January 30th, 2013
I arrived in Melbourne, after a very long flight, only fifteen minutes after my exchange, Patrick Quay and his family arrived back from their holiday in Japan. For the rest of the day I stayed home getting to know the family, house and environment.
January 31st, 2013
In the morning I had time to sleep in. Later in the morning, I went to the local park to the cricket nets and learned how to bat, bowl and field with Paddy, and two other of his friends. We spent about 3 hours there training me to play. After cricket training we went to rowing. It was my first time rowing and I did not go on the water and just practiced on the rowing machines. That night Pat’s grandparents came for dinner and to meet me.
February 1st, 2013
Today was the “first” day of school. It was just orientation and during the day we mostly helped the new grade 7s with everything they needed to know. After school I had my first cricket game and luckily didn’t have to bowl or bat, only field.
February 2nd, 2013
In the morning, there was a rowing regatta. Because I was not rowing in the races, I helped the team assemble the boat and then got a bike to ride along with the boats and the coach. After the races we went back to the training facilities for more rowing and got home at around 5:00. We were really hot and jumped in the pool. That night we went to Paddy’s cousins’ house for dinner.
February 3rd, 2013
This morning, it was family day at the local farm so Paddy and I went down and helped out. We cooked sausages on the barbeque and got to give them to all sorts of people there including a famous NRL player Bill Slater. When that was all over we went home and relaxed.
February 4th, 2013
Today was the second day of school and there were actual classes. I met a lot of people and had trouble remembering everybody’s names. After school there was rowing and I went out on the water for the first time.
February 5th, 2013
Today there was nothing special. There was school in the morning and nothing afterwards.
February 6th, 2013
Today was the same as Monday’s schedule, school then rowing.
February 7th, 2013
Today there was a huge swimming competition at school with years 7, 8, and 9 all swimming. There were individual and relay events and our house came 6th out of 10. After a long day of swimming we had cricket practice.
February 8th, 2013
Today there was school then there was a cricket game where I got to bat. I got a run but on my 3rd ball, I was out stumped because no one had told me to stay in the crease after I hit.
February 9th, 2013
Early this morning we got up and biked to rowing. We were there for 4 hours and while there we saw Paddy’s grandfather there and had lunch with him. We got home, went swimming and relaxed.
February 10th, 2013
This morning we got up late and since it was a bit cooler today we decided to go to the movies with some friends. After the movies we went to go see a cricket game, Australia against the West Indies. Australia ended up winning. When we got home from the game Paddy had cousins over and we had dinner with them.
February 11th, 2013
Today we had school and rowing. Other than that there was nothing special today.
February 12th, 2013
Today there was school and nothing afterwards.
February 13th, 2013
Today was a fairly relaxed day with school and then rowing afterwards.
February 14th, 2013
Today there was school and cricket training afterwards.
February 15th, 2013
Today there was a cricket game after school and we played the same team as last week. The game didn’t go very well as they were the top team but it was really fun.
February 16th, 2013
This morning there was another rowing race and Carey won both races.
February 17th, 2013
This morning we got up early to drive to Phillip Island. While we were there we stayed at a friends beach house. We went swimming and surfing all day long. Once it dark out, we went to go see the fairy penguins come out of the water and to their homes on the shore. We them drove home for school the next day.
February 18th, 2013
Today there was school and we had a free afternoon because rowing was cancelled.
February 19th, 2013
Early this morning before school there was a school house chapel. After school Paddy had guitar lessons so I went home and jumped in the pool as it was boiling.
February 20th, 2013
In the morning there was a school assembly and as a special guest we had Emmanuel Kelly, who is the brother of Australian Paralympic champion Ahmed Kelly, come in to school. He talked to us about his life and how the smallest thing can change your life around as it did to his. He is paraplegic as well and was on X factor a few years ago. Since then he has become a singer and composer and has written a song to be featured in an upcoming movie. After school there was rowing and from rowing we took the train straight to the zoo where we ran a 4km fun-run through the zoo. It was great but there was not much time to see the animals.
February 21th, 2013
Today was a normal school day with cricket training afterwards. For dinner Paddy’s aunt came over to say hi as she was in town.
February 22th, 2013
Today after school there was a cricket game and we did very well. We only played the fist half today as it is a two week game but hopefully we will do just as well in the second half.
February 23th, 2013
Today there was rowing early in the morning. Once we got home we went swimming and then relaxed until around 5:00 and then went to the park where we had a big barbeque picnic with other families.
February 24th, 2013
This morning we got up early again to go on a 50 km bike ride. It was really fun but tiring. Later in the afternoon, there was rowing presentation were each crew would row past the boat club showing parents and friends.
February 25th, 2013
Today was a normal day. We had school in the morning after rowing afterwards.
February 26th, 2013
Today after school Paddy had guitar so I went home, went swimming and then practiced for my presentation the next day.
February 27th, 2013
This morning Paddy had rowing at 5:00 before school and am I was very thankful that I didn’t have to go! I spent all morning practicing my speech that went extremely well. After school we went home and went swimming.
February 28th, 2013
Today there was nothing special. We had school then cricket practice.
March 1st, 2013
Today we went to zoo with the other exchange students from England. It was great. There were all the normal animals but there were also Australian animals like kangaroos, koalas, and emus. After our day at the zoo, we had a cricket game were we played the best team but didn’t do that bad.
March 2nd, 2013
Early in the morning Paddy had a rowing race so I went to his mum’s dance class which was really hard to keep up with. In the afternoon we relaxed, swam and then went to the footy game in the evening. Footy is the Australian version of football and Carlton, the team Paddy goes for, won the game 124 to 54 against Fremantle.
March 3rd, 2013
Today we slept in and stayed around the house until that late afternoon when we went to go see a soccer game. Melbourne Victory won the game 5-0 against The Newcastle Jets, which was really fun to watch.
March 4th, 2013
Today we had a regular day with school and then rowing.
March 5th, 2013
Today was another regular day. After school Paddy had guitar so I went home and went swimming.
March 6th, 2013
After school I went to rowing and Paddy had a play callback. In the evening we went to Victoria Market, which is the local market where they sell fresh foods. We had dinner there and stayed to listen to music.
March 7th, 2013
Today Paddy was sick with food poisoning so he stayed home while I went to school. Afterwards I went home and went swimming as it was boiling hot!
March 8th, 2013
Today Paddy felt better and came to school. Today was also footy day at school and everyone was wearing their favourite team’s jersey. After school we went swimming again and relaxed.
March 9th, 2013
In the morning every one slept in. Once every one was awake Paddy left for a rowing race, and I went to dance class with his mum again. Once dance was over everyone except Paddy and his dad drove to Lorne beach for the long weekend. Once we got to Lorne I went swimming with other friends already there and played lots of table tennis.
March 10th, 2013
Paddy arrived just after breakfast and just in time to go down to the beach again. There were many waves so we brought down the surfboards and surfed all day. In the evening after the beach everyone made a giant “Slip n Slide” down the huge hill outside the house. The hill it was on is very steep and you could go really fast.
March 11th, 2013
Today was Labour Day so there was no school and we got to stay in Lorne for longer. We were at the beach in the morning. We stayed there for lunch ad then started the long drive home. We got home at around dinner, and went to bed as we were tired and had school the next day.
March 12th, 2013
Today after school was meet the mentor so Paddy and I had to stay at school. Once we got home we did our work and went swimming.
March 13th, 2013
After school we had rowing, which was my last time rowing in Australia. Afterwards we relaxed and did work.
March 14th, 2013
Early in the morning Paddy had rowing except he slept in a bit and by the time his carpool was there to pick him up he had just woken up. After school we had a few friends over for a leaving party as I only have two more days in Australia. I was a lot of fun and wish I didn’t have to go so soon.
March 15th, 2013
Today was my last day at school. I brought an Australian flag for everyone to sign. I am very sad to leave as I only got to be with my new friends for such a little amount of time. I had a friend come over for my last night and to watch the footy pre-season final game.
March 16th, 2013
In the morning I woke up around 7:00. Ate breakfast, put on my travel clothes and was driven to airport. At the airport my new family stayed with me until I went to security. They said goodbye to me for hopefully not the last time and I was off. –Alex Dimitrakopoulos ’15
This trip has gone by very fast. I have already spent roughly four weeks here but it only seems like one!
