“Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life.”

It’s that time….. 
I can’t believe it’s actually been four and a half months. I am sitting in the International Terminal at SYD reflecting on the many memories, fun times, and amazing people I’ve met here along my study abroad journey. It seems as though I just stepped off the plane at the end of my 37 hours of traveling, exhausted and unsure of what the next few months were going to hold for me. Going in, I hoped that the month-on-end planning and excitement for my semester abroad would all be worth it. I’ll admit I had my ups and downs while I was here, but then God showed me the light and others encouraged me to “do me” and ultimately everything turned out for the better. Looking back, every single second and spontaneous breathtaking moment, the incredible places I was able to see, the friends for a lifetime I made, the pictures I took, the memories I made…. everything was worth it. This was honestly the greatest decision of my life I have ever made thus far, and I know it will be something I look back on and smile. It is difficult to leave my AUS family behind, but I find comfort in knowing that we will meet again someday when we travel the world to each other if it is God’s will. I also find ultimate comfort in knowing that my loving family and friends are waiting for me on the other side of the world with wide open arms full of love and happiness. If there’s one thing that study abroad taught me (there were many things of course), it’s that no matter where you go, no matter the culture, no matter who you meet, everyone can teach you something, they were put into your life for a reason and a season. Some come and go, but there will always be someone who loves and cares for you just the way you are no matter what. I found these beautiful, caring people who loved me as family and treated me as such, and I will never be the same after having them in my lives. We may be across the world in distance, but our hearts will always be near and you’ll always be my family. As far as Australia, you’ve shown me some incredible and breathtaking views, and Sydney has shown me how to have fun and be spontaneous, and try new things. I have endless memories from this trip that I know will stay vivid in my mind for the rest of my life. Australia will forever hold half of my heart. My mind has never been so conflicted. My home lies in two opposite places in the world, in two different hemispheres. I feel that I will never be satisfied in the place I currently am. This is the curse of the traveler, but I know I will return someday. Hopefully very soon. 
I want to thank family and friends back home who have gotten me through stressful times while being here, and also to those who have kept close tabs on me, following my journey along with me. Your comments and positive encouragement meant the world to me and I’ll never be able to thank you enough. I have one of the greatest support systems a girl could ask for. I can’t wait to hug you all and tell you all of my stories in detail!
As far as this blog goes, I am dreadfully sorry that I seriously slacked in updating it this semester. Time got away from me as it does all of us. Schoolwork piled up, and I was busy making my semester abroad the best it possibly could have been. My plan, since I am on summer vacation now, is to go back through social media, my pictures, etc., and recreate the memories one at a time and write about them on my blog for all interested. Finishing this blog and my experiences is not only for your benefit, but for mine as well… to keep my memories alive and record them in time. I hope you can be patient with me as I go through this process this summer when I have free time. This definitely didn’t work out the way I wanted it to, but I will be making up for lost time. 

The time has come…. it’s time for me to board my plane to Los Angeles soon. We have long flights ahead. Plenty of time for nostalgia and reminiscence. Another chapter closes as another begins. Goodbye Sydney/Australia. You’ll forever have my heart! Thanks for the unforgettable memories. I can’t wait to come back again someday!

Thank  You for reading! I’m sure I’ll see YOU soon!
♥

-Andi Lynn 

 

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“Something in Human Nature Causes Us to Start Slacking Off at Our Moment of Greatest Accomplishment”

My dear family and friends:

I am so very terribly sorry that I have been seriously slacking on my end when it comes to posting blog updates. 1 month is just ridiculous… This is exactly what I wanted NOT to happen. But, I guess when you’re living in the moment, time sort of slips away from you, and you’ve got to take opportunities when they arise. I’ve been doing exactly that, living in the moment, and enjoying every second of it. I have been super busy with loads of school work and living the dream, and though I wish I had more time to write my experiences, I don’t regret seizing the day one bit. For this long Easter weekend some new friends and I (other American study abroad girls) decided we had to visit Melbourne before we headed back to the states, so we are doing just that. We are spending this entire weekend exploring all that Melbourne, and other parts of Victoria (country region) have to offer. We landed this morning in Melbourne around 7:30 am after a very early morning, and extremely late night. So far I feel like I’ve been up for days, and it’s only roughly 1pm. We have done a little exploring already, and I’ve already fallen in love with this city! Amazing. We have many exciting things planned for this weekend and I can’t wait to share pictures and stories with you all! More incredible details to come later, but I wanted to check in to let my dedicated readers know that I haven’t forgotten about posting! Though I promised for short and sweet posts from now on, I’m afraid that too many exciting events and pictures have accumulated, making it impossible for me to post less than every single detail of my life. I hope you enjoy the next post that is to come! After my trip and a very long 2,500 word essay that’s due next Wednesday (shoot me), I promise to delve into my writing and produce one heck of a study abroad blog post for you all! My mother has informed me that some people have been questioning her about when the next post is going to be, and I assure you, you will get your fix! Be on the lookout for the next chapter of my experience! I have a feeling you’re going to love it! (probably not as much I have loved living it, but it’s the closest you’ll get, and that’s my aim: to help you live vicariously through me ;] ) Thinking of all my loved ones and friends back home often! You push me to live my dreams!

My apologies!
God Bless ❤

-Andi Lynn

(On top of the world, and all smiles ❤ Bondi Beach/Coastal Walk 3.19.13)