Jetlag

It's crazy to think that I've been home for over two months and slightly scary to think i'll be starting uni again next week. I was thinking about all this today as I was battling with UTAS about how much credit they were going to give me. Turns out that 18months of study in the US is equivalent to 2 subjects credit and a year here is worth one subject and one placement. I was so tempted to pack it all in, save up and go back to the states to finish off my degree because it'd be heaps quicker. It's kinda scary to think how tempting that thought was. Don't get me wrong I'm loving being back in Aus and being able to work, enjoy the sunshine and beach and driving on the left hand side of the road (seriously) but the honeymoon period is definitely over and the itchy feet are back. Ah well I guess there's a bright side to all this...I have my next trip to look forward to...whenever that is :) But I guess here's to itchy feet and the end of the honeymoon....let's hope I get used to being back....sometime soon :)

A long awaited summer

Wow...is pretty much all i can say when i thiking about what's happened over these past few months and probably over the past 2 years. Well i guess I better start by saying that I'm officially back in the land of Aus and will stay here, for a while at least and finish school...which is a good thing...i think.

November and December were incredibly busy months with thanksgiving, finishing school, exams, saying goodbye to everyone and the big move home. Not saying I would change anything (except for my homework procrastination...whoops) but man now that i'm on holiday mode I've got no idea how i managed to get it all done.

The highlight of November was definitely thanksgiving, especially becuase I was lucky enough to have two. The weekend before thanksgiving the family I was living with and I went up to Provo canyon and stayed the weekend in a cabin. It was absolutely beautiful..snow everywhere, the cabin was gorgeous and it was so nice to relax and forget about (almost) everything :) The next weekend I had another thanksgiving with Kayla, Colt, Dalan, Lisa and Glenna before going to my first black friday sales. One of the best bits about thanksgiving is the food hands down but having a holiday that focused on being greatful was definitely a good thing :)

Anywho, before i knew it school was finished and I was packing my bags. Still hasn't really sunk in that i'm not going back to the states for a while, or that I actually managed to get the bulk of my stuff home :p Saying goodbye was not a fun thing to do, especially because there's been heaps of people who've either felt like family or have been amazing mates and helped me feel at home. They know who they are and I can't say thanks enough...lol this time i'm saying it without tears :p

Before I flew home I was hoping i'd be able to wake up to just one day of snow and I'll admit i was beginniing to get quite annoyed at the lack of snow considering how cold it was. I woke up the day I was to go home resigned to the fact that I wouldn't get it. It actually took me a while to figure out that the place ad become a winter wonderland overnight...must've walked past the window a dozen times before i realized and my mouth definitely hit the floor when I did. It was absolutely beautiful even though it only stayed for a few hours.

I was nervous about the flights home after what happened last time...this time I mentally prepared myself for delays, possible missed flights...I had even prepared myself incase I was questioned by immigration, although as I was returning home I was pretty sure there was a small chance of this happening again...thank goodness!

Tell you what, it is so incredibly amazing to actually get a whole summer which has been an absolute beauty so far :) I definitely missed the simple pleasures of going swimming in the dam or at the beach or even waking up Christmas morning warm and having Christmas breakfast with the family. Speaking of Christmas I will take a second to show one of the pressies mum gave me- its a touch lamp....but not just any lamp...its a globe so that I'd be able to 'see' Utah anytime i got homesick for the place. My mum is amazing that way :)

I suppose I'd better wrap this up ad I'll do that with a few pictures of my time in Utah and of new years but I guess the word I want to finish this post with is 'thanks'.

My American Family :)

Winter photos with Jess and the Nelson's

Bit of fun after a Jazz game in Salt Lake

My first camping trip at Bear Lake

New Years :)

Two Aussies, Three Weeks, Four States part 2

After a gentle nudge from a mate (thanks Lisa ;) ) i figured it was time to get this blogging thing back up and running and finish off the highlights of Jade's visit :)

After exploring Idaho and much of northern Utah we decided to head down to Vegas and stop in St George on the way via Manti. Getting to Manti was qutie the experience with the GPS deciding that a dead end road in the middle of nowhere was just as good as the Manti Temple. After getting stuck behind some sheep, finally finding a paved road again and more importantly stopping to ask for directions, we made it to Manti.

From there we made our way to St George and stayed over night so we could hang out with Heather :) St George was a bit of a whirlwind, as we only had time to hang out with Heather and visit the Temple before heading down to Vegas.

Vegas...what can i say. Of the drive down I loved the bit through Arizona...the canyons were amazing. It's kinda funny to think that if nothing else my time in Utah has got me to appreciate rock :p Anyway, Vegas. The outlets are awesome and there are some pretty cool things to see on the strip but we only had a few hours so we didn't get to see a whole lot but i reckon between us we must've taken a few hundred photos to make up for it.

Well, i reckon that's about it for Jade's visit :) it was a heck of a lot of fun although i will admit i crashed for at least a week after she left...i'm not even kidding.