Tomaree Highschool 2012 <3

Homeward bound..

Well here it is, my last few days in my favourite country in the whole world. It feels as if it were only just yesterday that I was getting on the plane in Bemidji Minnesota with tears filled in my eyes and at the age of 15 entering a world fully unknown to me. I thought I was crazy for wanting to leave everything and everyone behind for a whole year so young. But I now realise that it was the best decision I have ever made in my enitre life. Doing this exchange has completely changed me. My cultural horizons are broadened. I have grown up. I have seen the world from different perspectives. I never really realised how big this planet was untill I set foot in a different place other than my hometown. I have learned how to make friendships and I have learned how to keep them. Things that were once so important to me back home dont seem to bother me much anymore. I have become a social butterfly. That shy little Bailee is no longer. This exchange has been a life changing opportunity, I have seen more of Australia and done more activities than more Aussies have. I have made lifetime friends which I will treasure in my heart forever. I have become a better person, all thanks to Rotary Youth Exchange.
The past few weeks have been very hard on me, it's almost like I don't realise that this whole beautiful experiance is coming to an end. I dont know where my year went. Time flies when your having fun aye. But anyways I have been quite emotional these few weeks. My mind keeps wondering what it will be like when I go home. My heart aches thinking I wont see my bestfriends every day. And my eyes water not knowning when I will back. Not knowing when I will be back in the country that I call my home, Australia. <3
I have the best friends in the whole world. I was so scared when I first moved to the bay. I was worried that no one would like me or no one would notice me and that I was just nervous about starting over again, I honestly never should have worried one bit about that. It took a few weeks but once I met, Georgia, Bronte, Kirra, Eden, Bridget, Sharla, Lisa, Kiarne and Sigrid it was as if we were bestfriends our whole lives. They have all touched my heart and will never forget them. We have had so many memories together, so many laughs, so many up and not many downs. I love those girls. Leaving them will be so hard. Last weekend they did something for me that was completely unexpected. They told me we were going to have a girls night at Georgia's house. So I was thinking alright this should be alright, a good weekend with my girls before I leave. But as soon as I got out of the car at Georgia's i heard so many whispers coming from the back yard, and people sayin shh be quiet. I started questioning the girls and was asking them what was going on, and as I stepped through the back gate nearly 50 people jumped out and yelled SURPRISE! They threw me the best going away surprise party in party history! I was so so happy I didnt wipe that smile off my face all night! There were so many people there. Friends from school friends from around the area. Couldnt believe how many people that I had actually made an impression on. It was the best night ever and I wish I could go back to that night, we danced, there was a bonfire, my friends made me this huge awesome picture frame with pictures of all our group on it. They made me the most awesome cake ever! It was shaped as a suitcase with "bon Voyage" on it. It was the best night ever! :):)
Thursday night was my farewell for Rotary. Bronte and Georgia were asked to come along and make a presentation on me to show the club. Lisa  came along as well. I had put together a 20 minute video of my whole Australian Exchange. And wrote out a long speech. The girls made me a poem and read it out to Rotary that night this was it..
"Bailee you are the best friend we have ever met,
One so beautiful we will never forget!
The many memories we have made,
Ones I know will never fade!
I remember the first time we all hung together
We always knew this friendship would last forever!
we have stuck by eachother through thick and thin
Alot of people called you my American twin.
One day we will all be house mates again,
Although we would probably drive eachother insane!
So many laughs and crazy times we've had,
The airport is unimaginable, it will be really sad!
Your loveable laugh and smiling face,
Nothing will ever take your place!
You are special to us in every single way.
I bet you'' never forget the time you spent in the bay!" -Georgia Waugh <3
The club loved it, I loved it. I couldnt help but break down into tears cause I will miss them so much. My speech was also hard to get through, when I started talking about the lifechanging friends I have made the tears were rolling down my face and the whole room was filled with emotions. The told me it was very touching although I was embarassed. The Rotary Club gave me an Australian diggers hat from the army and they said that it was very rare. They also gave me a wonderful picture book of my ramble put together by george koncz. The Nelson Bay Rotary told me I touched all their hearts and their faith was back in American exchange students because they tend to have a bad reputation. All in all a good night, I will miss them. I am so thankful for what they have done for me.
Friday was my last day at Tomaree High School, the wonderful friends I have threw me another little party at school with streamers in the trees and party hats, lollies, cupcakes, fairy bread, and presents. Second break was really emotional, I handed out some letters that I wrote the girls and there were more tears. I wish I didnt have to leave them..But at least I know our friendship wont break through distance, they have made plans to come visit me. They mean so much to me now. I know what a true friendship is. <3
So this will be my last blog probably cause I will be back on American soil in 9 days.. Scary to think how fast that year went. If I had the choice I would be an exchange student for life. Its that amazing. I have gotten the most out of my exchange as I possibly could, hope I made my country and Rotary Club proud. I will never ever forget my life changing year in the land down under. Thanks again to everyone who has supported me through the good and hard times.

See you in 9 days America.
Farewell Australia, I will be back no matter what..

These last few days will be very hard on me, keep me in your prayers..

Love: Bailee Jo
xoxo

snorkel great barrier reef. :)

groovin the moo!

great barrier reef!

Homeward stretch..

Well this past month has flown by like crazy! Feels like it was just yesterday that I was coming home from safari. A few days after my safari I had that music festival called ‘Groovin the Moo’ it was literally one of the best days of my life! It was so much fun, alot of music, dancing, people, more dancing, and a day that I will definitely never forget. I wish I could go back and replay the day over and over again.  Then I went to school for a few days, I haven’t been going all that much because I have been just too busy. But when I do I love seeing all my friends, that’s my favourite part of school now. A few weekends ago one of my friends had a birthday party and it was a bonfire sort of thing. That was a blast; again more dancing, my feet were sore the next day but definitely worth the fun night! The weather here is getting colder and colder so it was time to buy some new jumpers and I sent home some of my summer clothes. Two weekends ago I headed down to Sydney to visit my friend Mia from Finland. That was a blast; we spent all of Saturday shopping with a heap of other exchange students. And then we watched the Sydney Opera House Light Show. That was so cool! The whole harbour was sparkling with different flashing lights and figures. Then on the Sunday we went for a three hour horseback ride! It was amazing and even better because Mia and I were the only other ones on the ride besides our leader. We walked through rivers and through the jungle and past waterfalls all on horses, so incredible! That was a busy weekend and I was exhausted when I came back to the bay. Last weekend I and my friends had a cute dinner date at a Thai place and then we went back to my best friend Georgia’s house for a little girls night get together. It was alot of fun; I’ve been trying to spend as much time with my closest friends here before I have to leave. My best friends here are, Georgia, Bronte, Eden, Kirra, Bridget, and Sharla. I love them so much, they’ve shown me what it’s like to have true friends, and we’ve all become very close since I have been here. Last week on Friday me and Sharla went with the school to go play some field hockey, we were pretty excited! It was so much fun even if we didn’t win, the coach was really impressed with how I played and wanted me to play for his team as full back, and sadly I had to tell him I leave soon.

I’m starting to get used to the fact that I will be back in the states in no time. Pretty scary, and I’m honestly really nervous, and sometimes sad about it but I do think that it’s time for me to be home with family and friends again. I think the best thing I have gotten out of my exchange is definitely the friendships I have made here in the bay and also in Gilgandra. I just can imagine life without them now. And I know that no matter where in the world I am that we will always be good friends. I have learned alot about myself this past year too. And really have grown up and become more mature. Another scary thing I think about is that if I have changed so much during my year abroad and then I come home to all my friends who haven’t changed at all, it just makes me worry a little of how things will be. But I know that I will get through it. I am so excited to do my sport again when I get back home, and also looking forward to the warm weather, I’m not really liking the cold here all that much. Well I’m at school right now writing this during business studies, and school is nearly done for the day. Tonight I am going late night shopping with Bronte my host sister and my host mum. So I’m pretty excited for that, and tomorrow night I am headed to Maitland to go to an exchange student get together, so this will be the last time I see these people in Australia. There will be more and more tears coming as my time here dwindles away, it won’t be easy. I had never expected to make this many amazing friends on exchange. It’s funny to think that before I came to Australia actually my only worry was that I wouldn’t make friends and that no one here would like me, which should have been the last of my worries because the people here are that great! Have missed my American life a little bit and now it’s sort of an excited, nervous, happy, sad all mixed emotion s!

My exchange year hasn’t been just a year in my life; it’s been a life in one year.

Thanks for reading! See you Americans soon!

-Bailee Jo

Xoxo