Great Ocean Road & Lorne orientation weekend.

So as an exclusive trip for study abroad/exchange students studying at Victoria University, we were whisked away the weekend before semester started to Lorne, which is a almost right at the bottom tip of Australia.

Day 1
Living near Uni definitely has its perks. We were picked up from campus at 9am and drove for about an hour to visit Bell's Beach where the final scene in Point Break is set (not actually filmed). After a Subway lunch we got back on the bus and headed to the next beach to start our surfing lesson!

Bell's Beach! 

Surfing is so much harder than it looks. Just trying to get out into the sea with your surfboard is a workout and a half. When the instructors gave me a push off I managed to get up onto the board on my knees (I managed to stand up once and fell off instantly). It was so much fun and i'd love to give it a go again.

In our wetsuits ready to surf!

Next stop was our accommodation; a cute hostel that was styled a bit like a treehouse. It even had a hammock. Needless to say I fell in love with this hammock. We then had a couple of hours to bagsy a bed and get ready for the evening meal and night out. After the food we went back to the hostel to pre drink and then we all wandered down together to the club. Obviously after a few drinks everyone became very sociable so it was great to get to talk to so many different nationalities and get to know other people going to our University.

Day 2
After a quick breakfast, we all got ready for the day and headed to a field where we learned to play Aussie Rules Football. Me and some of the other girls hadn't had a brilliant night's sleep so we were pretty exhausted, and after trying out a few different warm up drills with the footballs we decided to sit out and watch whilst the others played a friendly game.
After a pretty disappointing fish and chips for lunch, myself and another friend went back to the hostel for a nap (I had my beloved hammock) and almost ended up missing the afternoon hike through the Great Otway National Park & the Surf Coast Walk! Luckily we made it just in time. After seeing some incredible views and a Koala's butt...

...we made it back to the hostel and had a well earned rest before going back out again for dinner. This time we decided not to go out afterwards, we were all far too exhausted for another one! Most of the girls in my dorm stayed at the hostel and chilled out with snacks and card games.

Day 3
After packing up and getting on the bus, we went for a drive along the Great Ocean Road and the views were beautiful.

The beautiful views on the Great Ocean Road.

After a while we stopped for lunch and we had the opportunity to go in a helicopter for $95 to see the 12 Apostles. Going in a 'choppa' is on my bucket list so of course I decided to do it.

On the choppa!

It was then back on the bus and we made our way to Loch Ard Gorge. I went for a paddle in the sea just when a wave crashed in and wet my bum, oops. We got a big group picture then headed back up to the bus to go see London Bridge.

London Bridge.

Finally it was time to get on the bus one last time and make our way back home. It was such a good weekend where I met so many lovely people. At first the majority of us got onto the bus complete strangers but when we got back on the bus to come home, we had so many new friends from all over the world.
The next exchange students trip is a cruise party next week!
𝕒𝕟𝕟𝕒𝕓𝕖𝕝

Onwards & upwards.

I'm not going to be blogging here every single day, but a lot of people have asked me to keep them updated with what i'm getting up to and this is probably the easiest (and cheapest) way to do that.
After my mini meltdown yesterday, there wasn't really a way for anything to get worse.
(I lie, I could've lost my luggage and money and basically had nothing). So when I woke up on my second day I had a bit of a more positive outlook on my time here. I'm missing my family a hell of a lot, and after a few phone calls with each of them this morning (last night for them), I got myself up and dressed and went outside. It was a bit overcast yesterday, so when I went out on today to see blue sky and sunshine, it automatically made me feel a lot better. It still feels bizarre than i'm wandering around in shorts and sunglasses in February, however.
I've still to visit the Vodafone shop again as my mobile data isn't working, which is why I need to keep going to University to use their WIFI. I still need to buy a WIFI router for my room, and pillows. Last night I used a pillowcase stuffed with my clothes. I also need to figure out how to work the air con in my room. Last night it came on at 3am and as I only have a bedsheets (they don't really have duvet's here) I was bloody freezing, so I need a blanket. I also need to call Halifax to transfer my money here which is a complete and total pain in the arse. You know the FRIENDS episode where Chandler listens to a tape during the night to help him stop smoking? "You are a strong independent woman...", I keep replaying that to myself in my head.

My new University!

Tonight i'm meeting up with a couple of girls from my University back in Leeds, and I can't wait to have a real conversation with someone and have someone to socialise with.
Tomorrow a girl i've been chatting with on Facebook from France is moving into my building, so that's another opportunity to meet someone else. Then on Tuesday I have my orientation.
I just feel like after a rather depressing post yesterday, I needed to let everyone know back home that i'm doing okay now. The homesickness is still here, but I suppose that will fade with time.
I'm starting to feel like i'm a mix between Samwise Gamgee and Bilbo Baggins.

Why be in piss-wet through freezing Leeds when you can be in sunny, beautiful Melbourne?
I'm starting to get excited again about all of the opportunities I will have here. Once i'm in my new room next week and i've unpacked properly I feel like everything will start to fall into place.
𝕒𝕟𝕟𝕒𝕓𝕖𝕝

On my way.

So here I go. Off on an adventure, completely by myself. I'm like Bilbo Baggins. If you went back 5 years and told 16 year old me that i'd be doing this, there's absolutely no way i'd believe you. I'm currently sat on my Emirates flight on the way to Dubai. Looking at the map, i'm just flying out of Europe as I write this.
Without a doubt the most difficult part of this whole thing was saying goodbye to my family. It's the first and only time I kind of wished we weren't so close, then it would have been so much easier. But we're so incredibly close knit and i'm going to miss them all so so much, especially my sister, Emma (sorry Mum & Dad).
As soon as I stepped onto the plane, I wasn't upset anymore, I was just flabbergasted at how swish the plane was! Friends and family had told me about the A380's but they didn't do them justice. There's little twinkly lights on the ceiling like stars and when I sat down the air hostess (pause for Busted outburst) was handing out warm lemon-scented flannels on a silver tray using silver tongs. I can't cope with the poshness! And don't get me started on the TV. I've already watched 2 Star Wars films, i'll probably start a 3rd soon.
For once, the plane food was LOVELY. Chicken, cheesey mash, gravy and vegetables. With a tuna salad starter, a chocolate pudding dessert and a baby pack of Tic Tac's for afterwards.
Next to the TV there are multiple types of plug sockets and USB ports to charge phones and things with. Then there's the whole reason i'm able to write this blog post - free wifi! It feels so strange to be messaging my family and browsing Facebook whilst up in the air.
I'd love to go upstairs and see what the business class looks like but i'll like a bit of a peasant up there.
I also got a free pillow and blanket. So I am nice and cosy.
If the woman in front of me would stop kicking up a fuss and the man next to me would stop snoring then I am in for a very pleasant flight.
The next time I write i'll hopefully be in my new home.
𝕒𝕟𝕟𝕒𝕓𝕖𝕝

Rambling Post #7: My brain is on overdrive.

It's exactly 2 weeks today that I pack up and leave everyone and everything to go live at the other side of the world and do what is probably the scariest and most daring thing I have ever done in my 21 years. In the past week, it has slowly started to dawn on me that this is actually happening. Before the new year it was just something that will eventually happen to me next year, and it felt like it was ages away. But 2016 is already flying by and in 14 days I will be calling another country home.

I used to hate going to town by myself or sitting alone in a public place (which incidentally is what i'm doing now). So to go from being such a socially awkward, shy and comfort-zone friendly teenager to an actual proper grown up adult moving to a different continent by herself I think shows how much i've changed in the past few years.

So as it crept into February, anxiety started to creep in. I don't really suffer from anxiety, don't get me wrong there are a lot of things that make me feel nervous and unsure but the only thing that really gives me panic attacks are confined spaces (yay for a 22 hour flight). As a result, a million questions keep whizzing through my mind.

What if I don't make friends? What if there's a spider in my loo and I don't know how to get rid of it? What if I get the wrong flight and end up in Zimbabwe? What if I miss everyone so much I don't enjoy myself? What if the Australians think my accent is weird? What if the Australians just think i'm weird? What if they don't let me in the country because there's a slight bit of mud on my shoes? What if I get eaten by a Kangaroo? What if I don't get the hang of cooking and die of starvation? What if the people that live in my building are weird?

And every time I just need to stop myself and think;

What if I meet the most amazing friends? What if I don't encounter any deadly creatures? (Unlikely) What if I come back with a tan? What if I have the most amazing time and absolutely love the whole thing?

I think the main thing I need to keep telling myself is yeah, it's probably going to be upsetting at first and you're going to miss everyone. But then you'll settle in and you'll make friends and you'll go on days to the beach and you'll experience new things and you'll be enjoying this new culture so much that before you know it June will be over and you'll be back in the miserable weather of Britain.

As usual with these rambling posts, there's not really anything people reading it can take from it, I just like to vent sometimes and this is the best way I know how!
𝕒𝕟𝕟𝕒𝕓𝕖𝕝

What i'll miss & what i'm looking forward to.

Hello! It's been a while. I've had a lot on my plate recently and i've just been either too busy or had no motivation to write anything, but the excitement of a new year and an upcoming adventure has spurred me on to write again.
Recently i've had millions of thoughts whizzing through my head about little things i'm going to miss whilst i'm away and other things that i'm really looking forward to. I thought it might help clear up my head to write them down, and writing on my blog somewhat calms me.

What I will miss.
1. My family: I think that's probably the most obvious. We're so close and it'll be very strange to not have them a stones throw away (i'll miss my sister the most but don't tell my mum and dad).
2. My friends: another obvious one. I'm lucky enough to have no shortage of them and i'm going to miss every single one of them so much. I've been begging them all to come and visit me at some point!
3. Mum's cooking! If you haven't had one of Pip's homemade meals, you haven't lived. And if you know me then you'll be aware that i'm no Jamie Oliver in the kitchen. I can make pasta and that's about it.
4. My cat: He's a right little bastard sometimes but i'm going to miss his cuddles!
5. My car. This is such a first world problem but i'm seriously going to miss being able to drive myself around for 5 months. Back on the peasant wagon!
6. My double bed: Another first world problem - I have a single bed in my new apartment!

What i'm looking forward to.
1. Meeting new people: making some Aussie friends!
2. Living on my own: hopefully it will finally teach me to be tidier.
3. Living near the beach! Do I really need to explain this one?
4. Being surrounded by a different culture: one of my most favourite things is getting to know other cultures. When I went to Rome I was fascinated in how erratic and busy the Italians are.
5. Improving my Australian accent: (i've been practicing).
6. Getting out of Leeds for a while! There's a lot of people I know that hate living in Leeds, and whilst it isn't my favourite place in the world, it's still home. However i'm very excited to get to know another big city.
7. The gorgeous weather: even though when I get there it will be in the transition from summer to winter, it's still going to be pretty damn hot!
8. Visiting Sydney at Easter: Harbour Bridge, the Opera House (that's the plan anyway).
9. Learning to be independent: it's about time.
10. Writing letters! A few people have called me strange for this one. I thought it might be nice to send my friends and some family letters whilst i'm away. It would be a nice change to sending e-mails or messages and I love getting things through the post.

I'm already feeling better after jotting these down! Everything is set in stone now; flights booked, accommodation sorted and enrolment accepted. All that is left to do is pack and go!
I'll try and keep more blog posts coming, as soon as my exams are over i'll have a lot more free time to think of new things to write about.
𝕒𝕟𝕟𝕒𝕓𝕖𝕝
Ps. I sincerely hope I come back with an awesome accent.

G'Day Mate!

So i've been keeping this quiet on social media until now (i've pretty much told everyone I know in person though, I was too excited to keep it to myself).

I'M MOVING TO AUSTRALIA!

People i've told have been like, "erm what where the hell did this come from?"
But in February 2016 i'll be moving to Melbourne COMPLETELY BY MYSELF to study at Victoria University until June.

Honestly, i'm absolutely terrified. Australia has always been that one place that i've always said i'll never go on holiday (you know, spiders etc), but when I got nominated by my current University to go here, who the hell would say no?! I've never done anything this big before and it's probably the most terrifying and brave thing I will ever do, yet funnily enough, I can't wait!

I still can't believe that I will be calling this place home in 3 months.

If i'm completely honest, the thing i'm most excited for is decorating my new room.
I feel kind of ready for a fresh start. It's not that i'm upset with anything here in England, I'm perfectly happy, I've just never done anything as exciting as this and I can't wait to meet a bunch of new people.

But don't worry, i'll still be keeping you updated on all of my adventures whilst i'm over there! (That's if I have any). My course leader told me last week that whilst I usually take 3 modules and have 2 assignments per module at Leeds Beckett, at Victoria i'll be studying 4 modules with 4 assignments per module. Goodbye social life. The positive is that the grades I get whilst on Study Abroad don't count towards my degree, so all I have to do is pass. Brings a teensy bit of pressure to this semester though, now all my Semester 1 assignments count for my whole second year.

I'm hopefully signing on to this International Orientation trip before the semester starts in Melbourne, Basically all the international students go on a trip for 3 days and we learn to surf, visit a zoo and go on some sort of hike (ew).

My plan for the Easter Holidays (if I can afford it and if it can be done), is to go to Sydney for the first week and climb the Harbour Bridge and go see something at the Opera House, maybe try and find where Dance Academy was filmed. Then for the second week I want to fly over to New Zealand and go see where Lord Of The Rings and The Hobbit was filmed. Then at some point in all of the madness, i'm going to grow a pair (i'm terrified of sharks) and go snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef (my GoPro will be perfect for this!).

So there you have it. Probably the biggest news I will ever have (until I eventually get to the proper adulty stuff like babies etc. But that is a loooong while off).