Writing for Mass Media Final

from final:
Student and Searcy police talk about on-campus thefts

George W. Bush's speech highlights freedom, terrorism and the White House

There's no place like Harding Place
Stolen puppy returned to owner
Harding Place's unique anniversary celebration
SA president candidates offer open forum for students
National Tea Party Express chuggs into Little Rock
Toyota replaces recalled parts in Searcy

from midterm:
Students fast to raise awareness of malnutrition
Chile program to continue despite earthquake
7-year-old girl gives two-years' worth of allowance to Haiti
Faith of a child
Local bank keeps its doors open during winter storm

I'm going to AUSTRALIA!

Today we chose roommates while overseas. I'm rooming with Ashley Wooding, who I met at my Christian camp Ganderbrook, which is located in Maine, a year before we came to Harding. We also counseled together at the Christian camp Tidal River, in Massachusetts. I am so excited to see where us living together is going to bring us. We also have signed up for the exact same course schedule. Many memories are going to be made, and as school is nearing an end, I'm actually getting excited!

I finished the seven quizzes we needed to take before we were allowed to leave the States. I learned a lot of random facts about Australia which should come in handy.

For example, the US dollar is strong against the Australian dollar, which excites me. When I traveled to Italy for spring break this year, it was difficult to buy things knowing they were actually about one-third more expensive than what the price tag stated. However, this time around, the prices will be less expensive. Now I just have to leave enough room in my bag for souvenirs without exceeding 44 pounds...

I also learned that in Australia the cars drive on the left side of the road. Knowing myself, I think this small, trivial thing will be something that will endlessly amuse and amaze me. It just blows my mind that something so natural to them is literally foreign to us. I can't wait to figure out other things that are so different that I am unaware of at this moment.

I just look at this picture and all I can think about is, "Imagine if I look out the window and see this." I'm excited!!

Structure of Australia

Capital: Canberra
Time difference: 15 hours ahead of EST, USA (Australia is divided into three time zones.)
Administrative Divisions: 6 states & 2 territories- Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia
Independence Day: January 1, 1901 (from the UK colonies)
Constitution: July 9 1900. (note: it was effective as of January 1, 1901.)
National Holidays: Australia Day- January 26, ANZAC Day- April 25
(note: ANZAC Day celebrates the anniversary of when the troops of the Australian & New Zealand Army Corps landed during World War I at Gallipoli, Turkey in 1915.)
Government: Three branches- Executive, Legislative and Judicial
Prime Minister: Kevin Rudd
Queen: Elizabeth II
Bicameral Federal Parliment: House of Representatives & Senate

Unique Australian Animals

The dingo is Australia's wild dog. It is found everywhere except Tasmania. They live and hunt alone rather in packs. Regardless of people think, dingoes are not truly native to Australia. There are a few different theories to how they arrived. Some believe Aborigines brought them to the island over 15,000 years ago. Others think sea farers from East Asia brought dingoes to Australia to trade and/or eat them.

Another animal unique to Australia is the platypus. It is only found in eastern Australia, alongside rivers and freshwater lakes. It eats shrimp and aquatic larvae as well as worms. It has webbed feet to help with swimming, and males have a toxic spur located on the inside of both hind leg ankles. Its venom is strong enough to kill a dog and enough to cause excruciating pain in humans. It is a buoyant creature, and therefore has to keep swimming downward in order to stay submerged.

More uncommon, however, is the Quokka. They are marsupials like the forest wallaby and tree kangaroo. They are mainly nocturnal, and found mostly on Rottnest Island, which is located off the south-western part of Australia. However, they are believed to be spreading back to the mainland. The Quokka has no fear of humans. Apparently and it is not uncommon for Quokka to approach humans closely, kind of like the squirrels at Harding University.


Of course there are the animals normally associated with Australia: kangaroos, koala bears, Tasmanian devils and emu. I can't wait to go and see the things that are unique to each specific country and experience their culture and the things that they are known for.

How about that weather?

Due to the beautiful weather lately, I decided to check out what it is going to be like in Australia when we are over there. Unfortunately, they do everything in degrees Celsius, which makes me sad because I have never been good at telling how hot or cold that temperature really is. I converted all the temperatures to Fahrenheit for the sake of convenience.

(avg high, avg low)
September: 75.2, 55.22
October: 78.98, 60.44
November: 82.04, 64.58
December: 84.38, 67.64

In comparison to the United States' temperature at that time of year, there is clearly a considerable difference. I am so excited to spend Thanksgiving in a short-sleeve shirt or a dress rather than a sweatshirt.