Well, it is over.
I'm home.
I'm unloading the dishwasher again.
I'm watching ESPN again.
I'm taking Copp for walks again.
Etc., etc., etc.
The last three and a half months have been memorable, to say the least. Probably the best three and a half months of my life.
Here are the general highlights of my time spent abroad
Meeting some great people in my Boston University program who I'll definitely see in the future and stay in touch with. We had great times together, no doubt.
Working at Sydney Uni Sport with a bunch of Aussies. It was a great, laid-back environment and everyone was friendly and accommodating to me. We also had a couple of great times out of work.
Working the Sydney Uni Flames games. I love basketball, whether it's in the U.S., Australia, or South Africa. I love covering the game of basketball.
Taking a trip to Melbourne and seeing all the historic sports sights, such as the Melbourne Cricket Ground and The Tan - the city's ancient dirt track, which thousands of runners traverse each day.
Going rainforest biking in the Byron Bay area. Once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Doing the BridgeClimb (thanks, Aunt Sally). Sunset, full moon, great thrills. Yeah, it was that good.
Staying at hostels during spring break and while I was in New Zealand. A similar system needs to be embraced in the U.S. Only having to pay $20 a night for a comfortable bed in a lodge with a kitchen and other amenities is amazing. And you meet a plethora of people with similar interests.
Bar-hopping with the crew. Yes, the bouncers were at times very disdainful of me (for no reason, really), but we had great times nonetheless.
Great ping-pong games in the UniLodge basement with Scubes, Ankur and Pranab. I can't get enough of that game.
Days at the beach. Hitting the waves, playing football, playing the "500-like" game, although we got roughed up and Scubes dominated, and just chilling. I know as the Michigan winter wears on I'll start missing the beach more and more.
Blue Mountains hikes. Three days of hiking in the BM's were phenomenal. They might not have been traditional mountains, since we hiked down into the valley before hiking back up, but who cares? The views were priceless, the waterfalls picturesque, and the experience unforgettable.
Surf camp, all the way back in September. What a weekend! I learned to surf and caught some waves. Need I say more?
Attending a rugby game and Australian rules football game. Although these sports will never be as exciting to me as American football or basketball, they were fun to watch and experience. I must say this: Aussie athletes seem tougher than American athletes. With hardly any pads, they kill each other – and don’t get hurt. And they don’t make as much money either. Props to them.
And now, for the top five memorable experiences - things I won't forget... ever
5 - That afternoon at Bronte. Scubes, Ankur and I hit up Bronte Beach for a late-afternoon swim, and the waves were ferocious. They were killing us as we tried to body-surf them. I almost got carried away to sea, but managed to catch a wave back toward shore. Never been more scared for my life than that afternoon. Crazy.
4 - The night before Ashley's birthday. We went to a Lebanese restaurant - and it was safe to say, many of us had a little too much wine to sip on. Some of us grinded with the belly dancer (not me, thankfully) and just about everyone passed out in Cheryl and Ashley's room. Great night.
3 - The seagulls. Wow, that was scary. On one of our last beach days, Scubes and I were harassed by a herd of seagulls after Scubes threw one of his French fries ("chips" in Australia) at me. First they were one me, but I walked a good 50 meters to the beach, and finally they retreated to harass Scubes. He almost dropped his burger and fries, he was so shaken. But eventually he walked all the way up to the plaza, and they laid off. I will never take seagulls lightly again.
2 - The final Friday night in Sydney. We had a great "Friday on the Roof," throwing the frisbee and Aussie Rules Football around (and off the roof) and playing some quality games of Beirut. This was followed by some great bar-hopping, pancakes in the Rocks (although I had nachos) and a sunrise (well, OK, "cloud rise") by the Opera House. There were also many great side stories from that night, which I will not disclose in this blog.
1 - The whole experience. Not one night or day deserves this spot. I am glad I decided to study abroad. In reality, I didn't even feel like I was at school. It felt more like a vacation. Yes, there were papers to write and tests to take, and, yes, we had our internships four days a week - but it was all fun.
My Australia experience came at the perfect time in my life. With graduation just months away, I needed to see another part of the world and experience another culture. I needed to get a better understanding of what makes me happy (besides sports). What I found is that great friends are very important, but also my independence.
I love the freedom of being on my own in a big country. A couple of the foreigners I met at hostels in Australia and New Zealand were traveling for months, just exploring different regions of the world. I'd love to do that one day. Work can wait. So can other things.
Right now is the best time for me to get out and explore - see what the world has to offer.
These past three and a half months were a start.
Cheers! And thanks to all the mates who made my time abroad so memorable.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
New Zealand, and finally... home
Today I woke up, grabbed some granola and an orange, and watched SportsCenter on television.
I took my dog for a walk, and looked left then right while crossing the street.
Yes, I'm back in Ann Arbor, Mich., in the United States of America. I can watch my favorite sports all the time and take Copper for as many walks as he can handle.
So all is bliss, right?
Well... no. It'll take some time to readjust. I really do miss Australia and all the friends and good times I had there. It was an amazing experience.
New Zealand wasn't bad either. So let me tell you about my Kiwi experience.
I was in New Zealand for four days. The first three days I spent in Taupo, a small town in the middle of the country's north island. It is an adventurer's utopia. There are opportunities to bungy jump, sky dive, mountain bike, hike, white-water raft, you name it. If you want a thrilling adventure in the great outdoors, Taupo's the place to go.
Which is why I went there.
I arrived in the afternoon the first day, preventing me from doing any big things that day, so I took a longer-than-expected walk to Huka Falls - a huge rapids in the local river. While the walk along the river was extremely long and mundane, the rapids were pretty cool. It's safe to say, if anyone fell in, they'd be gone forever. They were that ferocious.
On the way back from the rapids, I stopped at a hot springs connected to the river. It was amazing. I slipped into the water, and immediately I felt as though I was immersed in a hot tub. Then I walked toward the river, and the water temperature gradually decreased until I was in the rather frigid river.
Two new experiences in one afternoon. Not a bad day.
On my first full day I was planning on catching the bus to the Tongariro Crossing, arguably New Zealand's best one-day hike. But due to weather conditions, there was no bus on that day, so I was stuck in Taupo. So I slept in, finally waking at 12 p.m. in the Tiki Lodge when the maids entered the room to prepare the other beds for newly arriving visitors.
I decided to make something of the afternoon and rented a bike. I wanted to bike to the base of the nearest mountain (which looked to be about 3,000 feet) but I was told it would take way too long to reach the base trail, climb the mountain and return the bike in time. So I settled for some mountain biking in the Huka Falls area.
The trail was great. There were several twists and turns on a narrow path and I had to concentrate at all times on the path in front of me. However, the bike kept shifting gears automatically on me - and generally was not a great bike - so I didn't find the riding that pleasant. Let's just say the experience could have been better. After returning the bike and a quick dinner, I prepared for bed. I had a long day ahead of me.
My final day in Auckland was, hands down, the highlight of my New Zealand experience. I did the Tongariro Crossing, easily my biggest hike while I was abroad. The crossing is basically a ridge hike. There are a few steep ascents in the first stages of the hike, and then the final couple hours are descents. In between, you're on top of the world. It's about an eight- or nine-kilometer hike (I think).
I was ill-prepared for the conditions, that's for sure. With my suitcases completely stuffed full of belongings, I couldn't afford to buy any rain gear (or stuff for the cold, for that matter) so I did the hike in shorts, my UNC sweatshirt and a makeshift raincoat that I made out of a trash bag.
Two hours into the hike I was freezing. But that didn't take away from my enjoyment. Although it rained the entire time and the visibility was White Mountains-esque, I met up with a young guy from Denmark, and we traversed the terrain together. Our group wasn't supposed to get picked up from the end of the track until 3:30 p.m., and the weather had us moving fast, so when we arrived at a hut that marked the two-hours-to-go spot at 11:00 a.m., we decided to chill for a couple hours and try to warm up.
Ironically, I read Bill Bryson's "A Walk in the Woods" while I was shivering in the hut.
Finally, after two-plus hours of descending (the part of a hike that ALWAYS seems to take the longest) we completed the famed Tongariro Crossing. I might have been cold and wet, but the experience was definitely worth it.
I returned to Tiki Lodge to shower and dry all of my soaked cloths. Drying my sneakers was not so easy. I held them under the hand dryer in the bathroom for about 15 minutes. Finally, they were at least bearable to wear.
I spent my last night in Taupo wandering the town, taking pictures, catching the new Bond movie at the local theater, and hitting up a couple bars before my 1:50 a.m. bus to Auckland.
In one of those "this world is small after all" stories, I met a guy at a bar who knew my cousin, Pete Wolf, from their days in Oak Park, Chicago. Absolutely amazing. That had me buzzing (more than the beer) all night.
After a not-so-pleasant bus ride, which seemed to take forever, I arrived in Auckland for my final day abroad. I was tired and, frankly, ready to be home. Or at least in bed. I tried to make Borders my bed, falling asleep at the book store three times, but eventually I was kicked out (they actually escorted me to the door - how crazy is that?).
It's probably safe to say that my days of shopping at Borders are over. If a man needs to sleep, let him sleep.
So without a legitimate place to crash, I conjured up the energy to do things. First I visited the Sky Tower, taking several pictures from its two indoor observation decks. I was disappointed there wasn't an outdoor deck. I guess suicide is just too big of a risk these days (what better way to go out than from the top of a tower?).
Then I was greeted to some great hospitality at the coolest, neatest, sweetest driving range I've ever visited. It had one of those golf simulators where you can play a round without moving more than a couple steps. The guy there allowed me to play a few holes at Pebble Beach for free. I think I was 10 over after four holes. Tough course.
Finally, I walked down to the harbour, got a great ice cream cone (Strawberry Ripple) and headed to catch the bus to the airport. It was only 1:40, and my flight wasn't until 7:30, but I was ready to go. Plus, with all the crap I had to go through for a flight to America, I didn't have all the time in the world at the airport.
After 16 hours of flying and many other hours waiting in lines in airports, I was home. In a genuine act of kindness, all my family members made the cumbersome 40-minute drive to Detroit Metro Airport to greet me (even Copp - who was tired from a long walk earlier in the day). Thanks, guys. And soon I was home at last, watching Stuart Scott on my TV and eating Tostitos.
Oh, how things can change so quickly.
I took my dog for a walk, and looked left then right while crossing the street.
Yes, I'm back in Ann Arbor, Mich., in the United States of America. I can watch my favorite sports all the time and take Copper for as many walks as he can handle.
So all is bliss, right?
Well... no. It'll take some time to readjust. I really do miss Australia and all the friends and good times I had there. It was an amazing experience.
New Zealand wasn't bad either. So let me tell you about my Kiwi experience.
I was in New Zealand for four days. The first three days I spent in Taupo, a small town in the middle of the country's north island. It is an adventurer's utopia. There are opportunities to bungy jump, sky dive, mountain bike, hike, white-water raft, you name it. If you want a thrilling adventure in the great outdoors, Taupo's the place to go.
Which is why I went there.
I arrived in the afternoon the first day, preventing me from doing any big things that day, so I took a longer-than-expected walk to Huka Falls - a huge rapids in the local river. While the walk along the river was extremely long and mundane, the rapids were pretty cool. It's safe to say, if anyone fell in, they'd be gone forever. They were that ferocious.
On the way back from the rapids, I stopped at a hot springs connected to the river. It was amazing. I slipped into the water, and immediately I felt as though I was immersed in a hot tub. Then I walked toward the river, and the water temperature gradually decreased until I was in the rather frigid river.
Two new experiences in one afternoon. Not a bad day.
On my first full day I was planning on catching the bus to the Tongariro Crossing, arguably New Zealand's best one-day hike. But due to weather conditions, there was no bus on that day, so I was stuck in Taupo. So I slept in, finally waking at 12 p.m. in the Tiki Lodge when the maids entered the room to prepare the other beds for newly arriving visitors.
I decided to make something of the afternoon and rented a bike. I wanted to bike to the base of the nearest mountain (which looked to be about 3,000 feet) but I was told it would take way too long to reach the base trail, climb the mountain and return the bike in time. So I settled for some mountain biking in the Huka Falls area.
The trail was great. There were several twists and turns on a narrow path and I had to concentrate at all times on the path in front of me. However, the bike kept shifting gears automatically on me - and generally was not a great bike - so I didn't find the riding that pleasant. Let's just say the experience could have been better. After returning the bike and a quick dinner, I prepared for bed. I had a long day ahead of me.
My final day in Auckland was, hands down, the highlight of my New Zealand experience. I did the Tongariro Crossing, easily my biggest hike while I was abroad. The crossing is basically a ridge hike. There are a few steep ascents in the first stages of the hike, and then the final couple hours are descents. In between, you're on top of the world. It's about an eight- or nine-kilometer hike (I think).
I was ill-prepared for the conditions, that's for sure. With my suitcases completely stuffed full of belongings, I couldn't afford to buy any rain gear (or stuff for the cold, for that matter) so I did the hike in shorts, my UNC sweatshirt and a makeshift raincoat that I made out of a trash bag.
Two hours into the hike I was freezing. But that didn't take away from my enjoyment. Although it rained the entire time and the visibility was White Mountains-esque, I met up with a young guy from Denmark, and we traversed the terrain together. Our group wasn't supposed to get picked up from the end of the track until 3:30 p.m., and the weather had us moving fast, so when we arrived at a hut that marked the two-hours-to-go spot at 11:00 a.m., we decided to chill for a couple hours and try to warm up.
Ironically, I read Bill Bryson's "A Walk in the Woods" while I was shivering in the hut.
Finally, after two-plus hours of descending (the part of a hike that ALWAYS seems to take the longest) we completed the famed Tongariro Crossing. I might have been cold and wet, but the experience was definitely worth it.
I returned to Tiki Lodge to shower and dry all of my soaked cloths. Drying my sneakers was not so easy. I held them under the hand dryer in the bathroom for about 15 minutes. Finally, they were at least bearable to wear.
I spent my last night in Taupo wandering the town, taking pictures, catching the new Bond movie at the local theater, and hitting up a couple bars before my 1:50 a.m. bus to Auckland.
In one of those "this world is small after all" stories, I met a guy at a bar who knew my cousin, Pete Wolf, from their days in Oak Park, Chicago. Absolutely amazing. That had me buzzing (more than the beer) all night.
After a not-so-pleasant bus ride, which seemed to take forever, I arrived in Auckland for my final day abroad. I was tired and, frankly, ready to be home. Or at least in bed. I tried to make Borders my bed, falling asleep at the book store three times, but eventually I was kicked out (they actually escorted me to the door - how crazy is that?).
It's probably safe to say that my days of shopping at Borders are over. If a man needs to sleep, let him sleep.
So without a legitimate place to crash, I conjured up the energy to do things. First I visited the Sky Tower, taking several pictures from its two indoor observation decks. I was disappointed there wasn't an outdoor deck. I guess suicide is just too big of a risk these days (what better way to go out than from the top of a tower?).
Then I was greeted to some great hospitality at the coolest, neatest, sweetest driving range I've ever visited. It had one of those golf simulators where you can play a round without moving more than a couple steps. The guy there allowed me to play a few holes at Pebble Beach for free. I think I was 10 over after four holes. Tough course.
Finally, I walked down to the harbour, got a great ice cream cone (Strawberry Ripple) and headed to catch the bus to the airport. It was only 1:40, and my flight wasn't until 7:30, but I was ready to go. Plus, with all the crap I had to go through for a flight to America, I didn't have all the time in the world at the airport.
After 16 hours of flying and many other hours waiting in lines in airports, I was home. In a genuine act of kindness, all my family members made the cumbersome 40-minute drive to Detroit Metro Airport to greet me (even Copp - who was tired from a long walk earlier in the day). Thanks, guys. And soon I was home at last, watching Stuart Scott on my TV and eating Tostitos.
Oh, how things can change so quickly.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Stay tuned for final writings
Hey everyone,
I'm sorry for not posting much recently. I have been wrapping up my stay here in Sydney (trying to do everything I didn't get a chance to do earlier in the semester, and saying peace to everyone), and now I am heading to New Zealand for four days and will not have computer access. But I can assure you that once I return to Ann Arbor on Dec. 20, I will write a couple wrap-up columns. Thanks again for reading.
Jake
I'm sorry for not posting much recently. I have been wrapping up my stay here in Sydney (trying to do everything I didn't get a chance to do earlier in the semester, and saying peace to everyone), and now I am heading to New Zealand for four days and will not have computer access. But I can assure you that once I return to Ann Arbor on Dec. 20, I will write a couple wrap-up columns. Thanks again for reading.
Jake
Sunday, December 10, 2006
"Crazy weekend"
Well, I'm down to my final week here in Sydney. While time is certainly flying, that's only because - as the old saying goes - I'm having some fun.
I feel as free as the dogs in Sydney, who are never leashed up. They're allowed to run freely, chasing each other around trees and giving their owners something to laugh about.
Anyway, here's a rundown of what I've been up to.
On Friday night we bar-hopped in the Rocks before getting a very early breakfast (4:00 a.m.) and waiting by the harbour for the sun to rise (I was sleeping on a bench). Unfortunately, it didn't rise, and we took the bus home disappointed (and very tired).
I slept until 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon before working my final basketball game for Sydney Uni Sport. It officially concluded my internship, which I really enjoyed. I got the opportunity to write several feature articles on Australian athletes in addition to a few game stories, which gave me vital experience in writing in a timely matter. On the downside, I don't feel that my writing vastly improved this semester. Many of the stories were similar to things I've written back home. I didn't really acquire any new journalism skills.
Still, overall it was fun being a part of an Australian workplace. Everyone here is so laid back, even at work. We must have had four going-away lunches for people moving on to other jobs, and whenever there was a birthday, it was accompanied by cake. Other employees also often stopped by my desk to chat. I never felt nervous at Sydney Uni Sport.
Sunday was all about the beach. We hit up Bondi Beach around 1 p.m. and didn't return until approximately 7:30 p.m. It was sunny and hot - not exactly my type of weather - but everyone else was happy, so that was good enough for me. I went in the water at least four times (it was pretty warm) and also played football with the boys.
Although a bit of my energy was zapped by the sun, I still had enough to spend the entire night in King's Cross - Sydney's night district - hanging out with the fellas and watching some late-night soccer. I also met a couple of Aussie fellas and talked sports with them. It was a fun night.
This morning I had aspirations of going to the Blue Mountains for a full day of hiking, but it didn't work out. 'Nuff said. Instead, I got a good shootaround in at this old, rickety hoop in an empty parking lot - I love it; reminds me of the park in "Finding Forrester" - and since then I've been blogging and sitting around.
Tomorrow we finish up school - one final exam.
I guess I should do a little studying.
Anyway, keep checking back with the blog throughout the week. I'll be posting several things whenever I get a chance.
peace and love,
jake
I feel as free as the dogs in Sydney, who are never leashed up. They're allowed to run freely, chasing each other around trees and giving their owners something to laugh about.
Anyway, here's a rundown of what I've been up to.
On Friday night we bar-hopped in the Rocks before getting a very early breakfast (4:00 a.m.) and waiting by the harbour for the sun to rise (I was sleeping on a bench). Unfortunately, it didn't rise, and we took the bus home disappointed (and very tired).
I slept until 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon before working my final basketball game for Sydney Uni Sport. It officially concluded my internship, which I really enjoyed. I got the opportunity to write several feature articles on Australian athletes in addition to a few game stories, which gave me vital experience in writing in a timely matter. On the downside, I don't feel that my writing vastly improved this semester. Many of the stories were similar to things I've written back home. I didn't really acquire any new journalism skills.
Still, overall it was fun being a part of an Australian workplace. Everyone here is so laid back, even at work. We must have had four going-away lunches for people moving on to other jobs, and whenever there was a birthday, it was accompanied by cake. Other employees also often stopped by my desk to chat. I never felt nervous at Sydney Uni Sport.
Sunday was all about the beach. We hit up Bondi Beach around 1 p.m. and didn't return until approximately 7:30 p.m. It was sunny and hot - not exactly my type of weather - but everyone else was happy, so that was good enough for me. I went in the water at least four times (it was pretty warm) and also played football with the boys.
Although a bit of my energy was zapped by the sun, I still had enough to spend the entire night in King's Cross - Sydney's night district - hanging out with the fellas and watching some late-night soccer. I also met a couple of Aussie fellas and talked sports with them. It was a fun night.
This morning I had aspirations of going to the Blue Mountains for a full day of hiking, but it didn't work out. 'Nuff said. Instead, I got a good shootaround in at this old, rickety hoop in an empty parking lot - I love it; reminds me of the park in "Finding Forrester" - and since then I've been blogging and sitting around.
Tomorrow we finish up school - one final exam.
I guess I should do a little studying.
Anyway, keep checking back with the blog throughout the week. I'll be posting several things whenever I get a chance.
peace and love,
jake
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
"Crazy final 10 days in Sydney"
Yesterday began what should be a crazy, sleep-deprived, activity-driven final 10 days in Sydney. Now that my "posse" and I have realized just how close we are to the end, we are ready to get up on our feet and DO SOMETHING.
Yesterday was a pretty good start. I climbed a bridge. A big bridge. In fact, it's the largest suspension bridge in the world. The Sydney Harbour Bridge. Thanks to a gift from Aunt Sallie, I did the BridgeClimb last night, taking three hours to walk all the way to the top of the 150-metre structure before heading back down. It wasn't as nerveracking as I anticipated. I was never really scared - despite the fact that I'm not a big "heights guy." We were connected to a cable by a little gadget the entire climb, assuring our safety. Perhaps the most "scary" part of the climb was when we ascended four ladders on the way up and descended four on the way down. The ladders were each about 25-feet tall and were almost 90 degrees, so you had to make sure your footing was secure.
I didn't check the weather forecast or anything before signing up for the climb, but somewhow I picked the perfect day. The sky was clear, the temperature moderate, and there was a full moon that came up just as we were halfway to the top of the bridge. It was spectacular. In addition, although it was a "night climb," we started early, allowing us to catch about 30 minutes of an exquisite sunset before it disappeared to the west.
Overall the climb was one of the best experiences I've had while in Sydney. Just goes to show that not all "tourist attractions" are overrated.
So, now about those "crazy final 10 days." Here's the loose schedule me n' the folks came up with.
Tonight: Final mass media class, free dinner afterward; chill after that.
Thursday: Second-to-last day of work; dinner on roof; Sydney Observatory at night
Friday: Final day of work; final "Friday on the Roof;" bar-hopping in the Rocks (Sydney's historic district); watch the sun rise by the Opera House (probably not much sleep)
Saturday: Take ferry to Manly Beach (I haven't been there yet - should be splendid); chill there all day; work my final women's basketball game; bar-hop at Bondi Beach; watch the sun rise at Bondi (not much sleep).
Sunday: Take the train to Crunella (sp?) Beach, which is about 45 minutes south of Sydney; supposed to be splendid; spend whole day there; return to the night life of King's Cross.
Monday: Spend the day bushwalking in the Blue Mountains/studying for final exam.
Tuesday: Mass media final exam; Going-away party with fellow students, program directors and people from my internship (should be a hoot!).
Wednesay/Thursday/Friday????... we'll see
Yeah, gotta go. Still haven't planned my New Zealand trip.
peace,
jake
Yesterday was a pretty good start. I climbed a bridge. A big bridge. In fact, it's the largest suspension bridge in the world. The Sydney Harbour Bridge. Thanks to a gift from Aunt Sallie, I did the BridgeClimb last night, taking three hours to walk all the way to the top of the 150-metre structure before heading back down. It wasn't as nerveracking as I anticipated. I was never really scared - despite the fact that I'm not a big "heights guy." We were connected to a cable by a little gadget the entire climb, assuring our safety. Perhaps the most "scary" part of the climb was when we ascended four ladders on the way up and descended four on the way down. The ladders were each about 25-feet tall and were almost 90 degrees, so you had to make sure your footing was secure.
I didn't check the weather forecast or anything before signing up for the climb, but somewhow I picked the perfect day. The sky was clear, the temperature moderate, and there was a full moon that came up just as we were halfway to the top of the bridge. It was spectacular. In addition, although it was a "night climb," we started early, allowing us to catch about 30 minutes of an exquisite sunset before it disappeared to the west.
Overall the climb was one of the best experiences I've had while in Sydney. Just goes to show that not all "tourist attractions" are overrated.
So, now about those "crazy final 10 days." Here's the loose schedule me n' the folks came up with.
Tonight: Final mass media class, free dinner afterward; chill after that.
Thursday: Second-to-last day of work; dinner on roof; Sydney Observatory at night
Friday: Final day of work; final "Friday on the Roof;" bar-hopping in the Rocks (Sydney's historic district); watch the sun rise by the Opera House (probably not much sleep)
Saturday: Take ferry to Manly Beach (I haven't been there yet - should be splendid); chill there all day; work my final women's basketball game; bar-hop at Bondi Beach; watch the sun rise at Bondi (not much sleep).
Sunday: Take the train to Crunella (sp?) Beach, which is about 45 minutes south of Sydney; supposed to be splendid; spend whole day there; return to the night life of King's Cross.
Monday: Spend the day bushwalking in the Blue Mountains/studying for final exam.
Tuesday: Mass media final exam; Going-away party with fellow students, program directors and people from my internship (should be a hoot!).
Wednesay/Thursday/Friday????... we'll see
Yeah, gotta go. Still haven't planned my New Zealand trip.
peace,
jake
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