Know the Locals

Within 4 months after he became the U.S. Ambassador to Australia, Jeff Bleich “visited every one of Australia’ s states and territories.”  When serving overseas, a U.S. ambassador is the “eyes and ears” for the President and our country.  An ambassador needs to know the country in which they serve, the local people and culture.

As Student Ambassadors, we too are expected to know the locals.  We were asked to do projects and answer questions on the following topics.

1.  History of Australia

2.     Animals of Australia

3.     Great Barrier Reef

4.     Aboriginal culture and sacred sites

5.     Environmental issues/conservation efforts

6.     Famous landmarks

7.     Famous people of Australia

8.     Kakadu National Park

9.     Geography of Australia

10.   Major cities  (Cairns, Sydney, Canberra, Darwin)

Kemi, another delegate, and I chose “Aboriginal Culture and Sacred Sites.”  We all presented our work at a project fair earlier this month.  I’ll maybe post our presentation later.

VERNAL EQUINOX

Today Spring begins – in our hemisphere.  Some people call it the Spring Equinox, but Down Under in Australia it is the beginning of Autumn.

According to the Canberra Times it is currently 72 °F (22 °C) – the same temperature we have in Atlanta.  But their days are getting cooler.

Canberra in April

Photo: http://www.dipity.com/tickr/Flickr_canberra/?mode=fs

It’s Canberra Day

Yo, people – Right now it’s Monday in Australia where there there’s a public holiday in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).   The national capital was founded 99 years ago on the 12^th of March. 

According to this morning’s Canberra Times, government dignitaries are celebrating the day by planting flowers known as Canberra Bells.

Canberra Bells. Photos: Fagg, M.

The correa shrub is native to Australia and blooms in the Fall.  The Canberra variety has been developed specifically for the 100^th celebration, so that the city will be filled with blossoms on its birthday!

Images are provided courtesy of the Australian National Botanic Gardens.
  
For some really neat views of the city, see the Parliament House at Sunset and other photos by Ilya Glenn on his blog.

Canberra is one of the cities that our Student Ambassador delegation will visit this summer (winter there).   The blooms will be gone, but I know it’s gonna be neat being there.  I’ve never been outside North America, but thanks to your help I’m now Australia bound.