Bakersfield Boomerang: July 2011

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Monday, July 11, 2011

Our last full day in Australia began with a late morning wake-up call. Then it was up into the lush rainforests of Kuranda, about 1,000 feet above Cairns. A hissing rhinoceros beetle greeted us as we stepped off the bus. Students had time to shop for last minute souvenirs and TimTams before heading off to RainForeStation . Amphibious Army Ducks transported everyone through the wet tropical rainforests as our local guide pointed out exotic plants with a bit of Aussie humor. Kangaroos and wallabies roamed free on the grounds and seemed to enjoy their P2P reception. Holding a cute cuddly koala and getting a photo was the highlight of the day. Another P2P delegation joined us for our farewell dinner and “Aussie Bush Dancing.” A fun time was had by all as you can see from the photos.

Karla and I have truly enjoyed working with your student these past few months. Our delegation manager Ben said, “Out of the 15 delegations I have led, this group by far has been the absolute best!” These cross-cultural experiences Down Under will have a lasting impact on your child’s life. It has been a pleasure to see Australia through the eyes of our outstanding Kern County youth. We hope all student ambassadors continue President Eisenhower’s mission of “promoting peace through understanding.”

Wake up call is at 3:00 a.m. – then it’s a long flight back to the States. We arrive on Qantas Flight 107 at 6:45 a.m. at LAX. Parents, we need someone to organize a Reunion party for the delegates. This will be a time for student ambassadors to reunite and share experiences and photos with each other, friends, and families. Let Karla or me know if you would be interested in hosting a get-together sometime before school starts in August.

This is my final Bakersfield Boomerang blog entry. I hope everyone enjoyed it.
No Worries, Mate!

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Reef Photos

Actually these photos were taken at the Sydney Aquarium, but you get the idea. Incredible sight!! Students who had underwater digital cameras captured some amazing images.

Great Day at the Great Barrier Reef

Host Families dropped their delegate off at 9:00 this morning. Many hugs, handshakes, and addresses were exchanged. Students had a wonderful time experiencing Australia up close and personal. I overheard many of the Australian moms say, “We just didn’t have them long enough.” Overall, this People to People exchange was a huge success!! On the short bus ride to the reef boat students shared their experiences with one another. Then it was an hour and a half trip from Cairns through azure blue seas to one of the earth’s most magnificent sites – the Great Barrier Reef, which is larger than the combined land mass of the British Isles. Marine biologists provided background information and accompanied students on snorkeling tours. For three and half hours students had a choice of diving, snorkeling, looking at the reef from a semi-submersible, and just snacking and hanging out on the viewing platform. While snorkeling, students saw a beautiful variety of coral, sea turtles, reef sharks, clown fish, colorful parrot fish, giant clams, sea cucumbers, angel fish, butterfly fish, pipefish, -- just to name a few. Think Disney’s Finding Nemo come to life! A very large but extremely friendly Humphead Maori wrasse hung around the boat and had its photo taken with many young snorkelers. Lucky for him (us) we had our underwater cameras ready. Back at the hotel students enjoyed the pool and jacuzzi along with 3 other People to People delegations. I guess they just didn’t get enough water today!
Question: How many delegates can fit in a hot tub?