Today is where your book begins, the rest is still unwritten

"Staring at the blank page before you, open up the dirty window, let the sun illuminate the words that you cannot find. Reaching for something in the distance, so close you can almost taste it, release your inhibitions, feel the rain on your skin. No one else can speak the words on your lips. Drench yourself in words unspoken, live your life with arms wide open, today is where your book begins, the rest is still unwritten."

Before my incredible journey, I remember thinking how Natasha Bedingfield's lyrics described perfectly the adventure I was about to embark. I was creating a whole new page--heck a whole new book to my life when I boarded my plane February 11, 2012. Saying goodbye to family, friends and home was tough and emotional, but knowing what was to come within the next four months was simply invigorating!


Now my four months are over, and I am home safe and sound. Well, the Aussie sun sure did illuminate the words I couldn't find, and obviously no one else is speaking the words on my lips because well, this is my blog. But wow, I sure did live my life with arms wide open these past four months, meeting the most incredible friends of a lifetime and exposing myself to a completely new culture and environment; and for those opportunities I am forever grateful. Living abroad in a beautiful country alongside people who are nothing but fun, thoughtful, loving, and encouraging, brought out a new confidence I didn't even know I had. Not to sound cheesy but I really did find a new Aussie Ashley deep inside. Australia certainly was a whole new book to my life, but I'd rather think of it as a spruced up second edition, but this copy won't be on shelves for a limited time only! Okay, sorry. Enough with the metaphors now. It's obvious I have been missing my English classes this past semester, ay? Now onto Australia and coming home.

I honestly don't even know where to begin. My homecoming was an emotional hurricane, so I will save that for the end. So first I find it necessary to say how amazing the Australian friends I met while abroad really are. From the moment I stepped foot into my corridor, everyone was sitting on the floor of our cute little hallway, chatting with one another and drinking a beer... or two. My RA Laura, one of the nicest people ever, picked me up from accommodation services and helped me lug ALL my luggage into the Dungeon, aka the basement floor. She introduced me to everyone, and I was welcomed with nothing less than bright smiles, questions, excitement, and pure friendliness. I want to go into detail about all my friends, but I would be typing forever, so what you're about to read doesn't even come close to how great my corridor mates are.

I still won't forget my first night. We had to head over to the dining hall for TEDS orientation and Jess introduced herself in a traditional Australian way: an arvo drink! Straight off my shuttle bus she offered me a drink for orientation. Well, being the American from a small, modest school like Etown, I was under the natural assumption that there was going to be an info packet, someone in charge-- you know, all that boring jazz. But no! Jess shoves a bottle of Malibu and pineapple into my hands and tells me to hurry up before we're late. Forgetting briefly that the drinking age is only 18, I was stupidly trying to hide this bottle of alcohol before anyone caught me and deported me back to America! I really think that was my first sense of culture shock. Looking back I laugh at myself, but I honestly thought I was going to get into major trouble! But ever since that day, Jess became a true friend whom I miss a lot. She would run into my room yelling "Hey, America" and join me while I Skyped with my family, leave me pieces of chocolate on my desk, let me borrow all her movies, drive me to the store, make fun of Tori and me, and most importantly, we had great talks and really bonded as friends!
Then there was Edwina who was nothing but smiles from day one! She is also super funny and her stories always made me laugh. I remember the first week I was there she knocked on my door and invited me to the beach with her and a friend. We spent the day at the beach then ran to a few stores in town.  She also has a giant bag of dress up clothes that is incredibly interesting to rummage through! That bag had absolutely everything. Edwina made my whole semester wonderful, and my very last day she helped me lug all my bags into her car and drove Tori and me to the train station. She then helped us both drag our bags to the train. It's things like that people never forget, and Edwina is surely a friend I will always remember!

Then there was my neighbor Jackson. I'm going to miss him knocking on my door at 3 am on Wednesday nights and his grandma's chocolate cake! And there was Luke across the hall who always kept me jammin' in my room while he worked his DJ skills and kept the music playing. There was Sarah who sounded like a songbird every day in the shower with her beautiful voice, and she always kept her closet open for me to borrow clothes! Blair was at the end of the hall who simply kept me laughing with his great personality. And last but not least, there was Kyali who was such a helpful person and let me borrow her clothes, too! And they are just my corridor mates! There are heaps of other friends from TEDS who all deserve their own story, but again, I'd be on here forever! From karaoke night, early dinners, and jamming to the best songs of the 90's with Walter to cheering on him, Halle, Jackson and Alex during their soccer games, there was never a dull moment with my new friends.

Then my last three weeks in Australia I met another special friend Chris who showed me around Newcastle and really made me feel at home. We explored the foreshore, went to cafes, and wined and dined at different restaurants. He made a delicious green chicken curry, saving me from the dining hall food, and even had chocolate chip cookies for dessert! If that's not a winner then I don't know what is! I got to whip out my cooking skills and make a Polish meal for him and his housemate. It was my first attempt ever making Gwumpkies, but I must say they were amazing, and he liked them, too! I also got to drive his car on the left side of the road! That was definitely a bit of an adrenaline rush, but now I can say I got to drive in Australia! He also took me to a concert to see Daniel Merriweather perform and to Thursday jazz night. But to top it all off, he performed during open mic and played "Georgia on My Mind" for me on his saxophone! We had a great three weeks together, and again, I know I made a special friend.

But despite all the fun I was having, I knew my time was coming to an end, and in a way, I was ready to come home. I don't know how to describe it, but those who have studied abroad know exactly what I'm talking about. I wasn't ready to leave Australia, but I was so ready to see my family, friends, house, and get back to my regular lifestyle. I just wish I could pick all those things up and take them back to Australia with me!

Needless to say, my homecoming is a day I will never forget. First, Tori and I journeyed to Sydney the day before our flight and stayed in a dodgy hostel with no heat or blankets. Remember, it's winter time in Australia, so we had to layer in sweatshirts, leggings and pants to keep somewhat warm throughout the night. I even slept with my scarf on and used a cardigan as a blanket! It's accurate to say I got about two hours of sleep that night. We woke up around 5am to catch the sketchy van shuttle service to the airport. Our driver was not a happy person at the crack of dawn, but it sure beat rolling giant suitcases and carry-on bags around the streets of Sydney all while being half asleep. We finally made it to the airport, checked in, and were ready for our fourteen or so hour flight to LAX. We made it through customs, although they took my Vegemite--sad, sad day. Then came the time we were both dreading: we had to say goodbye as we went to our separate terminals and opposite coasts of the States. We developed such a great friendship, and together, Tori, Danielle and I were quite the trio.

After departing LAX, arriving in Texas and departing for Baltimore (all on about 6 hours of sleep over three days), I was about to be reunited with my family! On my final flight, I passed out before the plane even took off and didn't wake up until the final 40 minutes. Those final moments were insane. I couldn't keep still; the guy next to me must have thought I was a looney, but I didn't care. Baltimore looked beautiful as we glided over the city as the sun was setting. We finally LANDED and I waited patiently, well anxiously as everyone took their time retrieving their carry-on bags before making their way slowly off the plane.

I sped walked through the airport not exactly sure where I was headed. As I turned the corner, I saw a giant blob of white and heard screaming. I don't know what came over me, but I froze and just stared at everyone until I realized that was MY giant white blob! My mom, dad, sister, cousin, and Lauren and Zack were all in white shirts that spelled out my name and were holding a giant sign! My grandma, Aunt Jenny, Uncle Chris and little cousins were behind them with signs they made, too! Then I realized my sister jumping up and down until she couldn't take it anymore and then all at once, she, my mom and dad ran past the "Don't Enter" sign and grabbed me in their arms, tears rolling down all our faces! They hugged me so tightly I thought my head was going to pop off, but I didn't care one bit! It was a total cry fest.

The way it felt to hug all my family and friends in person rather than over the Skype screen is unexplainable! Despite being apart for four months, we picked right up where we left off. Right after all the hugging and crying was over, my mom went to claim my baggage, and of course, my daddy took me straight to Dunkin Donuts to get REAL BREWED COFFEE! Ahhhh! The one and probably only thing I will not miss about Australia is its instant coffee. I got my usual order with cream and two sugars, and it was heavenly!

Then the whole crew hopped on the shuttle bus, and we made it back to our cars for the ride home on the RIGHT side of the road. On the way, I devoured the whole batch of homemade dark chocolate chip cookies my sister made (they were still a bit warm) while everyone else devoured the Tim Tams I smuggled over the boarder! To all my Aussies, everyone loved the Tim Tams. I can make the following deal with any of you: you send me Tim Tams, I'll send you homemade cookies! When we finally pulled down the driveway, I was welcomed by another massive sign made by my lovely sister that was tied to the front of the house! We all went inside and stayed up to 3am talking and catching up.

February 11, 2012 and June 9, 2012 are both two significant days I will never, ever forget, and each and every one of those 120 days in between are just as memorable. These past four months will be forever in my heart! Studying abroad is a journey everyone should take. Sure it's a resume builder, employers like to see it, and it may get you a better job one day, but most importantly, it brings you confidence, experience, fun, true friends, and memories that will last forever! So Australia, it's not goodbye but see ya later, mate! I will be back with HEAPS of places I want to see, friends I want to visit, and more memories to be made.

Cheers! 

XOXOXO

A Little Dust on the Bottle

The final countdown has officially begun. In exactly one week, I will be flying into BWI and running into my family's arms!

Together, us three girls have grown closer than imaginable.

I cannot believe how quickly the second half of my journey has passed. The experiences I've had, the new things I've tried and the friends I've made have turned these past four months into the adventure of a lifetime. Now I'm in the final stretch, and the feeling is bittersweet. But enough emotional rubbish for now! I can be soppy and reminisce the few weeks after I land in the States. 

As for my Aussie Adventures, I haven't had one major event to tell you about within the past few weeks, but now that it's time for me study for exams, I figure what better way to procrastinate than by blogging about all my recent mini-adventures! Plus, I need a distraction from the box of half-eaten Tim Tams I just devoured.

So first let me tell you about Hunter Valley Vineyard!  Two weekends ago, Danielle and I put our classy pants on and ventured to the Lovedale Long Lunch at Hunter Valley for a day of wine tasting and yummy food.

It was a beautiful Sunday morning, and we watched as groups of mothers and daughters, girlfriends, and families boarded the bus. Then to our pleasant surprise, the cast of Star Wars stepped on! I definitely thought they were on the wrong bus, but no, Chewbacca was more than ready for his wine and cheese. I was literally amazed as Luke Skywalker announced that hopefully Chewbacca wouldn't turn into Spew-bacca today. And no lie, Chewbacca complimented my hair as he sat behind me, petting me with his paws. They made the day quite interesting as the group skulled about six bottles of wine per vineyard; we visited four in total. From Storm Troopers dancing the robot,  Chewbacca stripping, the whole gang forming a drunken pileup and Princess Leia passing out on the bus ride home, Star Wars really kept Danielle and I entertained! They finally were kicked out at the last vineyard, but the security guard made sure to have them get together for a quick picture... too funny.

Photo credit: Danielle

Anyway, Danielle and I arrived at the first of four vineyards, wine tasting tickets in hand and relaxed in the lovely Sunday sun. The setup of white picnic tables, hay bales, chocolate stands, and live musicians was perfect. We listened to renditions of all the classic oldies, and of course, we sang along. The first vineyard, Sandalyn, featured Sandalyn Estate Chardonnay. I got the sparkling, but it wasn't particularly one of my favorites. Our bus driver then escorted us to Wandin Vineyard where Danielle and I both got the semi-sweet Wandin Valley  Semillon Sauvignon Blanc. This was my favorite of the day, and it went very well with the scrumptious lunch served. I was taken back to the States with the New England crab cakes served with spicy seafood Jambalaya. I was a little leery about trying crabs in Australia, you know, being a Marylander and whatnot and especially nervous due to my past experiences of Australian seafood! Those of you who read my "Attack of the Jumbo Prawns" post know exactly what I am talking about! But I was very surprised to find how good the meal was! We then hit two more vineyards before calling it a day, but before we left, we indulged in a decadent chocolate caramello cheesecake with vanilla bean creme anglaise that was to die for! The two of us had a wonderful girls' day out sipping wine, eating good food, sharing laughs, and telling stories about our loved ones at home. This will be a memory I cherish forever.

Dungeon corridor-- the best neighbours I could ever ask for

The next mini-adventure was TEDS second formal dinner of the semester. It's so weird to think back to our first dinner when we were only one week into our time here. It's really made a full circle. Once again, everyone worked the Harry Potter robes and dressed up for a "good" dinner in the dining hall. Actually, the food wasn't too bad this time.

Another pretty cool experience that I got to be a part of was the first game of the State of Origin rugby-league football series. Each year, Queensland and New South Wales go head-to-head in a best-of-three series. The two teams are considered one of sport's greatest rivalries. Edwards Hall had the cellar set up for all of us to get together and watch the match! I still don't know many of the rules of rugby, but it's sports nonetheless, so I definitely enjoyed myself. Rugby is a rough sport, so it was pretty fun getting caught up in the aggressiveness of the match. New South Wales, which is the team I'm supposed to be cheering for, lost for the seventh year in a row (I think), but they get a second chance in game two which is June 13, my birthday!  

The wonderful Walter!

The following night, still caught up in a sports high, a group of us went to the Newcastle Knights Rugby game. We huddled together inside Hunter Stadium. Yup, I'm in Australia and it's COLD! I was not prepared for this at all, and I do not appreciate all the Facebook statuses I see bragging about the 90 degree weather back at home! I deserve the torture though since I was doing nothing but sunbathing on white sandy beaches while all of you were trekking through white snowy pathways. But in exactly one week, I'll be back in the hot summer sun! Back to the rugby game. The Knights lost but it was another fun night out submersed in the Aussie culture that I've grown to love and will surely miss.

Well I don't have too much to look forward to this week besides exams and rainy weather, but Wednesday Tori and I will be going to Sydney with Danielle for her birthday and to see her off back to the States! Then two days later, it will be our turn to head back to Sydney for our looonnngggg flight home! It's time to get packing and shopping for souvenirs! I also have a special post coming up about a special Aussie, Chris the Awesome(great alias, I know), and all the adventures we went on together these past few weeks!

Hope everyone back home is enjoying the first week of June! Yesterday was the first day of winter here, which I am enjoying oh so much. Six days and I will be state-side again!

Cheers!