Irina - Day 3 (8.3.)

Today we were in the city but without the Australian students. It was very hot. I think up to 41 degrees. Our host dad took us to school at 7:30 am today because he had to work early. Enrico and I took the bus at 8:20 am because we had to be at the other campus at 8:45 am. Many other people from the exchange were on the bus, too.

When we were all there (Canowindra Campus), we went to the train station called Watergardens to take to the train into the city. 

On the way to Watergardens we saw a dangerous crossroad. Every morning there are lollipop people who have to take care of the people who cross the crossroad. That crossroad is one of the 50 most dangerous crossings in Victoria.

Before we went to our first destination for the day, we met on Federation Square which is just opposite the train station we got off at - Flinders Street Station.

Federation Square and Flinders Street Station are very popular meeting points. Some people make arrangements to "meet under the clocks" at the station because everyone knows where to meet then. 

The first real thing we did was going to Eureka Tower. It is a skyscraper in the city of Melbourne. It has 92 levels and when you are on level 88,  you can see Melbourne from above. That's pretty nice. 

The last 10 stories of the building are covered with gold plated metal. Can you imagine the costs?

Here is a picture from above: 

After that we got a quiz and we had to answer questions about some important places and squares in Melbourne.

The quiz has four parts (A, B, C and D). Today we were able to do part A to C but we did not have enough time and almost nobody has finished all three parts. Tomorrow we have to do part D.

This is our group! (Elena, me, Leon H, Nick and Nil)

After a very hot and long day in the city our host mother picked us up from school and we went to a swimming pool. It was very funny because Insa and Rebecca were there too with their exchange students.

It was a very long but very fun day!

Enrico - Day 1 (6.3.)

It is my first day in Melbourne. We arrived last night at one thirty in the morning. About an hour later we met our exchange  families.

We then took a ride to our home for the next three and a half weeks. The first thing we did when we arrived at 'home', was eating something because we were pretty hungry and wanted something more than the food from our flight. It was terrible! 

After all of that we went to sleep because our plan for the next day was to go to the city center of Melbourne and go on the Eureka tower to see the whole skyline of Melbourne.

After we did that, we chose to go to a seven eleven and have a 'Slurpee', and it tasted pretty good. It was sooooo good because it was so hot outside.

The exchange family is very lovely; they  only want the best for me, which is sweet. I feel really comfortable. I think it’s also cool that I’m not alone here. Irina is  here as well which is pretty nice and funny. She is also an exchange student like me, but her exchange partner is the little sister of my exchange partner Rastko.

We also have got plans for the next few days. We want to go and play basketball with some of Rastko's friends, play laser tag and visit the city again to see what else there is and maybe buy some little presents for our family and friends at home. 

I’m very happy to be a part of the exchange program and also very glad to be here.