Anticipation for Australia!

Dear Bloggers!
                As you may know, this is my first Australian blog. I am hoping for many more to come. Today is Tuesday February 8th 2011. In exactly ten days, I will be flying to Australia. I am really looking forward to this wonderful and life-changing experience. Without a doubt, my eyes will be opened to a tremendously different culture than my own.
               Although I am truly happy to be going to Australia, I am also feeling some bittersweet emotions. Quite frankly, I am leaving behind many people that I love and cherish very much. I am not going to lie, the past couple of weeks have been pretty tough saying goodbye to various friends and family members. I had a very uncomfortable feeling in my gut saying goodbye to some friends and family members. I had no idea it was going to be this hard. I am not looking forward to my time at the MSP airport seeing my parents cry. They are happy for me to have this opportunity, but they are sad they are sending off their "baby" for five months. I hope we all manage well.
              While I am gone, I am hoping to blog pretty regularly. I hope to add pictures and insights for all to see. Please feel free to comment on any of my blogs. I will be studying abroad at the University of Notre Dame Australia. I will be taking five courses there, all counting towards my four year academic plan at St. John's University. UNDA is in Fremantle, Western Australia, outside of Perth. Please keep me, my group, friends, and family members in your prayers.