This weekend we had the pleasure of hospitality from the Hull family at their country home in Dargo, Gippsland. We traveled three and a half hours outside of Melbourne, through pastures, plantations, mountains and up a windy dirt road to a beautiful home that looked like it had been plopped down in the hills to survive on its own. Along the way we spotted an assortment of wildlife that had ended up as roadkill, wombats and kangaroos. As we drove up the side of the mountain a kangaroo hopped (literally they hop) by, leading to all the americans to scream in excitement. Later we proceeded to eat kangaroo for dinner, most likely this poor guys brother. The house is surrounded by walnut and plum trees, with a river running down the side. We collected wood for a bonfire while Bethany's father prepared sausage he made from one of their cows. Later that night, we lit a massive pile of wood, trash and mattresses on fire, drank wine and taught some of the older generation Aussies how to play beer pong. We wrapped up the weekend by shooting rifles at a can, all of us missing except for Lizzie, who's aim is terrifying. Seriously, don't give her a gun. It was so nice to get out of the city for a weekend and be in the fresh country air. Except Australian country is actually country. It is the bush land with nothing and no one for miles except for wombats and wallabies and kangas and roos. Back in rainy Melbourne we have a week left before SHannon leaves to give everyone in SF hugs from me. Meanwhile, I have to start looking for another job, because under my visa, I can only work for the same employer for six months. Its going to be an exciting transition and Im looking forward to experiencing something different. Did I mention I'm not coming home yet....
I've had several pretty monumental milestones on this trip in the last two months. June 11th marked my one year away from home, which I spent in Australian small claims court attempting to get my previous landlords to relinquish our bond from our old apartment. We ended up receiving only half our bond back but walked away from it happy that we never had to see them again. Lizzie and I went out for a beer afterwards and I reflected on my past year. It was weird to think that a year ago my mom was dropping me off at SFO to get on a one way flight to China. I couldn't help but think how brave she was for keeping it together. After all she was saying goodbye to her only daughter, who was going god knows where, for god knows how long. June 11th marked a year since I've been home, and the longest I've spent apart from my family in my life. Thank god for technology- Viber, Whatsapp, FaceTime, Skype, all these things help maintain a tangible relationship with the people you love. I'd traveled nine countries on my own, met some incredible people and survived relatively unscathed. I was really looking forward to Shannon's visit but was also extremely nervous. She was the first person from home, from my life back in the states that I had seen in over a year. I really wasn't sure what my emotional state would be like when I saw her, if I'd shock her by crumbling in a pile of tears or if it'd be weird because it'd been so long. But it was honestly like we'd never parted, like she was picking me up to go to Starbucks on West Portal and it had only been a few days, and not in fact 14 months. Shannon studied abroad here three years ago and she had the same experience with the many friends she left behind. Its reassuring to think that the friendships you make in the different spheres of your life are lasting no matter how much time and distance is placed between them. Ok. enough. now about the time I shot a gun.
This weekend we had the pleasure of hospitality from the Hull family at their country home in Dargo, Gippsland. We traveled three and a half hours outside of Melbourne, through pastures, plantations, mountains and up a windy dirt road to a beautiful home that looked like it had been plopped down in the hills to survive on its own. Along the way we spotted an assortment of wildlife that had ended up as roadkill, wombats and kangaroos. As we drove up the side of the mountain a kangaroo hopped (literally they hop) by, leading to all the americans to scream in excitement. Later we proceeded to eat kangaroo for dinner, most likely this poor guys brother. The house is surrounded by walnut and plum trees, with a river running down the side. We collected wood for a bonfire while Bethany's father prepared sausage he made from one of their cows. Later that night, we lit a massive pile of wood, trash and mattresses on fire, drank wine and taught some of the older generation Aussies how to play beer pong. We wrapped up the weekend by shooting rifles at a can, all of us missing except for Lizzie, who's aim is terrifying. Seriously, don't give her a gun. It was so nice to get out of the city for a weekend and be in the fresh country air. Except Australian country is actually country. It is the bush land with nothing and no one for miles except for wombats and wallabies and kangas and roos. Back in rainy Melbourne we have a week left before SHannon leaves to give everyone in SF hugs from me. Meanwhile, I have to start looking for another job, because under my visa, I can only work for the same employer for six months. Its going to be an exciting transition and Im looking forward to experiencing something different. Did I mention I'm not coming home yet....
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