The Blue Mountains

Thanks again to my Learning in Outdoor Education class at Sydney Uni where I was able to spend a weekend full of hiking and bonding in the Blue Mountains! Once again, to my family and friends, this blog is an assignment for this class, but still feel free to read and comment (:

The Blue Mountains, located outside of Sydney, New South Wales. They are referred to as blue because they look blue from a distance. 

To begin, the Blue Mountains is a mountainous region outside of Sydney. It was about a 2 hour train ride from Central Station to Katoomba Station. Again, it was an early morning getting to the station by 7:40am to arrive in Katoomba at 10:20a. We were going to be there for 3 days, August 29th - 31st, and the weather was going to be clear! However, it was still technically winter, so we were told to expect very cold nights around the campfire and in the cabins.

Unlike the last trip to the Royal National Park, I was so excited to get on my way to the mountains and to a great weekend of getting to know new people. The train ride was also fun! There was not so much sleeping on the ride from my cabin mates, CeCe, Britta, Michelle, Monique, and Jeann a, who all sat together on the train ride. We were just too excited, regardless of the early departure. Also, if we slept we would miss out on all the spectacular views on the way…

DAY 1: Scenic World

Before we knew it, we were at Katoomba, where we then all filed onto a charter bus to take us to Scenic World, which was where we were going to hike our first day. Ian had told us in the last lecture that the hike would be about a medium level compared to the other hikes we had over the next few days. To hike the Blue Mountains you start at the top of the cliffs and then hike down and back up, which is different from a normal hike in the mountains. The guides told us that European explorers had trouble when they first colonised Australia because they thought you hiked up and not down. I thought that was interesting, anyway I was randomly put into Joel's group. Joel was not with us on the trip to the Royal National Park, so he was new to the group. Otherwise, he was very chill and cool, letting our group go at our own pace through the hike and would occasionally share thoughts about the Blue Mountains. I did have a chat with him and some other new friends about "where I think I will be in 5 years." Everyone knows that is a hard question, but it was in the Blue Mountains did I realise that I don' t need to worry about it this second and that your plan can change in an instant. So with that, I decided to spend more time trying new things and discover myself with these new adventures I pursue while abroad in Australia. At least, I will start looking at PhD programs and figuring out my future when I return home to the States. 

The small hole I crawled through!

And with those thoughts, I took on the challenge of squeezing through a small opening in the rocks. Below is a picture of the opening and Meredith took a video of me crawling out from the other side. I have to say, I was not worried when I began the crawl to the other side, especially since larger guys did it before me. However, the space then got smaller and smaller and there was a moment where I could not move. That is when I began thinking I couldn't do it, but then I was encouraged by Joel and other friends of mine to keep moving my legs. With that, I made it! I had so much adrenaline once I was out and was so proud of all who were in my group of completing that challenge. At the end of the day, it was physically possible for everyone, but mentally it was difficult. It was all just in the mind set.

As the day went on, everyone was wondering what made this hike so challenging. So far, the hike was pretty relaxing with all the beautiful views and more touristy activities. But then we reached…The Giant Stairway. It is about 900 stairs up to the 3 sisters, it is actually 889 stairs I think…someone counted once. This was the most challenging part of the day! At least our group was very supportive and we took our time up the stairs, so we would have no injuries. I have to say there were moments I was breathing so hard and I had thoughts that I couldn't complete it or I wouldn't make it by sun down.

The Giant Stairway and we look "happy", but we were very tired.

If you haven't figured it out, I did make it up the Giant Stairway alive! Looking back at it now it really wasn't that challenging, I am just glad I was able to do it and really thankful for the experience. Not many people are able to experience the opportunities I am having right now, even people who have lived in Australia their entire life. Also, here are the incredible views once we got to the top:

Truly priceless, however you can see these views without hiking /: Even though anyone can see these, I can say that I climbed the Giant Stairway and hiked in the Blue Mountains! 

With that, we returned to our cabins after shopping for our dinners at the local Wooly's. That is when I was given the task to build a fire in our cabin to stay warm. It did not go so well. Luckily, Ian came to save the day and showed us how to build our fire. We needed heaps more of little sticks and brush. 

Britta and me working on the fire! Fiat Lux (;

For dinner we had beef and lamb burgers with green beans and corn on the cob. We then joined the group for some games and roasting marshmallows around the campfire. Some of the activities we did included singing everyone's national anthem (the USA being the largest, loudest, and most patriotic group), reflect on the day, telephone, 2 truths and a lie, 20 questions, and the assassin. Pretty exhausting first night and I was disappointed in the Australian marshmallows, not as good as the ones back in the states, AND Australia doesn't have graham crackers ): No smores tonight…

DAY 2: Evan's Lookout, Grand Canyon Walk…

The creepy fog at Evan's Lookout.

Today was going to be a long day of hiking. We were told it was going to be the hardest hike of the weekend and soon enough I discovered why. We began at Evan's Lookout, which looked over a basin of the Blue Mountains, which was covered in fog when we first arrived. There we also chose our group for the day, where I ended up with Nicki who I was with on the hike in the Royal National Park! There were also some familiar and new faces in my group. Then we started discussing the hike, which was essentially a U shape, where we would start hiking down to the river, then follow the river, and then hike up back to the top. After that, we were handed maps and compasses, with the intention that WE were in control of where we would go that day. And with that we were off, a little nervous about figuring out what trail s to take to get to the place we wanted to go.

The top and bottom of the mountains. 

The beginning of the hike was difficult due to the downhill slope, slippery rocks, and many river crosses. I freaked out the group by slipping a few times, I blame my shoes for not being hiking boots and for being 4 years old. Otherwise, no injuries and some minor scratches and bruises, nothing to be worried about. Niko also slipped a lot and by the end of the day, we agreed that he should just stay still…at all times. The hike got easier once we got down to the basin and there were some pretty views of waterfalls on the way down. At lunch, it was just crazy looking up at where we started and thinking we hiked all that way in such a short amount of time, but then the thought of climbing up hit the group…

After a relaxing lunch, we began our hike up. So far, we were meshing as a group really well and working together to use the compass and map to figure out which ways to go. This was really important because at lunch time, we waited for a while for Ian's group to meet us there and that's is when we found out they momentarily lost 2 people in their group! Glad that wasn't me. My group was also really supportive once we started hiking up hill. Trevor and Nicki gave us brainteasers to solve while hiking, which was a great distraction from reality. I never did figure out the riddle ): CeCe and I also sang toward the top, which was a great way to take a break from hiking. Singing always relaxes me and "Sound of Music" is always a good one to sing while on a hill/mountain. Another great way to relax was to stop, look out at the mountains and waterfalls, and reflect. The views just got better and better as we got closer and closer to the top!

The many views of the Blue Mountains.

Once we made it to the top, excitement filled the group and we congratulated each other on a job well done. I had the greatest feeling at the end! We were the first ones to make it, so then we formed a tunnel for the remaining groups to run through as they made it to the top. We cheered as they all ran to the top. With that we saw their energy go up and they too were so happy and proud to have made it up. Some of the people from the other groups thanked us for being so supportive and shared how it made their day better. Some really struggled on that final stretch of the hike. So much happened during this hike, which I cannot describe in words, that was just incredible. Lots of reflection and bonding with the group occurred and will be remembered for the rest of my life.

Then we were off to the campsite, with everyone who came to the Blue Mountains, to have dinner (pasta with beef sausages) and conduct more campfire activities. Tonight, I was assigned to lead one of the games, which I was really looking forward to because I loved the game I played with the group. The campfire ran the same way it did the first night, reflection and activities, such as heads up, story telling, and my game 'pterodactyl' but with fruits and vegetables. It turned out really fun, everyone loved my game, and thought I did a great job leading it, which was reassuring since Ian was grading me on it. Then we returned back to our cabins to find a special guest in our living room.

The Huntsman on our ceiling and me with it after catching it.

We were all relaxing in the living room until Monique spotted a spider on the door. It was a Huntsman. It probably came from the firewood we brought into the house. I don't like killing anything, so I told the group I would catch it and release it back into the wild. That is when it began to tease us and climb up onto the ceiling. That was a little freaky, but then I caught it with a cup on the ceiling and slid one of the maps under it to then take a selfie with him and let him outside. Monique was freaked out for the rest of the night.

DAY 3: Wentworth Falls

Our final day in the Blue Mountains was told to be our easiest day…even though there were some difficult parts in the hike as the day went on. For this hike, I made sure to choose Ian as my guide, since he was the one who knew everything you would want to know or not want to know (; The hike began with many waterfalls, which felt very similar to my time hiking in the rain forests of Costa Rica, but it was a little chillier. The waterfalls were beautiful!

Just one of the many waterfalls seen on our hike.

I really did enjoy being in Ian's group, I learned a lot about Ian, his daughter, Holly, who accompanied us on the trip, plants, and birds. I have to say, Holly is incredible, especially for an 11 year old! Ian also likes taking panoramas…

A pano of my group on Sunday!

We continued hiking to the perfect lunch spot next to a waterfall and very cold pool of water. Some of my fellow mates went for a swim, but I opted out this time, especially since we had a ways to go and were running behind.

Once we finished lunch, Ian told us that we were going to hike up to the top of the waterfall! Pictures cannot show how tall that waterfall was, but before I knew it we were on our way with no turning back. Now hiking up wet, slippery stairs is not very fun, but if you spend the time with friends it ends up being a grand old time. I was mostly hiking with CeCe and Runal, who I still hangout with today. I don't remember what we chatted about, but we did make some memorable pit stops on the way up.

As you can see in the picture, ladders, steps, and waterfalls were involved on our journey to the top. It was quite a beautiful and exhausting trip, but as always so worth it! Just like on the first day, as we got closer to the top the landmarks got more touristy and lots of people were there. Again, we could have saw the top of the waterfall by not hiking, but then we completed an incredible hike and weekend that not many Australians get to experience. Just another reason to be grateful for the opportunities I have taken on. I have grown so much from this one weekend and from the whole class. I have learned a lot about myself and the power my mind has on my physical abilities. Thanks to this class I feel that I am truly discovering the beauty of Australia and making the most of my time the short 5 months I am here.

To conclude, I have a reflective video I took once we completed the most difficult part of the hike up that last waterfall:

BLOGGING: 

Finally, I just want to add how great this blog has been at reflecting my experiences and thoughts on these trips I have done with my outdoor education class. This is definitely a better medium for this assignment. It is better than writing a paper or a diary because it is more personal and you can include pictures and videos. Blogs are definitely more personal because you are writing to a different audience. Reflections on experiences should be more personal since they have a greater impact on the individual. Also, the tone is different in a blog depending on who you are writing for. I am writing my blog for the class, but also my family and friends, so I will include different things, be more honest, and more reflective. Blogs are also great for including pictures and videos into your narrative, which is nice because sometimes a picture or video is the only way to express your feelings. I am not a big writer, so I feel pictures and videos are a great way for me to communicate what I want to share.

Of course there are some down sides to blogs. It takes some time to figure out how to add pictures, videos, and format the blog. You also need to create a blog, which can be a hassle to those who don't already have one. Luckily, I started my blog before I got to Australia with the intention of sharing my experiences through it while abroad. However, once you create one and master the blogging site you gain a lot of skills that can be applicable to any job and be a nice addition to a resume.

                                                                                                                                                       

Thanks again to those who read my blog and I hope you enjoyed my time in the beautiful Blue Mountains. I just want to give a shot out to Ian, Nicki, Wayne, Joel, Holly, and the entire Learning in Outdoor Education class for making this once in a lifetime experience an incredible one!

Cheers!

Group pic! 

The Royal National Park

G'day everyone!

So today's blog is special because I am writing a reflective blog for my Learning in Outdoor Education class, so it is going to be a little more formal than usual. However, still read, learn about the great things about outdoor education, and enjoy my day trip to the Royal National Park!

To begin, I was not looking forward to getting up at 7am on a Saturday to catch a bus to get to the Uni by 8:45 am and it potentially raining on the way to the Uni. Also, there was a chance it would rain during the hike. Even though I was born and raised in Florida, known for it's lightening and thunder storms, the rain in Sydney the past few weeks has been TERRIBLE! Well, I had to go on the trip, so I was off with my backpack, raincoat, 3.75 litres of water, 3 sandwiches, granola bars, a change of clothes, extra sweater, bus pass, and of course, my camera. Luckily, this attitude I began with did not last very long.

The Coast Track (10.2 km), the Royal National Park map, and the actual trail on the coast!

The Royal National Park was an hour bus ride from the Uni, so I was able to get a little nap in on the way. Then we got off the bus at the beginning of the Coast Track, which was a 10.2 km hike along the coast. I didn't think it was going to be too challenging because I have been on a few hikes before in the snow, in rain forests, and at night. The only challenge would be the weather. The first thing we did was take a selfie of course, which included Michelle, Britta, and Monique (all friends from my home uni), Jeann a and CeCe (new friends that are in the same study abroad program), and of course Ian (our lecturer).

Pre-hike selfie with some photo bombers…Ian and CeCe.

There was also no rain when we got off the bus, but lots of clouds and that is when we split up into 3 groups. I was in Nicki's group, which was starting up at the end of the hike! When we got there Wayne, another leader, told us to roll up a Eucalyptus leaf and put it up one of your nostrils. That was probably the strangest thing I have ever heard, but I did it anyway and got this great pic of my good friend Britta.

Britta taking on the Eucalyptus leaf in the nose challenge.

And we all looked like that. The aboriginals used this technique to clear the sinuses. My nose was a little tingly and uncomfortable. However, I was still willing to do this activity because I was all in for trying new things and learning about Australian nature. This example of my willingness to try new things is a great example of what was discussed in an article we read for this class. The article, "how adventure programs outcomes are achieved?" discusses what factors lead to a good outdoors experience and how it can differ for different individuals (McKenzie, 2000). According to McKenzie (2000), the willingness to go on such a trip and take on such challenges will lead to an impactful experience, which I would definitely agree with as I continued my trip in the Royal National Park.

So then we were off! After about 10 minutes, we got to the coast and that is when Nicki informed us of the challenges she will throw at us during the hike. Of course, I was all in. The first one was to take unique pictures throughout the trip and this is what I got:

Why do the typical hiking pose when you can do the Lion King, high kick, beetles, and ugly face poses??

I think we covered the iconic poses you take on a hike, but wait. Let's get a close up of my ugly face, Kelsey in our group was all for the ugly face selfie. 

UGLY SELFIE

Our group was very fun. There was a good mix of people I already knew and some who I had never seen in our class before. One of the cool things about this class is that students from all around the world take it. I might have come to study abroad in Sydney to meet some Aussies, but meeting people from Germany, Austria, France, Trinidad, the UK, Norway, Switzerland, Brazil...all in one place is pretty awesome.


With that in mind, one of the activities Nicki had us do was pair up with someone we didn't know and ask them questions, which we had to tell the whole group what they answered later on. This is the typical ice breaker you play in some classes or group activities, but the fact that we were hiking while doing it and experiencing the national park together was an incredible experience. Also, this view was in the background.

Just a view from the trail and that is the beach where we ate a well deserved lunch.

Then we came up to the point I was looking forward to all day, the solo moment. A solo moment is a technique in experiential learning where you sit on your own, with no distractions, and just think for about 10 minutes. Another article we discussed in class proposes the idea that experiential education benefits your physical and mental state (Mackenzie et al., 2014). A lot of this changing of physical and mental health has to do with the completion of intrinsic goals while outdoors (Mackenzie et al., 2014). Another great thing about this kind of stuff is that it improves your learning ability too! During my solo moment, my mind was cluttered with school stresses and city stresses, but then I soon realised how fortunate I was to be sitting on a cliff on the coast of Australia for a class field trip. I was also impressed with myself for taking on the physical and mental challenges of this whole experience and was refreshed for the rest of the day, but really the week! The ideas shared in our lectures were really true and I was experiencing them during the hike. While in that spot, Monique was able to lead the group in some yoga for further relaxation. These moments were definitely the highlight of my trip.

Cheesecake rock, just the view from my solo spot and also the spot where a tragic event happened not too long ago. Lots of reflecting occurred here. 

We then continued our journey where more challenges were challenged, including drinking water from a stream and eating the devil's head, and to lunch on the beach!

Drinking drinkable water from a stream, it tasted a little metallic due to the rocks.

Lunch was a nice pause from our hike and it meant we were halfway through the day ): Of course, I took my shoes off to enjoy the Earth's energy and of course, Nicki had a challenging way for us to put our shoes back on. It involved my water bottle and 5 of us holding it with our feet while we tried to put one shoe on at a time. A very strange activity, but pretty fun to do with my new friends. The rest of the hike included getting to know more people and enjoying the views. We all stopped for a debriefing/reflective period at a giant rock where you could see the whole top of the cliff. There we shared facts about our new buddies and things we learned from the day. The location was just perfect for such,

The reflective rock

After our regroup, Nicki then informed us of the last challenge. She didn't tell us what it was and asked who would do it. Of course I said I would do it and she then said you can't back out once you know what it is. At the end of the track, there was a small creek that was filled with freezing water. The challenge was to go in. We couldn't back out now, so Monique, Kelsey, and I jumped in holding hands.

Before and after the challenge, SO COLD! But worth it.

Even though the water was the coldest I have ever been it, it was so worth it. It was also fine because I packed a change of clothes! Overall, our trip was fantastic. If you noticed I never mentioned rain. The weather turned around during the trip, lucky us. The group that hiked on Sunday had bad weather, but that doesn't mean they had a terrible time. Depending on the people you go with and your attitude, you can make good out of bad circumstances.

Looking back at the trip now, I have learned a lot and am practicing these new ideas in my daily life. This is where the experiential learning theory comes into place. It follows 4-stages:

1. Experiencing
2. Reviewing
3. Concluding
4. Planning

(Neill, 2010).  I can now apply my own experiences to this theory. I experienced the Royal National Park with my class and for the past two weeks I have been reviewing and recording these experiences through this blog. I then concluded such ideas after each experience with the support of theories within this blog. Finally, planning is the one I find most interesting. After the trip, some of my free time has changed. Since the hike, I participated in a 5K in Centennial Park and have been making efforts to spend more time outdoors before I do homework or study. Here is a video I took after the trip reflecting on how the hike changed my nightly habits.

Even though I haven't been hiking since this trip, I have been able to use my experience and new skills in my daily life. My attitude has also changed as shown in the video. I am currently preparing for a weekend trip to the Blue Mountains this coming weekend and look forward to applying the skills I learned from this trip to a more challenging adventure in the mountains. After the weekend in the mountains, I can't wait to see how my perspective on life will change, again. So with that, this concludes my reflective blog about my hike in the Royal National Park. Cheers!

References

Mackenzie, H., S., Son, J., & Hollenhorst, S. (2014). Unifying Psychology and Experiential Education: Toward an Integrated Understanding of Why it Works. Journal of Experiential Education. 1-14.

McKenzie, M. (2000). How are Adventure Education Program Outcomes Achieved?: A Review of the Literature. Australian Journal of Outdoor Education, 5(1), 19-28. 

Neill, J. (2010). Experiential Learning Cycles. Outdoor Education Research and Evaluation Center. 

Am I a Wizard at Hogwarts?

Hello fellow readers of blogs,

My second post here in the down under will be about my time at the uni (aka The University of Sydney). At the end of the day, I came to Australia to study, but it was a bitter sweet transition into this semester. After, partying and climbing bridges in Sydney and then to partying and jumping off things in Cairns, I was not ready to live an academic life again. However, I was ready to settle down, unpack my belongings, and begin meeting Aussies in my classes.

First note: my school looks like Hogwarts…

Now I am in the 3rd week of school and am loving most things about it! My schedule is as follows:

- Internship 1 (School of Civil Engineering)

- Learning in Outdoor Education T (only 6 weeks long)

- 20th Century Australian Architecture W

- Chemistry 1A MWR

Total semester hours: 24 (aka 16 at Rollins College)

I don't have class on Fridays, except I am completing 2.5 hours of my internship on Friday mornings until my Outdoor class is done in 6 weeks (already half way there!!) It has been an interesting time here. For the most part lecturers are pretty chill and rarely know what is going on. Also, they really like having students do presentations, students make a powerpoint and then read off a sheet of paper what they want to say. That is not how it is done in America /: I had my first presentation today in my architecture class and I looked like a fool not reading off a piece of paper. However, I also tripped on my way to the podium to the front of the lecture of about 60 people. When I finally made my way up there I said "great way to start a presentation" and everyone laughed. I've been told before, always start a presentation with a joke, so hopefully that improved my mark.

First year chemistry has been very familiar so far…brings back memories of my terrible time in Modern Physics, but I now kind of understand it. I also enjoy helping first years when they ask me for help, then somehow the subject changes to how I am a physics major and what I am doing in that class. That is also a common theme of my time here so far. In tutorial, I have met Andre (Advance Sciences) and Di (Biological Sciences) who are natives to Australia. They don't like physics. I am also a notetaker for the chem class too, which is great because I get paid at the end of the semester! Who knew I would continue my note taking job while abroad.

*Second note: this kid in my chem class looks like he is casting a spell…

Learning in Outdoor Education is a fun class. Full of international students, so I have met people from all over the world. With this class, we are going to the Royal National Park for a day (this Saturday) and the Blue Mountains for a weekend (end of August). Look out for blog posts about these places because I have to blog about my adventure for the class (; For the most part, we have been learning how the outdoors is good for everything and students have been giving presentations on various camping and environmental information, all useful for our future trips. Also, all the Rollins kids, except for Meghan, are in this class. Just like Rollins, but not at all. *I forgot to mention that through my architecture class, we get to go to 3 museums!

Finally, my internship. It has taken some time for me to warm up to it. The internship I wanted when I first arrived was a medical research position at the Garvan Institute, however the director of the program pretty much told me I had no chance ): But she already had an interview lined up for me at the University of Sydney's School of Civil Engineering (ps this meeting was on the second day of orientation). Apparently she said "he was keen to meet me." Thinking about it now, I don't think that makes much sense. Two days later, I went to the interview and apparently I already had the job. This was great for me, but overwhelming since the internship I got was my last choice and my supervisors had no idea what was going on. I started two weeks later by just walking in on a Monday and saying I was going to start. They sat me down in the lab and said familiarise yourself with LabView. I sat there for 2 hours, alone, trying to teach myself how to use a program with nothing to apply it to. Then another student came in and asked if they gave me my office yet? That was weird and then he tried to show me how to move the linear stage and failed. Luckily, I figured it out on my own, the units were microns…there were no units anywhere in the program. WHY DON'T ENGINEERS COMMENT? Then I left frustrated and looking forward to meeting the Brazilian intern.

I went back 2 days later and met Joao, who had no idea what he was doing either and we think we are working on the same project…great. But somehow, I seemed to understand everything more then he does and look like I have done everything before! And he is an aeronautical engineer…physics wins again. With little help from him, I designed a piece for the experiment, got trained on the 3D printer, and printed it out this past Monday. I don't have a pic of the final product, but I have a pic of the Google sketch up design:



*Third note: might as well be magic!

So, I am going back to the lab tomorrow and we will see if this piece I designed will work. I have a feeling it won't, but that is research and the result of getting no advice from my supervisors, just criticisms. At the end of the day, I will gain new skills for my resume and skills that will assist in future classes of mine. Otherwise I am working in a research lab, which is what I do at Rollins except I get credit for my work. I am pretty sure my name will be no where on their published paper. Also, I feel like a scientist, not an engineer…awkward.

That is probably enough on my school life right now. Not very exciting, but that is how it should be. Even though, I have gotten free BBQ and bought a cat ring and cat socks at some jewellery and clothing tents on campus today. Now I have a cat shirt, cat scarf, cat socks, and a cat ring with me in Australia…all I need are cat pants and cat shoes.

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!

Only firsts in Australia!

To those reading this, I am currently sitting on the lawn after eating two beef tacos on the University of Sydney campus in-between my Learning in Outdoor Education class. Sorry for not blogging until now, but I finally have stable wifi and time. I have done so many things in Australia after being here for just 3 full weeks and now things are starting to slow down with the start of school; my fall semester, but the Aussie's spring semester. Things are pretty chill here, with my 16 credit hour load, and going to bed at 10pm with my host family and various pets. But first, I will start with listing the many FIRSTS I have had in Australia, including my 15 hour flight to the Down Under.

1. Flew to Sydney, Australia
2. Stayed in a Hostel
3. Ate Kangaroo
4. Bought my first legal drink- it was called a Sailor Moon, some kind of cocktail drink that was half price for happy hour.
5. Drank at a bar (ScuBar, probably my group's favorite place in the city)
6. Took a selfie with a Kangaroo

7. Pet a Koala and eventually held one (:

 

8. Ate at a foreign Subway, kind of lame…
9. Climbed the Sydney Harbor Bridge and saw incredible views.
10. Ate crocodile and emu, toppings on a pizza.
11. Tried Vegemite (SO GROSS!)
12. Went to Cairns in Northern Australia…just gorgeous!

13. Scuba dived and snorkeled in the Great Barrier Reef! Still waiting on getting the pictures…got one with Crash and Nemo! Now I want to be certified.

14. Participated in a Pub Crawl and met people from all around the world.

15. Explored the waterfalls and rain forests in Cairns…Swam in this waterfall that was freezing cold, but got this pic like they do with the hair product adds thanks to Bart, our tour guide.

16. Discovered the difference between Australian made UGGs and the China Uggs, Americans have been lied to for ever ):

17. Got asked by an art salesman, "What is fire?" because I am a physics major…

18. Went Sea Kayacking and snorkeling on Fitzroy Island, which is also gorgeous!

19. SKYDIVING!!!!! I have a video, which I will figure out how to upload soonish…

20. Supported a friend in Jelly Wrestling…kind of weird

21. BUNGY JUMPING!!!!!! Maybe this video will work…

22. White-Water Rafting, best thing ever!

23. Became an International Student…tables have turned. 

24. Met my great home stay family! Daniel (Dad), Simone (Mom), Terina (youngest sister), Jeremy (younger brother), Benji (dog), Bunny (cat), Zach (second cat), and eventually Jessica (younger sister, who is overseas right now and will be back in August.

25. Bought an Android, as my Australian phone ):

26. Took my first class in a big lecture hall aka First Year Chemistry, there are only 102 people in that class.

27. Had my first interview for kind of a job; ended up being really informal and got the internship the second I walked in…I guess I am a Civil Engineer for the semester, Wooh /:

28. Went to Bondi Beach, which is also absolutely gorgeous, just a 30 min bus ride from where I live!

29. Went to an Aroma Festival, with chocolate, coffee, churros, food, etc! Smelled so good there. 

30. Finally, I started a journal of my adventures (:

That is all I can think of at the moment. There are probably even more firsts that I have had in Australia, but there are still more to come with my time abroad in this amazing country. So many nice people (:

This will conclude my first post and stayed tuned for another post about how attending a big school is and if I make some Australian friends…that is my main goal.

Cheers!