Oz

What a spectacular place Australia, Brisbane and the University of Queensland (UQ) are!  I'm still pinching myself when I see a brush turkey rumbling through a mound of leaves in someone's yard, or hear a kookaburra overhead.  The UQ staff have been amazing setting us up with all our administrative and technical needs, and getting us started with exploring the city.  After a whole day of ID cards, UQ internet access and other logistics, I ventured out with the kids to Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.  Seeing the kids run freely in the kangaroo pen with emus around made me feel how glad I was to be able to give them this experience in their lives. The pictures say it all. Question is, how can it get better than this?

Student parents and guardians: The flight over was very straightforward. From LA to Auckland is a full 12 hours. Staying hydrated, walking around every few hours and getting a stretch of sleep in helped with the time change.  The flight from Auckland to Brisbane is another 3.5-4 hours.  The students will go through customs, claim their luggage, and I will be there with Sue Kohler and UQ administrators to meet them as they exit customs.  We will immediately take them for a picnic by the ferry, before crossing over to Stradbroke Island for their introduction to Australian culture and wildlife.