Sydney-LAX

I survived the flight from Sydney to LA, I am getting pretty used to this long flights.  Unfortunately I did not sleep AT ALL this time around which was not cool.  I just can never get comfortable on them.  I even forced myself to drink wine hoping that would tire me out but it didn’t do the trip.  I did get to watch a couple of movies and even some Modern Fam episodes, one of which I never saw (how did that happen!).  Finished my book so I feel like I definitely accomplished something.  The food on these flights is seriously amazing.  I got a lunch/dinner and then breakfast and since I had to get a special meal for allergies they bring out my food first so I literally feel like a VIP.  You get a little goody bag with snacks and stuff during the flight as well.  The flight always sounds so long and daunting (14 hours) but it really does seem to go pretty fast once you are up in the air and I am always so surprised when they announce that its time to land already.

Landing at LAX is probably the worst part, its such a HUGE airport with so many international flights landing around the same time.  I got my hustle on after getting off the flight and was one of the first in line at customs, apparently there weren’t many Americans on the flight because I was second in line on that side.  Grabbed my bags, which were sooo heavy and hard to get on the cart (last time some men helped me but no men around today).  Then, I had to drop my bags and find the next terminal to go to, where I asked about three different people to help me because the signs were not clear, and it was early, and I was a bit out of it still.  I had like 3 hours to kill so I got some snacks (wasn’t sure what to eat considering I ate breakfast at 3:30 AM and now its 8 AM and I want lunch.  Saw HELEN HUNT buying gum and water with her daughter at one of the shops.  Wanted so badly to say something, but I was in a bad mood and didn’t want to cause a scene.  Now I can finally say I got my celeb sighting.  I’m also pretty sure I saw some sort of athlete I am going to say a basketball player judging by the body type.  He was so tall, pretty skinny, sunglasses, and had some pretty fancy luggage.  Wanted to stalk him but thought that wouldn’t quite be appropriate.

Goodbye my lover goodbye my friend

And here I am on the plane making my way back to Chicago.  The long distance relationship with Australia has started all over again.  I thought it would be easier this time but it is ten times harder as all my relationships with people have grown stronger and I have met even more amazing people that I will never forget.  Thank you to everyone who  made me feel so welcomed and at home.  I am about to get really emotional and really don’t want to cry on the plane so I will leave it at that.  I know that I will always have a special bond with this country and will not be able to stop going back.  I am already looking at my calendar trying to find the best time to go back. 

Things I will miss most about Australia:

-the amazing accents and slang words that people use…hopefully I don’t try many of them in America

-attempting to do an Aussie accent when all that comes out is British

-slow cook dinners that Freddie made for me

-night time chats with sis

-baking yummy gluten free desserts and learning new recipes from my fellow GF mum

-cover bands at every bar

-and of course all the people…you know who you are!

Things I am looking forward to in America:

-MY CAR!!!

-cheap prices

-family, especially BROOKIE!

-friends, so excited for nights out in Chicago while its still warm

-summer weather

-internet on my phone again

Professional Bush Walker

I was actually relived to not have to work my last day in Berowra, its always nice to make money but I wanted to be able to do whatever and not have a schedule.  I woke up and it was beautiful out!  About 21 degrees Celsius AND the sun was shinning so I had to go for my last run, which I got to do in shorts and a tee shirt, remember it’s the dead of winter over there right now.  I almost got hit by a car, while technically I did get hit but luckily I put my arm out and it protected me.  I still have a hard time figuring out which way to look when crossing the road especially at those round-a-bots which are always confusing.

After all the food I ate before I felt I needed a lot of exercise (especially because I would bit sitting on a plane for the next 24 hours).  Emily and I decided to go for a different bush walk, this one at a well known national park in the area.  This walk was even MORE intense and I was a little nervous halfway through, especially when it started to rain and we still had to walk all the way back up.  The cool thing about the bush walks is you start in neighborhoods and then somehow you end up really low near water.  You cannot see the water or really even know its there when you start the walk but after lots of steps and winding its just there.  We had a great walk and it was wonderful to get last minute bonding time in together.

Walking buddy

Huge pelican....and his/her poop

A walking we shall go...

The dreaded day came where I had to say bye to my favorite Aussie boys.  Honestly these boys have proved to me that there still are nice guys out there who do really care for you.  You boys are some of the nicest, most thoughtful, and caring people I have ever met!  I miss you all already!

My brilliant American mind thought it would be a wonderful idea to go for a bush walk or something active rather than the standard meeting in the city for some over priced meal.  Then we decided to make a BBQ of it, but this BBQ did not include burgers like the standard American ones do.  But the food was still amazing and of course we had way too much.

Back to the bushwalk (which is walking in the bush pronounced like “boosh” sometimes there are dirt pathways, sometimes there aren’t, sometimes there are bugs and animals, sometimes theres a million steep steps when you thought it was all downhill, it can be pretty unpredictable you get the idea).  Anyways while living in Berowra I was always hearing about this bushwalk that goes down to Berowra Waters, which is a little river that you would never expect to be there.  Anyways the hike/walk/whatever you want to call it was pretty intense and we did not look like professionals like some of the intense people with backpacks, sticks, and hiking shoes looked (although Ben tried to make his own walking stick but that’s another story).

Kitcheners!

Bush walking crew

Sorta my backyard

Self timer at its finest

Getting close to the bottom

After dinner we all sat around the table for hours, laughing up a storm.  My host parents couldn’t believe that there was never a silent moment the entire day.  The group gets along so well and we constantly make fun of one another but each of us takes the others sarcasm well and laughs it off.

Leaving with a bang

This weekend I had my last night out in Sydney.  We finished the night off at my new favorite bar "The Crowie" where they had an amazing cover band playing.  I think I have already commented on the fact that so many bars here have cover bands and I absolutely love them.  This band was by far the best I have heard yet and Elyse and I sang and danced the night away right up with the band.  I finished the night off with an Aussie kebab and it was definitely a successful last night out!  I will miss going out with all these girls and how much fun we have out together!

I whip my hair back n forth

Farwell BPS

Last week I had my last days of substitute teaching at Berowra Public School.  I went back to my duties as the librarian and taught the kids all about Cadel Evans.  For those of you who have no idea who I am talking about, he just won the Tour De France and was the first Australian to do so.  He was also one of the oldest.  According to the kids he has a major "butt chin" and they really couldn't get passed this after I showed photos and video footage of them. (at least they can put a name to the face though right?)

I also subbed in second grade, which was probably my favorite day at school yet!  I definitely prefer the younger grades and think second might be my favorite.  I had a minor freak out when I got to school that day and realized that the teacher left NOTHING for me, no plans, no worksheets, nothing.  But I survived and was able to be creative and use my own ideas and basically do whatever I want, which made for a really fun day.  It's days like these that remind me why I want to be a teacher!

After school when I was on bus duty one of the parents came up to me.  She heard my accent and asked "Are you Miss Alley?"  Of course I said yes and she proceeded to tell me all about how much her kids have talked about me and how much they have loved learned about America. (I guess she was a little confused when they brought home pictures of the American flag and state map)  But the best part of all was when she said that her kids were so confused how a "teenager" was able to teach them.  So apparently I look like a teenager and all the kids are so confused as to how I have graduated school and am a "real" teacher.

I am really going to miss BPS and feeling like a celebrity to the kids there.  Hopefully some of them will come visit me in America someday!!!!

Proud Sister

Host sissy got elected SCHOOL CAPTAIN!!!  Which is basically the American version of school president.  So so proud of her and so happy that I was able to attend her induction ceremony.  Front room VIP seats!  I was literally beaming and smiling like a proud sister during her speech.  I love being able to live through a 16 year old again and am going to miss my Aussie sister so much!

How adorable is the little tie?

My lovely Australian family!

Lauryn attends an all girls high school (same sex schools are very common here) High school is grades 7-12.  It was crazy seeing so many teenage girls and I could not believe how short some of their skirts were!  Everyone looked adorable in their cute little uniforms.

Lauryn and my attempt to make a dairy free gluten free jumbo cupcake!