unleash.your.inner.geek.

Another early start today and a choked down breakfast.  I was in a very bad mood since it was our last day in paradise, no more Janice, and honestly I didn’t want to go home for two reasons 1) Parents and all the control they bring with them and 2) 24 hours of travel to get there.

Another crappy coach to the site of the Sydney 2000 summer olympic games “the green games.”  We got a tour of Stadium Australia which can fit over 100,000 people.  It was built with private monies soit will have paid for itself in the profits it reaps and at that point it will be turned over to the local government.

We started up on level six where we could actually appreciate how large of a building it is.  It has a new look for they have ripped up the old Olympic track and replaced it with grass anda rugby/soccer/Australian rules/Cricket field.

Then we moved down to level one and we could smell the grass we were so close.  We sang our national anthem as our guide raised the Aussie flag which he and Janice then followed with a rendition of the Australian national anthem.  We then moved on to the player’s locker room where everyone prepared to do battle.  The scent of tears and sweat still lingers.

We left the stadium and walked to the superdome which was home to the gymnastic and basketball vanues.  It was an impressive building which can be used for everything from motocross to Eminem concerts.  The floor design in the grand forier is actually made of 60 differnet creatures.  The floor belongs to the olympic art collection.  We bid goodbye to the Olympic park and made a b-line to the airport where we did two more questionaires, filled out customs forms and went through immigration and security to be greeted with another hour of waiting.

Finally we boarded and Kristen went to great lengths to sit next to me.  I was able to get Brandon to sit with us too and so everyone was happy.  It’s been an uneventful flight so far other than my trip to the flight deck of the Boeing 747-400 that we are flying on.  Kristen has been flirting with Brandon and me all flight and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed myself.  Brandon finally gave her the opal pendant he bought her and it is absolutely gorgeous on her and I’m not just saying that.  I can only hope the necklace I purchased for mom looks as good as this did on Kristen.

More Later,

James M. Connors

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Helloooooo Sydney!!  Today is our day to explore this amazing story.  It started off with a 6:15 wake-up call, moving on to a hot breakfast in Curve, the hotel restaurant.  Then we met another coach to go to the Opera House.  He definitely isn’t any Andy!  We had our group photo in a point that had the Opera House & Harbour Bridge aligned perfectly.

Then it was a brisk walk around the cove to the Opera House for a guided tour of three of the four rooms and the Grand Concert Hal.  The concert hall made me want to cry, it was just so amazingly beautiful and the accoustics are at the point that you don’t need any amplification for even the back of the hall to hear you.  Plus, instead of having speakers facing back at you so you can hear yourself, there are acrylic donuts hanging which bounce the sound back down at you.  The domes are cut from a sphere to make their shape.

From there, we made our way on foot to Costello’s Opal Store.  We were shown a great mpeg movie on opal and everything about it.  Then the owner James Costello came out and cut a raw boulder opal with the diamond edged saw, it was very interesting, the whole process.  Then it was off to shopping and perusing their huge selection.  I saw a beautiful silver fancy pen wtih an opan on the end and immediately thought about Brian and my Dad.  I bought of those and another that was similar to the other but it was gold plated.

I couldn’t decide who to give it to.  Then I felt guilty that I have gifts for them but not for mom, so I went looking at the cases for an imaculate gift for mom.  I decided that a necklace would be appropriate and that a boulder opal would be in the correct price range while keeping beauty at a premium.  After dropping about $235 I walked out feeling like a million bucks.

From here we boarded a sweet ASS bus with twin wheels in the front and a second entrance halfway back.  We took this urban assault vehicle and drove to the Sydney aquarium and the focks of Matilda cruises.  We had about 30 mins of down time in which I fed the local seagulls.  Then we met up with New York and boarded a powered catamaran which also had a sail which is great since there was a howling wind.

We got spectacular views from the water of the Sydney skyline and the highrises, the harbour bridge which has 60 million rivets in it and the Sydney Opera House.  We actually were under sail for about 30 mins.  We actually got a very nice view of the mouth to Sydney harbour where there is a 1 nautical mile divide north to soiuth.  We returned to port under propeller power and enjoyed a nifty little buffet lunch at sea.

From here we boarded the monorail at Darling Harbour after pulling together to make sure everyone had the appropriate fare.  This is Sydney’s only monorail and was put into operation in teh 80′s in an effort to get people off the streets.  We were on our way to city centre where we enjoyed a venue called sky tour which used audio and video theaters to teach you something about this country.  It finished with an in-motion VR ride/theater which brought us all over the country to see the sights.

After this experience, we walked acresst he hall to the AMP tower where we went awfully high up in the air and were trated to an amazing panoramic 360* view of Sydney and the surrounding area.  There was a clear view of the head of the harbour, the airport, and the olympic park was just barely on the horizon.  Back to Rushcutter’s Hotel we go with a dinner stop at Planet Hollywood.  The was a very cool waiter named Lucas.  He was a perfect match to the restauarant.

From there we went back to the hotel.  We had a little freetime until we were required to journal and fill out a few evaluations.  Immediately after that it was bed checks.  While we were at Planet Hollywood, we gave Janus her gifts “tip” if you will and a few other small tokens of our appreciation.

James M. Connors

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TRAVEL DAY.

Today we were off on the last travel day minus the trip back to the US.  It’s also our last day with Andrew – our bus driver   It was a long day boring me to tears.  We watched “Babe” and an episode or two of Buffy.

We arrived at our hotel in the late afternoon so we had time to hang out before we needed to leave for dinner.  I got all up with a tie & shoes while no one else did.  I showed everyone up and I was feeling really cool as we walked into Nick’s.  We got back from a very nice dinner and we had free time.

I went up to the pool with some other guys and soft of just hung out.  We then went to a small little meeting that we used to get caught up in our journal, fill out the Australia Census – I was in a Census and you weren’t!

We also said our final goodbyes to Andrew even though our “ceremony” was while we were at Nicks.  It was very nice, we all kicked in some money for a little bit of a bonus and everyone signed a notebook with our personal messages for him.  He was quite overcome.  There was never a better coach driver.  He played with us, ate with us, slept with us, and enjoyed our time with us.  I really am going to miss him.  His last words to me were, “Keep yourself out of trouble big guy,”

Well, goodnight.

James M. Connors

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Today we left our families in a very abrupt and quick manner.  8:00 we were supposed to be back at the surf club.  I was first up again and I was the 1st down, the 1st to eat – the 1st to do everything and so I got to go and unload baggage at the bus.  We said our goodbyes and we were off to Coff’s Harbour.  We made a quick stop at the Giant Banana where we posed for pictures.

Next, we stopped at Byron Bay for lunch and pictures at the most eastern point of Oz.  we continnued on our way to Coff’s Harbour where we finally left Queensland and entered New South Wales.  The pelican something or other was our stayover.  This was a beautiful hotel which started on the 5th floor and went down (it was built into the side of a hill).  There was much merry making on the beach as the moon rose.  KW & BC finally tied that important milestone in their relationship.  After dinner it was off to bed in a room with Jordan, Brandon, and Joel.  I really HATE Jordan.  He is vulgar, disgusting, and ewww.

Off to Bed,

James M. Connors

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Today we were able to sleep in.  I was the first of us to awaken and so I quietly made my way to the kitchen and to my surprise Nola was awake behind the counter of their kitchen at 8:30.  I figured no one would be awake but there she was smiling away.  I asked for some toast and peanut butter.  The rest of our girls were fast asleep upstairs.

I quickly found out that Ben and Josie get up around 5:30 for training.  Just as I hear that, Ben comes up from downstairs looking exactly the way he looked yesterday.  Josie soon followed and then Neil graced us with his appearance.  We watched a bit of music videos as we tried to wait for the rest of my band of merry women.  We are all going to a recreation center to “get to know our host families.”  The fact of the matter is that while we were there I saw the kids from my family once or twice.

I spent most of my time talking or playing with Kristen Willard.  She and I have become best friends even though she is “going out” with Brandon.  I’ve been deemed her second Andy.  Andy is her best friend from the States.  She and I have gotten very close which is very cool.  We played tennis, cracked whips, and a few other things before the barbie was started.

I feel much better when I have been able to get my drugs into me.  Neil picked all 5 of us and brought us to the house where we just sat around and played cards as we planned the afternoon.  I decided that I would like to go down to the club for a while so I asked if I could and Ben and Toddy & I all walked down to the Kawana Waters Surf Life Saving Club.  MJ was there and we played footy with him and a few other kids.  Drop-kicking a rugby ball is very difficult!

In an hour or two, the girls walked down and watched us for a while then we were picked up – well some of us were picked up and got a few movies to watch while the rest of us just walked back.  We chowed down on cold and warm chicken which was a treat for us since it was the first chicken we had all trip.  We finished the night with watching Bring It On & Oh Brother Where Art Thou.  Then it was off to bed!!

James M. Connors

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Today we left the hotel and headed to Brisbane and the Myer Center for some shopping and free time.  For the first two hours, I was at the doctors’ office trying to figure out what was wrong with me.  The fruit said it was either a touch of food poisoning or a mini-flu.  Anyways, he gave me nice perscriptions for imodium, buscapan, and some antibiotics.

Then I spent time hanging out with friends with the rest of the groups.  All in all it was a fun morning.  After the drugs kicked in, I was in no pain.  In the afternoon, we all met our homestay family.  I was very consfused because originally I was supposed to be with one family and then I was posted with another but when we arrived at the Kawana Waters Surf Life Saving Club to actually go home with them I was in for a rude surprise.  I was placed with Neil and Nola Francis along with Sara, Bubbles, and Kate.

I personally hate Sara with a passion because she is very rude and inconsiderate.  Anyways, back to the homestay family.  Ben is the only boy – 15 – and he was incredibly quiet.  The girls of the delegtion absolutely melted over him, saying that he was Heath Ledger.  Then there was Josie.  Her birthday is tomorrow, she is turning 13.  She is VERY attractive.  It seems all Australians have perfect skin without a blemish to their person.

Anyways, we had cocktails down at the clb and this is when I realized Ben is a very shy pseron when it comes to new people especially GIRLS!  How weird!  I’m only 14 and I absolutely love talking to new people, especially girls.  We went back to tehir house which is a big old house which Neil is fixing up.  He a manager for the dry walling company up the road.  He puts in long hours to his work, fixing up the house & surfing.  Nola is unemployed but she keeps busy tending to the house.

Apparently we are the third group of billets they’ve put up in their house.  We all slept on the third floor kicking Ben and Josie out of their rooms.  I got Ben’s room which was basically a bed and a desk but it is a comfortably cool and I have it all to myself which is very awkward.  Privacy that is.  After an informal dinner of lasagne which I had non of, then we all went to the upstairs and talked for a long long time.  The while time Ben said nothing rather he only nodded and used his fingers to answer.  He really is shy around girls.

James M. Connors

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Today we packed our backpacks for some beach bussing with Bronco.  We boarded his specialized offroad 4wd passenger carrying vehicle built on large dimensions and met our steering wheel attendant.  A short ride and a ferry portage later, we were on the beach of the Sunshine Coast.  We heard lots about the flora and fauna of the area as well as some of the history on the seashore.

The sand dunes were brilliantly colored sands that were colored because of the iron content oxidizing.  the shore used to be 50kms out to sea until the oceans rose and brought the coast to what we know it now.  We hiked up some dunes and explored a shipwreck then ventured forth to Rainbow Beach for some swiming.  I still wasn’t feeling good with horrible stomach pains so I skipped the swimming.

We went further into the hills and had some lunch.  I’ve been able to stop throwing up, but I drank a lot.  We got back to the hotel 3 hours later and had quite a bit of free time.  I took a nap since I wasn’t feeling good.  Then we all dressed up our best and headed to dinner.  I wore the nicest outfite I could put together and it showed because I received many compliments.  Once again, I ate little if anything and as soon as I got to the door I felt like I needed to throw up.  At 8:00, everyone went out roaming the resort having fun, and then there was me.  I was asleep.  I slept through everything, a pizza party yet I was asleep.

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Today we said goodbye to Yeppoon with a travel day to Caloundra.  We were on the bus the whole day with a stop at Gin Gin state school.  the children told me that picking your nose was a form of masturbation.  I am really not feeling well at all.  Sitting in the back of the bus in ot what I call fun while throwing up on the bus, even though it was in the toilet.  We ended the night with dinner at Maloolaba.  Not feeling well cashed my meal ticket in for two drinks, which were expelled from my body.

I saw Ira Hartman from church leading the high school Maine delegation.  We talked for a while and then it was time to retire to the Rydges Oasis hotel where I roomed with Kenny and Nick.

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