Going to Australia!

I've been holding out on my readers. I haven't told y'all that this August, I'll be embarking on one of the more exciting trips in my young life. Yep, I'm headed to Australia! I'll be following my boyfriend back to his native land of Australia, staying with his family and exploring the city of Melbourne for two weeks.

I've traveled widely through France and also visited the UK and Italy, but I've never been south of the equator before, and I've heard a lot of glowing reviews about Australia. The people are friendly, things are very laid-back, and there are all those interesting-looking animals! I love the prospect of traveling and it's also a bit exciting that I'll be the first person in my family to visit Australia. That's quite a feat, considering my parents have been all over the world, from Japan to Sweden and a ton of places in between. I love traveling because it's an opportunity to absorb a completely new place with all of my senses. I promise that I will return not only with photographs and mental images of what I have seen, but memories of the sounds, tastes, and smells. I'll do my best to absorb everything I can, from people's attitudes to their accents to what the stores look like, from the sky to the sea and everything in between. As you can tell, I'm very excited.

I also know a good deal of my readers are Aussies, so I'll be pleased to see a little bit of your country! I have nothing but good things to say about what I've experienced of the Aussie character (I am, after all, dating an Aussie). And I'm sure I'll see plenty of more great things about Australia as a country and as a personality.

There's just one thing: I have this curious auditory habit that could get me in trouble. My whole family does as well, and it's that when we hear or are surrounded by a certain speech pattern or accent, it begins to infect our own speech. Put us amongst a group of people speaking with a particular accent, and we'll unconsciously start imitating a little bit. It's not making fun of people or even trying to sound "cool", we're just easily influenced. It's kind of like when you're singing harmony and you start to sing the part of the person next to you, which I always do unless I plug my ears. When I meet a few Australians, I'll try to keep a handle on myself, because I really don't want people to think I'm making fun of them! Anyway, I'll be sure to save up a few meaty posts during my absence, but expect the post rate to decline slightly for two weeks at the end of August. Cheers, mates!

Comments

[Emmet Ryan]

Ah yes the classic wandering accent, I know it well. Luckily I only tend to do it in other parts of Ireland and in Scotland (probably because I used to live there).

Sounds like a great trip, hope you enjoy it.

[Kelvin]

I know you will have fun. A wonderful experience and culture eye-opener it will be to have to leave the U.S. once more! Enjoy your trip there.