18 February 2016

Today it is the 18^th of February and it just so happens to be my birthday. Unfortunately we had to wake up very early because we were expected at the war memorial at 7.30 a.m., so we had brekkie (Australian slang for breakfast) at 6.30. when we got to the table there were 5 balloons on it for my birthday, there was also a card which was signed by everyone and that was very sweet. I gave all my balloons names and I decided to take Mark with me for a day trip around Albany.

Then it was time to leave for the memorial where we were welcomed by a camera man and a director because we were going to film a commercial for the dawn service on ANZAC day for the RSL. We were all very excited because it was going to be shown on channel 9 which is apparently one of the biggest tv channels in Australia. First we filmed a few shots with a drone, but there was a lot of wind so all our hair kept blowing in our faces. Then Ayla read her line and we all said ‘lest we forget’. Next we went a little bit down the hill to a place where there were plaques to honour the soldiers. There Amandine and Justine read their lines and we had to do some walking shots. We were being very professional and serious when suddenly a bug decided to start biting people. Of course we all screamed and ran away, which the Australians found hilarious. When we finished there we went to the ANZAC centre where me and Prescillia read our texts. We also did some shots of us staring poetically into the distance but of course the director decided that we had to have the wind in our back and our faces to the sun, so we again had hair in our face and we could barely keep our eyes open.

Then we went to the beach but they still had figure out some stuff so we all got a drink. Most of us chose hot coco. We played some games at the table and we had heaps (Australian slang for a lot) of fun while Liesl and Tannia said their lines. Then we did went out to film some more. We all had to stand on rocks while Camille read her line. Then we again had to stare into the distance and for the same reasons as before I did not like it. Then we had to sit on rocks and stare into the distance (there was a lot of staring into the distance). After that we went to another place on the beach and Casey and Diana read their lines. Then we did some more walking shots. Later we all had to read the whole text in Dutch and English in case we couldn’t hear it because of the annoying wind (I wanted to use a certain swear word but it wasn’t allowed). And in case it isn’t clear how annoying it was it was about a million times more annoying than a mosquito flying around your head all night.

Then we went to Maccas (Australian slang for McDonalds), we were all really happy because we had been asking to go there since the first day. After that we went back to the hotel restaurant for a ‘meeting’. In fact it was just an excuse to give me cake. It was very good cake (oreo!!!!!!) and I also got a kangaroo wallet. After we all ate the cake we went to a museum about whalers (people who killed whales for a living). It was very interesting. We also watched a 3D movie about whales, but unfortunately we didn’t see any real whales.

After that we went back to the hotel and started packing our suitcases. At 7.30 we ate dinner and some of us had dessert. Now I’m writing this text and we’re going to try to skype with our class in school and then we’re going to sleep to get ready for tomorrow and our journey home.

Gwenllian-16!!!!!