And so the story begins...

Hello dear friends and loved ones! As you know, I am headed back to my one-year adventure in the beautiful land of Oz. After many quick efforts and rapid movements, I moved home from Colorado and back to Australia in less than a month (impulsive actions have been know to strike me before).

I don’t really consider myself a gifted writer, but there are a few reasons that charge this new behavior of public expression through words. My best mate, Joylynn, had a blog that she created upon our first arrival in Australia back in May 2009. Through her positive feedback, I started to see the benefits of having a blog when on an adventure that removes you from loved ones. If you know anything about me, it is about how poor my long-distance communication skills are. It has nothing to do with a lack of care for those in my life; the energy exerted just seems to exhaust me before I even get started! So, in my attempts to be a better daughter, sister and friend, I am hosting a blog of my adventures, updates, and insights to keep me accountable to all of you!

So I apologize in advance for my writing, but I value all of you and want to keep strong in my relationships. I also just got skype so if you have it and want my name please let me know! See… doing better at this communication thing already.

Well, I am sitting at the airport as I write this, leaving my family only moments ago. My words today have been few… not really sure which feeling I should reflect on at the moment. I am excited for the unknowns to be seen and unfold before me. I am nervous with so many unknowns that lay in front of me that are not yet unfolded. But right now, I most strongly am grieving the temporary distance between my loved ones. Leaving my family was incredibly more difficult than I would have imagined.

Unable to sleep and growing tired of being restless with making last minute to-do lists in my head, I awoke at 4:59 this morning. It was a day of hustle, to say the least. With the all-inclusive help of my family, my parents were running around the house printing resumes for me (of course the printer would not work, my dad blamed Karma for my reliable last-minute behaviorJ), hemming my newly purchased black pants (thanks again mom), helping me pack (I made it without the additional charge by skimming the limit at 49 pounds!), making me coffee, cleaning out my car (thank goodness because we found week-old left-overs… you can only imagine the damage if found a year later!) and helping me process the eternally difficult question: should I bring the weave?? But with the five hours of effort, we made it out five minutes ahead of schedule! After picking up my generous and always flexible sister, we even had time to get one last Carmel Highrise at Caribou; not a bad way to exit the country!

And now… I am about to embark on to the first leg of my trip… four days in sunny California with Grahm-Cracker (Grandma Wanbaugh)!!!

So without boring you too much, I just want to say: I love you all! Thank you for the support you have provided in helping me pursue my dreams and passions that I always seem to find in Australia. If I did not have the security in my present relationships I would not have the courage to take such plunges in my travels. Bless you all…. and may you find beautiful new insights daily (and please feel free to share them with me)!

xoxoxo,

Tara Kay