One sandwich short of a picnic

This is my new favorite Australian expression-- it means that you're crazy! But on another note.... I am in Byron Bay! And life on the program is great but very hectic. We have been having very intensive orientation/group bonding/ being cut off from society time. Let me start at the beginning, I can't believe I have only been here in the land one week! So one of these pictures is of 7 Mile Beach. We spent about 5 days and 4 nights there for orientation. It was intense because it was in tents! (the other picture is of our tent city)



We lived in these tents with all our stuff, and well, it was interesting. I think I will have to put most pictures on facebook and then add a link, adding one by one is taking so long. The group is great- 17 good kids. And Peter our director is also excellent. We got to Byron Bay Wednesday night after orientation for a tease of this town. We left early the next morning for an eco-philosophy workshop in the middle of the rainforest at a forest meditation center. It was....rustic... as Peter said. It poured rain the entire time and we sat in a meditation hall with a tin roof listening. We slept in a loft over the kitchen, and dealt with leeches for most of the time.
But now we are back in Byron! Though it is raining now, it is a very cool town-- full of surfers, hippies, old hippies, backpackers...all kinds. We live at the 'Byron Central Apts' which are very nice, and tomorrow meet for class at the Byron community center. Internet abilities are on and off, and we leave Wednesday already for Melbourne (Melbin) for a 4day Sustainability Festival. We are taking a 20 hour train ride down, and then eventually an overnight ferry to Tassie (Tasmania...) where we will be traveling about a week. After the ferry and train trip back up, we make it to Byron march 5 I believe. And then its homestay time and then it just keeps going. So! Crazy program, until April 9 when we start our 5 week independent projects, and then we are free to go on our way.

(This is a picture of me, Epps, and Laura sleeping in 'the loft' Thursday night)
So all is well here. Australia is a great, happy, welcoming, beautiful place and I am excited to see more, do more, and get a little more settled. My main priorities right now though are laundry from the last 2 weeks, groceries, and putting up some more pictures. Hope everyone's doing well and talk to you soon!

For a few more pictures:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2071894&id=9803563&l=4a3e2