12 weeks

I can hardly believe that I have been here for 12 weeks! Yikes! It seems like I have been here forever, while at the same time it feels like I just got here. Even after 12 weeks I still am upset that because of the time change I lost nearly an entire day of my life! I guess I'll get it back when I return to Canada.

Thus far my time in Australia has been such a learning experience for me. I have learned what seems like a new language with all of Australia's many abbreviations and odd words. I have learned how to drive on the left side of the road. I have learned to cook Thai food (reasonably) well. I have learned to scuba dive, how to take a train rather than buses, I have learned I have good sea legs, but mostly I have learned that no matter where you are people aren't very different.

It's so interesting how people from so far away can be so similar. Earlier on this morning I had the pleasure of going for coffee with a lovely young lady from the local Presbyterian church. we chatted about life, books, coffee, traveling, and much more. I was blown away by how both of us were on such similar journeys in life and how we were both struggling with the exact same dilemma. I found such solace in talking to her about struggles that we shared when I thought I was the sole person I knew working through it. It was such a comfort and joy to have found someone to relate to and share with.

Day to day life here seems so trivial sometimes, but when I step back I see just how content I am with it. The simplest things are what I enjoy most: Driving

the girls to school and listening to the daily prank call on the radio. Sitting in the hot Aussie heat to read a book and getting so boiling hot that I have no choice but to jump into the pool. Sitting down and watching the morning news (Sunrise) with my

cup of green tea.

When I made the decision to come to Australia I thought that through my time here I would understand my path in life. I thought that once I was here I would have the answers to post secondary education, to what career I would pursue, to my future family life, pretty much I thought I would grow up, mature and become the Emilie I was meant to be. I guess I was too naive to realize that Australia isn't magical, I definitely haven't received any answers yet. If anything I am more unsure and confused, but I think

I like it that way. My mind changes on a daily basis, and it keeps things interesting, I seem to be looking up different career options every week (this week's is Natural Medicine in case you were wondering). None really ever seem to stick, but maybe one day something will, I'll just wait and see, I still feel like I have heaps of time.

This post may not be as exciting as the others, but I figured a select few of you readers may want to hear things other than my Aussie adventures. For those who are only interested in my adventures here are some pictures of this past weekend's deep sea fishing trip:

My trip to Cairns

My trip to Cairns was an absolute dream come true! I left from the Brissy airport on Thursday the 27th right after we picked the girls up from school. After about 2 hours in the air I landed in the extremely hot and muggy tropical climate of Cairns. I landed around sunset so I saw the sun go down over the mountains and I had a beautiful view of the reef.

Steve's good friend Rhonda lives in Cairns and so I was thankfully able to stay there. I have never felt more welcome in my life! Rhonda's youngest son, Samuel (10) moved out of his room for the weekend so I had my own room! That night I sat in on a lovely family dinner with Rhonda, Samuel, and Ilyssa (17).

Friday Rhonda had to work so I spent the day with Ilyssa and a few of her friends

. We drove to Crystal Cascades. I have never seen so beautiful a place! The cascades ran down in between a large forest of beautiful green tress, vines and flowers. We spent the day there swimming and jumping off the rocks. I managed to face my fear of heights and I jumped off o

ne of the taller cliffs.

Now Saturday the 29th of January was a day that I will always remember. Rhonda booked

herself, Samuel and I to take a snorkeling/diving tour of the reef. Since it was my birthday Steve, Monique and the girls surprised me with a call that morning telling me that the whole trip to the reef (including my first dive) was all taken care of! I couldn't

believe it! I couldn't have gotten a better gift.

After we got checked in we spent an hour and a half on the boat to get out to the reef. Poor Rhonda and Samuel both got quite sea sick. Once we were there I immediately jumped into my very beautiful Lycra body suit and I was shown the basics of diving. Next thing I knew I was 7 meters under water breathing out off this mouth piece and wondering where the boat was. It was a very eerie and uncomfortable feeling at first.

Not long after our decent into the ocean a massive Blue Wrasse named Wally was swimming up to us waiting to be given a pat. We each took our turn posing for a picture with him and I even ga

ve him a little cuddle. After that the dive went by so quickly! We

squeezed sea cucumbers, touched sea anemone, and just got used to the feel of diving. After that first dive i was hooked, I quickly grabbed some lunch then headed back for my second dive. Thankfully this one was longer now that I knew the basics. This time it was just the instructor, an older German man named Wolfgang, and I. This time I wasn't scared in the least. We slid off the platform and descended to a depth of 15 meters this time. I swam along side an old sea turtle, held a clown fish that I captured while playing with the anemone. I gave the sea turtle a nice back scratch, but I don't Think he noticed because of his shell. When we swam back up to the boat I couldn't believe how quickly the time had passed! I was offered an opportunity

for a third dive, but of course it would have cost me. Now looking back I wish I would have just done it. Oh we

ll, I had a great afternoon snorkeling with Rhonda and Samuel. I saw heaps of beautiful blue parrot fish, clown fish, butterfly fish, a sting ray, and even a bamboo reef shark! (a pretty small one, but ma

ybe that was best).

When we got back to Rhonda's Ilyssa had made a lovely veggie lasagna and picked up a delicious chocolate cake for my birthday dinner. We set off sparklers outside before cake and retired early since we were so tired.

On Sunday we drove to Port Douglas to take a look around the markets and eat lunch on the beach. After we went to Mosomon Gorge and took a walk through the rain forest. We even took a dip in the chilly runoff from the mountain. It was such a beautiful place!

Monday was my last day, I spent it shopping with Ilyssa and her friend Jake. I found a few neat souvenirs and a nice pair of Thai pants. Then in the afternoon Rhonda, Samuel, Ilyssa came brought me to the airport and off I flew back to Brisbane. It was a wonderful weekend!