A Year in Review

Looking back I have noticed another weird thing- many American homes do not seem to have a sink in the laundry. I also still find huge portion sizes, seeing American flags everywhere and advertising for prescription drugs weird. Coming home I forgot that the toilets in America are lower to the ground, have so much more water in them, flush at such a high velocity  and have a lever thing on the side instead of a button on top.

Anyway, I made the long flights home without any delays. I flew from Atlanta to LA to Brisbane and then to Perth. I was fortunate enough to have an empty seat beside me on the first two flights so I could slightly stretch out.

The airport was pretty empty in LA and by the time I got a bus from the domestic to the international terminal I had to board straight away.

As per usual the lines for everything were long-at customs, immigration and to get the bus to the domestic terminal in Brisbane. By the time I was through in Brisbane I had to race over to get my flight for Perth, just making it in time.

I even arrived a little early in Perth, around lunch time, and spotted my family waiting for me as I came down the escalators, which was good because I needed them to carry all my bags!

I spent that afternoon and the whole next day unpacking. Then on Saturday afternoon I went to the movies with my sister. When we came back she ordered me to put some stuff in her room. When I went out to do it I was surprised to find the back of our house filled with all my family and friends.

I had no idea, she got me good! Much to Mum's dismay we are yet to find any photos. While I really enjoyed my time away and would do it again, it is good to be back. Now I need to find a job!

Final Catchups

Last Saturday I went out for lunch with all my host families. We went to the first place I came to when I arrived here. It was really great that everyone was able to come and we had a great time. I had a cocktail called The Green Lantern!

The next week I spent doing Rotary presentations and staying with each family as much as I could. The Duluth Rotary Club even made me a Paul Harris Fellow which is an honour and something I really wasn't expecting!

I also went to Dave and Buster's (an arcade place with food and a bar) a few times with different people which was fun. We have nothing like that back home so I wanted to go there one last time! Maybe I should open one in Perth!

On Thursday a group of us went into Atlanta where we stayed with another student's host family for a few nights. We spent hours shopping! I didn't buy much, but it was nice to look around the mall. We also played Top Golf, which was really cool. It is a driving range where you aim for different targets and it is electronically scored. We also spent some time playing cards and hanging by the pool.

I got picked up on Saturday and we went straight to a comic book shop for Free Comic Book Day. It was great I got a whole bunch of free comics and I bought a bunch too. Hopefully that'll keep me going for the flight home. Then that afternoon I saw Civil War, it's been rough trying to avoid spoilers seeing as how it has been out for more than a week back home, but I was glad to finally see it.

That night I had to frantically pack, as I moved out of school early the next morning to stay with one of my host families for a few nights before I fly home.

There have been a lot of hugs the past few weeks as you say not goodbye, but see you later to a whole bunch of special and truly kind people. Thank you to all those who have allowed me to stay in their home and who have welcomed me as one of their own. There is nothing I can say to show how much that has meant to me and how much I have enjoyed this experience.  And to all my buddies; I'll be waiting for you to come visit me, I just want to show you all of my favourite places back home.