Chasing Waterfalls

May 18, 2017

Just in time for this week’s blog post, I’ve found myself in Sydney, Australia again for a few days with a family friend who has been kind enough to host me not once, but twice. Today I was able to experience one of the most beautiful hikes I have ever been on, in the Blue Mountains of North South Wales. The drive there was a little over two hours, but the weather was gorgeous, the windows were rolled down, and the music was the kind you could sing aloud to at the top of your lungs. We had intended to go to the Blue Mountains to see a famous rock formation known as The Three Sisters: three rock sculptures formed and rising from the edge of the Blue Mountain Valley. However, after seeing The Three Sisters and looking out over the vast bowl of a valley, we decided that we couldn’t stop there; it was time to chase some waterfalls. I’d hiked a few well known mountains in the Gold Coast, and been blown away by how large, powerful, and yet calm the waterfalls I had seen there were, and I was excited to see what we would find.

We took a loop that was supposed to take an hour and a half to complete and included walking under rock overhangs, climbing into natural dens, spotting holes that looked like hobbit homes carved into the rock, and, of course, beautiful waterfalls. We found not one or two waterfalls, but at least four different ones, and took it upon ourselves to climb in the water to see the waterfalls as close up as we could. Needless to say, my sneakers were soaking wet by the end of our journey, and my camera was nearly out of memory from all the photos I’d sent, but everything was worth it. The waterfalls and the view took my breath away. There were secret trails that led off into the woods and opened up into clearings and views onto waterfalls where there was no one else around, making everything feel peaceful and tranquil. Standing at the top of a waterfall while the sun began to sink down in the sky, I was astounded by how absolutely beautiful nature is. At the end of the day, I couldn’t help but think that the old TLC song was wrong, and I think that I’ll keep on chasing those waterfalls.

Claire Celestin

I am a premedical student interested in pursuing medical school after I obtain my undergraduate degree, and in my past few years at Northeastern University, it seems that I have gotten stuck in a routine of sorts. My days consisted of classes, volunteering, and studying in Snell library until I could not hold my eyes open anymore. Although all of this studying did allow me to maintain a high GPA, I have begun to feel trapped. Growing up, I had always dreamt of traveling, exploring, and immersing myself in different cultures and ways of living. I wanted to join the Peace Corps, build houses with Habitat for Humanity, and volunteer as a medical provider in impoverished countries. These are all things that I still want to do. My post graduate plans all point towards medical school and becoming a health care provider where I intend to serve not only those in the United States, but most importantly those areas where good doctors and health care are hard to come by. I believe that this study abroad opportunity will be a stepping stone into my future of world travel. I intend to take advantage of every opportunity that is presented to me while I am abroad. I will say yes to sky diving, snorkeling, and hiking into beautiful sunsets. In between all of that I will also try not to scream when facing Australia’s notorious gigantic spiders. I hope to travel around Australia every chance that I get, take surfing lessons, wake up in time for the sunrises on the Gold Coast, and still ace all of my exams. I intend to say yes to all of these experiences and more and upon my return I then want to share my experience with other students like myself. I want to show other students like me, who are afraid to push the rigid boundaries of pre medical studies that it is okay to take a break from the pressures that they have set upon themselves.