AUSTRALIA

This log will document my voyage to Australia-- The land down under!! As anyone who knows me is aware, I am completely infatuated with Australia and am DETERMINED to go. I am completely confident that I will have an amazing trip and the time of my life; but I believe that the process in actually going should be made equally memorable. Contained in this log is my present progress of reaching the amazing land of Australia.

Click here to instantly see how much longer until I leave for Australia!!

• 1998-99-- I learn about Australia through conversations on-line and discover how great a place it is, eventually coming to the conclusion that I want to visit. My heart is set on Brisbane, QLD.

• Summer '99-- I begin to imagine the dream vacation to Australia and share it with my friends. I begin to wonder how possible such a vacation would be.

• Fall '99-- After considering a suggestion by an Aussie friend, Cale, I decide that I want to study abroad in Australia. I expect to spend a year of school in Brisbane from fall of 2001 to spring of 2002.

• Spring 2000-- I discover an organization called AustraLearn, who specializes in sending American students to study in Australia. I scale down my idea and consider a semester at one of two universities in Brisbane through AustraLearn.

• April 2, 2000-- I meet Laine online who is also participating in AustraLearn.

• May 3, 2000-- I meet Erika, Laine's friend, who is doing AustraLearn as well. The three of us become friends and continue to motivate and excite each other about going to Australia.

• September 2000-- Laine and Erika introduce me to several work abroad programs to Australia. We decide to spend the summer of 2001 working in Australia instead of studying with AustraLearn.

• October 2000-- The three of us decide to work through an organization called Bunac, after ordering information packets through the mail.

• October 11, 2000-- I mail my program fee ($475) along with my application to Bunac to enter the Work Australia program.

• October 20, 2000-- I receive a letter from Bunac officially accepting me into the Work Australia program. Visa details to be sent later.

• October 25, 2000-- I send required documents and pictures for a passport.

• November 8, 2000-- I receive my passport.

• December 20, 2000-- I receive information from Bunac about processing my visa.

• January 2001-- Laine, Erika, and I search for air fare to Sydney.

• January 24, 2001-- I purchase my ticket from Los Angeles to Sydney from STA Travel.

• February 6, 2001-- I receive my plane ticket from Los Angeles to Sydney and send off the required paper work to process my visa.

• February 28, 2001-- I recieve my Australian work visa and pre-departure package.

• March 31, 2001-- I purchase my ticket from Greensboro to Los Angeles, making my last purchase for my trip.

• April 19, 2001-- I made my reservations for Millets Oz Backpackers in Sydney for the first two days of my trip.

Aussie related sites--

"Australia" -- My remake of the popular "Fly Away" by Lenny Kravitz.

BUNAC -- A non-profit organization for the promotion of international educational work and travel programs.

AustraLearn -- Study abroad program to Australia for North American students.

STA Travel -- Student Travel Agency.

Back to my Home Page!

Born to be Australian!