Journaling

June 15, 2006- July 3, 2006

Day 3 Fiji June 17- We arrived at the Nadi, Fiji Airport and 5:10am. While we where inside the airport we met our delegation leader Zac. At 8:00am we loaded onto the bus to go explore the villages and go to the Kula Eco Park. At the Kula Eco Park we saw many different kinds of birds, reptiles, and frogs. After we left The Park we went to our hotel called the Warwick Fiji. At the Warwick we where allowed to swim, go kayaking, and hang around.

Day 4 Fiji June 18- Today we went to Rivers Fiji to go kayaking. While we where kayaking we learned about mangroves. There are three different kinds of mangroves. I. White-land, 2. Black- between the water and land, 3. Red. – Water. Even though my kayak kept going in circles I still had a lot of fun,

Day 5 Fiji June 19- Comparing and contrasting the Fiji school and Grant Middle school is very easy. There are some ways that both of them are the same. For instance, both of these schools need help from the government. Both of these schools have very low supplies for the students. Also both school start early in the day. There are many ways that they are different as well. Grant Middle School doesn’t wear uniforms. The Fiji school is so large that it needs to be divided into four “houses” labeled A, B, C, and D. Also Grant does not sing every day to people.

Stephanie- Fiji School

   Fiji School                    Fiji School                 

Day 6 Fiji June 20- One of the legends that I heard at the culture center was the one about the chief and the roosters. The chief came out to sit in his chair but the ground being so uneven that he had to keep moving it around. When he finally was settled some other me came around with their wives or other women. In the background there where these two roosters who where getting louder and louder. Suddenly one of the roosters came from behind one of the women and swept her away. Five things I learned today were that some of the villages built their doorways to the building very small so someone tall would have to crouch down. Another thing I learned that in ancient Fiji the wife of a dead chief could be buried alive or have her little finger cut off. A third thing I learned is that the girls had to be virgins until they were married. To tell if a girl was still a virgin she would have virgin locks on one side of her head. Another fact is that the priest would never marry. Finally I learned that the church was the tallest building in the Village. Besides these facts I also learned that Kava is really disgusting (meaning Different).

 

Day 7 Fiji June 21- For the Fives senses on Mystery Island I saw a sea of sand that seemed endless. I could hear the sound of the waves crashing back and fourth. While on the Island all you could touch was the sand unless you where standing in the water. In the air you could smell the saltiness of the ocean. With all the salt in the air you could really taste it. Also being in the Ocean you could also tastes the salt that was in the water.

Kula Eco Park

Mystery Island

Day 8 New Zealand June 22- For today we were to do a poster of what we learned while on the bus to our hotel. I learned that Rotorua is a spa town and smells like sulfur. I also learned that there are 3 ways to use the word Kiwi. 1. The bird, 2. A New Zealander,and 3. The fruit. New Zealand also has a lot of inactive volcanoes and has millions of sheep.

Day 9 New Zealand June 23- This morning we woke up bright and early for our 20 min bus ride to Tui Ridge where we met the most energetic people in the universe. Today I took a risk. The risk was being out in the cold while being very sick. One of the biggest dreams that I have is being able to be an aerospace engineer and working for NASA. If this dream doesn’t work out I would like to be a teacher. If nothing works out I would to be a Nero surgeon.

Day 10 New Zealand June 24- The Maori came from Hawiki in 1886. Today at the Rotorua Museum we learned that it was actually used as a bathhouse but was shut down 30-40 years after it opened. At the museum we watched a 20 min video about the Maori and how the volcano exploded. After the museum we went lugeing. We all first had to go down the scenic track, which was the best part of the whole entire day.  Before we went swimming at the thermal pool we went to Wiamangu Volcanic Valley. Here we saw Frying Pan Lake and Echo Crater and many others. Tonight we went to the thermal pools to swim for an hour.

Day 11 New Zealand June 25- The top five things I learned today where 1. During our forest walk we where told that only one tree survived the fire 70 years ago. 2. Also during the walk many of those plants healed the sick. 3. How to make a flower out of a flax plant. 4. The panels where we stayed at the Marae met so many things. 5. Most plants are packed down super tight in the ground to grow.

  One thing that I saw today that was red was the pole in the center of the funi nui that models the ancestor. Something I saw that was yellow, where the walls of the funi nui. Before the sunset I could see the sky turning orange. Today there was this beautiful blue sky for the entire day. The Maori wear green tattoos on there arms while performing. After the sun had set we could all see the sky turning purple.

Day 12 New Zealand June 26, 2006- Today I did not climb The Mount with everyone neither did Paula. Instead today I’ll be doing the five senses. Today while at the beach house I could only hear the salience and the thoughts running threw my head. I could see the sun shining over the mountain reflecting on the ocean. Today I could not smell anything because I was still sick from the days before. When I would step out on to the deck I could taste the salt that was in the air. All I could feel today where my feet going to sleep. Today after we left the Mount we went to meet our Homestay families. The girl that was in mine was terribly sick.

Day 13 New Zealand June 27, 2006- Today I left my 1^st Homestay to go to school where I spent half the morning running around the campus. Finally I was assigned a new escort for the day her name was Emily. I met up with Emily while she was in Gym Class where they played soccer, netball, basketball, and hockey. After gym we went to Social studies where they were taking a test. After social studies it was lunchtime. Lunch lasted a while but it was finally time to move on to landscaping class. After another lunch we went to English and then Math class. After school I met my second Homestay, which was actually Dana’s Homestay.

Day 14 New Zealand June 28, 2006- For MERC we where supposed to make a web. They had four activities. One of them was Kayaking. I wanted to go kayaking but I felt so sick right before I was supposed to head out. Archery. Archery was cancelled due to a bad field. Tree climbing. Tree climbing was climbing a tree that was 100 ft high, which only 14 people could be on at once. Rock Climbing.  Rock climbing there where 3 areas to climb easy, medium, and hard

Action Station- Brandon, Lauren, Pete, Rachel, Ellen

Group Photo

Day 15 Australia June 29- For today’s journal entry we where supposed to do a collage. In my collage I had a picture of the Giant torch that was lit. In one of the corners there is a picture of o torch that Cathy Freeman would have used to light the giant torch in 2000. In much of the background I have small pictures of the five rings that represent the Olympics. Finally I have to poles that are outside Telstra Stadium that have the names of the volunteers on them.

Day 16 Australia June 30- Today we went to Crestwood High school in Sydney. This school is for grades 7-12. This school is very different than the two schools before this one. Today I was able to see the students practice for their play called “The Wiz” After the play rehearsal my group went to the schools farm. At this farm they had sheep, cows, and chickens. After the farm we went to play some of Australia’s sports. These sports are AFL and Rugby. Since it was raining my group went to an art class that was actually having a free day. This school is a catholic school as most are in Sydney. After we left the school went to the Sydney Opera House.