Where has the time gone?!

I have officially finished classes at Sydney Uni! woohoo!!!!! This week was the last week of class, next week we have "study" break, and then the following two weeks are for final exams. I have a music listening test this coming Tuesday, and then on Wednesday I am leaving to go to Fraser Island and Hervey Bay with Ashley and Sarah for a few days. I am so excited that everything school wise is winding down! School was tougher than I expected, but there was not as much day to day work which made it much less stressful. Grading here is much harder and weighted differently, so it will be interesting to see how that turns out. But no worries, I tried my best and worked hard, so I should be good to go!

It's been an awesome experience to go to a big school for a semester, but I am really looking forward to going back to my small campus at Hope. It's weird to think that just three and a half months ago I had NO idea what Australia would be like, and now I am here and have gotten to know Sydney so well. It's sad to think that my study abroad experience that I have waited for for literally 3 years, is now coming to an end. It's been quite an adventure to say the least, but through all of the good and tough times, I have really grown up and learned more about myself. It's really amazing to me how living in another country for a few months really opens your eyes to the world. It's such a big place with so many different people from different cultures, backgrounds, and beliefs. It's stretched me so much from my comfort at Hope College and in St. Charles, and I couldn't be more thankful for it.

I have finals on November 17 and 20, and then I leave also on the 20th (a crazzy day!) for New Zealand. My final is scheduled from 9:00-11:10, so when it is over I will probably be jumping up and down because that means that school is offically over for 2008, and more importantly, I will be on my way to what I've heard is the most beautiful country I will ever see. I fly out of Sydney at 4:30, so between packing up my life and going to the airport, it should be an experience!Aussie is incredible and I will be sad to leave it, especially because I have so so many great memories here. BUT...all good things must come to an end I guess, and I couldn't be more excited to really unleash my adventurous spontaneous self in Queenstown--bungy jumping, jet boating, luging, zorbing, biking, and hiking. woohooo!!

I hope all is going well back home in IL and MI. Thank you for your continued prayers and for keeping in touch. I will still be posting some more before I get back on Dec. 7 to the States, so please keep reading :) Love you lots!!!!

xxx Megs