Katie's diary from Down Under

 

About Katie's trip   Katie, 18, has been appointed media officer and an assistant group leader on a trip for 85 young people from across East Anglia. They will be attending the World Youth Day celebrations, which are taking place in Sydney, Australia. The trip includes the Bishop of East Anglia, the Rt Rev Michael Evans, and young people from various areas, including Wymondham, Norwich and Sprowston. World Youth Day is said to be possibly the largest event that nobody has ever heard of! It is the largest youth event in the world (the largest World Youth Day was visited by 4 million people), and has been organised by the Catholic Church although it is open to anyone aged 16-35. World Youth Day was established in 1986 with the aims to unite young people from around the globe, highlight global issues which the younger generation face, as well as celebrate life and faith. This year over 500,000 pilgrims are planning to attend the final overnight vigil mass, a two day experience at Randwick Race Course, which will involve dancing, singing, faith and food. Before the week in Sydney the youngsters will be hosted by a group of Young People in Townsville (North Queensland), events planned include a visit to the Billabong Australian Native Animal Wildlife Park and a beach party at the Lifeguard Club. For more information you can visit www.wyd.org, or track their progress (or finding out more about future Youth Events) by visiting www.catholiceastanglia.org /youth/.

Young Wymondham woman Katie Johnston is on the trip of a lifetime, taking part in World Youth Day celebrations on the other side of the world – and she is writing a special web diary for the Mercury.

 

Hello from Townsville, Australia!

The group have now arrived in Townsville, Queensland after almost three days of travelling! We have also spent a day in Hong Kong, and had a mass at Heathrow airport!

We enjoyed a fly by trip to Hong Kong, where we went up the peak which looks across the whole of Hong Kong Island. Looking at the boats and high rise buildings as well as all the lights at dusk was amazing!

The view was breath taking! It was also great to have a break from flying. We had a brief look around the shopping centre before a bus tour of the city centre and a trip in the Star ferry.

The crossing was choppy - everyone's photos came out blurry(!), but looking at the view from another angle was great.

After arriving in Townsville our host school laid on dinner for us... bangers and mash followed by Christmas pudding and custard! Very kind, but a bit strange in the heat!

We are at St Patrick's College, which is a boarding school. All around the building there are balconies, and if you stand on the balconies you can look out to the sea!

We had a good sleep, and had to have breakfast at 7am! The weather isn't so good today - it has been raining.

Some of the group have been swimming, and some may go to a water park later. Trying to ignore the weather!

Have had a look around the local shops as well. Spotting a Woolworths sign in the distance we all went to have a look, but ended up disapointed to find it was a supermarket!

Some embarassing moments followed when everyone looked as we got excited over different products! "Oh look Vegemite" and "They have Cadbury's chocolate" followed!

We have just had lunch, and have free time until we meet some local people and have a mass, before dinner.

We are also meant to have some people from Papua New Guinea staying, but unfortunately they have missed their flight, so we do not know when we will see them! But looking forward to when they arrive!

Off now to write my first postcards!

 

Wednesday - trip to Paluma Rainforest and aboriginal culture centre.

Today we went to the Paluma education centre. It is a centre in the middle of nowhere about a 2 hour minibus ride from Townsville.

It is visited by almost every school child in the surrounding area, and they do long camps for year 6/7 students, so they can learn about the aboriginal culture and environmental conservation.

When we arrived at the camp, we were welcomed by a LARGE slice of damper... a sweet camp bread made of flour water and sugar. It was then coated in jam and cream like a scone, very English! We had an Australian music workshop, which involved singing, playing the Lager (a stick with beer bottle lids nailed to it), and spoons.

After the workshop we went for a trek into the rainforest, which was very cold (most people were wearing two jumpers) but not very wet. We were a bit loud - so there were not many animals there, but we did see some birds (although I have forgotten their names).

Food seemed to be very important, as we had lunch which was a bit like a hot dog, but with a different type of bread. There was also afternoon tea, with Lamingtons and tea.

In the afternoon we did a sensory trail, where we were lead blindfolded through the rainforest, having to avoid various trees and do different challenges. The only bad part was walking through spider's webs and having to dip our fingers in vegemite! Yuk!

In the evening we watched films in the school, and met some people from Papua New Guinea, who have moved into the boarding school with us. We think they find it very strange here - as some of them have never been out of their home towns before. They have come here through the World Youth Day fund, which pays for young people from LEDCs to come to the event.

Thursday - Trip to Magnetic Island

Thursday was a good breakfast day - we were served up a full English breakfast! A nice treat from the hosts.

On Thursday we took the Sea Cat to Magnetic Island, which was a short trip across the Coral Reef. It was a lovely trip - but a bit early in the morning (8am).

We then took a bus across the Island to Horseshoe Bay, where we spent the morning swimming (and for those of us who found it too cold, paddling), walking the bay and reading.

After lunch on the bayside, we missed the bus, so tried to go Koala hunting by foot! After having found a bird reserve we found a koala sanctuary, and the back of one koala, before having to go!

In the evening we had a evening opening mass, where all the other pilgrims in Townsville, from all over the world came to meet. We met people from Australia, Canada, Papua New Guinea and Germany.

In the evening we had more films, and went to the water play park to get wet!

 

Friday - Tourist attractions (Billabong Wildlife Sanctuary, Reef HQ and Museum of Tropical Queensland)

Today every pilgrim staying in the Townsville area had a day of tourist attractions, which was a great chance to experience the local culture! We started off at Billabong wildlife reserve, where we spotted the 'must see' kangaroos, koalas and crocodiles! The kangaroos were roaming around the park, and some came close enough for some of the group to pat them! The staff then laid on a barbeque for us (we have now had sooo many!) and we were able to sit in the sun, overlooking the Billabong! (A Billabong is a pool which has a river flowing through it).

After the brief visit, we went to the aquarium - Reef HQ, where we experienced the importance of conserving the coral reef. We also got to look around the living coral reef on display. Our tour guide was really enthusiastic, and showed us most things in the hour that we had - including sea turtles and glow in the dark fish. Many of the girls were pleased to discover 'nemos'!

During the day we were shown some aboriginal dances by the local people, who got us all up and dancing!

We finished the day with fish and chips (they are trying to make us feel at home!)

Saturday - World's Biggest Buddies Day

We spent Saturday doing community service, to give something back to the community that hosted us. The World's Biggest Buddies Day was organised by the St. Vincent de Paul society, and gave socially disadvantaged children a day of fun. We paired up with local children and took part in the organised sports and crafts. It was really enjoyable, and the children asked us all sorts of questions about England, including, whether we had spring water and sausages! We also discovered that Australian 'frog in the hole' is different to the English version! We also experienced another sausage sizzler BBQ!

The day finished with a very generous BBQ for 800 pilgrims at the local lifesavers club on the beach. The East Anglian group led the dancing followed closely by the Irish. Fr. Michael surprised us with his energy and agility on the dance floor! We were the first to start dancing and the last to leave! We also met people from all over the world, Canadians, Germans, Irish and some people from PNG.

Sunday - Our last day in Townsville and a chance to meet the community

We went to the Sunday service to meet some more members of the local community. After mass we presented the parish with an image of Walsingham, and they gave us some neckerchiefs which they had made for us. These depict a map of Australia, showing Townsville and Sydney. After mass we had morning tea and went to play football on the beach! This was followed by a sausage sizzler BBQ.

In the afternoon we visited Townsville Cathedral, to see presentations lead by people from across the world. The English group did a rendition of 'Let it Be' and we thought we were the largest group present!

Everyone had an amazing time, and we have all swapped many English objects for souvenirs from other countries.

Monday - Travelling to Sydney and a night walk

The majority of today was spent travelling to Sydney, which was fairly uneventful. However, in the evening we went out for a night time walk and saw Sydney by night which was very beautiful. We had pizza overlooking the harbour bridge and even found an Ice Bar - which we plan to go back to later in the week. It was great to have a large group dinner, and I became better acquainted with some members of the group who I didn't know that well (there are 85 of us!).

Tuesday - Opening mass in Sydney, a chance to see the scale of the event!

We left at 10am to walk to Barangaroo (near the harbour) to wait for the Opening Mass. The walk was great as EVERYONE was walking the same way, and everyone was singing and dancing and swapping things (swaps seem to be a major part of World Youth day and a good way to meet people!). We arrived very early and got seats right at the front of the altar, and we our first WYD food! Pretty good lunch........meat pies, drinks, Lamington and fruit. Apparently the food is a lot better than at the last WYD in 2005. This We were entertained until Mass began both musically and mixing socially. The sun shone and the atmosphere was great. A plane went up into the sky and wrote welcome - this was followed by large cheers!

The Mass was magnificent, led by George, Cardinal Pell, Archbishop of Sydney, hundreds of Bishops and priests. It was uplifting, to say the least. The Music was superb and the WYD hymn is becoming very familiar. We love it! We were welcomed by the Australian Prime Minister, who spoke in several languages, then in a special way by the Aborigine 'owners of the space.'

Our picture will show the colour and ceremony of the whole experience.

After Mass an excellent concert, with the Australian girls choir, Tempest, a young Opera group, the winner of Oz Pop Idol and an acoustic guitarist and singer and a soul singer had us dancing in the aisles!!

Fireworks over the harbour finished another wonderful day.......the first BIG event of the pilgrimage. During the fireworks there were many fire spinners on stage, and some pyrotechnics - great bursts of flame, and people making music with angle grinders. We had never experienced anything like it! Altogether there was a great spirit of hope for the future, and everyone seemed really friendly - even in the dinner queue, pilgrims ducked under the tables to help those serving the food!

 

Wednesday – World Youth Day events

First thing in the morning we were set a challenge, by CAFOD. We had to find people from 25 different countries and every continent. They had to give us a message to take back to England, and we had to take their photos! If we pass the challenge our pictures will be put onto the CAFOD website!

Today we went to our first discussion group, which was held in the Sydney Harbour Exhibition Centre (A massive building, with one end shaped like a shell). We will attend three of these groups over the course of the week, where we will discuss several ideas with English speaking people from all over the world. The themes have been picked previously, and all relate to Christianity in some way.

The talk was being held, by Archbishop Ignatius from Joss, Nigeria. He talked about injustice, telling us that we ought to intervene when we see suffering or bullying. He focused on discrimination, whether it be down to gender, wealth, colour or something else. We discussed different situations that we should intervene in – saying that if we could do no physical action we could always think of people, write letters or pray. There were also some questions on all aspects of Christianity, which were posed by members of the audience. We finished the session with mass and singing.

We finished just in time for lunch, which was provided again, by the world Youth Day team… tins of tuna, bread rolls and ‘Tim-tam’ fingers! (The unlucky people got a tin of cold baked beans).

In the afternoon I took a group to the Sydney Opera House, where many ‘Youth Festival’ events, were being held. After a long trek, getting lost in the channelling system (there are so many pedestrians, that all WYD pilgrims have to walk a specific route) we arrived at the Opera House. We immediately took lots of photos, and listened to the open-air concert going on outside. After some exploring we managed to get a free ticket into the Opera House, where we saw a concert. The concert was amazing – we listened to an American girl’s choir and a soloist who sang songs from musicals.

After the visit we stayed late into the night, as there was so much to do. We danced to a group who played Christian music...in an Indian style! They taught us dances to their songs, and got different people up on stage. Many people watched from the steps, which was a great place to meet people and swap things. We met Germans, Argentinians, Brazilians, and even a person from Madagascar! This also helped us to complete our challenge in one day!

At the end of the day we walked back to the hotel, which took an unbelievably long time – due to the channelling… we predicted it would take 20 minutes, in fact it took around 2 hours – thank goodness for our free transport passes!

Thursday – Second Day of Youth Festival Events, and the arrival of the Pope

This morning followed the same plan as yesterday morning; we had Breakfast at the Hotel, with people who are also going to WYD (Scottish and Canadian Pilgrims). The discussion and catechesis sessions was then given by the Archbishop of Birmingham, Vincent Nichols. He talked about the problems that the church faces, some Kenyans raised the problem of people being paid to leave the Church. This could relate to them being bribed about other issues. After mass we had our lunch (almost identical to yesterdays) overlooking a fountain, near the Chinese gardens.

After our first group photograph with the newly created East Anglia banner, we went to find a place to see the Pope. Unfortunately (due to getting amazing seats at the opening and final masses!) we weren’t able to get a seat where the Pope was due to speak, so we had to go to a place called the Domain, where the Pope would drive through in his Popemobile! Other international pilgrims were also present, people from Qatar, Brunei and Tonga along with Americans Australians and Germans (the whole of Sydney seems to be full of American and German pilgrims) We also got the added bonus of free bobble hat/scarves!).

We were awaiting the arrival of the Holy Father and saw him, on a large TV screen, coming down Sydney Harbour surrounded by young people, in his boat, and then being greeted at Barangaroo. We later caught a glimpse of him as he zoomed past us in the Popemobile! It was an amazing experience to see possibly the most well known person in the whole world.

After the drive past we queued up for dinner, behind some other British pilgrims and in front of some people from Tasmania. Unfortunately the dinner was the same a yesterday (and the day before!) but there has been a choice every day (beef, lamb, vegetable or bean). You can see that we care about our food! After some dancing, we went to Hyde Park and to the Cathedral for quick visits, before returning to the hotel.

Friday – A bit of a random day

Today we were meant to visit the Stations of the Cross event (a dramatisation of Jesus’s death upon the cross), after our Catechesis talksession. However, it all turned out quite differently.
The day started with us getting up early to have breakfast. We left the hotel at 10 and walked to Darling Harbour for Catechesis, which was given by Bishop Michael Solomon of Colorado. The theme was the workings of the Holy Spirit in day to day life and how it can support us as part of the Trinity. The Mass afterwards was much better, withthe largest music group so far on stage, playing all the hymns. I sat next to a missionary from Kenya, who also owns a business selling aquariums!
After half an hour free time for shopping we went to Barangaroo to see the Stations of the Cross. We arrived at Barangaroo (basically a large concrete area, filled with around 200,000 people who all sit on the floor!) but we were very disappointed with our seats (as we couldn’t see or hear any of the goings on). Some of the group managed to find a better position, and really enjoyed the experience. Many people found it very moving.
However, along with some othermembers of the group, I went for a sightseeing trip around Sydney. Some of the group went shopping, and others went for a walk across the Harbour Bridge. It was really great to see it at sunset, and the sky went a fabulous colour. I have many great photos, and you can’t not walk across the bridge if you go to Sydney!
After the excursions we went to the Opera House, for more Youth Festival Events. We had to queue up again for dinner, getting talking to some Germans and Canadians. These queues are possibly the best queues that I have ever been in! Unfortunately they ran out of food at the Opera House food stop – so some of the group kindly volunteered to go back to Barangaroo to get some food foru s… Due to the lack of customers at Barangaroo we got double portions, which we couldn’t finish, but were handed out to homeless people on our way back.
The evening was filled with the ‘must see’ concert of the week (by some famous Australian singers, that no one knew, or can remember the name of!)everyone was dancing and waving their flags. In between the acts people went on stage to explain the way they found God. John Prigmore was very inspiring – he talked of his ex-gangster lifestyle and the way he had joined the Church.
Everyone is now going to bed, feeling very excited about the overnight vigil, which is taking place tomorrow.

Saturday – walk and vigil night!

Today we were allowed the luxury of a lie in as we know we are going to be up all night tonight! This is as it is the vigil evening, where we spend the whole night under the stars at Randwick Racecourse. During the night we will experience prayer led by the Pope and sleeping out under the stars.

However, there was a hasty start for some, to meet a contingent of Cambodians, including two priests and a seminarian, for coffee with the bishop. At midday we ate lunch and then set off on a walk to Randwick Racecourse. Musical members of the group brought their instruments, and we all brought as many warm clothes as we could carry. We were all having fun, however we did encounter anti-Catholic protesters, but they were soon drowned out by the sheer number of pilgrims. All was peaceful, and well controlled by the police.
After lovely evening prayer, and Eucharistic adoration with the Pope and an after-prayer concert, everyone settled into their sleeping bags, cardboard boxes or similar for the night ready to endure the cold - some taking the route of finding the heaters in the Eucharistic adoration tent. It was great fun to look up at the stars, and around the racecourse to see all the lit candles. It was really quite a sight!

Sunday – return from the Vigil, and farewell party

Today we all woke up nice and early to the Papua New Guineans singing 'Wake up to praise the Lord' in a large people train around the racecourse... After warming up a bit it was off to freshen up, eat some breakfast, listen to Morning Prayer and wait for mass with the Pope.

Mass was very special. The Pope, unexpectedly to some, drove around the racecourse in his Pope mobile and this time there was better opportunity for photo and video shoots – and some babies were even taken from the crowd and blessed. During the mass, several young people from around the world were confirmed which means they are given the Holy Spirit, and truly become Catholics.

Walking out after lunch took a very long while but after hopping over a barrier, my small group eventually managed to get back to the hotel! We thought we would be the first group back, being the first to leave the racecourse, but in reality we were near last!

In the evening, Hamish (the youth leader for the pilgrimage) had organised a team meal followed by dancing at a hotel, called the Kings Cross. This was in order to celebrate the end of the World Youth Day week, and to say farewell as half of the group have to leave at 4am tomorrow morning. The meal was good fun, and everyone made their way to the dance floor downstairs afterwards - with a (not very good) DJ. However, everyone had fun and most people danced. The day has ended quite late, some people have decided to not go to sleep as they have to get up so early tomorrow morning.

Monday – Monorail, shopping and subway

The group has reduced in size from 85 to 40! Some people have gone off on lone ravels, others have returned to England. I have been left behind with the group of 40. I’m looking forward to two free days in Sydney – after going through the leaflets in the hotel foyer a small group of us have decided to go to the market, followed by a trip on the monorail, shopping and a visit up Sydney tower.

The day went well, the shopping was good fun. We made some good discoveries, like a shop that only sold pyjamas – which were really lovely! We also visited the market, and it felt more as if we were in China than in Sydney. For lunch we found a stall selling Thai food, and I experienced the spiciest Thai green curry I have ever eaten. During the whole day we kept bumping into more World Youth Day people –recognised by the bright orange and yellow backpacks! On the monorail we chatted to two trainee lifeguards from Tobago, they were going back via London so we were able to tell them the best places to visit. From the window we managed to see all the locations that the World Youth Day events had taken place at, and other parts of Sydney – we went around the circuit 2 times as there was so much to take in!

Unfortunately it would have been a 3 hour wait to get up to Sydney tower, so we gave it a miss doing some more shopping instead! On the way home we bought a pizza and ate it in the hotel, other pilgrims went out for an Italian meal.

Tuesday – my last day in Sydney

Today I left the hotel early to go up Sydney tower. Luckily, this time we only had to wait 45 minutes before we were in the lift. After a 3 minute ascent we were at the viewing platform. The weather was good and the sky was clear – so we could see for miles. We walked all the way around the platform and took loads of photos! I got my first glimpse of the beach at Sydney, and all the small islands that surround the city.

After our second Thai lunch – a little less spicy this time! (During which a lady from Sydney sat down at our table and told us how nice it was to have so many young people in the city, and how relatively trouble free the event had been. It was really nice of her to approach her, and good to hear that local people had also enjoyed the event.)

We managed to walk around the city centre one last time before getting back to the hotel for 5, to get on the coach and get to the airport. It was really sad to leave Sydney, and many of the group behind. This is as many of the group are extending their stay and staying on in Australia, or moving on to New Zealand before going home. I am travelling with the group to Hong Kong, where I will be extending my stay, before travelling back to England. It has been an AMAZING experience to be here in Australia for WYD, to see so many young Christians has really strengthened my faith, and I have met so many new people. The next World Youth Day is going to be held in Madrid in 2011 – maybe I’ll see you there?