Back in South Carolina!

Well, we made back home and our luggage finally made it too!! Just wanted to say "thanks" to all my host families and to say how much I enjoyed the trip to WA!!! What an amazing time!!!!!!! I sure hope to visit in the future.

Just to let everyone know, after getting off the airplane in Columbia, Yates, my boyfriend, was waiting for me along with my parents and brother and sister-in-law. Once I was through the terminal, Yates got down on one knee and proposed in the middle of the airport!! What a HOMECOMING!!!! Of course, I said "yes" and we're planning a wedding for the first of next year!!! For those that said it would happen, little did you know that it would happen as soon as I set foot in South Carolina!!!!! I've got pictures and I will post them soon but I did want to let you all know. Again, thanks to all the wonderful Rotarians of WA and I will keep you posted!!!
Lindsey :-)

Home again

Hello! Just a very short post to say that the team - minus Grant - arrived in Columbia last night around 10:30pm. Unfortunately, our checked bags did NOT arrive, but the call I had a few hours ago indicated that they would be delivered to each of us this afternoon. I have to say that the baggage was about the only complication we had on the return trip to SC. Yay!!

Grant is enjoying a few days in Sydney before heading to SC and the District 7770 conference this coming weekend. We had an e-mail from him yesterday, so all is well, but I think he misses the great hospitality we received in WA.

I'm sure others will post with news and pictures in the next few days. I just wanted anyone reading and following along to know we all made it home safe and sound. Now, if you could just get the number of the truck that hit me, I will be happy to go after them for making me feel so run down!! :o)

Shannon

Say goodnight Gracie

Wow. That seems to be a word I have used frequently in relation to this experience and it rings true once again. I am sitting at the computer and it is just before 1am. Someone will arrive to take me to the airport around 2:30am and at 5:50am, the team - sans Grant who is taking a later flight and spending a few days in Sydney before returning - heads off into the wild blue yonder, headed for home. Today we did our presentation at the district conference here and then today we had a wonderful time at the Governor's Dinner. We saw many friends we've made along the way and made a few new ones too. As we walked out to drive back to Mandurah and our hosts, many people called out to us and wished us safe travels home. We kinda felt like rock stars. haha But it was nice to know that so many people enjoyed our presentation and getting to know us, just as we have enjoyed getting to know them.

So my time is running out and I need to get my last few things packed away so I can be ready when it's time to go. I am sure some of us will post when we get home to let you all know we arrived safe and sound. I will also try to get more pictures posted for you all.

Thanks for following our amazing journey.

Goodnight Gracie.

Shannon

On to Mandurah

Here is a map illustrating our travels.

We had a presentation to the Harvey club on Monday night. In the club newsletter, they indicated that the presentation was tremendously informative and entertaining. The team has done a tremendous job in making presentations and handling questions from the audience. -- Garry

Hello from Harvey

Well, not really. I'm actually in Leuschenault. I really hope I spelled that right! But it is near Harvey and close to Australind and Bunbury. Tomorrow we make our final move to Mandurah and from there, it's a scant few days until we are heading back home. Leaving will be bittersweet I can assure you. I cannot possibly convey to everyone the magnitude of the experiences we have all had here in Western Australia. I see so many things in the landscape that I want to photograph, but I know that you cannot possibly appreciate some of the beauty of this country from just a picture. It's definitely a "you had to be there" type of thing at times.

Today I had another wonderful vocational day at Edith Cowan University in Bunbury. I mentioned a previous day I had there last week at the same campus. This time I met mostly with different people than last week and we had a great time exchanging even more information. It's interesting to me to learn how my job duties back in the US are divided up differently here in WA. I hope to keep in touch with many people I met there so that we can continue the exchange of information we started today and last Thursday!

It seems that my "calling out" of the readers of the blog worked a bit and 2 folks posted on my last entry. However, you both did not put your names, so I have no idea who you are - though I'm guessing one is my father and the other is Frank? - so if you would please care to share your identity, I would be most appreciative!

Also, Lou, I know you are reading and I have been meaning to ask which Rotary club you are a member of. Inquiring minds want to know! We definitely appreciate your faithful reading of the blog!

I hope you all have been enjoying our adventures here in Western Australia. I have met so many wonderful people along the way and made many new friends. I can assure all the Rotarians in District 7770 that this team has gotten the intended experiences out of the Group Study Exchange.

I've said it before and I'll say it once again, you will all thoroughly enjoy the Australian GSE team that will be arriving in the US just after we return home. We've met all but one team member and I cannot wait to see them all again in my hometown of Sumter.

Sorry for no pictures this time around, but maybe once more before we leave in a few days.

Shannon (the perpetually long-winded one who is also desperate for a hair cut!)

Thanks.....

First, I still have no idea how to put pictures on this blog so I am depending on my wonderful teammates that are much more technologically savvy than I to do so.

But I will echo Scott's comments. Busselton is a great place to be. It is not bad when you can walk right out the door and go for a bike ride, swim, or a run along the Geographe Bay. These types of physical activities were necessary because the people of Busselton make sure that you are never without food or drink.

My vocational time was very well spent yesterday with the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Upper House of Parliament - Troy Buswell. He is very much in line with Governor Sanford back home and actually pointed him to our website for some possible ideas and policies to advocate for in WA.

From a personal standpoint I have been touched by the true openness of the Rotarians in this area. I want to say thanks to my host family - Lyn and Lawrie Walter - for making me feel at home and part of the family. I enjoyed teaching - or trying to teach - you and the rest of the extended family the state dance (The Shag). And no for all of you dirty minded non-South Carolinians, the Shag is a dance and not what you think it is.

Hello to all back home and thanks again Busselton.

Grant

Farewell from Busselton

As the sunsets on Geographe Bay, we bid farewell to Busselton. Thank you all who hosted us and showed us a good time. The weather here has been great for sailing and experiencing the culture. People in WA are just great! I think we all could learn a thing or two about life and living from them.

I specifically wish to thank my host family retired Police Senior Sgt. Henry and Jan Hooft. They have been wonderful. Its great to have new friends on the opposite side of the world and I look forward to returning someday soon. And thank you Police Constable Sasha Howlett for looking after me.

Well, we're off to Harvey. Until next time...

Cheers,
Scott

Greetings from Bussleton!

Making more new friends in Western Australia!


Entrance to Lake Cave in Margaret River.




Lake Cave

Hello from Bussleton!!

We have been having a busy and wonderful time here, as usual. I went to the local campus of Edith Cowan University on Thursday and found that they are very similar to my home of USC Sumter. We enjoyed exchanging information about our respective campuses. They seemed very pleased to find that I worked at a regional campus with a similar student population. So there is another great vocational day under my belt.

A few photos for you all to tide you over for a while. As I have said before, we'd love to get comments. I know there are folks who are reading the blog and not commenting, so if you would consider just a quick hello for us all, I think that would be great. I'm convinced there are more readers out there than we know about!

Shannon

Headed Northward along the West Coast

Yes, I am wearing the Official Aussie Police Issue Hat (Akubra). It is just one step closer to the full uniform. It will be tough not to consider a Police job here. Just jokin'. I do plan on returning home to SC very soon.

We have gone from Albany to Margaret River and the Wine Region. Then to Dunsborough for a 3 day rest. Now we are in Busselton. We have had an awesome time here in WA and have seen places and visited with people beyond our imagination. Everyone has been so good to us.

This is a life changing experience and I would recommend the GSE program and Western Australia to anyone.

Until next time, Cheers

Scott

Lindsey says...

Well, as you can see - the beaches speak for themselves. It's just beautiful here. We're currently in Margaret River (known for their wineries) and after having enjoyed some of the best wine I've ever tasted and went for a 12k hike yesterday - we are having a wonderful time. Today, Grant & I enjoyed our vocational day meeting with Barry House (member of WA's Parliament) and Trevor Hunt (president of the Margaret River Chamber of Commerce). If was very informative and we are learning a great deal about the area. Tonight we are headed to a Rotary BBQ and give our presentation to the Margaret River Rotary Club. Hope everyone back in SC is doing well. See you all soon!!!!!! :-)

LINDSEY

A fast picture post

I finally got some pics to upload, so I thought I'd share a few. You can find more here at my flickr site as well. I believe Scott mentioned a while back that we saw a couple of Confederate Battle flags flying at the Boyup Brook Country Music Festival, so I have a picture of that up as well, for those interested.


Scott entertaining at the Kojonup BBQ

After our eco boat tour with former GSE-er Gary Muir in Walpole.

Shannon and Grant making new friends



Beautiful view of Shelley Beach.

We'll catch y'all later!

Shannon