Hello Australia!Yes, I am alive.
I haven't seen sunlight in just under a month and it is between -5 and -15 daily. It has snowed and I am looking forward to my first white christmas. I have just done my finale presentation at my Rotary club, it was in Norwegian. I have just received the date that I will be returning home on and it is quite surreal to read. I go home in a month and four days which is unreal. To think I have been away for eleven months. Eleven months above the arctic circle.
To fill you in on what has been happening for the last few months. I have been helping my host family build a bathroom, this is the second one that I have been apart of. The first was finished a week ago. Now that the snow has come we must clear the paths and driveway nearly everyday, that is not a problem though. I think it's fun.
I have been jamming with some friends every saturday at a studio they have which is great and I have been djing at parties and a little cafe on a weekly basis. I am djing at a christmas party on saturday, there will be around 100 people there so I happy with that. I was at a Rotary meeting in a town called Gjorvik a month ago. It was a district conference, the first I have been to. I met the new Exchange Students and each country did a presentation.
I have been making dinner at least twice a week. I have tried both Swedish and Norwegian Christmas food. Norwegian Julemat consists of salted ribs, fish that has filamented in soda and ginger bread. Swedish is a little different but along the same lines, salted ribs, special fish, ginger bread, an anchovy based potato bake and swedish meatballs.
We are still waiting on more snow before we can start sking/snowboarding downhill but I hope to make one last weekend trip to a mountain before I go. There is also a mountain here in Tromso that I want to hit before I go, it all depends on the snow. I have my last week of school in Norway ever next week and then I have winter holidays up until my reise dato.
I am very excited to be coming home but it will be extremely hard to say goodbye. So many memories, friends and both of my host families are "family" now.
Harrison
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Operation Spellathon Mention in Local Paper
Okay, they made it a 'filler' - but at least it's something. Helen regretted that our club wasn't mentioned. Oh well, something for next time!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
Moorabbin Students Spellbound By Worthy Cause
To many people spelling sends shivers up the spine but not to the Grade 6 students of Moorabbin Primary School. They were willing participants for the launch of the Operation Cleft Spellathon on Thursday 23 July.With the assistance from Rotary Club of Moorleigh Moorabbin, the school took up the literacy challenge to conduct the Spellathon that would raise money for this worthy cause.
Depending on their grade level, students were given cards with words that they will learn how to spell over the coming two weeks. For every word they spell correctly, family and friends will donate money.
Operation Cleft is an international Rotary program focused on helping young people with cleft lips and palates in Bangladesh. Since its inception in 2005, it has funded over 4,000 cleft operations. The cleft palates are the two plates of the skull that form the roof of the mouth and in some cases these are not joined. The palate clefts can occur as complete or incomplete and result in a hole in the roof of the mouth that connects directly to the nasal cavity. This condition causes difficulty in speaking, eating and possible deafness.
In Australia, such a deformity would be repaired at or shortly after birth but in Bangladesh, the condition is not considered life threatening and is not covered under their public health system.
“This is an excellent opportunity for our whole school to get involved with a worthy cause. Through our community partnership with Rotary, our students will assist the Bangladesh children have a better chance of leading a happy, healthy and productive life,” said Mark Berry, School Principal.
The Rotary Club of Moorleigh Moorabbin conducts fundraising Spellathons for any primary school in the local area and is now looking for schools interested to participate.
For more information on Operation Cleft or how your school can participate in a Spellathon Program contact Yvonne Beadle at moorleighmoorabbin@yahoo.com.au or call 0419 322 084.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Draw a Child's Smile
In my year as DG, my wife Carol’s special project was ‘Draw A Child’s Smile’. She wanted to collect pencils, crayons and chalk for the school children of Zimbabwe. The response from Clubs was truly remarkable. We received items from clubs and schools in our District and, with Vic Super also coming on board, donations were received state wide.
A container with over 800 boxes was shipped to Johannesburg in December 2007, but the situation in Zimbabwe delayed the final transport to Bulawayo.
Great news - we have today received the following from PDG Charles Kandarira in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
“The consignment arrived yesterday at the end of the day and we have off loaded the truck and stored the goods in the store room at my work place. On behalf of the Rotary of Belmont we are so thankful for the work done to get this stuff here it has taken a long time but it is here now.
The club will be communicating the program put together for the distribution to deserving schools - I am sure there will be a lot of publicity.”
We are absolutely thrilled!
PDG Charles will now take over the project and ensure the pencils and crayons reach those most in need. Hopefully, it won’t be long until we receive feedback from Bulawayo, showing the Children’s smiling faces.
We always knew this was going to take a long time and patience was required, but we also knew that the need wouldn’t go away.
A huge thank you to everyone for making it possible.
With huge smiles on our faces!
Philip & Carol Hedley
A container with over 800 boxes was shipped to Johannesburg in December 2007, but the situation in Zimbabwe delayed the final transport to Bulawayo.
Great news - we have today received the following from PDG Charles Kandarira in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
“The consignment arrived yesterday at the end of the day and we have off loaded the truck and stored the goods in the store room at my work place. On behalf of the Rotary of Belmont we are so thankful for the work done to get this stuff here it has taken a long time but it is here now.
The club will be communicating the program put together for the distribution to deserving schools - I am sure there will be a lot of publicity.”
We are absolutely thrilled!
PDG Charles will now take over the project and ensure the pencils and crayons reach those most in need. Hopefully, it won’t be long until we receive feedback from Bulawayo, showing the Children’s smiling faces.
We always knew this was going to take a long time and patience was required, but we also knew that the need wouldn’t go away.
A huge thank you to everyone for making it possible.
With huge smiles on our faces!
Philip & Carol Hedley
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Interview with RYLA applicant James F
Below is the interview that James F gave to the local Leader newspaper and this will be published in the near future.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tell me about RYLA
RYLA is an international award which began in Australia in 1959, RYLA Rotary Youth Leadership Award, 9810 District, is an annual week long camp which builds strong leaders and lifelong friends. The 6 day residential seminar is for 18-26 year olds who are active volunteers, have demonstrated or have potential leadership qualities.
Your role in the community?
Youth Services recommend me for RYLA after having successfully complete a term on the City of Glen Eira’ Youth Consultative Group YCG 08-09 where youth organize and run events for youth. We ran Glen Eira’s first Battle of the Bands which was a huge success and also an Art exposition during National Youth Week.
I am currently working towards a Duke Of Edinburgh Award as an independent participant which has challenged me to dedicate some time to community service like volunteer lifesaving, fundraising through Young set for the Royal Children’s Hospital, technical volunteering at the RAAF museum and I was a volunteer for this years international Airshow at Avalon.
What did you learn?
Topics presented included
relationships in business and leadership
Rules and Values
Planning for the biggest event of your life/ Goal setting
Decision making
Public speaking
Career planning
Servant leadership
Overcoming obstacles
Leadership/ management and systems engineering
Problem solving and conflict management
Rotary: covering their purpose and service to the community.
Psychology of Leadership
The emphasis was on learning by applying. This was achieved through moving presentations and activities, fun group challenge exercises and tool box meetings were we effectively discussed and applied the critical aspects of these topics.
What did you find the most challenging?
Apart form being away from family with a large group of strangers, the greatest challenge for me was meal times. I now miss this part of RYLA the most and not just because of the plentiful food. We were encouraged to gain confidence in public speaking by presenting a 60 second passion speech or an impromptu talk linking in random topics out of the ‘grab box’. For example talk for no more than 60 seconds about the Queen, Africa and strawberries.
I stepped up to present a passion talk about something important to me; the “power of goal setting”, how one needs to search their heart for the answers and turn dreams into achievable goals, something I learnt when I took up the Kokoda trail Youth Challenge in 2007 through Bentleigh RSL sponsorship. I admit it is not easy, you are standing there in front of every one and it doesn’t feel right. This feeling was something we learnt called nervous energy in the Public Speaking presentation given by David Forster, the Rotary District 9810 Governor. Nervous energy actually turns out to be good for you but needs to be harnessed for best results. Among other things he discussed with us about public speaking included delivery, body language and speaking aids.
How will RYLA help you in the future?
We have established an ongoing support network and great friendships. We have the opportunity to come back as a RYLA leader.
I have greater awareness and understand of how I and others approach leadership, which areas I need to improve and how to improve them. What tools I need to further refine these skills backed by my RYLA experience.
Continue to apply and develop these new skills by joining a Rotarct Club open to 18-30 year olds. Rotaract focus on developing networks, friendships, volunteering, changing lives and new skills.
Overall thoughts?
I struck gold. It was the perfect free weekend away, rolling hills like in the movie ‘The Sound of Music’. The venue Lake Dewar in Myrniong Victoria is spectacular. I meet some great people; have made some excellent friends who will continue to support each other and have gained valuable life and leadership tools to guarantee success in the future. I had so much fun that I wanted to stay at the end.
On behalf of all the 2009 RYLA participants, we are very much appreciative of all that the leaders, coordinators, guest speakers and sponsoring Rotary clubs have done for us. We are especially thankful for the RYLA young leaders who sacrificed and endured so much for us and for the courage and mateship they have shown to us. Thank you all so very much we are truly grateful.
Advice to others who want to become leaders in their community
Take up every challenge with both hands open. It is important to not waste time believing you can’t. Believe in yourself. Find someone who will support and encourage you like a mentor; someone experienced in your area of interest, someone you trust. Follow your dreams by goal setting. Leave no great opportunity unturned that presents itself. Talk to as many people as possible about your interests to build networks and relationships.
You need a positive attitude which is set by behaviors, thoughts and feelings. You can change your attitude by changing one of the three but behavior and thoughts are easier to change than feelings.
My favorite quote from the seminar is from the presentation on Attitude presented by a past RYLA participant now a young RYLA leader:
“I have missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been trusted to take the game winning shot…and I missed. I have failed over and over and over again in my life and that’s precisely why I succeed”
Michael Jordan, one of NBA’s greatest
How can I to get involved:
I encourage anyone 18 to 26 years old interested in the 2010 RYLA Rotary Youth Leadership Award in July at Lake Dewar to contact Rotary.
Applications (by June 2010)
http://www.rotary9810.org/content/90/RYLA.html
Don Kerley District Chair
Email: dkerley@bigpond.net.au
Contact 1300 4ROTARY
RYLA
RYLA is Rotary's Youth Leadership camp for 18-24 year olds and is conducted globally.
Applicants are selected through demonstration of their community service, leadership and communication skills and they go through an intensive 6 day course where they are put through experiential learning and practice of communication, leadership, ethics and values and teamwork.
This year, Helen is the Vocational Services Director of our Club so finding RYLA applicants was one of her roles. She really struggled to find applicants which is crazy as the course is over $500 but the sponsoring Rotary club pays all the fees so what the applicant gets is a course really worth $5000, an all expenses paid trip where they learn about themselves, how to work with others and go away after one week with a whole network of new friends.
The camp this year was at Lake Dewar Lodge at Myrniong so she drove out there to see the set up and it was actually quite good and she was impressed! The staff out there were professional and dedicated to teaching the youth of today.
RYLA was also taught by a select group of team leaders who were all ex-RYLArians themselves so there was the youth teaching the youth and the level of their presentation and leadership skills were exceptional.
These were the leaders of tomorrow who had enthusiasm, passion and motivation to be part of a better world.
It took her a while to find a suitable candidate. After emailing family and friends and Rotarians to see if there was anyone they knew of this age group, she came up with nothing. She didn't understand why anyone would NOT want to be part of this excellent personal development course. So one day, through a lead from fellow Club Member Graeme, she contacted the local council which had a Youth Services section as she thought they may have a whole network of youth in our area to advertise and promote it to. And sure enough, they were happy and delighted that she had contacted them and now want her to let them know of other Rotary leadership programs.
They found for us an applicant, James and she quickly organised the Rotary Club to give him the cheque and did up his application forms and he was in.
He is a second year aerospace engineering student at Monash University and is an extremely busy young man. When he's not studying, he's put himself through an extra TAFE courses in welding and CAD design so he can learn the practicalities. He has done a few lessons for a pilot's course and hopes to have a career in aviation somehow. He's fascinated by planes and all things aeronautical and vying for a scholarship through the Royal Aeronautical Club to learn how to fly. And also he wants to join the Reserves or the full-time Defence Force.
Overall, he has ambition and the world is his oyster. Indeed all the youth at RYLA had the same ideals and they were motivated and enthusiastic about the program that they've been through and want to promote it to others.
One of the girls there, presented that they would like to continue the impetus and create a Rotaract Club of Monash Clayton from those people there. So it looks like we will now have a Rotaract Club (Rotary Club for 18 to 30 year olds) that will be started up from this group (and I'm sure others) will want to join.
So now, for next year's RYLA, our club has some ideas of how to get some more applicants and that's to use the RYLArians to promote it and also go to Monash University and promote it there to the students.
We should all encourage anyone who has kids or teens or knows young adults to get involved in the community leadership programs like Rotary.
Applicants are selected through demonstration of their community service, leadership and communication skills and they go through an intensive 6 day course where they are put through experiential learning and practice of communication, leadership, ethics and values and teamwork.
This year, Helen is the Vocational Services Director of our Club so finding RYLA applicants was one of her roles. She really struggled to find applicants which is crazy as the course is over $500 but the sponsoring Rotary club pays all the fees so what the applicant gets is a course really worth $5000, an all expenses paid trip where they learn about themselves, how to work with others and go away after one week with a whole network of new friends.
The camp this year was at Lake Dewar Lodge at Myrniong so she drove out there to see the set up and it was actually quite good and she was impressed! The staff out there were professional and dedicated to teaching the youth of today.
RYLA was also taught by a select group of team leaders who were all ex-RYLArians themselves so there was the youth teaching the youth and the level of their presentation and leadership skills were exceptional.
These were the leaders of tomorrow who had enthusiasm, passion and motivation to be part of a better world.
It took her a while to find a suitable candidate. After emailing family and friends and Rotarians to see if there was anyone they knew of this age group, she came up with nothing. She didn't understand why anyone would NOT want to be part of this excellent personal development course. So one day, through a lead from fellow Club Member Graeme, she contacted the local council which had a Youth Services section as she thought they may have a whole network of youth in our area to advertise and promote it to. And sure enough, they were happy and delighted that she had contacted them and now want her to let them know of other Rotary leadership programs.
They found for us an applicant, James and she quickly organised the Rotary Club to give him the cheque and did up his application forms and he was in.
He is a second year aerospace engineering student at Monash University and is an extremely busy young man. When he's not studying, he's put himself through an extra TAFE courses in welding and CAD design so he can learn the practicalities. He has done a few lessons for a pilot's course and hopes to have a career in aviation somehow. He's fascinated by planes and all things aeronautical and vying for a scholarship through the Royal Aeronautical Club to learn how to fly. And also he wants to join the Reserves or the full-time Defence Force.
Overall, he has ambition and the world is his oyster. Indeed all the youth at RYLA had the same ideals and they were motivated and enthusiastic about the program that they've been through and want to promote it to others.
One of the girls there, presented that they would like to continue the impetus and create a Rotaract Club of Monash Clayton from those people there. So it looks like we will now have a Rotaract Club (Rotary Club for 18 to 30 year olds) that will be started up from this group (and I'm sure others) will want to join.
So now, for next year's RYLA, our club has some ideas of how to get some more applicants and that's to use the RYLArians to promote it and also go to Monash University and promote it there to the students.
We should all encourage anyone who has kids or teens or knows young adults to get involved in the community leadership programs like Rotary.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Apologies for not sending regular updates
Hello again everyone
I feel bad for not sending regular updates but I've had technology problems throughout the UK so even emails to family and friends weren't getting through.
Sitting here at Heathrow now getting ready to go home, it's with a tinge of sadness that we are leaving. A part of me would like to hop on the tour bus and continue the journey through the lovely countryside. The stint at Birmingham, in particularly the quaint countryside of Warwick and Rugby just made me want to stay here.
However the plan is to come back at 2013 and do a leisurely tour of the UK and Ireland.
The convention (at least the first couple of days was good). Admittedly I did enjoy the presentation from Mia Farrow and from Dr Alex Buchanan who talked about his protein biscuits he developed at CSIRO. Unfortunately, I had food poisoning on the last day and missed out on Dr Jane Goodall's presentation which I was also looking forward to. I found the presentations compared to last year's a bit 'light on' and found it tiring to have standing ovations for people in the RI Boards and the like because at times it did feel as if we were giving 'pats on backs' for people simply in the positions they are in. Overall, meeting people from all over the world and sharing the connection, there was a sense of community - more so with the English who were more than welcoming. I cannot say this enough - their hospitality was welcomed. Of course, we cannot say that for some other countries however where we were gobsmacked by the rudeness.
So despite not seeing the last day and spending the day hugging the toilet, I loved the London experience and enjoyed the HOC events around Birmingham such as the Treorchy Male choir, the home hosting at Rugby (we got to do a behind the scenes tour of Rugby School - home of rugby and also where Lewis Carroll and the place where Tom Brown's School Days was about) and of course, the spectacular Warwick Castle.
I am sure that Philip and Bill would have more to share about the last day of the convention and we look forward to presenting to the club on our experience.
And no, I'm not going to Montreal next year. I think I will lay off the conventions for a while until they are closer to home. Now, if they were back in the UK again....that's a different story.
I feel bad for not sending regular updates but I've had technology problems throughout the UK so even emails to family and friends weren't getting through.
Sitting here at Heathrow now getting ready to go home, it's with a tinge of sadness that we are leaving. A part of me would like to hop on the tour bus and continue the journey through the lovely countryside. The stint at Birmingham, in particularly the quaint countryside of Warwick and Rugby just made me want to stay here.
However the plan is to come back at 2013 and do a leisurely tour of the UK and Ireland.
The convention (at least the first couple of days was good). Admittedly I did enjoy the presentation from Mia Farrow and from Dr Alex Buchanan who talked about his protein biscuits he developed at CSIRO. Unfortunately, I had food poisoning on the last day and missed out on Dr Jane Goodall's presentation which I was also looking forward to. I found the presentations compared to last year's a bit 'light on' and found it tiring to have standing ovations for people in the RI Boards and the like because at times it did feel as if we were giving 'pats on backs' for people simply in the positions they are in. Overall, meeting people from all over the world and sharing the connection, there was a sense of community - more so with the English who were more than welcoming. I cannot say this enough - their hospitality was welcomed. Of course, we cannot say that for some other countries however where we were gobsmacked by the rudeness.
So despite not seeing the last day and spending the day hugging the toilet, I loved the London experience and enjoyed the HOC events around Birmingham such as the Treorchy Male choir, the home hosting at Rugby (we got to do a behind the scenes tour of Rugby School - home of rugby and also where Lewis Carroll and the place where Tom Brown's School Days was about) and of course, the spectacular Warwick Castle.
I am sure that Philip and Bill would have more to share about the last day of the convention and we look forward to presenting to the club on our experience.
And no, I'm not going to Montreal next year. I think I will lay off the conventions for a while until they are closer to home. Now, if they were back in the UK again....that's a different story.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Second Day at the Convention
Well it was certainly a rush to get to the computers this morning.
Yesterday it hit me that I didn't want to be here. At the convention that is. Don't get me wrong, but looking out of the Warwick Castle window, I saw the beautiful green lush countryside and thought that there's where I need to be - not inside an auditorium!
Having said that, the Warwick Castle experience was fabulous after a day of presentations. We were piled into buses and treated to shows of jousting, falconry, archery and a trebuchet. We also had an opportunity to climb the towers and take photos of the lush countryside.
The experience was marred however by the disorganisation of the buses to take us home. Over 8000 people tried to cram into the bus car park, with no signage, no HOC marshalls and traffic marshallers who had no idea what bus was going where. After an hour of waiting, panic ensued and thousands started walking across the road in an effort to find transport back to the city. The marshallers were yelling out to people to stay back behind the barriers but with no communication, people were doing their own thing. There was lots of pushing and shoving and after three and a half hours, the final bus loads were just taking everyone back into the city. They dropped us off in a quiet part of town at 1am, we didn't know where we were, to find our own hotels. It was mayhem and I do hope they acknowledge and apologise for this today.
Andrew has had enough and has decided that he will do his own thing as with this and the mayhem at the train station yesterday morning where once again, thousands of people were pushing and shoving to get on the few trains going out at the NEC, it wasn't a good sight. Some people take it in good spirits - we did and we had a luagh with some people - but when you have thousands of people just wanting informaiton on what is going on, and needing assistance (there were many elderly and those in wheelchairs).
Today, I will spend time in the plenary sessions and workshops and we have the home hosting tonight which we are looking forward to but hope the transport issues are sorted out quickly. This convention is very much for the +60s and not many younger people around (as the LA one was) where RYLA, Interact, Rotaract have been relegated to one far corner away from everywhere else and hidden. I believe they should be in the heart with the other stalls.
I'm making this convention out negatively unfortunately as I'm comparing it to the one in LA which was lively and much younger and always something going on with entertainment. The Brummies here are superb and very helpful and always chatty so for customer service they are top notch. Luckily, our hotel is quite good and the people there are very helpful so it helps. I think though I much prefer to be touring the countryside...
Yesterday it hit me that I didn't want to be here. At the convention that is. Don't get me wrong, but looking out of the Warwick Castle window, I saw the beautiful green lush countryside and thought that there's where I need to be - not inside an auditorium!
Having said that, the Warwick Castle experience was fabulous after a day of presentations. We were piled into buses and treated to shows of jousting, falconry, archery and a trebuchet. We also had an opportunity to climb the towers and take photos of the lush countryside.
The experience was marred however by the disorganisation of the buses to take us home. Over 8000 people tried to cram into the bus car park, with no signage, no HOC marshalls and traffic marshallers who had no idea what bus was going where. After an hour of waiting, panic ensued and thousands started walking across the road in an effort to find transport back to the city. The marshallers were yelling out to people to stay back behind the barriers but with no communication, people were doing their own thing. There was lots of pushing and shoving and after three and a half hours, the final bus loads were just taking everyone back into the city. They dropped us off in a quiet part of town at 1am, we didn't know where we were, to find our own hotels. It was mayhem and I do hope they acknowledge and apologise for this today.
Andrew has had enough and has decided that he will do his own thing as with this and the mayhem at the train station yesterday morning where once again, thousands of people were pushing and shoving to get on the few trains going out at the NEC, it wasn't a good sight. Some people take it in good spirits - we did and we had a luagh with some people - but when you have thousands of people just wanting informaiton on what is going on, and needing assistance (there were many elderly and those in wheelchairs).
Today, I will spend time in the plenary sessions and workshops and we have the home hosting tonight which we are looking forward to but hope the transport issues are sorted out quickly. This convention is very much for the +60s and not many younger people around (as the LA one was) where RYLA, Interact, Rotaract have been relegated to one far corner away from everywhere else and hidden. I believe they should be in the heart with the other stalls.
I'm making this convention out negatively unfortunately as I'm comparing it to the one in LA which was lively and much younger and always something going on with entertainment. The Brummies here are superb and very helpful and always chatty so for customer service they are top notch. Luckily, our hotel is quite good and the people there are very helpful so it helps. I think though I much prefer to be touring the countryside...
First Day at the Convention
Hello everyone
After some 8 days in London, we are now in Brimingham (along with half of America). We arrived yesterday afternoon, settled into our hotel in the city and registered. Last night, we decided to walk around town and observed some **interesting ** Birmingham characters out in the streets.
Birmingham is an industrial city (or was - it was known as part of the Black County during the Industrial Revolution which had many cities around it enveloped in black smog). Today it is filled with retail stores, and a massive convention centre. But I wouldn't want to live here if you're getting that impression...
So far, with the opening ceremony and the theme East Meets West was enjoyable. I don't know how many people there are but compared to last year's one in LA, this one is a little sedate and laid back. Maybe RI Presidents really do set the theme at each convention.
We've met many Americans who are always up for a chat. Mainly from North Carolina, Washington State and California. Although the ones from Texas stand a mile away with thier big hats.
I saw Barbara and Bill Chapman from our Rotary Club at the Yachting Fellowship stand yesterday and haven't met any other Australians yet although there was a loud cheer at the opening flag ceremony when the Aussie flag was displayed.
We had a major hiccup with the public transport this morning which meant that thousands of Rotarians were stranded at the city train station trying to get out to the convention centre. Luckily, the train system being the way it is (ie better than ours), a wait of ten minutes was more than acceptable for us. Soon we were all along our way and the throng of the crowds hit the arena in one swoop and we settled in quickly to listen to the presentations and to watch the entertainment. They had world reknown opera singers, dance troupes, midland highland dancers, tae kwondo displays.
If I don't write as often into this blog is that there are long queues for the internet cafe here.
Tonight the buses will take us to Warwick Castle for a medieval hog roast banquet, jousting and trebuchet display and all round revelry. Now, off to look around the exhibitors and see what we can do about some food....
After some 8 days in London, we are now in Brimingham (along with half of America). We arrived yesterday afternoon, settled into our hotel in the city and registered. Last night, we decided to walk around town and observed some **interesting ** Birmingham characters out in the streets.
Birmingham is an industrial city (or was - it was known as part of the Black County during the Industrial Revolution which had many cities around it enveloped in black smog). Today it is filled with retail stores, and a massive convention centre. But I wouldn't want to live here if you're getting that impression...
So far, with the opening ceremony and the theme East Meets West was enjoyable. I don't know how many people there are but compared to last year's one in LA, this one is a little sedate and laid back. Maybe RI Presidents really do set the theme at each convention.
We've met many Americans who are always up for a chat. Mainly from North Carolina, Washington State and California. Although the ones from Texas stand a mile away with thier big hats.
I saw Barbara and Bill Chapman from our Rotary Club at the Yachting Fellowship stand yesterday and haven't met any other Australians yet although there was a loud cheer at the opening flag ceremony when the Aussie flag was displayed.
We had a major hiccup with the public transport this morning which meant that thousands of Rotarians were stranded at the city train station trying to get out to the convention centre. Luckily, the train system being the way it is (ie better than ours), a wait of ten minutes was more than acceptable for us. Soon we were all along our way and the throng of the crowds hit the arena in one swoop and we settled in quickly to listen to the presentations and to watch the entertainment. They had world reknown opera singers, dance troupes, midland highland dancers, tae kwondo displays.
If I don't write as often into this blog is that there are long queues for the internet cafe here.
Tonight the buses will take us to Warwick Castle for a medieval hog roast banquet, jousting and trebuchet display and all round revelry. Now, off to look around the exhibitors and see what we can do about some food....
Friday, May 22, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
Message from Harrison in Norway 2
Everything is going great, my visa has gone through, i have my personal number and have opened a bank acount. My host family has been so amazing, we haven't had any problems and they have been extremely helpful in teaching me Norwegian.
My first major travel was in the winter holidays when my host family took me to Finland with them.
It was a five day trip to a mountain called Yillas. we spent four of the days on Yillas me snowboarding while the rest of the family skied and one day in Levi, another mountain about 45 minutes drive from where we were staying.
We stayed in a ski in ski out cabin at the base of the mountain which was a five minute trip to the closest piste. Tromso is a great city with beautiful suroundings and a nice downtown area I regularly go snowboarding at Kroken, the local alpine center or I go on Top Turs, this is where you climb a mountain have a brake on top with a mug of cocoa and mat pak, packed lunch.
I went to Oslo with one of my host sisters a couple of weeks back to see a dj which was great and I plan to go back to Oslo on the 29th of May. The Euro tour is coming up which I am looking forward too.
For the easter break we went to my host family's cabin in the mountains for a five day trip of cross country skiing, snowboarding, is fishing(I caught 3 fish). It was exhausting to say the least.
I hope everything is well at the club and that the rehabilitaion from the devastating fires is well underway.
From Harrison
My first major travel was in the winter holidays when my host family took me to Finland with them.
It was a five day trip to a mountain called Yillas. we spent four of the days on Yillas me snowboarding while the rest of the family skied and one day in Levi, another mountain about 45 minutes drive from where we were staying.
We stayed in a ski in ski out cabin at the base of the mountain which was a five minute trip to the closest piste. Tromso is a great city with beautiful suroundings and a nice downtown area I regularly go snowboarding at Kroken, the local alpine center or I go on Top Turs, this is where you climb a mountain have a brake on top with a mug of cocoa and mat pak, packed lunch.
I went to Oslo with one of my host sisters a couple of weeks back to see a dj which was great and I plan to go back to Oslo on the 29th of May. The Euro tour is coming up which I am looking forward too.
For the easter break we went to my host family's cabin in the mountains for a five day trip of cross country skiing, snowboarding, is fishing(I caught 3 fish). It was exhausting to say the least.
I hope everything is well at the club and that the rehabilitaion from the devastating fires is well underway.
From Harrison
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Congratulations to Bentleigh West Primary - Spellathon
The primary school took part in the Spellathon (courtesy of Yvonne Beadle who came up with this excellent fundraiser idea). Here is President Gary presenting a cheque for $1300 to the Operation Cleft cause.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Message from Harrison
Hello from cold, cold Norway. it was an unusually cold day the day I arrived sitting around -10 and over the last week the weather has gotten gradually warmer.
Yesterday it was +5 but i am not sure on how the weather will be today.
I am settling in fine and my host family are great. the plan ride was long and tiring.
Tromsø is an amazing city I haven't had time to explore it al yet but from what I have seen it is very different to Melbourne. I have attached the photos that I have from the last Rotary meeting and hope they come in handy.
Harrison
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