Where's Ailene? In the Opera House!

Tonight I was blessed to have the opportunity to see a ballet IN the Opera House!! I was so excited. First off, I love ballet. Second, I love Sydney. Third, who am I kidding?! I'm still a tourist.

One of my housemates' parents are visiting and treated me to the show, which was really nice- we were in the 2nd main hall, all the way at the back, but were able to see everything on stage. It was more of a modern ballet ("The Silver Rose") but still very enjoyable :)

At one point, during intermission, we went out to a balcony where you could look out into the harbour and see the bridge smack-dab in front of you- while looking at the immense beauty that architecture can create, I think to myself, "...where is the Opera House? It's usually right across...oooooh"- the penny finally drops. DUH. I'm IN the Opera House! How sick is that?! hahahahahaha

This year was a blessing. I'm going to milk my last couple of weeks to the fullest.

What Does it Mean to Live in the Moment?

For the past month I've really tried to practice the art of living in the moment. It's something that I've never been great at, but knowing that my time here is fleeting, soaking in every moment possible is vital.

I feel on some level, I've accomplished doing so- I've fully enjoyed all the events I've been doing, indulged myself in resturants and outings, and not worrying about finances or lack of sleep. I've had a legit meat pie, true state-of-the-art fish and chips, gone to an amusment park by the Sydney Harbour, gone to the city and enjoyed Pancakes on the Rocks, hung out with all different groups of friends and just living my last couple weeks to the fullest....Now the emotion is hitting me. Hitting me hard.

My undodgeable feelings of sadness have been put on the backburner for now, because up until today I wasn't going to let them take over and inhibit me from doing all the activies I want to do before I go home. The last two weeks were really good- full on happy and enjoying “living in the moment”...but at the same time, was I pushing my feelings aside? Ignoring it? In denial?

So what does it mean to live in the moment? Does it mean living like you don't know what is going to happen, which means it all hits you at once? Does it mean you constantly think about what is eminately going to happen and in turn being unhappy all the time? I know it's finding the balance, and right now, I'm off balance for sure. Am I to constantly remind myself that I have less than 3 weeks to go?! Because honestly now I feel like that's what I need to do to stay in “reality,” but then it makes me sad....

Ughhhhhh! God help!

Holy Crap-o...I Have One Month Left

I cannot believe it!!! Can you?!?! How has time flown by so quickly?!?!

I guess the fact that when you enjoy what you do it makes the time fly so much faster. I mean, looking back at my first post, did you EVER think I was getting out of California!? I sure as heck didn't! Last year was so painfully slow I wanted to hurt someone...this year just seemed to fly by in comparison!

The more I think about it, I guess the more “prepared” I am, but then really, am I ever going to be prepared for it? I didn't even know that I was going to be sad leaving California until the morning of my departure, so on some level, I think I won't feel the full effect of it until the day of; that scares me actually. I don't want to be hit with emotion all of a sudden and have it hurt more than I let it.

I'm currently trying to cram all the “to-do's” before I leave. On the list? Pancakes on the Rocks, fairy from Circular Quay to Manly Beach (passing the Opera House full on), playing cricket, going to a rugby game, going to the beach, and I'm sure a whole heap more!

My friends and I came to an epiphany today- that the Youth Year of Service program is kind of like a mature Junior Youth Program. Just as the JY Program is to center the energies of JY and give them something to focus on (like service) during a crucial time of life decision making, doing a year of service during your transitional years of high school to college is the same thing! It's centering all that energy and zeal that youth have and concentrating it on service, and focusing that scattered liveliness on something that focuses it on a life time of service to humanity. To have it concentrated is a gift.

A MONTH! HOLY CRAP!!