Planning for the Exchange

So exchange teachers can claim moving expenses to the exchange location and back again. While I spoke with a few exchangees who did make such claims, I really had no idea what to expect. Now I have everything filed, reviewed, and accepted so I though I’d share the list of what Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) … Continue reading »

After discovering that there is no beach in Cairns, we bundled up and hopped the bus out to Palm Beach – about 30 minutes from our hotel. It was a perfect day – warm, sunny, calm enough to be comfortable, but wavy enough to have some fun. We lathered with sun screen, sat on the … Continue reading »

This is one of the items on the bucket list. We spent the day on a boat and snorkeling at one of the many reefs in the Great Barrier Reef. It was windier and choppier than we would have like making it hard to snorkel. Another thing we wish we had done, in retrospect, was … Continue reading »

  One thing we have come to love about travelling in Australia is the abundance of rest stops and picnic areas. Not only do they have covered picnic benches, but there is likely to be a free-to-use electric cooking surface. Not quite the flame grills we have at home, but a solid flat stainless steel … Continue reading »

Throughout the year, former exchange participants living in Australia host weekend outings for current exchangees from abroad. As they can, participants are billeted with folks living in the area who graciously offer accommodations to us come-from-aways. Such a great network of support! This past weekend had us balancing on cliff walls in the morning at … Continue reading »