Day Five: Challenges

Today, we went on a harbour cruise around the Sydney Harbour, which was SO cool because we got to see everything from a different angle than a lot of people do.  My group of friends and I mainly stayed on the top deck so we could have an unobstructed view of everything.  We also explored the city and we got to go inside the Opera House...how cool is that?!  It's pretty cool, but we didn't get to see the concert hall, which is ok...I guess I'll just have to go to a performance there some day.  We also went to the Sydney World Wildlife Center, where we saw koalas!!!!!!!!!!!

Left to right: Me, Lexa, Reilly.  It was pouring.

So far on this amazing, fantastic, crazy, unpredictable trip, the toughes thing has definitely been the lack of a dryer because it is the rainy season.  It has rained nearly everyday this trip, so having dry shoes and pants for the next day has been a little trying on me since that is a luxury at home that I am so used to having.  I am wondering if, at home, I will have to get used to having a dryer again.If I do, I know it won't take long.  Another challenge I have faced is just going with it and not worrying too much.  I have found that as the trip has gone on, I have become more adventurous and much more laid back.  I don't really care if my hair is a little mess up or windblown, which at home, I would probably freak out... My easiest thing to get used to so far is probably bing in such a fun group.  I love traveling with such a great group and surprisingly, dealing with our ups and downs has been one of the best parts of being in a group.  It is also really cool to me to see the different group dynamics as we travel.  For instance, at the Thai restaruant last night, we were a really talkative group, but there have been other groups that barely talk at all like that.
One of my biggest shocks has been how well I'm dealing with all of the fatigue.  I get so soaked up in what we're doing that I forget how tired I am, and I think that's how I know I'm a traveler, not a tourist.  When I signed up for this trip, I knoew I wasn't coming to Australia and New Zealand to relax, I was coming here to become immersed in simething and somewhere new and to forget about Facebook, email, texting, and TV for 11 days.I could honestly live like this forever. I'm having the time of my life.