5 months in 500 words

This blog post is going to be a summary of all the places I went, the things I saw, the things I did, and how I've changed in Australia. I was really excited to do this post because it really gives me a chance to look back and appreciate all the amazing experiences I had. I wouldn't trade it for anything. Here goes!

Where I Went

• Sydney
• The Blue Mountains
• Gold Coast-Surfers Paradise, Burleigh Heads, Coolangata, Currumbin
• Byron Bay
• Nimbin
• Brisbane
• Binna Burra
• The Australia Zoo
• Sunshine Coast-Rainbow beach, Noosa, Fraser Island, Whitesundays Islands, White Haven Bach
• Melbourne

Things I Saw

• Sydney Opera House/Bridge
• Aboriginal Performance
• Little old ladies selling "special cookies"
• A koala in the wild
• A huntsman spider
• Several snakes, including a python
• Lizards
• The mice living in our apartment
• Dolphins, sea turtles
• The Great Barrier Reef-cool fish, stingray, shark
• A dingo
• All different types of birds that make the worst noises in the world
• Brisbane botanical gardens
• Melbourne street art
• The caves in Noosa
• Mt. Warning volcano
• Natural water slide (springbrook falls)
• The Melbourne Aquarium
• Sunrises/sunsets on multiple beaches
• An AFL game
• The rainforest
• Crowne Casino in Melbourne
• Brisbane Music Festival-lazer light show

Things I Did

• Boat dinner cruise in Sydney
• Paddle-boarding
• White water rafting
• Zip lining
• High ropes course
• Hiking in the rainforest
• Kayaking
• Snorkeling
• Skydiving
• Bungee jumping
• Giant swing
• Cliff jumping
• Slept on the beach under the stars
• Musical bingo
• Drove on the other side of the road
• Longboarding
• Learned to cook
• Spooned a kangaroo
• Fed a big tropical fish
• Ate Kangaroo, tried vegemite (ew), Tim Tams=YUM
• Went to a couch surfing BBQ-met Canadian and Irish travelers
• Went up on skydeck in Melbourne and saw the city lit up from the 80th floor
• Held a koala

Did I Change?

My friend Gracie asked Cierra and I if we thought we had changed. I don't think I've changed that much, but I will have to see when I get home if people tell me I'm different. I have however noticed some things about myself:

• I am a lot braver than I thought-I mean I like roller coasters, and always knew I wanted to skydive, but I NEVER thought I would be brave enough to bungee jump or cliff jump. When did I turn into this person who wasn't afraid at all whatsoever to jump out of a plane or off a bridge or into dark unfamiliar waters? Or drive on the other side of the road?
• I am also a lot more mentally strong than I thought-I thought I would be really homesick all the time here but I actually adjusted fairly quickly.
• Which leads me to my next point...I definitely want to travel more. I always knew I wanted to travel, but it was more of an abstract thought that everyone has. I would even consider traveling alone, which before this experience I definitely never would have considered. 
• I am much more carefree-At home I worried a lot and was stressed out often, but the Australian "no worries" lifestyle has definitely taken over. This especially shows by my lack of concern when my apartments dishes are piled to the ceiling, and there are mice in our rooms.
• I'm also much more positive than I used to be-every situation here that wasn't so desirable, I was able to find the good in it and just focus on having a good time.
• Lastly, I'm much more appreciative-of America, of my parents, of my school, of my hometown, etc.

What will I do for the next few days?

• Spend every moment with the friends I've made and don't want to leave
• Cry
• Soak up every bit of sun I can get before returning to a freezing cold wasteland
• Try to find a job back home (I came here with $6500...I now have less than $500).

Thanks for reading and following me on this journey!

Dana