Hello Everyone!
So I guess now is as good a time as ever to start writing for my blog. Currently I am sitting in the Portland Airport waiting for my flight to AUSTRALIA! As most of you know, I'm headed to Townsville, Queensland to do a semester study abroad program at James Cook University. I'm leaving today, July 14th and I'll be back on the 8th of December.
As far as this blog goes, I'm going to try and write about my adventures as often as I can and post some pictures for you to look at but I have a tendency to fall behind in these sorts of things so bare with me. I would love to hear what you guys have to say or think about any of my posts so please feel free to leave comments :) In fact, you are encouraged to do so.
I decided to do a study abroad because I was feeling the need for a complete change. The longest that I have ever stayed in one location has been 6 years and I have been here in Oregon for 8 years now. Don't get me wrong, I love it here; all my friends, family, memories etc. But it has made me restless to be here for as long as I have been. Australia has always been one of my dream destinations and now I finally had a chance to go. I wanted to go to the Land Down Under for a few reasons: 1. It was such a common location in the nature shows that I used to watch all the time because of the wide variety of environments and adventures that can be had there. 2. I had heard about JCU from another student that had been there and went and did some research on it and it turned out to be a great marine biology school, my dream school. 3. Australians speak English. 4. It's Australia, enough said.
As excited as I am for this new adventure the last couple days have been pretty bittersweet for me. I am really going to miss all of my friends and family and how comfortable they all make me feel. Over the last week I have been spending as much time as I can with as many of my friends as I can and it has been great. There was never a time where I was sitting at home alone and bored. It was amazing as was everything that went on this last week. To name a few I took a day trip to Seattle with Ryan and Steven, had some fun at the rodeo with Hillary, spent a few late nights with the girls and the boys, attended some awesome parties and get-togethers, had dinner with the family as well as some lovely friends in Corvallis, did some recruiting at the OSU START nights and made candles with my mom. I want to thank all of my friends and family for making these last weeks so memorable! So i'm here in the airport thinking of how much I'm going to miss my Oregon family and thinking that I am going to have such a great time in Aussie land; hence the bittersweet feeling.
Well, boarding time is fast approaching, and I'm getting too sentimental for my own good, so this shall be the end of my first post. It's almost time to leave for AUSTRALIA!
