Rock 2 Reef part 1. <3

23 days with 40 sum exchange students.
half know each other the other half know each other..
2 districts of rotary exchange students brought together for a trip around Australia.
Neither district knowing the other.
The first day we left at 6 which meant that most of us were up at 4 a.m or earlier.
It was really weird getting on the bus because the trip was finally here we had been thinking about and excited about this trip all year and we where on our way. Our bags packed ready to go, another adventure. We met up with the other district about 5 hours later.
We hopped off of our bus and onto theirs. So that meant they already had their seats which meant they were all in the back. so through out the day we slow mixed going back to the back and sitting in empty seat or switching seats. Do the normal exchange student run down.. Hi my name is.. I'm from... I've been here.... I live here in..... I leave..... Then it’s the other exchange students turn..... Then you talk about things you've done with the other exchange students.. Your best trips.. Favorite.. And worst families (that is if you've had any.) something will hit during the conversation that you both have in common and BAM! Your friends. Just like that exchange students are so much fun.
Now most of you at home will not be able to say this town's name properly now it's not your fault. Australian's I believe have pride in spellings and saying words so different you wonder what were they drinking when they deiced to spell that or say that...? =]
Day 2 we went to Coober Pedy- Australia Opal mining capital.. Which is out in the middle of the country (well almost) and there is nothing there except for the crazy people that live there. And it's so hot that most digs into hills and lives underground. It was nice to visit but I’d never live there.!
Day3 more driving! (This country is big!) We were headed to Ulura/Ayers rock (once again most at home will not be able to say this.) it’s a bloody big rock 9 1/2 km walk which took about 3 hours.
We ended up staying 4nights at Ulura camp site.. Because my buddy Clay (who is Canadian) broke the air con. In our first bus by getting a kender surprise bar (chocolate bar) stuck along with Anne's tweezers. The walk around Ulura was amazing and lots of fun. The people I walked with made it heaps of fun and the 3 hours passed by quickly. The pictures I took wow.!
King's Canyon walk.. Well it wasn't a walk it was a freakin' Climb that seemed to go for ages!! Over 500 steps sure we all thought pshh.. 500 steps no worries well when u seen the steps and then after going up them those evil 500 steps where killer but well worth it. Some people say its one of the most beautiful sites in Australia but i say it's nice and I’m glad i got to climb and see it but I’d only go once.
Alice Springs. By now days weren't really being counted and we all felt like we had known each other for ages. i think it was day 5 or 6. Alice springs is pretty much in the middle of Australia and is known for the Royal Flying Doctor Service (which i would like to come back and work for but only for only about 6 months) and also known for School of the Air School of the air isn't a school to teach people how to fly but its a school with maybe 200 students from the ages of 3-15. And because the out back and people do live out there they still need schooling so they are shipped their homework and have classes on the web. i thought that was pretty cool.
Undrar national park(Queensland) - this was a really cool place it's one of the worlds largest (found) Lava tube systems. We were giving a tour through part of it and got to walk down to the start of a few tubes. It was beautiful in its own way and very interesting.

For one whole day 11 hours we sat on a bus but the drive was well worth it we were then at Ellis Beach which was the start of the coast! At Ellis beach we had a few hours to play in the ocean. But we had to go in the roped/ netted part so we weren’t stung by the deadly jelly’s or just in case there were sharks.. I’m glad to say we all survived the swim. The next day we went to Kuranda Market’s which was a lot of fun had lunch and went on a sky line thing that took us from the mountain tops back to the beach. Then we went to Tjarapai (don’t ask how to say that..?) Aboriginal Centre. That was one of my favorite places we got to learn about the Aboriginal culture and actually partake in a few activities.

Airlie Beach which is Australia’s Back packer town’s it was a lot of fun and alive. We had the night out (meaning we bought our own tea that night and got to go shopping)

The next morning we had a boat ride out to the Great Barrier Reef which was my favorite day! We went Snorkeling all day the colours, fish, coral, the water, the whole day was indescribable. All I can say is if you plan on going to the Great Barrier Reef Go to Airlie Beach and take a boat (I’ll find out the company’s name) and it’s well worth the money it’s a day you’ll never forget. Fish with colours and designs you never thought could possibly be true but they are its truly amazing. I felt like a 5 year old at a lolly’s’ shop only the lolly’s I took home were memories.

Australia Zoo (Steve Irwin’s Zoo!) and yes his family was at the Croc Show. =D it was a lot of fun and the Crocs’ were freakin’ monstrous!!! Why what large teeth they have. Haha

Gold Coast.! <3>

The current was horrible. You would take one step and a wave would hit you and you’d be 6 feet back and have to start over. The surf teacher was to die for and what we all around the world picture Aussie guys to look like. (yes My crazy Mexican Friend Maria and I got a picture with him) haha. But the Surf teacher said that the current isn’t usually that bad. And I did surf I stood up and rode some waves! Not just 5 but almost every wave. There were a few wipe outs mind you there were 40 some people out in the water(crazy exchange students =D) You should have seen me carrying the stupid Surf Board it was HUGE! I had to carry it on my head when out of the water and if I didn’t I would fall over. =D

The next day we spent at Dream World. It was a lot of fun. But I like our amusement parks/ water parks better.

Sydney (our trip is almost over)=(…

Sydney wow it was a great day Amazing actually but I’d never live there it’s not as fun as Melbourne =P. but the Bridge and the Opera house! Was beautiful, we had a private tour of the Opera house. It truly is as amazing if not better in real life. And the history is very interesting.

Canberra (Australia’s Capital!) haha everyone else would believe it to be Sydney or Melbourne. Melbourne was Australia’s capital for about 15 years. While Canberra was being built. By the way Australia’s Capital City is designed by an American (although I don’t really like the city nothing’s really there..) and the Capital Building is designed by two American’s one of the designers now lives in Australia. =]

America’s ever where.

The trip was wow! That’s all I can say to make you understand how amazing and unbelievable great it was.

It wouldn’t have been this amazing of a trip if it wasn’t for the exchange students on the trip. I’ll never forget any of them. Some I became close with than other’s and so many inside jokes I could write a book on it maybe two. But only 20 or so would truly understand it all. HIII-GH. 4! =] I can’t wait to see them all again in the next month and the years to come.

Pictures in the next Blog (they take to long to upload should be there next week)

XXX

Racism

Racism Yesterday i was taking the train home from an afternoon in the city.
A white guy stumbled clumsily on to the train if his entrance on to the train didn't show to you that he was drunk then the stubby he had in one hand and the bag of the remainder sure would have.
Then he preceded to sit down. He looked around and there was an Asian, a guy that was part Black and an Indian guy sitting in the same area of the train as him. As soon as the drunk guy seen who he was sitting next to he did one of the worst things i think a person could ever do.
he opened his mouth and demeaned each one of these men(black,Asian, and Indian)... My respect for these three men i never spoke to and never caught their names grew. They handled this man in the most reasonable way. If someone would have spoken to me in that way i would have told him off. Each man kept their cool. the Asian got off on the next stop the Indian got of 3 stops later. And the Black guy moved and sat next to me. The drunk guy got off the stop before me and the Black guy. I told the Black guy i was so sorry he was drunk and stupid and that race doesn't matter it's the person you are inside that counts not the colour of your skin, your religion, or ethnicity. The guy just smiled and said that's what he was told growing up. and that he would never judge people by a bad experience and that theres always a bad apple in a bunch.

I hate Racism i seen no point in it it shows that you have no respect for u or anyone else. And that you have a narrow mind.(step out of that little box and see that we are all different thats what makes the world go round.) I've met some of the most amazing and life changing people, and over half of them are of a different race,religion, or ethnicity if i let race take over my view on people i wouldn't have the opportunities i have open to me. These races cultures and ethnicity make our wonderful world go around.
It makes people who they are. and why should you be the one to judge them? well your not to judge them that's God's job(and by saying God i mean what ever God you chose to believe in that is if you chose to.)
I love the fact that everyones different it keeps things intresting if everyone was of the same colour religion how boring would our amazingly diviser would be?
It's a way for us to test our selfs would you be willing to help someone anyone (no matter the colour or difference) it's easy to say 'Yes' but its harder when put to the test.
When you where a little kid in pre-school you played with all the kids not just the white, black, green. so why do we start to see a differnce when we grow up.
=D<3

..OI=D

Oi!
well im with a new host family my host sister Gabby went on exchange last year to Brasil. As my 1st host dad Ken said we get along like two ducks in a pound.
The whole family is great.! Their down to earth and a lot of fun.
The weather is driving me nuts Summer was great but it was up and down with the temp. never in the same range. Then again that how Melbourne weather is bi-polar! =]
This weekend My family is off to the city not a clue of wat is planned but i cna't wait!
Then next weekend i have a bike ride for 6 days (600 klm!) pray i make it the whole way =]
and then a few weeks after that i'm off on my Rock to Reef trip for 26 days! =D
Oh and school is good lots of homework but its good i enjoy my classes. =]
short but sweet i got to go =]

Bush Fire

The Bush fires here as all of you i'm sure have heared are well a story all its own.
Yes there has been an arrest made but as far as i know they are still collecting evidence. I think most people are upset that someone would actually set a fire and kill so many people, destroy so many homes and the toll on the wildlife has been out outrageous. I think there is one or two more fires thought to be set but nothing else has been said. Most people are focused on helping the burned victims and people in need of help.
The fires are still burning but i'm not really close to where the fire's are.
But everyone here has come together to help any any way. and money is being raised to help them. i'll post more later..