G'day Mates!
Yes this title is correct, I am going on Spring Break 2014!! I know you're thinking "but Rach, that has already happened you silly goose!" And you are right!! For America. For Straya, Spring is just beginning, and I plan on taking advantage of every minute of it :)
I will be leaving on my Saturday at 12:45 pm from Brisbane and will be on the go for a week and half. I am going to the Great Barrier reef where I will snorkel my life away, get nice and tan, go on a sailboat cruise, and just bask in all of Australia's glory.
From Airlie, Meg, Kayne, (hopefully) Melanie, and I will be going to Fraser Island for 2 days and 1 night. We will be arriving there at 6 am.....yay.....no, I'm actually very excited for this trip! We have many things on the itinerary including going to see the famous Pinnacle sands, renting a 4x4 vehicle to get around the largest sand area in the world, visit Lake Makenzie, go on a Rainforest hike, visit a ship wreck and whatever else we decide to do!! If you are confused what all of this means, just Google Whitsundays Great Barrier Reef and Fraser Island (insert any name of the above) and you will be jealous.
I am very excited for this incredible opportunity, and I couldn't be more happy to get to experience everything with these incredible people :) Get ready lovelies, we are about to go nonstop!! To everyone on the other side of the world, I will be writing in about two weeks. I will post pictures, of course, but I will be limited to the amount I can put on. I will try to work out a way to put as many as I can on, otherwise, look for them on Facebook! Have a great couple of weeks everyone!!
P.S. Shout out to my beautiful mother for going through her second hip surgery and coming out of the hospital today!! I love you oh so much Momma Bear and can't wait for you to be able to go run on the beach with me one day....and by run I mean lay on the beach of course, we don't run....I love you little prodigy!! AND....CONGRATULATIONS FAVORITE FAMILY!!!! I cannot wait for the return of fat days and baby screams again...well maybe the baby screams can be reduced to a tolerable decibel this time hahaha
Peace and Love Everyone,
Bugs
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Sunday, September 14, 2014
The Festivities are Endless
G'day Mates,
Hold onto your seats, the past couple of weekends have actually been filled with festivities!! I have been shown around Caloundra, taken 2 exams, wrote a 5 page paper and been to the beach multiple times. Basically livin' the dream!
The sun is finally out more than it is away, and it is here with a vengeance. I broke my love heart sunnies...long live the heart sunnies. So I will be needing to purchase a new pair because my eyes cannot handle this bright sunshine! I've never seen a sky bluer than it is here, and of course the sunsets still amaze me.
I know I said I would be going to the zoo this weekend...well, I lied. But, I will be going this weekend I believe! I also think I am keen to climb another mountain this week and go to the beach on Wednesday maybe. (Please hold the jealousy eyes!) As you can see, the festivities are beginning to become endless and it's not even "spring break" yet! Which I am planning on going to Fraser Island with some friends for a couple of days and the Great Barrier Reef! So there will be a blog following that, but maybe not for a week after, which you are all used to by now. I apologize for my inconsistency.
School is starting to wind down a little before spring break and then finals. Yikes, I cant believe I only have a few more weeks till it's all over...
I can truly say this has been one giant life changing experience for me though. I do not regret anything, and absolutely love it here. I have some pictures at the bottom for everyone to enjoy this time, yay! Hope everyone enjoyed, until next time friends :)
Peace and Love,
Rach
these next pictures are some I've taken for my Digital Photography Class. Not too shabby I must say
Hold onto your seats, the past couple of weekends have actually been filled with festivities!! I have been shown around Caloundra, taken 2 exams, wrote a 5 page paper and been to the beach multiple times. Basically livin' the dream!
The sun is finally out more than it is away, and it is here with a vengeance. I broke my love heart sunnies...long live the heart sunnies. So I will be needing to purchase a new pair because my eyes cannot handle this bright sunshine! I've never seen a sky bluer than it is here, and of course the sunsets still amaze me.
I know I said I would be going to the zoo this weekend...well, I lied. But, I will be going this weekend I believe! I also think I am keen to climb another mountain this week and go to the beach on Wednesday maybe. (Please hold the jealousy eyes!) As you can see, the festivities are beginning to become endless and it's not even "spring break" yet! Which I am planning on going to Fraser Island with some friends for a couple of days and the Great Barrier Reef! So there will be a blog following that, but maybe not for a week after, which you are all used to by now. I apologize for my inconsistency.
School is starting to wind down a little before spring break and then finals. Yikes, I cant believe I only have a few more weeks till it's all over...
I can truly say this has been one giant life changing experience for me though. I do not regret anything, and absolutely love it here. I have some pictures at the bottom for everyone to enjoy this time, yay! Hope everyone enjoyed, until next time friends :)
Peace and Love,
Rach
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Rach and Rugby
Why Hello Everyone,
I would like to start off by saying cheers for hanging in there with me while I was off being boring and a hermit from either rain/school. I have some exciting news though... I did something this weekend!!
I witnessed my first rugby game! So that's a lie...I've watched rugby before on television (it's apparently a decently sized deal here), but on Friday my boyfriend, Kayne, took me with some of his family to watch a rugby game in person in Brisbane! It was a great experience I'm fortunate to have. The stadium was open at the top, like most sports stadiums in the States, and the fans really get into the game...whereas I just yelled when they yelled. Because, lets be real, I have kinda no clue what is occurring on the field. I actually, funny story, yelled because I heard everyone else yelling, and I wasn't paying attention for a second, and the guy sitting to my left asked me what team I was rooting for. Hahaha oops.
I also want to share with all of you that there is a pizza place near my living accommodation called East Boy. I know you're probably wondering where I am going with this. I am going two directions. 1.) I am still the typical college student that will never turn down pizza. Ever. And 2.) I ate a pizza with mozzarella...ham...onion....and and EGG ON IT! It was fantastic! Don't knock it till you try it people.
The spring here has officially begun also. It started Monday, September 1st, and you can already tell (it's only 5:49 pm Tuesday here)!! The rain has stopped, the sun is out and beautiful, the sky is bright blue 85% of the time (other 15% is big fluffy white clouds), and people are out and about everywhere. Especially at the beach. I am actually, fingers crossed, planning on going there tomorrow (my Wednesday because I have no classes until Thursday at 4-6) and also this weekend, plus the zoo! About to get my typical "States chick holding a koala at the Steve Irwin Zoo" picture, and I have never been more excited!! P.S. don't say koala BEAR...it is not a bear, so I have been informed. It is just a koala, now you are all in the Straya loop.
I sadly do not have any pictures to show you at this time; however, hopefully I will take some at the beach tomorrow/this weekend/at the zoo (for sure). Cheers again for sticking with me! Missing and love all my mates!!!!
Peace and Love,
Bugs
I would like to start off by saying cheers for hanging in there with me while I was off being boring and a hermit from either rain/school. I have some exciting news though... I did something this weekend!!
I witnessed my first rugby game! So that's a lie...I've watched rugby before on television (it's apparently a decently sized deal here), but on Friday my boyfriend, Kayne, took me with some of his family to watch a rugby game in person in Brisbane! It was a great experience I'm fortunate to have. The stadium was open at the top, like most sports stadiums in the States, and the fans really get into the game...whereas I just yelled when they yelled. Because, lets be real, I have kinda no clue what is occurring on the field. I actually, funny story, yelled because I heard everyone else yelling, and I wasn't paying attention for a second, and the guy sitting to my left asked me what team I was rooting for. Hahaha oops.
I also want to share with all of you that there is a pizza place near my living accommodation called East Boy. I know you're probably wondering where I am going with this. I am going two directions. 1.) I am still the typical college student that will never turn down pizza. Ever. And 2.) I ate a pizza with mozzarella...ham...onion....and and EGG ON IT! It was fantastic! Don't knock it till you try it people.
The spring here has officially begun also. It started Monday, September 1st, and you can already tell (it's only 5:49 pm Tuesday here)!! The rain has stopped, the sun is out and beautiful, the sky is bright blue 85% of the time (other 15% is big fluffy white clouds), and people are out and about everywhere. Especially at the beach. I am actually, fingers crossed, planning on going there tomorrow (my Wednesday because I have no classes until Thursday at 4-6) and also this weekend, plus the zoo! About to get my typical "States chick holding a koala at the Steve Irwin Zoo" picture, and I have never been more excited!! P.S. don't say koala BEAR...it is not a bear, so I have been informed. It is just a koala, now you are all in the Straya loop.
I sadly do not have any pictures to show you at this time; however, hopefully I will take some at the beach tomorrow/this weekend/at the zoo (for sure). Cheers again for sticking with me! Missing and love all my mates!!!!
Peace and Love,
Bugs
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Trouble in Paradise
G'day Mates,
This is going to be a slightly disappointing blog post. I say this because it has been cold, and rainy, and homework filled. Therefore, I have not been anywhere to experience anything life changing/breathtaking in a while. I take that back actually. I had Indian food last night, which was pretty life changing, but other than that nothing!
I have also been exposed to some Aussie music. I don't know what you would call the genre exactly, but it is a one man band. This guy plays the guitar, has a drum beat, and plays the didjeridu. How impressive is that! The man's name is Xavier Rudd. I would recommend listening to Let Me Be or his cover of No Women No Cry. I will post the links to these songs at the bottom for everyone. I've also discovered there are a lot of bands/actors/actresses that are Australian, and I had no idea!
Just to put into perspective for everyone how fast my time is going, I've been here for a month already. I feel like I just got here! Exactly 4 weeks ago I arrived at UniCentral with a broken light in my bedroom, dead cockroach on my bathroom floor, and no luggage for 4 days.
A month later, I am 3 weeks into classes (2 weeks away from mid-semester exams). I am currently taking a digital photography class, so I will post some pictures I take as I go along...because these pictures are beautiful and I have nothing else to show you for the time being. So enjoy the mysterious girl sitting on a cliff looking longingly at the ocean. Her life is more exciting, she had a couple of friends join her after I took the picture, including her friend Mary Jane *tisk tisk*.
Bottom line is to enjoy this music and pictures I have posted, know that my life is currently at a halt but will pick back up once the weather gets better, and, after a month of being here, I still have not fixed my light.
Peace and Love,
Bugs
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=xavier+rudd+let+me+be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnvLvPipJZ8
(just copy and paste this URL into the address space above, his music is very relaxing)
This is going to be a slightly disappointing blog post. I say this because it has been cold, and rainy, and homework filled. Therefore, I have not been anywhere to experience anything life changing/breathtaking in a while. I take that back actually. I had Indian food last night, which was pretty life changing, but other than that nothing!
I have also been exposed to some Aussie music. I don't know what you would call the genre exactly, but it is a one man band. This guy plays the guitar, has a drum beat, and plays the didjeridu. How impressive is that! The man's name is Xavier Rudd. I would recommend listening to Let Me Be or his cover of No Women No Cry. I will post the links to these songs at the bottom for everyone. I've also discovered there are a lot of bands/actors/actresses that are Australian, and I had no idea!
Just to put into perspective for everyone how fast my time is going, I've been here for a month already. I feel like I just got here! Exactly 4 weeks ago I arrived at UniCentral with a broken light in my bedroom, dead cockroach on my bathroom floor, and no luggage for 4 days.
A month later, I am 3 weeks into classes (2 weeks away from mid-semester exams). I am currently taking a digital photography class, so I will post some pictures I take as I go along...because these pictures are beautiful and I have nothing else to show you for the time being. So enjoy the mysterious girl sitting on a cliff looking longingly at the ocean. Her life is more exciting, she had a couple of friends join her after I took the picture, including her friend Mary Jane *tisk tisk*.
Bottom line is to enjoy this music and pictures I have posted, know that my life is currently at a halt but will pick back up once the weather gets better, and, after a month of being here, I still have not fixed my light.
Peace and Love,
Bugs
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=xavier+rudd+let+me+be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnvLvPipJZ8
(just copy and paste this URL into the address space above, his music is very relaxing)
No matter how many pictures I post, You will truly never understand the beauty sunsets bring in this country
Surfers! (The water is maybe 60 degrees...they're nuts)
Mischievous girl...but I really like this picture
Well isn't this adorable
Patiently waiting for me to get done taking pictures :)
Looking out at the mountains I want to climb next!
Again...you'll never fully understand the beauty unless you see it for yourself
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Study Bug
Greetings Fellow Followers!
As most of you know, and if you don't, classes started this week! Now I know what most of my family is thinking, "thank goodness she's finally doing some school work!". Yes everyone, I did remember I am here for SCHOOL. I'm just taking advantage of the beautiful Straya while I can.
I was getting very homesick, so I was happy when classes started to occupy a little bit more of my time (I'm still homesick, I just can keep my mind off of it for a while now). Classes here are 100% different than in the States. For example, back home, one class will meet three times a week, and depending on the class, have a lab at another time. Class times back home are about 50 minutes unless you have a dreaded night class...ick, and labs are about 2-3 hours. I thought that was the worst thing in the world...and then I started school here. Classes in Australia are 2 hours long. 2 HOURS! That's like a night class for each subject everyday, sometimes multiple times a day. Tuesday I have four classes, so I go from 8 am-6 pm. Don't worry though, I find a way to work in my protein!!
Another fun adventure that I feel is worth mentioning is I climbed a mountain!! I have never climbed a mountain before. The view at the top was so indescribably beautiful. Lets face it, everything here is beautiful. Don't let any pictures I put up deceive you though, getting to the top was quite a hassle. Meg, Kayne and I were struggling. At one point, we ran into a little boy, probably about 9 years old, and he looks at us, gets this concerned look on his face and goes "don't worry! It's only about 50 more meters, you're almost there!". We decided we must have looked pretty rough.
The day before this I finally got to go to the beach! I don't have many fascinating beach pictures yet, but you guys just wait. The view is going to blow your mind when I get it captured on camera. Also, you cannot just swim where you want like in the States, you must swim in between two flags. Following the beach I went to the aquarium...yes I regressed to being five again, and it was the happiest day of my life. After that, Meg, Chris, Kayne and I ate sushi....I ATE SUSHI!! Don't get too excited though. I don't like the sushi rolls. Just the kind that has a chunk of rice on the bottom, with a meat (preferably chicken or cooked salmon) and is wrapped with the tiniest bit of seaweed. I still have to be a little picky! My favorite sushi is chicken and avocado, or cooked salmon with fish eggs and cilantro on top. YUMMM!!
Ok, now that I've made my mouth water, I am going to go make some food. Chicken nuggets and peaches are becoming my specialty, keeping it classy haha. Until next time friends!
Peace and Love,
Bugs
P.S. after I make some food, I will be attempting to put up pictures. NO PROMISES...I'm not very tech savvy with this stuff. Cheers everyone!
As most of you know, and if you don't, classes started this week! Now I know what most of my family is thinking, "thank goodness she's finally doing some school work!". Yes everyone, I did remember I am here for SCHOOL. I'm just taking advantage of the beautiful Straya while I can.
I was getting very homesick, so I was happy when classes started to occupy a little bit more of my time (I'm still homesick, I just can keep my mind off of it for a while now). Classes here are 100% different than in the States. For example, back home, one class will meet three times a week, and depending on the class, have a lab at another time. Class times back home are about 50 minutes unless you have a dreaded night class...ick, and labs are about 2-3 hours. I thought that was the worst thing in the world...and then I started school here. Classes in Australia are 2 hours long. 2 HOURS! That's like a night class for each subject everyday, sometimes multiple times a day. Tuesday I have four classes, so I go from 8 am-6 pm. Don't worry though, I find a way to work in my protein!!
Another fun adventure that I feel is worth mentioning is I climbed a mountain!! I have never climbed a mountain before. The view at the top was so indescribably beautiful. Lets face it, everything here is beautiful. Don't let any pictures I put up deceive you though, getting to the top was quite a hassle. Meg, Kayne and I were struggling. At one point, we ran into a little boy, probably about 9 years old, and he looks at us, gets this concerned look on his face and goes "don't worry! It's only about 50 more meters, you're almost there!". We decided we must have looked pretty rough.
The day before this I finally got to go to the beach! I don't have many fascinating beach pictures yet, but you guys just wait. The view is going to blow your mind when I get it captured on camera. Also, you cannot just swim where you want like in the States, you must swim in between two flags. Following the beach I went to the aquarium...yes I regressed to being five again, and it was the happiest day of my life. After that, Meg, Chris, Kayne and I ate sushi....I ATE SUSHI!! Don't get too excited though. I don't like the sushi rolls. Just the kind that has a chunk of rice on the bottom, with a meat (preferably chicken or cooked salmon) and is wrapped with the tiniest bit of seaweed. I still have to be a little picky! My favorite sushi is chicken and avocado, or cooked salmon with fish eggs and cilantro on top. YUMMM!!
Ok, now that I've made my mouth water, I am going to go make some food. Chicken nuggets and peaches are becoming my specialty, keeping it classy haha. Until next time friends!
Peace and Love,
Bugs
P.S. after I make some food, I will be attempting to put up pictures. NO PROMISES...I'm not very tech savvy with this stuff. Cheers everyone!
Sunday, July 27, 2014
Reality Check
Hello Everyone!
Long time no blog. A lot has occurred in the past week! The biggest, most important thing is it was orientation week!!! Now, although I used three exclamation marks, orientation still stinks in another country (I'm sorry Lay! I didn't have you as my orientation leader to make it better at BW!!). I give Australia credit though, they really tried to make it interesting. They had multicolored ribbon lining the sidewalk, breakfast three of the five days, a scavenger hunt, tours, mentors, CANDY! And yet it was still a struggle to make it through. Oh well, it's over and done and now it's time for classes to start. I also discovered that they serve pancakes here....with ice cream! Seriously, perfection.
Biggest reality check of my life. I had a great week and half filled with so many new friends from all over the world. I was in my own little bubble I swear! Life. Is. Perfect.
Then tonight (it is 7 pm Sunday night) I got on Blackboard. Worst decision of my life, because in that moment I realized I am here for school. Huh, completely forgot about that. So, because it's me, I, of course, had a panic attack for an hour over classes.
But when I sit back and look at all of my stuff, it's truly not that scary. I'm overall very excited and nervous and truly ready to start classes. I'd go broke if classes didn't start to occupy my time!
One more very important thing, I hope my family members read this article because you were all right!! Mackenzie Kaddl I'm talking to you! I was walking around campus with my good friend here and all of a sudden we hear this awful screeching and BAM!! A BIRD WAS DIVE BOMBING US!!! So naturally we take off screaming and running across campus while these birds are trying to scratch our faces off and these three women are just sitting back and watching us. It was the most traumatizing experience of my life. If anyone goes to Australia, stay away from these birds nests!!!!!!! Consider yourselves warned.
That is all I have for everyone this week! If you are friends with me on Facebook I will continue to put pictures up as I take them!
Peace and Love,
Bugs
Long time no blog. A lot has occurred in the past week! The biggest, most important thing is it was orientation week!!! Now, although I used three exclamation marks, orientation still stinks in another country (I'm sorry Lay! I didn't have you as my orientation leader to make it better at BW!!). I give Australia credit though, they really tried to make it interesting. They had multicolored ribbon lining the sidewalk, breakfast three of the five days, a scavenger hunt, tours, mentors, CANDY! And yet it was still a struggle to make it through. Oh well, it's over and done and now it's time for classes to start. I also discovered that they serve pancakes here....with ice cream! Seriously, perfection.
Biggest reality check of my life. I had a great week and half filled with so many new friends from all over the world. I was in my own little bubble I swear! Life. Is. Perfect.
Then tonight (it is 7 pm Sunday night) I got on Blackboard. Worst decision of my life, because in that moment I realized I am here for school. Huh, completely forgot about that. So, because it's me, I, of course, had a panic attack for an hour over classes.
But when I sit back and look at all of my stuff, it's truly not that scary. I'm overall very excited and nervous and truly ready to start classes. I'd go broke if classes didn't start to occupy my time!
One more very important thing, I hope my family members read this article because you were all right!! Mackenzie Kaddl I'm talking to you! I was walking around campus with my good friend here and all of a sudden we hear this awful screeching and BAM!! A BIRD WAS DIVE BOMBING US!!! So naturally we take off screaming and running across campus while these birds are trying to scratch our faces off and these three women are just sitting back and watching us. It was the most traumatizing experience of my life. If anyone goes to Australia, stay away from these birds nests!!!!!!! Consider yourselves warned.
Megan (Philly)
Brady!
Kayne :)
Barth! (NY)
Michelle with Sarah Brault (NY)
Sarah Barth (NY)
Sarah Brault (NY)
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is real
Buffalo Girls, Meg, and I
Megan, Oscar (my roommate), and I
That is all I have for everyone this week! If you are friends with me on Facebook I will continue to put pictures up as I take them!
Peace and Love,
Bugs
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