Pre-departure Excitement!

I can't believe I actually got a blog! Given that I am going abroad for almost four months, I thought it might be fun to keep everyone at home updated and to document my travels for myself. I want to remember my time in Australia vividly and what better way than through short updates and photos.


This winter break has been extremely crazy. I just finished up my microeconomics class, which I took online this past month. Learning an entire semester's worth of material in four weeks was kind of intense - I'm not sure if I would do it again. Though I'm quite relieved considering many of my potential grad programs require it. Having been working, taking a class, and applying to become a Udall scholar, I have hardly thought about going abroad to be honest. I'm excited for this semester...to see a new place, assimilate into a new culture, and meet new friends.


I also got a new digital camera for the trip (slightly better than my crappy, yet reliable Canon, which I'd had since middle school). To test it out, I snapped some photos at the Amherst winter farmers market.  

Delicious bread from El Jardin bakery.  We ended up getting the "8 Grain," which tasted more like sour-dough than anything. 

Beautiful winter root vegetables from Red Fire Farm.

Colorful apples from Apex Orchards.

I ended up getting a nice gift for my host family at the market: a birch bark candle hand-crafted by a local artisan. Glad my mom spotted it as I think it's really quite pretty and I hope my family enjoys it. Ahhh I can't believe I am leaving in less than a week..still so much to do and so little time!