Update on the last 2 days

Yesterday, we had a "free day" and we all did different things.  Angil and I went with my host mom, Avis to do some shopping.  Angil needed another suitcase because her's was 21 pounds overweight when she flew into Tasmania, resulting in some unwanted extra baggage charges.  The new case should allieviate that.  We also wanted to pick up some genuine Huon Pine items.  Huon Pine is only found in the Huon Valley region in Tasmania and no longer can be cut down.  Only the fallen Huon Pine trees can be used, making it very rare.  Our wonderful tour guide Avis took us to the best spot in Tassie in our opinion.  The store we went to had everything you could imagine made out of all different types of Tasmania woods.  We both stocked up on gifts.

Then, Avis took us to the Cherry Shed for lunch. The Cherry Shed grows heaps of cherries, makes all sorts of wines, liquors, jams, sauces, etc and they also have a fabulous restaurant attached.  We tried the signature cherry ice cream and I kid you not - it was absolutely the best ice cream I have ever had in my entire life!  Then we met up with Kathryn and her host Rockie, who were all golfing with my host dad, Peter.  We sat in the clubhouse and chatted it up for a bit.  Peter and Avis took me to the historical lighthouse in Devonport for a photo op and Kathryn and Rockie showed up! 

Later than night, we had a presentation at the Devonport Rotary Club, which is an all male club, although there were several women there that evening to view our presentation.  We think it might have been our best presentation yet.  I won a bottle of wine in their raffle that I plan on saving for our mid-tour break.  However, I also got fined for not being up to par on my Australian slang terms.  All in good fun.

Today, we all had vocational days.  I went to The Advoate Newspaper.  Kathryn, Heather and Siobhan went to Mercy Hospital.  Gary went to Telstra, which is Tasmania's main tele-communications provider.  Angil went to Meercroft & Karingal Nursing Home and Harvest Moon.

Tomorrow, we're headed to an Australian Football game, which is wildly different from American football.  The best way I can decribe it is a mix between our football and soccer - no padding, just fit men wearing tight shorts running all over the field.  Should be a fun time :)  Tomorrow night we have a get-together with our team and all the hosts at Siobhan's host family's house.  It should be a another fabulous day in Tassie!