"Carolina, you keep calling me home..."

Well, today we leave the Gold Coast. We're staying in a hotel in Brisbane tonight and then flight out for L.A. in the morning. It's so hard to believe that our time here has come to an end. We've had such an amazing trip and met some truly great friends. I would never give up the memories and lessons I've learned through this experience. I still can't believe I've made it almost 5 months without seeing my friends and family (You should all be amazing that I survived that!). Gold Coast really has been like a home to me, I can't stand the thought of never going to my f avorite shopping center, or the IGA across the street, or walk through the sand on one of the most beautiful beaches I've ever seen... I HAVE to come back here one day, though I know it will never be the same.  I have to say I would never have made it through this without my wonderful friends and room mates, they've been my strength and my caretakers through the last few months. We'll always have this experience to keep us together.  I should really get to finish packing up everything left (not much) and taking out our last trash... It's so hard to believe I am leaving here in less than two hours. Thanks to all of you who have followed me along the way, I'll post when I get home to let you know how that feels!!!