Less than 2 weeks!

So there are less than 2 weeks to go until my Australian Adventures begin.

I'm quite nervous. I friended a bunch of people on my Australearn orientation trip on Facebook and as always/usual, I am nervous to make friends. As my mom says, "you only need one friend" and that's the mentality I am taking with me.

I also signed up to hike in the jungle/rainforest. I don't hike (and if you went with me to Israel, you know I am the slowest hiker) so this will be an adventure. I'm excited despite the 7:35 AM wake-up I saw on the program itinerary. I've never been to the rainforest before and I promise to take tons of photos.  I can't guarantee that they will get up on my blog/Facebook on time, but they'll get there. Eventually. :-P

In other news, being home is pretty boring. No one is really around due to school being back in session and that really doesn't help me being nervous about this trip. I've been trying to read (although Mom took my book earlier but now she's done with it, yay!). Currently my read is an "adult book" (everyone you can all look shocked now) and it is called One Day by David Nicholls. Its this charming read about a young man and a young woman who sleep together on their graduation day and maintain feelings for each other throughout the years (well, year or so--I'm only on page 100 out of 400 something) and write each other letters and occasionally see each other. Like real life, they don't always act on their romantic feelings. There's actually going to be a film made with Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess. Woot!

Alright thats all for now as I await my student visa (*cross your fingers*) and lounge about. And you know, pack. And freak out. :-)

Queensland flooding

I don't know how many of you know about this, but Queensland (the state I will be living in when I'm in Australia) has been having disastrous flooding.

Many people are missing, dead or have fatal injuries. The last I read 30 people were dead, but I am sure (sadly) that that particular toll has gone up. Tons have been evacuated from the state, and the school I am going to attend is shut down as of now. The apartment I'm living in (yes I finally found out) is shut down due to loss of power and everyone has been evacuated from it.

Here's a video about the flooding, which shows just how damaging this water is: http://news.yahoo.com/video/world-15749633/incredible-images-of-australia-flooding-23824222

Below are some photos:

I just wanted to make everyone aware of this because more often than not, Australia's news is not widely distributed to America. Think about it. Besides recently, with the flooding, how often have you read about Australia's issues?

Despite this horrific water issue, there are ways to help and one way is to donate. Here is the official QLD government website, where you can donate: http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html. You can do it by a phone call or cheque. Based on their constantly updated website, the funds raised (as of 3.00pm, 13 January 2011) have been: $45,488,444. With your help and support, the funds can be increased and you could be helping a family out there who has been evacuated from their home and everything they have known.

1 month to go...

I've got a month before I go to Australia (well a month and 5 days according to every countdown I've checked) so I thought I might set up my blog. Also, I am currently avoiding packing for 3 weeks at school. I'm taking a winter class (otherwise I'd be sitting on my butt for the next couple of weeks doing nothing), and so I am staying up at school for 3 weeks. Then I return home for about 2 weeks and after that, it's off to Australia!!

This blog is to keep in touch with those across the pond in Ireland (hi Laura!) and back in the US (hi parents and everyone else reading this) and anyone else I am missing (I'm sure there are a thousand of you and I am sorry). I also want to recount my days as An American in Paris Australia. No, I won't be going a la Audrey Hepburn style, but you know, just normal Rachel style.

So for those of you who are new to my life/blog, 1. I tend to ramble (sorry!), 2. I am going to try to take a TON of photos (if I can find my camera cord!!), 3. I am really looking forward to reading Australian literature and 4. I will be sending 5 months (or thereabouts) in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia studying abroad.

I'm planning to blog about school, my adventures, my new friends and sights. I promise to take photos and post them on here...if I can find my camera cord/little USB thing. That needs to be added to my to-do list before I leave. ;-)

Welcome to my blog!! For your enjoyment, here is a map of Australia so you can see where I will be and where everything else (aka big cities and towns and things) are located:

 

Also, here is a map to show how I will get to Australia. I apologize for my drawing skills - or lack thereof. I start off in New York, fly to Los Angeles and from there somehow (I will hopefully be sleeping!) will get to Australia: