Planning!

Anyone who knows me knows I'm a planner. I have to plan things out, I'm not very spontaneous and I don't like doing things last minute. Seriously, I hate it.

So, because of this I now have the rest of the first teaching period all planned out - every weekend is booked solid and I couldn't be happier! This coming weekend it's off to Auckland for some sail adventures for my dad. Then the next weekend it's surf camp - it's the following weekends I organized today. Sam and I went to Backpackers World bright and early and waited about an hour until Amanda was done with a client. We met up with my friend Megan who was also planning some stuff and decided Megan and I would do the Outback and Cairns together. When she first started bringing up flight prices I was really discouraged and disappointed. It all seemed way too expensive to even begin to commit to anything, and here in Australia prices only go up, there's no "last minute" deal. It's just a last minute pay through your nose deal. So we were at a slight disadvantage. So after another hour or two of basically being told my travel plans were ruined I left, a bit crestfallen. But, I realized, who's a better travel agent than I am? Who plans trips, finds flights and hotels, and does everything not only for her mother but for others as well? Oh, that's right. ME. So I got really revved up, ate my left over Indian food, and started my search. And boy, was I ever right. I found better flight prices, better excursion deals, and all around cheaper experiences. I need to trust myself more often! By 4:30pm, Megan and I had booked a weekend in the Outback visiting Ayers Rock, King's Canyon, and the Aboriginal Center (for my religion credit) for way less than Amanda quotes us AND a long weekend trip to Cairns (pronounced cans for all you!) for Labor Day. I was so excited, so was Megan! It's going to be an amazing couple days getting to see two parts of Australia we really wanted to experience. I'm also thinking of heading to the Whitsundays just for a couple days during Spring Break after Fiji just to see it, but that's for later. I'm so happy things are settled and I'll have a good, like-minded travel buddy with me for those two trips. Megan and I are going to have so much fun hiking in Uluru and snorkeling in Cairns! I'm so grateful that it all worked out. It's going to be a whirlwind five weeks!

We also had our first day of our required Australian Culture and Society class today, which was interesting. I think I can totally work it towards my religion credit and satisfy my adviser back at BU. Not only is one of our guest lecturers an expert on Aboriginal culture and can help me but I'm going to visit one of their most sacred spots to witness a ceremony. Come on, that has to count! :) Early to bed again tonight, we have an early field trip with one of our professors that I don't want to be groggy for. I'm starting to understand this whole early to bed, early to rise thing! Maybe my mother is onto something!

G'night from down under!