Author Archives: drm5241

Packing for Down Under

I leave for Australia in two days and I am still not packed. I’m getting there, though!! At this point, I keep putting things in my bag, deciding I don’t need them, taking them out, thinking about it, and then putting them back in. Its driving my sister absolutely barmy (new favorite word), since I’m using her room as my packing space.  The only things I have packed for sure are some cute shoes (which my fashion-forward father says I don’t need), my climbing gear, and my dive gear.  It’s socially acceptable to walk around campus dressed in a bathing suit and climbing shoes, right? Actually, walking around in my climbing shoes would ruin them, so I guess I’ll be wandering around in my bathing suit, which is apparently called “togs” in Australia (that just makes me think of wearing clogs as clothes, a la Lady Gaga), and some nice flats.  I should stop writing this blog entry and just pack already, but its much more entertaining to procrastinate.  What can I say, I work best under pressure. 

In other news, its finally started to hit me that I will not see my family for FIVE MONTHS.  The longest I’ve gone without seeing my dad has been two months, so this will definitely be a change.  I know I’ll miss them, but I feel like it’ll be a good learning experience.  I’ll miss my dog a LOT though. He’s almost fifteen, (105 in dog years), so I’m hoping he’ll be here when I get back.  I just wish I could bring him along!

Location: Mechanicsburg, PA

Greetings!


Hi everyone! I am Darcy Rose McKinley Lester, forest sciences major.  I am a very outdoorsy person, and I love backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, rock climbing, and skiing.  I also LOVE to read. I’ll read almost anything, romance, science fiction, westerns, fantasy, whatever.  Its the only time I willingly sit still!

Backpacking.jpgThis is me (hopefully obviously) backpacking through the Catskills in early spring. 

This spring, I will be studying in Canberra at Australian National University.  I am super excited for so many reasons, not the least of which is that ANU has a school of forestry, which means I get to take a lot of classes in my major while abroad.  I cannot wait to see how Australians view forest management and what silvicultural prescriptions they use most often over there. I am also looking forward to learning how to identify Australian trees, most of which are in the genus Eucalyptus.  (As you can see, I really love my chosen field). 

In addition, there are a bunch of national parks that surround Canberra that I am absolutely psyched to explore.  The geography and topography of eastern Australia is quite different from central PA, and I just can’t wait!  Since I’m pretty broke just trying to pay for college, I won’t get to do a lot of traveling around the country, but I am bringing my backpacking and climbing gear. I hope I can find some new friends who love having adventures as much as I do and will take me with them! 

Toodles!


Location: University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802