Day 4 (AustraLearn Orientation) - Cairns, Queensland Australia

Today was our Community Day, which consisted of our entire big group going back up the mountain that we visited for Rainforestaion and the Jungle tour. There is a nursery/rehabilitation project be done to increase the number of Southern Cassowary birds from their endangered 1,500 number. In doing so we volunteered by planting trees that grew the fruit that the birds like to eat. We also helped out in the nursery by filling up seedlings with fertilizer (Koala poop). Koala poop stops smelling after the first month of when it decomposes, so there wasn't a bad smell. We were probably only out in the sun for about 30-45mins and even then it was super hot and humid. One guy, Jake, wasn't feeling well so they sent him to the hospital, along with another girl I believe. Others who had received bad sunburns from being out on the reef the day before were also having a hard time with the sun and the heat. For lunch we went to Shenanigans, which is a downtown pub/club. It was pretty big and had some pretty hard core lights, projectors, and table space, I'm sure that it is rocking at night. For food we had an option to try some crocodile or kangaroo burgers. I went for the kangaroo burger.It was actually pretty good, I couldn't tell a lot of difference from beef burgers. And for an extra bonus, eating kangaroos is better for the environment and cheaper. They also put lettuce, tomato, carrot shavings, and cucumbers on the burger. The bread was also buttered with garlic seasoning. I eat half with all the condiments and half plane. Once again I couldn't tell a whole lot of difference.

For dinner once again we were free to do what we wanted. A large number of people decided to go on this party bus/bar crawl event. As they were waiting to get picked up I got these flashbacks of prom by the bazillion photos being taken and how everyone was all dressed up. The next thing that came to my mind was that I saw a bunch of newly arrived freshmen who just got released from their parents and are starting to go out partying every weekend for that first solid month - only this time the students were a little bit older. A bunch of them having been partying it up every night and are enjoying the 18 year old drinking age, but I'm sure it will soon end - just like the freshmen learn to start going out at 11pm and don't go out every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night of every weekend. The rest of us went out to Cactus Jacks - a Mexican/southern American place. It was here where I learned that it is impossible to be full on a meal under $10. Food/meals are so expensive here, and I don't think I'll ever get used to that. It took them well over an hour and 15mins to get us our food. We wanted to complain and get a discount, but Brodie (our Australian friend) said that they don't do that here. So if you ever come to Cairns DO NOT EAT AT CACTUS JACKS! This is where I prefer that America has the tipping system, it's an incentive to do a good job. In Australia you don't tip anyone because hospitality employees get aid a ridiculous amount of money.

I'm meeting s'more interesting people interested and studying subjects to save the world with wildlife and nature! Yea! I have also found others who are ready to go to their university and stop being a "tourist" with a bunch of Americans. Being in such a big group is hard because there a few people, guys and girls, who act so immature when they're in a group. I don't know if they're trying to impress one another, want attention, or both. I thought we stopped that in high school, and most of the students here are juniors and seniors. Talking to people one-on-one is fine, but get a bunch together in a group and we're back to stereotypical American tourists students. Boooo.

New Food: Kangaroo Burger: tastes like beef burgers, comes with lettuce, tomatoes, carrot slivers, and cucumbers, on buns with garlic butter on them.

New Lingo: I learned how to give the bird Ausie style today!