Up north to Down Under

I arrived in Brisbane at 10:35 am. All my flights went really well and I only had to ask for help once. When I got off the plane Tim (my host dad) was right there to pick me up and we were on our way to Stanthorpe. As we were driving I was able to see my first kangaroo, but it was dead on the side of the road. I guess a lot of big trucks and some cars have multiple bars put on the front of their car so hitting kangaroos isn’t a problem. It’s about a 3 hour drive from Brisbane to Stanthorpe and after about a hour of driving we stopped in at a hospital in Toowoomba for Tim’s check up on his knee. After that we went to lunch at the hospital café. I had an Australian type of pizza. It looked nothing like a pizza from the USA except that it was round. I can’t tell you what was on it, but there was no sauce, and it tasted really good. When I reached my new house the first thing I did was went for a walk with Tracey (my host mom) and Mudd (the dog). While on out 30 minute walk around the farm we saw about 5 kangaroos in the field behind the house. Once we were back from our walk we had a supper of pasta and watched the Australian sports channel, then went to bed.

Wed., Aug. 18

Tim and Tracey left around 11 to go to the hospital because Tim had to get a screw taken out of his shin. So after I was settled in and they had left I went outside and read a book and looked at the different types of birds they have here. Then at 3:30 Gene (Tim’s grandma) picked me up and brought me into town to her daughter (Mawinna) and her husband (Frank’s) house for the evening. When I got to Mawinna’s house she brought me to the golf course and we were able to walk up to the kangaroos that like to hang out there. I think we got to be about 15 feet away from the kangaroos before they hopped away. Once we were back at Mawinna and Frank’s house I helped them make 2 pans of lasagna for Frank’s work. For dinner we had pasta and salad that had different types of vegetables but no lettuce in it. Then for dessert we had a banana boat which is like a banana split, and it is a very common dessert for people in Australia.

Thu., Aug. 19

I went to town with Tim and Tracey. Our first stop was at the school where Tracey gave me a quick tour of the school before she had to teach. Then Tim and I left to go to the bank to start my own account and change my American money into Australian dollars. We then went back home and had morning tea with Gene (Tim’s grandma) and Peter (Gene’s nephew). Next Tim had to give a tour of the farm to some grade tens. When he was done with that and after lunch we left to go back to town to get me registered for school. The classes I ended up taking are English, Math B (pre calculus) Art, Tourism, Computer Studies, and Ancient History.

Fri., Aug. 20

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!! I woke up at 5:45 (an hour before my alarm went off) but I couldn’t fall back asleep so I just got ready for the day. Since Tracey had to go to get ready to teach she dropped me off with the deputy principal. After the deputy principal gave me my class schedule he had someone bring me to my home room by 8:45 when the first bell rings. I had home room from 8:45-9:00. There is no set amount of time to get from class to class but it usually takes about 5 minutes. To go from class to class you have to walk outside because different classes are in different buildings. There are 8 periods of 35 minutes each. There are 3 classes in the morning, then morning tea for 45 minutes, then 3 more classes, then lunch for 45 minutes and then 2 classes. The final bell rings at 3:10. Each day of the week the schedule changes so for example you won’t always have math first period and English second period, sometime you will have English third period and won’t have math at all that day. Also you can have one subject for two periods in a row. Here is what my schedule looked like for today: 70 minutes of math, 35 minutes of English, 45 minute tea, 35 minutes of English, 70 minutes of art, 45 minute lunch, 35 minute ancient history, and 35 minutes of computer studies (notice I didn’t have tourism this day). After school Tracey, Amara, Renee (both teachers), and I left for Tracey’s bachelorette party on the Gold Coast and Surfers Paradise.

Sat., Aug. 21

After breakfast everyone got dressed and we all went shopping on the main street. No one purchased anything but it was fun to see the different types of clothes they have in Australia. We all then went down to the shore and had fish and chips for lunch. Tracey, Renee, Amara, and Tracey’s family all stayed in the hotel while Kate, Rita (Tracey’s friend) and I, went for a walk on the beach. It was so beautiful and we were able to put our feet in the warm water even though it is winter here. So next we had the choice of getting a massage on your arms, legs, or neck, getting your makeup done, or having your nails painted. Everyone then got dressed and ready to go out for the evening.

Sun., Aug. 22

We left the hotel around 10am and Tracey, Renee, Amara, and I went shopping at Pacific Fair (a large mall). We arrived back in Stanthorpe at 2:30pm and Tim and I went for a plane ride in his own 2 person plane. We went for 45 minutes over the national park, the town of Stanthorpe, and then over the farm. I unpacked my suitcase, and then Tim Tracey and I went and planted some Napa Cabbage using a machine that can plant 9000 plants in one hour.

Mon., Aug. 23

When I got to school I received my uniform which I changed into for school so I wouldn’t have so many people stare at me because I was the only one walking around in regular clothes. School went really well, it’s pretty easy so far and the teachers are very understanding. After school Tracey and I went grocery shopping for the week and then went home. We couldn’t go for our usual walk because it was raining so hard, Tim said this is the most rain that they have gotten in a long time, and it all started when I arrived so I must have brought it with me. At 5:45 we all left for the Rotary meeting which is held at the golf course. I met so many new people that night and can’t even think about remembering everyone’s names. Everyone there was really glad that I finally arrived and they were all very nice.

Tues., Aug. 24

School again was really good and fun. We had gym today and half of the grade elevens played a game like kickball except 2 people run, one blocks the ball for the other person and if the ball is caught you’re not out instead the team that caught it just gets a point but the kicker and blocker still have to run. You don’t stop at any bases and you can run them in any order as long as the runner touches all three. When we got home I cooked dinner by myself for Tim and Tracey. I made chicken and wild rice which was from MN, and they both really liked it. After dinner I started teaching Tim and Tracey their wedding dance to the James Bond theme song. They both were really excited and did very well, we are about half way through the song at the moment, and they have 5 weeks until the wedding so I think they will be ok. After the little dance lesson we watched the news about the election for the new Prime Minister in Australia, at the moment no one knows who will be Prime Minister, but the elections were held this weekend. Also in Australia it is compulsory to vote and if you don’t you’re fined.