Sending all my love and MANY THANKS!

Friends and Family-

This semester and my time abroad here in Australia have officially come to an end after 146 days away from home, family, and friends and I can't even being to explain how much I have learned and grown from this experience!

First and foremost I want to thank each and every person who took the time to read my blog, if it was one entry or every post since the beginning, all the way back in January. There is no way you could truly comprehend what has been my life and experience for the past 5 months here in Australia, but through my blog I wanted to share with all of you each adventure, lesson, and feeling I had.

The flight home was a long one, and I can safely say, I am okay with not traveling on a plane for a while! I finally returned back to MN after an 8 hour flight from Perth to Auckland, proceeded by a 16-hour layover in the airport, followed by a 12-hour flight to LA, with another 12-hour layover in that airport (but I saw JENNIFER ANISTON...so it was all worth it!), and finally a 3-hour red eye flight back to good ol' Minnesota. I can already tell that it will take some time adjusting back to this culture, I keep walking on the left side and running into people who walk on the right! And I constantly catch myself saying 'No Worries!' I surprised my parents at my aunt's house on Sunday morning (they thought I was returning Wednesday June 25 at 9pm) and the look on their faces was priceless! Now I took the worry away from them too on Wednesday, while they would have been thinking about me flying all day and making it home safe. Now, the jet lag has kicked in and I find myself wide awake at 6am, but following with a crash by noon, leaving me lying on the couch for a good 2 hour nap. I'm sure that will happen for awhile. I just can't believe how fast the past 5 months went. It feels like time didn't even move back home, and here I've been doing all of these adventurous things...

I can remember all the way back to our time in Fiji and New Zealand as if it were yesterday. Fiji was a rocky start, losing money and feeling totally unsafe! And then the luxury we experienced in New Zealand still makes me want to move there someday!

Taking a stop back and looking at what I have been a part of is astonishing and takes my breath away. I came here, 20 years old, leaving my parents, sister, best friend, boyfriend, other close friends and many other important people in my life to embark on an opportunity that may only happen once-in-a-lifetime and when I come home, I will have been changed forever.

My knowledge and education of Australia goes far beyond the classroom, but the most significant thing I will walk away with is the culture of Australia I have seen, lived, and experienced with Australian students, Aboriginal families in Broome and the people of Fremantle. My eyes have been opened to the diversity of this country and struggles which still exist today. My prior assumptions and stereotypes have been abolished and my education regarding the Aboriginal culture is completely different and I have so much respect for their people and all they have overcome and still struggle with today.

I came here knowing almost everyone from somewhere before, but as I leave Australia, I will walk away having gotten to know a few I didn't know as well before and I can say will be best friends for a lifetime. We've laughed together, cried together, and not studied together but instead went to the pub- on countless occasions. These people are my family and I know going back to reality in the States is going to be really hard. The people I have bonded with have made this trip everything I could have imagined and more. I am so grateful to have had this opportunity.

Some of my greatest memories include: traveling to Exmouth to SCUBA dive, after 18 hours in the car (one way), the unforgettable experience in Broome (riding camels as well as learning more about the Aboriginal culture!), Sydney, the opera house, 10pm tea sessions in the kitchen with Em, Ton, and Sara, watching, quoting, and laughing so hard at the FRIENDS episodes, our river walks (5 miles!), runs with Em and G, listening to Clayton Burke on Thursday nights at Rosie's, Karoke at the Orient on Wednesdays, the BEACH!- during the day to tan and at night to sit by the fire or just listen to Gabe play guitar, 1/2 off bread at the Freo markets, 'family' dinners, going to Chuck's (our director from SJU) to cook and socialize, dancing at Newport on weekends, watching fabulous sunsets, laser tag, hanging out with Aussie's, going to Amano for out of this world gelato (Chupa chups is my favorite!!), wow the list could go on and on...

Now that I've seen the other side of the world, ran out of money, and spent some of the best days of my life with the friends that I've made, I would never trade this experience for anything in the world. I have grown so much and can't wait to share all of my pictures and stories with all of you!

Again, thank you so much for the letters, emails, care packages, calls, and most of all for reading my blog! I'm glad you all could share some of the experience I have been a part of these past 5 months. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone once I'm home.

Peace and love ~ ALWAYS~

Molly

P.S. If any of you ever want to embark on a journey to the Southern Hemisphere, I have endless tips and advice, so never hesitate to contact me, I'd love to share them with you! My new email after graduation (this December!) will be: mollysmcguire@aol.com

Thanks again, Love Molly

6/2-6/6: Finding Nemo in Sydney!

Family and friends-

I made it back from Sydney which was by far the highlight of my study abroad experience. I went with amazing people, saw amazing things, and I wish I could go back right now!

6/2- On the train and bus to airport
Sara and I left the P&O at 6:30pm, exactly 12 hours before our flight left for Sydney. We're poor, so we didn't want to pay $50 for a taxi, so option B, taking the train to Perth and catching the city bus to the domestic airport (the last one running at 7:42pm). Looks like we'd be sleeping in the airport that night.

The airlines wouldn't let us check in early and the Virgin Blue terminal closed at 1am and didn't open again until 4:30am. Sara and I had to trek over to the Qantas terminal, where the people were much more accommodating and helpful, and that's where we found ourselves a nice chair to sleep in.


6/3- Day 1
Sara and I made it all night (I fell asleep for a bit) but she's paranoid and couldn't sleep a wink- even if she wanted to! Both of us were out before our plane even took off! Our flight was delayed in Melbourne for 3hours, so we didn't arrive in Sydney until 5:30pm on Tuesday. Sara and I took the train to North Sydney where we met up with Emily and Tonya at our Walker Street Apartment. We did a little exploring around Sydney, since there wasn't any rain and we luckily found a small grocery store for some long overdue dinner! We were ready for bed by then due to our long day of traveling!


6/4- Day 2
So the fun begins! Our attempt to leave at 10am for our 11:15 coffee cruse was definitely unsuccessful! Once we had our oatmeal and tea, we hopped on the train to Circular Quay to get on the ferry. The ferry took us to Darling Harbor for a little shopping. We bought some pearls (again!) I got a pearl necklace with a diamond and white gold. It's beautiful! We decided to take the 1:15pm Coffee/Dessert cruise around the bays of Sydney and it was so much fun! The captain told us about all of the significant locations around each bay, the historic sites and also where Nicole Kidman lives, and where Mission Impossible was filmed! We learned other various things such as: the Sydney Opera House has 2,000 panes of glass and it was originally built on an island! We were shown Shilling Beach, and it's named that, because that is the amount the Aborigines were paid for the fishing rights by fishermen. Also, at the point of one of the bays was a huge white bone and it was thought to be a whale jaw, but actually is a prehistoric chicken bone, and it was over 4ft tall!

After our tour and delicious carrot cake and coffee, we went shopping in the Harborside Mall and stopped for dinner and Happy Hour at The Docks on the bay. The restaurant overlooked the Harbour Bridge and Darling Harbor. After dinner we headed to the aquarium to find Nemo :) So much to do, so little time!


6/5- Day 3
A bright and early start on this day- 7:45am! After our gourmet pancake breakfast at the apartment, we walked across the Sydney Harbor Bridge (Sara, terrified of heights, practically sprinted!). We walked around The Rocks (historic part of Sydney) and shopped and learned that it was the 1st historic site where the British settled. We went to The Rocks Discovery Museum, which consisted of 3 separate rooms, and was not too exciting.

Next stop- the train to Bondi Beach in a torrential downpour. We took a few pictures of where famous actors have been and go to the beach, such as Nicole Kidman and Heath Ledger. Our umbrella's were destroyed. Instead of our picnic lunch on the beach, we opted for a dry shelter in McDonald's to enjoy our PB&J sandwiches. After the beach, we took the sketchy public transportation once again, and got the privilege of listening to a drunk man who said he just got done with being at the pub for the past 5 hours...it was only 3 in the afternoon!

We continued on our way and shopped for an opal for Emily (her birthstone) and headed to the Sydney Tower to see the entire city from the Highest point. It was a spectacular view and you could see everything!

Next, more shopping at the QVB (Queen Victoria Building) and the 7-story Supre. We didn't find too much, and there were sooo many people, almost unbearable! We headed to the Oz Trek, which was part of our package with the Tower, and it was basically a virtual tour geared towards children under the age of 12, but hey, that's alright...besides the motion sickness we all experienced afterward!

It was a full day of walking around the city and by the end, we were exhausted! We were seeing so much, I couldn't believe we only had one full day left! I could spend weeks here, if the weather would have been more cooperative!


6/6- Day 4
We were up and out the door by 9:30am today (so much for our 7am itinerary!) and we headed to the train station to go to Darling Harbor again. We made a quick stop at the internet cafe so I could make sure we still had some money left :) I've been wearing flip-flops for shoes the entire week and my feet absolutely kill with all the walking we'd been doing (This is when Mom would say 'I told you to wear comfy walking shoes!') I should have listened!

We walked through Darling Harbor and booked our fancy dinner at Ice Cube Seafood Restaurant (I have a new-found love for seafood!!) We went to see the MTV Real World house which aired last summer in the U.S. It was basically a Reality Show of people all living in a house, and had to achieve a task and get along (I think that's the basis) Anyway, we got to see the house where they lived, which was pretty sweet.

Next stop- the Chinese Friendship Garden. Perfect place for us four friends to go to. We walked to the famous Paddy's Markets and bought a few goodies and delicious apples! Pink Ladies- my favorite! More shopping in the afternoon (It was mostly window shopping for me!) Tonya and I headed back to the apartment a little early to start getting ready for the highlight of the entire trip- our night out to dinner and afterward to the Sydney Opera House to see Edward Scissorhands!

Once we were finally ready, we took the train to Darling Harbor and went straight to the Ice Cube- fashionably late. We each got a glass of the house wine and Sara, Em, and I ordered the Baramundi, an Australian fish. Ton ordered the King Prawns and was unpleasantly surprised when they arrived, full-bodied, with eyes. Dinner was fabulous! After eating right on the bay, we headed next door for some gelato to enjoy on our ferry ride over to the Opera House. Can't go to a show without some dessert! It was a bit chilly for ice cream, but it was delicious! It was the first day it hadn't rained and we could actually see the stars in the sky. We rushed to the ferry and then proceeded to run (despite the stilettos and cocktail dresses) all the way to the Opera House to ensure we would not have the doors closed on us! Our seats were pretty far up, but the view was in the center of the theatre with a spectacular view! It brought back GREAT memories of when my Aunt Maureen took me to see The Lion King- the best experience ever! The only thing that topped that show was that I was at the Sydney Opera House in Australia to see this play!

It was a unique show, because there was no dialogue, but only an Orchestra to depict the entire story. It was incredible how each scene and emotion could be portrayed through an instrument or combination of instruments. At the end of the show, it started to snow in the audience from the top of the Opera House (obviously fake :) ) but I got tears in my eyes because the performance was so moving! The actor who played Edward was phenomenal and nearly replicated Johnny Depp's portrayal from the motion picture. This was the highlight of Sydney and I am so glad we got the opportunity to see something at the Opera House. I loved every minute of it!

Sadly, our trip came to an end, and it would be a week full of studying and finals. Bah humbug.

Our flight left early in the morning and we headed back to Perth and back to reality. Only a few more weeks left in Australia. That is really sad to think about!

I miss you all.

Love, Molly