G'Day From the USA

Hello possums!

My name is Fiona Reed, I am 17 years old, and a junior at Granite Hills High School, Porterville, California. Why do I get a blog on the Grizzly Gazette, and not any one of the several hundred other juniors? Good question. Because this time two months ago, I could have been swimming in a creek in ancient rainforest, lying on a coral beach on an island on the outskirts of the Great Barrier Reef, or camping in the Australian bush and scaring kangaroos. All in the middle of summer.

Am I insane? No. Just Australian. Specifically, I am an Australian exchange student, and I hail from a city called Cairns, which is on the far north-east coast of Queensland, a state of Australia. Cairns is the only place on the planet where two World Heritage listed sites, the Wet Tropics Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef (yes, just like on "Finding Nemo") coincide, so it's pretty. Anyway, the basic premise of this blog is I talk about my experiences in America, and you read along in rapt attention and leave me a comment so I can feel loved, and you can feel worldly. Hopefully I can persuade some of my mates from home to comment on this too, so you won't just hear my opinions, but those of other Australians.

Since this is the first entry, I thought I'd just introduce myself a little. Like I said, I'm Fiona (no, not like "Shrek"), and this Saturday marks the end of my sixth full week here. I am staying in California for nine months, which leaves seven and a half to go, and I live with the family of a freshman at Granite, who I won't name because I embarass him enough already. In late October I go home to Australia, where I have a few months to catch up with everyone before commencing a commerce degree at the University of Queensland in Brisbane and embarking on a hopefully fabulous career.

To answer some commonly asked questions:

1. No, I did not choose to come to Porterville. I got to decide which country to go, but after that I was really a leaf blowing in the wind. Having said that, I like it here. You have snow, wildflowers, squirrels, gangs, and no mountains to block the sunrise and sunset. All in all, it's pretty different to where I'm from.
2. It is physically impossible to ride a kangaroo. Almost as impossible as it is to climb into its pouch. I wouldn't recommend trying to box one either, no matter what you've seen on TV.
3. I speak English. Thus there is no Australian term for ''I love you.''
4. There are many, many differences between Australia and Austria.
5. Yes, I'm having the time of my life.

I don't know how many people are going to read this- congratulations if you've made it this far. My month and a half at Granite Hills has flown by, and I've met a lot of really cool people. I'm involved in choir, track, and journalism (of which we only have choir in Australian high schools), and in my time here I want to take every opportunity I get. I remember one girl said to me 'oh! You're the Australian! I've heard of you but I didn't know where you hang out so I never got to see you before!' I'm not an exhibit, so definitely please come and introduce yourself. I don't bite unless I'm really hungry. In the meantime, leave me a comment!

-Me