Elementary School in Australia

Every Tuesday afternoon I have the opportunity to visit the local elementary school, observe the students, and help as a teacher's aide. I am helping out in a 1st grade classroom and am having alot of fun! I usually help with reading and spelling right when I get to school. The students have a 45 minutes break for lunch and recess and then the teacher or I usually read them books until P.E. time. Last Tuesday, I made a powerpoint presentation about the USA for the students. They had lots of good questions for me and were amazed about the snow! So far volunteering in the schools has been an amazing opportunity!

Here is the front of the classroom where I am volunteering.



Here is the back wall with all the student's art displayed on it!



Here is the school "hallways". Everything is outside!



This is a picture of some of my 1st graders actively listening to the P.E. teacher, Mr. Cook!



Here are four of my students showing off their awesome hula hooping skills during P.E. class!



Everything is soooo laid back in the Australian schools. I might just have to teach over here someday??!

New Zealand Trip

Tomorrow the group is traveling to New Zealand for a 10 day "Spring Break". We will be white water rafting, hiking, sky diving, and all kinds of other fun activities! Unfortunately, I will most likely be unable to post pictures for awhile. I will take lots of photos in New Zealand though and will get some of them up here on the blog ASAP.
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Fun in the Pool

This evening Jessica, Angie, Craig, Tracy and I all went swimming in the pool! We decided to use Craig's underwater camera and get some cool pictures! Here are some of the best.....

Tracy and I take a nice underwater picture!



Jessica and I give the underwater photography a try! but have to be held down by Angie's legs....



Angie and I try not to laugh under water!



What a good lookin group of Aussies!



Taking pictures in the pool was alot of fun!

Australia from the Past

Believe it or not, this weekend has been devoted to classes and homework! I know...its hard to comprehend! Anyway....we haven't been taking pictures so I've found some random photos from the first few weeks in Australia.

This is me after just arriving here in Australia. I must have been amazed at the serenity of the lake.



This is a group of Aborigines in Byron Bay.



Here is the group at a restaurant in Byron Bay called "The Balcony". It was a little pricey...won't go back there again.



Here is an action shot from the beach at Byron Bay. I was playing Frisbee with Mike and Craig!



And finally, a creative picture from the Byron Bay beach.....Take a Look Into My Eyes!



One more week until we leave for a 10 day trip to New Zealand!!! Can't wait!

Post #2- Australia Zoo! Crikey!!

I took so many pictures at the zoo that I had to put up another post so you could see them! Enjoy!

Here is Craig and I posing in one of Steve Irwin's Crocodile Hunter Jeeps! I think Craig spotted a croc!



Jump with Steve Irwin!



Graham- the famous crocodile that bit Steve Irwin!



A tortoise that is well over 100 years old!



Jessica, Angie and I pose in front of the Irwin Family! Bindi, Steve and Terri!



Enjoy the snow back home!

Post #1- Australia Zoo! Crocs Rule!!

Yesterday, we visited the Australia Zoo. Steve Irwin, the world famous crocodile hunter, started the zoo 30+ years ago and now it has grown into one of the most famous zoos in the world! The zoo was very cool! We got to pet and feed the kangaroos, hold the koalas, pet some lizards, and watch an awesome crocodile show in the famous Crocoseum! Everyone had a great time at the zoo!

Posing with my friend Kanga Roo......



The awesome Crocoseum where Steve Irwin's memorial services were held after his infamous death.....



Koala! One of Australia's famous indigenous creatures!



This is part of the group holding a koala bear!



Julie (our Graduate Assistant), Craig and I decided to pose with this awesome life size crocodile! Crocs Rule!

Another Gourmet Meal in Cabin 2

Tonight we prepared another gourmet meal in Cabin 2! Chicken Parmasan! It was actually amazing!

Here is the end result of all the hard work!



Beating the meat.....



Tracy pouring the sauce....



Angie frying the chicken...



and 3 of us enjoying our chicken and pasta!



This meal might just have been the best one since we arrived here in Australia!

Snakes and Dragons in Australia

All kinds of creepy critters have been showing up in our camp!

1st- I got to hold my first snake...a common green tree snake! Scary Stuff!



This is Phil. He is our wildlife expert here at the camp! He knows EVERYTHING about the creepy critters that live around our camp! In this picture he is holding an 8 ft. long carpet python!



This is a bearded dragon! Wouldn't want to meet this guy on the path to the beach!



This is a picture of Craig, Jessica, Tracy and I at the local Chinese resturant. We were celebrating Jessica's 20th BDay. Over 20 of us ate at the resturant to celebrate!




This is a picture of the "nice guys" at Byron Bay! Craig, Mike and I!

As the Snow Rages on at Home.......

WE ARE SOAKING UP THE SUN HERE IN AUSSIE LAND!!

We took Surfing Lessons in Byron Bay on Tuesday! It was quite the experience! I actually caught some waves and stood up on the board!!!

This is a picture of the group after our lessons!



Even in surfing, practice makes perfect!



Surfing Stud??



Our visit to Southern Cross Univeristy!! The College of Education!! GO EDUCATION MAJORS!



and finally the awesome double-decker bus that we rode to the university in! It was awesome riding on the top overlooking the street!



Dont freeze in the Blizzard of 07! I've been telling everyone that I would love to come home for 1 day and see all the snow but then I think I would be back here in a flash!

Hope all is well!!

Byron Bay Beach + Random Pictures from Aussie Land

We went back to Byron Bay for a day trip today. Angie and Craig went scuba diving again while Mike and I enjoyed hanging out on the beach (I wore my sunscreen this time) and watching part of our group learn how to surf. (The five of us here in Cabin 2 are learning to surf on Tuesday)

Here are some random photos from the past week here in Aussie Land!

A beautiful palm tree in Byron Bay!



A Sting Ray that the girls saw washed up on the beach. Of course, they had to poke it, touch it, turn it over, and take pictures with it! Craig and I were running up to Lennox Head Pointe the morning this stingray was discovered so we missed out on all the fun.



Mr. Lizard visited our camp this week. He is not welcome into Cabin 2.



Eating in Byron Bay, Angie and I posed for a lemon and lime picture while waiting for our pizzas!



And for all of you who didn't believe my story about the shark attacks........



This week we have plenty of studying to do before we (hopefully) travel to Steve Irwin's Australia Zoo. We are all looking forward to it!

Cooking in Australia

So, before we left our parents were wondering how we would ever eat over here in Australia since that involved cooking our own meals. Even though we are used to having our meals prepared for us at BSU we have managed to cook a few interesting meals here in Aussie Land. For instance, tonight Angie and Tracy prepared stir fry with noodles and fresh vegetables. Ashley and I set the table. Based on what we have available to cook with here in the cabin I would have to say dinner turned out quite good. Not Rachael Ray or Emeril quality but still very healthy and filling.

Here is Angie and Tracy chopping the veggies for our stir fry...



This looks interesting!



Dinner is served!



Throwing away the left overs......ignore the fact that food is burnt to the bottom of the pan.



Also, through the kindness of Jessica Adams, you should be able to check out my pictures on facebook without a password. Just click on the three links to the right.

DONT FREEZE!

Colts Win!

COLTS WIN!!

Luckily, we got to watch the Colts beat the Bears in the Super Bowl! Even better, I received a package in the mail during the 1st quarter and Dad had sent me this Colts shirt! I wore it with pride! Thanks for the mail!!