Last Day in Oz

The day that I really never actually thought would come is now here - my last day in Australia. 

The major success of my departure is this:

After being in basically a permanent panic attack about packing for the past week, I did it! Assuming my suitcases aren't overweight, I will be able to bring my entire closet back to America - in addition to so many souvenirs and excessive amounts of Tim Tams (of course I only learned they had jumbo packs on my second to last day here). I spent all day yesterday achieving the masterpiece that is two packed suitcases and a duffel bag, and am now left with very little to do.

Last night, ten of us went out for one more group dinner. We ended up at the Australian Hotel, the same place where we ate kangaroo and crocodile pizza three months ago. It's incredibly cheesy, but we found it fitting to end where we started. We spent dinner talking about everything we had done here - most embarrassing moments, best memories, what we were going to miss. There was definitely a feeling of sadness to it, especially when we toasted to our time here and our experiences. Still, there was a feeling of happiness too, sitting at the table with nine other people who I would consider some of my closest friends in Australia, enjoying each other's company one more time.

After dinner, we took one more walk over by the Opera House and took some incredibly posed pictures. We just had to capture the moment one more time.

Our lives, in a nutshell

My wonderful roommates - wouldn't have traded these girls for anyone

It took coming all the way to Australia for me to find Julie, and I can't wait for the endless texts, snapchats, Skypes, and visits to Boston that I know are going to follow.

The family - since day one.

Australia love.

Last night was also saying goodbye to Julie, Tim, and Connor, who left for New Zealand earlier this morning. As sad as it was to see them leave, we know it's not the last time we'll see each other, and I know that I made lifelong friends here.

While it has set in that I'm going home, it hasn't set in that going home means not being with all these people anymore. It's so weird to think that in two days, Sam's mattress won't be in the middle of my living room, Julie won't be walking around in her cat sweater singing Paramore, and Beks won't be in the bed next to me when I wake up. 

I don't know that there's much more I could say about everything, I feel like it's all been said already.

24 hours from now, I'll be somewhere over the ocean, ready for the next chapter of my life to begin.

In the past three months, this American has gone Aussie, and now it's time to go home.