It doesn’t snow where I live but on my way to town in winter I can see in the distance snow on a mountain, does that count. We do not get snow here like you; we do have in certain areas, like the Snow Mountains. Skiing in Australia is expensive and only for the better off. I grew up near the photo aboveand used to ski, it must have been cheaper then.

We do have Roller coasters not in my back yard though. Certain theme Parks scattered across the country, like Luna Park is in Melbourne and Sydney which I have posted a Photo of. On the Gold Coast in Queensland it is very touristy so they have quite a few. I don’t like to ride them, do you?

Home schooling in Australia, is getting popular but I would not say it is normal; people still are shocked when you tell them. It is very hard to come up with statistics in home schooling. Regulations are different from State to State, registration is compulsory but I think only half carry actually do. I think the school I register with has about 1400 home schooled students.

Major Public Holidays in Australia for 2007

New Year's Day	Monday 1 January
Australia Day	Friday 26 January
Canberra Day	Monday 19 March
Good Friday	Friday 6 April
Easter Saturday	Saturday 7 April
Easter Monday	Monday 9 April
Anzac Day	Wednesday 25 April
Queen's Birthday Holiday	Monday 11 June
Labour Day	Monday 01 October
Christmas Day	Tuesday 25 December
Boxing Day	Wednesday 26 December

I haven’t heard of Canberra Day though, I am willing to celebrate it anyway.

School Terms for my State-

	Term 1	Monday 29 January 2007	to	Thursday 05 April 2007
	Term 2	Monday 23 April 2007	to	Friday 29 June 2007
	Term 3	Monday 16 July 2007	to	Friday 28 September 2007
	Term 4	Monday 15 October 2007	to	Friday 21 December 2007

We do have Starbucks, we opened the first one in 2002, I have never been.