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
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