2014!

2014!

What a year of ups and downs it had been. It's been a year of great personal growth and discovery. A year where i've questioned many things. A year where I've never missed people more. A year where I discovered more of who I am and where God wants me to go in my life. A year to ponder and think. A year to really appreciate those in my life and all that they have done and continue to do for me. I don't know if i've ever cried so much privately. I've learned to internalize and work through things with God first. 2014 has felt like a continuous uphill battle. But the top is defiantly in sight.

I appreciate everything that has happened to me this year. The good, the bad, and the ugly. Without the experience i've been through I wouldn't have had the chance to learn, to understand, and to react well. I have never been more positive this year than ever before and I can be a pretty negative person. I've really learn't to love myself more, to know that only I can bring myself happiness and I can't expect anyone else to do it for me. 

So cheers to 2014, you've been great. But lets just say I know that what's to comes out of 2015 is going to be magnificent, and I can't wait for it! 

I'm setting goals and making plans, and I 100% intend to see them through.

Thank you to all those that have been apart of my 2014, near and far. Those that have kept my sane in times of struggles, those that have given me tough love, those that have become family. Thank you all.

Also a special mention to Skype and FaceTime, you've been a very special part of 2014, a little glitchy at times, a bit disruptive of conversations. However without you I wouldn't have quite survived this year!

Random Human Interactions

Today I was at the mall (yes very American) with a friend. She got hungry so we went to the food court and she got some food. Upon sitting down the guy next to us asked if he could have some fries. My friend willingly gave him some to which he was shocked. Saying that he asks people that all the time as an experiment and usually they say no or throw something at him. He asked why we were being so polite and I explained to him that we weren't from America, and maybe that was why. I told him I was from Australia and that my friend was from Austria. We proceeded to talk about why we were here, why come to Philadelphia, why be an AuPair. That sort of thing. He talked a bit about the US and explained how different parts of the US come with different people with many different attitudes. He said go down south and you'll find the polite people, those that will take the time in their day to notice and care about someone other than themselves. In these parts, New York, California, Chicago. Don't expect people to give you the time of day. Especially in Philadelphia. Apparently it has been labelled the rudest city in the US, and I can understand how that is true. He asked me what I was planning on studying when I got home and I said something in Business, most likely marketing. He said that I would be great at that, as in the last 10 minutes of conversation I had been very well spoken and sure of myself and my decisions. It's funny cause I never see myself that way. I always doubt everything I say, and think it all sounds silly. But today a complete stranger made me feel like the decision I was making for my life might just be the right one. Who knows what will happen. But today I realized you never know where you will find affirmation, or a relief in your decision. So thank you to that person, he never said him name. 

NYC & Orlando OCT 17 - NOV 1

My wonderful family whom I love and appreciate dearly, flew over 30 hours from Australia to come and see me. To say I was excited is an extreme understatement. After not seeing them all for 8 months it was long overdue.

We are all the same height 

Love this little creeper

Swag boy himself

Love my Mummy

Theres Roddy @ M&M world Time Square

Toys R Us Time Square

We met up in New York, I kind of surprised them by turning up on the Friday night instead of the Saturday. This was met by many tears from mum! We spent the weekend being exceptional tourists in New York. Central Park, Rockefeller Centre, Time Square, Brooklyn, downtown. The usual touristy things. It was so much fun getting to experience New York again with my whole family. Plus Central Park is beautiful in the fall.

What does the fox say?

Big Kids?

Time Square with my Fav

View of the city from Central Park

The Plaza Hotel

Love them

Empire State

x

On top of the world!

And again

Concrete Jungle where dreams are made of

Nailing the double chin

Hands out of your pockets Lachie

Hanging with these handsome folks

Ice Skating @ Rockerfellar Center 

So Pretty

Looks Believable?

Central Park selfies

Mum with the Flatiron building

Grand Central Station

The best parents in the world!

Such an incredible view

NYC Skyline

The family proceeded to leave me for three days whilst they went off to Washington D.C. They swiftly returned to meet my host family for two days in Pennsylvania. 

Preston and his Girlfriend Kate

Creeping with the liberty bell

Family dinner

:D

:D

Maybe they could get married?

Then we were off to Orlando, Florida for one whole week. I was beyond excited to get a whole uninterrupted week with the fam. But also a whole week off work. We arrived Saturday afternoon.

Plane selfies

Lachlan made a friend?

Nailed the car selfie, dad didm't even crash

Sunday was a chilled day by the pool, exactly what everyone needed. Then Monday was the beginning of the fun. We hit Universal Studios bright and early. I love theme parks, and fast rides. So I couldn't have been more excited about this. We of course ran straight to Diagon Alley. It was everything I could have dreamed of and more. I literally felt like I stepped into the movie, there was so much intricate detail. The Harry Potter nerd fan inside of me was going berserk. Being the big fans that we are, we were willing to wait the 90 minutes to get onto the escape from Gringotts ride. It was a long but worthwhile wait. The ride was a mixture between a simulation and actual built sets. You were positioned in a cart that moved in what felt like every single direction possible. It was a form of 4D film, but you moved around on tracks rather than just staying still. After exiting that ride butter beer was on the  agenda. I had been wanting to try the stuff ever since I heard about the theme park , and for me it did not disappoint! We of course got the souvenir mug, which was filled to the brim with traditional creaming soda and topped of with a marshmallow caramel foam. I was in love, so was Esther. The rest of the family didn't have quite the same appreciation for the delicious stuff. We explored Knockturn Alley and roamed the streets for a little longer before heading to some other rides. 

See we are all the same height!

Selfies for days

Swag

Palm Trees and sunshine

Universal

So excited!

Esthers new bf

Really really excited!

Chief Wiggum

Grimmauld Place!

And again

And again

No one answered

They didn't let her in either

Kreacher creeping in the window

Diagon Alley entrance

Weasley Wizard Wheezes!

Firebolt

Ollivanders

Gringotts

A lot of the rides where of a similar simulation to the Escape from Gringotts ride. Which with all the sudden motions can make you feel quite nauseas. So although they were fun you had to take time to walk it off in between. I had so much fun though and towards the end of the day we used out park hopper pass to ride the Hogwarts Express to Universal Islands of Adventure. The Hogwarts Express was a short ride, but they used a screen where the window was situated and you got to see what the scenery would look like on your way to Hogwarts. It  was awesome and on the other side where the door to the compartments are you could see shadows of Harry, Ron, and Hermione as they walked pass. As well as the Trolley Lady, which made me so excited! The other side of the park holds a lot more rides. We ended up on the log ride and the river rapids rides as we were all extremely hot. It certainly cooled us down as we were thoroughly soaked from head to toe. We left the park having had a very fun first day!

Platform 9 3/4

Hedwig

Off to Hogwarts we go

Selfie on the cabin

Tuesday we started out at Islands of Adventure. We got there before the park opened so that we could be in with the first lot of people. Once those gates opened there was a lot of very serious faced people heading straight towards Hogsmeades and the Hogwarts castle. Like seriously the look on some peoples faces. I think they might have killed you if you got in their way. It was good that we got in so early cause the line for the Hogwarts Castle tour ride was nice and short. You start by walking through the castle entrance. Its all dark and mysterious and the detail is incredible. You head outside (this is all just in the line up to get on the ride) and past the green houses. You can see all the plants and mandrakes. As you head inside the castle you make your way past the the the giant cylinders that tally the house points with their coloured jewels. Past the gargoyles guarding the staircase to Dumbledores office - apparently Sherbet Lemon was not the current password - Then you head into Dumbledores office where you can see all the magically wonderful things he has displayed, including the Pensieve. Dumbledore is there to give everyone a warm welcome to Hogwarts and notifies them that Professor Binns is holding a lecture on the history of the school. You then make your way through the Defense against the Dark Arts classroom, where Ron, Harry, and Hermione appear from beneath the invisibility cloak. They tell you to meet them in the Room of Requirement so that they can sneak everyone down to the Quidditch Pitch. Ron then tries to perform a spell - which of course goes wrong - Hermione then steps in to fix it and makes it snow in the room, which is actually does. You continue on past the Fat Lady and into the Gryffindor Common room. Of course throughout the whole journey this far there were talking portraits on the walls. You get to hear a conversation between the four founders of Hogwarts. Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, Salazar Slytherin, and Godric Gryffindor. Between entering the ride the sorting hat relays a safety message to you. You then enter into the ride - The room of Requirement - where you have to walk along a conveyer belt and jump into your seat as it goes by. Once buckled in safety you see Hermione who performs a spell to make you fly. You feel the seat move and you actually feel like your floating. You start flying around the Hogwarts grounds led by Harry and Ron. They lead you over the buildings and through bridges straight into the middle of a Quidditch match. You leave the game and Hagrid asks you if you've seen a dragon. Shortly after the Hungarian Horntail begins to chase you. The ride is made up of real sets, motion simulation of your seat, as well as wrap around screens. So you feel like your really in the scene. You leave the projection and fly over a bridge where the dragon breaths fire at you. It looks so real and you can feel the heat. You then descend into the Forbidden forrest where you meet Aragog the giant spider and all his offspring. They aren't very nice and are trying to trap you, or eat you. As Hermione leads you away from the spiders as they spit on you. You encounter the Whomping Willow. Which tries to smash you to pieces. It ends up smacking you back onto the Quidditch Pitch, where Slytherin have just scored into Gryffindors goal. Dementors turn up at this point which was terrifying. Harry uses his patronus to get them away. Harry starts to lead you back to the castle but you fall through a hole and into the chamber of secrets. Where dementors are chasing you and the Basilisk's corpse lies. You see the dark mark appear as you are drawn into the mouth of Salazar Slytherins statue. Dementors emerge and try to suck the souls out of you. Images of your face are projected in front of you in a cloud and a heart beat sound plays whilst cold air blows on you. Harry casts all the dementors away and leads you outside. Through a collapsing cave, over the black lake, and back into the great hall. Where you are greeted by loud cheers from students and teachers at Hogwarts. All in all the ride was incredible and certainly lived up to all my expectations. 

Hogsmeade entrance

Hogsmeade station

Hogwarts

Snow covered roof

It all looked so real

Entrance to the castle

Honeydukes

Butterbeer

Hogwarts

So incredible

We left that ride, rode the Hippogriff roller coasters. I would call it slow and designed for children. Then proceeded to ride the Triwizard Tournament coaster. Which was fast passed and awesome. We explored Hogsmeade some more. Had a glass of butter beer. Watched a wand sorting ceremony. Just gaped in general awe at how they had made this place seem so real. Then proceeded on to the rest of the park where we rode many more great rides.

Wednesday was Disneyworld day. The most magical place on earth (apparently).
Disney was fun, but there were a lot of people there that day. The park weren't even expecting that many people. They stayed open for an hour longer because of it. So there were lots of prams, and fat people on electric scooters running you over all the time. But it was fun to go there and I enjoyed the experience. The parade was amazing and the bit of the fire work show that we could see was spectacular. Of course magic mountain was my favorite ride. Being the only high speed ride, that gave my inner thrill seeker any sort of an adrenaline rush. 

1st visit badge

Cinderellas castle

Best ride photo ever!

Love these two

Its a small world

We clearly had no idea where the camera was

So serious and crazy

Yep serious and crazy again

Riding the magic carpet ride

I think i was yelling at Lachlan! Surprise, Surprise!

The parade floats where incredible

Love my Familys!

 

Thursday was a relax day by the pool, and that's exactly what we did!
Friday was the same, but it was Halloween so there was an annoying lady playing obnoxious music, and continually talking to her none adoring fans through her microphone. She was trying to run activities, but I just saw it as an interruption to my peaceful day by the pool. We didn't do the whole dress up and trick-o-treat thing. But we watched a movie as a family, which was lovely as it was my last night with them all. 

Beautiful Florida sunset

She would live in the water if she could!

Saturday was the sad, sad day where I had to say Adios for another three months. I had the most incredible time and I have the most amazing family!