A Farewell to Australia

            Well my friends, the time has come. The time where I look for the last time upon the beautiful Australian landscape, take my last breath of the now familiar Aussie air and take my first step on the plane to take me back home.  Although, now that the time has come, it almost feels like I am leaving home in a way. I have made so, so many memories here and the friends I have made here are some amazing relationships I feel are only just getting started but I know are here to last for a lifetime. 

Getting an early morning send-off as I get ready to board my 5:30 am flight,
the first of many on my journey back to the States

            It would be impossible for me to name all the people that have made this experience beyond anything I ever expected and I fear that I would incidentally leave someone out! But if you are reading this, even if we maybe only met once or had only a couple conversations, you played a part in this experience that I know has changed me for the better and this entry is for you.

Overlooking Townsville from atop Mt. Stuart as we await the coming sunset

            When I first began the planning steps of this trip, I knew that it was going to be one to challenge me, to push me to my limits, to grow me in ways that no other experience could have and to change me into someone that would hopefully set me more on the path for wherever God is taking me.  I can tell you now that I am not the same person I was when I said goodbye to my home in Oregon just 6 months ago.  I have grown in ways that I didn’t even know I could and I have so much more confidence in so many things.

Driving on the left (*cough**cough* wrong) side of the road for the first time

             I have learned to live more independently through this and it has opened my eyes to see another side of God’s character and not just the way God sees other people, but also the way people see me.  I don’t think I have ever felt so loved or a part of something so big as I did here!  It touched me to the point of tears to see the way that people commented incredulously at my leaving “so soon,” the friendships I have made here showing evidence that they are here to last for years to come.  I know it will not be the same, but I certainly look forward to keeping in contact with all my Aussie friends via Skype, email, Facebook and well, whatever else there is!

Lodge dinner!

            I have learned a whole heap of things in my time living here, from finding out the right way of eating Wheatbix (Never Eat Soggy Wheatbix I am told) to learning that “hey” is an acceptable way to end pretty much any sentence, hey. I now know what real Vegemite tastes like and that it’s a taste I don’t know if I could ever get use to! Sorry...  I have learned firsthand that koalas smell funny and that wombats are some dense little creatures.

            I have discovered that though Australia doesn’t really have anything called a skunk, flying foxes almost nearly fill that niche, with the smell aspect at any rate.  I have definitely developed a taste for Milo and kangaroo and I may or may not have bought and packed a giant tin of the first to take back to the States with me! Though the later I doubt I could get anywhere but Australia...
            I have been taught a whole heap of things in relation to rugby and I could probably honestly admit to you that I have learned to quite enjoy it now.  It’s nothing like American football at all and it’s a sport that I might just keep up on after heading back to the States!

            I have learned just how many kangaroo, wallaby and wallaroo type creatures there are and that no matter where you go, you are likely to find them in one form or another.

             Australia is not all this barren wasteland of red dirt and deadly critters that some people normally think of when they think of Australia.  Some of it is I guess, but not everything is out to kill you and it’s a land I could definitely envision staying in if that was my calling.

Completing the hike up Glacier Rock and taking in the overlook of the beautiful city of Cairns 

            This journey has given me an even broader perspective of the world around me and has helped me fall in love with yet another part of this world in which we live.  It seems to be the case every time I travel, and everywhere I go I leave a little piece of me behind. But I think it's safe to say that Australia has definitely gained a bigger piece. I will sorely miss the people and experiences I have grown accustomed to here and yes, I will even miss getting the micky taken out of everything I say and do!

            This will probably be my final blog entry as the intent here was to write about my trip to Australia which will have ended by the time I get this entry up.  I really want to thank you all so much for keeping up with these entries. I have really enjoyed writing them and I really do hope that those of you that kept up have enjoyed reading them as well.  Many have told me I should keep a blog going despite the fact that this one will be ending but, I don’t know. We’ll see I guess J.

Typical Aussie foods that any traveler into the land down under should always try...

Lamington - A sponge cake coated in chocolate sauce then rolled in coconut.  

Jelly slice - The bottom layer is a cookie crumb not dissimilar to crushed Graham crackers,then a layer of a condense milk mixture, then a layer of red Jello like stuff. 

Milo - If you don't like it to begin with don't worry, you will.  It grows on you :). It's like this chocolate malt powder not quite as sweet as hot chocolate mix that is best eaten either dissolved in hot milk, eaten off the top of cold milk, or sprinkled over ice cream. I wouldn't waste time mixing it with water though, it's just not the same...

Tim Tams - Kind of like this chocolate biscuit filled with chocolate and coated in chocolate.  We have them here in the States you know! And you definitely need to try a Tim Tam Slam which is biting the ends off both sides then drinking milk (or coffee, of Milo, of hot chocolate) through it then eating it.

Kangaroo - Tastes sort of like rabbit and deer combined but definitely has it's own distinct and gamey flavor.

Corcodile - I don't even know how to describe this one.  Just eat it.

ANZAC biscuits - A traditional cookie made with rolled oats, flour, coconut, and golden syrup.  But you need to make it yourself because the store bought ones just aren't the same as home baked ones!

Fish N' Chips - I really hope you all know what this is

Pavlova - It's like this meringue-based dessert with a crisp crust and a soft and fluffy inside.  Usually eaten with fresh fruit.

Weet-Bix - It's like this breakfast biscuit that looks like flakes of wheat squished together. I typically had them for breakfast with milk and sugar or honey.  But never eat them soggy! That's just sacrilege. 

Vegemite - Um yeah, of course!