When It’s All Said and Done

I can’t believe I’m already at the end. It’s surreal. It’s unbelievable. It’s bittersweet. Just hours until I journey home. This has been some of the best months of my life and I am so thankful to have experienced it all. I created a part of my life in this city! Now we have to pack up and move back to reality. Too much moving and shaking for me.

I don’t know how to put it all into words. In one semester, I’ve made new friends and travel buddies who explored the other side of the world with me, I interned at an awesome PR/communications agency and I got to live in one of the coolest cities in the world. I have so many memories to keep with me forever.

Study abroad taught me so much about myself. I lived more and worried less that is for sure. I didn’t waste time harping on my body; I ate, I drank, I soaked everything in. I lived out of a backpack, slept in a hostel, navigated four of the six Australian states, made friends with strangers, stepped out of my comfort zone, and so much more.

I loved every minute in Australia. From my BU roomies to the beautiful beaches, I’m going to miss every minute that I’m not here. It’s been a semester-long vacation. Yes, I can’t wait to be home, see my family, sleep in my own bed – all that good stuff, but, It’s hard to leave a place I fell in love with, even if I have a feeling I’ll be back.

The crazy amazing people I have met:

If you’re nervous about traveling abroad, you know you are making the right decision. I took a big leap and I fell in love. I can’t stop wanting to type “I’ll miss it here, I’ll miss it here” over and over.

It has been an easier way of life here: a balance between work and play, a more relaxed working environment, and a love for travel (more Aussies seem to travel outside of their own country without having even travelled their own! sounds like me…). Now it’s time to prepare for winter, American currency and driving on the right side of the road.  If there’s one thing I want to leave behind in this country, it’s my stress!

I might not come back with an awesome tan or an Aussie accent, but I’m returning with a love of life and a passion for travel. I will miss Australia so much. But don’t think this means I am going to stop blogging, I found a love for that, too. Get ready, USA, cause I’m road tripping you next!

— Madison

A Family Affair

I know it’s all over Facebook, but…my mom, Aunt Kim and Thea are here!!!!!!! Well, not currently “here” in Sydney, but they are having a vacation while on vacation in Port Douglas and I’m pretty sure they are going to experience the Great Barrier Reef today. Jealous, but I couldn’t be happier. For their updates, check Facebook!

As they adjusted to the major time difference, we explored the burroughs of Sydney, making our way to the Glebe markets, the Rocks Village Bizarre and the unanimous favourite: Manly beach. I think as their jetlag wore off they started to like the city, but the first few days of adventuring was a little too much to handle. We tore UP this city!

 

The one day I was so graciously given the day off so we shopped til we dropped. Literally. Another day they hosted “wine & cheese” in their hotel room slash penthouse apartment so they could meet my friends here. We checked out a Chinese Cotemporary Art Gallery and sipped on traditional herbal teas while we munched on scones. We explored The Rocks Village Bizarre and they found some good souvies and Christmas prezzies. They helped me cross off items on my bucket list like seeing a show at the Sydney Opera house! Our first ballet other than the Nutcracker and we received dirty glances from the women in front of us.

The best day was our trip to Manly. We didn’t plan on going, as the weather was not on our side until we walked outdoors and decided it would be the perfect day to ferry to the beach. And we were right, natch. We walked the length of the beach, stopping to check out a beach volleyball tournament, and ended the day sitting harbourside with beer flights and fish&chips. Not me, I’m still scarred from my bus tour with greasy, smelly fish&chips. No way, I opted for the German pretzels to go with my new favourite Hofbrau Dunkel Dark Lager. Who knew!

But really… let’s talk food. I finally got to eat more than oatmeal, chicken sausage and 65cent pasta! On their first day here, we ate at a cute Greek restaurant, Giulia’s – recommended by friends of mine – and had a huge brunch. We found delicious Mexican food (seriously, it has been hard to find) and enjoyed a happy harp-playing serenade during our dinner with frozen margaritas, mojitos and nachos. Another night, we had the classiest of classy h’ordeuvres – still have to Google that word for spelling – which included wine, a variety of cheeses, Lavosh a.k.a. a giant cracker and the most incredible white chocolate truffles. Ooh, might I add we had multiple amazing brekkies, one being at Bill’s in Surry Hills with ricotta hot cakes and eggs, bacon and sweet corn fritters. And coffee. Everyday. My addiction may be making a comeback.

So many good things happen when food is included, except my jeans get a little snug. Study abroad will definitely do that to ya. Thank goodness I go back to big sweaters and heavy coats – hide in a big ball of warmth.

We haven’t found Little Italy of Sydney, yet, but we were recommended a hole-in-the-wall restaurant to try (our fav), so we will hopefully make it there before they head back to the States.

I love my family because we’re all foodies and we sharesies, it’s the best(ies). However, my mom really has to learn about the tipping culture (or lack there of) in Australia. I’m sure she’s up in Port Douglas giving waiters $20 tips even though the minimum wage is like $17/hr. Still, gotta love her and the fact that she/Aunt Kim/Thea are here!

In other news, I only have two weeks until I suffer through one final (how will I survive?) and somehow pack my room into two suitcases. We have a program-planned Thanksgiving next week and one more farewell event on our last full day before it’s Ta-ta, Sydney. It’ll be the whole”it’s not Sydney, it’s me” and “we don’t want things to end this way, but they have to” and “maybe our paths will cross in the future” big emotional break-up. We’re making the most of the time we have left. Too cheesy?

Ugh, completely and wholly loving my time here.

— Madison

 

Making my way through Sydney

So many things have been happening in Sydney! Trying to budget is tough, especially when I’m fighting that “I need coffee!” feeling or buying the cheapest food brands possible so I can buy more (I found pasta for 65 cents!). Ok ok, it’s not that I am struggling to survive over here at all, but it just took some adjusting to opting out of dessert or spending the day at the free museum rather than the ticketed one. For example, this weekend I went to the Sculpture by the Sea exhibit which sets up large pieces of artwork on the coast between two beaches. It is only hosted for two weeks or so, but it is really worth the trip! Plus we ended the day at the beach, too. I fell asleep and got burnt, NBD.

One of the best things I love about traveling to a foreign country is talking to the locals. There is no better way to A) find the cool places to go and B) learn more about the country than by chatting it up with the bartender or making friends with the coffee shop barista. A lot of the people I’ve met have travelled to the US, too, so it’s awesome to hear their opinion of my home country. Not to toot our own horn but they usually plan on going back, even though half the places they’ve been to are places I haven’t visited.Talking about travel just gets me wanting more!

Halloween is next weekend, and apparently it’s on the rise over here – meaning, we will be going out in costume. Can’t wait to see how Aussies do Halloween. I’m predicting nights out will be just about the same as home. And if not, well hey, the costumes can be a conversation starter 😉

— Madison

And the award goes to…

It’s official: I am NOT a minimalist. I win the award for the worst packer ever. I do not “travel,” I move. The thought always crosses my mind: “but what if I need that one day.” Usually I am referring to a sewing kit or hair gel –- things I rarely use. My clothes are the hardest part. I gain this sense of attachment and I feel as if we are “breaking-up” or that some clothes might feel like they are missing out on the adventure. Strange, I know. Here is my tornado-of-a-room during my break-up process:

I was going to try my hardest to pack lightly for this 4 month excursion, knowing I would want to shop and bring a new wardrobe back home. As I am zipping my bags up – NOTE: bags, plural – I have a feeling of satisfaction knowing everything I wanted fit into its place without a fight.

And then we brought out the scale…

Let’s just say I learned that though my belongings may fit in my bag, doesn’t mean they meet the weight requirements. After picking and choosing what goes in what bag and what I truly can live without, I brought the weight of each bag to nearly 50 pounds. I’m hoping the airport scale is a little different so I don’t have to be THAT GIRL at the airport frantically deciding what to throw away.

With my bags packed, I am officially ready to take off! This time tomorrow I’ll be on my way to LA to start my journey. Don’t even get me started on the 17 hour flight from the West Coast…

First and Foremost

Hello, blog world! I’ve created the cliché study abroad blog (but I hope to continue blogging after my upcoming adventure) <—who hasn’t said that before… Where am I going, you ask? Across the world and down under to Sydney, Australia! I still can’t believe it. So many questions to ask about the foreign country/continent/continountry I’ll be going geared up & ready to explore. Am I prepared? Not even close, but that’s how I tend to do things. Anyway, I hope to keep this updated during my trip and later into my future. A place I can write about anything and everything, why haven’t I started sooner?

Now, I must warn you, I’m no professional photographer — expect the occasional tourist pic, selfie or food shot — but my pictures will still please (I hope!). I created a bucket list for my journey on here and I’ll cross things off as I go. Comment with any ideas or suggestions please! I want to get the most out of my trip, trust me, I’ve been working my butt off this summer so I have dollah bills to spend over there.

The extent of my Australian accent is saying “Rise Up Lights” with a British accent (hint: it will sound like “Razor Blades”). Don’t think I’ll be trying that awful joke on true Aussies. I’ll just learn their lingo instead. In about a fortnight I’ll be packing my cossie and sunnies and leaving the states as a 3rd year at Uni! That’s a start, right?

Ta-ta,
Madison