1993 School Magazine

Finally, we went to Sydney where we stayed two days. I liked Sydney very niuch. in the day lime I went to the Opera House with my friends and looked around the theatre. Then we went shoppino. At night. we went to the Hard Rock Cafe where I really wanted to go. We had a good time. Also we went to Kings Cross. it is a very bustling place. There were a lot of people in Sydney. and also we found Japanese signs every- where. I think it's not a good tendency. But anyway, I liked Sydney very much. 11 was a lovely place I learned many things during this tour, in many ways. And I had the opportunity to make many friends and to try some- for thing new. I'm sure that was a most Important experience ROTARY EXCHANGE I ant at Merensky Higli School which is dual medium; each lesson is conducted in English and Afrikaans. My Afrikaans is not significantly improving because I am in an English atmosphere, except when I walk into class and get surrounded by ten Afrikaans boys. I can near them saying "Aussie" (my nickname) and talking and Iauglting at me. My girlfriends tell me what they said afterwards and it is times like those that I am glad I don't speak, although my understanding (especially of swearing) is improving. My subjects are English. Animal Husbandi'y, Accounting Home Economics and Geography, most of which I have never done before. They wouldn't let me do any boys' techni- cal subjects but I do all agricultural one which requires ine it o0 10 the farm 2 afternoons a week. I do stuff like artificial insemination. dehorning cows. deworming sheep and castra- lion. (Actually. Ihey don't let the girls do this because we 111ighi gel some funny ideas. ) My school is ver\^'epreseniaiive of my town Tzaneen. in is like one big fainily. extremely personal and friendly. I kno\\ every Dody or at least everybody knows me. I have been initi ated into the Tzaneen nightlife. it consists in total of one hangout called Spur. ACiually there are a couple in or( hotspots - Tino's, a pizza place and upstairs. a nightclub. Ih( Tzaneen hotel. Mike's Kitchen. Villa 11alia, Coachhouse. Bu entertainment ITere is of a very different calibre from what anI used 10. I never believed nty parents, when they salt "Make your own fun". I've learnt now to not spend money and enjoy. We go out cainping and have parties on wild gain( farms whei'e you can shoot game. We go 10 Agaiha an( Debingine Waterfalls, a fun park called Eiland. sailing ant skiing o11 the dam, hiking eic. We bi'aai (BBQ) at Ieasi Ihret Iiines a weekcnd with friends. The friends I have made here are really first class. Every onI in nty year' is turning ciihe!' 18 or 19 so we are the same age 11ave two excellent girlfriends whom I can depend on for any Ihing and then a very vei'y wide range of friends whom I alsi mix with. I nTei niore people on my first d^, in South Afric. Ihan I have in my entire life. That is the most important thin: aboui Rotary exchanges - getting on with people. I nav learnt a 101 about nandling people. 11 is a continual challeng ing pleasure 10 meet new people. 11 is my specialiiy by now in Tzancen there ale Iwo Rotary Clubs - "geriatric" Tzanee Club with 23 members, and mine, young Tzaneen Letab Sayaka Kikuta, I I England me

The water was so clear and we enjoyed swimming very much. At night, we slept in tents. it was not 100 bad Then we went to Mt is a. it is known for its famous mine. We visited a mining museum and a big factory. h was huge. We took many photos in front of a big hole. At nighi, we went to a rotary meeting in Mt Is a. A1 the meeting, all eXchange SIu- dents sano "Fr6re Jacques" in their own language. 11 was so interesting for me to listen 10 other languages. I thought some Ianouages are quite similar 10 English. On the other hand, the sounds of Japanese are so different from other languages Anyway, we had a good time and enjoyed it very n\uch. Then we went 10 A1ice Springs. There we had a chance 10 eat delicious aboriginal food. wiichetty grubs. Most of us ale cooked ones, but some of us ate raw ones. They are a little bit wet and slimy. We had 10 pick their heads off before we ate them; otherwise they could bite. in their body, they have beautiful yellow custard. I think it has no taste, but someone said that it tastes like a raw egg. Yum Yum! ! h was the most important experience to eat grubs Then, we went 10 King's Canyon. 11 was a terrible place because there are thousands o1 annoying flies. They tried 10 get into Iny nose, ears and mouth. One of my Japanese friends let the flies perch on heI' T-shirt and look a photo What a yucky photo ! !

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TITen we climbed Ayers Rock. 11 was so beautiful. On the top of Ayers Rock. we look PIToios of the be auiiful scenery. But it was a little bit dangerous 10 climb. There were a 101 of Japanese people there as well Tilen we weni 10 Coobei' Pedy 10 \vatcli the culling of opals. and also we visited an underground church. They were very curious and interesting for me. After that we went 10 Adelaide. It's a very nice city bccausc theI'e is a 101 of green, even ill the city. Also there are many cultural buildings. The houses tire more English in style Thei'e. we enjoyed shopping. Tilen we went 10 Canberra where we visiied many places First, we went 10 the Science and Technology Museum. it was an interesting place, and I found many nTachines from Japan. Then we went to the National Gallery where I could view many famous paintings. h was so lucky that I could see Dall's paintino thei. e. Anei. that we looked ai'ound the embassy of our own counti'y. Also we visiied the Houses of Parliament

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