Two Weeks in Brisbane: Classes, a Birthday, and a Noosa Adventure
The last couple of weeks have been full-on in Brisbane, classes are starting to pick up, I turned 21, and I had a very memorable (and very rainy) weekend trip to Noosa.
Classes
We’re only a few weeks in, but my conservation and sustainability courses are already rolling out big end-of-semester projects that need early planning. I’ve got my first quiz coming up this week (wish me luck!) and one group project alongside a couple of major individual ones. It feels like the real academic side of the semester is officially starting.
Turning 21
My birthday was this last Thursday! So instead of going out all night, I had a low-key but wonderful celebration. The day before, I went to trivia, and on the morning of my birthday my roommate hung up a banner for me. One of my friends, Sam, took me to a bookstore and bought me a book, and we grabbed breakfast together before I headed to class. Later that evening, a few friends came over with an amazing cake, and we spent the night just hanging out on the balcony. It was simple, relaxed, and perfect.
Noosa with Quest
That weekend, I went to Noosa with Quest, a student group at my university that is supposed to help international students connect. The trip was Friday to Sunday, and while Noosa itself was stunning , gorgeous beaches, relaxed town, and incredible views, the actual logistics were a bit… eventful.
Because a few of us had class and other things Friday morning, we arrived later than the rest of the group. When we got to the hostel, there was some confusion with room assignments, so finding somewhere to sleep the first night took a bit of improvising. Meals were also a little tricky since dietary options for my friends ran out quickly, but we eventually got sorted.
There was a party the first night and it was packed, so Emily and I spent some time outside on the deck chatting with people before heading back in to dance later. There was also a group that went down to the beach at midnight, but I opted out, I was already tired and happy to wind down. The weekend weather wasn’t exactly ideal, thunderstorms rolled through all weekend, and the group hike ended up being in the pouring rain which Emily and I decided to opt out of in favor of wandering the beach town. But on the bright side, we stumbled across this amazing spot called Chip N Mix. It’s basically a “make your own loaded fries” bar, and it was a total highlight after a long day in the rain.
By the second night, room arrangements were finally sorted so I had a proper place to sleep. While the trip was more chaotic than I expected, I’m glad I went, I got to see a beautiful part of Australia, spend time with friends, and learn a few lessons about group travel.
All in all, between classes ramping up, celebrating my birthday, and that whirlwind (and thunderstorm-filled) weekend in Noosa, it’s been a busy and memorable couple of weeks here in Brisbane.
