Hi....so I haven't blogged in a while, oops...things have been very hectic and my mind has been scattered all over and lots of stuff has occurred since I last posted. Like, a LOT of stuff. I won't go into too much detail but despite the stress of exams and the impending knowledge that I have to leave Australia in a month, this lovely month of May has been fantastic. I've had many laughs, lots of good memories made with my friends, and have felt more settled and happy than I ever have here, so that's a good reason for forgetting to blog, right? (...right?)
I'm typing this as I wait to go to the airport. That's right, I said airport...I'm going to Auckland, New Zealand for the week to see what there is to see! It's our third and final study break before exam period officially starts on Saturday, 10 June. I'm a bit apprehensive for my final exams because for a couple of them it seems all we can really do to prepare is know everything. For Nature-Based Tourism, I think I've got a pretty good grasp on the exam since it's really just going to consist of some of the study questions we've had throughout the semester to think about. For Water & Earth Science and Spies, it seems like the exams are sort of free-for-all, where everything is fair game. This gives me anxiety because that means I can't really have a clue on what to prepare for specifically. However, I have confidence that I will do okay on them, especially since the grading system here is different than back home.
So far, I've done very well in Spies and Nature-Based Tourism, because for the last few big projects/tests in those two classes, I've scored HDs (High Distinction: A) and a D (Distinction: AB or A-). For the other two classes I haven't gotten enough grades back yet to determine whether I'm actually doing well, but I'm not failing and that's all that matters at this point, right? *insert grimace here*
Aside from academics, I've been having a beautiful and wonderful time. I've really found good people who I have lots of fun and many, many (many many many...you get the point) laughs with. It's such an amazing experience to be able to connect with certain people such that you can truly be yourself around them. Maybe that shows my growth as a person; I've put myself out there a lot this semester and tried new things, let myself feel uncomfortable, and figured out more about myself as an individual. I think this has really helped me feel more at ease around the friends I've made these past few months. As someone's told me, my own confidence in my personality acts as a filter so that I only have to spend time with the people I actually care about and who make me feel good about myself. I don't have to waste my time and energy around the things I don't like or care for. And being able to recognize this fact has been pretty eye-opening and I find I can be more outgoing and accessible to people. I'm still introverted, but now I'm way more confident in what I am.
That being said, I will miss the friends I have made here a lot. It's the home stretch, I've already had to say "see ya later" to a few friends who are leaving earlier, and though I know I should be appreciating and enjoying the time I still have here (and I certainly am), I still can't ignore the fact that my time in Australia for the semester is nearly at an end, and I'll have to leave behind the little niche in the world I have made for myself here, and part ways with some of the people who have become intensely dear to me. It's sad when I put it that way, but as the saying goes, we should be happy that it happened. Stay strong, June!
Okay, now that I've temporarily made myself and all the people reading this really sad, I'll get to actually talking about some stuff I've been doing. I'm running out of time and I want to post this before I leave for NZ, so let's make a list, shall we?
- went mountain biking in Jarrahdale (not actually at a mountain, but same concept). It was about a half-hour drive from Murdoch, and this was the first time I'd ever done off-road biking so I was a little freaked out. Fortunately I was in good hands because my friend who I went with is quite experienced and showed me the ropes. I only fell a few times, and only managed to get away with a few bruises (to my body and ego).
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| it was a lot more tricky than it looks it this picture, I swear! |
- went to Yanchep National Park with my Nature-Based Tourism class, where I tried to spot koalas but they were all up in the trees. We watched a presentation on Aboriginal culture and learned about some tools and handmade items that the local Indigenous people have used. The presenter was very good, as he was informative and hilarious and did a fantastic job engaging the audience. We also got a tour of a cave there, and if you know me, you know I LOVE CAVES. Needless to say I was very excited about this.
- went to the Purrth Cat Cafe! All the cats were adorable and friendly and I hadn't petted a cat in months so I was very happy. I went with the person who took me mountain biking, Zee. He has officially declared himself my personal tour guide around Perth, which I am more than happy about.
- went to the Perth zoo with CIEE! We saw many animals. Obviously. Jerry was very disappointed that we didn't get to actually see river otters, and I was disappointed that the red pandas were all up in the trees sleeping, but other than that it was a blast. The zoo was quite large so we spent a lot of time speedwalking everywhere to see what we wanted to see. Afterward, Jerry, another dear friend Jenna, and I took a ferry across the Swan River from the zoo to Elizabeth Quay in downtown Perth (a quay is like a pier, harbor, dock sort of thing. I'm just throwing synonyms at you now). Our destination was Northbridge in Perth to eat dim sum. We must have visited at an off-peak time, because there was only one cart going around, which was slightly anticlimactic because we were hoping for a smorgasbord. But dim sum is dim sum and it was still great.
- went to Serpentine National Park with my cousin! There was a waterfall, a dam where we had coffee at the Cafe on the Dam, and the geology there was great. It was a rather quick trip, but lovely nonetheless. The weather had been kind of sketchy a few days prior, so it was nice to have some sunshine again that day. I've been getting really cold at night, no thanks to the dinky heater in my room and the poor insulation in the buildings; the Australian winter is definitely on its way!
There was definitely more that I've done, but I can't remember and don't have the time or attention span currently to write about it. But just know: I'm okay, I'm alive and kicking, and having a great time. Now to go spend a week adventuring in New Zealand!
Until next time!
~ JP
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