Hey-o, back from the outback

Well, not really the "outback" since I was on the eastern, highly populated cities of Australia, but I am back! I will blog about Aussie later, hopefully when I'm on the plane so I can post it as soon as I'm in internet access or something. We'll see I suppose.

Today I've done a lot of repacking of things and just having a chill day. I got into Auckland at 5:20am to pouring rain (which felt very comforting since Auckland has become my home, the intense rain and wind symbolized coming home) and have been awake ever since. And I slept for about 20 minutes on my flight - which, I was sitting next to an Aussie actor who's the star on a tv show Spartacus? He was really nice. And neither of us were able to sleep on the flight - stupid JetStar being so ungodly uncomfortable and of course departing late.

I got into my flat, checked things, and skyped with my mom for a couple hours. I met another one of the flatmates who moved into my room, a Danish guy! I of course told him that I'm half Danish and the couple places that I remember that my relatives are from. He seems pretty cool. So far, I'm completely jealous of this flat next semester. As far as I can tell, there aren't any people that aren't wonderful.

I tired of going through souvenirs and packing after a while and decided to go out to lunch. I went to this cafe down Parnell Road called the Strawberry Alarm Clock - it's in my "Let's Go!" book and I always wanted to try it. The panini and salad that I got were delicious. I approve. I walked up around the museum to take in the look and nostalgically reflect upon this past semester, and eventually the gusting winds gave me the idea to go into the Auckland Museum, if only for fifteen minutes. I'd never been and it's two minutes from my flat. It was cool. I walked around the Maori exhibit.

Then I came home and brought the Danish guy to Countdown for groceries, partly because I had to go for food anyway, partly because he had no idea where Countdown was, and partly because I like to show people around. I would seriously be such a good tour guide in any college admissions office. I bought some Kiwi candy and some hokey pokey ice cream, and after helping Casper (that's his name I think?) locate some essentials in the supermarket we walked back to PSV. Apparently, Casper lived in Wisconsin when he was a child? His English is actually superb. I can hardly hear his accent at all and he seems to have a large vocabulary, excellent grammar, and excellent comprehension of everything I say. That or he's really good at pretending to.

I made pancakes for dinner! First time ever making pancakes and let me just say that it was successful! Woot. I have a half-eaten black and white brownie pie in the fridge, and to continue the health streak, hokey pokey ice cream in the freezer! But I'm going to clean up before I eat these because a shower is extremely necessary.

In 13 hours, my shuttle to the airport will be picking me up. AHHHHH. So crazy.

Auckland, you have been amazing and I will miss you greatly; you are one of the most exciting decisions I have ever made and gave me more than I gave you. However, Minneapolis, WATCH OUT. I'm coming home, I'm coming home, tell the world that I'm coming home...

:)

1. I have grown a fondness for rain in spite of my deep distaste of Auckland bipolar weather.
   

Last few moments having my own space in New Zealand

Okay, my life is legitimately packed up now. In my room left I have: my packed backpack and smaller rolling luggage for Australia, the shoes I'm going to wear on the plane, my laptop, a couple books I think I might bring with to Aussie, my keys I have to hand in soon, and the cup of tea I'm drinking. The rest of everything I'm leaving here I've put in my flatmate's room already. I cleaned my flat, vacuumed my room, cleaned out my cupboard and space in the fridge.

I LEAVE FOR AUSTRALIA IN 7 HOURS. I think I'm checking out of my flat in like.. an hour and a half? I think. I can't remember what time I told them. I'm ready regardless, just going to fiddle around on the internet until I check out I suppose.

For y'all's information, I'm flying into Cairns tonight, will be there for 3 days, fly to Sydney for 3 days, fly to Melbourne for 3 days, fly back to Auckland for a day, then fly home on the 13th!

Since this might be the last numbered count, here are 11 things about me:

1. This summer, I'll be working at Cold Stone and at the Fair.. again.
2. I also just signed up to volunteer for the Fringe Festival again, which is exciting because it's one night and I really enjoyed volunteering last year. The venue I'm volunteering at (I'm only signed up for 3 shifts right now since I have no idea how busy I'll be) is Lyn-Lake, so hooray! I'll be in Uptown, at a theater I've never been to before. I'm excited.
3. I hope I have less than 10kgs packed for Australia. If not.. I don't know what I'll unpack to get rid of at the airport. Hmm. I legit am only bring 4 shirts, one pair of pants, two pairs of shoes, my fleece zip-up, a long sleeved shirt, a tank top, leggings, a swim suit, a towel (to leave in Aussie when I'm done), toiletries, a dress (just in case), a light coat, a scarf.. and I'm bringing a hat and gloves JUST in case. Plus my journal, basic things like my wallet, camera, phone, and iPod, and a couple books for nighttime. That list makes it seem like a lot, and even so I'm probably overpacking, but it's really not that much.
   
4. I hope when I get home I can figure out a way to get the "control" key back on my keyboard.
5. I like making lists.
6. I can't wait for next semester.
7. I hate money, yet it's always on my mind.
8. They totally eliminated the wrong people on SYTYCD last night.
9. It is impossible to do a Kiwi accent if you are American. Legitimately. I think I can say my name in a Kiwi accent but that's about it. It's a bummer because I was hoping I'd come home with an accent...
10. Favorite TV shows: Friends, Veronica Mars, Dexter, SYTYCD, Grey's Anatomy (but only the older episodes)... and not necessarily in that order
    
11. I can't believe in 11 days I will be boarding the plane to come home! In 11 days exactly I'll be chilling in the airport!

Love love love everyone. I'll talk to you after Aussie :)

What will be missed, what to look forward to

What I will miss about Auckland/New Zealand:

• how green the grass is
• the accents
• having my own room but still living with people
• the friends that I have made here (though many are going home to their respective American schools anyway)
• two of out my four flatmates from this semester
• the ability of seeing mountains,
• green rolling hills,
  
• and/or ocean at any given moment
  
• real sugar in food (they don't really know what high fructose corn syrup IS it's that uncommon)
  
• laid-back...everything
• Maori culture
• Pacific Island culture
• haka and poi
  
• the trees
• fish and chips
• the urge to do and see everything I possibly can because it's my time to be abroad
• being able to go barefoot in public spaces and have no one look at you strangely (ie grocery stores)
• being legally able to drink & able to go out on weekend nights and not only go to "18+ nights" on awkward nights of the week
• Kiwi phrases
• the Maori tv station
• not being busy
• the lack of mosquitoes
• the Domain
• The Warehouse jingle
• hilariously bad commercials, like the one with the lady on the tractor going everywhere
  
• numerous ads about the All Blacks
  
• mince pies
• the drama of Shortland Street

What I'm looking forward to about home/Minneapolis:

• my friends, parents, brother, dog, grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins
• having a job (aka an income) again
• dance
• dance
• dance
• American pizza and American burgers
• street signs actually being labeled at intersections
• less expensive clothes and food
• my phone
• being able to text faster and with quieter keys and unlimited texting
  
• walking to class on a flat (albeit windy) surface
• actual house parties where it is acceptable to wear jeans and a tshirt.. aka what you wore to class that day
• WEARING SWEATS TO CLASS and not feel unfashionable or out of place for doing so
  
• having more than 7 options of shirts
• being able to sit on my kitchen floor without the worry that I am sitting in bits of bacon or other questionable food stuck to the floor
• having my MN drivers license be a valid form of identification
• baseball
• being more busy
• watching SYTYCD... live
• having a car/reliable public transportation
• Minnesota summer
• lakes
• businesses being open past 5pm
• chain food: Caribou, Bruggers, Chipotle, Olive Garden, Punch Pizza, Khan's Mongolian Barbeque
  
• non-chains like local coffee shops and indie/hipster Minneapolis restaurants
  
• less bipolar weather
• driving around at night with the windows rolled down
• not needing to remember to bring my plug converter with me anytime I bring my laptop/camera battery charger because no plugs will need to be converted!!
  
• Family Camp
• backpacking with Fallon, road trip to Ohio to visit Whitney with Teige, Chelsea & Britta, hopefully road trip with Katherine to visit other Chelsea in Medora (aka fun with besties)
  
• Minneapolis skyline

12 DAYS TILL HOME

Alright, so today was a little less boring than yesterday. Thankfully.

I started the day off by going for a run. Run means walking as much as running, but you know. Gotta start somewhere. Actually, I figured out how long my path is, and it's a solid 2 miles! Yeah. Anyway. I continued the exciting day by doing laundry, talking to people online, slowly packing up my life, and talking to my dad on the phone. Also: happy 55th wedding anniversary, Grandma and Grandpa J! It was their anniversary today. :) Well, today in the States, anyway.

It is so strange to pack up. I didn't think it would take as long as it's taking, but while waiting for laundry to dry, actually making my bed because I washed my sheets (second time this semester! oh yeah), and deciding what to bring to Aus and what to leave here.. it takes a while. I'm pretty packed up with the exception of things I need tomorrow though, which is good. And anything that isn't totally packed that I'm not bringing with me to Aus I can leave in my flatmate's room - since that's where I'm storing my stuff - and deal with it when I'm repacking in 11 days.

It's strange to see my walls bare, my closet empty except for hangers, my bed made (seriously my bed is normally a pile of blankets...on the floor), things taken off of my shelves and out of my drawers. I have some things on my desk still, and my luggage is taking over what little floorspace I have. I think I finally understand how people were feeling a couple weeks ago. Like, being so overly ready to go home, but at the same time, so overly not ready to leave this life behind. At least I have awesome to look forward to for the next month, at least.

Because this life that I've had here has been awesome. I've met some absolutely wonderful people. I've learned to take care of and cook for myself more than I had before. I've seen and done things that were completely new; I tried new things that I might have been otherwise hesitant to try. I have learned about the strength of friendships back home; even though I can't talk to my friends everyday, I've learned who truly cares about me and wants to know how I'm doing (which, to be honest, I was surprised by who would ask me about being abroad and who wouldn't) and who trusts and values me enough as their friend to tell me about the unpleasant things in their lives. I have learned to trust my decisions more. I have learned that I would rather have a job than not. I have learned that I can be away from home this long and survive, even flourish. I have befriended New Zealanders and come away with a better understanding of the life, struggles, and culture here.

I don't know. I still don't want to be too philosophical with the whole "how I've changed" blah blah blah, but I think I have. I guess I won't know exactly how until I'm back home and realize that while some things have changed, in other ways, it's me that's changed. I can only say that I am endlessly grateful for this experience in Aotearoa/New Zealand and after this, I have no idea why some people wouldn't want to study abroad. It makes me more excited for the future, especially Europe Summer 2012 with Chelsea!!!

And to end today, here are 12 facts about me:

1. In my head, I sing like Adele. Since none of my flatmates were here today, it also means that I was walking around my flat, belting Adele songs at the top of my lungs today.
2. Foot surgery was probably the most emotionally difficult thing I have ever gone through. Physically too, but emotionally was where it hit the hardest. I'm so glad I did it though, it did make me stronger and my feet don't hurt so bad anymore.
   
3. I am almost out of deodorant. And when I run out in the next week or so.. I'm not going to buy more because deodorant is weird here and I'm not going to pay for weird deodorant when I'll be home so soon. It's fine; people are more fragrant here than they are in the States, I guess you could say, and I'm not a smelly person anyway.
   
4. I love being barefoot.
5. I love tea and coffee. I have been drinking tea like kids eat candy the past few days. One thing I am already looking forward to about home: chai tea. Please and thank you.
6. I feel naked with only three pairs of earrings here.
   
7. I ache when I watch SYTYCD. Physically ache. It hurts me, I want to dance so badly.
8. I almost came back to the States freshly pierced and tattooed. It hasn't happened yet, and I don't think it's going to at this point (money restrictions/indecisiveness), but wouldn't that have been a surprise! :-D
   
9. I like climbing to the top of things and getting bird's eye views. I guess tree climbing when I was a child was worth more than just scratches from the bark!
10. I have gained about twenty pounds while abroad. A good chunk of that is in leg muscle, but let's just be real and say my body is definitely geared up for winter. Only in two weeks, it's going to be summer again. And you know something? I don't really care at the moment. I want to take lots and lots of dance classes, because that's what I miss the most.
11. I get very irritated when people give me advice when I'm not looking for it. Those of you who know me well know, "well obviously, that's why she chews my head off when I give her advice" but no worries, it's only when one person gives me TOO much advice. Once every now and again is acceptable.
12. I need a haircut. Again.