Antibes and Cannes

This morning we enjoyed a nice breakfast before heading out the door with Sandro and his brother.  They took us around their hometown of Antibes and allowed us to browse the stores along the small streets and alleys.  We strolled along at a pleasant pace and just took in all the sights and sounds.  From the village center we went to the port of Antibes and saw all the sailboats and yachts docked there.  The fortress-like structure that separates the water from the town actually wraps around the perimeter of the city and we were able to make our way around it.  It was nice to listen to the sound of the sea as we ambled along.  Both Sandro and his brother are great tour guides and they pointed out hidden parts of town and answered all of our questions.  As the afternoon approached, Amy (Sandro's girlfriend) joined us and we all had lunch together.  Kenny ate some pesto gnocchi and I had a salad that looked amazing but actually didn't taste very good (I think it was just the dressing that I didn't like).  Amy went with us as we wrapped up our ventures in downtown Antibes and after we dropped Lorenzo (Sandro's brother) off at home we were off again, on our way to Cannes.

I'm sure you all know this, but Cannes is where the annual film festival is held.  As we drove along the main road we were able to see many of the grand hotels that the stars choose to stay at when they come to visit the city.  We parked and got out to walk around and as we did so we saw cement handprints in the ground just like you would see in Hollywood.  Even cooler was the fact that Kenny and I got the chance to walk along and pose on the red carpet that the stars walk on on their way into the grand ceremony.  The rest of the town is lively as well and full of many expensive, name brand stores (Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Jimmy Choo, etc.).  We walked along Antibes Street and went window shopping...unfortunately there's no way that either of us could afford such high end apparel.

After we wrapped things up in the streets of Cannes we sat down at a café to enjoy some drinks and a crêpe.  We then stopped at the local grocery store in Antibes to get a taste of what that is like; it's huge and super, super busy.  It was hard to stay together and I have no idea how one can successfully manipulate the place.  Kenny and I each bought a package of our new favorite breakfast treat (some sort of cracker/biscuit...it's hard to explain) and we're going to do what we can to refrain from eating them all before we get home so that we can share with our friends (no promises though).  When we got back to Sandro's house he ordered pizza and we enjoyed that for dinner, followed by some amazing homemade apple crisp.  Sitting here right now I can honestly say that I'm stuffed to the gills but a very, very happy girl.

Tomorrow morning Kenny and I have to say goodbye to Sandro and his family.  They have been great hosts and this was probably the best way we could have started off our European adventure.  Sandro will be taking us to the train station so that we can start making our way to Cinque Terre, Italy; we'll be there for a few days before making our way to Rome.  Unfortunately I don't think we'll have internet access for a few days, but I'll be sure to make an update as soon as I possibly can!!  :)

PS - In case you would like to check it out, here is the link to all of our pictures from this part of our venture:  Southern France Album.

Nice and Monaco

This morning I got up early after sleeping like a rock for a number of hours.  I went for a run in the freezing cold (literally, it was 0 degrees C) and unfortunately I got lost along the way.  I started to panic because I didn't even know the address of Sandro's house, but eventually I found it.  My body was numb at this point and I gladly jumped into a hot shower.  After getting out and dressed, Kenny and I ate breakfast before Sandro and his girlfriend got in the car with us and drove us for 20 minutes into Nice.  Old-town Nice is full of cute boulevards and small alleyways packed with stores and apartments.  We took our time looking around and stumbled upon many treasures (a morning market and a couple of cathedrals).  We also went into the newer part of town which feels like most major cities that I've been to.  There are a variety of stores, high end hotels, and even a very convenient tram system.

After Nice we got back in the car and continued driving east into the principality of Monaco.  They have their own flag and government but aren't exactly their own country...I don't really know how to classify it because it's all kind of confusing to me.  In any case, it is one of the richest regions in Europe and the drive was all along the coast, which was absolutely beautiful.  There were a large number of yachts out on the shore and the sun was shining down, making the water glisten.  Once in Monaco we grabbed lunch (Kenny and I got crêpes!) before looking around.  In the center of town there is a Christmas village setup that will be there until the new year; it was so cute and full of families.  There were also little souvenir-like shops and places to grab snacks.  

Sandro led us up a long trail to the palace belonging to the prince of Monaco.  The walk was worth it because once at the top we could see the entire principality...and when else will I have the chance to walk around the grounds of a palace?  We took pictures, marveled at our surroundings, and did a little window shopping at the small stores surrounding the estate.  Unfortunately we didn't get the chance to see the prince or his new wife before we decided to head back down to the car.  We drove back using a different route and got home in no time.  I think that Sandro is a crazy driver but Kenny just laughs as he weaves in and out of traffic and slams on his breaks from time to time.

Kenny and Sandro are playing on the computer and we're all just waiting for dinner.  Tonight I think ravioli is on the menu so it should be another nice meal.  I can't believe we're lucky enough to start off our trip with people who are feeding us, letting us stay in their home, and taking us around town.  We decided we could stay here for our entire time in Europe and be just fine, but unfortunately Sandro has to go back to school soon (haha!!).

Bonjour, Paris

First of all, welcome to the new version of my blog!  I'm not going to be deleting any of the posts I've already written, but it's time to change things up since I'm no longer in Australia.

Kenny and I made it to France in one piece.  The journey was ridiculously long, but now we're here in Antibes safe and sound.  The flight from Singapore was about 12 hours and again I hardly slept; even though I had my neck pillow, I just couldn't get comfortable.  Kenny was able to pass out for a bit so he was better off than I was.  We arrived in Paris at 6:05am local time and made our way to customs.  We were met with a line that snaked around the terminal and moved at a snail's pace because there was only one man working that early in the morning.  Kenny and I both made it through without a problem and from there we were off to the train station.  Luckily there is one at the airport and we were able to get our Eurail tickets validated there.  However, we learned we wouldn't be able to catch a train to Antibes from that station so the man behind the counter gave us directions to the station we needed to be at.  It only took us two short metro rides and we were there.  I have to take the time to say that I'm very impressed with myself and my ability to converse in French.  I'm definitely nowhere near perfect, but have been able to get by just fine in all the situations we've faced.

The metro took us to Gare de Lyon, a very large station.  Kenny and I had to weave through a couple of different lines before finding the right one.  By the time we got there, the train we wanted to be on was full so we had to stay at the station for a couple of hours to catch the next one.  We took the time to wander around and even dared to venture outside.  Let me tell you, I'm so glad I had my coat and earmuffs because it was COLD.  My hands and nose began to ache soon after stepping out of the station and I quickly made my way back in.  Eventually we got onto our train to Toulon and four and a half hours later we jumped off to catch another line.  From Toulon it was only and hour and a half before making it to Antibes.  Sandro, the student who came to stay with our family in 2008, was there to pick us up.  He was accompanied by his girlfriend and both were really generous for coming out to get us.  He drove us back to his house where we are staying for a couple of days.  The first thing I did was take a shower, but soon afterwards both Kenny and I found ourselves playing Just Dance and Guitar Hero on the Wii station the family owns.  Sandro's parents cooked us dinner which consisted of potatoes, cheese, and different deli meats.  There was a large device in the middle of the table that melted our individual portions of cheese, which you then poured onto the potatoes and meat.  It was something I'd never had before but it was delicious.  We sat at the table for awhile but soon found ourselves yawning and went to bed early.  I was so excited to finally get some sleep and it didn't take long before I was in dream-land.

Goodbye, Australia

The time has come for me to officially say goodbye to Australia.  My brother has convinced me that I will be back some day, so I guess it's not really goodbye, just "see you later."

My family made it to the airport early this afternoon after walking around Circular Quay one last time.  My brother and I checked in easily but our parents had trouble because they exceeded their luggage allowance.  They actually had to go buy another small duffle bag and rearrange everything to make it work.  Despite the hassle, we all made it through security in plenty of time and sat at the United gate until it was time for my parents to leave.  I was sad to see them go because the past two weeks have been great, but at least this time I know that we'll only be apart for a couple of weeks.

After my parents were off Kenny and I took our time wandering to our gate, stopping at stores along the way.  We finally boarded our first leg and after seven hours we're now here in Singapore.  We don't have long before our flight to Paris leaves and all I can hope for is that I can sleep when I get on the plane.  I got a few minutes here and there on the way from Sydney but definitely not enough.

We'll arrive in Paris at 6:05am tomorrow...talk about an early start.  From there we'll get on a train and start heading down towards southern France where we'll meet up with Sandro, a boy who came to stay with our family for a couple of weeks a few years back.  It will be a really nice way to start the trip, with home cooking and a nice bed to sleep in.  I'm really excited to kick off this adventure...should be an amazing trip!

Merry Christmas

I hope everyone has a very merry Christmas this year and is able to spend the holiday season surrounded by people they love.  I feel extremely lucky to have my family by my side even though I'm halfway around the world.  We spent the morning cooking breakfast and lounging around before swapping a few gifts.  Kenny got UGG slippers and some Under Armour gear, Dad came away with some new movies (Rango and Up!), Mom got some PJs, and I received a MasterChef cookbook (so cool!) and UGG earmuffs for Europe.  It was a wonderful morning and I was stuffed to the gills after uncontrollably eating my way through the monkey-bread we had prepared.

After I digested a little bit Kenny and I went downstairs and around town to all of the souvenir shops we had seen.  We both had some leftover cash to spend and wanted to see what we could find.  I was surprised at the number of people out and the large amount of shops that were open.  It didn't really feel like Christmas and I saw people heading out to the beach and eating at cafés like any normal day.  It was really nice outside which didn't go along with the "White Christmas" thing I like to picture in my head.

In addition to breakfast, my mom prepared a lasagna, salad, and her famous "nibbles" for dinner.  I can honestly say that eating that made my day and I have been waiting all year to have her food tickle my tastebuds.  Dinner filled us all up and it took some time for our stomachs to settle.  After some time, Kenny and I took advantage of the nice weather and went out to walk the Harbour Bridge.  I knew it was big from glancing over at it from afar but being on it made me realize that it is absolutely ginormous!!  I wasn't completely comfortable walking along but I made it all the way down and back, taking beautiful pictures of the Opera House along the way.  That view is definitely something I'm going to miss.

It is getting really late and we all have flights to catch tomorrow afternoon.  We are mostly packed and I think the plan is to just get up and get everything organized before leaving for the airport.  I am definitely going to enjoy one more serving of lasagna before we have to get rid of the leftovers.  I can't believe the time is finally here; I am leaving Australia, Kenny and I are off to Europe, and I will be home before I know it.  It has been a year full of lessons learned and I know I'm a better person for having gone through this experience.  It had its high points and low points, but overall I am very satisfied and am thankful for the opportunity I was given.  It will be hard to say goodbye to a city I have grown to love and to my parents for another short while.  I'll be anxiously looking forward to being reunited once again because these past two weeks have been nothing but amazing.  I love my family and friends so much and can't thank you all enough for the support you have given me.

I plan on writing one more installment at the airport tomorrow if I can get internet and then after that I will do the best I can throughout Europe.  I don't know what our internet situation will be from day to day, but I will take advantage of it when I get the chance.  After tomorrow the layout and background of the blog will be different but I will continue to share my experiences as I travel the world and get acclimated to my new life back in California.

Happy ChristmaHanuKwanzika!! :)

Christmas Eve At Bondi

This morning I got up lazily and finally made myself some oatmeal for breakfast.  I thought I was the first one awake but apparently my mom had gotten up before me and had already made her way over to the grocery store.  Once I realized this I thought she might need help getting everything back to our suite so I called her and eventually my dad and I went over and helped her carry up all the bags.  She had gone to the store to pick up the things we'll need to cook up breakfast and dinner for Christmas tomorrow.  By the looks of things we're going to have a day full of food.

After getting back and unloading everything I went for a run.  By the time I got back my parents had gone down to the quay to get tickets out to Bondi Beach.  I showered quickly and then Kenny and I went out to join them.  We grabbed a fast lunch and then we all piled on the bus out to the beach.  It took about 40 minutes to get there but it was worth the trip.  It was a beautiful day and I'm glad we took advantage of it.  My mom and I were the only brave ones and we made our way down to the water.  It was cold but very refreshing after standing in the sun; I couldn't believe I was enjoying on the beach on Christmas Eve.

Our trip home was fun because there were a bunch of Swedish guys on board the bus who were singing along with a guitar.  Even better was the fact that most of the people on the bus were wearing Santa hats or reindeer antlers.

My family is currently gathered in the living room of our suite enjoying the movie "It's A Wonderful Life," one of two films we see each year on Christmas Eve (usually at the old theater in downtown Sac, but obviously we couldn't do that this year).  After it's over we have to get to bed so that Santa can come and fill our stockings.  Christmas is finally here and I can't wait!!  After all, it's the most wonderful time of the year :)

Museum, Market, and Manly

The day started off much earlier than the one before and I went to get breakfast with my parents.  We ate down by the quay outside at a small café.  I had a fruit salad with yogurt in an effort to begin cleansing my insides...let's just say that I haven't really been keeping up my exercise regimen nor have I been looking closely at what I've been eating.  After breakfast we intended to go to the grocery store to get the items we need to cook Christmas meals but we got sidetracked at the bank.  I needed to head in there because it was time to close my Australian bank account and convert my remaining money to USD.  It took WAY longer than I had anticipated and they had me moving all around the bank and from line to line.  It was kind of frustrating but in the end everything was taken care of.  I no longer have my account but I do have a good amount of USD in my wallet.

Because the bank took more time than planned, we ran back to get my brother from the hotel instead of heading out to the grocery store.  We wanted to make it to the Sydney Jewish Museum before it closed at 2pm.  We were able to do so, but again it took us much longer to get there than we originally worked into our schedule.  The walk was really long but we finally made it in time to move through the museum for a little while.  The bottom floor displayed a timeline of the history of the Jewish people in Australia while the upper floors were dedicated to the Holocaust.  No matter how many times I read about those events and the horror that occurred, I am still shocked that such things could have happened.  I enjoyed my time browsing through the museum but unfortunately we didn't get there early enough to really take it all in like we had wanted to.  However, Hanukkah Harry was there and Kenny and I each ended up with gifts on our way out the door :)

From the museum my dad split off to check out a war memorial we had walked by earlier while Kenny, my mom, and I went down to Paddy's Market in what I can only assume was Chinatown.  It was a crazy experience and I'm not too sure if I liked it but I'm still glad I did it.  We spent a couple of hours there before getting back to the hotel so that I could get a workout in while Kenny went to the pool.  After everyone was showered and clean, we made our way to Circular Quay to catch the ferry out to Manly.  This was one of my favorite experiences when I came here before and I was not disappointed this time either.  Not only was the ride amazing, but Manly itself is a great place.  We strolled along the beach before finding a nice place for dinner where we ate good food and enjoyed the company among us.  After dinner we walked around the other side of the peninsula before heading to the wharf to catch a late ferry back to Sydney; the ride itself takes just over 20 minutes.  Back in the room we all just plopped down at our computers for a bit before going to bed.  All four of us are set-up at the table looking out to the Opera House and the bridge and because we're all trying to steal the internet off of the hotel next door, sometimes one of us (usually me, go figure) gets dropped from the network.  Super frustrating when I finish a blog entry and then can't publish it and then am forced to go back and write it all again. Yeah, that just happened.

Opera House

Yesterday we started off really late and didn't get breakfast until 11am.  It took time for everyone to get up and moving but eventually we made it to a café where we were served some brekkie wraps and bagels.  Afterwards we strolled along George Ave and found ourselves in and out of various souvenir shops.  Even though most of the shops have similar items, it's still fun to look around.  One of the most random and rather disgusting things we found for sale were kangaroo scrotums.  I really don't know why anyone would want one or what they would do with it should they purchase one, but to each his own I guess.  There were some fun items like a big stuffed kangaroo, a whole line of UGG items, t-shirts, opal jewelry, etc.  I didn't end up buying anything but I started making a list in my head of things I might want to bring back for certain people :)

After some shopping we decided to head out to the Opera House.  Our hotel is actually in a prime location and it doesn't take much time at all to get there.  We first walked around the perimeter on our own before heading inside to have a look around.  The show currently playing in the concert hall is "Angelina Ballerina," so there were a bunch of little girls prancing around in their tutus.  They were so cute and jumping up and down with excitement.  We finally decided that we wanted to take a guided tour and it turned out to be a great move.  Not only did we get to see inside many of the theaters (no pictures allowed, unfortunately) but we learned a lot about the history of the building along the way.  I found all of the engineering to be quite interesting and felt myself nodding along with the explanations, thinking "yeah, that makes sense."  I like those moments where I kind of know/understand something that sounds complicated :)

The tour lasted for some time and afterwards my parents decided that they wanted to head up to and walk across the Harbour Bridge.  While they did that, Kenny and I went back to the hotel room and tried to nail down some of the details of our Europe trip.  Just as I found when I was back home and trying to work out stuff for Australia, it was very difficult to navigate websites and get things done.  We didn't really accomplish much before our parents came back and we went off to dinner.  We dined in The Rocks which is the same suburb where our hotel is located and it was fun to sit outside and watch everything that was going on.  There were a lot of people out for a Thursday night, though that's not too surprising given the nice weather and the fact that the Christmas season is upon us.

We took our time eating but then came back to the hotel where Kenny and I stayed up late and planned out specific destinations and routes based on travel times.  We actually accomplished a lot in this second go-round and I feel better about things.  There are still other details to sort out but I'm sure that'll get done eventually.

A Wise Man Once Said...

First off, I just have to note how different Sydney and Melbourne are from each other.  It's funny to listen to native Aussies talk about the rivalry between the two cities; I personally like the atmosphere of Melbourne better and I feel like it's more "user friendly" (easier to get around).  I feel like Sydney has a couple of big, iconic sights in the middle of a very busy and confusing downtown center.  I do know that I am biased and am not afraid to admit it, but if I were to come back and live in a city in Australia, Melbourne would be my number one choice.

It was nice for the family to stay together in the suite and relax for most of the day.  I got a run in and then came back to shower before we headed out the door to meet up with a couple of people.  My mom made a friend when she was little but they lost touch after high school.  She discovered that this friend lived in Sydney while she was cruising through Facebook and decided to reach out and get in touch with him.  He invited us over and we took him up on the offer.  His place isn't too far from where we're staying and also has an amazing view of the harbour and opera house.  He and his partner have done a spectacular job decorating their apartment and we enjoyed some wine and an appetizer there while we talked and caught up.  The couple took us to a Vietnamese restaurant for dinner and we ended up ordering so much food but it was so good that we almost finished it all.  It was served family style so we were passing plates around for the entire meal.  This couple has led an amazing life and there was never a moment of silence at the table.  All of their experiences have given them great wisdom that they imparted on Kenny and I and I will try to take away some of their lessons and apply them to my own life.

After dinner we had to find our way through the city and back to the hotel.  We decided to start off on foot, which was a good decision because we were able to see a really cool light show at one of the cathedrals in the city.  We were rooted to the spot just watching the projections come to life on the front side of the church, which is apparently something that will be happening every evening from here until Christmas.  Once we were finally snapped out of our trance, my dad and I walked the rest of the way to our hotel but my mom and brother pooped out and got a cab.  Our walk was a great mini-tour of the quay area; I had flashbacks to my trip here earlier in the year and pointed out a couple places of interest along the way.  Now back in the room, we decided to sleep in tomorrow, have breakfast, and get to the quay to take a ferry out to Watson Bay.  I love the ferries and I'm hoping this experience is much like my last one out to Manly.

Goodbye, Melbourne

This morning I had to say goodbye to Melbourne.  I packed up the rest of my stuff last night and woke up this morning and just added in the last few items.  Our flight to Sydney left at 11:30am, so Kenny and I met our parents at Southern Cross Station to catch the bus out to the airport.  We flew Virgin Australia and everything went very smoothly.  The most difficult part was dealing with all of our baggage because we each have multiple pieces.  We were able to make it work and in the end we didn't even go over the weight limit.  Even with everything I had out here, my bag was the lightest...something I'm very proud of :)

I slept for most of the flight and woke up just in time for landing.  Our bags came out quickly and we were soon in a taxi on our way to the Quay West hotel.  Our taxi driver was a newbie and didn't quite have the hang of things, but he did what he could and got us there in a decent amount of time.  We went up to the check-in counter and the lady behind the desk told us we had been upgraded to the penthouse suite on the 29th floor!!  We walked into the room and just stood there taking it all in.  We have two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, and two rooms with couches and televisions.  There are also two dining tables and a room with a washer and dryer.  However, the best part is definitely the view; as we speak, I am sitting in the room and looking out the window at the harbour, the opera house, the bridge, and beyond.  I could really just sit here all day.

Later this evening we are going to meet up with someone my mom went to school with when she was younger.  We're going to have dinner and catch up which should be really nice.  Right now we are just relaxing for the first time in about a week, but tomorrow I'm sure we'll get up and hit the ground running.  There's a lot to see and take in so we're going to have to start early if we want to get around to it all.

Kenny Joined The Party

Yesterday Kenny got in from Hong Kong and joined our family vacation.  I went to pick him up from the airport while my mom went shopping and my dad lounged around at the hotel.  It was really exciting to see him and now our family is complete.  The first thing we did was swing by my place and drop off all his luggage and then we headed up to Errol Street in North Melbourne so I could show my parents my favorite library.  We also grabbed lunch while we were there and just enjoyed the fact that we were all together.  Afterwards we made our way down to Docklands where the outlets are.  My brother and mom were particularly excited about this and they took their time shopping around while my dad and I walked along the river and back towards town.  My brother came back with some gifts from Hanukkah Harry though my mom was empty-handed.

Later we met up for dinner and went to get Spanish food in the town of Fitzroy.  It's fun to show my family some of the little suburbs outside of the central business district.  The food was good and we stayed out for quite awhile.  Even though we were all exhausted, I don't think any of us went to bed at a decent hour.

This morning we woke up and met my parents at Victoria Market.  We wanted to show my brother around and we ended up getting some gifts for people.  Initially my parents were running late so Kenny and I grabbed breakfast at a café while we waited.  I had muesli with fresh fruit and it was really good.  We split up again after the market and Kenny and I walked around downtown.  It was hard to show him everything because he's not here for too long, but I think I was able to squeeze in the highlights.  We stopped at the section of town with most of the holiday decorations and enjoyed dipping our feet/sitting in the sun near the reflection pool.  There were a bunch of little kids splashing around even though it wasn't too warm outside.

My parents came to meet us at the bank where I was busy sorting out money transfer/currency conversion before we were off to the Shrine of Remembrance.  We were able to take in the view of the city while enjoying the end-of-the-day flag ceremony.  From there we took the tram down to St. Kilda to experience the beach and have dinner.  The sunset there was amazing and we had fun laughing together and walking down by the shore.  It was a great way to spend the last night in a fantastic city that has been my home for the past 10 months.  I can't believe I'm about to go to sleep here for the last time...ahhhh!!  Tomorrow we jet off to Sydney until after Christmas and then Kenny and I are headed to Europe!

Market, Shrine, and Gardens

We finally got the chance to sleep in today and it felt great.  I woke up and went for a run and then met my parents at Victoria Market (they found it all on their own!).  I showed them around and they were very impressed with everything it had to offer.  Because they got up late they didn't eat breakfast so we quickly saw everything we wanted to before heading to Stalactites, the Greek restaurant I went to a couple of weeks ago.  It was really good but I walked out feeling overly full.  

Earlier in the week my mom and I went to the Vodafone (my cell phone carrier) store to purchase a couple of internet sticks because the hotel doesn't have free wi-fi.  Since then my parents have been trying to install them and get them to work but with no luck.  The guy that helped us today was able to get everything situated and now my parents are happy campers and have the ability to sort through the hundreds of emails they've accumulated over the past couple of days.

From there we struck out over the bridge crossing the Yarra River.  This is the first time my parents have been to that section of town and I'm glad they were able to see it because I think one of the most picturesque parts.  We eventually made our way to the Shrine of Remembrance and through the Royal Botanical Gardens before it began to sprinkle.  We walked a lot today and were exhausted by the time we sat down to dinner.  We were so tired that none of us really ate; instead we drank lots of water and hopped on the tram down to Uni so that I could show my parents the accommodation I was in when I first got here (UniLodge, bleh).  After sitting down and chatting for a bit we parted ways.  I just love the company of my parents and though I've mentioned it before, I really can't say it enough.  We will be meeting up in the morning and I'll be treating my parents to breakfast ("my shout" in Aussie-english) before I head to the airport to pick up my brother!  He's in Hong Kong right now waiting for his connecting flight and will be here around noon tomorrow.  I'm hoping he won't be too wiped out but it's a very long trip so we'll see.  

The Great Ocean Road

Yesterday was the third early morning in a row for my parents and I.  We got up and met at their hotel at 7:15am to be picked up for our Great Ocean Road tour.  We were unusually early and waited outside where we thought we were supposed to be.  We soon learned that there was another entrance to the hotel and our driver had been sitting there for 15 minutes waiting on us until he finally called me and said that he had had to leave.  Luckily we explained that we hadn't in fact ditched him but rather had just made the mistake of being in the wrong place, so he circled back around to get us.  There were 8 people total and were seated in a rather spacious van.  Once everyone was on board we got out of the city and made our way to the first destination.

The first stop on the tour was Anglesea Beach for morning tea.  It was a bit windy, but quite beautiful.  My parents wandered down to the water but I opted out...it was too early for me to get sand in my shoes.  On the flip side, I did manage to finally try Vegemite and I will say that it wasn't that bad (though I don't think I'm ever going to seek it out).  There were also lamingtons, tim tams, and ANZAC biscuits available to go along with the tea and coffee.  It was a nice little spread and a good way to get going.

The next stop was at the entrance to the Great Ocean Road.  We only got out for a few minutes just to get a closer look at the statue and archway. There were some nice houses up on the hill that have million dollar views and can be rented out for vacation.  One of them had glass windows from top to bottom and was really amazing to look at, though I don't know if I would want to live there because of the whole lack-of-privacy thing.

We hopped back into the bus for a little bit before stopping again to feed some exotic birds and to try and spot koalas.  We succeeded in both but the birds scared me and so I offered just to be the photographer.  Something about them flying at my face just didn't appeal to me.  We were able to spot three koalas but they were kind of boring to look at because they sleep for 19 hours a day.  They need that time because their body takes so much energy to break down the nitrogen content of the leaves they eat.

The driver gave us a bathroom break before we hit up the rainforest.  In the car, he made my mom and I extremely nervous because of the tales of his encounters with snakes in the forest.  We almost didn't get out of the bus but we decided we had to and in the end we were lucky and didn't spot any reptiles.  Apparently that rainforest is home to a species of carnivorous snails that have fangs and act like alligators in the fact that they will take pieces of their prey and will hide them and let them "marinate" for a couple of days before going back to eat them.

A beautiful rock formation called the Twelve Apostles was next.  Funnily enough, there aren't even twelve structures; it started out with nine and then more recently one collapsed so now there are eight.  In any case, it was amazing to look at.  This is a pretty well known destination in Melbourne and I've heard many people talking about it.  I was told that I had to go see it before I left and I'm really glad my parents and I got the chance to do so.  I'm also happy because my dad was able to explain some of the phenomena of the formations and give us details about the structures (yay, geology!).

Our last stop on the tour before heading back into the city was at London Bridge.  It has nothing to do with the nursery rhyme, but a part of it did in fact fall down which is kind of funny.





We all piled in the bus after taking our time looking around.  We had a little over a two hour ride back ahead of us, but it wasn't terrible.  I was able to sit with my mom and we were able to fill the time with conversation.  Overall it was an amazing tour but we were exhausted when we got back around 9:30pm.  I woke up late this morning and will be meeting my parents at the Victoria Market in 20 minutes.  We are going to walk around there for a bit and if the weather holds up we'll explore more of the city.  Kenny comes in tomorrow so the Carter clan will finally be whole again.

Graduation

It's done and over with and I have to start off by acknowledging something very important to me:  I want to take a few minutes to sincerely thank my parents.  I've said it to them already, and I'll probably continue to say it as the week goes on, but I am so extremely grateful that they were here to share this day with me.  Not only am I excited to see them after 10 months, but I feel like this celebration isn't just about me, but them as well.  I am 100% certain that I wouldn't be where I am at this moment without everything they've provided me.  No amount of words can be used to describe my gratitude, but they have given me with the very best opportunities as well as unrelenting love and support.  Hearing them say how proud they were of me meant more than getting the degree itself and being able to have them by my side is just icing on the cake.  I feel like the luckiest girl in the world...Mom and Dad, I hope you know how special you made me feel today and that I love you with all my heart.

The morning started off early for me, getting up and getting ready for the day.  I went to meet my parents at their hotel before we went in search of breakfast.  We found a really nice place and took our time eating and talking.  We eventually made our way to campus where I picked up my robe and trencher (cap).  It was really nice because they had some assistants up there who dressed you so that the hood was placed correctly, etc.  There was time for some pictures before we all had to be seated for the ceremony, so we walked around campus and took advantage of that.  The campus really is beautiful and it was nice to get around to some of the most picturesque parts of it.  It was also a fun way for my parents to see things, since this was their first time experiencing UniMelb.

                        

The ceremony was held in Wilson Hall and lasted for about an hour and a half.  It started off with a procession of the important members of the faculty, followed by the PhD students who sat up on the stage alongside them.  They were introduced first, followed by Masters and then Bachelors candidates. On stage, there were a list of things I was supposed to do; pausing in certain places, nodding at people, shaking hands...it was kind of stressful!  I got through with only one minor incident which hopefully went unnoticed, haha.  There were only six people receiving my degree but there were a ton of undergrads to get through.  Upon calling the last name, there was a speech given by the valedictorian and then everyone filed out.  It was very well organized and the choir and organ playing gave it some character.

I had to return my gown and trencher after the ceremony and then my parents and I ventured to my apartment where we relaxed before heading out to dinner.  Fenix turned out to be an amazing choice and I'm so glad we ended up there.  The food was spectacular but it was the service that made the meal.  And I know I've said it already, but having the company of my parents makes all the difference in the world.  I love hanging out with them on a daily basis and have really missed that in the past 10 months.

A fantastic day ended with dessert and more time spent with my parents.  I let them find their own way back to the hotel tonight and I have confirmed that they successfully made it...I'm so proud!  Tomorrow is another early start and a busy day.  Time for bed for the newest graduate of the University of Melbourne  :)

They've Finally Arrived!

I only have one word for yesterday:  wow!!  It was really an amazing day.  It started out early because I couldn't sleep so I just got up at 6:15am and went to the gym for a run.  After showering I was able to catch Alex on Skype for an hour or so which was fun (minus the "sounding like death" part).  Willing the time to go faster, I cleaned up the apartment before finally leaving to catch the bus to the airport.  I thought I was actually going to be late, but I forgot about the time it takes to get through customs/to get your bags, etc.  At first I went to the domestic terminal because my parents were coming from Sydney, but it ended up that their flight came through the international terminal so I had to run over there.  I had a front row seat and every time one of the exit doors opened my heart took a little leap, wondering if it was my parents.  And then the moment came and my life became instantly awesome.  I ran over and embraced them and saying I was happy is an understatement :)

First order of business upon their arrival was getting them to the hotel.  The tram system here is great, but not so much when you have luggage.  The tram was pretty full and it was kind of hard to move around the big bags but we did what we could and arrived at the hotel without any major problems.  They are staying at the Grand Hyatt and it is beautiful.  After checking in (20th floor with an amazing view of the city) we walked around the CBD a little before ending up in Chinatown for lunch.  While my dad wanted to go back and take a nap afterwards, my mom and I walked around some more.  One of our stops was at the grocery store to pick up some snacks for the hotel room.  It was fun to point out some of the different products and we spent quite some time in there.  As we were leaving, I saw a picture of Lauren Mitchell (probably the top Australian gymnast who has signed a deal with Visa prior to the Olympics) and I had my mom take a picture.  I guess I'm one of those life-long fans of the sport.

After awhile outside, we ended up back at the hotel.  It took some time to wake my dad and get him showered and dressed, but during the process I was able to introduce my parents to my favorite news show:  The Project.  That's one of the things I will miss when I leave.  I've gotten in the habit of watching the show every evening and I really like the people on it.

Once out the door we began walking again (so much walking to come in the next few weeks).  I knew I wanted to take my parents to Lygon Street for dinner; Lygon is famous for all of the Italian restaurants that have taken up residence there.

It's really nice because most of the restaurants will have their menus in the window or laid out for passers-by to look at.  We stopped couple of times to check things out before ending up at Villa Romana (we actually passed the place but then I saw a calzone on the plate of a customer and so we turned around).  I'm glad we ended up there because not only have I never eaten at that particular place before but it was also really good!  Everyone enjoyed their meal and it was especially nice because the weather was great and we ate outside.  I'm hoping we keep having such perfect weather (it was about 75 yesterday) because I know it'll be winter (again!) when I get home.

We took the long way back to the hotel after that (partly to walk off some of the dinner we just consumed and partly because I wanted to show them more parts of town).  We went through some quieter neighborhoods before we walked past the Royal Exhibition Building, where I took a handful of my final exams.  It is a huge building and even in the dark you can tell.  It really is beautiful but this is the only time I've actually appreciated that because it's the first time I haven't been there while at the same time stressing about a test.

I got back to my room kind of late and am up early again to get ready for graduation.  I actually have to finish doing that because right now all I've done is showered.  I'm supposed to meet my parents in an hour at the hotel so we can wander around and find breakfast.  After that we'll take our time getting to campus where I'll pick up my regalia and I can give a condensed tour before the ceremony begins.  Woohoo...I can't believe I actually made it and that it's time to celebrate that.  Let the good times continue :)

Last Minute Prep

I can't believe it, but my parents are officially en route to Sydney.  They backed away from the gate about 30 minutes ago and should be in the air right now or very close to it.  I will be seeing them in approximately 17 hours and I CAN'T WAIT!  Tomorrow kicks off an amazing two weeks...an amazing month if you include the upcoming trip to Europe with my brother.

Today was all about making last minute preparations for their arrival and for my graduation on Friday.  I got my hair cut and now I'm looking all pretty (well, as close as I can get), I know the routes we need to take to get my parents from the airport to their hotel, and I'm all prepared to entertain them for the day if they're not too exhausted (I'm pretty sure they're going to want to crash, but they're convinced they'll be fine...we'll see!).  Now that they'll be here, there will be many adventures and much more for me to write about which will hopefully make up for the lack of entries I have made so far this month.  My parents sounded so excited on the phone, I'm super excited, and Kenny is getting there (he's still in finals which puts a damper on things) so get ready to hear about our first family vacation in years.  AHHHH, so stoked :)

Close Call

Well, let's just say this weekend didn't really go as planned.  I was supposed to receive all my marks by Friday at 5pm.  5pm came and went, and I was still missing my mark for Anatomy.  Around 7pm, I got an email from the graduations committee informing me that I was not eligible to graduate because I had not completed the requirements of my degree.  Not only did that completely stress me out, but add that to the fact that the school offices were closed for the weekend and I was a complete mess.  I couldn't believe that I wouldn't be allowed to attend my graduation ceremony after all I'd done this year.  I sat on the thought all weekend and channeled my anger into some not-so-nice emails to my course coordinator, the professors, and the engineering department.  This morning I woke up and met the aides at the engineering student centre when it opened at 9am.  They took note of my situation and said they would contact me as developments were made.  I waited around campus, hoping for a positive email of some sort, but nothing came.  After coming home to talk to the '10s, I went back to campus to get things settled once and for all.  While I still can't see my mark online, I was told that it has been entered and cleared with the department and I have once again been invited to attend the graduation ceremony on Friday.  I am so relieved to officially be graduating and I am really glad that my parents aren't coming all this way for nothing.  Speaking of which, they will be here in about 66 hours...I can't believe it's finally here after all this time.  I have a couple of last minute things to attend to now that I can shift my focus away from school.  Time to kick it into high gear...I'm so excited!!

See You In A Week, Mom And Dad!

Just as a note, I've started, stopped, deleted, and re-started this entry a couple of times now because I really don't have anything to report.  All I've done in the past week is wrap up some loose ends, which means that I've been running back and forth between the bank, the university, the library, a few stores, and my apartment.  I now have less than two weeks left in Melbourne so every time I go somewhere I wonder if it is my last time there.  I'll probably go grocery shopping and to the library once more, but I've been to most places for the last time.  Maybe I'll take my mom and dad around just for kicks.  Btw, they arrive in ONE WEEK!!  I can't believe that after all this time, it's finally (almost) here.

Our first week of summer has been really interesting and looks to continue on that way.  It started out cold but has gotten into the upper 80s in the past couple of days.  From Saturday to Tuesday there is a chance of rain so I still can't pack up my umbrella.  I have packed up almost everything else at this point...one whole bag of things I won't be needing.  The challenge is going to be getting the right stuff home and taking the things I need with me up to the cold and truly wintery Europe.

Yesterday I took care of so many things and today it seems as if I have nothing to do.  It's pretty hot out already, so it might be a good day to find a place to plough through the rest of my book.  I do need to take care of some bank transactions, but that will have to wait for a week or so...oooo, maybe I'll go see a movie or something; it will be nice and cool inside the theater.  I have a little "extra" money because I forgot about the bond I paid when I first moved in and after all the calculations were made, it ends up that I don't owe anything this month for rent and I will actually be getting some of that bond money back instead.  That puts me up $160, always good news.

I'm still waiting to hear about the marks for two of my classes, but they are due by tomorrow evening.  Hopefully the news will be good and I'll finally receive my official invitation to graduation.

Bringing Back Bananas

After 9+ months of going without one of my favorite fruits, I finally had a banana with my oatmeal this morning.  I'm pretty sure I've said it before, but the banana prices skyrocketed after the floods up in Queensland ($15/kilo!).  I'm assuming that the crops are now doing well because the prices have plummeted recently, down to just over $2/kilo.  I was overjoyed when I saw this at the store yesterday and decided it was time to treat myself.  I purchased three bananas and now I will get to enjoy them over the next couple of days.  As my roommate likes to say, "It was divine."

Still nothing overly exciting going on, though we did have a final dinner and said goodbye to Sun.  We went to Stalactites, one of the famous Greek restaurants in town.  I love Greek, and this was really amazing.  Afterwards, we hit up a somewhat fancy bar where Liz and Sun each had a drink.  I enjoyed my water as we talked and took in the scene below us (we were seated at a table upstairs).  It was very low-key and a nice way to end the evening.  We said our final goodbyes and then went our separate ways.  Sun is now back in Korea and two new people have just moved into his room.  It's going to be crazy in here for the next couple of weeks; there are just so many people and I hope it doesn't get too overwhelming.

Also, marks for two of my classes have been posted.  I'm very happy to say that all the crap I endured in Clinical Engineering was worth it because I came out with H1 distinction.  I also passed Tissue Engineering, so now I am just waiting on the other two classes before I can say that I will officially be attending the graduation ceremony in two weeks. 


Lastly, as my time down under comes to a close, I need to start thinking about what I'm going to do with this blog.  I know the stories will continue long after I return home...heck, trying to find a job/my first year back will be full of ups and downs and I'm sure I'll want to share.  So as of right now, my plan is to continue to write, but you may notice some changes to the layout (title, background, etc) to better match my ever evolving situation.  Don't freak out, I'm not going anywhere...lucky you ;)