Well, this update has taken a bit longer than I expected! I've been writing most nights, but haven't gotten around to actually posting anything. So here's what I've been up to the past week and some random thoughts...

Wow. So, it's finally here. My last night in this corner of the world.

I feel like there should be more ceremony and that everything should be a much bigger deal ... but it's just another night. I am looking forward to eating all of our food tonight, particularly the creamed honey, chocolate, Tim Tams and scone mix...

Every time I get in an airplane I find it so unnatural to look down at the clouds. No matter how many planes I get on I'll never get used to it.

The trip to Australia alone required me to board five different planes and, due to lost luggage, missed flights, delayed flights and bus rides, the trip took a total of two days. Two days of stuffy air, cramped seating, fake food and frustration. Fortunately, the final destination was on a resort in Australia, surrounded by beaches and kangaroos.

I've been residing in my new apartment for a week now. After doing some grocery shopping and buying some blankets and space heaters, it's beginning to feel like home.

Not only have all of my roommates moved in, but my whole building consists of students studying at the University of New South Wales, or UNI as they call it. There are around 25 students in my building representing very diverse backgrounds. Floor one consists of three girls from Norway and one guy from Sweden. Floor two houses a girl from Germany and one from Romania. And floor three consists of a guy from Italy and once the other roommate receives his passport, Colombia will also be represented in this house. Everyone else is from all over the States.

Hello! Well I have about 20 days left in my "Leaving for Ireland Countdown" and I am starting to get pretty anxious. I'm not sure that it has hit me that I am leaving for five months. Most of the time I am excited and can't wait to experience everything studying abroad has to offer, and then there are those small moments where I am so terrified of saying goodbye to everything and everyone and entering what I only imagine at this point to be a parallel universe.