'Free Day'

So I woke up at 6 a.m. wide awake and hugary! My food schedule has not caught up with Australian time yet. So we all went to breakfast and then went back to the rooms to hang out and prepare for the day. I was planning on white water rafting adventure but sadly due to the rain the past couple of days the rivers were to high to float and the company cancled on me, but I got my money back and we decided to go to the beaches up north to hang out and catch some sun. So 25 of us or so walked to the bus station and caught the 1x to Palm Cove for a day at the beach. This day was beautiful and we sept the next 5 hours playing in the ocean. About 2:30 six of us went and ate at a restaurant and enjoyed a deliciuous B.L.T. Then at 4:30 we left for Cairnis for dinner.Which took a 40 minute bus ride south. We went to Shennaigans for dinner where I ate a Kangaroo burger which was delicious and then went back to the hotel and updated my blog and went to bed.

Cairns!

So after over a day of being on an airplane, I'm in the Pacific International Hotel and we're alll figuring out our living arranegments for the fist week. Then I got to take a shower! Finally hot water and washing my hair. So after everyone has cleaned up and changed we went down stairs for our first session. We have 45 people all from all over the country. It took a couple of hours then the leaders took us out for dinner at Blue Sky Brewery, which was really good! And to get to know eveyone we all went out to Gilligan's for drinks and dancing.

The next morning breakfast was at 7:15 a.m. we all woke up early and hungary. Then we headed out to The Rain Forestation, where whe get to pet Kangaroo's, hold Koala's, and throw a boomerang. So we take a 40 min bus ride in to the Karatuana Rainforest. When we get there we immediatly run into the talking parrot that curses, he's pretty awsome, but we move on to speak with the aboriginal's who showed us how to throw spears, and launch boomerangs which it what the used to kill birds way back when. The he taught us how to play a didgerydo which I failed miserably at. When we went to throw the boomerang I failed. epically. I threw it like a frisbee. then we got to se Koala's in a habitat and see the new baby kolala that AustraLearn adopted named Tim Tam she is really adorable.
Then we got to go play with Kangaroo's and toouch and feed them they were really laid back and liked the attention. The next thing we got to do was hold a Koala it was a male so he had a gland that left a very storng scent on your clothes and arms, I also got to have my picture taken with him! After this we went and had lunch in the restaurant, which was really good but the service here is so different as you don't tip.And you served your whole table your drinks of water from a pitcher that you refill.
Then we headed off to go ride the ducks! Which was nothing new for me but it was a whole different ball game in the Rainforest. There are very deadly plants, snakes, spiders, and bugs. We saw many endangerd plantsand they are spectacular looking and ones that will kill you in under 60 seconds. There is one plant called locally the "wait a while" because sooner or later someone will walk by and get caught on these 6 foot long razor sharp strands. Our guide told us to 'Not touch anything in the wild' Don't worry my hands were safely in my lap the whole time! This was the last thing we did and the we all got back on the bus stoked after what we all just expierenced and went back to the hotel to change and we went to P.J. O'malley's where there were 10 dollar meals with a glass of wine included. It was awsome. Later after dinner we came back to the hotel after getting a 4 litre box of wine to pre-game with before we went out to Gilligans again where we all dance and had a blast, including a titty contest where my roommate won $150 bucks. All in all it was a great day and I called it a night at 2 a.m.

Finally an Update!

So here's whats happened since you last tuned in. I Left for Australia at 8 a.m. on Sunday morning 9central time). Mom and dad sent me off and made sure I got through airport security. I hopped on my flight to LAX around 10 a.m., but soon realized that we had a stop-over in Chicago. This was my first time in Chicago airport, so I was there for 30 min and realized the kid behind me David was also going with AustraLearn.
So I took the flight to LAX and went to retrieve my luggage, the time is now 4:30 Waited for forever.Never arrived. Awsome. Went to baggage claim waited for dumb attendants,of which only 1 of 5 were working. And was told that my luggage was being sent over to Quantas my airline, the lady at MCI sucks, as she told me I had to get my luggage at LAX. So David and I went to dinner at Chili's in LAX and then I met up with everyone for the group flight. However I forgot to set back my watch so I realized around 8:30 central time that it was really only 6:30, yey only 5 more hours of waiting. Everyone beagn arriving and kept arriving until an hour before the flight.
We played card games and tried to learn evryones names. By far John is the funniest kid I've met as he didn't know until now that we have to wear uniforms at school (a bussiness suit) he is devestated, I find it hilarious as does everyone else.
So finall at 11:10 we board our flight, which is a 747, let me tell you this thing his huge! It's double the height of a regular plane. So I strap in and prepare for the 16 hour plane ride...
at about 3 a.m. dinner is served I had chicken and it was actually pretty good. then I watched the movie All about Steve, with Sandra Bullock, did not like the ending. Shortly after that I fell asleep, slept for a fitul 5 hours and woke up and watched 500 days of Summer (while a snack of fruit and snack pack with water is served), good movie :) Then I fell aleep for an hour. About 6 a.m. pacific time breakfast was served, only 5 more hours and I would step off the plane to Brisbane, Queensland Australia!
When we arrive in Brisbane we all (30 ish of us) have to retrieve our luggage, go through customs, check our new luggage and go through security again. and get to another terminal by bus across the airport in about 1 1/2 hours. In Australia though security is not as strict and I didn't even have to take off my shoes! We then all borded a plane to Cairnis, Australia for a 2 hour flight, which seemed like cake at the moment and was really fun due to our attendants and a percouious 14 year old gilr in the back who had opinions on evrything and was trying to hit on a 16 year old at the front of the plane. Pretty sure this girl was a pathological liar as she said she went to 36 primary schools, and and T.I.'s (the rapper)number and some other celebrity's email... nothing she said can now be relied upon.
So we arrive at the airport where 4 AustraLearn guides help us find our way to baggage claim get our luggage and get onto a bus for a 20 minute drive to our hotel.

1 More Day!

So only one more day left before I leave! I only have two things left to do. Pack and yell at Bank of America for taking 3 weeks to get my debit car to me, as it has not arrived yet. The packing has not stated yet which could make for an interesting Saturday, but I'm going to get a manni and pedi tomorrow so yey! I'll keep you guys posted as I travel across the world.

Getting Started!

So I now officially have four days until I depart for down under! I'm getting really excited! I leave Springfield tomorrow at 11 p.m. and head to K.C. for a few days. My flight leaves for L.A. on sunday morning and then my advernture begins. I'll try to keep you posted and put up pics for everyone who dosen't have facebook!