Letters Left to Be Lessons

Hey hey,

So girls when I brought up the idea of letters to each other I was hoping it might spark at least one from each of us. :P (You know, including the one who moved to another country). Anyway I don't think I quite touched on how I'd changed, and I think that's cause I agree with Zara about being a bit scared on looking back at where I've come from. Also partially because I want to keep changing into a better person and I'm scared I'm not getting anywhere.

Physically I don't think there's much of a change, I'm taller, my hair is longer. I don't think I've even changed glasses frames since this blog started. Even though I know physical changes aren't what matters I guess I felt like there should be a difference. I've sort of changed my dress sense, its often more formal now but it's definitely more vast than it was in high school with jeans and a choice of t-shirts. And I like that.

To my friends I seem to have changed but I feel like I'm more aware of others around me and the friends that my friends have. Its becomes hard for me to grasp that there are more people in the world than those you associate with. I've changed to realise that I need to spend time with more people or I'll lose the opportunities that the world gives me. A lesson I've learnt: You're not going to get anywhere by thinking you're the only person that matters. 

Its to myself that I'm most unsure of, whether I've changed to be more self aware or self confident or whatever. I know I have changed but it's the fact that looking back on how I viewed myself then and how I view myself now I realise that through whatever situation I was in, I wasn't the only one there. There are people around us, whether we know them or not, that have the ability to change us and help us in ways we won't realise at the time. We need people to help us realise what we can be. The lesson I've learnt: You're not going to get anywhere by thinking you're the only person who doesn't matter. 

So I guess I've changed in ways where I now know that there is more to life that what I had and what I now have. That doesn't mean I want everything but I've learnt that's its stupid to let opportunities pass you by. I'm happy for who I was, she brought me to wear I am, and the things of hers that matter to me are still important. But I've changed now, into a me that knows its ok to let go of the past and move on into a place that has a higher chance of making me happy. 

Cause if the purpose of life is to exist, then we should make the most of our existence. Try to be happy with who you are, but don't be afraid to be happy with becoming someone you can be.

Thanks, I think I've also changed into someone who thinks about this stuff a lot.

BYE 

Enesti

A Letter

Dear Girls,

I might have had the chance all day to write this letter/post, but I've definitely been putting it off. I've become particularly good at putting things off. I now have several drawings of characters in my room and pencils all over my bed. And a new post waiting to go up on my blog. 

I've been putting this off because I don't want to think about how I've changed. Because I know I really have changed, I've changed a lot. Even thinking about the changes I've been through in the last year is amazing. 

To start with, I cut my hair. I cut a lot off my hair, something that has not been done in a very long time for me. I've also dyed a streak purple, then I dyed that bit blue, and not it needs to be redone again. I have glasses and I've been very careful about who I tell about that because I think they change my appearance drastically. I've grown again, goodness knows how that keeps happening. And my skin is finally darker than porcelain! it only took all summer and a lot of sunscreen. It's exhausting just putting the stuff on. 

But aside from visible changes, I've changed as a person too. I think that started after I'd been away from home for seven weeks last summer. Then I went to college and I had to adapt to my new life. That meant learning to teach myself things and being able to choose what I was wearing every single day, no more uniform. I think I find where my courage has been hiding for several years because now I can talk to random people at the drop of a hat, public speaking isn't a huge issue and I'm comfortable in groups with more than four other people. I sing in front of people. I'm confident in myself. 

Now I can talk to random people in the Canberra Centre in French. I can take criticism about my writing and use it to make the piece better. I'm not worried about what other people think as much. And maybe that's just part of growing up. 

There's a line in a Taylor Swift song that goes "I'd like to be my old self again but I'm still trying to find it." The funny thing is I'm not trying to find whoever I was, because I love who I am now. I like the way I dress, act, talk and think. I've very happy with College Zara, particulary because she no longer works at the multinational cholesterol, sugar and burger joint starting with M which I cannot mention for legal reasons, mostly I don't want to be sued. 

That's not to say I hate the other Zara, I was always remember the girl who had big dreams. I will always remember being that girl, staying up late emailing Enesti, dragging Hazel into the group, playing make believe with Nira even though we were at high school, walking with Rose on Mondays. I can't forget her because without her, I wouldn't be me know. She may have had violent tendencies, throwing text books, she may have wanted desperately to be seen for something other than her grades, she may not have known what was going to happen after those boys said they liked her, but she is the reason I have you girls. And for that, I cannot thank her enough. 

 Now as I face my last year at school, the year I turn 18, I realise just how much I've changed and how that is a very good thing. \

Lots of Love from Zara

Dear ALL:

Howdy y'all.

I will be the first to respond to Enesti's post (as I am currently on skype with her)

Hi. How are you? How's your life been? I second Nesti's need for news.

When I think about all the changes I've been through over the last two years, it kind of blows my mind. And I imagine you've all gone through just as much, and I wasn't there to see it. I knew this would happen, and I was really sad (literally in tears) about it when I moved back here. But I think I've come to terms with it: It's less scary now that it's actually happened.

I've experienced a lot since we last left: I've been to five new countries since then (and several old ones) and done all sorts of crazy things: Swam in the Dead Sea, walked around a foreign city by myself, drastically changed my wardrobe (goodbye baggy t-shirts), started listening to different music, etc.

There's probably other things that I don't notice: I talk differently (more than just the accent switch). I carry myself differently. I have a completely different image of myself. And I kind of like the new stuff.

Leaving you guys was one of the hardest things I've ever done. But I didn't really exit your lives completely. The fact that I met you guys and lived with you guys and yes, left you guys, completely changed me as a person. And the knowledge that no matter what happens over here, you guys are still over there (except Hazel, but she's out there somewhere), and will always be my friends, is so important to me.

Looking forward to what y'all write,

Best Wishes
Rose

Open Letter To The Girls

Hey Hey

Dear Blogging Ladies, (Or not so blogging ladies considering no-ones posted in 4 months)

I think it's time for a fresh approach to our little site here. I think that instead of random posts to just post we should all take a look at our lives over the past few years (its been like 2 and a half years since this blog started) and realised we've all changed a heap.

I think we should write letters to each other. I mean Hazel is moving and now we'll be on three different continents. Its ridiculous. Personally I'd love to just hear from you all as if we're just writing to each other and not to the wide world of the internet.

I love you girls like crazy and I don't want us to miss out on things that matter to each of us. So can we just sit back and have a massive online pen pal group?

Plus, I think we should all take time to look at the girls we were and women we're becoming.

Love you all

BYE

Enesti

P.S I turned 17 the other day and now I'm an adult in the Wizarding World (Thanks Rose for pointing that out)

I'm still alive

Howdy Y'all.

Hey... *leans awkwardly against table* long time no see *table falls over* Um... I mean... I... *trips over shoelace* Dang it. I uh... *tries to run for it*

Lil Rose: Just say it already!

I'M SORRY I HAVEN'T POSTED IN FOREVER, OKAY!

A brief update on my life because I should really get some sleep. Enesti's orders:

-I started Year 11 this month. I know, finally.
-Tamora Pierce wrote a new book and it's awesome
-It is cold here, and it's gonna get colder.
-NEW HP MOVIE HOLY ROWLING.

Lil Rose: Really, was that so hard?

Best Wishes,
Rosie

We Are Terrible Parents

Hi Everyone,

Not only did we nearly kill our blog, we also missed its second birthday. HOW??

Actually I know, we kinda stopped when we got to college and decided school work was kinda important. So this humble blog has been two for almost two weeks and we didn't know. Oops....

Goodness, so much has changed in that time. We got Rose, she left, we've all had birthdays and band concerts (Except Rose because she's not in a band)We've moved schools, done some pretty crazy stuff, grown up a whole heap, I've been to a different hemisphere but somehow we managed to stay together.

So maybe we don't see Rose at all and seeing Enesti is just once a week now but I think that the things that we do and the things we've done together have been awesome. Even if Rose is staying up until 2 am to talk to us and we have to pretend to be normal when we see Enesti and we're neglecting our poor blog.

Thanks for an amazing two years girls!!

Lots of Love and blogging hope for the future!!

Love Zara

P.S I was looking for a song that worked and I found these two.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tgcc5V9Hu3g - Heroes by David Bowie, I just like this song and it sorta (SORTA) works.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEhutIEUq8k - We Are Golden by Mika, because you girls are golden and it's a fun song!
Enjoy! ~Z

100 bottles of ....water.... yep

Hey hey

wow okay yeah I haven't posted in... a long time. I say that way too much cause it happens way too often. However 100 post!!! go me go me...

I don know what I should do so I'm going to do pretty much nothing. Cool cool
So yep.
Life is a bit weird at the moment, good but weird.
Being at different school to the other down under girls has been a new experience. I still see them at least once a week (generally) and I also have this massive batch of new friends too.
There have been some difficult times at school but its been worked out I think and I'm back on track with my work and social life.
I miss all my down under girls in class and I miss Rose like crazy.
But with a couple of really close friends at school and the constant contact with the others, life is looking pretty good. Something I haven't been able to say in a long time.

I love all my blogging girls like mad.

BYE

Enesti

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

Hi Everyone

Just a little update for you.

So I'm officially older than everyone again. I turned 17 just under two weeks ago. It's funny, I don't feel any older, really the only thing that has changed is that I can drive on my own! So much fun!

I am now the proud owner of two cacti and a a succulent. I like to call the Avengers. Every morning, the first thing I do is put them in the sun on my window sill. They're really cool little plants, one of them is the spikiest thing ever!

But this post is not about my cactus. This post is about the past.

 This time last year, Rose was on German Camp, which is where she is right now. Lucky duck. The rest of us were freezing our extremities off in cold winter Down Under, which is also something we're doing again. I was the only one with a licence, 4 out of 5 of us were at the same school and we were slowly planning our formal.

So a lot has changed, some stuff hasn't *cough lack of blogging cough*. We've had our fair share of fights, that memorable few weeks where the quad standers were involved, the one about sitting in the grass which was in the courtyard but not for our use apparently, if anyone is able to explain. We've had brilliant moment, band camp, you looked amazing at formal girls, we've skyped half across the world, to America, to France and to Australia.

So things are the same but different, and I like how far we've come. I'm proud of all of you!

And one last thing before I go, Braces come off in five weeks ladies!! Bring on the apples!

Love Zara

Adventures and Sleep Deprivation

Hi Everyone,

How are you? Preparing to go back to school?

I got home at 2:30 this morning. No, no, I was not out partying wildly! I was in Cairns last week, which is in Far North Queensland. Getting home was an event. First the transfer we booked just didn't show up, so after half an hour we had to call a cab, then it was a rush to checked in on time, queue jumping is NOT cool people, especially if someone is going to a miss a flight and you're not. Flying was fine, but then we had to sit on the tarmac in Sydney for an hour and a half because Virgin's computer system went down. They had to cancel 12 flights to get people waiting to get off to planes into terminals. Then we drove home from Sydney. That was long, I did some sleeping in that last part of the journey.

But aside from yesterday's afternoon debarkle, I had a fabulous time. We flew into Cairns on Sunday afternoon, it was nice being able to wear shorts. My brother and I hit the pool almost immediately and then I literally hit the pool, successfully removing the skin from my finger tips and parts of my finger nails and my nail polish! Yay for blood and pain! That was the end of swimming for that day. We walked along the water's edge and saw a fire show! So many ideas for the story with Hazel.

On Monday, we did some more swimming, my hand was feeling better, we wandered around town, I have new board shorts. Mum and I went and got our nails done. The damage done to my hand was fixed, I had fluro yellow nails, but acetone is painful to get in cuts and scrapes, I do not recommend  it. We went to the Night Markets because I was really excited about going. Mum and I  were really looking forward to finding a store where you get to choose which oyster you want opened and then you get to keep the pearl, we'd read about it online. Alas, we did not find it! However, we got my cousin a funky little solar power car for his birthday.

Tuesday saw me journeying to the Great Barrier Reef. The boot ride out was my least favourite part of the day, the first half was spent feeling sick, the second half was spent being sick, that was so much fun... Anyway, once we got to Moore's Reef, which is on of over 2000 reefs that make up the GBR, I was fine. Mum and I were snorkelling partners. Oh my gosh,the reef is BEAUTIFUL! I have never seen anything like it, there were so many different fish and corals. The colours are amazing, we saw a Rainbow Fish, TWO sea turtles, some Dorys, lots of silver dollars, the coral had so many different colours, we saw sea slugs, ENORMOUS FISH the length of my calves, I saw two of them having a fight. It was unreal seeing this whole other world.We spent an hour in the water, but it flew past. I didn't go back in, I was too cold and the sea was quite rough but I hang out in the underwater viewing part, watching the underwater world go by. The boat ride back to Cairns was a lot better for me, found my sea legs. At one point the boat stopped and the crew were really excited, there was a pod of whales near us! My brother, a few other passengers, some crew and I headed to the top deck, which had been roped off. It was awesome watching the whales. Lots of massive splashes and we saw one come out of the water and flip its tail as it went back under. Then the water got so rough the boat was practically diagonal and we had to go right then. I didn't so much walk across the deck to the stairs, as crawl because it was safer, my death grip was very useful on the ride.

On Wednesday, we got picked up from our hotel at 7:20, we were off to Kuranda! After a bus ride to Fresh Water Station, we hang out and looked at the tiny museum, there was an old red phone booth there, I had my photo taken in it. We got on the historic train for our journey to Kuranda. They asked us to change carriages so while the train was moving we got to walk between the carriages, DAY MADE! The scenery was beautiful all the way up the mountain, I took heaps of photos, and we learned all about making the line, we stopped at a waterfall. In Kuranda, we went to the Butterfly House, which I am fairly certain is my family's favourite place in the whole world. We all have a thing for butterflies. We saw so many beautiful butterflies, Cairns Butterflies are gorgeous. After that we took the sky rail down the hills, getting off at the stops to look at the rain forests. Going over the top over the Daintree was incredible. After the skyrail, we headed to Hartley's, which is a crocodile park. We went on a swamp cruise, watched some crocs swim and snack. Then we saw the croc show, lots of jaw slaps,which make cool sounds, Hagrid, the crocodile decided to chase the keepers for a while, that was entertaining. I talked to some Padymelons, 'roos and wallabies, looked at the quoll, feed the Cassowary and learned about Koalas. Busy day!

On Thursday we went swimming in the Esplanade Lagoon for several hours, then I had a shower and then my brother decided we should go swimming again, so we did. We walked towards the cargo port, watched an enormous ship being loaded with pallets of concrete and did some more wandering. We had Filopino food for dinner, it was amazing! You should defiantly try it.

Yesterday, being Friday, we went to the top floor of the Casino, where there is a wildlife park of sorts. There's a high ropes course through it so my brother and I did that. That was so much fun, there were birds on the obstacles and you could see the wildlife from different angles. There was even a zipline over a 4 metre croc, that was a little scary. The scary bit was stepping off the platform, but after that, smiles all around! I also did a power jump, which is jumping off a platform 13 metres of the ground. I did that twice, Yes, I'm not exactly normal.  After lunch we headed back and you know how that goes.

Today, I passed my driving test! That's right, after getting home at half past two in the morning, I passed my driving test at 11 this morning. I'm putting that in my list of achievements under : Can drive safely while sleep deprived. :P

Okey dokey, that's all for now folks. Hope your holidays are good and that Rose is having fun on her month away.

See you during the week girls!

Love Zara

WOO! Holidays!!

Hi Everyone!

How is everyone? Enjoying you're all enjoying your holidays? It's nice when all of us are on holidays. Except that Nira is out of the country and Rose is visiting another state Up There, so it's kinda hard to talk to each other. But I'm sure they're having a good time!

So today has been really good for me. I had my hair cut, meaning I can see! Also, the bottom of my hair was cut too, that was the amusing part. I had to stand up so they could check it was straight at the bottom. I've painted my toenails bright orange. And, the best bit, WE GOT A CAR!! That's right, there's a car I can drive. It's a little silver Astra and we're calling it Astrid!! We're picking her up tomorrow!

And on Saturday, I have my very last driving lesson so that I can get my Ps on my birthday.

Anyway, short post to keep you up to date. More soon.

Love Zara

P.S  Sheldon and the Hellhound, or, How I Lost My Hotdogs  (I was watching Big Bang Theory)

Studying, Please Try Again Later

Hi Everyone,

Just a quick post for you before I head back to the books.

Goodness, it's been a while since I posted here. Anyway, next week is crossline-testing week at school. I have 4 tests in 3 days and some genius put maths and chem on the same day. There goes my Friday. Poor Hazel has 3 tests in one day! I swear, the person in charge of timetabling is going to hear from us.

I've been doing maths all day. My fingers are stained with blue ink and there are eraser remains all over my desk, and no, I don't mean wolf-men.

Rose, I am EXTREMELY jealous of you right now! I'm going away for a week, maybe somewhere Down Under where summer never ends (crossing fingers for Alice). But you get to go on language camp and then to ITALY! Why must you live all of my dreams?

Ok guys, I gotta get back to work. I love you all, good luck with your tests and the like. Rose, don't exhaust yourself having fun! Hopefully I'll be sending a package your way soon!

Love Zara.

Summer!

Howdy Y'all!

It's finally summer holidays here! Three months of doing NOTHING.
false. I'm actually going to be running around all summer and am looking forward to it! I'm taking week-long writing classes later this month, then I go visit relatives on the East Coast. Then I go to camp (and will again be offline for a whole month.) then...
wait for it...
...
...
...
I'M GOING TO ITALY! WOOOOOOOO!
And that will bring me (finally) into year 11.

I miss you all. We need to skype soon or I may explode.

Best Wishes!
Rose

Mum's Day... And She's Away

Hey hey

So it's Mother's Day.... Mothers' Day? Stupid apostrophe. Question of the day: Where does the apostrophe go?

As it says in the title, my mum is away, well for most of the day anyway. She gets back late this afternoon I think. But the present is wrapped and the card is made, so I'm way ahead of schedule.

I'm so close to 100 posts! But I have no idea how to make it special... ideas?

Ok, that's it really.

Bye!

Enesti

Yay For Saturdays!

Hi Everyone,

How are you all going? Enesti, I really don't think you should be playing games in class, learning's kinda important, or so I'm told.:P

So it's Saturday. I like Saturdays. It's 12:30 and so far I have done no homework! I know what you're thinking, Zara why have you not done any homework? Fear not blog readers, I'm going to do homework after this but I've been productive this morning.

After my sleep in, 9 o'clock is a good time to get up on Saturdays, breakfast and a quick catch up with youtube, my dog and I headed to the back yard for some skipping and tennis ball throwing. This ended when he got distracted and lost the tennis ball, which I had to find. Then we went for a run, please don't ever try and take your jack russell for a run if he's not allowed of the lead. Let's just call the dog, pupster, which is a family joke. Anyway, Pupster has issues with sustained running unless he's on the loose, so I ended up half dragging the silly beast home. After this, he went and collapsed somewhere in the sun in the garden and I played the dance game we have on wii. That was fun, some of those songs are hiliarous and I'm fairly certain my dancing has gotten better since I got the game.

And then I cleaned my room, again, and read a magazine. So in my mind, that's productive. It means that I'm going to sleep like a baby tonight. And that I'm really hungry now. Lunch will have to wait until I finish this post.

Anyway, tomorrow is mother's day Down Under, I'm not sure if it's the same Up There. Mum and my brother, (what did we call him here?) are running in the mother's day classic, Dad and I are the cheer squad. Somehow I'm the cheer squad a lot. Oh well.
\
I was listening to "Hey Kristina" by AllCaps early and one of the lines is "You're one of the five awesome girls I know". Now I know that's a reference to one of the members of AllCaps and the youtube channel they were part of but it made me remember, I know four awesome girls and I'd like to hope I'm number 5 in that group. That's you, blogger girls. We need a better name... Suggestions ladies?

Ok, I'm going to write my English oral and hunter/gather some lunch, pasta is looking good right now.

Love Zara

Posting From Class... Again

Hey hey

So having a computer at school has driven me to posting a lot more, considering I don't want to do the work I'm mean to be doing.
Posting from Psychology today. (I might edit to add stuff in Legal later)

Oh wait, actually doing work... probably see you later.

Bye

Enesti

Back again

Hey hey

So I seem to be the only one posting recently... That's alright, I'll just inform you of my random lifeness.

Sitting in English as we watch a movie, Oh my gosh sad part...... :(
Ok well, walking to the shops with some friends after this lesson to get food and away from school.

How is everyone? Good? That's good.

I'm approaching 100 posts! Yay!

anyway, seeya.

Bye

Enesti

Posting During Class... Rebel

Hey hey

So I'm in Legal Studies and we're not in the computer lab. I bring my laptop now and it's connected to internet. Rebel, I'm not paying attention to the teacher. She's so weird, she tells us way too much about her personal life, her divorce and all the stuff that it involved. :P

Anyway I think we're meant to be writing something so I'm going to pretend I am by continuing to type here... Tralala lala. Oh yay only 5 minutes left.

Ok, so there isn't much going on in my life right now... NO WAIT
I'm in a musical! 'All Shook Up'. It's going to be awesome.

Um, What else can I write before class finishes? Blah blah constitution.

OK CLASS FINISHED.

BYE

Enesti

First of May

Hey hey,

So I know Rose told us that she was going to post about this too, but it's the first of May Down Under.

The first of May.

One year since Rose left.

To the day.

We miss you like crazy Rose and I'm so glad we have kept in touch.

We miss you, We love you.

ILYR

Bye

Enesti

Just a Quick Note

Hi Everyone,

I'm very proud of the blog girls today. And they probably don't even know why.

This is post 303. That's right, we have over 300 posts here! Nira holds post 300 I believe. So I'm very happy.

But I'm more happy about the fact that you have all blogged in the couple of weeks! Thanks girls!

So that's really all, I love you all very much but I've got some maths homework calling for me.

Keep up the great work Beautifuls!!

Love Zara

SUMMER

Howdy y'all.
Well, spring lasted about 24 hours here. I'm not even joking. It snowed like six inches (15 centimetres) last weekend, and this weekend it's 70 degrees out (21 degrees celcius) I'm wearing shorts, helping my mother in the garden, and biking. I biked ten miles today. (16.1 kilometres). It felt good.
Wow. Just realized that there's a lot of conversions there.

Anyway, cool stuff is happening. The Horse Expo's at the state fairgrounds right now. That means lots of pretty horses to see and lots of expensive horse equipment that I can't afford.

Only about 7 weeks left until summer holidays!

Best Wishes,
Rose