Home!

Kim and I picked up Christopher in New Haven at 12:30 AM this morning. He was tired, hungry and thirsty. He was also coughing because he woke up sick the morning of the trip. He's resting all day today.

Keep visiting here. We will be adding Christopher's pictures and excerpts from his journal.

Blessings,
Andrew

On the way home

I received this from another delegate parent:

I checked the Quantas website and the flight for our children to return left only 9 minutes late and is estimated to arrive only 5 minutes late into Los Angeles at 9:50 AM Pacific Time (12:50 PM Eastern Time). I guess we will be getting a call from Kristi shortly thereafter.

The last flight from LAX to New York is scheduled to leave at 1:15 PM Pacific Time to arrive in New York at 9:50 PM our time.

Perhaps you all have this information, but for those who do not here it is! They are on the way HOME!

Hi

Hello. I am having a great time. I have looked at the blog. It is great. Thanks, Dad, for keeping it up. I've had a blast since last time I wrote. Basically, after we went to the Great Barrier Reef we flew to Uluru. We hiked around it but not on it. The Aborigines don't like it when people climb it. After that we went to the Olgas. They are a group of huge boulders. We hiked through them. It was amazing. After that we drove to Alice Springs. It was a city in the middle of nowhere. We stayed there for 2 days. Then we slept in a bush camp. After that we flew to Sydney. We went to the Opera House. It was huge. There are too many things to write about and not enough time. So, I am telling you that I am still healthy. I hope you are having fun. Don't finish Thief without me.

Love,
Chris

I am here

The flights were the worst part of the trip. The flight from LA to Sydney was the best because there were three meals and free movies and tv the whole way. Also they served two snacks. When we landed in Cairns and got out the airport we went to the mall. There were mostly fast food places. After we went to hotel and went to bed at seven. The next day we had a hot breakfast. After we went to a butterfly house were they only had Aussie butterflies. Next we went to a zoo were we fed roos and held a koala. Next at the same place we had a dinner the a dance time. I learned two new dances. After we went to the hotel and went to bed. I had another hot breakfast when I woke up. Then we went to the the reef. I snorkeled there for two hours and 20 minutes without stopping. I had a life jacket. I had lunch on the boat and two snacks. After we got of the boat we went to a restaurant called the Hog's Breath and had steak. Right after that we went to the hotel and crashed. Today we went to a bird place and had breakfast with the birds. Next we went to the oldest continuous rain forest in the world. After that we had lunch and went to a some creek. After that we went to the night markets and also had dinner there. I am there now. I took many pictures.

love Chris

And another

From Deanna's mom:

I received a call from Deanna Wednesday evening about 6:30 pm our time (July 12 8:30 am Aussie time). She's having a great time so far with everyone. She was excited about being able to hold a koala bear. They also got a chance to do some "opal" shopping.

Another delegate calls home

From Haley's parents:

We heard from our daughter Haley and she sounded very good, the kids
are having a great time. She mentioned the flight was great, except the
waiting in LA and Sydney.

The Koala's were a big hit and the boomerangs... They seem to all have
purchased one... and a blow up tree, not sure of the name of it. She
mentioned that most kids sent them home via mail. So look out for your
tree coming.

Other than that they were off to the Reef. the weather is in the 80's
some humidity not much, and evenings are nice and cool 60's.

First email from Kristi

Kristi is the lady in charge of the team of adults that went on the trip. She sent this email to one of the parents to forward to all. Their daughter (Megan) also called home and her dad included some news from her.

From: Kristi
Subject: A note from Down Under

G' day All,

After a problem with passports at JFK, a very long flight and the delay in Sydney, we finally arrived in Cairns. It is a beautiful city with the ocean, mountains and palm trees, and our hotel is wonderful. The delegates all went to bed early Tuesday evening and yesterday we went to a town called Kuranda where many of us tried local fare such as kangaroo and croc! Both of them weren't THAT bad Then we were off to Rainforest Station and saw real kangaroos and held a koala bear- this was absolutely the highlight of my day because they are my favorite animal. We also took a ride in an army duck that was made right in the good ol' USA. A terrific adventure has just started; the children are having fun and are well- behaved. We are soooooo lucky. It's off to the Great Barrier Reef today- a favorite of many of the delegates, so I'll write again soon. Stay well.

From Megan's dad:

She said they are having a great time. She said the group is getting along very well. She has made alot of new friends. Megan did say the trip was very long. The leg of (14) hours was hard for some of the kids. Once they arrived most were very tired and very hungry.

The trip to the Reef was a (2) hour boat ride in waves of 6 - 8 feet. Some on board got sea sick. Most of the kids took Dramamine. The water was very cold and the visibility was not very good when they snorkled, but they all seemed to really like the trip.

The kids loved the trip seeing the Koala bears. They all got to hold one. She said they were the size of a basketball with very sharp claws. They would dig them in their shoulders. They were cute and cuddly.

Finally There

At 2:30 (Eastern) last night we got the call that the delegates are finally in Cairns.

Well, 30 minutes seemed short. They didn't make their connecting flight and they are just leaving Sydney now.

Here are some pictures from the departure.


I'm ready.


Proud parents


Ben was totally jealous when he learned that I'll be riding an amphibious military craft.


Delegates

Touchdown in Australia!

We just got the call. They landed in Sydney 30 minutes ago and they are boarding a plane for Cairns.

Last night at about 10pm (Eastern) we got the call from the phone chain to say that they arrived safely at LA. Now to jump over big puddle.

They're off!

Christopher and the whole group are finally on their way to Australia. Kim, Benjamin and I escorted him to New Haven where the group took a bus to JFK. We took a few pictures. Christopher was looking forward to getting there, but not at all nervous.

We got a call from the People-to-People phone tree to say that they arrived safely in Texas for their connecting flight. By the time I write this they should be in L.A. for their final connection.