Prep Time!

Good grief, I'm leaving in a day and a half...when did that happen? That's right, on Saturday at 1:20 PM, I will be on my way. First stop, Dallas, where I will meet up with one other girl from SFS, and then we're off to LA. The plan is to have a "last dinner" with the group, then on a looooooooooooong flight to Brisbane. Brisbane is where I will finally be able to meet my beloved roomie's finacee, and get to see my beloved roomie, of course! Then a two hour hop to Cairns, and a drive to the station! Sounds like the day from heck, huh? Total air time: 23 hours. Total travel time: about 34 hours. Makes me shudder just to think about it! And the worst thing? I won't get to watch the hockey All-Star game! :(

But for now, I have another day and a half to spend with the Fam, that is, if they don't drive me nuts first! Tomorrow, I'm meeting my grandad for lunch, then off to a hockey game! It's just the Norfolk Admirals, but the games are fun anyway...Lot's of free soda, blood, and guts. All the guys are trying so hard to make it into the NHL, that there are lot's of fights and it makes for a pretty exhilarating game.

Packing has been a bear. It's really hard to fit three months into two check bags, you know? The lucky thing is having done the Caribbean trip earlier this month. It was a perfect "prequel" to this trip! I got to realize what I needed and didn't need. For example, Need: Lot's of bug spray, anti-itch cream, and a new backpack that actually has a hip belt. Didn't need: So many clothes! My mom wasn't happy when she realized that that meant I needed a whole new shopping trip! But it was good, and we got most everything in one trip. Now, it's just fitting it all in the space alotted, and telling myself that, no, I do not need to bring such a huge first aid kit...What can I say, I like to be prepared!

That's all for now, and hopefully my next post will be from the Land Down Under! Sayonara, tomodachi!

Who, What, When, Where, and Why?

Why, hello there! Don't know how you stumbled upon this page, or why you feel like spending some of your time here, but okay! Whatever the reason (I suspect procrastination...Am I right?), you probably have lot's of questions. Questions like: Who are you? Why are you making a blog? Who in the world gave you a scalpel, and were they crazy? Well, I'll try to answer those questions right off the bat. Except for the last one... That you'll never know! ; )

My name is Erin. I am a junior in college. I am a Biology major, on a pre-veterinary track, who likes to play soccer, practice martial arts, and work with animals.

Any questions? No? Good! Moving on!

I will be studying abroad in the Atherton Tablelands of Australia. From January 2011 until May 2011, I will try to document the events of living in a rainforest field station, so that my family and friends can keep up with my trials and travails, which could range from run-ins with cassowary to tree-plantings to the wonders of cabin life and my quest to pick up an Australian accent. Hopefully, this will also help to assuage some of the lingering doubts about my continued survival that many who hear where I am going seem to have, as well. : )

So, continue on with your business and I shall return soon!