“Formal learning is like riding a bus: the driver decides where the bus is going; the passengers are along for the ride. Informal learning is like riding a bike: the rider chooses the destination, the speed, and the route.” 

 Jay Cross

When you think of backpacking most people will probably think of trees, forrest, mountains or even the Australian bush. The ocean though is defiantly not the first thing that comes to mind, at least it was never a thought to me before this trip. Here I was about to head off on a four day backpacking trip along the southern coast of Austrilia on the beach, It could not be more ecstatic to for the new adventure, challenge and learning I was about to experience.

“The purpose of life, after all, is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” 

 Eleanor Roosevelt

23 May, 2019: DAY 1

The morning started before the sun was up as I rolled out of bed grabbed all backpacking stuff and headed out the door to the bus. The bus ride was long as people fell asleep or talked to those surrounding them. Driving I watched out the windows as the landscape rushed by me. In the distance I could see giant white “fan like” machines. We stopped more then halfway to teach the first lesson of the trip, the windmills. I was able to learn a lot about the pros and cons of the windmills. Did you know that people claim they are so loud they have constant headaches and get sick. yet here I stood about a football fields length away and they didn’t sound that loud and no one in the group got nauseous. It was just fascinating hearing these claims and made me wonder how people did adopt these symptoms.

After we stopped at this lighthouse to start a second lesson that involved taking in the scenery and being present in the place. This whole trip was a slow pedagogical trip. Which meant that we weren’t really paying attention to the time and focused on being in the present moment and taking in our surroundings. As I walked around this lighthouse I took in the jagged rock formations, formed from years of waves eroding away at the rock, the sound of the waves crashed against the cliffs below, I looked out to the endless blue ocean that stretches past the horizon and the past the eye can see. It was peaceful standing in the silence with nothing but the sounds of earth talking back to you. It was then that I knew this trip was going to be a special trip and like no other trip I had ever been on.

Once we got to the campground and set up we headed out to the beach after dinner. One of the students in my group taught a lesson on astronomy. We walked on the beach not being able to see anything in front of us but hearing the ocean waves crash up onto the rocky sand somewhere close by. As you looked up you could see a sea of twinkling white stars coating the cool black sky. We were asked to use our binoculars that we brought to look up and see the night sky (or my monocular, thanks dad 🙂 ) I never thought to use binoculars to look at stars before but i was able to get a closer view of the night sky and see so many more stars then the naked eye can see. We also used a app on the phone that identified constellations and connected the stars for you to see them better. Looking up you just feel so small as you realize how big the universe is and how small we are in just one place on a single planet. I fell asleep anxious for the start of the next day and to teach the first half of my lesson.

24 May, 2019: Day 2

I woke up early the next morning to a loud bang of thunder and the sound of rain hitting the tarp above our heads bouncing off and dripping down the sides. Luckliy it was only one strike and clap of thunder and we didnt have to move. I feel asleep to wake up again two hours later. We got up and packed up and headed out on the dark black sand littered with little colorful shells. The ocean to our right crashing down in the far distance and Sharp jagged rocks to my left. As we travel among the coast over the rocks we come around a sharp turn arounf the formation of rocks and the sand turns from a dark gray-black to a bright white touched by bright green blue ocean. The scene was like something out of a movie. rock formations jutting high out of the ocean formed and shaped by the oceans will. Tall jagged rocks soared high above us on our left. We stopped for a snack a break and the start of my lesson.

I had everyone take off their shoes, stand in a circle closing there eyes. I walked them through a short breathing exercise before I painted them the picture of the landscape through every one of the 5 senses. I started slow with touch, I had the group feel the sound with there toes, the wind lightly tickling their faces. Then sound, the sound of the waves crashing on the soft sand, birds squawking in the distance, you can even hear the wind softly blow past your ears. The smell of the salty air clinging to your nose. Opening your eyes last to take all I described in and lastly being in touch with how you feel and how these surrounding make one feel. I ended with a quick discussion on how practicing being in touch with all your senses can ground you to the current moment and place. Overall I am happy how the first section of my lesson went and excited to teach the second half.

We continued on to a lesson on bird watching, but instead of identifying and watching birds we instead just observed bird behavior and used it has inspiration for short stories, poems and life. I have never been a fan of bird watching. This put a whole different spin on the act and I really enjoyed observing the land and birds behaviors. Shortly after the tide was starting to come in and we had to quickly get to camp before getting soaked. The campsite is surrounded on 3 sides by the ocean and during high tide there is no beach or way out of the camp site. the other side leads up into the jungle. We arrived to set up camp and take a small walk up the jungle. Shortly after we started a fire lesson. We talked about how the aboriginals started fire used various techniques. I struggled with most. We were challenged once we started the fire to keep it going for 24 hours. This meant that we were going to carry the fire to our next campsite. I volunteered to be the first to carry the fire the next day. That night we had a group dinner, burritos (yumm). Once it started to rain we all headed to sleep, falling asleep to the rythem of the waves crashing in the background and the constant pitter patter of the rain drops on the tarp.

25 May, 2019 : Day 3

The next morning I woke up to clear blue skies and the sun warmly lighting up the new day. Once packed up I started with carrying the fire. Although one may be confused about carrying fire, I know I was when I first heard we were going to try to do this as a group. We carried the still smoldering hot coals in a carefully constructed bark basket. The bark was wet and the bottom had a layer of wet seaweed and sand then another layer covering them on top. This helped keep the coals hot while mostly preventing oxygen from getting to the coals that would relit them. The aboriginals could not afford to make a new fire due to resources, time and energy. The women in the groups always carried the “fire” (coals) as they traveled. Being the first to carry the fire I felt honored. It was heavy and I mostly carried it with one hand because I needed my other hand for balance. We traveled over wet rocky uneven terrain, jagged rocks and often times even found ourselves scrambling/ climbing up and down the rock formations to get around. (see below). We had to work together in order to get the fire up and ourselves across the surface safely. I carried the fire for 30mins and once I passed it off I just kept walking struck by how amazing it was that these women would carry this for miles everyday. I have so much respect after having done this myself. It truly amazes me the creativity and work that went into keeping a fire alive. I struggled carrying the coals for just a short time and can imagine how they carried the coals from morning to night. This is one of the coolest lessons I have ever participated in that I was truly able to grasp a tiny aspect of what it was like to live contraries ago.

We stopped at these amazing rock pools to study and observe the ocean creatures that occupy the area. I saw so many sea creatures from seastars to sea anemones to sea snails and even a crab. As we were observing and studying the sea animals we didn’t notice the tide coming in, we were a little ways out onto the rock pools from the main land beach. As most of us stood up we realized the rock pathway back to the sand was quickly starting to disappear. Most of us quickly turned around frantically looking around for rocks still showing to jump too. My boots getting slightly wet I jumped from one rock as a huge rush of a wave was coming in and quickly jumped to the next just in time for the rock I was standing on to be fully immersed in the salty water. I took a deep breath relived I made it over with out getting soaked, I looked up at one of my group mates still stuck in the middle frantically looking for a rock to jump to as another wave came in and crashed down on him and soaked him from knees down. We all stood there laughing as he just looked defeated and decided to just walk through the water. He had a good laugh too about the whole situation.

That night we all cooked a Italian dish to share. It started to pour buckets of rain so we all took cover under the tarps to cook, I continued to run back and forth under the two tarps putting my around over the cheese and crackers in desperate hope they wont get wet (they did). I was trying to bring food back and froth from the two tarps as people cooked. It was a delicious meal and altho some of the food got wet I mostly stayed dry. I again fell asleep this night to the sound of the ocean and rain lulling me to sleep.

28 May, 2019: Day 4

I woke up ready to teach my final part of my lesson. The skies were clearing after the sunrise and I even saw a rainbow to start the morning. I started off similarly to the first part, calming everyone down and focusing on being present. I told the group we would be doing a rainforest walk and going to practice forest bathing (walking through a forest slowly, takin gin your surroundings). The goal was to observe everything you saw. This was like nothing we had seen all trip. We followed the babbling brooke up stream. Everything was different shades of green, from the giant leaves that lay low that we pushed aside to get by to the tiny little sprouts growing off the barks of trees coating the whole trunk. everything was slippery and the smell of fresh rain hung in the air along with the smell of the pure earth. Different colored mushrooms popped up everywhere from the barks of trees, to the soft muddy ground we stepped on. The pathway opened up to a waterfall cascading down to the small brooke we had just walked up. It was so incredibly peaceful sitting, watching the water flow below, the sounds of birds bickering above. Being in the forrest just brought a purse sense of joy and happiness to be connected to nature and fully immersed within this hidden rainforest on the edge of a beach. It was only a 10 minute walk to the van, 5 minutes into the walk we saw other people. It was so strange seeing society after leaving the rainforest and beach we came from. The place felt like a secret only we knew about. An experience that we all felt and went through together.

”Attitude is the difference between an ordeal and an adventure” 

Bob Bitchin

I couldn’t of asked for a better trip to end my semester here abroad. I have never experienced anything like this trip before. As I said before you don’t typically think of going to the beach when you go backpacking, this trip brought about a whole new way of thinking and a lot challenges I did not expect. I had to slow down and truly be in the present moment, that is very difficult in the society we live in with the phones we constantly have glued to our hands. People are always talking to the people they are not with and wishing they were with them instead of enjoying the moment and the people they are with here and now. I got to be in the here and now this whole trip. I truly felt connected to the earth and people around me. I am leaving this trip having learned so much more then I ever planned or thought I would on this trip and this semester. Im leaving happy knowing I am on the right path in life and this is where I am ment to be. This is where I am the happiest. I plan to continue to live in the the present and continue to adventure everyday.

May 9, 2019

“The journey, not the arrival matters.”

T.S. Eliot

I got a call from a friend late one night in the library, she called to tell me that her and everyone decided to go this fancy Ball for a club and she had a ticket for me lined up if i wanted to go. So I of course jumped on the chance and decided to just go because im only in Australia once and I have to take full advantage of everything. Not to mention there was gunna be an open bar and food served throughout the night and lets be real I can not turn ether of those two things down. (more the endless food then endless alcohol). Thursday night I got dressed and did my makeup, I even had my hair curled. It was a whirlwind of getting ready and meeting up with the people I planned to get on the bus with (they provided transportation). We arrived at this adorable winery about 15 mins from campus. I walked in a cobbled stone path way to large long room with brick walls and a tall ceiling with banisters wrapped in twinkling lights. In the middle of the room lay a long table of finger food and in the corner a young guy singing and playing guitar. The music filled the room with warmth and joy as people bustled in from the busses that dropped them off. There was a second room that held a photo both and led to a bonfire outside that provided warmth to anyone who stood within 5ft of it. I got in and grabbed a glass of moscato and then walked over to my friends to chat, taking in the gorgeous venue, feeling as if I was at the reception to a wedding. The night continued on as I picked at the cheese and crackers and sipped my wine. The singer changed over to a dj and began playing music many of us all knew and loved. Songs we could dance our hearts out to and sing along. Most of the night is a blur of endless dancing, laughing, snacking and pictures we paused to clear the fog for only a second. As the night wound down many people got bussed back to campus and then headed out to one of the local bars for karaoke. I decided to follow along and join in on the continuation of fun. I got up to sing two songs with friends (most likely pretty off key and ugly) and not caring how I sounded or what we looked like. We just sang our hearts out like it was the final to American Idol and enjoyed the spotlight moment in this tiny pub in Australia. I couldn’t tell you what time we all got back to campus but it was a night to remember and a perfect night out for after my birthday. The night was certainly a journey and I am happy my friend called me with that ticket lined up so I could have a fun night with good people, good food, good wine and good memories.

May 8, 2019

“Im Feeling 22”

Taylor Swift

Today I woke up and I am one year older, one year more around the sun. I got up grabbed a granola bar and met up with my friend. She took me to her gym for a morning lifting class. It was a Hiit/crossfit type gym, I was able to push myself and get a good workout in. It felt amazing to be back lifting again, loud music blaring in the background as I push myself to do one more rep. It was a amazing way to start my birthday off right. I left pretty sweaty and stinky but feeling fantastic. I knew I was going be sore tomorrow. After we headed over to a burrito place near my school and each got a breakfast burrito( I got mine for freeee 🙂 ) The rest of the day I spent relaxing and catching up on homework. (well attempting too, I wasnt that focused but hey can you blame me? it is my birthday) Once 6 swing around I started getting ready for dinner, One of my friends I came here with, Meg, put together a small group of people ive become close to for us to head out to dinner and trivia (that was unplanned but happened to be on).

I was surrounded by good people who came to be there for me. I split my dinner with one of my friends who got a Hawaiian Parma and I got the special which was gnocchi with pork belly in a creamy white wine sauce. It was YUMMM! We all sat around drinking, laughing and trying to figure out the answers to the trivia questions. I looked around at the smiling faces that sat here in this pub and couldnt be more thankful to be have such good people in my life. Everyone has just been so kind here to me, taking me in and accepting me for me. The night continued on and we did not win trivia, but we did have heaps of fun. We danced in our seats to the music in between questions, we all laughed at the ridiculous answers we came up with to the questions. I came back home to a dark house and opened the door to all my house mates standing around with a cake and flowers. They all sang to me and wished me a happy Birthday. I wouldn’t have wanted my birthday to go any other way being away from home. I am so thankful to everyone who wished me a happy birthday and was there for me to make it a special day!

May 4, 2019

Collect Moments, Not things

unknown

walking up to white tents with lines of people checking tickets, bags and IDs, I had a wrist band put on me as I walked through the gates to get in. I had a smile stretched across my face and eyes wide trying to take in everything, afraid id miss something. Crowds of people wear bright colors, crazy patterns or big accessories. Everyone was ether moseying around to the different stages place around the venue or waiting in line to buy alcohol. Walking through you can hear the different beats and lyrics from all the artist that came to perform thump in your ears. Bouncing around to different artists throughout the day letting the music pour over us and pulse through our bodies. I danced throughout the hole day barley sitting, letting the music take me away to a different place. I only stopped to walk around the food stations for lunch and dinner. The place had tons of options making it hard to chose one to eat, all the smells overwhelming my nose with happiness, knowing ill be eating soon. We ended the night with Fisher and Billie Eillish, both excellent acts and a ton of fun to sing and dance to with our voices getting lost amongst the crowd. We headed to the after party shortly after at StarBar, I chugged water attempting to rehydrate myself after the long day and heading home with friends around 1am, smiling in the cab reminiscing on the day I had with some great people.

Coming to a big event like this its chaotic, its easy to get lost and lose the people you came with. This happened a few times as I am small and very curious, so I tend to wonder. I always was able to quickly find my friends when I did get separated. Similar to the festival and getting lost, life can be like that and lately ive been feeling a little lost. Not sure what I really want in life, where I wanna go. Who i wanna be. what I want from life. I stop though and I have time to figure it out, but before coming here I had a plan. I was going to come here to learn about the culture and grow more confident in my field, Graduate from college and spend seven years travling the world, immersing myself in the different cultures. Coming here really has changed me. It has made me stop and realize life is unpredictable. I cant plan my life out down to a t, everything will have a way of working out and I just need to trust the process. I still want to travel the world, but being here has made me realize how much I do miss my friends and family. It isnt easy being so far away that you cant just drive home to see your favorite humans, it is making me more dependent on myself.

Just like this amazing event I got to experience I got separated and lost from my people; In life you will get separated and lost from your comforts. It is about what you do when you get lost that matters. It is getting lost and finding yourself that is what makes you grow as a person. It is what you make of life and every situation you get in. I am so excited to go back home and know I have grown so much from this semester away. Although I may feel lost, its okay because I trust the process and everything will have a way of working out. I will find myself better and stronger.

“Maybe you had to leave in order to miss a place; maybe you had to travel to figure out how beloved your starting point was.” 

Jodi Picoult

So today it finally hit me, I actually felt homesick. I have been staying so busy and keeping in contact with all my friends and family back home, but something about today just hit me hard. Maybe its the fact my birthday is in 6 days and i cant spend it with my favorite humans in the whole world, or that I have finally slowed down to stop and think. It is probably honestly a little of both. I typically usually do something small with the people closest to me. I miss home, I miss all the little things that im familiar with that become routine to me in my normal life. I miss soft serve icecream twist with chocolate jimmies (sprinkles). I miss my family and friends especially. Being able to come home to the people who know you the best, the ones who can bring you up when you’er down, the people who are there for the best of times and the worst of times. The people that love your weirdness to no end and accept you for who you are. Dont get me wrong ive made some great friends here who except me for me. But its definitely hard being away from the people who know everything about you. Like the quote says sometimes you do need to leave to miss a place. Being here I appreciate everyone at home who has supported me and stayed in contact to ask how I am. I am so appreciative to be here experiencing all that I have and continue to, sometimes you miss the comforts of place you call home. Sometimes its good to step out of those comforts so you can grow as a person and become not only stronger, but discover a whole new you. It is still hard especially around the times you are meant to spend with close friends and family. Everyone at home if you read this just know I miss you and appreciate all you have done for me to help me get to where I am now. Without any of you guys I would not be here and I wouldn’t have any body to miss back home. I am appreciative I have good enough friends and family that I can miss back home.

“If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion, and avoid the people, you might better stay home.”

James Michener

Driving in the car I fell asleep for maybe 40 mins, the ride was spent mostly talking and listening to some tunes. Driving and taking in the vast landscape of endless fields, farms with cows and horses. We arrived at Ellias house and the second I entered I felt the warmth of a home filled with love and I was enclosed with hugs as if I was family. It was so nice to be so far from home but feel welcomed as if I grew up in this house as well. We sat down to eat a big seafood lunch, it was the first homemade meal ive had since arriving (that I didn’t cook). It was delicious, baked blue grenadier fish with a crusted top, salad and prongs (which reminded me of fish but you had to peal like lobster). They were all delicious and I indulged in the food as a savored every bite. After lunch the day was spent relaxing on the coach, dozing off to sleep and watching Netflix. It was the day much needed after my long night, that night though Ellia and I headed into town of Shepperton to meet up with her friends at the club. The downtown was quaint and adorable. Walking up to the club you could hear the 2000 pop music flowing into the quaint streets filling them with the beats of the night club. Walking up stairs we rounded to a wide open patio with fake grass, high and low tables perched next to the balcony to over look the streets below. Tall metal fire warmers spread out to keep those feeling chilly slightly warmer. Although slightly empty I was still excited to be able to experience the club that so many of my new friends have grown up going to. We both splurged on some nice cocktails to celebrate the holidays. Both of us left pretty early to head home and crash for the night. We came into the backyard to a warm fire slowly dying down and the circle of chairs sitting around, the remnants of people who you could tell had a night full of laughter and good conversation. What was left of snacks lay out on a small table next to the chairs. We plopped down absorbing the heat of the flames that flickered up into the night sky. The full moon like a giant light bulb in the endless black sky.

Easter Eve

The next day was filled with morning shopping for the weekend, seeing the town sparking in the mid of day as everyone was bustling around trying to finish last minute Easter Shopping. After a busy late morning we gathered everything together to drive up to the lake house for the night. Arriving only a short hour drive later to a beautifully newly built house on a lake like ive never seen before. (see pic above for the view from the backyard) The lake had tons of dead trees in the middle of it, i mean dead trees and stumps just chilling every where. I sat there taking in the beauty of the lake but thinking “how the hell do people drive boats and jets without hitting all the trees or running over stumps”. People probably do it carefully. I found out this was land that was flooded years ago and thats why there are trees EVERYWHERE. This is just crazy to me because the lakes i grew up with only have trees on the edges and any flooding areas dry up in a matter of days. It was wild to be able to see a lake like never before. The afternoon into the night was filled with getting to know Ellias relatives. Sitting around a fire with a drink and enjoying the slight breath that wisped through my hair. Even though I was slightly sad to be missing my family Easter the at home I was so thankful and enthused to spend it with this beautiful family who had taken me like I was a part of it and experience a different kind of Easter.

Easter Day

Waking up to the lake dipped in golden sun sparking the start of the Holiday. What a way to wake up, am I right? okay I didn’t actually wake up to the sunrise so Ill have to say i actually stole this picture, but I can imagine how amazing it was from how stunning this pic Ellias mom took. I rolled out of bed a hour or so after the sunrise. Still absorbing the beautiful lake and the fact I was experiencing Easter in another country.

I spent most of the early morning sitting by the lake taking in the peacefulness of nature, id love to say the still water but the water far from glasslike. The wind created chopping small waves in all different directions. I was able to sit there in the silence appreciating the nature beauty of this lake and how my life has brought me this point. before I knew it an hour had passed so i decided to go in and be social and go get a drink. We made Mojitos that day and let me tell you they were yumm, i honestly dont know why i dont make them more often. We made mojitos and then everything was getting pulled out to get to serve for Easter Lunch. This was a feast and I was hungry enough to eat it all, or so I thought. There was salad with yogurt dressing and salad with quinoa. Potatoes in a creamy sauce, fresh baked fish, stuffed calamari (which i have never had before but was definitely life changing and would have again.) Chicken, lasagna and freshly baked bread! I filled my plate up high trying a bite of everything and even though I thought I could eat it all, I was full after the one course and ready to roll around with happiness. I spent most of the meal talking about home and my family. It wasnt too soon after that dessert was put out and honestly I had to hold out for an extra hour before I could dig in because i was still so stuffed. Once I dug in I grabbed small bites of everything that turned in to huge slices. I headed out for a walk by the lake taking in all the different houses that sat over looking the water, I looked up as the sky began to darken, taking away the sunshine. The dark clouds quickly overtook the sky, as soon as I got back to the house big droplets of rain began to fall down indicating the start of a storm. The night ended in us all watching a movie trying to recover form the food coma everyone was in. I sat out by the windows and watched the thunderstorm that rolled in earlier, watching the strikes of lightning light up the lake for split second and claps of thunder explode in the atmosphere. The day was spent enjoying food, meeting some great new people, having my american/boston accent made fun of and enjoying the cultural experience of this holiday. I am so grateful for this experience, I was able to spend my holidays with amazing people that showed what home meant in Australia and what makes Australia home to them.

April 18, 2019

 “I do not want to get to the end of my life and find that I just lived the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well.” 

Diane Ackerman

It was Tue night when I mentioned I had never been to Melbourne and two of my friends looked at me said they were going Thursday night to a club closing. So I jumped on the opportunity to go see the city and have the experience of a life time. Thursday rolled around and we all went out for Chinese for lunch. This was the first time ive eaten Chinese since I left the states and let me tell you I was not disappointed. It was all you can eat and all of us took full advantage of that to stuff our faces. During this time my friend Ellia invited me home for Easter and told me “None should spend Easter alone” My heart was warmed at the thought of now going to spend it with a friends family and not alone at Uni. I could not wait to fully experience a Australian Easter.

That night we left for Melbourne around 9:20 pm, hopped on the train for the two hour ride into the city. Talking and drinking on the train the ride felt like 40 minites. Once arriving at 11:30pm we got off and quickly grabbed a locker to throw our stuff in to grab in the am and then left the station. I walked out to the brightly lit city still fully alive with life. People dressed to go to the clubs, stumbling around laughing with friends. My head whipping around taking in the tall building, dying down restarunts and bars/clubs just starting to fill up. We arrived at the club the line stretching past 4 stores and food places to get in. People all die hard fans of the people anxiously waiting to get in to create their last memory at the dying club. All dressed in a range of clothes, from sparkle’s to short skirts, pants, low cut tops and dresses. We waddled to the back of the line which sat right next to a Asian 24 hour food place. So knowing me and my undying love for food I went in to grab food. I at first got two fried curry puffs and then went back in line to eat them. Sasha and Jordan stealing bites from me, the line didn’t move much as I finished them so I decided again to go back and get pork dumplings. Again fantastic decision because they were YUMM. The dumplings were perfectly steamed bursting with flavor in every bite. We shared them with the people in line all going silent for a small moment to enjoy the food that was presented before us. It wasn’t long after that we were at the front of line, excitement flowing off of me as the bouncer said okay next 4 you can go in. I walked through the dark door up a narrow staircase following the techno music pulsing through the building. Walking through double doors at the top I took in the colorful flashing lights changing with the beat of song and mob of people jumping around with smiles on their faces and drinks in their hands. The room was huge and had different levels like platforms or stages. We got in and went straight for the bar to grab a drink. All three of us taking turns buying them. Throughout the night we ether were dancing hard in the middle of the dance floor or out on the balcony cooling off and watching the people below on the streets stumbling about. The night was filled with laughs, drinks, and good memories that will last me a life time. We danced until the sun came up at 7am, leaving the club to go find food and then hop on the train back home. The city looked so different in the light of early morning as the sun soaked the buildings warming the whole city up. People were bustling about but dressed in suits and nice dresses heading into work to start their day as we were just ending ours. We found a cute bakery and got small breakfast sandwiches and hopped on the train to head home. I woke up an hour and half later not even remembering falling asleep on the train. We arrived back in Bendigo to clean up and then hit the road with my friend Ellia and begin the Easter Weekend. Tired but excitement filling me with the thought of the new adventures this weekend will hold and reminiscing on the crazy adventure I just returned from.

“Ones Destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things”

Henry Miller

Since I have been here ive had many Australians ask me, “why Bendigo? There is nothing special about it. How did you end up at a school like this” to which first of all I had no choice in choosing Bendigo due to my major, but secondly if I had a chose I would not choose any different. I am so happy to be at this small school inland Australia in the country. I had a conversation with another exchange student from London who studied abroad the year before at Bendigo. Both of us talked about how everyone who studies abroad here typically goes to the big cities like Sydney and Melbourne. The people who do that live in housing with other exchange students. They may be in the country but they are not fully immersed in the culture. In Bendigo im surrounded by culture all my friends im making here are from this country. Being in Bendigo I get to experience what most tourist dont, the small towns that no one knows about, the elements that many people grew up with here that they are excited to show me. Like timtams (chocolate cookie things), shapes (crackers) and late night Kmart or Woolworth runs. This past weekend I was invited to a 21st Birthday Party in Shepparton. A town many of the friends I have made here are from and when asking about it again people told me there is nothing special about it. As I left to head up to this town I spent 1.5 hours in a car smooshed between two people playing riddle games and fun car games like Ispy. We arrived after dark and were the first ones there. I walked into the backyard talking in all the little things that made this place a home. From all the family pictures that were displayed throughout the house to even the amount of family members who came to celebrate this day. Throughout the party I met many new people and talked and danced with many I already knew. There was a constant flow of snacks, food and alcohol that kept most of us up till the early hours of the morning. We all danced our hearts out and enjoyed short breaks by the toastie fire. I wouldn’t want the night to have gone any differently, it was a event ill never forget. The morning consisted of us slowly rolling off coaches, out of beds or out of tents pitched in the backyard. Everyone was feeling the nights events in this early morning for sure. Luckliy Kellys parents are amazing and made us all bacon and egg sammys on the grill. Everyone hungrily wanting to get up and silently enjoying every bite. We spent the rest of the morning in and around the pool and soaking up the sun. Relaxing and reliving the nights events. This was truly a experience like no other and I was able to see what made a place a home to all my friends I have made here. That is something not everyone gets to experience when traveling abroad, it is something I hope to experience more while I am here and everywhere I chose to travel.

April 1, 2019

True friendship multiplies the good in life and divides its evils. Strive to have friends, for life without friends is like life on a desert island… to find one real friend in a lifetime is good fortune; to keep him is a blessing.

Baltasar Gracian

Dear Best Friends,

Im missing you a little extra today. The laughs, the inside jokes, the hugs, the gossip and just the goofiness. The everyday talks that we have about all the stupid crazy ideas I have. You always laugh and (mostly) support them. There isnt a day that goes by that I dont miss you but today I could use a hug from you. A late wine night talking about our futures and all the little things that fall between our life goals and now. A movie night curled up in blanket drinking hot cocoa (with baileys of course). I cant wait to be back with you laughing talking over the days events over a glass of wine or lets be real wine with you  hannah and amoretto sour with you sarah.  I love experiencing the life im living but I wish you both could be by my side experiencing it with me. Im excited to come back and be able to spend my last year at Plymouth with both of you. Nights out that we wont remember and even nights in just talking. Cooking or grabbing some nachos and a beer at the pub. Better watch out because its going to be one for the books and the best one yet. Love you to the moon and back,

Michelle

“For an occurrence to become an adventure, it is necessary and sufficient for one to recount it.”

Jean-Paul Sartre

Day 1 April 3, 2019

I rolled up to the busses feeling excited and ready for the next five days ahead. We went through our gear to make sure everyone had the proper stuff to begin the journey and than took off to start the Journey. We arrived at camp late, I stepped out of the bus and instantly felt at home. I was surrounded by lush green trees and the sound of a babbling brook in the distance. The smell of the damp earth and old fallen trees hung in the air. I fell asleep easily that night to background sound the water quickly rushing down the brooke and crickets chirping.

Day 2 April 4, 2019

We got up early and stopped a few times before arriving at the start of our walk. One of the stops was at the Bogong Outdoor School. The school is the states equivalent to Natures Classroom, a program schools do all across the states. I went for five days in 5th grade and it was one of my favorite memories from grade school. To have the opportunity not only see but learn about their program was incredible. The school had a lot to offer grades 9-12 from backpacking to ski touring to education about the land and animals within. I was filled with excitement at the thought of my future and teaching young minds about the outdoors and bringing them on hiking trips. I was overwhelmed with the feeling of bubbling excitement as I was brought back to the past two summers as a camp counslor and working with kids. The school was set in a tiny town high up in the mountains. The towns houses are practically stacked on each other like steps. The town over looked the beautiful alps that the town lay within and a dam that provided power to most of Victoria. After leaving the quaint town we continued to climb higher into the alps, passing through a skiing town next. As we left the smooth paved road to go continue to the climb on dirt roads I took in the height we were at and watching as the clouds were beginning to roll in coating the mountains in thick fog. We parked at a dirt clearing off the main road and got out to eat lunch before starting our journey. The fog kept moving in until we could barley see 8ft in front of us. We are to frequently stop and check the maps for our location due to the lack of visibility from the fog. We stopped at a cute little hut on our way to camp. The huts that we saw throughout the trip are old cattle huts for the farmers and headers to camp out in the summer while grazing their animals. The first one we stopped at had an eerie feel to it with the fog lurking around the structure and clinging to the trees. (they remind me of something out of a horror movie).

We arrived at camp around 3:40 we set up camp then headed over to check out a different hut that was sightly bigger. Droplets of rain began to fall as we threw on our rain jackets and ignored the fact it was raining as we gathered together food to cook up dinner. After cleaning up my cooking parter made me some hot chocolate that was craving on the chilly night. I was disappointed the second I took a sip. It was straight 100% cocoa powder. Excuse me but last time i checked that is NOT hot chocolate. I still continued to drink it because it was warm and I was so cold. My cooking partner was still convinced that it was hot cocoa I just laughed and thanked him for the attempt knowing the thought was there. I also used it as a learning curve for him for next time to mix cocoa powder with powdered sugar. That night I crawled into my sleeping bag feeling slightly warmer and fell asleep.

Day 3 April 5, 2019

I was awoken to the sun peaking through my tent around 7am, I looked out to see an explosion of pink, orange and blue skys radiating from the sun. I smiled knowing this was going to be the start of a good day. We all packed up and headed out stopping at

riders huts. We stopped here to sit in and soak up the sun and views. We could acutely see today due to the clear blue skies and no fog. We all broke out our snacks to munch on while taking in the vast landscapes that lay in front of us. Miles of rolling hills, valleys and peaks of mountains far off in the distance. We headed off to make our way to have lunch on top of Mt. Jim.

While walking to Mt. Jim we saw Wild Horses running off in the far distance. As many Australians call them Brumbys. It was an insanely wild sight to packs of horses galloping through the alps like something you see in movies. I felt as though someone should be filming us walking through this landscape with an overview of the horses far off, it almost didnt seem real. We stopped half way up Mt. Jim to pitch tents for camp and settle in before heading to the top. A very short walk up as most Mountains are in the alps because we basically climbed 3/4 of the elevation before hand in the car on the second day. That night I had a slightly different curry dish, this one was SPICY! I was eating it and started crying as food tends to make me emotional. (Jk it was too spicy for me to handle so I just sat that eating as tears slipped down my face) Everyone was looking at my concerned but also laughing at me since i kept joking how emotionally invested I am in my food. Reflecting back it overall had been a very good day and i fell asleep excited to begin the next.

Day 4 April 6, 2019

Waking up there was no beautiful sunrise but instead wind whipping through the tent making it feel as if we would fly away like Dorthys house. Rain falling down in patches of torrential down fall sounding like pellets being shot at the side of the outside tarp. We were told to pack up quickly to get out of the gross weather(25 mph winds with gusts up to 35mph). I began to pack up and realized the bottom of my sleeping bag was wet. With the rain and wind all night I had a restless night of sleep. Let me tell you I was NOT thriving. Although it was a miserable start to the day, mid morning the sun began to peak out of the clouds warming us up. Peoples spirts began to lift, people became lighter and smiles started to fill peoples faces as the skies cleared and opened up to a clear blue. Just in time to start are ascent up the highest we had climbed yet. The higher we climbed the more beautiful the views were and the further we could see. We arrived at camp around 12:30 and was able to cook a hot lunch, which was amazing and delicious. Shortly after I climbed up on a hill close by to over look the mountains and write in my journal. Breathing in the crisp cool air of the mountains and appreciating being able to experience all this. Sitting in complete siclence listening to the whispers of the wind on top of the mountain, I was able to sit at total inner peace and happiness. Not wanting to ever move.

That night after dinner we all went into the hut to hangout and play games. We all hung out and talked for hours before acutely starting any games, making sweet potato fries as a late night snack. We played a game involving cards that we had to reveal stories of our past, a story of our present, plans for our future or a fun fact. The night ended in lots of laughs and interesting stories. We all headed off to bed late knowing we only had one more day left.

Day 5 April 7, 2019

I woke up easily before the sun even rose (not realizing we gained an hour in daylight savings). I squirmed out of my sleeping bag and threw on a few layers, grabbed my breakfast and headed up the hill I sat on Yesterday to watch the sunrise. As I sat there munching on my granola I watched as the sun slip up from behind the mountains. Brightly lighting up the landscape and warming the earths crust. I sat there appreciating the fact the sun represented the start to a new day that I can make all my own and do anything with. Waking up early to get the most out of the last day in the alps, knowing once again it was going to be a fantastic day!

The walk out to the bus was a fun one as we walked along the edge of a empty ski resort. I looked around and took in green grass that carpeted the out of season mountain, picturing it covered in white fluffy snow and imagining skiing down. It was funny to see the mountain so bare of snow as I had friends on the other side of the world right now celebrating 80’s day at Loon mountain (ski resort I worked at). I had seen a ton of my friends spending one of the last days on the mountain for the season as the states begins to move into summer (very slowly). Australia is moving into winter. On each side of me ridge lines are strutting out of the mountains. Creating beautiful landscapes like I have never seen before. We climbed a top one more mountain before heading out of the alps and into town to meet up with the other three groups. As I stood atop the last mountain I was to climb for the trip wind whipping through my hair, screaming. I could just feel pure joy at the thought I am truly living my best life.

I had no better way to end this trip then having my first ever meat pie. Which was Guinness and steak. Let me tell you it was unreal, every bite was flakey crust with thick tender pieces of steak that melt in your mouth. Every bite was mouth watering deliciousness that sent me to a different place of pure happiness. I almost bought a second but refrained so I could have an icecream, this was not a mistake. The icecream was just as satisfying, mango and boysenberry thick, soft creamy icecream that made my tastebuds dance in delight. I was filled with pure sunshine and delicious food. Once I got back I went out with all my soccer mates to celebrate the start of the first La Trobe Bendigo club team. The girls won their game earlier 2-1 (sadly I missed it due to my trip) Huge shout out to them for killing it out there, super proud! I got some delicious dinner and talked about the past few days out in the alps. It was a perfect ending to a spectacular experience.