So far in my time abroad, I’ve had the opportunity to see some amazing things. One of my favorites is definitely the Great Barrier Reef. Last weekend, my roommates and I took a mini vacation to Cairns, Queensland, Australia. On the first day, we went on a daylong cruise called Reef Experience, which took us out to the Great Barrier Reef. There, we were able to snorkel and scuba dive! The snorkeling was awesome- I swam right above beautiful tropical fish and coral- but I absolutely LOVED scuba diving! It was my first time ever doing so, so it was slightly terrifying in the beginning. But after adjusting to breathing through the tank and learning the trick to take the pressure off my ears, the experience was incredible. I felt like I was in an alternate universe, floating and gliding alongside the mesmerizing aquatic life of the GBR- an unforgettable experience to say the least!

On our second day in Cairns, we spent the day at Kewarra Beach, which was just about a 5 minute walk from the Airbnb we were staying in. The beach was quiet, extremely relaxing, and perfectly refreshing. I had some time that day to reflect on my experience thus far, and it confirmed how blessed I am to be able to live in this opportunity. I’ve got 2.5 weeks left in Australia, and I’m ready to live them to the fullest! Cheers!