The Beginning.

Hello! My sister and I have been presented with an amazing opportunity: to partake in a ten week study abroad program in Australia and New Zealand.
Our adventure officially begins on January 1st! This officially marks the count down until then. Twenty-four days until we leave and I have only just begun to think about packing and what I need to bring and what needs to stay at home.
This past Saturday we attended an orientation for our Australia/New Zealand trip, it was exciting to feel like the ball was finally rolling. We received information on the classes we would be taking, the possible trips and adventures that we could go on and information on when and where we would be staying.

The ten week program is divided into five weeks in Australia and five weeks in New Zealand. The first four weeks in each country will be devoted to school, field trips and staying with the group (except on weekends). The fifth week will be a free travel break; meaning, we get to travel wherever we want in Australia/New Zealand as long as we can afford it. Ella, I and our cousin Madison are all hoping to visit Cairns, while in Australia, to go snorkeling through out the Great Barrier Reef. Special goal? To see a shark. :) Crazy? Maybe. Though I did see a shark last year in Captain Cook, Hawaii. Unfortunately that shark was only six-seven feet long and was laying on the bottom of a reef, completely oblivious to the snorkelers above it. I think Ella wants to visit Hobbiton in Matamata, New Zealand, during our travel break there. 

We are so excited to have this opportunity!