A busy Couple of Weeks

Our mid-semester break starts this weekend! I cannot believe that the semester is already half way over and that we have been here for two months! The time is flying by much faster than I want it to. I'm slowly starting to realize how little time 4.5 months is when you are trying to sightsee in a country the size of the USA. Anyway, these next three weeks are going to be crazy busy for me. On Saturday, Meghan and I are finally running the half marathon that we have been training for for about 8 weeks. 

At first we were pumped to get back into a training schedule because we hadn't followed one since we trained for a 10k last Fall in Raleigh, but as these weeks have progressed and we've run every single road there is to run around the uni, we are growing quite tired of the monotony. Also, I was very upset to find out that the half marathon start time is 6:30 AM!! I know, though, that all the pain and perseverance will be worth it in the end when we can say we completed it. The run is along the length of the beach, which at that time of day should be pretty cool and calm.

On Sunday, Meghan, Anna Lee, Liz, Kristen and I are leaving for an amazing, adventure-packed two week journey. The first week will be spent in Fiji, doing a planned, all inclusive tour thing that we signed up for. (http://www.awesomefiji.com/shortpack-great-pair.aspx) Then, next Saturday, we will fly from Fiji to New Zealand, where we are renting a minivan, driving on the left, and covering a good amount of the south island. We will be visiting Christchurch, Fox Glacier, Queenstown, and the Milford Sound among other things possibly along the way. We had hoped to be able to see one of the Rugby World Cup games that are happening there right now, but they were too far north for us to get to in a costly manner. 

We will return home Sunday, October 1st and then that Friday I get on another plane for a long weekend to Melbourne, where Zach and I are playing with a team in the Australian Mixed Nationals! I am so excited it is going to be an amazing experience and something that I would not easily be able to do back in America. So, although it is costing me an arm and a leg, I am sure that it is going to be incredible!