I've Moved

I know. I am very naughty, I've forgotten to blog, but I've been setting up another one. This is part of school. We have to start up a blog for French, so while quite a few of the post are in French, hopefully once I get going there will be some in English as well.

Here is the address:

http://www.explorezlemonde1.wordpress.com/

400 days and counting...

Yup, that's right. There are only 400 days to go, until I'm off to Vietnam!

Early last month, (I know that was ages ago!) Rachel had a choir rehearsal, so we took the opportunity to go do some very expensive 'Vietnam shopping.' All the outdoor shops are down the one street, so that made it easy. The only shop that was open when we got there was Patty Palin, so in we went...and came out an hour and a half later with lots and lots of gear, and quite a bit less money! ;)

Source

The pack will be heaps bigger when there's stuff in there though.... Uh oh!

Yesterday we had a bit of a debriefing, because we are going to have a big meeting on Tuesday to start planning our itinerary. Our teachers told us the places they think you be the best places. So now the outline is looking a bit like this:

- fly into Hanoi- acclimatise and maybe do a cooking class
- overnight train to Sapa, where we will do our main trek
- Hanoi - Halong Bay, for some R & R, for 2 days-ish
- overnight train from Hanoi to Hue
- bus on the Mountain Pass (it looks pretty scary!) to Hoi An, where we will do our Project.
- and lastly to Ho Chi Minh City, which is 18 hours by train! Where we will hopefully go to the Cu Chi tunnels, and the floating markets.

I am super excited!

Groovy Glasses??

Hi, I seem to be very busy lately. I have things due for school, tests and assignments. (which I spent half of Saturday on). I also had my first shift at Macca's on Saturday. I was so nervous I thought I was going to be sick, but my trainer was really nice and I spent my shift cleaning tables, sweeping and "trash mashing" and putting the trash in the dumpster. - Yes, I know trash and dumpster is American but apparently that is what it is called. I was completely exhausted when I got home, but I had a good time.

On Sunday we went to visit my grandparents who live about 2 and a bit hours away, in Waikerie. The weather was amazing so Rachel I broke out the sunnies.....

Super groovy, don't you think??

The only problem with this warm weather is hay fever! Grrr. Both Dad and I get really bad hay fever. I take medicine for it but unfortunately it hasn' t worked for the past couple of days. So I've been drugged up with a heap of stuff, and off to school with a heap of tissues!

Today we had a party in French to say "Bon Voyage" to one of our fellow classmates who is off to France for 5 months on and exchange! Lucky duck! To celebrate we each took some food in and Rachel being fabulous, made eclairs for me to take in. They loved them, unfortunately there are none left to take photos of.

Guess What????

A couple of Thursdays I had an interview at McDonald's. I didn't think I'd get the job, but surprise, I'll soon be serving out fries and cheeseburgers! :)
I'm so happy, it will be a great experience and I'll now have some money in the bank. At the moment I'm about a 5th of the way to $5,900, so I'm getting there! I also have to choose my subjects for next year which is a bit difficult, but I think I have decided. Hopefully I won't bomb out of maths. Fingers crossed!

Remember to Explore.......

the etsy shop!!

Guess what Mum and I've been busy..busy...busy this weekend.

I've been busy drawing and making cards, and making brooches and necklaces. Mum's been busy photographing and setting up the etsy shop.

There are different coloured cards, and each one is different because I'm hand-drawing them. The photos aren't fabulous because it was dark and cold outside!!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/RemembertoExplore

All the proceeds go to my fundraising for World Challenge! Yipee!

I'm on Mum's computer so I don't have my signature so,

Bye......

Secret Squirreling

Grandad's 75th

Last Saturday, after a lot of planning we had my Grandad's 75th birthday. I think the whole family was surprised when he said that he wanted us to throw a party for him.  So there we where, at Grandad's local bowling club at 3:00 to cook and set up.

There was a bit of running around, arranging tables, setting up the tables and putting up streamers.

It was a bit rushed but in the end it looked really good and nice and colourful!

All of the family came, mostly from interstate, who are from my mum's side of the family. As well as some of Grandad's friends. I got to chat to some of them (I don't know them very well the last time I saw them I was probably 10), but I spent most of the time in the kitchen.

I have great friends, Bianca, Enola and Nadine (and Rachel) who helped out washing up the dishes, and waitressing. (The caterer we had booked basically got sacked!) And it also helped us to raise money for World Challenge.

Grandad had a bowls cake, and yes that is supposed to represent Grandad, but by the time we got him on the cake he was looking a bit too relaxed.

 Happy Birthday Grandad, I hope you had a great time.