Just felt like whacking down a journal entry as it is Saturday and I have a big heap of nothing to occupy me. Semester has just started back up and I can't wait to get through it, as it is my last. Ill finally have a degree and finally be able to start to live my life to my own terms for once. Im planning on trying to get my pilots license for choppers once im done, so ive got a whole lot ahead of me. Im still trying to decide whether or not to stay in Sydney. I miss my friends and family after being away for so long, but at the same time I love Sydney for its beaches and weather. Beats down Boston for sure At least I have a fair bit of time to make up my mind though. My break was fairly uneventful other than the ski trip I took to New Zealand. We had 10 days in Queenstown, which most people would argue is the adventure capital of the world. The boarding was great and I met a great deal of new people which was great. Only downside was catching bronchitis about half way through, which im only just now getting over. Still though was a great time. Oh and as an aside, I found out last night that the iPod touch has Wolfenstein 3d on it!!! Being a huge video game geek back in the day, this was THE first game I ever played, so having it on the iPod touch is like a blast from the past, and oh so awsome Anyway, that's about all that is going on for the moment...hopefully the weather in Sydney continues to warm up, as im just itching to get to the beach and get some surfing in

So figured id throw down another journal entry since im sitting in my uni accommodation while everyone else is off on the Easter holidays. This semester seems to be flying by and its already about half way over. I have come to find out by doing out the calculations that if I get the previous credit I had from home accepted at the uni here in Australia that I will be done with my degree by the end of the year, which excites me to even think about. It feels like I have been working towards a degree for the last 5 years, and it will be good to no longer have to be a poor college student. Also, in finishing it lets me seriously start to pursue photography as a potential for work instead of just a hobby.

I have also been reading through 'Long Way Round' by Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman. For those who dont know, in both of their books they undertake tremendous long distance journeys on motorcycles. Having been reading the "Adventure Motorcycling Handbook" myself, it has spurred a great desire to save for a period of time, buy a bike and head off to see the world. Perhaps its just a pipe dream now but I feel like this is something I will actually follow through on, despite a journey around the world on motorbike being a tremendous challenge. In any case the amount of time it would take to prepare for something like that would be a number of years, so for the moment it is going to have to stay an unrealized dream.

As of late I find myself feeling quite lonely as well. No one told me that about Sydney when I was consider moving here. That being that it is tough to make friends, since it's such a fast place, a lot like New York or Boston really. Being an American expatriate and not knowing anyone when I got to Australia made this a bit daunting, and as usual wishing that I had done more research instead of just jumping at the first thing that came along....so typical of me. It just seems as though even while I have met people here, it just doesn't seem to click. I get the feeling a lot that people don't actually like me as much as they would want me to think. I just cant seem to shake it no matter how hard I try. I wonder if it is just that I can no longer make a connection to people. The fact that I am anywhere from three to five years older than everyone I meet doesn't make it easy. Either way I think if I stay in Australia after my degree is done ill be moving north to Brisbane where the people and weather are said to be better.

Well that is about it for now, everything that was occupying my mind at night when I should be sleeping. Oh and also, I have some ideas for some self portraits, so keep a look out.

I just thought I would sit down and write a bit about the last few weeks I have had traveling around New Zealand and Fiji and also about coming home for the holidays. My travels through New Zealand were amazing (although I dont think the North Island really lived up to the South) Once again I met many cool people who I got to share the experience of travel with. There were dolphins in the Bay Of Islands, staying in a tradional Maori Marae, white water rafting near Rotorua, and the final night of partying in Wellington. It was an amazing experience and one I wont soon forget.

It was not until I got to Fiji that I remember why I travel so much. Fiji was quite simply the most amazing place I had ever traveled to. From the hospitality of the people on the islands to the beautiful sunrises and sunsets, the Fiji Islands are truly a blessed place. I spent two weeks island hopping around in the Yasawa chain and it truly did unlock my creativity, as well as give me a lot of time to think and clarify things in my life. I cant really say much more than that, not because I dont want to, but because it is difficult to put such an experience into words. I will have the photos from the trip up soon, so hopefully those will speak for me.

I have also arrived back home yesterday and it is a great feeling, if not a bit odd due to the instant change of season. The process was dreadful due to missing my flight in Los Angeles and having to re route through Chicago and almost getting stuck there due to a snow storm. Although it has only been about 5 months since I left for Australia it feels like it has been years, so it is good to get home again and to celebrate the holidays with my family. Hopefully I will have my mac mini up and running soon so I can get my pictures up, so until then I hope everyone enjoys the holidays