Morning run

Last night we got 12 hours of sleep, I think we both felt much more like ourselves after some much needed sleep. After we woke up we went for a run around the neighborhood. It's so humid and green, it reminds me a lot of Florida. We got back and had a nice surprise waiting for us. The door was locked and the Israeli guy Tom opened the door (did I mention that he's a 19 year old tan blonde professional triathlete whos here training for his off season. Who may or may not have been wearing his shirt when he opened the door ;)
Then we did a Nike ap workout and now we're going to get ready and to into the city to find cell phones!

We're here!

As I'm typing I'm sitting next to Kassidi and we are both chewing (aka choking down with a smile on our face because this adorable little girl brought them to us and is watching us eat them) our very own Vegemite sandwiches. Are we Australian or what? haha If you've never had the privilege of devouring your own tasty Vegemite sandwich, let me clue you in. Imagine the saltiest thing you've ever eaten, times that by 10, mix it into a paste, make it brownish black, spread it on bread and ta da! Vegemite sandwich.   

Anyway I was going to start this post where Kassidi left off, soooo John picks us up from the airport and drives us to his family's house. Three things are important to note. One. I am sitting in the drivers side BUT I am not driving. Two. It is HOT and HUMID. Three. Everything is beautiful and green! 

We're not in Utah anymore ha.

After packing our things into their house we met his wife Lisa and their three adorable little daughters. (Fun side note, they are also hosting a Chinese girl, a Japanese girl, and a Israeli boy.) Then we put on our swimsuits (ahem called "bathers" here) and went outside and swam in their pool with Lisa and her daughters. It was SO much fun, and the cool water felt absolutely fantastic. 

Later we had some lunch and Lisa drove us into town to pick up a few things from a grocery store and gave us a tour of the area. I'm going to love it here. :) I added a bunch of pictures that we took of the park, trees, shops, streets, and anything else that I saw and snapped a picture of while we were exploring. It's an ideal place to live because there are shops, restaurants, a park, a movie theatre, etc all within walking distance. And if we want to get to the city we can take buses, a ferry, or a catamaran. (Brisbane's built around a river that winds through the city). 

We got smoothies from a shop (.... which weren't smoothies. Not sure what they were but it was closer to milky juice than a smoothie). While we were waiting for our smoothies I snapped a picture of the cute sign (the live your dreams one) in the shop and this lady freaked out on us for taking a picture! Sheeeeesh she chewed us out. Evidently it's illegal. SORRY, but if it hadn't taken thirty minutes to make us a smoothie that wasn't even a smoothie, maybe we wouldn't have gotten bored and taken a picture. Aside from that, everyone else we met was really nice. 

We got onto a plane in winter, and got off the plane in summer. It's like paradise here. Hot weather, hot accents... ;) what more could a girl want? haha  Really though we got lucky. The family w'ere staying with is fantastic, the suburb of Brisbane is just what we wanted, and we can't wait to go to our convention in a few days. 

I'm tired! Tired is an understatement. Exhausted. Drained. Slightly delusional. Haha. I think we're going to to watch the rest of our Modern Family episode and take a nap. Then maybe go out again tonight. We'll see :) 

Enjoy the pictures!

                        

Can't think of a title. One word, JET LAG! haha

With passports in hand, we get ready to set out for our adventures in the land down under! With Allyson's excitement and my butterflies, because this is my first time living in a different country, we said our tearful goodbyes to our loved ones and hurried away so I wouldn't cry anymore! Then...it was waiting time! First plane ride was to Phoenix, where we got offered drugs! And then off to LAX... Dot.dot.dot.

-Cute Christmas tumbleweed we found at the SLC airport! You know you are from Utah when...;)

By the time we finally find our gate, our tummies are hungry so we decide to find some dinner. We grab yummy turkey sandwiches with apples on it and return to our seats! My wonderful boyfriend tells me to drink lots and lots and lots of water, so I try to find a water fountain for my COLD water bottle. I finally ask the guy who helped us with dinner if he'd fill it up. After waiting for about five minutes, he hands it back to me filled with boiling HOT water and says "be careful, I've already burned myself about four times!" What...?! All I could do was walk away so he couldn't see my busting up in laughter! Ally and I died laughing!

We finally boarded our 17 hour flight to Australia! The flight attendants were amazing and took
The best of care of us! We had yummy food, watched super good movies, and tried to sleep! ..in every position we could try! When we spotted land, Ally and I watched with excited eyes! With our amazing good looks after traveling for two days---because we will never live December 26th, 2011--- we spotted our Austrian family! Yay!! Let the memories begin...:)

Officially GRADUATED as of... an hour ago!

So... I woke up this morning feeling... well, kinda nervous! My last and final test was today at noon! Then I started thinking.. this is it! I will be graduated from Westminster College and moving on with my life!....Can you say NERVE WRACKING?! I was definitely feeling it! What I didn't think about was the feeling I was going to get after I finished and gave my professor my test! Relief. Excitement. A little saddness. But finally--Relaxation! What did I do first? Of course I updated my facebook status and for the first time.... Added my count down to Australia at the end of it! NINE days! But until Christmas comes, I will be enjoying the little time I have left with my family, friends, and with Scott! Loving every minute of it! :) <3

<-----Cute little graduation bear...with Westmini's colors!

Countdown!

10 days until we drive to the airport! Does it seem real yet? Nope, not at all ha. 4 finals down and 1 to go. Then I somehow will manage to pack up everything and move out of my apartment, spend a fantastic week at home with my family, and then pack up again and fly to Australia with my best friend in the whole world Kassidi. 

p.s. How convenient is it that my Australia countdown is ALSO the countdown for Christmas? So just pretend Christmas is crossed out and stick Australia in and this picture is perfect. (no making fun of the Santa, I LIKE the Santa haha) :)