Something I love about being in Australia is meeting people who have adventurous spirits like mine. Of course I miss my family and friends at home, but something I've realized is that I can't really picture any of them doing something like this. When I told people I was moving across the world to live for a year in a foreign country where I knew no one, they could not stop telling my how brave and lucky I was, and how jealous they were of my adventure ahead. But as jealous as they claim to be, when I think of most of my friends back at home, I doubt they would ever truly enjoy and embrace an experience like this. I reckon they'd be too scared. I suppose people were right when they said I was brave, because doing what I'm doing takes guts - but honestly, I could never imagine myself not being here. I have met so many girls who feel exactly the same way. They have adventurous spirits and want to see the world, and they aren't afraid of breaking away and doing something different. I've found it's especially easy to bond with other American girls because our culture is so absorbed in living a rat race - travel doesn't usually take precedence over establishing a career - so being here is so unexpected of us. I am happy to say that I'm starting to make some solid friendships. Just the other day I lounged by the pool with some girls and we planned our first real trip here in Australia. Flights are booked, hostel is reserved - we're going to Cairns!