I have made it through my first week back in the U.S.A! Flew 14 hours from Sydney to LAX and then another 2 from LAX to PDX. My mom was awaiting my arrival (and thankfully left my welcome home sign at home as to not embarrass me too much [thank you dad for the recommendation!]), and I gave her the most pathetic, tired hug ever (sorry mom!). First thing I realized upon my arrival: jet lag SUCKS. I had no idea it would be so physically painful. I had a delicious home cooked meal, took the best shower in the world (normal water pressure?! a ledge to put my leg on to shave?! oh my!), unpacked, and PASSED OUT. HARD. FOR 15 HOURS. I think my body needed it? Yeah, I think so. Perhaps pushed it a bit too far during the last week or so, between studying for my final, packing, and saying my goodbyes out and about. The next day was less than fun-filled with doc appointments, rearranging my room, etc. and then not sleeping a wink. I paid for my 15 hour nap for sure. So I slept from about midnight-3am, which was fun since I had to get up for my first day of work at 6:30 am. I tried my best to get into a normal routine: waking up at 6:45, going to work, going to the gym after work, going to bed around 11. It definitely took a few days to get used to and I struggled hardcore to be my happy "Sunny" self at Camp, but I am finally sleeping through the night and eating normal healthy meals and feeling oh so much better! It's great to be back at Camp and seeing all the kiddos and make some much needed money, but its definitely exhausting and will take some time for me to be social on work nights and stay out past 10 pm, but I'm working on it! Not a ton of my friends are home this summer, but I have managed to see a few here and there. It's nice to be home with my family and look out at the gorgeous lake everyday, but I sure do miss Australia.
Some discoveries:
1. My internet works! YAYYY! No paying $80 a month for stupid Phil who refused to let me skype for more than 5 minutes without cutting out.
2. No more PB&J sandwiches and pasta!! Thank you to my wonderful mom for cooking such great meals and for helping me pack delicious lunches for work!
3. No more buses!! Wow, I sure did miss my car.
4. I can use my real phone! GPS/maps, shazam, email, you name it. Whenever I want. What a (pathetic) relief.
5. A big bed!! With a blackout shade and NO TARA CONSTRUCTION noise! I can roll around all I want and enjoy a peaceful sleep for hours on the weekends.
6. Things don't cost ridiculous amounts of money! A meal for under $20-revolutionary!
7. No TimTams :(
8. Still no summer weather :( :(
9. I appear to have packed on a few pounds abroad... but as a dear friend once told me, "If you didn't gain weight abroad, then you didn't have any fun!" Word.
10. Weird feelings of readjustment and change and trying to figure out how to live a normal life again
11. No beautiful Australian accent to listen to anymore (or beautiful Australians to look at anymore)-no "How ya goin'?" or "Cheers, mate!"
12. Missing my abroad friends and the beach like crazy
It was definitely harder to readjust to American life than I expected. I was thrown into Australian life immediately with no choice to be homesick or to sit down and be confused because we did tours and such all day long starting the second we got off the plane. But vice versa, I had all the time in the world to sit in my house and miss things and be confused, etc. Its normal to go through a bit of a reverse plunge re-entering America, and many of my friends are having similar feelings, but I am finally starting to feel like my normal self (well, a more mature, cultured version of myself, I suppose)-yay! I never imagined I would form such incredible friendships that will last a lifetime or would have such amazing travel experiences. I am SO happy I chose to study abroad in Australia and would highly recommend it for anyone. I grew up so much and learned things about myself and about life that I would not have learned elsewhere. I am so confident in my ability to life live on my own and conquer adversities because I was forced to do so in a completely different country half way across the world for five months. What a unique experience it was. Its funny thinking back to how lost I was when I first got there and how poised, self-assured, and happy I was during my last month or so there. I checked some insane things off my bucket list (skydiving, bridge climb, surfing, snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef, hike in the Australian Outback, etc.) and am impressed at how I truly lived life to the fullest while there. I learned how to budget money, how to cook, how to be honest with others and yourself, how to study and do well in a class that is only based on a midterm and a final, how to be open to new types of people and food and experiences, how to live without fear or regrets, to be thankful for everyday, and to always be 'you.' I think its safe to say I did not come home the same person I left. Yes, I am still me, but I feel that I have realized there is so much more to life than I used to know. I am SO thankful to my parents for letting me go off on this incredible journey and trusting in me the whole time that I would be okay. I am so thankful for all the amazing people I met along the way who made my entire experience worthwhile. I hope to someday go back to Aussieland because there is so much more to see and do! I have the travel bug in me now, and I can't stop! Who knows, perhaps there will be another travel blog in my future... stay posted!
This is the email we received from our program manager Thais upon arrival into the U.S.:
"A few months ago you stepped onto Australian soil, probably for the first time. A lot has happened over the past months, you’ve had to adjust to new accents, new classes, different styles of teaching and assessment, and living with a bunch of new people. You’ve worked out how to get the best deals for travel and accommodation, where every McDonalds is and where to get other favourite or necessary food; you’ve worked out where to spend your weekends and holidays. You’ve made new friends, some of whom will be friends forever; you’ve explored a new country (or two or three). Hopefully, somewhere in the middle of all the new experiences you’ll have found some time to study and you’ll get brilliant grades! Some of you will have missed your family and friends back home a lot and can’t wait to get back to the States; others of you maybe want to stay here a lot longer.
Whatever your experience has been, you’re not the same person as the one who arrived at the beginning of the semester. Your knowledge has expanded; some of your attitudes will have changed; how you view the States may have changed; how you view people and issues may have changed as well. For those of you who missed the farewell dinner, I've attached a booklet that has been created to help you think through some of the ways you may have changed and to give you some practical tips as you plan to go home. Most of the time abroad will be in your memories and in in your photos. Treasure them and share them . . .
Thanks for all fun times, it was a pleasure to be a part of your time in Australia. Take care, and all the best as you go back home.Thais :-)"
What an amazing woman-I couldn't have said it better myself. Cheers mates, its been quite a journey! Until next time... :)
