Airplanes Are Torture Chambers We Only Use Because No One has Invented Teleportation

I hate airplanes.

And airports. And basically anything to do with the two. The first flight I was on was 17 hours long, I stopped in Brisbane long enough to run to the next terminal to get on a plane for another 3 hours. Inside of Brisbane, they stopped checking bags at the international terminal for my flight, so I had to get all of my bags on a bus and check them in domestic. (Which was a lotttt of bags!) When I got all my bags on the bus, my giraffe suitcase zipper busted and my clothes started pouring out! Thankfully, it has two zippers and only one broke. But in fixing my suitcase, my nail broke off..Sad day. So then I ran to my next flight and barely made it. It was nuts. I didn't even have time to process that I was in Australia until I boarded the plane to Cairns.

My crazy airport experience aside, the airplane ride was pretty smooth, minus a few bumps here and there.(Shout of to Collin Nace, because his flight lessons on turbulence kept me from freaking out every time we bumped around.) Overall; I slept and read a book given to me before I left. I was very fortunate to sit next to a guy who was coming back from "holiday" in the states, but was from Australia. He had so much to tell me and ask me about our two countries. We told stories until neither of us could keep our eyes open. We joked about each others accents and had to ask what the heck we were saying a few times, but it was incredibly helpful. I learned a few Australian words from him and some survival tips that will help me with my students, like the Australian Football League Finals is coming up in Melbourne. I had a crash course lesson in the rules..which is different from the four other footballs they have here.

Y'all, Australia is beautiful. I have literally been rained on almost the whole time I've been here, and it's still gorgeous. Today and tomorrow I get to participate in these incredible once in a lifetime experiences (I won't ruin the surprise) that I'm beyond excited about. The other interns are such beautiful people and we all just want more out of our lives. The people of Australia have been very welcoming and patient with our American confusion. I cannot wait to see and do more, especially when I'm not jetlagged. I'm fighting my homebodiness as hard as I can and trying to do everything they offer me. I'm determined to live outside of my Southern Comfort Zone.