oh wow

The semester is over. I felt like it would never end. But it did (Thank the lord). At one point there I thought I might die from the stress and drama of Flagstaff. But Hawaii saved me. It seriously saved me from a vicious downward spiral. Hawaii + ultimate + Ben = the best vacation ever.

So now its December. I graduate in May. That means I have a mere FOUR months to figure out what I'm doing next. I didn't

think this day would ever come. But its approaching fast and I really want nothing more then to stop time. I know I've been bitching about how much I want out of this place. But now I'm scared. I'm scared of not being able to find a decent job, I'm scared of graduating with sub par grades and I'm scared of leaving the comfortable life I've made here. I wish I had a reason to stay, but I don't. Well actually I do but I'd rather not talk about that....

Some days I feel overwhelmed with the responsibility I have to take care of my own life. There are so many things that I could do, so many options to choose. I don't know which choice is the right choice.
Other days I see that there ARE so many option. I can do whatever I want, be where ever I want, whenever I want. The world is my oyster and I am ready to find my pearl. I am 22. I've got loads of time to give.
These other days seem to becoming more frequent then the some days as I rrealize that I can be happy in any place I choose. I think that's a good thing.


On another note:
Christmas is in three days. I can't believe how much it doesn't feel like it. I wonder if that is just part of getting older. It kind of sucks. I remember when the whole month of December felt Christmasy. I loved that. I would wake up my brother at 5 am on Christmas morning and we would rundown stairs wrapped in our blankets. We had to wait for my Grandma to get up before opening the presents that filled up our entire living room. So we would sit there in our blankets and just look. My dad would light a fire, my mom would bake coffee cake and we would just sit and look at the charlie brown tree we cut down the day after Thanksgiving, the Christmas village display, the snow outside and the gifts under the tree.
As I as write this, I realized how much I miss that. The worse part is I can't go back and that makes me sad. This is going to sound ridiculous but I can't wait to re live that through my own kids someday.

I'm in the Phoenix airport. I think I've been here 3 times in the last 30 days? whoa.

Off to Missoula where there is enough snow to ski on. Hells yeah.

p.s. I love you emily.

monthy

I think I am an independent person.
I do not need people around me.
I do not need to feel comfortable.

I can up and leave, I have no connections.
I can easily make friends.

I want to feel and be needed in people lives.
So far, the only one who needs me is my mom...

This is what I've concluded about myself this month.

memotional

I don't get it. I really don't. I feel like I do everything in my power, I put in my maximum amount of whole hearted, genuine effort and I feel like I get shit back. What is wrong with the people in this town? this country? this world? I really don't expect much in return. All I expect is a little bit of respect and maybe some consideration. Is that really to much to ask? Maybe it is...
Is my presence in this life taken for granted by everybody? I feel like there are a select few people in my life that truly value my presence in their life. and the others put on this facade of "caring" and "love" and whatever. but really they just brush my love aside like they have/had better.
My options are slim: If I leave, if i give up, I'll be loosing something that I know has potential. Maybe they will realize reality and change. But most likely they will not. Most likely I will have to deal with this for the rest of my time here and that... that seriously makes me cry. Whats the point of always being miserable? whats the point of it if your not having fun? whats the point if nobody is benefiting from my presence?
I hate this feeling. I feel lost and alone. I'm so sad and so angry. I feel abused and disrespected.
I dont know how to make it stop.
I think maybe biggest problem is the undefined roles people play in my life. I thought that by not defining their roles, it gives them the upper hand and I always liked to try to see the best in people. That is ridiculous and I am done with that shit. If somebody doesn't live up to my expectation of being a friend then they're obviously not good enough. Yeah, it sounds cocky but I cannot stand getting hurt by these people anymore.
Friend:
dont talk shit behind my back to our "friends"
be there for me
when im sad cheer me up
when all i want to talk about is my life, listen
when im happy, relish in my joy
when im sick, worry about me
when i need company, stop by
listen to my opinions and truly consider them even if it makes you look bad
really care about it and not just say you do
forgive me when im a bitch (and not talk about my bitchy behavior to your other so called "friends"

Yeah, these things take solid effort. But the sad thing is, I do this for the majority of people in my life and I get it back from 1 or 2. WTF? I really don't want to stop but I've exhausted all my energy and I'm not getting refueled. I've got to see it. Words are one thing, but actions are true. I'm hearing one thing and not seeing it. I need to see it. Positive reenforcement, you know? Maybe I should trust words, but I can't. But thats a whole other blog entry....

Oooooh my! as if ochem isnt enough stress in my life! tack on the rest of this and I have enough for a.....

Montana

I have traveled half way around the world. I have seen things that possessed beauty beyond words. I have learned things about life that I never expected to discover.

I am looking out onto the crystal blue green waters of Flathead lake, and as they sparkle in the golden afternoon sunlight I wonder to myself, Is Montana any less beautiful than the places I just came from? Are the babbling creeks and roaring rivers set along the side of green wheat fields and fur thickets anything less than that streams inside the vine covered rain forest? Are the fresh produce stands and flower bouquets that are lined up one after another along the streets of old downtown Missoula not as great as the quiet rain forest markets of Kuranda? Is the grandeur of the snowcapped Mission Mountains any less grand than the Southern Alps of New Zealand.
There are obviously no right or wrong answers to these questions. I have learned that beauty lays within the eye of the beholder. Yes, I have heard this expression many times before, but until now I understand what it means. I understand that it is different from eye to eye and can be in many different places and many different things. I can say, "This is the most beautiful place I've ever seen" because there can be more than one "most beautiful place". I also know that beauty can also deceiving. By this I mean that while there maybe immense beauty in a place they may also be tragedy and disgust within it too. For example, the thick rainforest's of the Philippine islands while beautiful and lush hide poverty famine and disease. The word beauty is like those other hard to define words like love, hate, rich and poor. The definition will differ from person to person and thats ok! This, I find to be... well, beautiful. The fact that a word can mean so many different things to different people is what makes us, us.

So, my answer to these questions is this: No, Montana is nothing less then the white sands and jewel blue water of Whithaven beach or the rain forest jungles or the mountain lakes in NZ. It is Montana and the love and appreciation I have for it has grown while I have been away. And although there is beauty in every corner of this world, to me there will never be a beauty like that of which Montana holds.

Same in any language

No matter where you are, what age group you are in or what language you speak, drama will come. Its funny because we always say, "I feel like I am in middle school." But will we ever grow out of the middle school mentality or do we deal with trivial drama for the rest of our lives? I think the drama seed is planted in the 6th grade where it quickly takes root; a big, fat, thick tap root that nobody is able to pull out. Once its there, its there to stay. The only thing that changes is the things we are dramatizing, and usually that doesn't even seem to change! I know this because even our mom's are apart of ridiculous drama (my favorite: the 40-60 year old tennis women talking behind each other back about who is playing in which summer league...). So next time that we are caught in the middle of some silly drama, lets just remember that its exactly like the cliques we were apart of in our youth and its never going to ever end. ever. I'd like to think that we, as grown adults, are better than that. But we aren't. We can, however, try to remediate it before it gets to sticky.

Ooooh trailer park drama at its best.

I still love every second I spend here (back stabbing and all). I've just got to figure out away to make time slow down!

I am in love

I know its bee almost a month since I've updated you. I have been trying for a while to write a blog entry about New Zealand but all of them don't seem to do our trip any justice at all.

My dad and I met in Auckland a few weeks ago and we spent 11 days traveling around both the North and the South island. It was a beautiful. Thats all I can say. I am completely unable to explain the beauty that this county holds. Just know that if you do not make it there once in your life time you are seriously missing out. New Zealand has everything and there is nothing to dislike about it. Nothing. Ok maybe high petrol prices...

The peacefulness of this country was so incredible it seemed to radiated into the air and up to the sky and into my heart! Its so hard to explain whats its like there because words aren't enough. While driving though the country, the scenery changed drastically around every corner and we experienced almost every climate type. There were the tropical beaches in the North, the tree fern forests, the subtropical rain forests, the high altitude forest, the snow capped mountains, the mountain lakes. I could go on. Everyone of these was so much more beautiful than any other I had ever seen. Just look at the pictures and multiply that by 10X and maybe you can imagine what its like there.

So we managed to get all the way down to the South Island and over to Christchurch which was my favorite city. Its very British, very old and very lovely. Old men in argyle socks walking their Scottish terriers, big oak trees, red phone booths. You know, the works.

When I got back, I realized that my study abroad is on its downhill. I am over half way though it. I can't believe it. And yeah, I was struggling and homesick for a good chunk of it. But now that its almost over, I feel like its just getting started! Only now am I getting into the groove of things. My friendships with people are starting get deeper and binding and now I have to leave them. Why don't they prepare us for this part of our study abroad?! Leaving here so unready was not something I thought would happen! I'm scared of what its going to be like when I get back. I think I might have a hard time for the first few months.
Not only am I going to be different but the things in my life are going to be different and its hard for me to come to grips with that. My parents sold the house I grew up in and are building a new one. My brother is graduating high school in a few days. My best friend in Flag isn't going to be there. A lot of people I care about aren't going to be there. It's going to be new and unfamiliar.
Yeah, I know, its another "opportunity to grow".
Right now I want to go back to something old and familiar. I want to go back to the exact same thing that I left. But I'm not. So I'll deal.

OIRS

Conclusions drawn from this past week alone at the trailer park:

• I don't think I could be a reef coral biologist
• I hate wearing a full body protection suit to snorkel
• corals are pretty but just not really that exciting (no offense)
• I am pretty good at writing papers in 3 days.
• I am not going to take my GREs next year.
• I like Vegemite and cheese sandwiches.
• I love my friends here too much to leave.
• I am VERY sad about the missoula house selling.
  
• I am also very sad about missing my brother prom.
• I am so excited to see my dad and New Zealand... I may never come back to oz.

New pictures are up!
p.s. Dont' tell Michael I put this picture up...

I think i might need to shorten my blog entries...

The radio was on as we were driving out of town this weekend. Funky Town was playing and we were singing and then Lindsey said, "Funky town would be a pretty cool place.".... "yeah Lindsey. It probably would."
That pretty much sums up our trip this weekend....

Our destination was Mission Beach, but we didn't spend time there. We didn't book a hostel before we got there, instead we hunted around for a place to stay. After ruling out Bed and Breakfasts ($130 a night for a freaking spare bedroom in a house? I don't think so....) we found a backpacker's for $20 that was run by an old Swedish couple who were extremely nice to us until the got our money.
We got there and because it wasn't much of a beach day (cloudy and chilly) we decided to drive to a tropical fruit winery. Its a highly advertised place, I've seen brochures every where for it and we were definitely excited to see what it was about. It turned out to be a small one room building in the middle of a sugar cane field with one person working. It had good wine and stuff but it was just funny how (yet again) we were deceived.
We keep driving and found beautiful creek. We stopped and hung out did a little yoga and went on our way. We kept noticing signs for a Paranella park and Lindsey had heard of it somewhere so we stopped. Immediately upon pulling up in the parking lot, one of the employees came up to our car and started talking about how beautiful and magical this place was, how people from all over the world come to see this place. How it's well worth our money and we'll love it. Mind you, we don't even know what this place it about so we (like any tourist would) were like "oh yeah, that sounds great where do we pay?" $30 later, we find its just a house one Spanish man had built in 1913. It did have it's own water fall and eel pond and a few gardens but really thats it. It just looks ancient because 2 years ago a cyclone and fire had knocked it down and the rain forest had taken over. We still had a good time making fun of ourselves for being suckered into paying 30 dollars for walking around a poorly build house.
We drove back to Mission Beach (not before almost getting killed by a mad truck driver) and made some tofu curry for dinner, encountered 2 naked girls in the bathroom rubbing each other with lotion, and went to bed laughing hysterically . End of day 1.
Next day, we woke up early, saw the naked girls rubbing each other AGAIN, and after calming the fits of giggles, we decided to have breakfast (pb and j) on the beach. We took our time driving back to t-ville, turning off when ever we thought there might be something cool to see. We found Murry Falls. It was prettier than wallamen (not as big but more beautiful) and there was a creek to swim in. It reminded me of Oak Creek. It made me happy and sad all at the same time.

On our drive back it was quiet in the car and I had time to think about the past 2 months here. Its gone by so quickly its weird to think that I will be home so soon. That creek made me think about Flagstaff and Missoula and it gave me homesickness that hasn't gone away yet. At first I felt silly for missing home. Being here in Australia in all its glory and missing snowy gray missoula and flagstaff? But I now realize I am allowed to miss it. I am allowed to be sad that I am not there enjoying spring with you guys. I am allowed this because that is what I am feeling. I am entitled to that. I can't stop my feelings, they come just like water in the creek. I can try to stop the flow or change the direction in regards to other people's feelings, but it will alway keep flowing in its natural path. So I am just letting it surge and taking it as it comes, sometimes getting knocked down by it's force.

I miss you.

ella minnow pea

Went to Wallamen Falls on Saturday.
Its the tallest waterfall in Australia.
It was beautiful.
Rented a little yellow car to get there and I drove.
I did very well, it felt like freedom.
Look at the pictures.

My dad and I just booked our tickets to New Zealand. We are leaving at the end of May and staying for 10 days. We are renting a car and just going with it. No plans at all. Its the best way to travel in my opinion.


Recently I have made a life changing decision: I am going to open up a cafe/wine bar/catering business with a few friends. Its going to have delicious food and coffee and wine and beer and couches and good art work and live music. Its going to be called Jay-k-el.
But first I am going to need to travel around the world to collect products to use and artwork to hang.
It will happen and it will be a good life.

I just thought I would share my recent revelations.

If any of you have an extra hundred grand laying around, please let me know.

Thanks.

Interesting....

Sydney is beautiful. I didn't think that a city could be beautiful but Sydney is. The architecture is old and magnificent in some places and new and striking in others. It doesn't feel like Australia there. The majority of people aren't Australians. In fact, there isn't really a majority. Its just a melting pot of different cultures. I could see my self living there for a bit.

My mom was in the country with me this week. It was nice having her here to show her around Townsville. I think she really liked it here. She kept saying, "I'd SO live here!". We went to the aquarium and natural history museum the day after she got here. And the day before she left we went to the Town Common. Its a reserve around a big marsh area, perfect for birding. We saw a lot of cool stuff including a mom and baby sea eagle, two rainbow bee eaters and huge brolgas (heron like birds with red heads).
It was also nice to be in Sydney with her. She took me to see Swan Lake (a ballet) in the Sydney Opera House. It was spectacular! The ballerinas were beautiful and the orchestra was amazing! It was such an experience to have been able to actually see a production in the Opera house. So cool. We went to the Sydney aquarium which was also very cool. Lots of exhibits with lots of very pretty animals (including a platypus!) And of coarse, we shopped. If there are 2 things my mom and I are good at, its shopping...and eating. There were markets all around the city with really cool art and craft work. And chocolate. Mmm. And we didn't seem to have one less then delicious meal.

And then... this gigantic man-eating squid jumped out of the water and I saved everybody in Sydney by killing it with my laser vision I acquired from the zombie leech that sucked blood from my eye ball.
(hows that for interesting?)

All in all, a good time with Mom.

Now its back to school again... writing more papers. It seems really pointless because no matter how much time and work I put in to these papers I can't get higher then a freaking 7/10.
wtf? I thought I was better than that.

It seems that I have settled in nicely here. I finally have that feel of coming "home" to my trailer after a weekend adventure and its nice. I put pictures up of all of you guys and it makes me feel a little less lonely when I am there.

I am looking at my brother's senior picture that my mom brought me. He looks like such a handsome man! It makes me so sad to know that I am missing his "blossoming", so to speak. He has changed so much in the past 6 months into a different person, and I have witnessed none of it. It's like all of a sudden he's grown up. He's graduating high school (which I will miss) and then he's leaving for college.
Where did all this time go? I thought I just left for NAU yesterday.

new pictures up.
www.picasaweb.google.com/kristine.akland
love love love

please still be my friend?

I went to Paulma this weekend to collect data for a project I am doing in one of my classes. We are looking at mycorrhizal infection in roots from root mats in recently logged areas and undisturbed areas. But thats not my story. Its a rain forest in the mountains an hour away from here so we left Friday and were in the forest all day Saturday collecting soil samples. It was raining. Really hard. All day. And the leeches, oh lord the leaches. They were freaking every where. Crawling up legs and on rain jackets and notebooks and seriously every where. Including my eye ball. My eye ball! A leech had somehow crawled into my eye ball and started sucking my blood with out me noticing. I did notice my eye was bothering me half way through the day but I just thought it was my contact, so i didn't think anything of it. Then 3 hours later I looked in the rear view mirror of the car and what do you know?.... a leech. On my eye. Of coarse, I started flipping out. Who wouldn't? It ended up falling off, having sucked enough of my blood.
Gross.

Besides that, Paulma is freaking sweet. Misty rain forest awesomeness. Love it.

Moms here, we're going to Sydney tomorrow.

p.s. I debated whether or not to spare all of you from this last picture. But then I thought that looking at a picture of what happened isn't nearly as bad as it actually happening... to you.
so deal.

Hands Down

Ok, I know I am going to start to sound repetitive but... This weekend was amazing and beautiful.
More on that later.

Its been a month since I have arrived in Australia . Its been one marvelous month filled with every emotion possible. I look back on the day I arrived here and it feels like years ago. I know its has only been a month but since that 1st day I feel that I have changed so much. Things I didn't expect to change have changed. My thoughts have changed, my outlook on life has changed, the way I feel when I experience different emotions has changed. I've even found a new pocket of emotions I haven't felt before. And while I miss everyone at home, I am way to caught up in Australia's beauty to dwell on things like that.
Although it does feel like ages have past, at the same time it feels like time is whipping by me. I have already spent 1/4 my time here. That means I only have 3/4 left (just in case you didn't put that together yourself). I've made friends here that I can't imagine being with out, and I don't even want to think about the day we have to leave each other. And its only been a month. I wonder how the next 3 months will compare...

Jackie (on the right),Lindsey (on the left) and I went sailing around a set of islands off the coast of N. Queensland called the Whitsundays. We left land on Friday morning and sailed for 4 hours or so to a small island's cove. Anchored and ate and slept. I shouldn't say slept... It was more along the lines of trying to sleep while being in constant fear of rolling of the bed. The island we slept ate was the home of Whithaven beach (aka the most beautiful place I've ever been and I have been to a fair few places in the world. And really I'm not just saying that. I know its been a common phrase in this blog but seriously. It was. ) Just imagine what the most perfect beach would consist of and thats pretty much Whithaven beach. A white white sandy beach that feels like silk when you walk across it. It spreads in all directions around you, it swirls with the calm gem blue-green ocean water. There are pools that baby sharks, rays and fish grow in. The sky is a deep blue that contrasts magnificently with the hills covered in lush green rainforest. It sounds heavenly right? I've been there. Seeing this sight literally brought tears to my eyes. I cannot hold in my emotions when I see things like that! Moments there felt long and dream like. So surreal but solid at the same time. Worldly things felt so distant. It was a feeling I never want to forget.
We snorkeled like I have never snorkeled before. You would not believe the amount of fish in the ocean here! AND, they aren't even scared of people. They are just as curious as us. They swam up to us, checked us out and swam with us. Not just little fish, but BIG fish. Like 1.5 meters big. Like big enough to hurt you big. It was spectacular.
But alas, that dream ended on monday night as I got back to my trailer and reviewed my assignment book: Wednesday- One HUGE paper on polyp polymorphism and colony structure that will take 16 hours at least to complete. Crap. Well, I guess I came here to go to school right... sigh.
One of the other things I have learned here is that I have no patience to sit in a class room to learn things I could be learning on my own adventures. But I'll take a little and I'll give a little.

New pictures are up.
I hope everyone have a lovely Easter/ Spring break.
Love.

Beautiful Beauty:

Oh my. I just got back from the most beautiful weekend of my life. Seriously. A few girl friends and I went to Magnetic Island this weekend. Its an island just off the coast from Townsville, about a 20 min boat ride. We left Friday evening and got to watch the sun set. It was spectacular. We got to our hostel (Bungaloo Bay) and it happened to be in a Sanctuary. It was awesome.
We got up Saturday morning to walk to the beach and watch the sun rise and eat our breakfast. Then we went on 2 hikes. The first trail dropped down to different beaches all along the coast that you could only get to by boat or hike. They were secluded and beautiful. We saw a few gigantic logger head or green sea turtles (they're hard to ID). The next hike we did was called the Fort Hike. I guess the island was used for military operations during the war, so there were lots of look outs and forts around. The hike went up to a few different forts and you could see the whole North side of the island from up there. The view was spectacular. We heard that people see koalas on the trail all the time, but we didn't see any. I am determined to see one in the wild though! We did see lots of really cool bugs though. A HUGE spider and a really big stick bug! it was soooo cool!
On Sunday we rented kayaks for the day and took them to more secluded beaches and saw more sea turtles. The paddle was easy on the way there, the wind wasn't strong and it was to our back. On the way back is another story! It wind picked up like crazy and the waves got real big. Sarah and I were in a double and Sabrina was in a single. We worked for about an hour and a half to paddle against the wind and waves to shore. It was so "epic". SO hard and tiring. The other two girls couldn't make it. They had to get rescued!
This trip sparked my new interest in birds. I love them! All weekend we were IDing birds and listening to their calls. I don't know what I am doing with microbiology!
My heart wanted to explode from the beauty of this place. Really, there are no words to describe it (not even "reallying f-ing beautiful" does it....). The sights and sounds and smells and feeling of this place was nothing like I have ever experienced. I wanted to capture it in a bottle and send it to all of you so you all can feel what I was feeling. Experiencing that made my heart grow so much! How can places this beautiful exist? How is it that I am this lucky to be here, witnessing this beauty? Certainly my description or pictures don't do it justice.
I got back and got to move into the trailers! It so nice to finally have a "home" to go back to. and really, the rooms are not that bad. We get a king twin (in between a twin and a double) and a fridge and a big closet and a good size bathroom. Its actually pretty decent. I am going to get some sheets and a bit of home decor to liven things up a bit.
soooo, now that I am moved in, I have super high speed Internet. So now we can all video chat!

I can't wait!
I love all of you!
p.s. check out my pictures at.... (www.picasaweb.google.com/kristine.akland)

"Come forth into the light of things, let nature be your teacher"
- William Wordsworth

Going to "uni"....

I am living in a hic town. Remember how i was trying not to expect anything? Well I failed. I definitely expected a cool college hippie town (like flagstaff in the tropics). What ev, it is still really tropical and beautiful here. The lack of cool coffee shops with wireless access is only a minor downfall.
I am starting my 2nd week of classes. All of them are very cool. We get to go on 3 day field trips to the rain forests and the reef. It should be pretty neat. The professors here are very lax here. 2 of them canceled their Friday lectures so now i only have class on Wednesday and Thursday and one 50 min class on Tuesday. I don't know what I am going to do with myself. I was thinking maybe I should pick up another class? nah...
These past two weeks have been an emotional roller coaster. According to the study abroad emotional phases of my trip, I passed through the "honey moon phase" and the "home sick phase" and now I am on the uphill to the "adjusting phase". This weekend I used my friends house to bake cookies and cook pasta and green curry. It made me feel a lot better. I took having a kitchen and access to good food for granted. Now that I have to eat university food (thats like NAU food divided by 17), I miss cooking like crazy.
I just have to say, I miss all of the Jines SO much. Playing with these guys gets so frustrating sometimes. I appreciate women's ultimate so much now. Today I am teaching all the new players about stack and force. I don't know how its going to go. Jess was able to give me the lowdown on the phone this morning while I took notes. I know stack and force pretty well (i hope) but my problem is getting the point across to other people... I'll let you all know how it goes.

I still miss you all so much.
Come visit?
GET ON SKYPE....emily
p.s. i love you all

Its like this:

1. Australians and Americans are practically the same
2. the mushrooms here smell real bad
3. the flowers here are beautiful (and smell delish, so it almost cancels out the mushrooms)
4. i eat a lot of nutella and pita bread (im gonna get fat)
   
5. the gekos are white and make crazy noises
   
6. everybody wears havaians
   
7. i packed really poorly
   
8. sometimes i feel like a fool wearing my chacos here ( i know... its horrible)
9. townville is impossible to get around with out a car or a bike of which i have neither
   
10. i dont know how to be less cryptic
    
11. i severely dislike this hotel room.

"fact"

Pictures?

So i think I've made a web album.

http://www.picasaweb.google.com/Kristine.Akland

I think.

love.

"Life can take the strongest man and make him feel all lone"

I didn't realize how much I depend on my car. My car was the source of my independence. I feel so depended on other people here. It's such a struggle for me to get to campus from that freaking hotel. I have to plan my day around the bus schedule, bring everything I need to campus and end up missing the last bus back. Yesterday I spent $25 dollars on a cab! It's is pretty much the source of my emotional breakdowns.
Sunday was the first day I started to miss home. It's hard coming home to an empty hotel room. I miss having someone to unload my daily struggles on or to talk with or sit around with when I am home. I don't have that here. But, like my dad said, it's only been a week and it takes a while to develop strong relationships like I had back home. Dont' get me wrong, I have definitely met some awesome people here . There are sooo many American students here.
We had our first frisbee practice of the year. About 50 people turned up and ALL of them were from the states. I guess Australians aren't that into frisbee here? I don't know. BUT, I am going down to Brisbane next weekend to play with a womens team for regionals! I seriously cant wait!
So this past weekend the frisbee boys took me up to this beautiful creek called crystal creek. It was super awesome. There were deep pools to swim in and rock slides and a cliff to jump off of and the water was blue and delicious. But about 15 minutes after we got there, one of the guys slipped off the cliff and fell about 8 meters on to rock. We carried him back to the car and took him to the ER. He broke his heel bones and probably a wrist or 2 and maybe his knees. ouch. It was probably the scariest thing I have been apart of, ever. He was in shock for about 20 min and was walking around on this broken feet! Poor guy.
Yesterday me and my friend Jon (another study abroad student from NAU) hiked up Castle Hill. It's a mountain/ hill in town and at the top you can see all of Townsville. It was really awesome and beautiful. Hanging out with Jon is really comforting. We talk about Flagstaff and what we miss and how Australia is different and who we miss and stuff. And he is actually friends with Shimomo and Mason. It's weird I didn't know him before this.
I got a new camera (last one broke). So pictures are in the near future!
I hope everyone is doing well!
Still missing you all!
love love love.

Tropical Wonderland!

Finally here! I think that was the worse bit of traveling I've had in my life. My flight out of Hawaii was canceled and rescheduled for 12 later and was delayed 2 hours. My flight out of Fiji was also delayed 2 hours. BUT, my flight out of Brisbane was on time. There were a few times I was wondering if all of that trouble was a sign that I wasn't suppose to go. I was so wrong.
This place is SO wonderful. It might even be the coolest place I have ever been. I have yet to meet a mean or rude Australian. Everyone is so friendly and genuinely nice. Townsville is like a a combination of Hawaii or the Philippine's climate, Missoula's size, Seattle's good looks and Rapaulo's ocean scene.
Right now it's the rainy season and because of all the rain they have been getting, JCU hasn't been able to build the dorms I am staying at. But its ok because they put us up in the super nice hotel, complete with its own little jungle I have to trek through to get to my room. This, I have to say, is the best part of my day. Each time I go home, I see a new form of wildlife, the most awesome of which is an ibis (a big bird).
Yesterday I got all of my classes sorted out. I am taking tropical rain forest ecosystems, life history and evolution of reef corals, another marine coarse and an Australian Cinemas class. I also met the frisbee boys, all of which I love. They have been letting me in on all the Australian bits I don't know of yet and have been super nice. I guess there are no Townsville women that play, but they say they always get loads of international women learn here, then they leave at the end of term and Townsville is left high and dry for women's ultimate.
soooo anyway, It's "O-week" here and everyday there are different things going on. Tonight is a Toga party at the University's own club on campus. yeah pretty sweet.
Sorry for the rambling and the longness of this post but there's so much to tell!
oh and btw, I have phone here and it is super cheep to call the U.S. so I might be calling you!
pictures soon but right there is no internet at the hotel plus my camera got a little wet today and isn't working.... woops
I love you and miss you all!
make sure to get on skype soon!

Wiki Wiki

I can feel it now. This is the beginning of my adventure. It's been a spectacular week in Hawaii. I am unable to put into words how perfect our time here was. Playing ultimate on picturesque fields, swimming, partying, bush-whacking/hiking, falling asleep on the beach under the moon and spending time with beautiful people. I couldn't have asked for a better last few days.
But, those wonderful people are gone (hopefully just for now). They have been apart of my daily life for so long and now they won't be. It feels like a hole in my heart. It feels big and gapping. And I know its going to be there for a while but I hope Australia will fill me up.

3 days left in Flag. omg.

Its kinda like its not really happening. I mean, I don't feel like I'm going to a country half way around the world with nobody I know. I think its because i have been trying super hard not to think about it. I don't want to be let down, so I'm trying no to expect anything.
Jess threw me a beautiful going away cocktail party that not only reminded me of how great our friends are, but it also sort of shook me awake; I am leaving everything I know and I am excited about it, but I'm definitely a little more scared.

I know everything will be fine... after a while.
Anyway, first things first, and thats Hawaii with everyone I love! well, almost everyone...

Coming Soon

The magic happens here starting February 23rd (which btw is my bday).