The One Where They Say Goodbye

Hello from Connecticut! It was an exhausting trip home yesterday, but its time to write my final blog post. It’s been a good time sharing my adventures with everyone this semester but for now it’s time to put down the laptop and come back to reality.

Last Monday I was very tired (not as tired as right now, but still tired) so I just did stuff like laundry and class, it was pretty boring.

Tuesday was a bit more interesting, after work we went to a bar for trivia night. While we were there it started POURING rain and the roof leaked so Em and Em both got a little wet. Also, James and Caroline and I set out on a mission to finish 5-8 of the Harry Potter movies before we left Australia (we did it) so if I am remembering right, I think we watched number 6 that night.

On Wednesday, we went to work and then afterwards Emily and I went for a run in the humid weather (I write as I’m freezing in the US now), and then got really yummy Mexican food with MG from a place called Guzman y Gomez. It was so yummy and in my opinion rivaled Chipotle. We also got gelato afterward and it was so delicious, I’m mad that we hadn’t discovered the place we went earlier. It was a pretty relaxed night but it was just what we all needed.

Thursday was mine, Emily, and Maddie’s farewell lunch at PwC. We went to a restaurant along the harbor and our co-workers paid for our food. It was so nice of them and it was awesome to get to hang out with them outside of work as well. After work, we had our last day of class and then a ton of people went out to Ivy for the last time (its where we went on our first Thursday in Sydney). It was a fun night that ended with Maccas as usual.

Friday was our last day of work. In the morning, Emily and I spoke briefly at an event for the vacationers (summer interns) at PwC about our experience interning and what we wish we knew before we got jobs. After that at 3pm, everyone left the office to get drinks and then go to lawn bowls which is an Australian sport that can only be described as a mix of curling and bocce. My first turn was not good but after that I quickly got the hang of it and actually was pretty good. My teammate ended up buying me a drink because apparently I was helping the team a lot (I still don't fully understand the sport). Maybe it’s a hidden talent and I should just move back to Australia and pursue it as a career. After I left lawn bowls I unexpectedly started crying because I had to say my first goodbyes. It was kind of funny but also super sad.

For the weekend, I was determined to wake up early and take advantage of my last few days. On Saturday Em and I went to brunch (as usual) and then we went to the Glebe markets and found some gifts for people. We also bought a pair of jeans and a dress for $4 total so it was definitely a win. After that, we stopped at a piercing place because Em wanted to get her septum pierced, and then we headed home. We didn’t do too much for the rest of the day because it got really rainy, but I started to pack and get myself together so I could take advantage of the rest of my time in Sydney.

On Sunday, we went to a really nice brunch in a suburb of Sydney at a place called Platform Eighty-Two. It was literally platforms of food (see picture) and it was delicious even though it took up a good part of our day. After that we went to Coogee for one last beach day and attempt to be tan when we get home.

Monday consisted of waking up, cramming for my final, taking my final, and then heading to the farewell party that the program held for us. It was a lot of fun listening to the band and just being with everyone all together for one last night before we all went our separate ways. Also I cried again about leaving.

Tuesday was supposed to be rainy and we were all really upset because it was our last full day but it ended up being a pretty nice day. We spent most of it cleaning out the apartment and packing and getting last minute gifts for people. At night though I went to a nice dinner with James and Caroline. We started by getting drinks at the Opera Bar and sitting outside and taking it all in, and then we walked over to the rocks to a really nice restaurant called Sake for dinner. The food was amazing and we got a bottle of wine. It was a really nice time and I’m going to miss James and Caroline a ton (aka I already miss them a ton). When we got back to the BUSAC, everyone was just hanging out and drinking and enjoying the last night all together, so we joined in.

That brings us to yesterday, December 6th, my 41-hour day (if I did the math right). I got up at 6:45am and showered and finished packing. Then we said goodbye and got on a shuttle to the airport. We finally got on our plane which proceeded to sit on the runway for another hour and a half before taking off. We landed in LAX around 6:45am, which I think is hilarious because that’s exactly what time I woke up in Sydney. I was very tired to the point where I felt drunk almost since I got a total of 3 hours of sleep on the plane and it was 5am in Sydney, almost 24 hours after I left that morning. I essentially time traveled so that was kind of cool. My fight from LAX got delayed 4 hours and then mid-flight we had to emergency land because of a medical emergency on board. I finally landed at JFK at 11pm and got home around 1am, making a total of 34 hours of traveling with 3 hours of terrible sleep. I woke up today at noon and it was much needed.

I am pretty upset to have left Australia but I am excited to be home and see everyone. I’m a little nervous to drive again since I’m adjusted to the other side of the road and car, but I’m sure it won’t be too bad. I truly had the most amazing semester and I owe it all to the incredible people that I had the opportunity to meet while I was abroad. I will never forget my experience in Australia and I really hope that one day I make it back there. Re-adjusting to real life is going to be an interesting transition but being abroad was absolutely worth whatever life is going to throw at me next.

Thanks for reading about all my adventures down under! I really didn’t expect anyone to really read my posts but I actually have gotten a lot of people telling me they liked my blog and let me tell you that every single one of those people made my day when they told me. I’m so glad that my writing has been entertaining and maybe one day I will blog regularly about something! Until then though, thanks for following along, you're all amazing!