Home

Well it has been a week since we arrived home. Jet lag lasted a few days and I seem to have picked up a cold!!! It was an amazing trip, lot of great experiences and I was able to pick up a few things I will incorporate into my teaching. The students seemed to enjoy themselves and I think that the experience gave them a different view of how children’s services and events occur in another country. I enjoyed being with the students even though they did pick on me a little!!!. I was proud of them and know that they will be an asset to the field. I would like to thank Donna at TAFE for the work she did to make this experience happen and to Pat for the work she did. I would also like to mention Susanne Martin for the work that she did in making this a smooth journey and to Kelly and Joanne for the travel arrangements and work they did for us. Also to Jason, thanks for your support and financial help.

Deb

PS Lakeland College rocks.

Now that I have been home for a week, I have been looking back on the trip. And remembering all the fun times I had in Australia and New Zealand! None of this would have been possible without Lakeland College. I would like to thank all of the staff who made this trip possible it truly an experience of a life time. Donna for taking such good care of us while we were down there! Thank-you to Kevin and Monique Bennett and family for hosting me for the week, you guys are to kind! This is a trip that I will not forget.

 Thank you for everything.

Alana

Adventures in Eating

For the most part eating in Australia wasn’t to much different then here in Canada. I did not try Kangaroo, just could bring myself to try it. In Melbourne we found a pretty good restaurant called “The Worlds”. It was interesting because you could order meals and drinks from different parts of the world. During the week with the host it was sure nice to have home cooked meals instead of the restaurant meals.  Some of the difference between our foods is that Australia is that they have a larger selection of seafood. Our Ketchup they call Tomato paste. Sprite is called lemonade, taste pretty much the same.

Alana 

last day

well its our last day in mew zealand, went shopping, alot of walking, and the internet, gonna miss this place its gorgeous here, but its time to go home no more money and not much else to do. not really excited for the 13 hour plane ride to vancouver though!!

Katelyn

Thank you Lakeland College and Taffe College

It is the finial post to say thank you for both colleges for having the vision to have a practicum happen in Warrnambool Australia with students from the college in vermilion Alberta Canada!!  Congrats on the hard work that went to both sides of colleges to see us enjoy the amazing experience that we are ending..Thanks for yourVision! The future wealth and knowledge for students now and to come will share in the memories.  It was a learning for all of us as students who enjoyed being a part of the pilot project…A special thank you to Pat, Deb, and Donna for their hands on direction and support as we travelled to Australia and New Zealand and Home to Canada..  The Host Families will be apart of our special times in Warrnambool forever and new friends were made.   Thank sooo much for this experience has changed my life forever and will mold and shape my direction in my career…with gratetude Dar…Lakeland College child and youth care worker in training..may I journey well!

Auckland New Zealand

the sun has set and the sunrise tomorrow will salute the day we leave for canada…we will leave on a flight from auckland new zealand at 8:00 pm on july 11 2010… we will arrive in Edmonton early eve on the same date july11 2010 so guess what the jet lag will be like!!  There are many reflections over the past couple of days as my memories poured onto the journals and i rested to be well to arrive back home… It gave me time to enjoy thinking out all the wonderful experiences that have changed my life forever…I started out not really knowing how to blog and not knowing the group well to having moments that made me laugh and times that showed me how they all had a dream about experiencing a new country and learning from others as we took part in the festival..I am grateful for the opportunity to share as an “older mature student” with our travels..may each one continue on the joys of travel and learning..and may all those that crossed my path on my travels be enriched as i have been enriched..yarra yarra (aborginal saying that means everflowing …dar

Final Thoughts

WOW. Pretty much sums up my feelings about this trip. The start was a bit rocky for me but as I got more and more into the trip I became much more comfortable with my surroundings and being in a different country. All the places and people we visited were amazing, there were hospitable and very welcoming.  Working with the Fun 4 Kids festival in Warrnambool was lots of fun, although in the beginning it was kind of tough for me because I was unsure what I was supposed to be doing or what was really expected of me. But all in all it was a great experience and I learned alot about myself as well as others.  I am really going to miss it in Auz and in New Zeland but I’m very excited to be heading home tomorrow.
Alyse

Final Post

Hey all!! Its home time!! New Zealand has been a blast!. I would have to say the highlight was seeing all the orca whales and dolphins! It was absolutely amazing!! Just being on the ocean alone was great! We have probably had the best weather here in Auckland since the beginning of the trip.  Thank you so much Pat and Deb for everything you have done to make this trip happen. You both put a lot of hard work into it to make it one of my most memorable experiences. I am sure with saying that I am speaking for most of the lakeland group! Thanks again. See you all in Canada!!

Cheers

Megan

whales and dolphins

well today we’re going on a boat to check out whales and dolphins should be interesting. hopefully gravol will work to make it a great day. excited to go and than hopefully we will hit up a movie tonight should be great.

Katelyn

here in new zealand

well this will probably be my last blog hopefully i don’t get eaten by a whale we are going on a dolphin and whale tour this afternoon getting very excited to see them probably going to the tarltons aquarium tomorrow that should be fun and to just relax before our flight. i can not lie i am getting excited about being home and seeing all my friends and family especially chuck, max, and willow. this trip has been a wonderful experience, have enjoyed every minute and every aspect of all we have seen and done. thank you to pat and deb for all your hard work in getting this trip together and with putting up with everyone for 20+ days. i know that i really appreciated it. thank you

Sandy