the Nepal/Thailand trip Awards

because we don't look at this enough. and grad is coming soon, and who knows WHERE in the world we will all end up! love you all in IMMENSE amounts!!!

IDS Field Trip 2009 Awards

Rochelle Hockley: The 2009 Chiang Rai Bus Station award- Given in
recognition of unsurpassed bravery and committment to high adventure
while bungee jumping in Nepal, and for falling down a single step while
exiting a bus platform in Thailand.

Gifts: 1 delux St John's First Aid Kit. 1 litre of dog and small child
repellant cream- with free refills for life. 2 10am sleepins followed by
Starbucks Coffee.

Krissie Hopkins: The Kodak young photographer of the year award. In
recognition of unsurpassed calmness during vicious monkey attacks,
dedication to taking unflattering portraits of travel friends and to
unswerving belief that more really is more.

Gifts: $1,000 gift voucher for photo-developing
because she lost her cards>, 12 hour moonlight elehphant ride with the
world famous, very handsome, French Photo-journalist and editor of
National Geographic, Mr Claude Van Amazing.

Anna Tennyson: The South Carolina random IDS student of the year award.
In recognition of entertaining commentary, strange dreams, impulsive
speech, lihgt conversation and for helping keep the group amused and
entertained.

Gifts: 12 bulk No Doze tablet packets. Not just any cute monkey faced
alarm clock. This one jumps on you at 6am and pulls your clothing off.
3 months of round the world cruising with Mr Costa Rica, paratrooper,
rockclimber, lover extroadinairre,

Tammy Zyderveld: The Last Resort swan dive award in recognition of
elegance and the quest for high adventure.

Gifts: the 2009 Avondale medal of valour and Starbucks award granted in
recognition of sustained bravery against overwhelming odds and a valiant
lone stand against room lapping cockroaches, random bugs and sucky mouth
fish.

Kimberly Ellison: The 2009 Este Lauda award for elegance and serenity
while exposed to extreme heat.

Gifts: Her very own giant swing located on one hundred acres of pasture
and gardens. Also, a tiara, prince charming and Hemp ballgown- because
real princesses wear their high- they don't smoke it. Plus, a royal
Beagle, trained as a sniffer dog.

The end of another era...

From originally being enrolled in Conservation and Wildlife Biology with a double major in Marine Science at Murdoch university in Perth, WA, to Screen and Sound Studies at the same university for one year and then a massive, unplanned and surprising (for me most of all I think) to Avondale College in Central Coast NSW studying Communications and International Development Studies, it has been an epic journey through these last four years!

But I wouldn't change one bit of it. Through all the anger, tears, frustration, homesickness, absolute certainty that I made the wrong choice, determination to prove that I can do it, here we are. the final home sprint- the finish line so close I can almost feel the ribbon. And along with me are the best friends in the world that a girl could ask for, six artistic, amazing, blonde kindred spirits whose concern and love for those around them and passion for helping others less fortunate, who speak out for what they believe in and constantly make me strive to be the best person i could possibly. Their love and support I have come to rely on like I never thought possible, and the knowledge that they will always be there for me makes me believe that anything is possible and the world is mine to claim.

From mad may, to movie nights, chaffs, bi-lo runs, yummy thai/paulies/aladdins/indian, many, many train rides and flights all over the country (so much so that I think I have a super bag for it to have survived) as well as study tour to Nepal and Thailand that changed my life forever, late night fondue and much dancing Avondale has been a great experience that I wouldn't change for anything, no matter my love/hate or should I say hate/love of the place, coming here was definitely on of the best decisions of my life.

As the scariness and sheer excitement and relief of graduation approaches and the unknown of next year looms overhead- the questions of what will you be doing next year? spin round and round me till I'm dizzy and I end up with less idea than before they asked me, I do know that whatever I do decide to do with the next few year, to the rest of my life- it is going to be one hell of an adventure that I am so totally excited about!