Here in Perth

Well I made it. After the grueling experience of going through 21 hours on a plane I'm here in Perth. One thing about Australia, is that they have the tightest security imaginable. Imagine, you exit the plane and enter into customs and immigration. You first pick up your luggage and then commence standing in a line that is approximately the size of the line for Space Mountain.

After finishing the line you are questioned as to the contents of your luggage. If you're lucky like I am and you have nothing to declare your luggage is then thouroughly examined and your questioned about its contents. It is then X-rayed once again before you are allowed to continue. If you do have something to declare, even if it is as trifle as some chocolate you picked up in another country, you are sent into another line which is even longer and your luggage is even more thoroughly checked. You have to empty your bag completely and every item is checked and you must give an explanation of what each item is.

Everyone goes through this process! No one, including Aussie nationals are exempt. What's more surprising is finding out why the Australians are so anal about checking what is in your bag. It has to do with preventing foreign seeds and plant material from entering into the country.

I was taken to the YWAM station here in the city. I'm staying in a classroom that has been emptied out with the exception of five bunk beds and some modest drawers for putting our clothing in.

Since I got here I've been really busy. I've adjusted already to the time here so I've been sleeping pretty well. The one thing that has surprised me is how cold it is. I've brought a couple of jackets which I'm really thankfull that I've brought but I'll probably go out and buy a new blanket.

Aussies never do anything small here. They announced the birthday of one of the staff's babies. The whole dinning room errupted into a birthday song that I'd never heard of. The shouting filled the hall and the song was intermintent with banging on the table and clapping. It was loud and when it ended it was concluded by a round of Ausie! Ausie! Ausie! Oi! Oi! Oi!.

Or even eating a cookie, the Australians have to turn it into an art. Last night we had Tam-Tam shouts. Take a chocolate biscuit and bite two ends of it. Suck your choice of hot beverage, most likely coffee or hot chocolate until you can taste the liquid through the cookie and then shove the cookie in your mouth. If you do it right the hot liquid melts the cholocate cookie and your mouth explodes into a chocolately mass of goodness.

Well I have to go. Love you all heaps.