The History of the Cardboard Regatta

Three summers ago I experienced my first Cardboard Regatta. We had at least two weeks to put our boats together. Our only resources were cardboard, duct tape, and the engineers in our ward. We came up with some pretty good stuff! Our first summer we only had one boat to race against and we won, without a doubt.

Cardboard Regatta 2007
48th Ward

My first cardboard boat




Getting ready to launch. My boat was the far one.




Paddling in for the win.

We had another regatta just a year later with the same ward, same resources. This boat was built even sturdier. We didn't have another ward to race against so we raced against some fellow wardies in an inflatable raft.

Cardboard Regatta 2008
48th Ward

Our sturdy structure

Ready to launch

Paddling to the other side

This year we had duct tape and cardboard. No engineers and not nearly as much time. We were split into four groups and were expected to construct a cardboard boat within a couple of hours. We were without engineers in our group and so we were left to our own experience, which was limited. I didn't have anything to do with the designs of the boats from the last two years and I couldn't even remember what they had looked like. We sure didn't come up with much.

Cardboard Regatta 2009
16th Ward

Our poorly designed boat/raft.
We did layer the bottom with LOTS of cardboard but it still didn't do much for us.

For some strange reason (probably because people are nice), Andrea and I had been receiving lots of compliments on our boat (more like a raft) and were feeling pretty confident about this race.

Our original plan for the win: I would paddle and she would be the motor.




Our plan quickly failed.




We resorted to my pulling the front while doing the side stroke and Andrea still being the motor.

When I could finally touch, we just pulled the boat to shore.

Needless to say, we came in last. But we finished! So I hyperventilated half of my way across first dam. Not only was my body working harder than normal, but I was trying to breathe in freezing cold water. My lungs were definitely not pleased with me. I wanted to quit but Andrea wouldn't have it! We actually came up with a great gospel parallel but that's for another day.

My favorite part is that as we were leaving the house before the race Andrea asked if we were going to get wet. "No!" I said, almost insulted. "We'll be totally fine. I've done this for two years and stayed completely dry." Whoops!

Completely soaked

The moral of the story: have engineers in your group and give yourselves a little more than a couple of hours to complete your project. Oh, and a motivator like Andrea.

Life After College

After completing and incredible student teaching experience in Hamilton, New Zealand, I graduated from Utah State University in May. Upon my return to the States, after experiencing a glimpse of paradise, I expected everything to be bliss. I'd graduate from college, find myself a job-in Logan (I was adamant about a Logan job)- and everything would work out wonderfully. Instead I was bombarded with real life. I shouldn't ever have expectations like that. I mean really...who do I think I am to have things work out so easily?

The supportive parents-Thanks for the help with tuition and New Zealand!




The supportive grandparents-Thanks for the help with tuition!



The supportive sibs

I graduated and moved to a different house and started working for Logan City. Things were going smoothly until I started going home a lot. It felt like all of my conversations with my parents were about my future. "What are you going to do about insurance? Where are you going to look for a job? You know you need to keep your options open and you shouldn't limit yourself to Logan." I could almost quote these conversations word for word on my way TO Idaho Falls, before they even happened. I just wasn't that worried about it all. With my luck, I wouldn't find a teaching position but Logan City would offer me a full time job in the fall and I'd be happy with a job I loved and benefits to take care of me.

Suddenly it was June and I had partially filled out two applications and checked job openings about ten times. "Things will just happen. I don't need to worry. I'll get a job. I don't think I need all of this effort." This was a scare mentality now that I think about it. Again, who am I to think I'm so invincible? I was happily mowing for Logan City when I received a voicemail one day from the principal. "Hi. This is the principal from Logan River Academy. I got your name and phone number from the University. I hear you're looking for a PE position and we'd like you to come in for an interview."

I was in shock! I didn't fill out an application. PE jobs are nonexistent in this valley. HE found ME. So I called him back. And I got an interview. And I felt good about the interview. And then I remember him saying that it's a year round school and he would need me to start as soon as possible. And then I got a second interview. And then I hoped I didn't the job. And then I did get offered the job. And then I was in emotional turmoil. And I cried and worried. A lot. I didn't want to quit my current job. I liked the idea of mowing lawns better than molding minds. If I screwed up while mowing, the grass would fix itself and it would all be okay. If I screwed up a child, well that's not an easy fix. But I jumped in with both feet and I took the job.

So now I teach all the health classes and all the PE classes. And I love it. It's definitely not mowing lawns, but it provides some good laughs and some great experiences. There is life after college!

My students are a little rough around the edges. Some have been to detention centers. Some of them were court ordered to LRA. Most were woken up in the middle of the night by an escort, with or without handcuffs, that said "You're leaving, and you're leaving now." And off they went to begin a new era in a treatment center. And here I am, educating them during their treatment. I have a lot of students who had drug problems, I have a couple of students that have OCD, some students with anger management issues, and some students with all of the above. Most of them are boys, some of them are girls. But just like every other high school student, they have an excuse to not change into PE clothes and to not participate in class.

This job has its challenges, for sure. But this job also has insurance, and a salary, and experience that I couldn't get anywhere else. And so I'm not mowing and I'm not outside everyday, but I'm happy. And not every college graduate can claim as much.

Keep Your Head Down

I only have a few minutes so instead of blogging about my wonderful weekend I'll just share a thought. I went golfing on Saturday with my brothers. It's a new thing I'm trying to pick up and the first lesson I've learned is that golf is an inconsistent sport. If you're looking for some consistency in life and you want to try something new, don't try golf. You'll feel like your skills are superb one day and you'll start throwing clubs the next. The second lesson I learned is the point of this blog. Maybe it's far fetched, but I like it.

We were on the third hole. It was a short hole and the last one was really bad so I thought, "Great. This is my chance to do pretty well. I can make it to the green in just a few strokes." I swung and it was crap. I swung again and it was crap. Justin said "You can't pick up your head. If you pick up your head, the whole thing goes to pot." I responded with, "You just can't anticipate great things in this game can you?" I then took that line and turned it into something more and applied it to my life because thinking is what I do.

Sometimes in life we need to look up and see the whole picture or the entire golf course. We need to see everything before us and look at the possibilities that lie ahead and have an eternal perspective. Then we need to look at the hole we're currently on, or the stage of life that we're currently in and evaluate what needs to be done there. At each hole there are tasks to perform to get us to our goal for that stage of life, which can be likened unto each shot we take to get closer to the hole. Here's the most frustrating part. We get so excited about reaching our ultimate goal that we pull our heads up to look at the results when really we need to keep our heads down to finish the task at hand. Even when you pick up your head the task gets completed; but if you don't follow through all the way with the best that you know how it might take even longer to reach your goal.

The moral of my story is this: Don't anticipate great things. Expect great things because they definitely can and will happen, but don't anticipate them. Anticipation is distracting. Focus on the task at hand, follow through, and look how much closer you are to the ultimate goal. Then take a look at the big picture and measure your progress.

So get out there and enjoy the rest of the golf season before the cold comes. Just remember to keep your head down.

Mahmeeseetuh

Mamacita,

Just wanted to give you a shout out and thank you for all you've done. I want you to know how grateful I am that you were born 23 years ago :) and how grateful I am that of all the babies in the nursery Grandma and Grandpa picked you. Without you I'd probably still be on earth somewhere with some family but I would look different, I would be different, and my family would be different...and I'm glad that's not the way it is. So thanks Mom for choosing Dad and having me and being amazing. Your example has led the way for me through the years. I appreciate your enthusiasm for life. I just want to highlight one particular thing today in your honor: she plans her work and works her plan. She accomplishes the things she sets her mind to and always follows through with what she says she's gonna do. What a wonderful lady.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!

Follow-Up

For those who were curious about how my blind date turned out...it turned out the same way they always do. We had a good time and he said he'd call again sometime. But don't worry, I didn't get my hopes up. I've learned that boys aren't truthful at the doorstep. Instead of being honest and not saying anything at all they get word vomit and say things they don't mean like "I'll call you again sometime." So it was another date that turned out the same way as all the rest; but I'll not be deterred from giving anything a shot. Anyone care to throw another one my direction?

The New Do

For my birthday, Baker gave me a gift certificate to visit her hairstylist (a hint maybe?) I've been getting my hair cut at dollar places and I haven't been pleased. So today I decided to put my certificate to work and get some work done by a professional in a real salon. This is the first hair cut I've liked since I decided to go short, and I've had three or four.

Now if you'll excuse me, me and my sexy new self are going to dinner and mini-golf with a stranger.

Birthday Boy

I want to wish Justin a happy birthday today! He's a great person with so much to offer. Let me list some of the things I like most about Justin...

1. He's passionate about the things he talks about whether it's sports, legal stuff, religion, etc. I admire his passion for things.

2. He's easy to talk to. Sometimes I wonder how much he actually listens to me since I tend to ramble sometimes; but listening or not he's easy to talk to because he doesn't jump to conclusions or pick sides. I can say the kinds of things that I might not feel comfortable saying to other people. Example: if we're debating an issue and we disagree, I feel like I can be as bold and blunt as I want because he listens to me and doesn't take offense easily.

3. Justin is really good at listening to both sides. He definitely has his opinions and so do I, but instead of getting into a huge debate we listen to each others' arguments and take them for what they're worth. There might not be any convincing each other, but we listen to each other.

4. He's an incredible dad. His boys' eyes light up when he walks in the room. He wrestles with them, bathes them, reads them stories and I really admire him as a father. I hope I can marry a man who will father my children as well as he fathers his own.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JUSTIN!

Happy Father's Day

Just wanted to wish Dad a Happy Father's Day!

Birthday Girl

Happy birthday to my dear older sister. I think it's weird that I am old enough to have a sister that is twenty five years old! She's a fabulous person and although we had our arguments growing up, we get along quite swell now. On this day, I would like to share with her some of the memories I have of her past birthdays.

1. Kim had the chicken pox on her birthday one year. It was so sad. It didn't matter what present she opened next because she still felt miserable.

2. Once Kim opened all of her birthday presents, my birthday list was complete. I always wanted whatever she got and since my birthday was a little over a month later, I never had to wait long to mimic her little girl desires. (ex. She asked for Moon Shoes one year so I did, too. She asked for Whoppers on just about every birthday and even though I didn't like them that much, I asked for them too because she did.)

3. She got to celebrate her birthday alone last year since Chris was worried about which end to stick over the toilet. And because a good number of us had been flattened with a case of salmonella she didn't have anyone else to celebrate with.

And that's all I got. Thanks, Kim for being so great! I hope you had a wonderful birthday.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KIM!

Dad's Birthday

Happy birthday to my wonderful dad! He has taught me much over the years. Lots of the things I have learned from him come from the mistakes I've made and the lessons he's pointed out.

Here's a list of random tidbits about Dad:

1. He's quick with advice and knowledgeable about life.

2. He can help ease the pains a broken heart suffers.

3. He makes the most delicious chocolate cake I've ever had.

4. He grills a tenderloin steak better than any steak house I've attended.

5. Dad can do an amazing "Whoo-pa!" on the trampoline.

6. Dad has a fear of lightning.

7. He loves being the caretaker of his yard.

8. When he genuinely laughs at something, his whole face lights up and his eyes actually glow.

9. Dad prefers dark chocolate.

10. Dad will never go to Disneyland/world again.

This is the man who loves me unconditionally and who is unconditionally loved by me.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD!

Twin Birthdays

Taylor and Braxton two years ago

Today was Taylor's and Braxton's 2nd birthday. They have recently relocated to the Salt Lake area which is quite nice because then I get to see them more often. We celebrated their lives with a BBQ and playing around in the grass. I think the boys were officially worn out by the time everyone left.

Braxton is very ticklish and if you catch him at the right moment, this kid will let you tickle him and play with him for quite a while. But this one is also very independent and if he doesn't want to play with you, he will for sure let you know. When this one allows it, I love tickling his little collar bones and tossing him in the air.

Taylor loves having a play mate and since I will do just about anything with him, he is no longer afraid of me! When they still live in Spokane, I used to have to reacquaint myself with him every day so that he would play with me. Luckily, that is no longer the case. My head is huge when I say goodbye to him because he laughs at just about everything I do.

Taylor and Braxton now

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TAYLOR AND BRAXTON!

Hamilton's Fraser High School

Welcome to Hamilton's Fraser High School



The Main Office



It is compulsory for the students at Fraser High to wear uniforms-I am glad I didn't ever
attend a school with uniforms.

I have included some pictures of the whole school, but in reality I spent all of my time in the PE Department staff room, on the turf or fields, and in the gyms. I went to the main staff room most mornings for Staff Briefing but I really didn't experience a whole lot of the school until I wandered around a took pictures during my last week.

I think this is one of the math buildings. I think they have tried to categorize the buildings and put all of the math in one area and all of the science in another, etc.

Quad/Patio area where the students sat for lunch and during morning tea



And now on to my little world



The facilities here are amazing! They have four gyms (one complete with a rock climbing wall and equipment for gymnastics i.e. mini trampolines, mats, climbing ropes, etc.)



The school has two huge fields for the students to use



This is just one of them

There is also a large, fenced in turf the students use for field hockey, touch, netball, and tennis



This is where I spent all of my time (when I wasn't in class)



There are desks and drawers that go all around the room and each staff member has their own little space. The PE department staff is made up of twelve teachers and they were all fabulous to work with.

This is who is spent all of time my with (when I wasn't in class)

Candace Barker

Candace started teaching at Fraser about a year ago. She was always so nice and easy to talk to. She always asked me what my plans were for the weekend, remembered them, and asked me how they went the following Monday.

Michelle Tupper

Don't let this picture fool you. Michelle is actually 6'5" and solidly built. She moved to New Zealand from South Africa a while ago and is currently an official New Zealand citizen. She's a wicked netball player and prides herself in connecting with her students. Once she found out I was Mormon she tried to tone down her strong choice of words. I appreciated her efforts even though it only lasted for a day or so. Her intentions were thoughtful...

Keryn Barr

Keryn introduced me to Outdoor Education. She did a great job with showing me the ropes of the program and answering my questions. She's traveled all over the world (and when I say all over I mean all over, with the exception of the US and South America). She grew up in Hamilton and actually attended Fraser High. She's planning a trip to the US in the next year or so and I am hoping she will stop through wherever I am to see me.

Emma Grogan

Emma and I worked together in Sports Science. She gave me incredible feedback and was so willing to adapt her plans to help me out. She grew up in Christchurch and moved to Hamilton for a job. She started at Fraser as a reliever and eventually landed a full time position. As a going away present, she passed on the most awesome Baby Teacher/Reliever Survival Kit that was given to her when she started teaching. She was a great reference.

I really enjoyed my time at Fraser and I really enjoyed working with these people. We're having a little party tomorrow and it will be pretty difficult to say goodbye. I didn't mesh well with any of the teachers in Logan so saying goodbye wasn't difficult at all; it was more like saying good riddance. But this. This one will not be easy...

Love At First Sight

I'm in love and I don't care who knows it! I didn't believe in love at first sight before, but I sure believe in it now. I didn't need to spend more than five seconds standing there before I knew that I was in love. It just happened. I wasn't expecting it. I was expecting a fun, little holiday down under and instead I came back with a fluttering heart and sweaty palms. I want to go back. I want to stay there. I don't know how to explain it. There's just something about it! People say it happens when you least expect it. They're 100% correct. It finally happened. And now it's all I want to do, it's all I want to see. I just can't get enough! My heart yearns to go back to Sydney, Australia.

It all started when I arrived at the Auckland airport at 3:45am Monday morning. I stood in line to check in and discovered that I needed a visa (even though I was only going to be there for a few days). I had no idea! I started to panic a little bit. "What if I don't get one? What am I supposed to do? I paid for these tickets and now I can't use them?!" I rushed over to the customer service counter trying to remain calm. Two minutes and $30NZ later I had a visa to Australia that didn't expire for one year!

I boarded the plane with so much excitement I thought my heart would burst. The flight was only three hours so I sat back and enjoyed "Yes Man" and an episode of "The Simpsons". Before I knew it, I had arrived. I tried to book myself a rental car but the fates were against me. I arrived at the airport with no hotel reservations, no car reservations, and no contacts in the entire country. Scared? I wasn't at all. I found a wall filled with hotel advertisements and free phones to make reservations. So I started calling places and I found a hotel/hostel for $69NZ, breakfast included! "Single room, shared bath" DONE I got the directions and I was on my way.

I boarded a train that took me to Circular Quay (that name didn't mean anything to me either until I got on the ferry) where I bought a Day Tripper (unlimited bus, train, and ferry rides all day for only $17AU) and headed to my accommodations. It was when I was on the ferry that I fell in love.

I looked to my right and I saw this



I looked to my left and I saw this

I looked all around me and I knew this was it.

I wouldn't ever want to leave. I alighted my ferry in Kirribilli and found my hotel without any troubles.

The Glenferrie Lodge

I settled into my little room...

...found the unisex bathroom with four toilets and three showers and thought, "This is a first for me." No problem! There were locks on the doors and it wasn't like I was going to be showering with a man. So no worries! I went back to my room, grabbed some stuff, and headed out on the town.

Australian money (which I didn't have a whole lot of)



The Sydney Tower during the day



The Sydney Tower at night

First things first, the Sydney Opera House. What a magnificent structure! I didn't pay for a tour because I was striving for cheap (hence the tiny hotel room and unisex bathroom) so I gave myself a tour. I stopped stranger after stranger to take some pictures for me (that is one of the downsides of traveling alone; self portraits can only capture so much scenery).

I actually TOUCHED the Opera House!

After I had my fill of the amazing place and realized that I had just fulfilled a little dream of mine (I have always wanted to see the Opera House in real life) I started meandering down the streets, trying to get to the Harbor Bridge. I happened upon a few street vendors instead and wandered around for a while. Once I found the bridge I toyed with the idea of paying to walk across the top. I discovered that walking over the top of the metal arch would cost more than my accommodations for three nights and decided that I wanted to keep my right arm and leg, so I settled for walking along the foot path. Good thing I settled for the foot path because I received a free hug from a nice smelling, yet not so good looking, young man who was offering free hugs that day.

Sydney Harbor Bridge

Beginning my walk



A view or two





Some of the incredible structure

Once across the bridge, my stomach began to growl so I found myself a little cafe where I enjoyed some chips, a chicken bacon avocado burger, and a diet coke. After filling myself with fuel I headed down the street where I sat on a bench on the harbor and proceeded to read my book, "To Sir, With Love" that I had bought from a used bookstore in Hamilton just days before. I had already accomplished two of the main things I wanted to do while in Australia and I wasn't quite sure what do to next. So I hopped on a bus. It didn't matter where the bus took me because I didn't have to pay extra for it. I just rode around the city and looked at everything there was to see. The route ended at a little harbor.

I used the toilet at the little harbor and discovered this:



I didn't know syringe deposit boxes existed!

I took the bus back to a grocery store and bought myself some food for dinner and lunch the next day. It started to pour rain so on the way back to my hotel but I quickly stopped at an information booth to gather some information for my plans the next day. Information in hand, I headed back to my hotel and was in bed, lights out, and asleep by 9:00.

I woke up Tuesday morning trying to decide what to do with myself. I wanted to go to the Blue Mountains but the weather wasn't supposed to be good and I was tired and I didn't know exactly where I was going or what I was doing. After much deliberation I thought, "Stuff it! I'm in Australia, every one's really nice. I'll get it figured out." So off to the Blue Mountains I went. I boarded a train to Katoomba and a couple hours later I hopped on the Explorer Bus which took me from site to site, all around the park. I hopped off here and did some walking and then I hopped on there and did some more walking.

I didn't have to hike to this waterfall, that was kind of nice

That's the Australian bush right behind me



Spectacular views from Lady Carrington Lookout

I saw this tree that looked naked and I thought it was interesting that it didn't have any bark

A neat-o flower. It took me a million tries to get this picture right

The Three Sisters



Julie is on the left (she's the tallest), I am in the middle (middle child, middle height, fattest),
Kim is on the right (she's the shortest)

Me and the Three Sisters



You may look at this picture and think "Wow! I wonder how many times she had to pose to get it just right?" Well, I will have you know that this was my first attempt at a picture with me and the Three Sisters.
Impressive, eh?

Another waterfall I didn't have to hike to

I hadn't taken an ugly photo for a while and my face needed to stretch

I am blocking the waterfall; that wasn't on purpose

As much as I don't enjoy tramping, I decided to go for a little one anyway

I actually chose to hike to this waterfall

Bridal Veil Falls

Here's another naked tree that did have bark, it's just slowly stripping off somehow

A look out point

I crossed this bridge. Can you tell how far down I would have fallen?

A panoramic view from the lookout

This is the falls from where my hike led. Quite a disappointment



You can see the disappointment etched on my face. If you look closely, you can see the falls to the right of my chin. LAME

By the end of the day, my feet ached and I was ready to be back at my hotel. I pulled back into Sydney at night. What a sight to behold!

The sky was cloud covered and every now and then a flash of lightning would light up the sky. I found my way back to my hotel just before the rain began to pour. I slept quite soundly in my little dorm room.

The following morning I decided to head to the showers in just a towel (trying to keep my clothes dry and off of the floor was too much of a chore) and as I walked into the bathroom I almost ran into an older Indian man who was only in a towel, too. I felt pretty awkward. Come to think of it, I don't know why because we had towels on. We were naked under our towels but how is that different from being naked under your clothes every day? I thought about it as I washed my hair and I just couldn't seem to draw any conclusions.

I packed up my stuff, checked out, and moved on to find my other hotel, the one I booked before I left New Zealand. This hotel was a little more expensive ($80AU) and breakfast was included, but it was lame. This hotel was situated above a pub and it was more of a bed and breakfast. Luckily I was able to drop my stuff off before actual check in time so that I didn't have to carry it around the city with me. I purchased another Day Tripper and took a train to Carlingford to take some pictures of the Sydney Temple. When my train arrived in Carlingford, I wasn't quite sure where to go. I knew what street it was on but I didn't know where that street was located. I walked over to the Chemist (pharmicist) and asked for directions to Mosely Street. He had no idea where that street was or which direction I should walk. I tried another tactic. "Do you know where the Mormon Temple is?" "Oh yes! Yes. Just up the street. Walk up the hill and down the hill and you'll see it. You can't miss it. It's quite a walk...at least 1.2ks." 1.2ks? Not a problem! That's less than a mile so I wasn't worried in the least.

I headed in the direction in which he pointed and before I knew it I had ascended the hill and Moroni was visible.

The temple was beautiful! For one reason or another, all of the elders were there. I said hi and asked one of them to take a picture, and that was the extent of our interaction.

I was excited to use the bathroom and fill my water bottle at the visit center but much to my dismay I learned that Sydney doesn't have a visitor center. So I walked around the distribution center instead. For future reference, they don't have bathrooms or drinking fountains at the distribution center.

I went back to my hotel to check in and settle in. The room was small, but it had a fireplace!

And I shared a bathroom again but there weren't any awkward encounters this time around.

I acquainted myself with my room and tried to decide what to do next. I still hadn't seen Bondi Beach so that was my next adventure. I decided that I couldn't be bothered with changing and once I got to the beach there wouldn't be anyone to watch my stuff anyway so I skipped the togs and headed to Bondi fully clothed.

What a beach! The place was absolutely covered with people. Sun bathers, families, surfers, body boarders, lifeguards, etc.

I picked a spot and read in the sand while I sipped my Diet Coke from Hungry Jack (Burger King).

As the sun got lower in the sky I decided to walk from end to end. On one end I found a little kiddie pool that gets filled when the tide is high and becomes exposed when the tide is low.

The Kiddie Pool

I climbed around the rocks...

...and then made my way back the other direction via the surf.





Consequences of the sunset



I walked past a few people playing this game. I can't remember what they called it. Bat ball or Beach ball or Sand ball...something like that.

I returned to my hotel after dark, not feeling nervous at all. I ate dinner at my hotel and decided I wasn't ready to go to bed. So I hit up the Sydney Aquarium. (Thank goodness they're open late because I wanted to do something and going to pubs alone just isn't my scene)

I wandered around and was a little disappointed. I didn't have to pay full price because the Day Tripper gave me a little discount. I did see a platypus so that was pretty cool.

The backside of the platypus. It was a lot smaller than I expected it to be!

Nemo, Marlin, and Dorey



A really ugly animal that I can't remember the name of and can't be bothered looking it up. It was their new exhibit though. Pretty cool I guess...



They had a few underwater tubes to walk through and I saw lots of sea life. It was similar to what they have on "Jaws 3", but I didn't think it was as cool as I remember it being on "Jaws 3"

A sea turtle



A shark



A sting ray



Some other swimmers



They had some glass to walk on that allowed you to see the water below. Things like this make me nervous...



I learned that the best way to tell the difference between an alligator and a crocodile is by their teeth. Crocodiles' teeth turn upwards and downwards and you can see in this picture that the animals teeth go up and down outside its mouth. Alligator's teeth fit inside its mouth. So this is a crocodile

After my fill of the aquarium I slowly returned to my pub/bed and breakfast. As I walked across the Pyrmont Bridge, I realized that I wanted to freeze time. I looked at the city around me and remembered that I am not a city gal, but realized that I had fallen in love with this place. As spoiled as it sounds, I was not looking forward to going back to New Zealand.

At the airport the next morning, the ticket agent asked for proof that I would have a way out of New Zealand. I didn't take that information with me! Was it possible that my wish had been granted and I would get stuck in Australia? Nope. She directed me to the customer service counter where they were able to print off my itinerary for Wednesday. With proof in hand, I boarded my plane and headed "home".

I was amazed that I never once felt lonely or sad that I was by myself. Sure there were times that I thought, "If only there was someone here to take my picture..." but for the most part, I was perfectly content to wander the street of Sydney alone. I have never really wanted to live in a city, but I would live in Sydney in a heart beat. Like I said before, I don't know how to explain it. I just love it. I was impressed with small things like how great their public transportation system is. I thought Kirribilli was a really cute part of town. The Opera House sends off some kind of magic that drew me in right away. Everyone I talked to was incredibly friendly and helpful. I'm going back someday. I will go back to Australia in the future. I will make it back for some reason. Hmmm...actually...I wonder how much they pay teachers in Sydney...