are really stretched out over here, so I have one every 3 days which makes it slightly less overwhelming.
This weekend was pretty chill and just involved Trina and I watching the OC and baking cakes (for all of you who don’t already know, I have become quite the domestic goddess, you just wait and see). But now, it’s time to finish off the week. The weather has gotten cooler already and while it’s not raining anymore like it did all last week, I’m ready to start putting my shorts and dresses in my suitcases already and am missing my Uggs.
I’m sorry I couldn’t be there for everyone’s grad parties that I missed- you know I would be there if I could! Also- happy 25th to Mom and Dad and I hope you had fun in Mackinaw!
Work is coming to an end. Although not before they max out my student visa work limitations, it seems. I have a full week of Hog’s Breath in front of me and I KNOW I’ve been working there too long when I saw the first person I actually knew there last week. It’s kind of like working at the Dexter DQ, where every other person you know is someone you went to high school with, except it was weird because I don’t really live here. Anyhow, it’s keeping me busy and is somewhat of a nice distraction from studying. My last class is tomorrow (!) and then finals start next Wednesday. Finals are really stretched out over here, so I have one every 3 days which makes it slightly less overwhelming.
This weekend was pretty chill and just involved Trina and I watching the OC and baking cakes (for all of you who don’t already know, I have become quite the domestic goddess, you just wait and see). But now, it’s time to finish off the week. The weather has gotten cooler already and while it’s not raining anymore like it did all last week, I’m ready to start putting my shorts and dresses in my suitcases already and am missing my Uggs.
I’m sorry I couldn’t be there for everyone’s grad parties that I missed- you know I would be there if I could! Also- happy 25th to Mom and Dad and I hope you had fun in Mackinaw!
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