My last week in Australia, wow. So many things have happened; so many reflections so many opportunities I decided to take advantage of in the last minute. I finally went into a submarine; I made a box, a stuffed animal, skated again, and so much more. This week was both sad and exciting; it was full of endings and new lifelong friendships. This last week was one that I will never forget, this is proven by the fact I am writing this one week late. I could not figure out why it had taken so long for me to start this entry, and then I realized it wasn’t because I was jet lagged or because I didn’t want to document it. Now that I have begun writing, I am overwhelmed in sadness excitement, gratefulness, happiness and a strange combination of jet lag, and surreal-ness. My last week, so many fun times, first times and exciting times- now that it’s over, I am so thankful that I had the memories and those will carry me through until I go back.
Monday was obviously that first day of my last week. It was HOT outside, the sun shining, no wind or clouds. The first thing I did was go with the Year Nines for my last ice skating in Australia. We got on the bus, and drove down a familiar road to the skating rink. Once we got inside, Maddy and I walked over to the counter and asked for our sizes. I suppose that it was because it was so hot outside, but the rink was so cold, I was glad I brought my hoodie to skate in. When we began to skate, we realized that it was much too slippery, abnormally slippery. I looked at our skates and saw that we were given hockey skates as oppose to the figure skates that we had last time. When I noticed this, I asked Maddy if she wanted to come with me to change our skates. Once they were changed, I was able to skate sooooo much better! I was able to skate quicker than before, I was able to stop and start up again, and I was able to take pictures of my friends and I skating. It was so much fun, I didn’t want it to end. I knew that once that was over, it was the beginning of the end.
The next day, Tuesday, we (the four Canadians and the year nines) went to the Maritime Museum at Darling Harbor. The museum was big, open, just like everything else in Australia even though it was in the city. I remembered coming here a few days before with the Chalkers. However, this time I was with my friends. We were divided up into our tutor groups, which I suppose can be the same as homeroom classes, but you don’t have all your classes with those people. I was in Kates group, but ended up walking around with Bree and Bec. It was really great and fun to walk around and see Australia’s military history, and to for the first time on the trip, goof around. I have three highlights from this day that I will write about, because if I was to write about all of them, this blog would go on foreverrrr. Before I talk about the memories, I would just like to describe the area. Like I said before, the museum property was open and huge. It was directly on the harbor, and surrounding the docks were old vessels that were used in the wars. They were big, their paint, though slowly rusting off, was a dark shade of blue/ grey to match the water. I could only imagine how great and powerful these boats would have looked in their prime. This was only the outside; the inside of the museum was very impressive as well. When you walked inside, the lobby was full of windows and natural light; it was all painted in bright colours and reflected a bright surface, almost as if you were on the shore. As you walked into further into the museum, the walls became darker and the light became dimmer. The feel was as if you were travelling down into the ocean and walking on the ocean floor. The museum began at a top level; the museum was one room with different facets. It was organized so that one could see everything from anywhere you stood, but to truly see what was there, you would have to walk close up to the window. Like I said, we began at the top level, and we could see all; even below. The walkway that we were all standing on was not glass, but grate-y- like the grates that you walk on in New York. As you walked across the walk, to the left, you could see down below, however to the right you could see the different models of war boats and documents that were both found during the war time as well as documents explaining the events. As a group, we continued walking downstairs until we got to the lowest floor. It was on this floor that the first highlight happened. On the far right side near the back, there was a submarine simulator. There was the captain’s area, the control area as well as the bunkers. Like I said, I was walking around with Bree and Bec; so the three of us tried to fit into the bunkers… despite what you thought, it turned out quite well… eventually we all fit on. The bunkers were like a triple bunk bed—it was kind of awesome- and the great memory from this was just trying to get on, and really, it was the first time I let loose and laughed and did something strange. The next exciting event happened was a little later. We got a bit lost from our group, as we were looking we came across a little room under the stairs. It was padded with blue, and filled with stuffed animals (mostly fish). We decided to go lie down and ‘chill’ there until we came up with where to look next. As I settled down, I took my first look above me and low and behold, legs. I FREAKED out! I don’t think I have screamed that loud in a very long time out of fright. Bec and Bree are laughing at me- so I looked up again only to see that the legs were fake and they were supposed to simulate a man sitting on a dock with his feet in the water… oops. The last memory I would like to talk about from that day was the submarine tour. If anyone who is reading this blog has ever been to Ottawa and has been to the bomb bunkers, then they would know what it’s like to be in a submarine. I said this when I was in those bunkers and I will say it with the submarine- too small- the toilets are gross, and why would someone want to live in a pl ace where there is random recordings of people talking simulating what it is like to live there. The rest of the day was very fun. We went to the Darling Harbor mall for lunch, and hung out in the sun for the rest of the day. As we were sitting on the outside of the submarine, there was a moment, like one the day before, when it just hit me, these are my last moments here- it could be countless months or years until I am back and never will I be there again with my friends.
The next day; Wednesday, Kate for the rest of the week was off at carols camp so I was left to go where I pleased. Originally, I planned to spend the whole day with my Year Tens, however found myself with Maddy, Bec, Bree and Emily for most of my time. The first period, I went with Maddy to wood working. The wood room was quite small compared to everything else. It was crowded with saws, tables and cabinets and tools. I used to do woodworking at camp, and knew the basics, but these people were masters. Maddy was making some sort of cabinet/ box- so I thought I would help her. I knew that I was not allowed to carry wood over the boarder so whatever I made, would have to stay in Australia. I ended up making a tiny box that was eventually going to go inside Maddy’s big one as another compartment. The wood teacher was so much fun- he was all for taking pictures and playing music and helping me with my box- it was a lot of work- seeing as I am artistically challenged. The next period I went to was textiles. Thinking that my wood experiment wasn’t embarrassment enough- I decided to join Bec so I could make a stuffed animal to remember this by. The textiles room was very colorful; as oppse to the wood room that was very dusty, green and brown, this classroom was full of life. The teacher was very nice as well- very welcoming and not at all annoyed by my lack of experience. Naturally, I need to be taught how to sew, use the sewing machine and how to measure and cut the fabric and how to sew on the eyes etc… in the end, I was proud to say that I was able to sew about two inches of the bird and designed all of it. I was successful in learning how to make this bird, and next time I am in that school- I will make one myself. It’s a done deal. The last period that I had with my four new best friends was food tech. Nothing too exciting happened, but like in wood, we took lots of pictures; and unlike wood, we made cookies. It was really an amazing morning. The rest of Wednesday I spent with my Year Ten friends, just sitting talking making up for the past few days and enjoying the last bit of time we had.
At this time, you would probably expect me to talk about Thursday, seeing as nothing except for the first round of tears, goodbyes and pictures happened. There was one event that happened on Thursday, and that was a speech in front of the school, speaking about our experiences and simply thanking the school for everything; it was not such a big deal, so I will not waste your time to write about it. Instead, I will skip to Friday.
Friday- the saddest of all days. We got to school extra early, not on purpose, but that’s just how it happened. I was sitting with Kate- waiting for carols camp to begin, just talking and waiting. When the warning bell rang, I became very sad- for it was the last warning bell I would ever hear. As I looked around me, I realized that for many of the students it was their last days too. It was a sad day for all. I caught up to my friends from Year Ten, and we went off to class. It was the last day of school for them, so everyone was reflecting on their years. Signing shirts, and in my case, the flag. Everyone was taking pictures and really just living in the moments. Friday was also super hot outside- the hottest day yet. I knew that I wanted to spend lunch with Maddy, Bec, Bree and Emily because I knew that I would be spending my last afternoon with the year tens. Due to the extreme heat- we decided to have a water fight. We all went to the canteen (cafeteria) ate our lunch, drunk our water bottles and then re filled them to throw at each other. Emily and I had a truce, however no one else agreed with us so we were NAILED. Just when I thought we couldn’t get any wetter, it started to rain at the beginning of our next class. Not like rain like ohh look mom it’s drizzling- NO- it was like in New York when it seems that there are people throwing buckets off the top of buildings. To make it even better- it was a thunder storm; fork lighting, loud room shaking thunder, perfect for such a solemn day. By the end of the day, no one was paying attention to the teacher, and everyone was in one class room, talking, and documenting. It was the same for us four exchange kids. We were all so sad; and then the last bell rang.
We all gave our hugs and last goodbyes, promising to email and keep in touch. I walked slowly towards Kate’s locker for the last time, accompanied by all my friends. As we said our final goodbyes, my friends gave me a booklet full of poems, pictures, and letters for the plane. I walked towards the car, between Kate and I, it was very quiet. However they had a surprise for me. Kate had invited two of our friends to go see the premier of New Moon- the theater was amazing. It was very big, they had much better snacks then what we have here (not that I tasted them—we brought our own snacks from home…). Inside the theater, there were about twenty rows of big, huge, Sunday night football black leather seats. I don’t think any theater chair could have been more comfortable. While watching the previews, I was surprised to see which movies were delayed and which movies were premiering at the same time ours were. Suddenly the movie began, it was epic. I cannot tell you about the movie because a) it would destroy the plot for you because I wouldn’t have been able to describe it right and b) because by now all of you who wanted to see it- probably have. When the movie was over, we went to dinner to an Italian restaurant, to be honest- I don’t remember the evening too well- but I do remember how I felt. It was a cross between excitement, sadness, and relief. I remember sitting through dinner, distracted, I couldn’t stop thinking about the people I was leaving behind, the memories I would be keeping with me, and the people I was coming home too.
Suddenly it was over; all I had left of the five week trip was nothing but memories. The ride to the air port was solemn. I sat in the car, and looked around, watching the city I have grown to know leave me behind. Despite my sadness, exchange was not over- in three months, Kate would be coming to my house, and I can show her around my city. So until then- byee.
Alanna
