Parkwood Rotary Club - YEP Yola Engler

Yola's First Report

My first month!
Yes, I'm really already here for four weeks. But I would like to start from the beginning:
In the last week in Germany I saw my friends every day and when I had to say goodbye to my best friends and my family at the airport I couldn't imagine that I wont see them for a whole year. Besides I had no idea what expects me: How is my Host family, what is with the language, how is the school, how are the people,... But I wanted to see the world so I had to go into the aircraft. The flight was okay and has very quick gone because there were other exchange students and we could tell a lot until the other passengers wanted to sleep!
Then we arrived in Brisbane and I thought what is if everyone forgot that I arrive today?! But after of course my baggage had to be opened (if this grammar is right?), I met my first host family, the districts counsellor and Klaus. At this moment I was so happy and the best was: everybody was nice! After that we drove home; everywhere much place and many plants. And then I came to the house. I was surprised! I don't know if you know it but it's really beautiful and they even have a pool. Oh my good, I thought, I'm so lucky!
However the second day I had the opinion: Now I was in Australia and I could fly again. Well, it didn't go and it was better because so I was able to see my first koala!!! He was so cute and I couldn't see enough from him (photo). From that moment I didn't wanna go back. Besides I saw the beach near Surfers Paradise and Brisbane and was very impressed above all the beach in the middle of the city (photo).
Nevertheless the first week was very difficult and I couldn't say much.
Then the school began and I found quick new friends who were/are very nice. I have to say the school in Germany is much stricter. So here it isn't anything special if a mobile phone is ringing. The funniest I found was that a girl talked in the lesson. Besides everyone can nearly come to a lesson whenever he wants.
The fallowing weekend I went with my host sister Kym to a camp from the church (photo). So I met many new people who were really kind. Two girls were especially nice and we had a lot of fun. One evening we even went to the natural arch. It was amazing! The next day I should do the first time abseiling. That was funny. First when I saw the little mountain from the top I was very scared but then I had much fun (photo, but I don't know if you can see anything).
Then it came the Wednesday, EKKA day! I was lucky and even could go to Brisbane with Kelly Smith. It was great and I have never seen anything like that before. So once again thank you Kelly!
The weekend I was able to go with Kym to a football game between the Lions and the Eagles in Brisbane (photo)! Football is a funny game and I think if I'll go back to Germany, Australia will get a competitor! I already exercise it in school and on some afternoons with my host sisters. So, attention: Germany will come!
Now it's raining since some days and that is a little bit sad and above all cold because my school uniform only has a skirt. But this is winter and I look forward to lie in the sun.
Yes, and now I'm already here for 4 weeks.
See you
YOLA

Hallo,
bin mal gespannt, wer diese "Mail" findet!
Fange mal mit letztem Mittwoch an! HAB MEINE BOOTSLIZENS BESTANDEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hab mich so gefreut, aber andererseits war es mein letzter Tag in meiner ersten Familie:-(((. Die war zwar nich perfect, aber doch super lieb. Was solls. Bin dann erstmal mit den ganzen anderen Exchangees nach Grafton zum Jacaranda Festival. Jacaranda is ein Baum, der super schoen lila blueht. Ok. Kamen also um 8 uhr abends dort an und kein Rotarier war da, um uns vom Bus abzuholen. Nach 10 min oder so kamen sie dann mal. Kamm mit dem Maedchen (Sarah) aus der Schweiz in ne Famillie, die echt genial war. Am naechsten morgen hatten wir dann alle zusammen Fruehstueck und danch sind wir in dem Dorf oder was es auch immer war nen bisschen rumgelaufen. Da haben ueberall Bands gespielt und es waren Staende da,... Dann sind wir mit der Faehre zu ner INsel auf dem Fluss, der durch Grafton fliesst gefahren. Haben da den sogenannten Rain Forest besichtigt, der aber wegen der staendigen Hitze ziemlich ausgetrocknet war. War also alles ziemlich oede. Aber abend hatten wir Bushdanzing!!!
! Das hat so viel Spass gemacht. Hatte danach so viele Blasen...
Am naechsten Morgen sind wir dann zum Strand. Bin auch nen bisschen braubn geworden. Abens waren wir dann auf ner Party, weil Hans (aus Deutschland) fuer das Jaghr in Grafton wohnt und alle Austauschschueler eingeladen hat. Der hatte echt super coole Gasteltern: Die haben nix dazu gesagt, dass wir Alcohol und ne ne Zigarre hatten!
Smastags sind wir zu den Markets (boring). Danach haben wir dann nen Truck fuer die Fatival Prade geschmueckt. War ziemlich haesslich, aber lustig. Als wir dann nachmittags damit durch die Strassen gefahren sind, haben wir die ganze Zeit getanzt und unser koenigliches Winken geuebt,... War super lustig. Wir waren hinter nem Wagen mit Volksmusik.... Ich glaub, das sagt alles. Abends mussten wir dann die Rotarier mit Spielen und so unterhalten. Ich glaub es ist uns ganz gut gelungen. WIr hatten auf jeden Fall ne Menge Spass. Sonntags waren wir dann am Fluss und konnten Wasserski fahren und uns auf so nem Reifen von nem Boot ziehen lassen. War gut, aber ich konnte danach erstmal meine Haende nich mehr bewegen. Dann mussten wir auch schon wieder zum Bus. Aber keiner wollte wieder nach Haus. Irgendwie ist es mit den Exchangees viel lustiger und besser als mit den Leuten in der Schule.
So, das war meine letzte Woche.
Vermiss euch
YOLA

Christmas Greetings 2003

Hello everyone!

Tomorrow is Christmas eve and as most of you know we already get our presents then! We're gonna have a traditional Christmas with the whole family: We're gonna go to church, gonna sing all these Christmas songs,... and we do have a real tree with real candles! Oh, I missed that last year!

I just decorated the tree and we made lots of Christmas biscuits. Sooo yummy!

And the best thing, it snowed today! Hopefully it stays until tomorrow. It was just a little bit but enough to remain on the streets...

Anyway, I wish you all a merry Christmas and a great new year!

Hope to see some of you again next year!

Luv, Yola

	District 9640 Australia Youth Exchange Program Yola Engler - Germany
Navigation Bar	About The Gold Coast	Welcome to Australia

	Yola's first report
	Grafton Visit
	Christmas 2003
	May 2005
	December 2005


Kitchen Camp	Abseiling	Brisbane Beach


Koala	Football