Bowie Elementary School students learned about Christmas in Australia firsthand on Friday morning.
Thanks to a traveling bunch of basketball players and school officials from Braemar College, a school located north of Melbourne, Victoria.
The main building in the college, Braemar House, dates back to the late 19th century. This is a co-curricular private school.
Braemar is one of eight schools playing the Bowie Invitational boys’ basketball tournament. They have two teams, one playing in the varsity division and the other in the freshmen group.
“Everyone is so welcoming in Texas,” said Paul Warner, head of the Harry House at Braemar College.
Warner also serves as a physical education teacher and grade-level leader at the school. He is one of the chaperones on the trip.
Braemar – save for 19 hours worth of jet lag – arrived in the United States on Tuesday to begin a whirlwind tour of America that won’t end until Dec. 22.
The school is slated to face American high schools from all around the country – including the New York City area and North Carolina. The boys are staying with host families, and Koni Jones has served as Bowie’s coordinator of housing.
“We love Bowie High,” Warner said. “The facilities are crazy good. The people have been lovely and friendly and the students here have been so hospitable to us.”
Warner’s child, Manon, will be entering Braemar College next year.
In the foyer leading to the high school gymnasium, there’s a painted sign saying, “Welcome Australians.”
There have been other gestures of international favor and goodness all around Bowie High School.
So, what did the elementary school students learn about Christmas in Australia?
They learned reindeer don’t transport presents; rather that duty is fulfilled by kangaroos with pouches full of gifts. Yes, Santa Claus has a different crew in Australia.
Food is both similar and different. Turkey is served. But, so are steak and eggs and pavlova, a dessert featuring kiwi and strawberries on top.
Already, the tour has been a busy one for the group.
The students participated in a training session with Tony Swindle at his center in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex on Wednesday.
On Wednesday evening, the team attended a college basketball game between Texas Christian and NCAA Division I No. 22 Southern Methodist. The Mustangs topped the Horned Frogs by three points 70-67. Thursday morning before driving up to Bowie, the team toured AT&T Stadium, which was an immense thrill for Warner. Read more in the Dec. 5 edition of The Bowie News.

Editor’s Note: The Storm Center column is the expressed written views of sports editor Eric Viccaro and not The Bowie News.

Braemar College’s players pose for a photo for their families back in Australia. The team is on an extended tour of the United States through Dec. 22. (News photo by Eric Viccaro)