Sights, sounds, friends, drink, food, adventure- all these things are incredible aspects to this journey in Cape Town. Work, however is why I am here and why I rise at 6 am to catch the train to Cape Town Center and make my little 30 minute commute to one small seed studio. With a courtyard out front complete with ferns, a water fountain and benches, I am immediately refreshed as I asked to get buzzed in through the gates out of breath with a “this is Heather so sorry I am a bit late!” We all sit on yoga balls at the office. This strengthens our core and work ethic. I’ll introduce you too a few fellow yoga ball bouncers- Geseppie is the editor-and-chief, from Luxembourg, and very fashionable indeed. Sarah is an editor who is always upbeat and just has that cool vibe that is contagious and then Loyiso is our film editor who is helping me with the language Xhosa. I would feel like the girl from ‘The devil wears Prada’ because of how unfashionable and “cool” I am not, but everyone is so chill and welcoming I cant help but feel accepted. The first day Geseppie took us all out for a drink- I had two mojitos and was a very employee.

A normal day for me looks like editing posts, managing social media, researching possible story leads, emailing potential contacts and bouncing on my yoga ball and skyping my co-workers (we don’t usually talk to each other….Iv learned a lot of emotion face thingingies in order to express myself better)… .

The other day I tried to make icebergs sexy…epic fail. I had my first assignment in which a random topic was selected and I proceeded to write a 300 post on it. Striped icebergs was my muse for brilliance and even though they are incredible to look at, I found it a tad bit tricky to make them the edgy, artsy kinda thing that captures a readers attention. So I bounced on my core firming yoga ball for about 5 hours and hoped I would hit by a lighting bolt of inspiration….or maybe just the lightening bolt. Well the story got written- it was along the lines of nature being an inspiration for art, fashion, architecture using as many avant-garde irreverent words I could think of. An iceberg was the downfall of many a good venture and I was sure this would be my titanic.   Since that post though, I have been much encouraged! Iv been writing about new inventions and researching Kwaito music for an article in which we might be able to film in the townships for. The other day I got to make up questions for Bryn Buckley “the king of the super bowl” he has directed the most superbowl adds so far but just recently made a short film ASAD that was nominated for the Oscars. The film is set in Somalia but filmed in South Africa and is an amazing story that will inspire and challenge. Writing the questions for his interview was a great way to learn about his work and get to be part of informing the public about this amazing project.

Tomorrow is Monday and a start a new week of stories, art, and yoga ball bouncing!

The plane rides back were more than exhausting but I am so happy to be back in America. I felt like I was apart of time travel with all the timezone changes that I went through to get back here. The Northwest is pretty as ever and hasn’t rained yet. Yikes it’s cold though!! So much different being back in America than when I got to Australia. I feel so familiar with everything and have really missed that comfort. Returning home is great but I’m happy that I have some time before school starts back up again to relax with my family and friends.

The first night I got home the second I saw my dog. LOVE

ps. Already missing Kiki and Australia. Massachusetts you’re next on my list of places to visit.

Well, Australia has been more than anything I could have ever asked for. I’ve had too much fun in these lovely places that I’ve visited. Even though Australia is similar to America I have found so many cultural differences and have enjoyed learning about a completely new place in the world. This has been the experience of a lifetime. I am ready to be back in America and eat some of my favorite food made by Mama Hixson. I can’t wait to watch games with my dad while snuggling my dog. Australia has been great, but I’m ready to be in America again. Having Holly come at the end of the trip was perfect so that I had someone to ride back on the plane with (we’ll see how that flight goes)

See ya soon, America.

Throwback of me at The Great Barrier Reef

Well, my time here is coming to an end. But, I had to see one more place before I left. So, Holly and I traveled up to Queensland and went to Surfers Paradise, the Gold Coast. Similar to Cairns but much more beachy feel. I absolutely loved it here and although I’m excited to go back to America I wish I was able to spend more time here. There were so many little shops, and pubs that I wanted to be able to see but there was just not enough time. The Gold Coast is so pretty and the beach was unbelievable. So many people swimming and playing in the water all times of the day.

Now you can see why they call this Surfers Paradise

The view from our hotel room

Us holding a koala

While we were in Queensland we went to a wildlife sanctuary so that Holly could see all of the cool animals that I was able to at various times throughout my journey. We even got to hold a koala, which isn’t legal in New South Wales.

Holly even got to feed a kangaroo like I did my first few weeks

The day has finally come! Holly is here! I was too excited when I picked her up from the airport and can’t believe that she’s in Australia. More pictures than words this week! We’ve been too busy catching up and showing her around town!

Welcome to Australia balloon for her at the airport

Lights in the mall that were too pretty not to share

Holly and our french friend, Flo. On the night monorail that goes around the entire city

Holly on the Sydney Opera House Steps, today the weather was perfect outside

Overlooking the Sydney Harbour

Holly, me, Flo at Darling Harbour fireworks that happen every Saturday night

Well, going to the hardest school I’ve ever been and taking upper level classes may have been a bit much! Macquarie University has a beautiful campus and I find my self spending so much time at their brand new library. It’s nice inside, but the weather is getting so beautiful it makes being in the library very hard. Lucky for me I’m about done with classes and finals then my sister is coming to stay with me for 2 weeks. I can’t believe that she will actually be here! It’s gonna be so much fun!

Mad Mex

Took a study break and went to my favorite burrito place called Mad Mex, it’s similar to Chipotle in America. The burritos are huge and soooo tasty. This week mine was free because I filled up my punch card after getting 10 you get one free! Don’t judge me for eating 10, well actually 11!

Well I’m realizing that my time in this beautiful city is coming to an end in a few weeks. I can’t believe the time that I’ve spent here. I’ve found out so much about the country and culture of Australia, I’ve made some very awesome friends and have explored somewhere I never thought actually possible that I live in. Today I went into the city and explored a little bit more. Finding the hidden gems of this place is amazing.

View of the Opera House from the top of a new restaurant

From a new restaurant we found in Circular Quay you have the perfect view of the Opera House if you dine outside. So pretty, even from a ways away.

Westfield Tower

I cannot believe that when I first got to Australia I was able to go to the top of the tower and have a birds eye view of the entire city! Even from down below its still pretty beautiful!

Life is great down under, hope it’s fun over in America still!

Well it’s more than official, I have found a forever friend while here in Australia. Kiki is from Massachusetts, we are in the same CIS abroad group, so we met right away. Now that we are neighbors and completely inseparable life is great! We are constantly going to the gym, going out to new restaurants to eat, happy hour, the list goes on. I cannot wait to get back to America and be able to visit her all the way across the country in Massachusetts. I’ve been to the east coast before but never Mass. To say Kiki is my best friend, would be a complete understatement.

Kiki and I being silly one night in AUS, I’m looking very pretty 😉 NOT

Way back when we were in Newcastle. Such cuties!

Happy Tuesday from Australia

This week I am loving my silly tan lines that I got while I was in Cairns, but as the tan lines fade, I’m busy back in classes. Macquarie’s classes are harder than my school at Western but I think that I’ll be okay, just have to apply time to them even though it’s hard with so much I want to explore.

Manly Beach

Went and played at Manly beach today. It was not warm enough to swim yet but it is still so much fun to hang out and lounge around in the sand. Had some yummy food and now it’s back to homework, yay us. Well at least I had a lovely break from school work today!

Last week of break was so much fun! This week Kiki and I really just lounged by the pool at our hostel and hung out with some new people. Met a girl named Jodi from Canada and started hanging with her quite a few times. We also met some really fun Lacrosse players from Colorado and we had fun reminiscing about America. Cairns is so pretty and we’ve had fun meeting all kinds of new people. Another girl from our CIS Abroad program came out to Cairns the same time as us, so we all three went to dinner and laughed about our time together at the very beginning of our trip. These two weeks have been more than amazing and I might go as far as to saying that Cairns is my favorite place I’ve visited in my life.

Kiki and I decided on one last hooray in Cairns and decided to go horseback riding in the jungle. I rode a horse called Whistle. I quickly realized how big horses really are once we started riding. Whistle was fun to ride, and we also went swimming while I was on his back. Its a crazy feeling swimming while on the back of a horse that’s swimming also.

This is Whistle and I before we went out into the jungle for the day

Whistle’s Treats

After we spent the day in the jungle they had us feed our horses a little treat of molasses to say ‘Thank you’ for sharing the day together. Honestly, I thought the molasses on my hands was gross, but I was happy that Whistle liked it! About to be heading back to Sydney, I already miss it up here. The perfect weather and no schedule to attend to everyday. Cairns, you will be missed.