So yesterday, Monday, I booked all of my flights to Australia! I'm spending three days in Cairns, three days in Sydney, and three days in Melbourne. I fly back to Auckland at 5am on the 12th, so I have a day before the long journey home to hang out in Auckland and repack all of my stuff and whatnot. And that is all booked! Whew. It was a hit to my bank account, but it will hopefully be 1000% worth it. And today I booked my hostels. I think the best one will be in Cairns because in Sydney and Melbourne I just booked the cheapest ones I could get that weren't holes - which means I will probably be sleeping with my passport on me and using my earplugs and out of the hostel by 8am. It's fine. I'm on a student's budget and as long as I don't get bed bugs or things stolen, I can deal. My earplugs will drown out the bumpin' bar music below me.
These past couple days have been pretty uneventful. I called my dads and grandpas yesterday for American Father's Day, took a Zumba class last night (pretty fun, though I definitely prefer taking an actual dance class), watched SYTYCD today - SO GOOD, and actually starting preparing my things to go home. I have 11 days until I leave for Australia and 22 days until I fly home, but many of my friends have started doing the same and it feels normal to do. Plus, starting to pack will actually help clear up some space in the closet that is my room.
When I was cleaning, I found a bunch of paperwork way back from orientation. It was so weird, reading the "helpful tips about Auckland" pamphlets, like where the grocery store is and the campus map. I also came across my departure pamphlet. It's strange to think how long ago that was and how far I've come from knowing nothing to knowing enough that this is home and I give directions when tourists ask. (Because I'm not a tourist in Auckland anymore. I have a grocery store card and a university ID and keys to a flat and tuna in my cupboard that I bought two months ago.) But the whole nostalgic/reflective on study abroad post will come later, so I won't do that now.
Tomorrow Joe (another IESer) and I leave for Matamata, where I will finally visit Hobbiton - where the Shire is set in LOTR. I'm not hugely into LOTR but I'm excited nonetheless and feel it's an essential when being in New Zealand. Plus, there will be green rolling hills and sheep. Mmm. Maddi is meeting us in Thames in the Coromandel region (she's already been to Hobbiton and wanted to sleep in - Joe and I are picking up the car at 8am..) and we'll be in Coromandel somewhere until Thursday night. I'd love to stay longer, but Joe and I both have finals on Saturday that we really should start studying for. I hope I'm making you all proud with my newfound [nonexistant] study skills. Travel > study. Fact. And if you were abroad, I hope you'd feel the same way. I will whip my butt back into academic shape in September. :)
But yeah. So that's where I'm off to. Pretty excited! Hobbiton, Coromandel, one day of cramming, then my sociology final, then FREEDOM. Aka a few days to hang out with some of my abroad besties and then off to Australia! My life. Man. I would not trade it for anything right now. Well, besides the final. I would love to trade that.
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