Fly to Australia

On wednesday the 26. of September I woke up at 7.30am to farewell Tim and Beth as they go to work/school, but then go back to bed to keep on sleeping till 10.30am.

 

I finished packing and was accompanied to the airport at 12.20pm, where I farewell Lisa, Katy and Julia.
Together with the whole school orchestra we check-in and then have to wait, starving, with no NZ money in my pockets, endlessly, for boarding at 3pm.
In the plane I sat next to Rebecca and Sam. Unfortunately the school did not ask for vegetarian food, so we get a very late salad. Sam and Rebecca waited to eat their ice-cream till they were sure I would get food. Isn't that cute ?
In the meantime I watched War Horse, which was maybe not the best idea for it made me cry the whole flight. And there were still so many other movies I would have liked to see like Thor or even Avatar in contrast to the pretty boring selection of when I came here.
We landed at 5pm (7pm in NZ time) in Melbourne, Australia, and bussed to the Space Hostel. It was actually happening! I am in Australia !!! Although it is not quite like I imagined with huge dry landscapes and Aborigines, but more of a huge city like everywhere else.

 

Maddy and Sarah

I move in a very small room with Ciara, Claire, Katarina, Sarah and Madz. It is so small, that not even our suitcases could stay on the floor without having to jump from bed to bed.
Dinner was taken in 2 groups at 7.30pm or 8.15pm and after such a long time only 1 little pizza was just not enough...
Everyone was so tired and excited to finally have reached Melbourne that we all went to bed at 10.20pm. At least in one point I was right about Australia: It is HOT !

We already wake up at 6.30am and are actually quite well restedand it is even light outside already !
Breakfast was at 8.00am and we sat outside in the sun. It is warm, but windy.

with me, Maddy, Ciara, Claire

 

Katarina, Sarah, Ciara

 

 

Our very first rehearsal took place in the Bar of the hostel at 10, followed by a visit to the supermarket at 11. Everyone got $10 to buy our own Lunch and guess what, they had a BAKERY ! It can't really compete with German ones, but it was still much better than usual here in Down Under !
Afterwards we were invited to watch a MelbourneSymphonyOrchestra rehearsal, which was a little bit boring, but they are really really good ! We also got the chance to talk to some of the players, before we headed back to the hostel.
Even now, it was late afternoon, we almost died in our long black travel uniform ! Like ice in the sunshine I'm melting away on a sunny day...

 

 

 

For dinner we walked to a restaurant Chinatown (yes, we walked EVERYWHERE !). After the food we had the first awards ceremony for things like best morning hair, best joke... Very funny ! They got medals and wands...
Back at our rooms in the evening James taught all the senior choir members a Maori song for tommorow when he will hold a speech for the concertmaster of the MSO, who is Maori as well. It is custom that we would support his words with a song. And I already noticed how much I missed choir in only 2 days...
At the meeting at 9pm Sarah and I wrote in our Melbourne blog. Here is the Link, you can read everything about every of our fantastic days and many many pictures. http://melbourne2012.burnside.school.nz/home