Preparations

     In 23 days I am going to endure the 14 hour and 37 minute plane ride to Sydney. For over a year, my trip to Australia has been all I've talked about with regards to my future, and all I've dreamed about. To say the least, it baffles me that this trip is less than a month away. And as I get closer to my big departure, I am entering the "buckle down" phase where I must finally get all my preparations in line and be ready to jump on a plane come January 22.
     One of these preparations, I decided, should include a blog. When I was studying abroad in Rome, friends and family always expressed curiosity to what I was up to as I was galavanting around Europe.  And while I tried my best to keep in touch through pictures on Facebook and sporadic "this is what I've been doing" e-mails, I felt that it just was not enough. While friends and family extending beyond my parents and sisters had only a fraction of an idea of what I was up to, at the end of my trip I had nothing besides pictures to look back on in recollection of my amazing experience.
     So begins this blog of my Adventures Down Under. My hope is that you, my friends and family, can follow me on this amazing journey as I do what I believe is the bravest thing I have ever done. And while I know some people don't understand how I can just go "play" on the other side of the world instead of figuring out what I am going to do with my life and this college degree I worked so hard for, I hope that this blog will will unfold to you the story of why I am doing this and what I am discovering on my journey. But above all things, my biggest hope is that this blog serves as an outlet for me to share my adventure, including the hard times as well as the amazing.
    So come, join my adventure in the Land of Oz. Not only do I hope you enjoy following me for this coming year, but I envy you; for you get to take a backseat to my adventure without ever tackling the monstrous plane ride that is in my near future!