So I’m home! And it’s a bit weird to write that. I’ve been putting off writing this last post and ending this blog because I’ve been so busy but also because Australia just feels kind of like a dream at this point. It feels SO good to be home and feels a LOT longer than just a week since I flew back.
The day we left, we spent the day downtown getting last minute things and packing up everything. I packed my bag (which was so full and trashed that it threatened to burst every time it moved… getting to the airport was quite an ordeal to say the least). I spent the last night at the apartment exchanging pictures and hanging out with each other. Lauren and Emma and I all had to be at the airport early on Saturday morning so it didn’t make sense for us to go to bed when we had to get up at 4 to catch the Greyhound into Brisbane so it was kind of an all-nighter.
The bus/train rides to the airport were uneventful, but saying goodbye to Emma while she flew to Hong Kong while Lauren and I flew to LA was sad. Surprisingly, I stayed up for most of the 13 hour flight watching the in-flight movies (I heart Qantas). Lauren and I arrived in LA, more excited than EVER to be back on American soil. We split up at baggage claim because she had to run to her next flight. :( It’s so bizarre to think that the people I spent nearly every day with this past semester are not at home with me. I bought a magazine (less than $8!) and some lunch and waited for my connecting flight to Detroit. Meanwhile, I’ve been awake for God knows how long and it’s only Saturday morning in the States, yet I wasn’t tired. I took a short nap on the flight to MI and arrived to my parents waiting for me at baggage claim. It was SO good to see them after having been away for what felt like years, and not months. One of my friends from high school was getting married that night so I made a short stop at her reception before I went home. I thought I would be crashing by this point but jet leg didn’t hit and never did, thankfully. Oh to be young.
This past week has been jam packed with catching up with friends and basically just going where everyone tells me to. :) Our basement was flooded a few days before I got back so my stuff still isn’t unpacked and everything I own is basically just sitting in our now dry basement while I wait to repaint my room. I leave tomorrow to help staff for a middle school Christian conference so it might be awhile until my life settles down a bit to what is ‘normal’.
So you've come to the end of my blog- I really loved writing it for you guys and appreciate all your interest and prayers about my trip. It was an experience I’ll never forget. I met some great people that have become dear to my heart and saw and did so many things that I will probably never have the opportunity to do again. If you ever get down to AUS or NZ, let me know! Love you all!
