Lleyton Bates
September 10, 2023
G’day mate how ya goin?
It’s reached the 2 week mark and I’m excited to give a short insight into the Australia trip thus far. First off, what an experience it has been so far. What some people might not realize at first is the large size of the whole country. A plane ride from one side of the country to the other takes around 5-6 hours! That’s without mentioning the size heading from North to South. It’s truly incredible.
It took a couple days to finally get used to the large time change, but once you get used to it it’s really neat! It’s cool to imagine that when you wake up around the world, family and friends back home are getting ready for supper! Also, don’t forget that you’re already in the next day!
Brisbane has many features to it that make it unique. The large river that separates the city (which is shark infested…), the blend of modern and historic buildings, the extremely diverse cultural backgrounds that share the city, and the picturesque views from almost anywhere in the city!
Some of the activities that I have done so far include: 2 rugby matches (also called footy), watched the horse races at the Eagle Farms Racecourse, hand fed kangaroos and pet koalas at a local sanctuary, explored a shipwreck on a beach north of the city, walked through the city botanic gardens, ate fish (Queensland Barramundi) and chips on the wharf, and viewed the many museums that the city has to offer. This is only some of the highlights that I have so far, but sometimes it’s the little things such as the lights on the towers at night or dipping your toes into the ocean that matter most.
The locals are generally very friendly and helpful. I have learned that people are either very willing to help, or they want you to keep your distance. This doesn’t happen much but just like anywhere else on earth there are sometimes a couple bad apples! In regards to the accents and language used, I think it’s overwhelmingly funny! Sometimes the absolute foul language catches you off guard, and mixed with the accent it is too good not to laugh.
Some tips that I would give the next crew coming to Brisbane is get to know the city buses and trains well, and quickly. This isn’t too difficult with the app, but nonetheless. Brisbane is hosting the summer olympics in 2032 I believe, and so there is a lot of construction happening. Transportation downtown can become a head scratcher, so be aware. Another helpful tip, is to ask for help if needed. Like I said they’re generally very nice, and if they aren’t you will know.
As for the school, we visited the Kelvin Grove College (not actually a college, but a k-12 school) which had me majorly confused at first. We begin our classroom experience soon, as the blue card process was a bit tricky. Don’t worry they will help you out over here! I live close to the school in the Kelvin Grove neighborhood which I’m thankful for. If you can, get a place like mine that’s close to the schools. Especially if you’re not a morning person, as you’ll have to ride the busses a fair ways.
Thanks for reading and following along with my journey! Stay tuned!
