May 28- May 30: And we’re off My trip began with a lonesome flight from the Chicago O’Hare airport to Los Angeles. Although this was not my first flight by myself, I worried about everything. I wouldn’t be my Mother’s daughter if I didn’t.  Luckily, I was surrounded by pilots and flight attendants that were returning home and that eased my nerves. This four hour trip provided entertainment and I was able to enjoy the movie Big Miracle. After reaching Los Angeles, I was able to meet many of the people that [...]

Yesterday was the most animal-lover-friendly of our entire time in Cairns! Starting out the day at the Rydges with our final session (Health and Safety, all parents should be reassured), we were gigging with the failure of an icebreaker and the anticipation of hugging a koala! The coach buses led us out of the city of Cairns onto a windy, narrow road climbing up hills that was oddly reminiscent of Big Horn Mountain Running Camp in Buffalo, WY (s/o to my 11-milers!). As we approached the large RainForestation! sign, everyone [...]

Waking up at 4 in the morning started off our first full day in Australia! However, the six of us girls (me, Nabila, Kristen, Sarah, Kelly, and other Emily!) were able to rest a little longer and go down to get “brekkie!” It was a great breakfast at the Rydges, complete with pineapple juice, traditional sausage, roasted tomatoes, hard boiled eggs, and, of course, Vegemite! I am waiting for the proper time to consume my first taste, but we had a fun time at our table looking at the brown, sticky [...]

Thus begins my “journey” to the land of wallabies and koalas, starting in Minneapolis on February 3 and ending in Cairns for the Bridging Cultures Program! As emotionally difficult as the entire “leaving experience” was (Mom and Dad, you held your own!), I seemed to be in a constant state of rushing from the extremely long line at MSP security until I was happily seated with AustraLearn companions in the LAX airport. With the need for tissues, a hug, a delayed flight and “Mockingjay,” the three flights passed relatively quickly. [...]

Where do I even begin…besides the fact that Australia is honestly the most beautiful place I have ever been and the moment I stepped off the plane I knew it would be hard to leave. I have been crazy busy the last few days and have had no time to just sit. I left LA on Feb 6, boarded the plane, which I would be on for the next 14 hours sat back and relaxed. The ride seriously was not bad at all, I slept for a good 8 hours [...]

Well, it has been a busy couple of days since I have arrived in Australia. As predicted, there was a lot of drooling on the plane and I am still getting over the jet lag, but it gets better a bit everyday. Hostel living has proved interesting. I definitely am looking forward to being able to stop living out of my suitcase and move into my apartment, but the girls I am rooming with have been great. Cairns is a beautiful little city along the ocean, and the weather has [...]

Every night here, I fall into bed more tired than I’ve ever been in my life. Usually that’s the bus system’s fault. Last night, we got to the downtown Cairns bus stop before 10, and we waited until about 11 for that bus to come. The buses are on average 40 minutes late. Then when I get on the buses, I have to find somewhere to nap uncomfortably, since I unfailingly get extreme motion-sickness. The bus drivers fly around the roundabouts in the craziest and fastest way they can. I [...]

Whoa, where to begin! I promise this will be the only long post of the semester! I’ve done so much in the last few days, it’s hard to even wrap my head around it. It took a day and a half to get here, but it went by freakishly fast. The 15-hour flight to Sydney was overnight, so it felt like one long night that I dozed in and out of. Of course I got put in the ONE seat on the plane with a broken entertainment system. It was [...]