Goodbye Perth... for now

Aussie word of the day: Singlet = tank top, "The girl was wearing a singlet to workout in."

I haven't really said much about my return home... again. As you know from one of my first posts of the year, I witnessed the engagement of one of my best friends on New Year's Eve in Sydney. That friend is getting married over 4th of July weekend and I am flying home to be one of her bridesmaids. I leave tonight, in about 6 hours and 15 minutes to be exact - my dad got me counting down the final hours and minutes. By the time you read this, I will probably be somewhere over the Pacific Ocean or I might already be back in Missouri.

It's always bittersweet leaving Perth, I'm not really sure why because I've never felt that way about leaving Kansas City. Maybe it's because I don't have any roots here and it's feels a little like I'm leaving for good each time I go back to the States. Or maybe it's because I feel like I'm leaving a little part of myself behind when I go. I get anxious and feel like I'm walking around in a daze. I'm unmotivated to pack. It's as though I want to be in Perth and at home in the States at the same time. I don't want to go, but I know I can't stay.

In six months I'm finished with my master's degree. My good friend Debbie has already arranged her flight home for December 2 and says it feels strange to nearly be finished and already know when she's leaving for good. The last year has really flown, and although I'm ready to be finished with my studies and eager to move on to the next chapter in my life, I want to hang on to this time and place. In an attempt to hang on to my life in Oz for a little while longer, I plan to extend my stay until my student visa expires in March 2009. My boyfriend has played a large part in that decision by suggesting that I move to the mine site he is working at to be closer to him. This will also give me the opportunity to really live in and experience the Outback as the mines are located in the northern part of Western Australia which is made up primarily of desert and bushland. It will also allow me to save up some much needed money to travel and pay back some of the hefty student loan debt I have acquired. Mining is a huge industry in WA at the moment and it's good money, even if you are just doing cleaning at the campsite. I will probably go for an admin position, save some money, then travel around the Pacific - New Zealand, Fiji, Hawaii - on my way home next March.

For the trip home I have stuffed my bags with a few goodies for the wedding: gourmet chocolate truffles from the Swan Valley, bottles of red and white Australian wines, and the real treat - soft, ivory-colored pashmina scarves for the bridesmaids! A little Australian decadence for the celebration! As I check my bags one last time and zip my trusty, well-travelled, red suitcase, I bid you all adieu and g'day. See you soon!

Cold June rain

Aussie word of the day: Yarn = story or conversation, "We had a good yarn," or "The magazine had some good yarns."

Firstly, I am sorry about my extended departure from the blogosphere. I took a little more time away than probably necessary. I was REALLY enjoying having so much free time again. Well, that free time is turning quickly into boredom as it does when you are stuck inside almost all day every day. My fellow midwesterners know what a cold November rain is like, well that is what an Aussie winter in WA is like - constant cold November rain. I can't get out of the house again today because of the rain, although it is actually warmer outside the house than in it.

My semester ended two weeks ago, then the BF was in town, so I was doing the dedicated girlfriend thing. My friend Gail turned 25 so we celebrated her birthday and my end of the semester with a sushi dinner and drinks a few Friday's ago. Last weekend was a Hawaiian themed birthday party at her house. The Aussie's love their theme parties. While all the Aussies turned up in tropical apparel, short shorts, Hawaiian shirts, tropical print sundresses, one couple even came in their wet suits - very clever - Gail I did the smart winter thing and wore jeans, sweatshirts and leis. All the Aussies were grumbing about why someone would throw a Hawaiian theme party in June - haha! We had to tell them the temperature in the northern hemisphere in June is quite appropriate for a tropical theme.

I've also been working a lot and trying to cram some extra cash in my pockets before coming home. I've been reading and watching movies, which I didn't get to do a lot of during my busy semester. I've also started catching up on some much needed exercise and have started dieting as well. Now I am off to IKEA - my fave! with Debbie to buy a frying pan and maybe a wedding gift for Gina!