Goodbye Duke and Durham...Hello U.S.A.

OK, so I know it has been a month or so since I updated you last, but I promise to make it up to you all as this is my last entry authored while at Duke :'(

The past 5-ish weeks at Duke have been nothing, if not hectic. To quickly sum it all up not only did I have exams and assignments to contend with but also I fitted in another trip to Charlotte, have gone to a Minor League baseball game, have started saying my goodbyes but have also begun planning my last 5 weeks in the US and, well, I am mostly packed!!!

Exams were alright, and truth be told I will probably do better then expected, but I only have to "pass", which is a great security blanket to have, especially when you take a class like "First Amendment Law" and you are one of only three foreigners in a class of about 50. But literally within an hour of finishing my last exam (International Commercial Arbitration) I was on
a train to Charlotte for the weekend to relax and to catch up with and say goodye to friends.

The last two weeks after Charlotte were bascially spent finishing a 25 page assignment for a class as well as winding up my stay at Duke and Durham by cathcing up with friends, drinking with them, going to a Minor League baseball game (we have our own team, the Durham Bulls, and I'm going again tonight), taking one last tour of campus and packing (I had to send home 25 kgs of belonings, and the people at the post office were awesome by only making me pay $43 USD).

Duke Shout Out's and Thank You's

OK, so my time at Duke has come to an end, and I must say that while I am sad to leave I have had an absolutly AMAZING time and have been truely blessed and lucky to have lived out three of my dreams (that I have had for about 8 or 9 years) just by attending here (the other two were to 1) see a game in Cameron Indoor Stadium; and 2) to see the Duke v UNC game in Cameron).

However there were other people who helped shaped my experience and without which I would not have had a truly amazing experience.

Firstly, thanks has to go to Pascal (my Swiss flatmate, and the one that actually spoke and was social). We sure had a great time together whether it be drinking each Tuesday night at the bar on campus or lining up for hours in rain, hail or shine (well maybe not hail, but we came close to having it) to get into Cameron Indoor Stadium to watch the Duke Blue Devils and to see JJ Reddick break numerous Duke, ACC and NCAA records or even debating over whose turn it was to buy toilet paper. These are definatly memories that I will always cherish! At least I dont have a fetish of recording you while you are preparing food mate, haha!!! But hey, at least we both like the A*Teens, hahaha!!!!

Secondly, to Eric, who I met while waiting in line for the Duke v Miami game. This guy is a champ, and totally changed my conception of Divinity students as he both drinks AND smokes, and so does Erin, another Divinity student and a friend of Eric's who I also met through basketball! From camping out for three nights for the Duke v UNC basketball game to patroning the James Joyce (Durham's Irish Pub) at least 2 or 3 times a week, usually around midnight, for a pint or two of Blue Moon (serious this beer has changed my life!!!). I look foward to his visit to Australia, hopefully sooner then later!

To all the guys and girls I met in line waiting for the basketball, it would definatly not have been half as fun without you, especially with teh DPT girls for the Duke v UNC game. Kerry and Skye, you both will always have a place in my heart, and a bed in Australia if you decide to visit me. To Donna, Nina, Carmen, Wendy, Karalin, Paul, Meghan, David, Eric (another one) and to everyone else I met in line and drank with before the games, thanks for the memories, and I plan to return next year to camp out for the Duke v UNC game because I still need to experience a bonfire ;-)

To my class mates from one of my class, "sexual orientation and the law" who made the Thursday 3:30-5:30 time slot just that much easier to deal with I must give you thanks, plus we did have some pretty cool get togethers. To Justin, Brian, Chris, Ryan and Vanessa, thanks!!!

I'd also like to send a special thanks to Troy at Bond, currently on exchange in Taiwan. It's good to know that there is someone who is going through what you are currently going through who you can turn to and ask, sometimes, the most stupidest questions, which to us are fundamental to our travels.

Lastly to anyone else that I have forgotten, thanks!!!!

Where to from here???

well I have 32 days until I board my flight home (THANK GOODNESS I'm flying Qantas) and so far my travel plans include stops in Washington DC, Kentucky, Boston, Albany, Chicago, San Fransisco and maybe LA. I know I am going to have an amazing 32 days and I know it will be just as enjoyable as the previous 4.5 months. I have had an amazing opportunity to travel the USA while studying here, and I think at last count I would have visited 10 states and 1 territory (D.C) and I know that is something that most people dont get to say. So to all the Study Abroads and friends that have greatfully let me into their homes thank you (this also goes for those that will be hosting me in my last weeks here ;-))

I dont know if I will do an update along the way or wait until I get back to tell you about each place I visit on my way home but rest assured you will find out eventually!!!

Take Care,
Chad