Hannah your trip sounds amazing! I love hanging out with the G-parents. Australia is going to be my first trip out of the country (except for canada but I'm not counting that)and it sounds like everyone has already had their far share of travels. I totally want to go diving, it sounds like a blast. Maybe you could show us the ropes? What's funny is that you have already been to the worlds 2nd largest reef and know you are about to go to the first all in the same year. Girl you get around. Hey do we actually get to go snorkeling and stuff in Australia?

I went on a really short snorkeling excursion once when I was on vacation in the Dominican. It was one of the coolest things I've ever seen, although much of the rest of the trip was a bust. (I could rant about various political and social issues right here, but I'll spare you. I may go off at some other point, though. You'll probably hear me making a lot of remarks during the trip. I'm sorry in advance- people tend to get sick of me constantly trying to stick it to the man :] ).
I'm a really light packer, too. Are you ladies really bringing like 3 bathing suits? I only ownone. haha. One of my biggest dreams is to go all the way across the US (or the world!) with just a backpack, Chris McCandless style (any of you ever read "Into the Wild"?)

no way but i saw the movie!!!!!! best ive ever seen. i cried the last 30 minutes straight
but his views are pretty much the same as mine. except he was pretty **** selfish! to disown his whole family even though his sister loved him-thats cold! i completely understand about his parents tho-they were ********. but he should have waited until his sis got out of college and then gone with her. i would do the same kind of trip, but i cant exactly hitchike as well as he did...you know since i have a vaginaa that can be raped. hehe
but he is most definitely a very interesting character! he gots alot of balls

Ok Hannah, you and me. Two backbacks, a can of Mace, and endless possibilities.
But speaking of vaginaas (or lack thereof), are there any members of the male species coming on this trip? So far I've only been hearing from women.
If you want to talk about women, not just cool dudes like Chris McC, who did what they wanted regardless of what society thought, I highly recommend that you read up on Isabelle Eberhardt. She was a European woman who traveled the Saharah during the early 1900's dressed as a man so as to have more freedom. Her life is one of the most beautiful I have ever read about. She did what she needed to do in order to be happy and free, and completely went against the strict societal norms. You should definitely check her out. It may even change your life.....
:]

Ha, have any of you read the latest email from IYLF? At the end it says "Be prepared to possibly shear a sheep on your visit!"
Yeah, because I'm sure all Australians obviously shear sheep in their spare time. Isn't this trip supposed to be about cultural understanding, not stereotyping?
Well, I'm losing more confidence in this trip with every automatated email update. But at least I can look forward to chilling out with you ladies in the land down under!

This trip is going to be bomb! I hope they let us go out on the town or atleast get away from the group a little. Maybe meet some Aussies Hey how many people are going on this anyways? Semi big group or a whole plane full? Oh who cares this trip is goign to be great! Hannah, since you are doing environmental, and Ali I think your doing medical, do you both want to follow in those career tracks? Oh and where did our buddies go? It just us three now?

you guys i can't wait for this trip i'm litterally counting down the days. I think their are going to be somewhere around 250 to at least 400 students on this trip amanda. do you we get to go to the mall or movies while were their. do you guys think this trip is going to have mostly girls on it? sorry i haven't been on lately but i've been studying for these **** finals for my classes

I'm actually doing environmental. I couldn't handle medical- needles and blood freak me out.
But yes, I very much want to go into an environmtnal career. I'm planning on majoring in Environmental Studies and specializing in sustainable agriculture. I'm concerned with combatting the food crisis. If we can't figure out a way to grow food without relying on petroleum-based presicides, then we're essentially fuckked. I mean, you see how quickly gas prices are going up. Pretty soon that's going to cause food to be way too expensive, and people all over the world are already starving becuase they just can't afford to feed themselves.

hah naw im doin medical too, but id rather do environmental. but like i said, the Bush medicine will be completely worth it! anyway, i want to be a marine biologist...but any career related to the ocean would be fine with me
well you all seem to be pretty liberal, so i must say i freakin HATE that little shrubery of a prez. he is an IDIOT. he will most definitely go down as the dumbest president in history.
do you guys understand how AMAZING our country would be if al gore had won????? our entire country would prolly legally have to go green and it would have been crazy cool! and gas prices wouldnt be high and we wouldnt be in a war that is NONE OF OUR BUSINESS. can i get an amen halleluja??????

Hi I just wanted to meet some people before the trip. I'm doing environmental.

Hey everyone! My name is GiGi and I will be flying into and out of LAX from Atlanta, Georgia. I'm in the environmental forum. I want to meet people!!! Please write back
BTW my myspace is www.myspace.com/southerngirlvls

heyyy- sry haven't been up guys- soooo, howz it been??

Hi Lindsay! I'm going environmental 2! Going to Cairns??

p.s. i'm sry 4 anyone who feels different... AMEN ALLELUJA!!

Hey do you girls have facebooks?

hellur guys and...well i guess just girls.
i do indeed have a facebook! just look up my name. did you guys know that they filled up TWO JETS with people only from our trip??? this is gonna br CRAAAZZZY

Two jets!?!??
Niiiice.
Hi Linsey. I'm also doing environmental. I'm pretty much the biggest enviro-geek around. Hey, is anyone else on here on their school's Envirothon team? I know it's not that common, but it's pretty much my life. Our state competition is tomorrow and I'm FREAKING out.
But yeah. Just over a month left!

Can't go to Cairns but I'm really excited. How is everyone going to handle the whole money exchange thing? Are you bringing cash?

hey guys sorry ive been so busy with tennis i haven't had the chance to get back on. Two planes full is insane omg!! Im doing medical but i want to be a pilot so kinda a little different haha. Im a conservative so i dont mind the prez i like the tax cuts and stuff he did... but i really dont pay attention to politics that much cuz they just make me mad. And yeah Lindsay i have the same question about the money. I heard you can exchange some at LAX but im not positive. Lindsay how old are ya and what do you do??

I'm 18 and I graduate this Friday!!! Yey!!

hehe whether you are conservative or not, bush is an IDIOT. dude cant even talk right. no offense or anything tho
i agree politics make me angry too. VERY angry
AH congrats Lindsay! dont worry about the money tho, good people are taking us on this trip and they'll take care of us. they wont let you starve or anything cuz you dont have the right money. relaxxx WE GOIN TO AUSTRALIA

I think you can go to a bank and exchange american for australian. At least that's what i'm gonna do . . . i think. I'm stoked on life for this trip! Oh and hannah, there are like 10 Hannah L's on facebook. lol.