Week #1
It has been a week since I arrived here in Sydney Australia. My first week has been filled with new experiences that I thought were never possible, from thinking that the air port was the end of a Disney ride, to freaking out when we drove on the wrong side of the road, kissing a kangaroo, and playing water balloon volleyball.
The plane ride down from Toronto to Sydney was an experience I think only to be matched with the plane ride back home. Steph, Macaulee, Sam and I were dropped off by sad families on Saturday evening after hanging out and reminiscing at Starbucks at Pearson Airport in Toronto. The four of us were released into the world, parent free at the security check before going onto the plane that was headed to our first stop, Vancouver. Security went fine, and once all through, headed to the duty free shop to purchase the last Canadiana gifts for host families and real food for our selves. The wait and atmosphere at gate 139 was full of excitement, fear and last minute bathroom breaks before the flight and experience of a lifetime. Half an hour later, we were in the plane, finally seated after musical plane seats and off into the air. We all tried to stay up before landing in Vancouver but it became hard as the hours got closer and closer to midnight and the sky continued to get darker. Once landed in Vancouver, we said our last goodbyes to Canadian soil, and set the last text message to our parents without substantial roaming charges. After about forty-five minutes of waiting to re-board the plane, we finally got back on a got comfy in the seats that we would be in for the next sixteen hours. I cannot tell you much about the flight mostly because I either slept through it or because I have pushed most of it out of my mind. What I do remember was waking up with four more hours to go and watching the sun come up, and the people on the plane waking up, and getting the gross plane breakfast and not eating it. At the same time breakfast was being put out, the customs cards were being handed out to all the passengers. When I was looking at the sheet, the fact that I was going on exchange and not going home for six weeks set in. I also found out that I was not too ready to have this experience, because when I was looking at the customs sheet, I had no idea what to write. I knew my passort number and I knew my home country and ho long I was there for, but I didn’t know the address that I was staying at, or my contact information. I was also scared because of the Australian Warnings about Quarantine. We saw many videos about how there was no food or anything being allowed into the country and if they caught you, you would go to jail and there would be a fine. I had some food leftover in my bag from my parents and Macaulee had maple syrup or her family, and we just didn’t know what to do. With all of this panic, the plane finally landed and we stepped off into the city that would be our new temporary home.
The way towards the baggage claim and customs was a long hallway that you would usually go on if you were exiting a rollercoaster or ride. It was very bland, and you had to walk very slowly because you were still getting used to being on your feet. This analogy became more realistic when we finished the ramp that led directly into a Sydney Duty Free shop, like one of those theme shops that are at the end of every disney ride. If I wasnt so tired, that probably would have been my first pitcure of my trip. The next little bit of our journey was not too exciting, we went through customs, got our bags and left the security point and headed out to meet out host families. We all found our way to our families, and we said our first hello’s and began the very awekward walk to the car, get to know you, and how was your flight conversation. When we got to the car, I saw the father, Warren get into the right side with the keys in his hands and the mother Cathrine get into the driers side without anything. The car started moving and I realized that Warren was driving, but on the wrong side of the car and road. We made a turn out of the parking lot and another car was coming in the opposite direction, and I thought that we were going to be hit becuase we were on the wrong side. The rest of the car ride was a nice in car tour of Sydney. We drove over the Harbour Bridge, and next to the Oprah House. We drove past the Olympic Stadium and by the concert halls, it was all so new, fasinating and clean. Once we arrived at their home, I took my bags into my new room and went into the kitchen to call my parents and the Chalkers made lunch. The rest of the day was spent trying to keep myself awake- so anyother activites that took place that day are not in my memory. I went to bed very early that night because the next day was my first day of school. We were to be presented to the whole school during an assembly.
When we first arrived at St. Pauls Grammar School, I was in total awe. The school layout was very different from York; everything was very open, there were no stairs anywhere because there didnt have to be. The school grounds like the rest of Windsor (where I was staying) was very spread out and big enough to have different blocks for every general subject. Cathrine, Warren, Kate and I all walked into the school towards Kates locker. Her locker conveniently was placed right next to the exchange coordinators office where we all had to meet before the assembly. When the four of us finally got there, we were paired up with Year Ten students who were taking the same electives as us and we were to follow them around for the time we were at the school. It turned out that we were all early enough to be presented at the full teacher meeting. We were put on the spot by the principal to talk infront of all of the staff members just to hear our accents. I thought that that was very strange. After that, we were taken to the assembly which took place outside in the middle of the school. We were invited up to the stage and told to say our names, who we are staying with and who we will be following, and that we were excited to be here. No paraphrasing. After the assembly, we met up with the people that we were paired up with and went to our first class. The day went by great, and I was all excited for the next six weeks.
The next few days, went by just as smoothly, and making friends was as easy as anything; the days were also very boring. There were a few problems, at first, for example we weren’t given any internet until thursday and none that worked until friday this made it hard to do any of the work that was assigned by York; St. Paul’s students are now just beginning their exams so the whole school is studying for their examinations so the four of us had virtually nothing to do for the first week. As the week was ending the Year Tens had gym, and that was the first piece of excitement that I first encountered. During this PE class, the teachers had nothing planned because the grade was supposed to be beginning exams, so the teachers got creative and came up with five stations that we were to all participate in. These games ranged from team building activities to Duck Duck Goose to water balloon volleyball. Water Balloon Volleyball was my personal favourite. The group that I was in was split into two teams that were placed on either side of the net. Then, one player was given a water ballon that they had to throw to the other side, however you had to aim for the person on the other team and each time you caught it, your team would get a point. It was awesome!
Then came the weekend. On saturday, Kate had choir practice for four hours in the afternoon. In the morning before the practice, we went to one of the zoo’s in Sydney that gives people chances to interact with the animals throughout the zoo It was incredible! I kissed a kangaroo, hugged a koala, and saw a peacock open its feathers. It was like nothing I have every seen before.
Today, (sunday) was an altogether different experience. We went up to the Blue Mountains today to see the Three Sisters, a formation of rocks that were told to once be three sisters whose father had been worried about an evil spirit and changed his daughters to protect them. It was raining all day today, so the view from the mountains were not to great. On the way home, however, we stopped at a few stores, to look for Uggs- the brand does not exist here so the search for them have been a true challenge. After the search, we went back onto the highway, and ended up in a traffic jam. We thought that it was going to be five minutes but after about fifteen, Kate and I went up onto the bridge that overlooked the freeway. From there, we saw the car crash and the police that were cleaning up the mess. We thought that we would be there for a while, and it turned out to be true. When we came back down, we saw that everyone else who was stuck on the freeway had gotten out of the car, had a snack, the kids were sitting out of the windows, it was truly a sight to see. After about an hour and a half waiting, the traffic finally cleared up and we were off to home, and ready to order dinner.
Tomorrow is the beginning of the second week of school and because of the Year Ten exams, we are going to be placed with the Year Elevens. Can’t wait to report next weeks news!
Have a great week everyone!!
Alanna
Introduction
Hello, and welcome to my blog.
In these entries, I am going to speak about my life changing experiences. In some entries I will write about camp, certain trips I have taken with my family or friends, some experiences at home that I have had that have shaped my perspective of the way the world works and more. For the next few months, however, I will be documenting my process and trip to Australia. Hope you enjoy!
- Alanna
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