Greetings from Brisbane

Starting to head home tomorrow,

Liisa

Back from Sydney

We got to Singleton late last night missing the beginning of the Rotary meeting, but at least we got there and the people in my club got to meet my family and vice versa.  But after making my dad to drive on the wrong side of the road in the wrong side of just rented car through Sydney for the first time, without a navigator or proper map, I think we did pretty well. :P

Today we are going to visit my school and drive around Singleton (won't take too long), and then head to the coast.  Our plan is to drive to Coffs Harbour first, but as my family just flew in and is still suffering a bit of jet lag we'll see how it goes.

Off again,

Liisa

7 / 12

Seven months, that's a good while.  I've loved my time here so far, but looks like the busy time hasn't even started until now.  No free weekends in months, no idea when will be the next full week in school.  Well, not complaining.

I skipped two days of school because of the Cockatoo Island, one last week for the the army museum lunch, four this week because of my family's visit, whole next week for same reason, one day the week after that because we're going to Blue Mountains, two days of the following week because of Rotary things...and the list goes on.  And just to mention the three week safari trip around Australia coming after that.  :P  So I guess I made my point clear; I'm busy.  And I actually really like it.  Finally people are offering me opportunities to do great things, what else could I ask for.

But then about my plans for this week and the following one.  So my family (yes the actual one) is coming to Australia to visit me.  They'll only stay for 12 days, but that's always better than nothing.  So after I meet them at the airport in Sydney on Tuesday morning (after I've woken up before three o'clock to get there on time, great!) we'll stay in Sydney for two nights.  On Thursday we'll drive back to Singleton and stay with this family.  On Friday I'll show them my school and all the awesome tourist attractions of Singleton.  That won't take too long.  And then we'll drive to Queensland and come back on the Saturday next week to stay with my first Australian family.  Sounds like a plan to me, couldn't be more excited!!! (:

So many things to look forward,

Liisa


P.S.  I saw a big red back spider today on the pool area!!!  And just to make it clear to non-Australian people; they are the ones that can kill you... heh.

My room

This post is about my last room in my last home.

This is the view to the frontyard from my windows.

And not only did I get a great new room, I also got my own bathroom and toilet.  For the first time in my life I have my own shower, my own bath, my own toilet; MY OWN!  :D

I'll be leaving to Newcastle soon because after having dinner out with my host parents, my friend is having a concert with her Norwegian band there.  Looks like it's going to be a really good night (:

Got my hair cut today,

Liisa

Swimming carnival

My first and probably last ever swimming carnival, wohoo.  I should have gone into the water but I didn't really know what it'll be like before today so I wasn't fully prepared.  Well after today I know it's lots of fun, should have something like that back home as well!  (:

Photos above from Lindsay Reid

And finally we got a sunny day, what a great timing!

3 more days and I'll see my own family,

Liisa

P.S. My friends back home are doing their dancing thing tonight (like a deb ball here but bigger), so super good luck to them, have fun and feel special in your pretty dresses and gorgeous hairdos.  (:  I'm a bit upset missing out from the princess day but maybe I'll get to do it here.  Though today I asked one guy and he refused to dance with me soooo...  :P

Army base

Today I went to the army camps with a Rotary person from my club.  We got to shoot and go to the new museum which is not even open to public yet. I still haven't made up my mind whether it's a good thing they are doing or not, but today was interesting day for sure. 

Good night,

Liisa

Last Saturday

One more post about our Sydney trip.  So on Saturday we took ferries around the Harbour and went to Taronga zoo which is a big one in Sydney.

The trains weren't going during the weekend so we needed to take a bus back.  It left half past four and was in Maitland a bit late, around half past seven.  After that the Rotary person from my friend's club drove me home so I got to have my last dinner with my second host family; late one, but one anyway.

Had a great Sydney trip (and finally moving to other topics),

Liisa

Last Friday

Okidoki, so this is Friday.  I'm sorry but everything will come a bit late this week; there has been so many nice things happening lately.  I'll post about my new home soon, immediately when I've got this Sydney trip from the way.  :P  

So after sleeping in a tent on Cockatoo Island we spent a day going around Sydney. As we have both been there before, we decided to do something either of us hadn't tried so far.  So: after taking lots of ferries everywhere and having nice lunch and all that stuff we ended up going  to the Sydney Tower.  It's the highest point of Sydney, and the second highest building in the whole Australia.  

In this photo you can see the Tower in the background.  It's the skinny tower with the rounded bit on the top almost in the middle in the photo.  It doesn't look that high, but believe me it is!

And one more thing, they have a 4D movie theater in it.  I was actually quite fascinated of trying it once, and as we surprisingly got to try it we of course did.  It's pretty great, though the movies are like 5 minutes long.   

Snuggling to my new comfy bed,

Liisa

Last Thursday

After I caught the train from Singleton 6.55 and changed at Hamilton, we got to Sydney at 10.33.  When we got out from the station we had a really nice lunch in the harbour and then took a ferry to the Cockatoo island. There's not much there, but the location is great; peaceful spot with great views just out from busy Sydney.

So this was Thursday.  I'll put more photos about the rest of our trip later; probably tomorrow.  (I was busy moving to my last family today so I didn't have much time to spend on the computer).  And I'll have to make one post about my new room as well!  I'm loving it here, and already after one day I can tell these are going to be GREAT four months!  Looks like I wasn't getting exited without a reason.  :) 

Really happy,

Liisa

Ready to move

I came home late from Sydney tonight and had the last dinner with my current host family.  Tomorrow morning I'll be picked up by 11.30, last time moving houses.  Next time I'll pack my bags I'll be going home.  :| 

This is what it was like in November when I moved last time...

... and this is the situation now.  Eh.  

And all caused by Christmas and bit of studying.  Ok, and shopping. Hopefully my family will take something back with them, otherwise I'm in big trouble in July.  :P

Last night here,

Liisa

P.S. I had awesome time in Sydney, will update about that hopefully tomorrow; we'll see how the moving goes.  I'm getting so exited!!!  :)

Off to Cockatoo

I guess I've already told you this, but it was so long ago that I'll write it again; bit more specific this time though.  So originally we were meant to do this trip before Christmas, but as it was called off and then moved to the start of the year, we'll leave tomorrow.  So I'm going glamping with my Norwegian girl and her Rotary club; this is the plan:

"We will travel by train to Sydney on Thursday, 9th February.  The train leaves Singleton at 6.55am, and we'll after changing trains at Hamilton, we'll catch the 8.11 am train to Sydney, arriving at 10.33 am.  Once there we will catch another train to Circular Quay – where all the ferries arrive/depart. Then we catch a ferry to Cockatoo Island – about a 10 minute ride under the Sydney Harbour Bridge. 

When we arrive at the island all the tents will be ready and are 2 person capacity.  We will sleep in the them Thursday and Friday night and we have to leave the island by about 10.30 am on Saturday.  For the return trip, we will need to catch a train to Central (main Sydney rail station) and because there is “track work” on the Saturday/Sunday we will travel by bus, leaving Sydney at 3.15pm and if we were travelling by rail we would get to Maitland at 6.19pm and Singleton at 6.51pm – however the buses will be slower than the train. 

The island has had a number of uses over the years, lastly as a naval dockyard during World War 2 and you are able to walk around the islands and have self-conducted tours."

Sounds really good to me, can't wait1

Preparing to wake up half past five,

Liisa
P.S. I packed ALL my stuff today!!!!  what a HUUUGE job, but luckily it's all done now, phew!  I'll send you a post about my moving process during the weekend. (:

Meanwhile in Finland

This is what I see on my back yard at the moment...

... and this is what I'm used to this time of the year.

Thank you for my dearest brother for sending me these photos.  :)  I miss you a bit.  And the rest of my family.  And my friends.  And our winter.  And snow.  And going for a walk in the dark.  And seeing the stars.  And home. And my room.  And my bed.  And our hot tub.  And sauna.  I guess that's it.

I'm not too badly homesick, I just decided that I'm allowed to miss some things for two weeks.  Then I'll meet my family and when they go back I better stop missing things.  That's the plan.

Looking forward all the great things coming,

Liisa