https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia en-us 2018-05-15 19:37:46 UTC 2026-03-24 17:43:07 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Send.png epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/261000824 I am excited to share my journey through the vast lands of Australia. We will visit local schools, swim in the Great Barrier Reef, visit a camel farm, watch penguins waddle to shore, experience an authentic Australian BBQ, and much much more! Follow along and live vicariously through me!!!! ]]> 2018-05-15 19:43:36 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/261000824 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/265036720 2018-06-01 14:05:32 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/265036720 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/265149941 2018-06-02 13:42:34 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/265149941 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/265173281 2018-06-02 21:24:06 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/265173281 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/265185624 2018-06-03 04:50:19 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/265185624 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/265251742 It is June 4th at 8:30. The 16 hour plane ride only felt like 16 hours on a plane. The food was better than cat food but I was thankful I packed snacks.  We are currently waiting to exchange money, grab our luggage, scan passports and then we will begin a full day exploring the cultural diversity!! ]]> 2018-06-03 22:29:59 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/265251742 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/265252237 2018-06-03 22:39:01 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/265252237 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/265269466 “Burgers” does not mean hamburgers
"Chips” are French fries (probably should have known this)
and “lemonade” is sparkling water with lemon flavor. 

Learning so much already!!! ]]> 2018-06-04 01:49:15 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/265269466 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/265333726 Today we met a sweet friend named Tom. He showed us alleys and alleys of street art,  the best views, the best places to get coffee, food arcades, lots of statues, buildings, history and even some hidden bars around downtown. We walked a total of 6 miles and got a whole new list of must-do’s before we leave. 

Day one was a good day!!!]]> 2018-06-04 09:24:43 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/265333726 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/265566807 First off... it was a 55 min sprint walk to the school. I was not mentally prepared for this, so I am sure you can imagine how that went... Upon arrival we were greeted with “howdy” and Trump impressions.  Fitzroy is definitely a different one. As you can see in the picture, it looks like a town home. That’s because it is. The school is 3 houses connected together through “breeze ways.” They write all of their own workbooks, reading material, and curriculum. They have snack time and 5 minute breaks between each class. Students can arrive at 8:00 but school does not start until 9:20. During this time they have complete freedom. They can play, read, do art, make breakfast, play games, and play music. Each student works at their own pace and never get graded. Lunch is community style, meaning all of the lunch options are placed on a table and students are welcome to pick and choose how and what they would like to eat. They had options like sandwiches, pasta, fruit, and homemade bread. The older students have tea parties every day where they learn proper tea etiquette. Conversation and creativity is always encouraged. During “sport” they played “animal ball” the only rules were “don’t hurt others. don’t get hurt.” It was very aggressive. The day ended with a school wide clean up. 5/7 students picked a room to clean and then then day was over. ]]> 2018-06-05 07:31:52 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/265566807 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/265815117 2018-06-06 08:01:52 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/265815117 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/265815382 2018-06-06 08:03:38 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/265815382 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/266206569 We started at the beach.... ]]> 2018-06-07 23:20:48 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/266206569 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/266206810 And then to the nature center where THIS HAPPENED. ]]> 2018-06-07 23:24:04 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/266206810 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/266207106 Then to a koala sanctuary where this little guy was awake!!! This was especially awesome because we saw about 20 koalas but they were all sleeping. ]]> 2018-06-07 23:28:35 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/266207106 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/266207307 THEN we went to the penguin conservation center.  This was outside of the center and was the prettiest view I think I have ever seen. ]]> 2018-06-07 23:30:44 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/266207307 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/266230876 The day ended with the penguin parade. These cute little penguins are not even a foot tall!!!!! 100,000 penguins came out of the water to get in their burrows and sleep. (Pictures were NOT allowed, so don’t tell anyone) ]]> 2018-06-08 03:50:19 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/266230876 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/266230998 We snuck into a fancy hotel and went to the top floor to take a picture from the bathroom!!! ]]> 2018-06-08 03:52:57 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/266230998 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/266233966 2018-06-08 04:34:46 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/266233966 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/266364419 I went to the State Library of Victoria!!!! Unlike the Lake View Library, we had to be really quiet.... obviously the Librarian there isn’t as cool as you.  

Miss you! ❤️  ]]> 2018-06-08 19:53:54 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/266364419 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/266370857 2018-06-08 21:02:25 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/266370857 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/266375132 This sweet man gave us free doughnuts because our accents were “very texan” and that deserved a free Krispy Kreme. 

It’s funny because the whole time we have been here no one has referred to us as American.... #wearetexan ]]> 2018-06-08 22:10:08 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/266375132 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/266406011 We are the symbols of the wet season!!]]> 2018-06-09 12:12:49 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/266406011 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/266406077 “night fire” was no joke ]]> 2018-06-09 12:14:16 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/266406077 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/266406405 Crocodile rib was my favorite!!! (tasted like chicken) 
Kangaroo was not so good but I don’t typically like meat. (tasted like meat) 
Emu (not pictured) had the texture of pulled pork but did not taste like it.  

The bulk of my meal was veggies and fruit. #yummmmm ]]> 2018-06-09 12:21:01 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/266406405 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/266753820 I promise we are here for school and not just vacation! ]]> 2018-06-12 06:55:40 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/266753820 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/266754675 Sunday morning we rode a gondola through the Australian rainforest. It was frightening being so high off the ground but the view was BEAUTIFUL!!! ]]> 2018-06-12 07:01:15 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/266754675 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/266755019 once we were at the top of the mountain we rode a train all the way back down!!]]> 2018-06-12 07:03:32 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/266755019 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/266756133 Yesterday we spent the whole morning visiting schools. After all of that, we went down to the lagoon for a very cold swim. This is the first sunset we have seen while in Australia. 

Evan and Finley, if y’all are reading this, you were right!!!! They have scary crocodiles and jellyfish that will KILL YOU if you go into the ocean!!!!! ]]> 2018-06-12 07:11:08 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/266756133 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/266967819 Australia taught me another very valuable lesson today. If you want to scuba dive like you had planned, I highly suggest you lie on your medical forms. Like the rule follower I am, I answered all of the questions truthfully. BIG MISTAKE. I was not allowed to scuba dive because of my heart murmur..... something that has never bothered or caused me any problems for my past 19 years and 10 months. 

However, that was just a small disappointment because I DID get to see THE GREAT BARRIER REEF!!!!!!!!!! And I DID get to swim amoung 780 different species of fish and 1,600 different species of coral!!! And I even got to swim with a SHARK!!!!!(which no one else in the group got to do, so special me) 

There is no photographic evidence of me in the water so here is a picture of the reef from the bottom of a glass boat. STILL. FREAKING. AWESOME!!!!!]]> 2018-06-13 08:25:35 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/266967819 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/267090992 I’m glad you asked!!! Those are BATS!!!!!! Cairns has millions and millions and millions of these things casually flying around. ]]> 2018-06-13 21:14:20 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/267090992 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/267147494 2018-06-14 06:46:59 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/267147494 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/267147857 a sweet sweet note and a sweet sweet paper airplane from two of the sweetest boys. I would really like to move to Cairns and teach, but I don’t think my momma will let me :( ]]> 2018-06-14 06:50:16 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/267147857 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/267148393 we are tired and hungry and tired of being hungry & obviously procrastinating. So, instead of writing our reflections we’re going to eat. Pray for us because we have done this more than once meaning our vacation is turning into a load of homework. BUT HEY, WE ARE IN AUSTRALIA!!!!!!!! ]]> 2018-06-14 06:54:07 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/267148393 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/267199146 ⬇️⬇️ Here are some more picture updates ⬇️⬇️]]> 2018-06-14 12:44:07 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/267199146 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/267199464 If you have to post this sign in EVERY SINGLE public bathroom..... you have a nation wide problem. Because you only have to post a picture if you have had an issue in the past... ]]> 2018-06-14 12:45:47 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/267199464 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/267201485 here is another amazing view from the gondola ]]> 2018-06-14 12:56:48 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/267201485 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/267272528 and from the train ]]> 2018-06-14 20:27:05 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/267272528 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/267429319 Alice Springs has definitely lived up to the stereotypical “australia” I had prepared myslef for. ]]> 2018-06-16 05:24:02 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/267429319 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/267429423 2018-06-16 05:28:06 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/267429423 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/267438404 2018-06-16 10:20:55 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/267438404 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/267486091 2018-06-17 09:51:47 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/267486091 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/267486152 2018-06-17 09:53:04 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/267486152 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/267486268 Aboriginal people will ground up these rocks and use them as paint on their bodies. ]]> 2018-06-17 09:55:30 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/267486268 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/267486326 another pic of the ochre pits ]]> 2018-06-17 09:56:49 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/267486326 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/267486472 2018-06-17 10:01:10 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/267486472 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/267486600 2018-06-17 10:04:48 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/267486600 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/267486779 2018-06-17 10:09:20 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/267486779 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/267583069 These Lime and Black Pepper chips are the only thing saving me at this point. ]]> 2018-06-18 08:32:42 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/267583069 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/268013844 2018-06-20 22:39:11 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/268013844 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/268050494 I am getting tired of coca-cola.... #needdp!!!!! ]]> 2018-06-21 06:13:37 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/268050494 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/268057851 2018-06-21 07:12:53 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/268057851 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/268069613 2018-06-21 08:55:54 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/268069613 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/268203776 in daylight!! ]]> 2018-06-22 08:51:11 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/268203776 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/268203931 It was really sunny & we are really dysfunctional ]]> 2018-06-22 08:52:24 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/268203931 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/268265706 I didn’t know this app existed but now that I do.... I cannot quit checking it. This was yesterday and I can’t even imagine what the other days look like. ]]> 2018-06-22 23:16:31 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/268265706 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/268286250 2018-06-23 11:10:18 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/268286250 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/268286671 We started out by hitting up all of the local Saturday markets. If you’re into vintage clothing, australia is the place for you. We navigated public transportation. As in “we” I mean “I” & I don’t want to brag but I am a pro. Then to Manly Beach where people swim in the middle of winter. We were not this brave. We walked down to Shelly beach where the whole entire “beach” part is covered, not in sand, but in sea shells. It is the most amazing thing. THEN we ended our night on a sunset fairy ride home! It was magical. ]]> 2018-06-23 11:23:58 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/268286671 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/268286712 2018-06-23 11:25:16 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/268286712 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/268286766 don’t worry my shell loving amigos... I hand picked all of the best ones. ]]> 2018-06-23 11:27:21 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/268286766 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/268287731 2018-06-23 12:01:07 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/268287731 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/268310572 Australia, you were incredible. I am a better person and better teacher because of you. You have given me some amazing friends and lifelong memories. You have allowed me to check things off my bucket list I didn’t even know I had on there. However, you have crappy “tomato sauce” and you have the audacity to call it ketchup. You do not sweeten ANYTHING and this sista lives off sugar. Your bacon is ham and, for some reason, I was disappointed everytime. Your citizens drive on the wrong side of the road & after 3 weeks I still don’t know if I should look left, right, left or right, left, right???? 
 
See you later, crocogator. ❤️]]> 2018-06-23 22:13:39 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/268310572 epeterson14 https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/268357755 2018-06-24 19:47:13 UTC https://padlet.com/epeterson14/australia/wish/268357755