I suppose I should mention my final day in Manly. We had end of term dinner, except there wasn't a dinner, just free cocktails. Everyone had a final night out together, and no one was too focused on goodbyes, just celebrating a term complete. My camera was broken, but Deb is a great friend and took lots of pictures, Chelsey let me borrow her camera for a bit and I managed to get a picture with McRae. I had someone else ask her, but she accepted and even smiled.
Deb and I also got a picture with Todd, one of the very friendly and helpful advisors at ICMS. One of the few faculty members that seems to understand students and the improvements that could be made.
While I came home to family and friends in the States for Christmas, I left some great people behind. I have this problem with taking people for granted. I don't realize how great of company I am in until I don't have them anymore. I miss Australia, I miss my friends from around the world, I miss traveling. I miss warm weather, I miss sunlight, and I miss the freedom to explore who I am and where I am. Everyone here seems to have a pretty good idea of who they think I should be and what they think I should do. I don't blame anyone, over the past 20 years, I've probably given you more than one reason to think that. I miss having a clean slate though. I feel a bit claustrophobic here, give me some time to get over that. I'm trying really hard to not fall into the same routines I had, but rather create a life here that suits my interests and passions... not the easy way out. We'll see how that works out for me.
For anyone who is wondering, I did get my Chipotle but it was a little delayed. Wendi and I had a sister shopping date and made a lunch stop. It was just as good as I remembered. I found Taco Bell in the Dallas airport too. I missed spicy foods. Next time I live overseas, I'm bringing taco seasoning and a bottle of tabasco. I missed a lot of food actually, Christmas feasts were awesome, and I made some great lasagna at home and with Allison. I love having a kitchen again. Pretty excited to make my own food and never have another meal of rice and bread roll, bland curry, or anything with lamb or veal. My first night in the new apartment (yes I've already moved on to Minneapolis) Kari, Kate and I cooked a nice sit down meal of falafal and couscous. It was pretty awesome. I'm really excited about the new living situation, except that Kate is leaving us for Amsterdam. She'll have a great time... I'm a little jealous.
This is getting long, but a few more things worth mentioning. The snow has bleached my tan. I spent so many hours on the beach and have very little to show for it. I'm not mad about it at all, I've realized those were hours well spent thinking, enjoying music and books, chatting with friends, and soaking up some vitamin D. While the sun is dehydrating, it also makes you a much happier person. I've got some serious seasonal mood swings. I've been enjoying my pedestrian rights in America. Pedestrians don't have right of way in Australia, and its kind of scary. The crosswalks don't beep here though. I've literally missed entire green lights because I'm looking around and not paying attention to the lights. It was so much easier having an audio reminder. I'm not a fan of the cold or being inside. This is a problem during Minnesota winters. I was used to eating outside every day, and taking walks, just sitting around. Being couped up and potential frostbite are not as fun of options. I also left summer which has a lot more daylight than winter. The whole seasonal thing really affects me. Never realized it before.
Long rambling post? Yes. I've been meaning to write for a while. I've been thinking quite a bit since being back. I probably should have journaled. I realize more and more every day, often in conversations with others. Not about Australia and the things I did, but really anything else. My perspective has changed quite a bit. I owe a lot of that to friends who were studying abroad in other parts of the world. We all came from the University of Minnesota, but studied in different locations through different programs. Everyone had such a unique experience. Welcome home to Heejin from London, Chelsey from Kenya, Becca from France, Janae from London, Annie who is still in China, Brooke from Australia, Danielle from Australia. While many friends at ICMS could understand my issues there, there was something about hearing others' experiences and having a common Minnesotan understanding that was very comforting.
Australia is a beautiful country, I had a great experience. I'd recommend anyone check it out, but for studying abroad, I don't know that the location really matters all that much. Living abroad is a rewarding experience in terms of personal growth and independence. I hope to do it again in the near future, hopefully another region of the world. I want to see and explore. There are so many places I would love to go. I've also learned that no matter where I travel, even if for a longer period of time, I will always come home. I have an amazing family... supportive, loving parents and beautiful, intelligent sisters. I am thankful for them; I am also thankful for my opportunities to travel and learn. I really have the best of both worlds.
I've thrown around a lot of New Year's resolutions this year. I've never been very good at keeping them. I think instead of my usual list (I'm kind of a lists freak) I'm going to pick a word of the year.. a theme if you will. This year it is appreciation. I vow to appreciate others, appreciate myself, appreciate the opportunities I have, and appreciate the world around me. I don't know exactly what that entails, but it sounds like a pretty good plan.
Thanks for reading.
