10 Days and Counting!!

It is now only 10 DAYS until I leave for Australia! I cannot begin to comprehend how life changing this journey is going to be. I am so excited that i cant even express how I feel in words!

I celebrated my 21st birthday on the 12th...thank you to everyone who came out with me! I had a great time with both friends and family. Here are a few pictures from the nights events:



CAKE!



The Bar Group!...kinda a bad pic but its better than nothing :)

like a sister!




amazing bf <3



Best big brother a girl could ask for!!!

On another note...I got the pleasure of meeting Alex's family this past Christmas/New Years. While visiting I received a necklass from his parents that I will keep close throughout my trip! It has a pendant of a dragon that represents being fearless. This is perfect for me because fearless is the motto for my trip! I am going to go out of my comfort zone, take risks, and do everything to the best of my ability. I am going to be FEARLESS! I cannot wait to start this amazing adventure with the mentality to be 100% FEARLESS...but I'm going to wait until my journey begins to make my wish and put the necklass on.



I also wanted to share with everyone, Since there has been a lot of questions regarding the flooding in Australia here are some parts of updated emails I received from the directors to help clear up any more questions:

Dear all,
You have probably heard on the news of the floods in Queensland over recent weeks. They have been quite devastating across a huge area of the Queensland coast and down through the inland. In many areas they have been the worst in living memory.

For about one month now the rain has been incredible. Towns along the coast and inland have been hit with the worst flooding ever. In some cases with one flood after another and only a few days apart. Estimates are that the area flooded is the size of France and Germany combined. Over 220,000 people have been affected. Only last night an horrendous storm hit the town of Towoomba, west of Brisbane on the Darling Downs, sending a huge flash flood through the town killing 8 people and then rushing east, down the Lockyer Valley in a wall of water metres high. 72 people are still unaccounted for and they say this number may rise as houses were washed away last night in some of the small villages through the valley. This water will eventually end up in the Brisbane River in a few days so flood alerts have been sent out to people in low lying areas of Brisbane. These are the worst floods in Queensland’s history we are told.

Lennox Head is ok except for a lake, which is up a little.

I hope this answers any remaining questions you might have about the floods and we are being updated regularly on the conditions, one of our professors is heading to Lennox Head this week to get everything going and ready for our arrival!

The next ten days are going to be spent in Muncie saying goodbye to all my friends, hopefully taking my car to Illinois, trying to pack 3 months worth of stuff in one suitcase under 50 pounds!, taking care of bank stuff, last min paperwork and preparations, and spending time with my family!!!

30...29, 28, 27, 26, 25, 24, 23, 22, 21...20 Days and Counting!!!

It is now only 20 Days until my plane leaves!!! The Holidays and New Years went extremely well, spent them with my wonderful family and friends. I made a trip to Evansville and Tennessee over New Years week/weekend to visit friends. I couldn't have asked for a better way to start out 2011!

I have been scheduling all of my dentist, eye doctor, and doctor appointments in order to get them all done before I leave. I will be getting new glasses as well :) Most of the logistics of the trip are finalized and I'm purchasing the last of the necessities of the trip, including an underwater camera (for scuba diving) keen water and hiking shoes, and a few other important items. My car will also be getting sold while I'm away and hopefully ill be getting a new car! I'm banking on a small SUV or a jeep...but we will have to wait and see.

My New Digital Underwater Camera!!

My hiking/water shoes!

My Scuba/Snorkeling Gear :)

I am getting more and more excited about the trip and look forward to making one more trip up to Ball State to say good bye to all my friends! I also hope to meet up with my roomate before we leave and start getting to know each other! This is going to be a trip of a lifetime and am excited to begin the journey and start sharing my experiences with friends and family.

40 Days and Counting!!!

I have officially starting packing for my trip!!! 6 swim suits, 9 pairs of shorts, 15 tank tops, 4 capris, 2 pairs of pants, over 20 shirts, and a towel...not to mention the shoes! This is just what I have clean at the moment...I think I am going to have a hard time packing everything I "want" to take with me.

 I think its about time I learn what is a "want" and what is a "need!" I am beginning to think that packing is going to be one of the hardest things about this trip!!!

Of course I have a HUGE pink suitcase :) did you expect anything different from me??


I have one suitcase and my carry on (backpack) to pack everything I will need for the three months I am gone but despite the stress of packing I cannot wait to get on the plane in just 40 days to live out my dream of traveling to Australia! One travel quote I absolutely love is "The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.  ~St. Augustine" I believe this 100%...traveling has always been an important part of my life and I feel it is a necessary part of growing up. I am very thankful that I have had the opportunity to travel.

The next 40 days will be filled with a lot of busy days. Christmas is next on the list, trip to Evansville and Tennessee, Jan Birthdays! including my 21st!!!, visiting Muncie one last time, family visitors from out of town, and then ill be boarding the plane!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

50 Days and Counting!!!

Everything is falling into place! I have purchased my luggage, schedules classes, finalized my airline tickets, finished the online videos and tests, gotten my debit cards and travel identification cards, got my scuba diving certification, and finished the paper work to move out of the dorms...now its time to enjoy the last 50 days I have to spend with friends and family before this amazing journey begins!

i

 Here is a picture of Lennox Head and the area we will be living. Our Lodging is located at the northern end of Lennox Head, between Seven Mile Beach and Lake Ainsworth! Our Housing is located just off the bottom frame of the picture-each cabin sleeps four students in two bedrooms and has a kitchen. I cannot wait to for this journey to begin!

In order to get to know the people going on the trip better one student had the bright idea of having an Australia Group get together so last week we all got together for a night of partying and getting to know each other! It was great to meet the group and find people with common interests on the trip. A lot of people on the trip are scuba dive certified and also enjoy climbing, i have a feeling we will be enjoying Australia and all it has to offer!!

This coming week is my last week at Ball State until next fall semester. I finish my final exams on Friday and move out out Studebaker West for good! Christmas Break will be spent at home with my family along with a few short trips to see other loved ones before I leave. Good Luck on Finals!!!!!!!