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Sent: Tuesday, April 18, 2006 Hello again to everyone:) I hope that you all had a WONDERFUL Easter weekend with your families and friends. It has been quite busy over here for me. I've had several days of clinicals at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne. It has been a good experience to witness different techniques and kinds of therapies used with the children in Australia. I am currently working on the paperwork assessments that are due in a week. It is different here, as we are asked to write a specific number of words on each topic, verses a specific number of pages. Really it works out to be approximately the same amount, but it seems different to me to worry about how many words I have typed. Good thing for the "Word Count" option on Microsoft Word. Since the EXCELLENT District Rotary Conference in Geelong a couple weeks ago, I have already been asked to arrange 4 different presentations to local Rotary Clubs in the Melbourne Area. It was also announced yesterday that there is a Rotary Seminar for local Rotarians, current scholars, and past scholars on 7 May, which everyone is also going to be preparing for. The District Rotary Conference opened the door for more communication between myself and the members of my host Rotary Club. I have been asked to send out an e-mail stating the weekends I am available and possible places I would like to travel to. A list will then be made and sent to the members so that if anyone in the club is going to a location or is willing to travel to that location, they will ask me. The upcoming President for the 2006-2007 year also invited me to join him and his family for Good Friday lunch and evening at his home. He lives approximately 45 minutes from Glen Waverley. It was a very nice day at his home. His wife's family was also invited for lunch, so there were several people for me to meet and enjoy talking with. We had a LARGE meal consisting of cheese and crackers for appetizers, 3 different kinds of salads, flake tails (a local kind of fish), Atlantic Salmon (raised in Tasmania), cheese and spinach pie, prawns (shrimp), oysters in a half shell, oliver bread, and for dessert we had a delicious Lemon Custard Pie and peanut butter biscuits (made by your favorite "peanut butter loving" Aussie:) ) The conversations around the table consisted of a variety of questions regarding my home and the culture in my area. We also had some lively debating between family members regarding politics and religion. So much for "it's inappropriate to discuss politics and religion around the supper table". I feel this week has been full of discussion about politics and religion, possibly due to the increased religious feeling of Easter. I was asked several questions regarding US policies and procedures, President Bush, religion in the US, and my overall feelings about Australia. Everything that was asked was asked sincerely and not asked to intimidate me. (This is not always the case when people realize that I am from the USA.) I must admit that I was quite tired after returning home on Friday, after such long discussions. The Presidents son, Nick, and his girlfriend, Katie, were also at home, so it was nice to have someone my age as well. As Nick and Katie drove me home, they commented that they were impressed at how well I did talking with his father and family. It felt good to have someone my age comment that I did well explaining my views and opinions. Philip, the upcoming president, has invited me to attend the Change Over Meeting on 30th June at the Melbourne Yacht Club. I had a good Easter here in Glen Waverley. I attended the Easter Dawn Service at 6:30am. It was an outside service at Jell's Park, a local park with beautiful tracks to walk. I played my flute and participated in an Easter skit. We then had a 9:30am traditional Easter service at the Glen Waverley Uniting Church (which happens to be just 100 feet outside my back door) After the 9:30am service the church had an Easter Community Festival outside on the church carpark (the carpark is between the churches side door and my backdoor) with clowns and balloons, chocolate, face painting (which was run by my housemate, Carol), crafts inside the church hall, and several hot cross buns and sausages were cooked. All of this was free to my church and to the public! That night my housemate, Carol, and I decided to make a new tradition and had Nachos for our Easter supper. I can definitely say that I've never had Nachos on a holiday before, but it was fun making something Carol hadn't made before. I then attended the evening Youth Church service where we watched a few clips from "The Passion of the Christ" before I returned home to watch "The Passion" being televised on the local television station. It sounds as if the Rotary 6560 District Conference went well and was also very informative. I enjoyed seeing Remi's picture on the Rotary 6560 Website. It's great to see how much District 6560 wants to include the Ambassadorial Scholars in events. I pray the the Attica-Williamsport area isn't hit by any more severe storms. It sounds as if several people were lucky. My parents stated that a tree had also fallen into our neighbors home during the same storm that destroyed several trees, power lines, and the "massage parlor". I hope that everyone has a WONDERFUL week and good luck with the upcoming selection process for your next Todd Ambassadorial Scholar! Sincerely, Angela |