The First Host Switcharoo!

Sunday, March 2, 2014 – 10:20 p.m. Melbourne time

By Teressa Jackson

Saturday, we ran a few errands and then Frances, Aidan, and I visited the Royal Botanic Gardens. We strolled through the grounds for about an hour before it was time to meet my new host, Warren, at the café. The four of us enjoyed a nice lunch together prior to transferring “possession” of me fully to Warren. I must say I had become a bit attached to my first host family, and it was bittersweet to move on. Frances and Aidan both were incredibly gracious, warm, and friendly hosts and they made me incredibly comfortable during my first week in Australia. I truly felt like I was with family when I was in their care.

Warren and I began our time together with a guided tour of the Botanic Gardens. Susan, our guide, was a transplanted American who has lived in Australia for forty years. She was a wealth of knowledge and it was incredible to see the bountiful plant life throughout the gardens. I saw my first bell birds (they sound like your phone is going off… a little unnerving), a black swan, some possums (people here hate them!), and some of the biggest, most beautiful trees of anywhere I’ve been. We also encountered a wedding and a bridal shower in the park. It was a beautiful fall day and everyone was making the most of it.

After the Botanic Gardens, we went to the 88^th floor of the Eureka Tower, the tallest building in Melbourne. It takes just 35 seconds to get to the top, and yes, your ears certainly pop a bit during that. It was a great opportunity to really take in the city and start “connecting the dots” in terms of where things are. Warren was a great guide, pointing out many local landmarks and answering my many questions.

We took a drive around various parts of the city, and I caught my first glimpses of the bay, spending a couple minutes on a beach to snap a photo or two. After that, we were off again to purchase some groceries and get ready for dinner. We joined some Rotarians for an incredible Italian meal followed by more driving around the city. The Saturday nightlife was bustling, the sidewalks crawling with people and cars lining the streets. This is definitely a city that likes to have a great time.

Today, we got up early and headed out along the peninsula to pick up Warren’s partner Noella. It was a beautiful area, full of vineyards and glimpses of the bay. At the Montalto winery, we had a divine lunch with Noella and several of their friends. The food was impeccably prepared, the company was wonderful, and the view was pretty spectacular.

View more photos from the weekend and stay up-to-date with all our latest at our Facebook page:www.facebook.com/gse2014.