So I think this will probably be my last entry, unless I randomly decide to update again after my brother and I go on our annual skiing trip to Squaw Valley, California. It's been really fun updating this blog from home too, since I've gotten into so much of a pattern of doing it over the past few months. Each one of my visits to friends has been unique, and Dallas was no exception. I admit that I probably wouldn't go to Texas of my own accord, but having not seen Taylor for two and a half YEARS was more than [View Full Entry]

---

---

So, on Friday morning, I headed to the airport to go from NYC to Montreal. (For some reason, the way I had booked the flights, I had a stopover in Philly...which took extra time, but whatever, I think it was cheaper.) When I got there around 5 pm it was SNOWING and I was incredibly excited. Of course, this meant it took extra time to get into Montreal, but it looked so beautiful I didn't really care. Also, I was amazed upon landing and realizing that this was literally the first time I have ever been to a country where there [View Full Entry]

---

---

So as most of you probably know, I am back in the US. It's weird that I've only been back for a little more than two weeks because it feels like so much longer! I have the good fortune of being really happy wherever I am, so even though it was really hard to leave Australia, it is SO good to be home. Plus, I still am doing a whole bunch of traveling, which is why I feel totally justified in still updating this blog. :) First, I went to Duke, which was amazing because I got to see everyone! The [View Full Entry]

---

---

For my last morning here, I wanted to do something memorable, so I decided to get up at 5 am to watch the sun rise over the Opera House. It was so odd to see the city practically asleep as I headed up to Circular Quay on the bus - only a couple places were open and there was no traffic at all. I am now sitting the Rocks side of the Harbour, with only seagulls, pigeons, and annoying flies for company. Unfortunately, there is cloud cover right now, but the wind is shifting them, so I’m going to just stay [View Full Entry]

---

---

So my first final was a couple days ago, I have two finals next week (Monday and Wednesday), and then I LEAVE on Thursday. I am kind of in shock right now that pretty much everything I am doing, I am doing it for the last time. I went to Paddy's and the Rocks markets yesterday for the last time, the Glebe markets today for the last time...this is my LAST WEEKEND here. I can not even believe it. Unfortunately, the weather has been COLD and rainy, but of course, today, the day when I have decided to buckle down and [View Full Entry]

---

---

I would just like to take a moment to explain how finals work at Sydney Uni as opposed to Duke. Duke: Friday - classes end The weekend + Monday - FRANTIC STUDY TIME FOR EVERYTHING Tuesday- finals begin, lasting through Sunday Merri's schedule - normally includes three finals three days in a row; other people's schedules often have two finals per day (each three hours) and often three in just 27 hours! Worth - 30 to 40 percent of final grade in class Sydney Uni: Friday - classes end Saturday to following Sunday - study vacation, fondly known as STUVAC! :) [View Full Entry]

---

---

Continuation of the Melbourne trip: Sunday morning, I woke up at the nice late hour of 10:30, ready to go exploring for the day! My goal was the Queen Victoria Markets, the biggest and most famous open air market in Melbourne. Since the tram system had kind of annoyed me, I just ended up walking around everywhere for the rest of the trip, so that was a lot of walking. But I truly think the best way to explore these cities is totally on foot if you have the energy (which obviously I do, since I am like a power explorer…haha), [View Full Entry]

---

---

Wow. I have had yet another set of absolutely INSANE days. For those of you who want the short version, the highlights of my life in the past week: - Classes ended! And they ended WELL! - Some of my best guy friends from Duke came to visit (they’re studying in Townsville which is a couple hours north by plane from here) and it was CRAZY. - I went to MELBOURNE! And… - Stayed in an incredible hotel - Saw people from New Zealand! - Explored a beach suburb - Went to some museums - Generally pampered myself (i.e. bath, hot [View Full Entry]

---

---

Wow, this weekend has been SO relaxing and amazing. Just what I needed after a totally not stressful life. Well, maybe last week was slightly stressful, with preparation for these final projects and quizzes and the like, but it's nothing like DUKE stressful...haha. Anyway, now that I have less than four weeks here (????!!!!?????), I have switched into HIGH GEAR shopping and exploring Sydney mode. I feel like for the rest of my time here, I'm basically going to be treating this like a full-scale vacation (minus the finals). I am trying to find just the right souvenir for everyone so [View Full Entry]

---

---

Just wanted to do a quick entry to say how GREAT it is to be back here for a time period of more than a week! The last time I was here for a full weekend in Sydney was a full month ago, which is pretty crazy. I am really glad this week is over, too...unfortunately, it had to end with a GROSS quiz in Mechanical Design (aka worst class ever), but you know what, I only have two days more of that class and then I am done with it FOREVER. And even though I was in a pretty bad [View Full Entry]

---

---