This past week was our final week in Sydney. It was amazing how fast our time went. From classes, to spending time at the beach, to seeing the bustling metropolitan area of the inner city, the time went so quick (as it always does). My final week of classes went well and I truly enjoyed learning about the Australian way of life in Aussie life and culture as well as the political landscape of this region of the world in contemporary politics. After packing up all of our things on Saturday morning we heading to the airport for a trip north to Cairns. After arriving in Cairns we settled in for the night after a long day of traveling. After waking up early we head out to the great barrier reef which may have been one of the coolest experiences of my life. The day consisted of a 1.5 hour boat ride to the Great Barrier Reef which stretches hundred of miles and has thousands of different reefs that run along the coastline. After making it to the reef we had 3 different stops of snorkeling/scuba diving. I signed up for 1 of the scuba dives and while it took me some time adjusting to breathing through the mouthpiece, I really enjoyed the experience. The entire day was filled with sunshine and according to our guides, the weather conditions were some of the best for fish and coral visibility they have had in recent years. It was a great experience getting to interact with the other students on the trip and enjoy the beautiful weather. Overall it was truly a once in a lifetime experience and definitely was high on my bucket list. After returning to the hotel we spent the night in the hotel pool just hanging out. On the second day of our spring break in Cairns we went to various hiking and swimming spots in a very rural area about 2 hours away from the hotel. The day was highlighted by an amazing waterfall that a tourist like myself would have never found. After driving down different back roads you approach a small parking lot and this amazing waterfall emerges. It was something that would be put in a travel magazine. The water was clear and refreshing and everyone enjoyed it. So far spring break has been amazing and I can’t wait to see what other adventures we will have. Cheers!
