All Good Things Come to an End

I started off this week with mixed feelings. I knew that every day I'd be doing things and going places I'd have to say goodbye to in a few days and the thought leaving made me sad. On the other hand, however, some really exciting things were planned for this week including my 16th birthday which I will tell you more about later.

On Monday afternoon Do and I took a bus from Southport to Surfers to do some big time souvenir shopping. And believe me, when I say big time, I really mean BIG TIME. Our plan of attack was as follows: first we looked around various souvenir shops to compare the prices of the by now oh-so-famous kangaroo and koala backpacks and once we'd compared the prices of these backpacks in all the shops we went to the one where the cheapest ones were. Subsequently, we spent no less than one and a half hour in this particular shop. In total we bought 7 sweaters, 5 T-shirts, 12 kangaroo and koala backpacks, place-mats, tea towels, Australian flags, post cards, key rings, magnets and I probably even forgot some more stuff. We asked the Chinese shop owner if we could get some discount (seeing we bought half his shop) and next he gave us a free T-shirt worth about one gazillionth of the amount of money we spent. "Thanks sir, that's so generous of you." NOT.

After all our hard work (yes, souvenir shopping really is hard work and so is carrying two ginormous bags containing your purchases), Do and I treated ourselves to some Zarraffa's (Australian version of Starbucks). We got a chicken avocado pastry and a caramel fushion cream. I was just about to say that it was delicious and I'm wondering now how often I've actually said that before. Probably a million times. I think that while rereading this blog when I'm in Holland I will realize how much I've actually written about food. And this is the moment where you come in and say "Duh, how could you not have realized that before?" Well, I just haven't.

On our way back to Bella's house we bought a present for Ms Power, St Hildas exchange coordinator, and looked around for a thai massage to go to for my birthday on Thursday (and also for Do's birthday, we were treating each other). Back home we had dinner together and we spread out all the souvenirs we had bought on the ground and took some photos. I also took a photo with my host family (except for Rory who was at uni). Too bad though that the dogs couldn't sit still properly for the photo...

"Tuesday I checked off something else from my bucketlist," she casually said. No, what are you thinking?!? I WENT ON A #&*^@%$ HELICOPTER RIDE AND IT WAS #&*^@%$ AMAZING!!!!!!!!! Bella and Kaia had organized it as an early birthday present because there was no possibility to do it any other day this week, but who cares? IT WAS THE BEST BIRTHDAY PRESENT I COULD'VE WISHED FOR! When we arrived at Seaworld (where the helicopter ride took off), I was under the impression that we were simply picking up a package for Kaia's work. But we weren't (obviously). At first I said, "Can I stay in the car?" but then Kaia said, "No you're getting out." Next thing I knew I was flying high over the Gold Coast and its beautiful surrounding lands. The feeling while taking off was completely different from that of an airplane. I think I was still overwhelmed and flabbergasted by the surprise when we got home and I only realized what I'd just done when I was looking at the photos afterwards. It was so extraordinary and I can't thank my host family enough for this incredible experience.

However, to my surprise it wasn't over yet with the early birthday presents because on Wednesday the Torv's had planned something else for me: a facial at a well-known beauty centre! Kaia picked me up from school early and an hour later after I'd enjoyed my lovely facial and gained some valuable beauty advice, we went back to school to pick Bella and Do up. Back home I started packing my suitcase, watched some Revenge and stayed up till midnight with Do because it was my 16th birthday on Thursday! It was still only 3 pm in Holland so not yet my real birthday there, but I still skyped some friends and family. Afterwards, Do and I chatted for a bit and then we went to sleep because we had some exciting birthday activities planned for the next day!

Do and I decided to wear our normal clothes to school as it was my birthday and we were only staying for 2 classes (don't worry we're not known as 'the disobedient exchanges' now, we were actually allowed to). Afterwards, Kaia picked us up from school and dropped us off at home because we had a booking for the Q1 climb at 12 o'clock. Q1 used to be the world's tallest residential tower but now some building in Dubai has got that title. Anyways, the preparation for the climb was pretty much the same as the preparation for the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb (remember, the one we couldn't continue with because of the weather). You basically just had to put on a big onesie and a harness and with a cable you were connected to the building. I was the first one in the line and it was so much fun climbing around the building. I knew that I was safe and everything so I didn't have to worry about falling off and  I could just enjoy the 360 degrees beautiful views over Gold Coast's coastline and hinterland. I could even recognize Bella's house from up there! The climb took us about 90 minutes in total and afterwards Do and I had a lovely birthday lunch at the observation deck on level 77 of Q1. We could even order some champagne to celebrate my 16th, even though the legal drinking age in Australia is 18 and not 16 like in Holland. Following lunch, Do and I walked around Surfers for a bit and then we decided which thai massage shop we wanted to go to. There was one with the cutest little thai women wearing thai dresses and they were just so adorable that we decided to go there. We even got 10 minutes extra for free. It was very relaxing and we both didn't really feel like getting up when it was over as we'd become pretty sleepy. Back home, Do got picked up and I got ready to go out for dinner with my host family. We went to a teppanyaki restaurant, a concept I'd never heard of before, and the food was delicious (there we go again...) I have to say I've had such a special birthday and even though I wasn't with my family and friends (except for Do), I don't think many people can say they celebrated their 16th birthday climbing a 348 m tall building in a country 16.000 km away from home. :)

Today was our last day at St Hildas and tonight will be my last night in my bed here. I have mixed feelings about leaving which made it a strange day. People signing flags, taking some last photos and eventually, saying goodbyes and packing my bags. Everything has almost come to an end and honestly, I don't think I realize I'm actually leaving yet. It feels like tomorrow will just be another day of what I now consider my "normal" life. See, that's the thing, I'm not exactly sure what my "normal" life is anymore. I've spent so much time here in Australia, in this house, with my host family and especially with Bella, that I'm not sure if I'm ready to say goodbye to all of it yet. Of course I look forward to seeing my friends and family again after having been away from them for 8 weeks, but I cannot exactly say that thought makes up for the feeling of leaving everything here behind. I've had the absolute most amazing time here in Australia. I couldn't have wished for anything else, and even if I would have, it just wouldn't have been the same. I've experienced so many cultural differences, learned new things, made new friends, did things I'd never done before and most of all, developed a valuable friendship with my exchange sister Bella. I'm sure we'll keep in touch and one day, we'll meet again.