Mooloolaba!

Cheers from Caloundra!!!!! We are currently writing to you in the company of Jordan and AJ, two of our WYD crew from Spruce Grove who are with us at our host family's house. We are staying in Mooloolaba, which is about 20 minutes from our host parish, Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. The rest of the kids are in 3 other homes in Caloundra. We met the kids yesterday at about 1, after all of them missed at least one flight from Sydney, and two of them missed TWO from Sydney. But they all made it ok. It's been raining here for the past couple days but it finally cleared up this afternoon.

We last left you in Noosa where we went surfing! It was so fun! We both made it standing up quite easily and enjoyed the rainy weather. We were both learning to catch our own waves by paddling into them by the end. We can't wait to go again, which is TOMORROW MORNING! We are catching a lesson with the kids. We really enjoyed surfing, but we both agree it is super tiring! We were so sleepy by the end and we caught an early sleep to recuperate. Dennis is clearly hooked too. We went to a mass that night as well. ANd found a great dinner at a bowling club which was recommended by our surfing instructor.

The next day we got up and ate breakfast before heading downtown to walk Hastings Street to do some shopping. WE finished off all our souvenier shoppings and then watched the surfers catch the waves. We then took a great hike around Noosa National Park through the eucalypt forests to try and catch a sighting of some koala bears in the wild. Well, unfortunately, after craning our necks lots, we still never spotted one. We were pretty disappointed, but when we got back to the main station we saw a koala sighting sign, which said "Foreshore picnic area". I asked the park guide where that was, and he ushered me out of the store and pointed up, where there was a wee koala, lounging in the tree right above us! No hike needed! But it was great all the same. The sleepy koala barely moved but we got some cute shots of him (or her). Did you know that koala's spend 30% of their energy de-toxifying the eucalpyt leaves because they are so toxic?? And they eat enough of the leaves in one day that would kill a human being with toxicity. That's why they are so stoned all the time.

The next morning we caught our last bus trip (making Kim ubber happy) to Caloundra. We drove down the beautiful sunshine coast under overcast but made our way into town and walked to the church. We met Mark and Karen, the two people I had been organizing things with, and chatted with them. We did find out that the kids missed their flights from Sydney to Brisbane because of customs. But they were on the next one and should be only delayed an hour. We chatted and got organized and met our host family. Tom and Margeret Lailey! Super nice elderly couple. Super sweet. Before no time, the kids arrived and we ran out to greet the hardy bunch. It was sooooo cool to see them! They were all smelly and tired but so happy to have arrived. We all met our host families who took us home, the kids showered and got settled, and then we all met back in the city. We walked along King's beach and then walked around town and grabbed something to eat. I definitely think I am addicted to surfing. I want to buy a surf board so bad! We looked at a shop. I think Kim thinks I am crazy and I probably am. But oh, they are so pretty!

I could totally be a surfer dude in another life, or maybe this one...

We forced the kids to stay up to at least past nine before we let them go home to their host families.

Yesterday, we met the kids at the church but it was pouring. We were hoping to go surfing this afternoon but could not get a hold of the surf schools. So we decided to go to the plaza in Maroochydre to go shopping. SO we all hopped on a bus and found our way there. It was pretty cool. The kids got to do some shopping and so did we. We headed home after a bit to have supper with each of our host families before going to a movie tonight. Get Smart! SHould be fun. I still remember the old TV show. Classic! Well we should get ready, we are about to leave for the movie!

Miss you all and love you

Dennis and Kim

P.S. Today, we met the kids, went surfing (I didn't enjoy myself as much, neither did Dennis. I got strangled and pulled under by my surf cord and couldn't get out of the wave for a bit), then ate lunch with our host family before enjoying the thrills of underwater world! Days in the Diocese officially starts FRIDAY!

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