Blogs from Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia, Oceania - page 13

Hey everyone, So this has been the first week of classes. Yes, i realize that i have been in the country for much longer than that. My class schedule is awesome. That is one thing i have been great at, scheduling classes. I have no monday class and tuesday class doesnt start until 5; if i ever wanted to take a long weekend- i am all set. I have one class wednesday and two on thursday and friday. Since my only collegiate experience in the classroom has been at Grand Valley, i kind of assumed everyone did the same thing. Wow, i was wrong. Here, you have to sign up for the lecture and a tutorial. The lectures host about 100 students and the tutorials much smaller; 15ish depending on the class. Some other difference btwn ... read more

So I'm a tourist. I was really really excited about seeing the kangaroo the other morning. Well i went out in the evening to take some pictures (which didn't turn out at all), and i saw 20 more chilling right next to the apartments. Then i saw more the next morning. This is a very common occurrence at the Uni, i have seen at least one roo every day now. This is b/c the Uni is right next to a wildlife preserve. There are signs saying "do not approach the kangaroos". I even saw one with a little joey hanging out of her pouch. grocery shopping here is an experience. first off, it takes about 30 minutes to walk there. it takes me so long to shop b/c i dont know the brand names for anything. ... read more

So here is our first entry! Currently on sunshine coast relaxing and "re-fueling our battries" after last week's hectic packing, planning, moving and working. We have had a wonderful 10 days here, staying in Bokarina with Russell and Gail (Ryan's dad and step-mom). We are so lucky to experience their hospitality and generosity. THANK YOU! The first 2 days were beautiful weather (23degrees in the winter!) and Ryan taught me how to surf! It was like "spot the Tasmanian" because all the locals were in full-wet suits but Ryan and I are just in our bathing suits thinking it is hot! hehe Last weekend Ryan, Russell, Gail and I went camping at Iluka Deer Park. Although it rained the whole time we had a great tarp set-up and kept dry. Played lots of games, read and ... read more

Greetings to all family and friends from Mount Morgan, been awhile, but Don is back doing tours. Three bus loads of children from Rockhampton to Mapleton for five days at Cabin and Camping Grounds in Mapleton, with a day at Australia Zoo. So our budding photographer has been busy taking snaps, one hundred and thirty five photos to be exact, but I have cut it down to a minimum. While Don was away enjoying himself, Jo got stuck into her Mary Kay classes, and had a good time as well, but not as much as Don hahah!!!!!!!... read more

Day 1: Hello all, What a day, we set out early to beat the long weekend traffic, bags packed and boots tied tight ready for a day of hiking ahead. We had booked a camp site at Gheerula camping grounds and planned to park at Mapleton Falls and hike the "Great Walk". Well half of it any way, what we believed to be about a 10-12k hike taking about 3 to 5 hours. What we actually found was about a 14-18k hike taking about 8 hours of relatively hard pace hiking. We never took into account the zigzagging of the track extending the distances on the map a lot. Passing some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever been through made it totally worthwhile. The lushest rain forest to washed out tracks due to recent ... read more