home is where the bagels are.

I’m sitting here in my own, clean, unpacked room with in my ugly sweatpants that I love but could not bring myself to take along to Australia. I’m sipping some quality home water, on the rocks. And I officially can say that it is time. It is time for the wrap-up post.

Followers- brace yourselves for a flashback and my last blog post, for now.

I left off at finals. I can safely say this was not a highlight of my experience abroad. UQ allots an entire week for study and revision before exams actually start. This may help some people, but I was constantly evading studying while doing nothing else which was a waste of time. While in an exam with hundreds of other students where I was sat right in front of the professor, I realized that he could not even recognize me as one of his students. I thought that was pretty bullshit. Clearly, I was meant for a small college and not a big university. Regardless, my exams went well and I got two 6’s and two 7’s. That’s pretty good for Australian style education.

Next up was our going away dinner with Ann Wadsworth. We went to this pretty swanky Italian place to dine for the last time with our lovely director, give her a nice present, and consume many a joyous/congratulatory bevy. It was a great time and nice conversation was had all around. The ten bottles of wine that Ann got us also helped. After dinner a few of us, even Ann, went out to and danced a bit. Then, Ann turned into a pumpkin and had to leave us all for her husband and kids, and we ended up going home as well. It is not as fun without our fearless leader.



Soon enough…Megan, Liz, Phil, Taylor and I were off to Melbourne, a place I have been looking forward to going to since I found out I would be in Australia. My friend Jordan, who I met at camp, lives in Melbourne and very kindly offered me (and all of my friends!) a place to stay for the duration of the trip. Melbourne was a city of culture, art, and food. It was kind of like New Orleans in that the city has a sense of identity and a flavor of its own. I ate some of the most beautiful food and saw some of the quirkiest street art I’ve ever seen. We went to this trés chic bar with chairs fit for royalty and top of the live specialty drinks. We went to an amazing market place where I was able to complete all of my shopping for people back home…and myself. We also took a walk down the longest shopping street that I have ever been on where I bought a dress to wear on my birthday and stopped at a café with Megan. Best of all, this trip was a vacation for all of us after finals and to celebrate being in Australia one last time and we succeeded in doing both. Thanks again to Jordan who was the best host, a place to stay, recommending that amazing Chinese place, and being excellent all around.

Having Tea at the Galleon Cafe:


Once we got back to Cromwell, it was party time. Thursday night just happened to be the last night out for all of Cromwell. I quickly scarfed down some dinner and I borrowed one last dress from Mussels and I was out the door. It was one of my favorite nights out of all time, because of the dancing but mostly because at midnight it was officially my 20th birthday! My friends bought me a few drinks to down in too quick a time interval, but it was worth it. Birdees is the best.


The next day, my birthday, I woke up and went to get breakfast with Megan and got our usual, flat white for Megan, English Breakfast for me, and some delicious cake/scone-y type thing. Next was lunch with what was left of the Top Cock girls at the pizza place at the Ville. Who new they had such great pizza? If only I had found that place sooner. And, to top the day of eating off, I went to the best Chinese restaurant in all of Brisbane. The place made its own noodles, enough said. That night, my American friends all came together to have some classy beverages before venturing out on the town. Classy turned to barely stable and two of our soldiers did not make it that night. It was a fantastic birthday despite being thousands of miles away from home and Dickinson.




I ended the semester with seeing HARRY POTTER with Liz and finally trying kangaroo at our group barbecue in Southbank.



Luckily, I do not have to recap all the amazing things that I have done this semester right here because I have posted about most of them. It is an experience just to be away from friends and family for 5 months. I’ve had to think about who I am, what I want, and where I’m headed. I have solidified friendships and grown to appreciate many things, especially Dickinson…and bagels. Australia is magical and its people are the best of the best.

This blog is anything but finished. More travel and wandering to come.