Getting here

Traveling half way around the world, flipping my nights into afternoons and trading my jacket for a tank top and flip flops. The whole trip started off as an idea that popped into my head and continued to grow and I thought about it more and more. The idea of being away from home that long and over 9,000 miles away scared me and was not sure if I was able to embark on such a journey. As the months went on, I sat on it some more and the idea grew on me and I was determined to give it a shot.

I love to travel and thought this would be a great way to become immersed in a new culture and find something out about myself as well. So I finally decided to do it, realizing I would not have this opportunity again.

So on February 10, 2010 I said goodbye to my family and my boyfriend to board a plane to start a very long journey. At 7:57 my plane was suppose to take off for Chicago but my flight was cancelled due to a problem with the plane. So I power walked trying to beat people up the hallway so I could get helped first at the new gate. I fell sixth in line and with one man trying to help everyone it was guaranteed to take forever. One lady in front of me had to be in San Fransisco, another Hawaii, and my favorite, four catty women who needed to get to Cancun so they could sit on the beach while sipping margaritas and continue on their husband bashing stories.

So it wasn't until 10 until I got on a plane for Chicago, and then I had 2 hours to kill there. Airports are the greatest places to people watch, so many people with so many stories; some running away, some going home, starting their career, vacation, ect. All these people sit next to me as I wait to board the plane.

After that 4 hour plane ride I hoped off the plane at LAX with my dream and no cardigan(just had to) into the most confusing airport ever. I was not sure if I had to pick up my luggage myself or if they were doing that for me since I was switching airlines. But I finally found the baggage claim an hour later with puffy red eyes from crying because I was so lost and confused. But I regained my composure and dragged my two extremely heavy bags onto a shuttle to drive me a mile around the airport for the VAustralia check-in.

I was there greeted with red and purple lights and funky music playing in the background, a little unusual but welcoming by far. I threw my bags onto the scale be weighed and found my one bag was 25kg over not knowing that in lbs I was like "umm ok." I had to pay an extra 100 buck and have a heavy sticker put all over my bag so someone does not kill themselves trying to lift it into the plane. I later did a quick conversion and found out that's close to 55lbs!! Ya I will for sure be leaving some stuff behind.

After that 5 hour layover I finally bored the space craft of VAustralia. The biggest plane I have ever been on, or have seen. This plane was equipped with a bar for gold first class, regular first class, and the three most flamboyant flight attendants known to mankind(at least they had sweet accents) and all us losers in the back. At least I got my own TV where I could watch movies, TV, play games, and listen to music. It was a total of 13 hours in the air and I watched 3 movies and played scrabble for hours.

I Finally arrived in Brisbane after 18 hrs of flying, totally lost and confused not knowing what day it was or time. I was greeted by the university after coming out of customs. From there we hopped on a bus and started our decent 2 hours south to the city of Lismore and this is where I reside.

I am attending Southern Cross University, staying in Magellan College(dorm hall) and studying Hospitality and Tourism. I live in a four person suit 3 girls, one guy. All my flat-mates are Aussies and they are all super friendly. I am looking forward to my time here and the relationships that I form.

There are stories to follow shortly