Week 1:
My plane ride here was long but it went surprisingly well and fast. Especially since I slept for about 7 hours of it! I flew into Brisbane and met up with the other 18 (American) students and our academic director, Peter. We stayed in Brisbane for the night and the next day and then we headed south to start off our orientation. For orientation we camped at a place called Seven Mile Beach, which has an absolutely beautiful beach. During orientation, we all took a surf lessons; which were generally successful and very enjoyable.
Week 2:
Following orientation we went to Maclean (town) and stayed at Forest Haven and did our Eco-Philosophy Retreat with one of our professors, Eshana. After the retreat we moved into our apartments in Byron Bay. Byron Bay is where the 'most easterly point of the mainland of Australia' is located---see photo below. We stayed at the apartments for 1 week. During that week we attended the HUGE Byron Farmer's Market. I bought a tea tree/eucalyptus soap bar and a hula hoop :) We attended 'regular' class for a day and then went kayaking/canoeing for a day for class. We also had our Sustainability Workshop for two days of the week. I thoroughly enjoyed that workshop. I can now say that I am now much more and will continue to be more aware of where my food and products come from and what it took to get that product to where I am eating or using it. At the end of week 2 we had a field trip to an organic farm-where macadamia nuts are grown, as well as other tasty organic eats. During this field trip we also went to Djanbung Gardens which is where the Permaculture College of Australia (very small-about 10-15 students) is located. Both the farm and gardens were amazing; I learned so much and ate just as much :)
Week 3:
We moved out of the apartments in Byron Bay and into our homestays with families living in and around Lismore-a town about 45 minutes inland from the ocean. My homestay family is a couple who have children, but are 20 years or older and who moved out or live at university. So it's just me at home with them. They are very nice and feed me very well. I have eaten Vegemite and surprisingly thought it didn't taste too terrible! The first day of homestay, Jesse (another student/friend), her host Mum and host sister and I went back to Byron Bay to the lighthouse there and the humpback whales are breaching right now and so we saw a bunch of whales!--see photo below. They're so much better to see in the wild instead of at Seaworld. During homestay, we attend 'regular' class and have a couple days off here and there. We also took a field trip to the Border Ranges National Park, which is about an hour and a half north of Lismore. We "bushwalked" (hiked) through the rainforest and saw some fantastic trees, plants, and creatures. We also went to a look out and we were able to see the ocean, Mt. Warning and so much else.---photo below.
This now brings me up to yesterday. Jesse, her homestay family, my host Mum and I went to a friend of theirs farm and helped prep the white nectarines!
I have been learning all sorts of new terminology that I am attempting to begin using.Which is where the first two words of my blog title come in. Sunnies=sunglasses and swimmers=swimsuit. Third word=Tim Tams which are the amazingly delicious "biscuits" (cookies) that they have down here. I have eaten SO many already. Last word=pink zinc which is what it sounds like zinc that I got that is hot pink--to protect my nose and face from the brightly beaming Australian sun!
Whew, what a fast 3 weeks!!!
