Orientation - Day 2

We began our day with a very exciting lecture by one of the QUT professors, Jenny. The class was about the middle years, and her lecture focused particularly on the adolescent brain! Following her lecture, we were sent to the library for instruction about searching out accessible curriculum items, and where to find them within the library. After that we discussed our homestay experiences and some of the differences and similarities we'd seen thus far! Many of the things mentioned were things that I had noticed at first when mom and dad were here. Unfortunately two of the girls who had come mentioned that they were concerned with the amount of food they were being given and fed by their homestay mom. QUT staff were amazing and suggested several things, and even offered to politely mention it to her. Being from Minnesota, we wouldn't allow that and since then it apparently has gotten a bit better. After the discussion we were free to eat our packed lunches on the school campus. After that we were to be in another class with the QUT students, and much to our surprise it was a sheep brain DISECTION! Apparently, sheep brains are quite close to our brains and through this disection we were able to see the different parts of the brain. It was interesting, because we had very few safety regulations. We were given only gloves and steak knives. The disection wasn't even completed in a labratory, but rather just a regular classroom! I don't think it would've flown to proceed in this way at MSU. I was also able to talk to some QUT students who mentioned that they REALLY missed having Mello Yello (they had it for some time but then it stopped), but didn't really care for Dr. Pepper (which they also had for some time but then it stopped.) After the brain disection and a short lecture, we were given another lecture (separate from the QUT students) about the Australian curriculum. This was concluded with a competition to see who could build the tallest marshmallow/toothpick tower. Dave and I got 2nd.... it was his fault. :) Later that night I attended what is called Girl Guides. It is the equivalent of Girl Scouts in the US. It was fun to finally see some Australian children, even if they were a bit wired! My host family's daughter, Shannan, is a leader and so I spent the evening meeting here and enjoying the guides. One of the things I noticed was that they call "jumping rope", "skipping rope"! What a difference to have kids yell to me, "Watch me skip! Watch me skip!" when they meant for me to watch them jump rope!

Orientation - Day 2

Caboolture, Australia