Last Four Weeks in Australia

Today is the last day of May; the last day of a month that I will only be in Australia; the first day of the last four weeks in this country. The realization that I have such little time left in Oz is bittersweet. Yes, I'm very excited to go home, and theres people and things I have missed a lot, and cannot wait to get back to. But in these past months I feel like Sydney has become a second home to me. Last night as I was talking with Alex on skype, I realized, as she had in Rome realized as well, that while traveling around Australia, I do not think of Northfield as home, but of Unilodge as home. It is very strange, because even when I'm in Boston, I never think of whatever dorm I am in as home. Perhaps it is beacuse in order to make the adjustment to living so far away from my real home, I subconsciously needed to believe that I was home. Or maybe I have just become so comfortable here, that it has become a home. I know that years from now, I will always have a special place in my heart for Australia, and especially Sydney. Last night I was laying in bed thinking about the things I want to do on my next trip here. So that is the bitter part of leaving. The sweet part is the part that comes with any end of semester-the end of studying for finals. It is quite unfortunate that so much of these past weeks have been spent in the library with my nose in books, but I still do absolutely love learning more than almost anything, so I can't complain too much...But still, this is Australia-there should be no studying!

With such limited time left, it is hard not to think about the time in days, no longer in weeks. For example, in 28 days I will be on a plane. I cannot picture myself on the plane, as it feels as if I've just gotten off the plane here. I've talked with several people lately about the bizarre concept of time here. I have a hard time believing that I've been here so long, yet things I did in the beginning seem to be a distance memory. Even Tasmania seems to be so long ago, when it was really only a week. So thinking about being home is just hard to fathom at this point, but I am definitely looking forward to it.

As for my last few weeks here, this is a bit of a rundown of what I'll be doing. I only have four days of classes left. 10 lectures. 2 tutorials. 1 lab. I have a neuroscience quiz on Tuesday, my bioethics final essay is due on Friday, and my completed lab manual is also due on Friday. I've just written the rough draft of the essay, and I think it came out very well, so I'll spend a good part of the week editing it until it's perfect. The lab manual is looming over me, and although I've been working on it throughout the semester, I seem to have left the impossible stuff for this week. I just need to sit down and finish it at this point, and not postpone it any longer! I will also spend the week finishing up the study guides that I've been working on for the past few weeks.

After a very busy week, I'll be leaving for Bali on Sunday. I can't believe I'm actually going, so soon! I am beyond excited, and preparing myself for something completely different from anything I've ever experienced. Southeast Asia is such a unique place, and I'm so excited to explore and experience everything it has to offer. So, I must also finish planning my trip this week. I exchanged money today though, and I now have nearly a million rupiahs in cash-I feel so rich! Some of the main things I want to do there are: see wild monkeys, ride an elephant (I'm so against it, but, when in Asia...), see the temples, relax on the beach, and experience the culture. I'm sure it will be one of the best weeks of my life.

When I return, it will be only two weeks until I go home. I have my brain and behaviour final on the 18th, developmental psych final on the 22nd, and finally cell biology on the 25th. I will then have two days to spend however I want until hopping on a very long plane ride. I am so excited to jam everything I possibly can into those two days, and really make the most of them.

It's no secret that I'm going to miss Australia. But I cannot wait to get home either. I want American pizza, a comfy bed in my own room, a good nights sleep, my family, smak, to watch stupid horror movies with collin, to see all my northeastern friends, to cuddle with seuss, and to just really enjoy every day that I have at home. If I've learned one thing here, and I know I've said it a million times before, but it is to not let one day go to waste, and that's something I want to bring back home with me.


Until next time, on my way to Indonesia!