Jumping Crocodiles!

Today we woke up and went to the Adelaide River to go on the Crocodile Cruise! The river boat captain told us where the best place to sit was, so we got the best seats on the whole boat! There were a lot of crocodiles around, and they said that for every crocodile you see above water you can assume that there are 5-8 more nearby that are underneath the water. That means that that river had A LOT of crocodiles around! They dangle meat from the upper deck of the boat, and then they lure the crocs RIGHT next to where we were sitting. The crocodiles then jump out of the water by using their tails, and they go after the food! It was really cool to see, and it was a perfect day outside :) The crocodiles are really big, and it quite scary when they pop up so close! I would not want to be anywhere near that water not in a vehicle. We saw some small crocodiles, but a few that we saw were pretty big!

Tonight is our Sunday tea!!! Enjoy the crocodile pics :)

Cheers!!!

Let's go to a Footie Match!

This weekend has been great so far! Last night Carlee, Sofia and I went out on the town! We took a bus and then went to a bar called The Tap. It was this great outdoor bar with trees and plants all around, and they had these huge fishbowl drinks. We all shared two of those drinks, and they both were so tasty! After that we walked around downtown, and then went to a vodka bar in the Ducks Nuts bar. There were a ton of different flavors of vodkas, but we didn't get any because we knew they would be too expensive! It was cool to see all the crazy flavors of vodka like sour gummy worms, orange skittles, strawberries and cream, musk (?), and many others. Once we were done checking that place out we went to an Irish pub called Kitty O Sheas, and finished our night there. Roger and Kaye came and picked us up after that and we headed home to sleep!

Today we went to the market in the morning, and we got some fresh food and smoothies. We then walked around and saw all the stands. They had some really cool stuff, and a lot of things were very tasty! I bought a really cool sandstone rock that it pink and white striped. I thought it was cool, but I know Sofia and Carlee weren't as interested! haha We tried some hot sauce that was made with the worlds hottest chili. It tasted really good, but it was so hot that my entire mouth burned for a long time, and I was coughing a lot. My tongue went numb for a little while afterwards, but in the end I really liked the sauces flavor!

After the market we hung out at home for a while, but then we went to an Aussie Rules Football Match. People call them footie matches, so that is where I got my title :) It was really cool to watch, and it was so fast paced! We had some beers while watching, and then we had a traditional game food, meat pies with tomato sauce (ketchup). They were good, so were the beers, and so was the game! The Tiwis beat the Wanderers by quite a bit, but it was still a good game. It is even better in person to watch! ( just for your information mom and dad)

Tomorrow we are heading to a river with Blake to go on a crocodile cruise. I am excited to see them up close! They say the crocs even jump out of the water, which will be dangerous and scary but oh well! It is an experience I have to have :) We then have our Sunday tea later in the day, which I am already looking forward to! I hope all is well in the states!

Cheers!!!

A little Aussie Update

So we had our Sunday tea, which was quite the feast! It was delicious, and there was quite the variety. I loved the chicken, veggies, bread, potatoes, gravy, etc! We had some AMAZING mango cheesecake, and I will get that recipe because it was probably the best cheesecake I have ever had. We have that feast to look forward to every Sunday, so I am very excited! Carlee comes every week too, so we all get to enjoy it!

This week has gone by pretty quickly, and it has been good. Monday I was in the classroom by myself, and it went really well. I am finally getting used to the class, and I am more comfortable around them. On my way to school on Tuesday, I was walking to my school, and I turned my head and there was a HUGE lizard right next to me. I of course screamed and ran away, but then I realized I had to take a picture! I walked very slowly and got close to the guy, and I snapped a quick picture. He started to look angry, so I quickly left. I am glad I did because my teacher said they get grumpy and then will chase you! Apparently it is rare to see such a large frilled neck lizard, but of course I managed to almost run into one. Other than that school has been good, and I am having fun with them. Tomorrow is Friday so I get to drink in the teachers lounge with the other teachers after school! :) 

I was sick today, and I slept a long time. Luckily I feel better now, but I still have a headache and am sore. Kaye was super sweet and got me a feel better present! I got a new pair of shorts that I love! They are so comfy :) Hopefully I will be 100% tomorrow so I can have a good weekend, and those shorts did help cheer me up! 

I love the money here! I took some more pictures because all of the bills are so pretty. 

Sofia tried vegemite the other day, but I have not taken the plunge yet. I will need to do that soon though :) 

Tomorrow I teach my lesson on Thanksgiving! Next week I teach all about probability. I am on track to teaching the class, and I am excited. They are so laid back here it makes it less stressful, and I feel very welcome in the school.

Well this weekend we are planning on doing some exciting adventures...not exactly sure what yet, but you will hear about them soon enough! Sunday we are for sure going to a lake nearby, and then we have our feast! Looking forward to another weekend here :)

Cheers!

First Weekend :)

Well the first weekend was a success! I didn't do much, but what we did do was fun. Friday night we went out to eat with Blake to a really cool restaurant, and we ate crocodile and calamari. The Crocodile was a little chewy for my taste, but it did taste like chicken otherwise. I don't think I will have it again, but I am happy I tried it! My next thing to try is kangaroo. 

We then took a picture with the baby crocodile that was at the restaurant so that was fun :)

We went to a bar later and we were doing some wonderful people watching. There was one couple that was a little too aggressive, and I had to snap a picture because we were all so stunned by it!

Later at the end of the night we went to Blake's to meet his new puppy Bruce! He is the cutest little thing :)

Saturday we hung out around our house all day and it was wonderful. We went into the pool and hung out with Carlee! We had some drinks and nibbles throughout the day (snacks), and I took this picture because I think its cool that they have such a variety of mixed drinks already made. Mostly I thought of Dave when I saw all of these, so Dave you better think these are cool!

Saturday night we had a great barbee night and it was delicious! We had so much food and we all just talked and hung out at the house. Perfect relaxing Saturday!

Today Sofia and I went to the Casuarina Mall and we shopped. I didn't buy much, but it was cool to see the different things they sell! I had a spinach and feta pie for lunch and it was very good! We also saw the Harry Potter books, and their different covers! I took a picture below :) There was an awesome restaurant where you can just pick your dish off of a train as it went around, so naturally I took a picture! Last cool thing, the escalators in Australia are just an inclined slope that moves they are pretty cool, and they make you tip a little! Once again picture of Sofia on one today is below :)

 Now we are about to have a our big roast for tea (dinner) that they have every sunday! So I should head out to meet everyone and enjoy the time. A new school week starts tomorrow! I will keep you posted :)

Harry Potter Books!

The slope escalator.

My delicious lunch!

And of course the crazy train restaurant. You can see the train with the dishes right in front of the waitress at the counter :)

Cheers!!!

Cheers!

I am learning how to use the phrases in Darwin, and it is quite fun!

• They like to say "too easy" when you are saying like "its all good" type of idea. 
• They say "no worries" a lot which is self explanatory. 
• "Cheers" when saying goodbye. 

Those are only a few, but they are ones I like!

Sofia is here!! :) Finally and Carlee is here now as well! Carlee is another girl from GVSU that is staying with a lady who is friends with our host family so that worked out well!

Yesterday morning I went to brush my teeth and I screamed as I realized there was a lizard on the wall in front of me. It turned out to be a gecco, and Roger said it was nothing to worry about around here. Today we went an looked at the area where I saw the kangaroos before, but we didnt end up seeing any except for one far away. There were some beautiful trees with flowers on them, so I have pictures posted below :) 

We took the host family dog Sam on a walk, and he is so cute because he has to hold his own leash as we walk (also in a picture below). Sofia and I snapped a few pictures then when we were near the beach! 

It wasn't too hot today. It was only like 88-90 which was nice. I am getting more used to the weather, but I still sweat a lot! Thank goodness for AC down here or the Air Con as they say. 

Well I need to get some stuff ready for tomorrow, but enjoy the pictures! 

Hannah

The money here is so pretty and made of plastic!

Our favorite flowers so far in Darwin, Frangipanis.

Sam walking himself!

The beach with low tide. 

Sofia and I :)

Me and the pretty tree!

My little bud from the bathroom :)

These frogs are all around our house outside.

First Day of School, First Day of School!!!

For those who don't realize it, that title is a Finding Nemo reference. Which I had to use since that movie is based in Australia!

My first day of school today was amazing! It was Melbourne Cup day which in Australia is BIG news. My day consisted of teaching of course, but there was a lot more to this day! I bet on the race with the other teachers, we watched the race after school in the library, we drank alcohol while we watched, we ate snacks, and people won money. Sadly I won nothing. My two horses that I got in the sweep were the Drunken Sailor and Older Than Time, and neither came close to winning. Too bad! But it was fun! I found out on Fridays the teachers drink after school so thats fun :) But everyone is very nice, and the kids all said they loved my accent.

Tonight my host parents get back! I am excited to finally have them in the house :)

This morning I noticed some little bugs scurrying around the floor whenever I opened cupboards, and I stepped on them on accident all over. I asked Blake what they were and it turned out they were all tiny cockroaches! He said they of course get bigger but yes they were big cockroaches in the making until I killed them by walking on them...That will take some getting used to.

Last night I heard some animals in the ceiling and Blake said they could be rats that are HUGE. I am hoping that is not the case, but as he has pointed out many times to me "I am in a tropical place so I need to realize what bugs and animals are around here!"

School overall seems like it will be great, but I do miss my Kindergarteners already!! This will be a fun time, and I can tell I will be learning a lot :)

Sofia gets here soon!!! Counting down until then :)

Fun Facts I Have Learned So Far

• Gambling is legal
• Prostitution is legal
• They drive on the left side of the road
• There are birds that sound like people screaming bloody murder all around
• There are no koalas near Darwin really
• When the tide is really low you can see fossils of a dinosaur in the Harbour/Creek area I was at today
• They have black clown fish on their reefs that are only in Darwin
• Spiders are EVERYWHERE
• The nice spiders are the size of your palm...
• Pythons are around the place I am staying at
• Drinking is BIG here!
• People in Australia do not drink Fosters lol

There is much more but those are just some I could think of now...I will post more as time goes on!