oh netball

Oh netball, I loved you so. We had such a beautiful relationship when we were young. We were cruelly torn apart with the pain of two knee operations and awful recovery. We flirted briefly again in the dying years of high school. And then I rediscovered you just this year and our relationship was bliss.
Until now.
Now, when I leave for my year abroad in a country with no freaking public health system, I almost redislocate my knee determinedly going for a pass playing Centre, my most loathed position.

WHYYYY NETBALL, WHYYY.

WHY DO YOU INSIST ON BREAKING MY HEART.

If you ruin this year for me, I'm never speaking to you again.

No love.

Emily.

All okay.

Nine days until departure! Isn't that just a little bit too weird.
To be honest, I'm starting to get scared. Everyone always talks about how amazing their overseas experiences are, how they made a million friends in every hostel they stayed in, and that every place they went to was magical or hilarious or life changing. How come there has to be all that pressure on a trip?? Why do I feel like I have to love every second of what is happening, even if I lost my passport or my shampoo exploded in my backpack, or everyone I meet instantly hates me on sight. What if my expectations for the year don't get met?

Most of the time I'm very calm and collected and excited for the year coming up. There are a lot of things I'll miss. The weird thing about a year is that it has an end point, so it feels a little transient, but then it's more than six months, so it feels a little permanent.

But it's all okay. It will all be okay. And perfect and life changing and cliche. But most of all, it'll be okay!

Oh the foolish things we do!!

Less than two weeks to go... Packing? No. booked flights? FINALLY YES. I'm kind of surprised I left it this late. On the other hand, I'm the worst procrastinator in the world, so I'm not really surprised at all. Irrelevant! They're booked! And they were expensive but so worth it!

Feeling a bit lost and excited at the same time. Awesome.

I'm sorry...

But I've caved to the 'having a travel blog' concept. Even though I'm not travelling, I am away for a year, and as this blog is really just a waste of internet space, I've created a new one to keep the fam updated on where I am, what I'm doing and all that stuff, without having to send a million different emails.

Some things that annoy the hell out of me with travel blogs that I refuse to do with mine:

* Tell facebook every time you update. Seriously. If people want to read your blog, they'll check it themselves.

Actually to be honest, that's it. I hate it when people put it on facebook they've updated their travel blog. DON'T ANNOY ME WITH YOUR TRAVEL CHANGES. I DON'T CARE. If I do care, I'll check myself, and most of hte time, I often do because I like to read about people's adventures. But NOT when they force me to!

I hope I haven't offended anyone, but it's a mega gripe of mine. Anyway, if you would like to read my adventures in America while I'm away, you'll find me at www.emilyinmichigan.wordpress.com.

But I promise, I will not regularly remind you to check it. Check it whenever you want. If you don't want to because you think I'm pretentious with a being-away blog, then I totally understand. I do feel a bit pretentious. But at the same time, it saves my fingers the effort of many emails saying the same thing.
Aaaand rant done.

And for something cheerier: do yourself a favour and watch these ads. They're AMAZING!!!





Then once you've watched them, go to youtube and watch ALL OF THEM!! YAY OLD SPICE!! My fave friend and I spent an hour rewatching these amazing commercials, and it was the best hour of my life.

=]

Fun Things To Do On A Cold, Rainy Night:

* Paint your nails



(This is kind of an extreme example)


* Procrastinate making travel plans




* Compulsive spring cleaning




* Think happy thoughts while sitting around in a snuggie.




* Eat an entire block of chocolate on your own and not feel guilty. ( ; ] )

Maaaaan I am such a sucker. I don't care :) But it's prettyyy pathetic!

Dear uni,

Thank you for rewarding my two weeks of cramming with really good marks. I don't know how I deserved it, nor how I managed to fluke it, but I'm very relieved about it.

With love,

Emily




Dear birthdays,

I love you a lot. I like how you bring people together, and how it's a really great excuse to buy people stuff.

Looking forward to seeing you again and again and again

Emily



Dear American Consulate,

Thanks for giving me absolutely no answer on whether or not I can validly fly into your country. If I get deported, I blame you.

Emily.
P.S. And charging THREE DOLLARS A MINUTE to call for you to say 'just count to thirty'?? Whatev, my friend. Whatev.




Dear Michigan,

Only a month now! I look forward to getting to know you. Please have central heating in my room.

In excited anticipation,
Emily



Dear Fremantle,

Way to rock it out this season! A little disappointing with the Barlow mishap, but I'll forgive you. Keep that top four spot, and you have my heart for eternity.

Love
Emily



Dear random I met at a pub,

The State of Origin is never the best way to spend time with a girl. Fail by you.

Continuing to laugh at you,
Emily



Dear ugg boots,

Why do you always have to break? Now You make my feet cold instead of warm because there is a big hole in the toe.

Feeling sad and frostbitten,
Emily



Dear Fremantle (the city, not the team),

You are my fave place to enjoy great times and fun adventures. Thank you for your big stocktake sales, your weird people, your convenient location and your delicious burgers.

I'll see you for work next week, don't disappoint!

Emily