My impression about the book

The way I see it you should read "The Australian Connection", because it's an exciting and short story, which is about a kid, that lives and grown up with one parent. This book is the right one for people, who want to know how a life also can be without parents. Of course if you like situation with romance and adventure, it's a good one
for you too.

It's not difficult to understand, where you don't need a dictionary for looking up single words. At the end of the book there are some pages with the important vocabulary, which can help you to understand the story.
In my opinion, if you read this book, you will improve your speaking and understanding. This book will can maybe persuade (überzeugen) you to read English books. Of course you will learn new vocabulary and possibly in the future you can use your English language better. For me it was a good way to pick up new experience. I think it's not mistake, if you will read "The Australian Connection". Enjoy reading it!

Mini Saga of Chapter nine and ten

Task:
Write a mini saga for chapter 9/10 in your blog!

Chapter nine: ...and down to earth
Chapter ten: New Year's Eve

All the good things of the band come to an end, they looses success. One reason for this incident, Joe and Pete drink a lot and become racists. Dani and Alex leave the band. They move to England and create a new band: "The dolphins". Now Alex sees his father as a friend.

Chapter Eight: Up to the end...

Task:
• Read chapter 8. Which situation was most exciting or interesting? Give your opinion in about 3-5 sentences (ONLY). Then invite your blog team members (BTM) to give their opinion. You should go to all your BTM to say what you think about their findings.

my BMT => Marie St., Kati D., Emmi, Madiha, Koray

If you asked me, it’s really interesting to read the situation on page 48 lines 23 - 29 and p.45 l. 15. The first situation, when there are the first thoughts of Alex to disagreeing with Dani at the Byron Bay. The way I see it, Alex doesn’t feel fine in the band concerning to travel with them. I think the band is under stress, because of the work. They must always play at many concerts and had no free time. That's why Alex thinks, they weren't free like the dolphins. Second situation is, when Alex sees the shooting star sliding across the sky and wishes that he can travel for ever. To me it seems that Alex is like his father, the person that Alex at the first time doesn’t’ understand why he likes to travel around the world, but now he understands and likes it too.

To my BTM:
I. What do you think what does Alex means with his wish?
II. What does this quote means "They are free. We are not."?

Chapter Seven: Father and son

After reading chapter 7:
• Comment on the following quote: "And, of course, Alex understood only too well." (p.43, l.33)
• Write a different ending of the chapter: "That night, when Alex had gone to sleep, TOM picked up his diary and began writing." (compare p.43, l.34f)

In this chapter Alex and Tom tried to unterstand each other. The author wanted to tell us in this quote, that Alex tried to understand it, why Tom left his family and didn't contact him. Tom wanted to travel around the world and he wouldn't become an adult. As far as I'm concerned, Alex wont to be an adult, because he is afraid that he makes a mistake like his father too.

That night, when Alex had gone to sleep, TOM picked up his diary and began writing.

Friday, 8 February
This day was a wonderful day. Today it was my first meeting with Alex after 16 years. Alex is a good looking boy with a good personality.
He asked me, why I... left home and didn't contact him. I gave him my answer; I hope he understand me.
In the days I was young I had made a big mistake. I'm really sorry, what I've done. I will the best for him and tries to help him, whenever he has a problem or what ever. I can't turn it back, but I can tries to be a good father for him. I hope he accepts and can forgive me.....

Chapter Six: Into the rain forest - Part II

After reading chapter 6:

If you asked me, I was really shocked as I read this chapter. Alex asked Tom if he wasn't enough for him and didn't like him (p.32/l.2-3). He lost himself under control. Tom told him he was sorry. As far as I'm concerned Tom couldn't say anything as "...I'm sorry" (p.32/l.9), he was to disappoint and shocked what he did wrong to Alex. It was right from Tom to say: "Did you really think I could ever forget the day you were born" to him, because with it he could show him, that Alex wasn't insignificant for Tom.
But I'm afraid I don't agree at all, it was not okay he did something like that. I think no father would think that the child didn't want to know him or HATE him. It's the worst of all things what a father could say to his child, because if a child heard this, it would be hurt him/her like a hurt attack.
Finally it was a good concept from Tom and Alex to make a trip to Queensland, because so they could get on well with each other and make it up.

Chapter Six: Into the rain forest - Part I

Before reading chapter 6:

In my mind, Alex will be nervous, excited and keep very silence at the begining of the conversation between his father, because he hasn't seen his father for 16 years . He doesn't know what he shall to do or say. After a couple of minutes Alex will be self-confident and ask him a lot of questions. In my opinion Alex will ask Tom about the past, for example why he never had contact or visit him. As far as I'm concerned Tom will give him a reason for his questions, but not the truth, because he won't hurt him.
I can imagine that this conservation will be hard for both; Alex is disappointed of his father; Tom has a lot of guilt feelings. The way I see it, Alex and Tom will start an argument, because of their disagreement.

Chapter Five: The face in the crowd

1. What do you think, how Alex thought about the band and how he reacted, when he saw his father for the first time?

2. What was your first reaction, when you read that they hit the cow and Joe didn't tell the police about that? Do you agree to their procedure?

3. Do you think Alex will get on well with Tom Connell, his real father?

4. Will the bandmembers find it out about the realationship between Alex and Dani?

Chapter Four: The big decision

Task: Dani and Alex have their first disagreement.

• Why? • What is it about? • What's your opinion about it?
It seemed that everything for Alex was good, because he fell in love with Dani and got his first kiss from her, but sudden they had their first disagreement about being in spotlight and the freedom of the penguins in Melbourne.

In Danis opinion the penguins looked happy and sweet, whereas Alex thought they looked lost and afraid, so they had different opinions. Then Dani give him an answer to his argument:"...I thought you liked being in the spotlight (p.24 l.8)". The way I see it, Dani wanted to show Alex the bad side of being famous, that’s why Alex thought Dani wouldn't believe in his dream. As far as I'm concerned, she was in this situation to hard to Alex to show him that. In my opinion I agree with Alex, because I didn't know what I would do, when hundred people looked down at me. If I played in a famous band, I would also felt in the spotlight. I think Alex wanted to give his opinion, but he didn't want to argue with Dani.