These photos are from my flight from Dunedin to Auckland. Quite pretty!





The wonderful view from Jim and Janet's living room.



Here are some shots from the Australian Rules rugby game! A bit wet, but we had a great time.





And finally, kangaroos and koalas at the zoo!



After about 40 hours of travel, 4 flights, landing in 4 different time zones, 3 currency changes, about 130 lbs. of luggage, and one unforgettable semester, I am finally relaxing in the comfort of my own home.

I had a great time in Melbourne, Australia exploring the big city, which was quite a switch from the underpopulated South Island of New Zealand. We took advantage of the free "tourist bus", countless markets, animal "sanctuary", and an Australian Rules rugby game - all quite fun. It was also a treat to stay with the Davidsons in their swanky downtown apartment. I must say that waking up to a perfect view of the city each morning was not too shabby. We met up with Natalie's good friend, Chelsea, who spent the semester studying abroad in Brisbane, Australia. Natalie and Chelsea are staying a little longer to explore more of Australia and Natalie is then going to the Cook Islands with our friend JJ and arriving home in late July.

As for me, I must say that I am happy to be home. I have thoroughly enjoyed catching up with my parents and friends and getting back to the life that I left in February. The rest of my week will be spent getting reacquainted with the right-hand side of the road, meeting up with friends, and moving things back into my apartment in Harrisonburg. I will be leaving for an extended family get together in Pennsylvania this weekend (that I cannot WAIT for) and continuing my JMU internship next week. That is, if I can survive this absolutely disgusting heat! Let's just say I looked a bit rediculous wearing my winter jacket, scarf, wool socks, and hiking shoes when I got off the plane. But hey - when you're trying to fit five months into two suitcases, desperate times call for desperate measures. Nonetheless, the combination of being overdressed and spending two nights on planes left me looking less than attractive. In fact, calling me a "hot mess" when I arrived in Richmond would be generous.

While I am happy to be home, this is not to say that I am not missing the life that I left in New Zealand. For five months, I was engrossed in a completely different culture and life than the one I left in early February. In many ways, it was challenging, stressful, and uncomfortable. In others, it was incredibly enlightening, empowering, and more of a life experience than I had ever dreamed it would be. It was a part of my life that will be like no other and an experience that I will absolutely never forget. In fact, I'm a bit like a walking billboard for studying abroad these days - there is just so much to gain from being exposed to a different way of life.

In reflecting on the past five months, I have realized that choosing to go abroad was one of the most selfish decisions I have ever made. Such an experience seems to take precedence over the alternative of working or going to school in the States. Somehow my galavanting in a different country seems to be more important than your hard work to get that prestigious Health Science degree, the volunteer work you do on a weekly basis, or the new job that you are starting. I also relied on many people throughout the course of the semester to keep me up-to-date on the ongoings at JMU and other important updates from my life in the States. This is not even mentioning the constant support and listening ears that I received on numerous occasions. With that said, choosing to study abroad was also one of the best decisions I have ever made. I now have close friends all over the world and have learned lessons that couldn't be found in a textbook at JMU. I have too many stories to count and pictures by the thousands. I have a new perspective on life and far more knowledge of the world than I had when I left on February 9th.

Thank you all for giving me the spotlight these last five months - it was a greater gift than you will ever know. I am now happy to relinquish it and hopefully pass it on to someone else who may gain as much from it as I did.

Until my next adventure abroad,
Ginny

The ultimate tourist.



The beautiful train station just one more time.





Re-enacting our first picture together nearly five months ago.



I remember sitting around the kitchen table with my parents late last summer and making the decision that I wanted to go abroad for Spring semester. And now, nearly a year later, I am about to spend my last night in my flat and arrive home in less than a week.

I have happily completed my four finals and am a bit relieved that they are over. Exams are a much bigger deal here, with varying assigned rooms, strict times, bathroom escorts, and grouchy procters. Nonetheless, they all went well and I am (hopefully) an official JMU senior. Holy cow.

I am currently about to go to bed for the last time in my flat, as I am packed and ready to head to Australia in t-minus 7 hours. Kate even managed to help me SQUEEZE my giant sleeping bag in (no man left behind!), which was a pleasant surprise. Natalie and I are on separate flights, but meeting in Melbourne tomorrow and staying with my family friends, the Davidsons. I have to say that I am quite excited to be in a home. While my flat and hostel hopping have served their purpose, there's a comfort in knowing that I won't have to take my own shampoo or get the jumper cables out whenever we stop for gas.

I must admit that I am quite anxious about making it home. The combination of luggage weight, different currencies, four time zones, country codes, etc., has made me increasingly appreciate and respect avid travellers. Nonetheless, I will be relieved and thrilled to be home on the 28th of June. That is, if I'm still alive after 40+ hours of travelling. We shall see - prayers are welcome.

I took my turn as a tourist this past weekend, snapping pictures around Dunedin and buying last minute souvenirs. When I first got here in February, I felt like such an outcast as I couldn't get the hang of left-side driving or finding the most efficient way to get to Uni. Amazingly, I figured it out and have been able to call Dunedin home for the last five months. I am incredibly excited to see you all and be back home, but the reality of leaving New Zealand and the people that I have met here has made my leaving incredibly bittersweet. The friendships that I have made and the experiences that I have had have surpassed nearly all of my expectations. My study abroad experience has been exactly what I had hoped it would be and I feel incredibly fortunate for this.

Well, it is 3AM here (ahh!) and time for me to hit the hay. As always, thanks for reading! Here are some photos from this past weekend in Dunedin.

XOXO.

My flat's last night together!



All of the 2A flatmates decked out in our bright and tight gear.



Natalie and I in our colorful outfits at our neon party!



Matthias, Tara, Kate, Natalie, and I showed our skills (or lack thereof) at the local ice skating rink.



Our wonderful IFSA-Butler tour guide and bus driver, Gerald!



Natalie, Drew, and I at our IFSA-Butler farewell dinner. Fancy shmancy!



I'm afraid I have reached the beginning of the end here in New Zealand, as folks are starting to leave and the exam period is underway. We took my flatmate, Andrew, to the airport on Friday morning and he has since arrived at his home in Scotland, 30+ hours later. There were two carloads of us that took him to the airport for an even sadder good-bye than I had anticipated. All of my friends have been a bit dispersed recently, as many are using the long exam period as a chance to travel to Australia, the North Island, etc. As for me, I'm trying to take advantage of some quality time in Dunedin with some of my favorite people that I have met since I arrived.

I have a total of four exams and have completed one with three left to go. My first was last Wednesday, Media and Intercultural Communication. This was both my hardest and favorite "paper", as I loved both my lecturer and tutor and really felt that I learned a great deal. I have my Gender in New Zealand final on Tuesday, Sociology of New Zealand Society final on Friday, and another Communication final on Monday. Each of my finals ranges between 40% and 60% of my final grade, which is a bit nervewracking, but the fact that I am on a pass/fail system is reassuring. Nonetheless, I will be quite relieved when they are over. My computer also found it to be a good time to go a bit bonkers on me, so I have been out of a computer for the last several days. Fortunately, I have a computer whiz to walk me through all of the tests, hardware back-ups, and safe modes. Matthias has been invaluable in figuring out the problem and getting in touch with Dell - hopefully they will be coming to the flat sometime this week. Fingers crossed! In the meantime, Matthias has so graciously lent me his computer for extended periods of time and I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the German keyboard. ߧEÜÄÖµ!

Winter temperatures have definitely hit Dunedin, making scarves, gloves, and a hat quite the necessities. That is, inside the flat. You might recall that New Zealand does not have central heating, and so we are averaging between 45 and 50 degrees fahrenheit inside my lovely abode. And surprisingly, we have one of the warmest University flats in Dunedin. I am happy to say that it hasn't been nearly as bad as I had expected it to be, simply an adjustment. My sleeping arrangements include the following: polypro pants, heavy sweatpants, polypro longsleeve shirt, another longsleeve shirt, heavy sweatshirt, and wool socks. Of course this does not include my stellar bedding combo of a fitted sheet, sleeping bag (with fleece liner), sheet, wool blanket, and comforter. With all of this said, I have been sleeping like an absolute baby.

These photos are an assortment of activities from the last couple of weeks. Our IFSA-Butler farewell dinner, ice skating, a neon party that my flat hosted, and my flat's last night all together.

I will be arriving back in Virginia exactly two weeks from tomorrow. I absolutely can't wait to see so many of your shining faces. Sending you all heaps and heaps of love from New Zealand!