My Big News

So I guess this was a long time coming, am I right?

For once, I am totally not going to beat around the bush, so guys… this is why I’ve been so busy…

I’M GOING TO LIVE IN BOSTON FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR!!!

It’s been my dream LITERALLY since year 8 to go on exchange, and for the past year, I’ve been planning it through my university’s exchange program. I was planning a year but a whole semester of travelling, meeting people and getting a full American college life experience? I am totally fine with that!

I didn’t want to tell you guys before, in case my visa didn’t pan out or something happened to cancel the trip but thankfully, NOTHING DID! So now, a few days before I get on that plane and leave my fambams for the next few months, I have finally let it out.

And it. feels. good 😀

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Why did I choose the US? Well… to be honest… I didn’t. I had major plans to go to Denmark, live in Copenhagen, learn a new language and basically take Europe by storm Scandinavianise myself up! But my course, psychology, has very strict requirements for subjects, and as a consequence, I couldn’t find equivalent courses in Copenhagen.

So my brother hijacked my plans, because he is studying law and essentially, that’s globally the same, and now HE is Denmark! Yes, we are going on exchange at the same time, much to the upset of my parents 😛

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But my second choice was America and despite the failing dollar rate (I might live on $2 noodles while I’m there!), I couldn’t be more excited! An actual college experience, hockey games, A WHITE CHRISTMAS! Proper snow, toasty heated nights and trying to maintain my Aussie accent in a sea of people saying ‘waaahhterrrrr’? Yes, Yes, YES!

And the travelling. Oh. My. Gosh. I plan to update you guys wherever I am, wherever there is wi-fi, but that being said, I might just get lost in the moment and forget (although it will definitely restart my Instagram and Facebook page 😛 ) – I can’t wait to see all the amazing sites in America, to see the history up close and personal!

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So yes, that is my big news. That’s why I’ve barely even been online here, or visited your blogs because my life has been so crazy hectic with planning and organising! And it’s about to get real in a few days when I get on that plane and remind myself I won’t see Sydney in a long time…

Am I scared? I’m terrified. I have never travelled without my parents or alone overseas without some kind of adult guidance. And this isn’t even a holiday on my own. This is straight up a move situation.

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And I’m so close with my parents and my brother. The thought of not seeing them everyday, it is genuinely awful! But you know what? I’m going to live by a ‘What would Mindy Kaling say/do’ mantra and get through it. Not just get through it – enjoy the heck out of it! 🙂

I’m also a little scared because of your gun laws Murica… come on guys, it is ridiculous that there is enough of the population believing that guns promote ‘protection.’
But that’s a post for another time because my opinion on guns would keep my fingers typing for hours and hours that I don’t have at the moment!

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ANYWAYS, I thought as my byebye-I’m-off post, I would make something that encompasses the chocolatey goodness that you have come to associate with me (addictions do make the person), and something that would keep you lovely people content till I next post up about,,, you know… a deep dish pizza covered with extra cheese or something 😉 #murica

Enjoy mes cheris!

And if any of you lovely people have any suggestions of where I should travel, let me know for sure!!! 😀

Kit Kat Mocha Cake

  • Servings: 8-10
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

Adapted from: Exclusively Food

Ingredients:

Cake

  • 250g dark chocolate
  • 250g butter, salted
  • 2 tbs ground coffee
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 300g plain flour
  • 40g cocoa powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 200g brown sugar
  • 300g caster sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 tbs vegetable oil
  • 1 tsp vanilla essence
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 5-6 blocks of Kit Kat

Ganache

  • 300g dark chocolate
  • 1/3 cup thickened cream
  • 1/2 tsp coffee granules

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Method

  1. Preheat oven to 1600 degrees C. Grease and line a 25cm baking tin (springform preferred) – I forgot the lining paper, which is why my sides are so rough looking! 😛
  2. Place 250g butter and chocolate, coffee and water in a large saucepan over low heat and stir until melted together. Let sit off heat till room temperature.
  3. Sift the plain flour, cocoa powder and baking soda into a large bowl.
  4. Add in both sugars and mix into dry mixture till lump free and combined.
  5. In a separate bowl, mix together the oil, eggs, essence and buttermilk.
  6. Add the egg mix to the flour one and mix till combined.
  7. In three batches, add the chocolate mixture, stirring after each batch. Combine till you have a thick, gooey batter.
  8. Pour mixture into the pan and then bake for 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes (I did it for an hour and the middle was a touch gooey, like an underbaked brownie)
  9. Let cool in the tin to room temperature and then remove from tin and cut lengthways into two halves.
  10. Cut up the kit kats, and scatter them on one half of the cake. You may make extra ganache and layer it on top of the kit kats if you want. Carefully place the other half of the cake on top.
  11. Let sit in the fridge while you make your ganache (if it is hot, but if the temperature is cool, you can leave it out)
  12. Ganache: Place chocolate, coffee and cream in a glass bowl and microwave in 20 second spurts, stirring after each heating, until fully melted and smooth. Let it cool slightly until pourable.
  13. Pour the ganache on top of the cake carefully and decorate as desired (or eat it straight up)

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See you when I’m on the other side of the world 😉

Au revoir!

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44 Comments

  1. Survey of Christianity says:

    OMG – I have been out of the loop in the food blog scene for quite some time now (Cj @ Food Stories Blog) and am thrilled to hear your news. You’re probably already here in the states but I know you’ll love America and it will change your life. My sister-in-law did an exchange year in Australia many years ago and she still keeps in touch with the family she stayed with. In fact they take turns visiting each other every couple of years. Cheers!!!

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  2. Tammy says:

    Uru, I saw the news on FB and had to swing by to congratulate you!! 😀
    How exciting…Boston is so beautiful. Welcome to America 🙂
    I wish you all the very best and look forward to all your foodie adventures in the area. Gorgeous cake btw ;D

    xo,
    Tammy<3

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  11. I Wilkerson says:

    How exciting! My older girls both studied abroad and I imagine my youngest will when she is old enough. My middle daughter had to change her destination too to get classes for her major (and then she still didn’t get what she needed, though she managed to find something else, so is still on track). You’ll have a great time–and perhaps some of your readers here will take you to dinner if the ramen gets old.

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  13. Debra says:

    Wonderful news, Uru! You are a true adventurer. We in California have a climate very similar to yours and I don’t know that I have it in me to winter in Boston, but you’ll have memories that will last a lifetime! I look forward to “seeing” America (and Americans) through your eyes.Come remembering what a huge country it is, with so many different sectors and regions that even we as a country rarely agree on much! Gun laws are the tip of the iceberg and state to state there are different laws and different feelings about absolutely everything. So you’re going to have a good time figuring all of that out for yourself. I can’t wait to hear more! And I think we should all celebrate with this fabulous cake! ox

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  14. eliotthecat says:

    So excited for you. I think everyone should take advantage of a semester (or year) in an exchange program. Welcome to the U.S.

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  17. Cher says:

    Oh, that is lovely news.
    Boston is a great city and I always enjoy it.
    As a long time Northeasterner, I will say the winters can be rough but they are beautiful and the autumn more than makes up for it.
    Wishing you all the best!

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  19. Lilly Sue says:

    I am SO excited for you! This is going to be such an awesome experience! Copenhagen would have been sweet but I think you will also enjoy Boston- brrr in the winter though! If you come to CO (beautiful Rocky Mountains) let me know! And have so much fun!

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    • Lilly Sue says:

      PS I thought I would add- I visited Boston for the first time when I was 13 and even at that age I thought to myself I would love to live there for like a year or two…I have not done it but it is a cool city!

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  20. Anna @ shenANNAgans says:

    WOW…. Boston is the BEST! I visited a decade ago and vowed I would be back, and back for an extended time. It is gorgeous and the peeps are cool, and they have the Red Sox baseball team and an amazing aquarium, and swan paddle boats in the park, and delicious food, and fun…. So much FUN! I am really excited for you lovely one. Cant wait for your posts when you get settled. xox

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  22. My Inner Chick says:

    ““`WOW!
    Boston is Fab. The accents are unique! Lots to see.
    And the universities are amazing. Will
    you be going to Harvard or Smith?
    Are you really worried about our gun laws? ME<too! That makes me sad and mad and embarrassed.
    Tell us everything once you get settled.
    For example, who will you live with? Do you think you will like American food? What are you studying?

    xx kiss from Minnesota.

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  24. mjskit says:

    congratulations Darlin!!! How exciting to be getting ready to move some where new. Personally, I would have rather gone to Denmark, but… 🙂 I hope you enjoy the white Christmas that you’ll more than likely have in Boston. I’ve never been there, but I’ve heard it’s got great restaurants and I’m sure you’ll be heading out to visit many of them with you new Bostonian friends. Wishing you the best of luck! Oh, and don’t get me started on the gun laws in the U.S. We’re controlled by the NRA that believes that to prevent school shootings, we need to arm the teachers!!!! For crying outloud!!!! Anyhoo…congratulations and I hope you have a wonderful and memorable positive experience!

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  32. Kim Bultman says:

    Uru, that’s exciting news! I have no doubt you’ll do well. The odds of us meeting have just improved by a couple thousand miles, too. 🙂 Best wishes on your move and enjoy the journey!

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  33. kitchenriffs says:

    Congrats! Boston is a terrific city — loads to do and see there. Make sure you make it out to Cape Cod. I know you’ll have a wonderful time!

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  34. navane64 says:

    The cake is nice. But more to that, travelling alone for the first time is scary. I know. I’ve been there. Also whenever I travel alone, the officers are always asking me questions and checking my luggage. Any way, a learning curve it was and still it and will be the same for you. Remember learning isn’t about the grades. Its also learning about life.

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  35. A_Boleyn says:

    Congratulations on the move/visit. I’m sure you’ll do well … make a ton of new friends. You’ve got to try new things and go new places while you’re young. 🙂 And that’s a great chocolatey treat to celebrate it all.

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  37. Bam's Kitchen says:

    Wishing you all the best CCU! You are going to do fine. You have a vibrant personality and a drive to know and that is exactly what you need to move abroad. Of course what a better way to celebrate an amazing send off with this delicious Kit Kat cake.

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  38. Micha says:

    Oh my! How exciting! I’m so glad I saw this post. Boston is going to be a great experience for you and I know you will love it. It’s a fun city – full of life and very charming. (Can I send you a New York Yankees hat to wear though? heehee)

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  40. Ramona W says:

    Wow!!! You will be in my time zone!! Yay!! I know you will love it. Remember to bring a lot of warm clothes for winter.. they are really big in Boston. Love the kit kat cake… YUM! 🙂

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  43. dianeskitchentable says:

    Oh such exciting news! I think you will really love Boston. Now do NOT worry about the guns laws in Boston. Each state has very different gun laws and In Massachusetts we have VERY strict rules. Do will definitely not see people other than police carrying guns! That’s more Texas and the southern states.

    Now what I think you will love about Boston is that it is definitely a young and vibrant crowd plus there are so many top colleges and universities in and next to Boston that you will easily make friends. The restaurant and so I’ll scene in Boston is a mix but definitely people in their 20’s and 30’s.

    Definitely go to the North End for Italian, Southie and South Boston for the up and coming trendy restaurants, Quincy Market…just because you must. Oh also just for fun and to get a sense of the history try to take in a Duck Tour. No you don’t see ducks, you ride around the city on a Duck Boat (land and water).

    Oh one other thing, we’re kind of crazy drivers so don’t go walking out in front of a car thinking it will stop. It won’t. Public transportation…not so great but people use Ãœber a lot now.

    Keep us up to date and maybe we can cross paths while you’re here.

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