It has almost been 4 weeks since I returned back home and life has changed dramatically. Upon arriving from Australia on a Friday at 11:30 pm, I graduated the next day from UGA and also moved into my parent's house. So that makes 3 major life changes within 12 hours: continent, education status, and living situation. Jet lag was ridiculous and there was no telling what my sleep schedule was going to be from night to night; some mornings I woke up at 6 am and some afternoons I would wake up at 1 pm.
Since there was no job waiting for me here, the job search has been a top priority. I have a steady stream of applications going out into the real world with a trickle every now and then coming back to me. As of now, I have only secured a tutoring job for two hours every week. Not that impressive? You're telling me. It's better than nothing, and mom and dad have been more than gracious in allowing me to stay at home while I find a job and get stabilized.
The thought of moving back home always made me cringe, but I must admit that I don't have any complaints (yet). Peachtree City is not the most happening town, but I am almost grateful to have some down time. Senior year was the busiest I had at UGA by far and there was no break before starting student teaching in Australia. I also have the opportunity to volunteer with Janet at the Breast Cancer Survivors' Network. I worked with Janet in high school when her support group was run out of her house. Now she has an office and is receiving grants for her non-profit! It is so exciting to be back with her and see how big the organization is now. There are multiple fundraisers that they are working on and I have been able to help out because of the ideas that I picked up while being an officer in Make-A-Wish @ UGA. My only issue: all the pink.
Hopefully the next post that I write will include a job offer. Good luck vibes welcomed...jobs too :)
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
La nuit mes yeux t'eclairent.
Two weekends ago I had the opportunity to meet Pierre. Read this next part carefully and see if you can follow...Pierre is studying abroad in Melbourne but is originally from a uni in Lyon, France. My former roommate and friend who's more than a friend, Michelle, studied abroad in Lyon last fall and roomed with Pierre, Arthur, and Katia. I knew all about these French roommates of Michelles but had never met any of them. Pierre and I finally met in Melbourne, Australia! So, got it? The world is so much smaller than you could have imagined.
Of course I visited and stayed with Tiffany in Melbourne but we both met up with Pierre on Friday at a bar right across Flinder's Street Station. The bar, Young & Jackson, was actually one of the oldest bars in Melbourne according to Pierre. Tiffany and I both ordered one of the Young & Jackson beers that they had on tap and enjoyed their brew. The three of us sat and sipped while talking about what had brought us to Australia, how we liked it, and well, the inevitable topic that brought us together: Michelle. Tiffany and I had both agreed that if things were weird with Pierre we would totally pull out an excuse of having to be home early, but we all decided that it would be fun to try out a bar safari that Pierre had found in his Melbourne tourist guide.
So once upon a time there was a Frenchman and 2 American girls wandering around downtown Melbourne in search of the perfect bar. After figuring out that the bar safari guide was a little outdated and finding themselves on a side street with obscure paintings on the brick walls around them, they decided to follow a group of people about their age into a hole in the wall. The hole in the wall proved to be the best bar in the land and everyone seemed to know about its charm because there was very little room to move or even find some chairs to sit down. The 2 American girls and the Frenchmen lived happily ever after until they decided to move on for the evening.
But really, we found the most adorable little bar with people our age and it was a literal hole in the wall. While Pierre and I were trying to figure out where exactly this bar was located on the map in his tourist guide, we had a self-proclaimed local come up to us and ask us where we were from and if we needed help getting anywhere. You know you've reached tourist status when the locals are taking a break from their beers here to try to help you.
The next day, Tiffany and I woke up late and went to see Harry Potter. I haven't read the sixth book, but I love those movies. I know they're never as good as the books but I love those movies! And I would watch Daniel Radcliffe all day if you asked me to.
We went over to Pierre's new house for an unofficial housewarming party. First off, everyone was awesome and friendly. Second off, everyone was from somewhere else. There were people from France, Peru, Germany, Spain, Italy, Norway, etc. It was so great to practice some of my French as well. I miss it so much and I was so relieved to be able to understand a lot of the words that they were saying. Tiffany was a little apprehensive to use the French that she remembered, which was "Je suis un anana" and "Je m'appelle...", but she later said that she had never felt so cultured. And really if you think about it, here we were (Americans) sitting in Australia speaking French (or Franglish) with people from all over the globe. Of course everyone there spoke English because languages hold such an importance in other countries besides America. Pierre made sure to play a little Lynyrd Skynrd for us to give us a taste of home...loved it.
The next day, I was about to head out of Melbourne when I got a text from Pierre inviting me down to Saint Kilda. I maneuvered myself around on the metros and trams (be proud!) and met up with Pierre, Irina, and Martin (all French). Upon my arrival, Pierre was hit in the head with a pigeon. No one saw this event occur but he assures us that a pigeon flew right into his head...Australia birds, what are you gonna do with 'em? We wandered down the pier and around the beach area before heading in towards land. We saw the famous carnival entrance welcoming us with a large clown's mouth. We were all pretty tired from the night before and traipsing around Saint Kilda so we caught the tram back to Federation Square where Irina and I enjoyed a delicious hot chocolate and the boys, who couldn't demascinulate themselves with un chocolat chaud, ordered a beer. It was getting late and I still had to catch the hour long train ride back to Geelong so I peaced out, and we promised that we would all meet again in either Georgia or France. I love instant friends.
Of course I visited and stayed with Tiffany in Melbourne but we both met up with Pierre on Friday at a bar right across Flinder's Street Station. The bar, Young & Jackson, was actually one of the oldest bars in Melbourne according to Pierre. Tiffany and I both ordered one of the Young & Jackson beers that they had on tap and enjoyed their brew. The three of us sat and sipped while talking about what had brought us to Australia, how we liked it, and well, the inevitable topic that brought us together: Michelle. Tiffany and I had both agreed that if things were weird with Pierre we would totally pull out an excuse of having to be home early, but we all decided that it would be fun to try out a bar safari that Pierre had found in his Melbourne tourist guide.
So once upon a time there was a Frenchman and 2 American girls wandering around downtown Melbourne in search of the perfect bar. After figuring out that the bar safari guide was a little outdated and finding themselves on a side street with obscure paintings on the brick walls around them, they decided to follow a group of people about their age into a hole in the wall. The hole in the wall proved to be the best bar in the land and everyone seemed to know about its charm because there was very little room to move or even find some chairs to sit down. The 2 American girls and the Frenchmen lived happily ever after until they decided to move on for the evening.
But really, we found the most adorable little bar with people our age and it was a literal hole in the wall. While Pierre and I were trying to figure out where exactly this bar was located on the map in his tourist guide, we had a self-proclaimed local come up to us and ask us where we were from and if we needed help getting anywhere. You know you've reached tourist status when the locals are taking a break from their beers here to try to help you.
The next day, Tiffany and I woke up late and went to see Harry Potter. I haven't read the sixth book, but I love those movies. I know they're never as good as the books but I love those movies! And I would watch Daniel Radcliffe all day if you asked me to.
We went over to Pierre's new house for an unofficial housewarming party. First off, everyone was awesome and friendly. Second off, everyone was from somewhere else. There were people from France, Peru, Germany, Spain, Italy, Norway, etc. It was so great to practice some of my French as well. I miss it so much and I was so relieved to be able to understand a lot of the words that they were saying. Tiffany was a little apprehensive to use the French that she remembered, which was "Je suis un anana" and "Je m'appelle...", but she later said that she had never felt so cultured. And really if you think about it, here we were (Americans) sitting in Australia speaking French (or Franglish) with people from all over the globe. Of course everyone there spoke English because languages hold such an importance in other countries besides America. Pierre made sure to play a little Lynyrd Skynrd for us to give us a taste of home...loved it.
The next day, I was about to head out of Melbourne when I got a text from Pierre inviting me down to Saint Kilda. I maneuvered myself around on the metros and trams (be proud!) and met up with Pierre, Irina, and Martin (all French). Upon my arrival, Pierre was hit in the head with a pigeon. No one saw this event occur but he assures us that a pigeon flew right into his head...Australia birds, what are you gonna do with 'em? We wandered down the pier and around the beach area before heading in towards land. We saw the famous carnival entrance welcoming us with a large clown's mouth. We were all pretty tired from the night before and traipsing around Saint Kilda so we caught the tram back to Federation Square where Irina and I enjoyed a delicious hot chocolate and the boys, who couldn't demascinulate themselves with un chocolat chaud, ordered a beer. It was getting late and I still had to catch the hour long train ride back to Geelong so I peaced out, and we promised that we would all meet again in either Georgia or France. I love instant friends.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Standing all alone in a black coat.
Only a few short months ago I was counting down the days until I left for Australia, and now I find myself counting down the days until I fly home. Leaving will be bittersweet, but I will be forever grateful to touchdown in America. There have been countless lessons learned (and taught...ha) this summer/winter and I have grown in innumerable ways.
Today I faux packed. Although completely unnecessary for most people, this was probably the smartest thing I could have done. First off, my packing is usually horrendous and secondly, it was imperative that I figure out how much space I would have left to allot for Cadbury chocolate. I plan on stuffing every shoe, filling every crevice, and overflowing every piece of luggage with Cadbury chocolate.
Rationale behind this?
1. I will miss Cadbury chocolate the most.
2. Everyone back home must sample even a small piece.
3. I may be addicted to it.
I have chosen to spend this last weekend in Geelong resting a bit. My host house here has two cases of swine flu in it and in order to make sure my immune system is ready for the long flight this week, I thought it would be best to let myself rest as opposed to traveling to Melbourne and drinking with les amis francais. I also have big plans to try to overcome jet lag as quick as possible. I am going to try and start being on East coast time before I leave with the help of some insomniac medicine courtesy of Sydney pharmacists.
My students at school are starting to catch on that I am leaving soon. One of the girls said she needs to get my phone number before I leave. I'm thinking passing out my email address might be more reasonable in order for her parents to avoid the costs of international phone calls.
Today I faux packed. Although completely unnecessary for most people, this was probably the smartest thing I could have done. First off, my packing is usually horrendous and secondly, it was imperative that I figure out how much space I would have left to allot for Cadbury chocolate. I plan on stuffing every shoe, filling every crevice, and overflowing every piece of luggage with Cadbury chocolate.
Rationale behind this?
1. I will miss Cadbury chocolate the most.
2. Everyone back home must sample even a small piece.
3. I may be addicted to it.
I have chosen to spend this last weekend in Geelong resting a bit. My host house here has two cases of swine flu in it and in order to make sure my immune system is ready for the long flight this week, I thought it would be best to let myself rest as opposed to traveling to Melbourne and drinking with les amis francais. I also have big plans to try to overcome jet lag as quick as possible. I am going to try and start being on East coast time before I leave with the help of some insomniac medicine courtesy of Sydney pharmacists.
My students at school are starting to catch on that I am leaving soon. One of the girls said she needs to get my phone number before I leave. I'm thinking passing out my email address might be more reasonable in order for her parents to avoid the costs of international phone calls.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Edelweiss
I could not have asked for a better holiday in South Korea. Jihyun (previously known as Chloe) and her family were so hospitable. They took me in for 9 days and really showed me the Korean culture. Our days were often jam packed with being tourists (mainly for my benefit), running errands, or wandering around Seoul. In our free time, Jihyun and I practiced our moves to the Hoedown Throwdown or received a cucumber face mask from Jihyun's mom. That's right, we were living the dream. I am going to put the link to the pictures down at the bottom of this post like before because there is just too much to write about.
Before I was in South Korea though, I visited Sydney for a few days. I was able to catch up with an old friend from Singapore who showed me around the city a bit. Sydney had so many tourists, and I had fun picking out who may or may not be American. Of course I saw the Opera House and thought of Nemo while I was walking along Darling Harbour. We went out one night to King's Cross and the next day went to the Fish Market.
Staying with Jihyun was such an incredible experience because her family is very Korean. Her mom is even a designer of traditional Korean clothes! Many Koreans like very firm beds so I slept on the ground with a mattress pad and a hard pillow with a ridge in it for your neck. After showering, I had a towel that was a little bit bigger than a dish towel. I was surprised at how well it actually worked and only had problems when I tried to put my wet hair up in a turban. Not as many people as I expected spoke English, so Jihyun and I made up a little dictionary of Korean words for me to use when I met some of her family members or was trying to complete a transaction at the markets. I think for the entire time I was there I only had maybe one or two "Western" meals. I tried everything they set in front of me. For the most part, all of the food tasted great. Jihyun's mom is a wonderful cook and the preparation that she put into the meals was amazing. There were only a few things that I was not fond of, like sea squirt and sea cucumber or the fat on the meat at one restaurant. Kim chee is a huge part of Korean food. It is eaten at almost every single meal (much like rice) and is prepared in bulk quantities months and sometimes years in advance because it is pickled cabbage and other vegetables. Vegetables were present in every meal and I ate more tofu in Korea than I think I ever had in my life. Tofu is one of those things that I was always skeptical of, but I think after this trip I will be more open to it. Like I said before, rice is eaten at every meal, but I bet you didn't think that they would take it one step further and flavour other things with rice. There was rice juice, rice milk, rice ice cream, rice cakes, etc. If Bubba Gump had it with shrimp, then I'm sure the Koreans have it with rice.
Returning to Australia was bittersweet. Once I returned though, I found that I only had 2 1/2 weeks before returning to the US! Now it is down to 9 days and I am really wondering where the time has gone. I only have one more week at Bellaire and all of the students are slowly realizing that my time is coming to an end. Brie has arranged for me to visit the other grade levels since I have been with the juniors the entire time. I will spend a day with the preps, middles, and seniors in the Senior Learning Unit. The Senior Learning Unit is one of the things that is unique to Bellaire. All of the seniors (year 5/6) are responsible for choosing their schedules and have workshops that they must attend. It is a very independent learning setting and I have always been interested in how it is run. The teachers must work very close together in order to ensure that all of the students are keeping receiving all of the appropriate classes and conferences.
Pictures from Bellaire, Sydney, and South Korea
Before I was in South Korea though, I visited Sydney for a few days. I was able to catch up with an old friend from Singapore who showed me around the city a bit. Sydney had so many tourists, and I had fun picking out who may or may not be American. Of course I saw the Opera House and thought of Nemo while I was walking along Darling Harbour. We went out one night to King's Cross and the next day went to the Fish Market.
Staying with Jihyun was such an incredible experience because her family is very Korean. Her mom is even a designer of traditional Korean clothes! Many Koreans like very firm beds so I slept on the ground with a mattress pad and a hard pillow with a ridge in it for your neck. After showering, I had a towel that was a little bit bigger than a dish towel. I was surprised at how well it actually worked and only had problems when I tried to put my wet hair up in a turban. Not as many people as I expected spoke English, so Jihyun and I made up a little dictionary of Korean words for me to use when I met some of her family members or was trying to complete a transaction at the markets. I think for the entire time I was there I only had maybe one or two "Western" meals. I tried everything they set in front of me. For the most part, all of the food tasted great. Jihyun's mom is a wonderful cook and the preparation that she put into the meals was amazing. There were only a few things that I was not fond of, like sea squirt and sea cucumber or the fat on the meat at one restaurant. Kim chee is a huge part of Korean food. It is eaten at almost every single meal (much like rice) and is prepared in bulk quantities months and sometimes years in advance because it is pickled cabbage and other vegetables. Vegetables were present in every meal and I ate more tofu in Korea than I think I ever had in my life. Tofu is one of those things that I was always skeptical of, but I think after this trip I will be more open to it. Like I said before, rice is eaten at every meal, but I bet you didn't think that they would take it one step further and flavour other things with rice. There was rice juice, rice milk, rice ice cream, rice cakes, etc. If Bubba Gump had it with shrimp, then I'm sure the Koreans have it with rice.
Returning to Australia was bittersweet. Once I returned though, I found that I only had 2 1/2 weeks before returning to the US! Now it is down to 9 days and I am really wondering where the time has gone. I only have one more week at Bellaire and all of the students are slowly realizing that my time is coming to an end. Brie has arranged for me to visit the other grade levels since I have been with the juniors the entire time. I will spend a day with the preps, middles, and seniors in the Senior Learning Unit. The Senior Learning Unit is one of the things that is unique to Bellaire. All of the seniors (year 5/6) are responsible for choosing their schedules and have workshops that they must attend. It is a very independent learning setting and I have always been interested in how it is run. The teachers must work very close together in order to ensure that all of the students are keeping receiving all of the appropriate classes and conferences.
Pictures from Bellaire, Sydney, and South Korea
Saturday, June 27, 2009
First the window, then it's to the wall. Lil' Jon, he always tells the truth.
The last day of school before holidays made me beyond happy. We had casual dress day and it also served as a spirit/fundraising day for children with diabetes. Everyone was supposed to wear all one colour and bring in a gold coin (either aus$1 or aus$2) donation. This little boy was wearing a Georgia Bulldogs t-shirt! He didn't have any real bulldog spirit or have any idea where he got the shirt, but, my goodness, he was wearing the shirt and that was all I needed from him.Gooooo Dawgs! Sic' em! Woof woof woof!
The first few days of holiday have been very relaxing. I have had the house to myself for a lot of the weekend, so I have been working really hard on my portfolio, watching movies, and trying to walk down to the shops at least once a day. I cooked a recipe my mom gave me for dinner for everyone and it was a success! Everyone seemed to like it and complimented me on the meal. Phew...sort of a relief since I'm so used to cooking for one, I wasn't even sure if the dish was going to be decent!
Even though I am enjoying my downtime, I am very much excited to get to South Korea with Chloe! She has been telling me all of the things that we are going to do and prepping me for any culture shock that I might have. Bring. it. on.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
1 Confirmed Case!
Yes, of swine flu at Bellaire. But it's not me! One of the poor little preps was diagnosed as having swine flu, but the newsletter that was sent out said they were recovering quickly.
Today was the first day that I really felt comfortable in the classroom and had full reign with what I was doing. I know that it's sad but I think the only reason I felt this way was because Brie wasn't there. I didn't have to worry about if I was taking too long with the lesson or if the kids were talking about something irrelevant. My classroom would not function the way that Brie's does, and it is way frustrating trying to work underneath someone who insists on sticking to their rules. Especially with such young children I think they deserve to stretch their minds in the creative aspect of their work. So many of the students have problems coming up with their own idea and I think it is because they have been prompted with everything that they have worked on.
I love working with this grade though because they are so easy to work with. They believe almost everything you say, but there are the rare moments when some of them will pick up on your sarcasm. Today Lily asked the question that everyone but my students seemed to be asking: "Ms. T, do you have a boyfriend back in America?". I could tell she was disappointed by my response so I told her that Nick Jonas had asked me out on a date, but I turned him down. "Why did you say no?" she asked. "Well he's not really my type. He was too short." I replied. Lily told me that was alright and that I should go on a date with Mr. Whiteside (one of the Middle teachers) because he is really tall, which he is. I love the logic of a 7 year old...why didn't I think of that? Declan was sitting at the same table and had a little smirk on his face throughout the entire conversation. He gave me a look afterwards that told me he knew what I was up to...smart boy.
Well, I'm off to the premiere of The Hannah Montana movie with Johanna! (Yeah, they're a bit behind here...)
Today was the first day that I really felt comfortable in the classroom and had full reign with what I was doing. I know that it's sad but I think the only reason I felt this way was because Brie wasn't there. I didn't have to worry about if I was taking too long with the lesson or if the kids were talking about something irrelevant. My classroom would not function the way that Brie's does, and it is way frustrating trying to work underneath someone who insists on sticking to their rules. Especially with such young children I think they deserve to stretch their minds in the creative aspect of their work. So many of the students have problems coming up with their own idea and I think it is because they have been prompted with everything that they have worked on.
I love working with this grade though because they are so easy to work with. They believe almost everything you say, but there are the rare moments when some of them will pick up on your sarcasm. Today Lily asked the question that everyone but my students seemed to be asking: "Ms. T, do you have a boyfriend back in America?". I could tell she was disappointed by my response so I told her that Nick Jonas had asked me out on a date, but I turned him down. "Why did you say no?" she asked. "Well he's not really my type. He was too short." I replied. Lily told me that was alright and that I should go on a date with Mr. Whiteside (one of the Middle teachers) because he is really tall, which he is. I love the logic of a 7 year old...why didn't I think of that? Declan was sitting at the same table and had a little smirk on his face throughout the entire conversation. He gave me a look afterwards that told me he knew what I was up to...smart boy.
Well, I'm off to the premiere of The Hannah Montana movie with Johanna! (Yeah, they're a bit behind here...)
Thursday, June 11, 2009
That dream I'm dreaming.
So, I started writing this post almost a month after my last and realized that I had way too many Australian adventures to tell y'all about. I particularly don't want to go back and describe everything that I have done, so instead of boring you with that I will include the link to all of my pictures at the end of this post.
This post will dedicated to what I have been doing in the past month in more of a daily life context as opposed to the flashy traveling and sightseeing context. During the week I really don't have much going on besides writing lesson plans every now and then, so I was trying to figure out why I hadn't been updating the blog and found 3 things that have distracted me:
1. "The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold
2. "Open House" by Elizabeth Berg
3. "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini
If you know me and books, you would actually be quite proud of me for finishing one! Considering the last book that I finished was the second Twilight book (I stopped midway of the third...oops) back in November, I found myself completely caught up in the recount of Susie's life and afterlife in "The Lovely Bones". It was a pretty easy read and sort of the perfect book for wintertime while curled up in bed because of the graphic descriptions and insights into people's minds. I was less than impressed with "Open House," and I really don't know why I read it besides that it was in Oprah's Book Club. Nothing inspirational, thought-provoking, or stimulating for the mind. I am beyond excited to be currently reading "The Kite Runner" because it has been on my list for quite awhile. I am proud to say that I am making decent progress on it, and with the holidays right around the corner, I hope to finish it next week.
Ahh, the holidays. This is truly a well-needed holiday, and while I will only have about 5 days off starting this Saturday for myself before I start traveling, I must say that it will be nice to relax. I plan on getting my hair cut, working on my portfolio (gross), watching movies, and staying warm wrapped up in my red blanket. Don't worry though, I'm not going to be completely boring though! I have booked a flight to South Korea for a week and a half! I will be going with Chloe to visit her family who lives there. I am obviously excited to visit South Korea but equally excited to see Chloe and catch up with her! Tiffany and I get plenty of time together but we miss our far away friend! I'll also get a day in Sydney to explore one of Australia's most well-known cities and reunite with a friend from Singapore.
2 weeks ago, my family went through a trying time as most of them sat in a Florida courthouse during a 3 day trial to sentence the murderer of my cousin, Andrew, to life in prison. My parents had gone down to support my aunt and speak at the trial and had left Skype behind them in Peachtree City, so I was desperately looking online for any updates that were coming through on the news. After the third day of the trial, I broke down and used my international minutes on my cell phone (which I found out are not expensive at all) to call my parents to find out the good news. During those three days I found myself teetering on the edge of extreme homesickness and flashbacks of Andrew's death from 2 years ago making me a little unstable. Even as my parents described the horrific events of the trial and I was relieved to be hearing the details, I had to swallow hard and fight back the tears. These are the things in life that you are not supposed to miss. This is just one of the things (probably the most important) that I am missing this summer. And this is one of the most valuable lessons that I have learned throughout my time here so far: it's not where you are but who you are with that matters. I remember writing in my Alternative Spring Break biography that I was slowly starting to learn this lesson and that was a year ago. Now I wonder why it has taken a relocation across the world for me to truly understand what I wrote. I am too stubborn for my own good.
In lighter news, Tiffany and I took a surfing lesson this past weekend. My host family took us down to Anglesea for the weekend, so we thought this would be the perfect time to test the water (ha) with surfing. I quickly fell in love with Dom, our surfing instructor, who was the epitome of Australian surfer. He was 21, blonde, and simply living (or living simply) as a surf instructor. Too bad things will never work out between us because I was useless on a surf board :( I gave my best effort with every wave but only managed to stand up twice (ok, fine, just 1 1/2 times). Tiffany should probably enter the next surf competition down at Bells Beach because that girl could ride a wave like no one's business! The video is pretty much how the entire 2 hours went, but can I just say that I loved every minute that I was out there? Definitely one of my favorite experiences here so far!
Anyway, just in case you want to know about the real reason I am even over here, teaching is going well! My adviser from my university over here came and observed me today for a lesson and gave me really great feedback. He loved my lesson and told me that the only thing I need to work on is my inflection and variation while speaking to the students. Surprise, surprise, I am too calm and quiet. Some of the lessons I have done have included toilet paper squirrels, "The Cat in the Hat" hats, and cootie catchers. They loved all of them, and currently I am racking my brain for equally exciting craft projects. Never should have set my own bar so high!
As promised, here are 2 albums full of pictures of sightseeing that I have done in the month of June!
Middle excursion to the Marine Discovery Centre and Queenscliff, Bollard Walk with Tiffany
Bush Bashing, Melbourne, Bells Beach/Torquay, Anglesea, Great Ocean Road, Surfing
This post will dedicated to what I have been doing in the past month in more of a daily life context as opposed to the flashy traveling and sightseeing context. During the week I really don't have much going on besides writing lesson plans every now and then, so I was trying to figure out why I hadn't been updating the blog and found 3 things that have distracted me:
1. "The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold
2. "Open House" by Elizabeth Berg
3. "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini
If you know me and books, you would actually be quite proud of me for finishing one! Considering the last book that I finished was the second Twilight book (I stopped midway of the third...oops) back in November, I found myself completely caught up in the recount of Susie's life and afterlife in "The Lovely Bones". It was a pretty easy read and sort of the perfect book for wintertime while curled up in bed because of the graphic descriptions and insights into people's minds. I was less than impressed with "Open House," and I really don't know why I read it besides that it was in Oprah's Book Club. Nothing inspirational, thought-provoking, or stimulating for the mind. I am beyond excited to be currently reading "The Kite Runner" because it has been on my list for quite awhile. I am proud to say that I am making decent progress on it, and with the holidays right around the corner, I hope to finish it next week.
Ahh, the holidays. This is truly a well-needed holiday, and while I will only have about 5 days off starting this Saturday for myself before I start traveling, I must say that it will be nice to relax. I plan on getting my hair cut, working on my portfolio (gross), watching movies, and staying warm wrapped up in my red blanket. Don't worry though, I'm not going to be completely boring though! I have booked a flight to South Korea for a week and a half! I will be going with Chloe to visit her family who lives there. I am obviously excited to visit South Korea but equally excited to see Chloe and catch up with her! Tiffany and I get plenty of time together but we miss our far away friend! I'll also get a day in Sydney to explore one of Australia's most well-known cities and reunite with a friend from Singapore.
2 weeks ago, my family went through a trying time as most of them sat in a Florida courthouse during a 3 day trial to sentence the murderer of my cousin, Andrew, to life in prison. My parents had gone down to support my aunt and speak at the trial and had left Skype behind them in Peachtree City, so I was desperately looking online for any updates that were coming through on the news. After the third day of the trial, I broke down and used my international minutes on my cell phone (which I found out are not expensive at all) to call my parents to find out the good news. During those three days I found myself teetering on the edge of extreme homesickness and flashbacks of Andrew's death from 2 years ago making me a little unstable. Even as my parents described the horrific events of the trial and I was relieved to be hearing the details, I had to swallow hard and fight back the tears. These are the things in life that you are not supposed to miss. This is just one of the things (probably the most important) that I am missing this summer. And this is one of the most valuable lessons that I have learned throughout my time here so far: it's not where you are but who you are with that matters. I remember writing in my Alternative Spring Break biography that I was slowly starting to learn this lesson and that was a year ago. Now I wonder why it has taken a relocation across the world for me to truly understand what I wrote. I am too stubborn for my own good.
In lighter news, Tiffany and I took a surfing lesson this past weekend. My host family took us down to Anglesea for the weekend, so we thought this would be the perfect time to test the water (ha) with surfing. I quickly fell in love with Dom, our surfing instructor, who was the epitome of Australian surfer. He was 21, blonde, and simply living (or living simply) as a surf instructor. Too bad things will never work out between us because I was useless on a surf board :( I gave my best effort with every wave but only managed to stand up twice (ok, fine, just 1 1/2 times). Tiffany should probably enter the next surf competition down at Bells Beach because that girl could ride a wave like no one's business! The video is pretty much how the entire 2 hours went, but can I just say that I loved every minute that I was out there? Definitely one of my favorite experiences here so far!
Anyway, just in case you want to know about the real reason I am even over here, teaching is going well! My adviser from my university over here came and observed me today for a lesson and gave me really great feedback. He loved my lesson and told me that the only thing I need to work on is my inflection and variation while speaking to the students. Surprise, surprise, I am too calm and quiet. Some of the lessons I have done have included toilet paper squirrels, "The Cat in the Hat" hats, and cootie catchers. They loved all of them, and currently I am racking my brain for equally exciting craft projects. Never should have set my own bar so high!
As promised, here are 2 albums full of pictures of sightseeing that I have done in the month of June!
Middle excursion to the Marine Discovery Centre and Queenscliff, Bollard Walk with Tiffany
Bush Bashing, Melbourne, Bells Beach/Torquay, Anglesea, Great Ocean Road, Surfing
Monday, June 1, 2009
That's alright, love!
I should probably be posting on here more often because my list of things to write about on here has become kilometers long! But as I've found myself saying quite often, "That's alright, love!"
Last Tuesday evening was Bellaire's
Bush Dance and it was adorable! All of the units had been learning and practicing a dance, so we all gathered Deakin Uni's gym so that the parents could watch their children boogie. The parents were invited up to learn the dance after the students performed, and that was almost more entertaining than the children! All of the teachers from Bellaire attend and during each unit's dance there are mini dances that we all learn the choreography to. This included the Mexican Hat Dance, the Macarena, and other Australian line dances. I was absolutely useless learning the choreography (surprise!), and I swear I was shunned the next day at school for my sweet sweet moves.
The French teacher at school came and asked me a few weeks ago if I would help her out for 2 hours every Thursday with the seniors in their Fast Track to French class. Of course I said yes, but it really made me realize how much I have missed French in the past year! We spent the first session working on using French-English dictionaries and started conjugating verbs. Oh, how I have missed spouting off
j'aime nous aimons
tu aimes vous aimez
il/elle aime ils/elles aiment
Friday I went to the excursion with the preps (finally! - bad weather had postponed us 2 weeks) to Eastern Beach and the Geelong Botanical Gardens. The preps are ages five to six and quite a handful. I loved tagging along with them though because I was able to check another sight off my list of things to see. We made it back to school in time for the weekly Friday assembly where I feel as if I stick out like a sore thumb because I don't know the Australian national anthem. It was a great way to end the week though, and I wish schools in America would think about partaking in a tradition like it.
After school, I went with Becky (the girl at Bellaire from Wisconsin) and Sally (her host mom) to a sample sale where I accidentally bought a few clothes. I couldn't help myself because a. I have been missing a good shopping spree and b. everything was marked down so much! I showed my purchases to Erin when I got home, and she said they were all really good brands. Erin invited Becky and I to a dip night at her friends house. Everyone brought a dip and drink to share (such a cute idea!), and then we went to town either after we had eaten enough dip or before we were too drunk to go out. We spent the entire night at Lamby's where we danced to a band who played quite a few American songs. Becky and I had a sleepover, and after coming back around 3:30am we were tres tired.
Saturday, we woke up to pancakes
made by Samuel. Danny offered to take us to the You Yangs for a hike. We stopped for lunch along the way, and I drove the rest of the 10 minutes to the area. It was my first time driving over here, and it really wasn't that bad. Although there were not that many cars on the road, I found myself having to concentrate to stay on the left side while turning. We drove up to Big Rock, which reminded me of Stone Mountain a bit but with a much better view. After Big Rock, we moved on to Flinders Hill where we did a 40 minute hike up to the top. The view was even more amazing from up there, but the wind was insane.
On Sunday, Becky and I had planned on going to Ballarat to see Sovereign Hill with Meg (Becky's neighbor) and her boyfriend, Matt. Sovereign Hill is a mock town set in the late 1800's dedicated to exploring the Gold Rush that occurred in Victoria. Quite the tourist trap. It reminded me of Dahlonega but tack on a $30 fee, characters dressed up in clothes from the period, horse drawn carriages, and a vintage bowling alley and you've actually got yourself a perfect hybrid of Dahlonega and Crossroads at Stone Mountain. After 4 hours, we went to a wonderful cafe called Racer's in Ballarat. Matt knew the owner, and if we had met him I probably would have had to tell him how beautiful his chicken foccaccia with fresh pesto was.
I came home to write lesson plans and get ready for my first official day of full teaching. Things went very well on Monday, but then Tuesday the kids just were not grasping anything I was trying to teach them. It was frustrating because I even showed them "Conjunction Junction" in hopes to start the day off right! But as I've learned to live by down under, that's alright, love!
Last Tuesday evening was Bellaire's
Bush Dance and it was adorable! All of the units had been learning and practicing a dance, so we all gathered Deakin Uni's gym so that the parents could watch their children boogie. The parents were invited up to learn the dance after the students performed, and that was almost more entertaining than the children! All of the teachers from Bellaire attend and during each unit's dance there are mini dances that we all learn the choreography to. This included the Mexican Hat Dance, the Macarena, and other Australian line dances. I was absolutely useless learning the choreography (surprise!), and I swear I was shunned the next day at school for my sweet sweet moves.The French teacher at school came and asked me a few weeks ago if I would help her out for 2 hours every Thursday with the seniors in their Fast Track to French class. Of course I said yes, but it really made me realize how much I have missed French in the past year! We spent the first session working on using French-English dictionaries and started conjugating verbs. Oh, how I have missed spouting off
j'aime nous aimons
tu aimes vous aimez
il/elle aime ils/elles aiment
Friday I went to the excursion with the preps (finally! - bad weather had postponed us 2 weeks) to Eastern Beach and the Geelong Botanical Gardens. The preps are ages five to six and quite a handful. I loved tagging along with them though because I was able to check another sight off my list of things to see. We made it back to school in time for the weekly Friday assembly where I feel as if I stick out like a sore thumb because I don't know the Australian national anthem. It was a great way to end the week though, and I wish schools in America would think about partaking in a tradition like it.
After school, I went with Becky (the girl at Bellaire from Wisconsin) and Sally (her host mom) to a sample sale where I accidentally bought a few clothes. I couldn't help myself because a. I have been missing a good shopping spree and b. everything was marked down so much! I showed my purchases to Erin when I got home, and she said they were all really good brands. Erin invited Becky and I to a dip night at her friends house. Everyone brought a dip and drink to share (such a cute idea!), and then we went to town either after we had eaten enough dip or before we were too drunk to go out. We spent the entire night at Lamby's where we danced to a band who played quite a few American songs. Becky and I had a sleepover, and after coming back around 3:30am we were tres tired.
Saturday, we woke up to pancakes
made by Samuel. Danny offered to take us to the You Yangs for a hike. We stopped for lunch along the way, and I drove the rest of the 10 minutes to the area. It was my first time driving over here, and it really wasn't that bad. Although there were not that many cars on the road, I found myself having to concentrate to stay on the left side while turning. We drove up to Big Rock, which reminded me of Stone Mountain a bit but with a much better view. After Big Rock, we moved on to Flinders Hill where we did a 40 minute hike up to the top. The view was even more amazing from up there, but the wind was insane.
On Sunday, Becky and I had planned on going to Ballarat to see Sovereign Hill with Meg (Becky's neighbor) and her boyfriend, Matt. Sovereign Hill is a mock town set in the late 1800's dedicated to exploring the Gold Rush that occurred in Victoria. Quite the tourist trap. It reminded me of Dahlonega but tack on a $30 fee, characters dressed up in clothes from the period, horse drawn carriages, and a vintage bowling alley and you've actually got yourself a perfect hybrid of Dahlonega and Crossroads at Stone Mountain. After 4 hours, we went to a wonderful cafe called Racer's in Ballarat. Matt knew the owner, and if we had met him I probably would have had to tell him how beautiful his chicken foccaccia with fresh pesto was.I came home to write lesson plans and get ready for my first official day of full teaching. Things went very well on Monday, but then Tuesday the kids just were not grasping anything I was trying to teach them. It was frustrating because I even showed them "Conjunction Junction" in hopes to start the day off right! But as I've learned to live by down under, that's alright, love!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Heel clicks and poppy fields.
After school on Friday I left for Melbourne via train. The only thing that eased some of my apprehensions of taking public transportation was getting to tell people I was "catching the train". It really made it sound so cute and nonchalant. It ended up not being a big deal (of course I had worked it up in my head to be a very scary experience), and after Danny dropped me off at the train station in Geelong, I rode an hour into Melbourne.Tiffany met me at the Flinders Street station, and my goodness, it felt so amazing to see a familiar face! We wandered around the South Bank shops and then grabbed some dinner. I found some amazing Indian food and thoroughly enjoyed every last bite. We then caught the train back to Tiffany's host family's house because it was getting late and we needed to rest up for the next day.
Her host family is tres sweet and they welcomed me in with open arms. They offered me their air mattress for the night, and I took over the remaining floor space in Tiffany's room. Meg is the 20 year old daughter who Tiffany is staying with, and the three of us sat around gossiping and having some good girl talk.
The next morning Tiffany and I ate breakfast prepared by John (her host dad), showered, and got ourselves all touristed up! I opted to wear my University of Georgia shirt to give Melbourne a little taste of the Bulldog Nation (GO DAWGS!). Our first stop was the Queen Victoria Market, which was a humongous flea market complete with fruits, veggies, meats, clothing, animals, jewelry, and you-name-it-they've-got-it kind of stuff. I purchased a Nepalese hat and almost convinced myself it would be the cool thing to do to wear it around all day. I spared Tiffany.After lunch (not complete without a curry puff!) we continued to make our way through the streets of Melbourne. We found ourselves in Chinatown, and we happened to stumble upon Target! Now, at this point I had already experienced a Target in Australia. I made the decision to not share about it on the blog before because of how tragic the experience was, but I guess there's no better time than n
ow. Target in Australia is not the wonderful place that Target in America is. There is no Dollar Spot or designer-for-discount section or even anything remotely as cute as what Target is known for in the U.S. In any case, we bought some Kinder Egg Surprises and tried to revive our disappointed souls. Mmmm, chocolate.After this we really kicked our tourist butts into gear. We asked people to take pictures of us, looked at our maps, and had confused looks on our faces, but we managed to see some pretty awesome sights! We went home a little earlier (after getting some more chocolate along the way) and ate dinner with the Scerris. John put in an Australian mockumentary for us called "Kenny". It was pretty hilarious, and I would recommend anyone to rent it if you can find it in the States. It follows an employee of a port-a-potty company and is very comical.
On Sunday morning I ate my first crumpet for breakfast and headed off for a few more sights in Melbourne. We thought we should try Mackers (McDonald's) to see how it compared to the U.S., and honestly I can't really tell you anything because I haven't eaten there in 3 years. I was hungry so I ate it and my body didn't reject it, sooo two thumbs up? They also have the McCafe, which is a Starbucks-esque area of the Mackers. I don't know if this is happening in the States or not. Tiffany and I parted ways but not before seeing that a full dozen of Krispy Kreme doughnuts would set you back Au$15.95 (probably around $11.00 U.S....whaaaa??).
Overall, very cultural city, fantastic food, lots of walking, too many pictures, the train is now my best friend, and I hope to spend more time in Melbourne.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Hold on to this kite.
I really feel like I threw my clock out the window because I am just at the end of 2 weeks in the classroom. I am already getting worried that I will not have enough time here!
Last weekend, I stayed in Friday and Saturday to just watch movies (Jenny, it was a me and you kind of day) because of a cold that had taken over my immune system. I think jet lag, homesickness, stress, and starting at a new school really wore me out, and I was very ready to just sit and relax. This worked out well, and Sunday I was ready to leave the house. Luckily, Danny and Samuel offered to take me for an afternoon drive along Great Ocean Road. Everyone had mentioned Great Ocean Road as a tourist attraction, and I had researched it online, but nothing could have prepared me for this drive. Even though it was an overcast day, the natural beauty of the southern coast of Australia took my breath away. I found myself stuck to the passenger's side window in the car as Danny drove along.
We started off at Anglesea where Danny showed me their beach house and then continued along the long winding road. There were plenty of places to stop and admire the view so Danny and Samuel made sure to let me get out and take my pictures. I was such a tourist. The entire coast is filled with little beach towns where everyone who is anyone has a vacation home. We stopped in Lorne, a little town with shops and a park, for lunch, and I sampled a pie. A pie here has meat in it as opposed to fruit, so when you go ask for a pie at a bakery, don't expect a pumpkin pie. And speaking of pumpin, the girls I am living with are appalled that anyone would think of eating pumpkin as a dessert or putting marshmallows on yams. Obviously I am going to have to set them straight because pumpkin pie is one of the most amazing things America has to offer. Anyway, there were surfers in the spots with the best waves, and I hope to find a wet suit soon and see how I fair out on the water on a surfboard.
The day finished with a stop by the golf course to see the kangaroos. Yes, the kangaroos live at the golf course...they're just asking to be shipped to Peachtree City if you ask me. They were everywhere, and the golfers just went about their business with their game; the kangaroos were polite enough to move out of their way. These are also the cutest animals when they hop! I could not get over it! I told the children in school today about how excited I was that I saw my first kangaroo over the weekend, and they told me stories about how to dodge a kangaroo if it tries to punch you. Fiesty little things like to punch you in the stomach evidently; I'll have to get confirmation because this came from 7 year olds, but they were pretty confident in what they were saying.
I have started teaching lessons, and I kicked off the poetry unit this week! Tomorrow we're going to finish up and use all of their poems to compile a poetry book. Next week Brie wants me to maybe teach a full day...yikes, bikes! I know that I am capable of teaching for a full day, but Bellaire is so regimented in their school days and lessons that I am always afraid that I am forgetting to do something. I definitely feel more comfortable this week around the school, so hopefully next week I will be ready for a full day.
Today Maree took me to get a phone. I have been so content in the past 2 weeks without a phone that I was actually really hesitant about being connected to the outside world again. I guess it's a good idea for when I am traveling around and find myself in a pickle. Tomorrow I am catching the train to Melbourne to spend the weekend with Tiffany and do some sightseeing around the city. Yay for my first travel weekend!
Good food:
-Today I went with Brie during lunch time to the bakery around the corner and picked up a chocolate croissant. It was one of the most fresh and wonderful things I had ever tasted. Almost as good as Belgium, Mom :) Seth, I hope you have a chance to get one while you're in Europe! -We also ordered pizza tonight, and I noticed Satay Chicken on the menu and knew I had to sample it. It was delicious. Soo much satay sauce, I cannot wait to take it for lunch tomorrow!
Last weekend, I stayed in Friday and Saturday to just watch movies (Jenny, it was a me and you kind of day) because of a cold that had taken over my immune system. I think jet lag, homesickness, stress, and starting at a new school really wore me out, and I was very ready to just sit and relax. This worked out well, and Sunday I was ready to leave the house. Luckily, Danny and Samuel offered to take me for an afternoon drive along Great Ocean Road. Everyone had mentioned Great Ocean Road as a tourist attraction, and I had researched it online, but nothing could have prepared me for this drive. Even though it was an overcast day, the natural beauty of the southern coast of Australia took my breath away. I found myself stuck to the passenger's side window in the car as Danny drove along.
We started off at Anglesea where Danny showed me their beach house and then continued along the long winding road. There were plenty of places to stop and admire the view so Danny and Samuel made sure to let me get out and take my pictures. I was such a tourist. The entire coast is filled with little beach towns where everyone who is anyone has a vacation home. We stopped in Lorne, a little town with shops and a park, for lunch, and I sampled a pie. A pie here has meat in it as opposed to fruit, so when you go ask for a pie at a bakery, don't expect a pumpkin pie. And speaking of pumpin, the girls I am living with are appalled that anyone would think of eating pumpkin as a dessert or putting marshmallows on yams. Obviously I am going to have to set them straight because pumpkin pie is one of the most amazing things America has to offer. Anyway, there were surfers in the spots with the best waves, and I hope to find a wet suit soon and see how I fair out on the water on a surfboard.
The day finished with a stop by the golf course to see the kangaroos. Yes, the kangaroos live at the golf course...they're just asking to be shipped to Peachtree City if you ask me. They were everywhere, and the golfers just went about their business with their game; the kangaroos were polite enough to move out of their way. These are also the cutest animals when they hop! I could not get over it! I told the children in school today about how excited I was that I saw my first kangaroo over the weekend, and they told me stories about how to dodge a kangaroo if it tries to punch you. Fiesty little things like to punch you in the stomach evidently; I'll have to get confirmation because this came from 7 year olds, but they were pretty confident in what they were saying.
I have started teaching lessons, and I kicked off the poetry unit this week! Tomorrow we're going to finish up and use all of their poems to compile a poetry book. Next week Brie wants me to maybe teach a full day...yikes, bikes! I know that I am capable of teaching for a full day, but Bellaire is so regimented in their school days and lessons that I am always afraid that I am forgetting to do something. I definitely feel more comfortable this week around the school, so hopefully next week I will be ready for a full day.
Today Maree took me to get a phone. I have been so content in the past 2 weeks without a phone that I was actually really hesitant about being connected to the outside world again. I guess it's a good idea for when I am traveling around and find myself in a pickle. Tomorrow I am catching the train to Melbourne to spend the weekend with Tiffany and do some sightseeing around the city. Yay for my first travel weekend!
Good food:
-Today I went with Brie during lunch time to the bakery around the corner and picked up a chocolate croissant. It was one of the most fresh and wonderful things I had ever tasted. Almost as good as Belgium, Mom :) Seth, I hope you have a chance to get one while you're in Europe! -We also ordered pizza tonight, and I noticed Satay Chicken on the menu and knew I had to sample it. It was delicious. Soo much satay sauce, I cannot wait to take it for lunch tomorrow!
Friday, May 15, 2009
Wear your trackees and runners.
$10 to the first person to translate that phrase.
Just as I thought I was getting used to Australia, I started school this week and found out just how wrong I was. I started the week in Andrea's class, and after 2 days there, the principal came and asked me if I would mind moving to Brie's class. Brie recently had a new student join her class who has made it difficult to manage her classroom, so I am there to "let her get her sanity back". I have been working with this particular student from the beginning of school at 9 am until they leave at 11 am. The student really responds well with one-on-one instruction so I am almost completely drained by the time they leave, but oh my goodness it is so worth it. The student is finally working and not giving us any problems! I am still trying to get used to how Bellaire runs their school days, but most of the teachers are young so it is easy to talk and get to know them.
The teachers here are not just co-workers; they are friends. Just this past week, I went to two different events outside of the school day with the teachers. The work ethic here is very interesting because even though they are laid back, they definitely know what they have to do get a task done. It is almost as if they have found the right balance between work and play. They are able to combine the two in moderation and succeed in both work and social life very well.
I had my first taste of Vegemite this week. After my students kept asking me if I had tried it, I figured it was about time to sample the infamous spread. I'm sorry to report back that I was less than impressed. I only put a tiny amount on my buttered toast and found myself reaching for my juice after every bite. It is very salty, and I have never been a fan of salt in the first place but the last corner was the only thing I didn't finish of my toast and Vegemite. So Uncle Gary, the $3 might be spent towards something else now.
Another new thing that I tried this week was hanging my laundry on a line. After my clothes were done in the washing machine, I was in the laundry room looking for the dryer - opening every door and cabinet. I went out and asked Maree where the dryer was, and she just laughed and said that I had to go outside to hang my clothes. I stared at her and she pretty much had to clarify that there was a line and pegs outside where I would hang my clothes to dry. She then mentioned that they had a dryer in the garage that they never used and said I could use that if I wanted. Supposedly clothes in Australia are made to shrink if they are put in the dryer, so even their panties go out on display for the neighbors and passerbys to see. No shame. I opted to use the dryer - that I had to dust off! - for some things but hung the rest.
I got my first feel for the Geelong winds today. The wind was so extreme that the excursion (field trip) that I was supposed to go on with the preps (kindergarteners) to the Botanical Gardens was postponed until next week. Tomorrow is supposed to be even colder, so I might have to skip out on the football game. Mom, send more clothes!
Just as I thought I was getting used to Australia, I started school this week and found out just how wrong I was. I started the week in Andrea's class, and after 2 days there, the principal came and asked me if I would mind moving to Brie's class. Brie recently had a new student join her class who has made it difficult to manage her classroom, so I am there to "let her get her sanity back". I have been working with this particular student from the beginning of school at 9 am until they leave at 11 am. The student really responds well with one-on-one instruction so I am almost completely drained by the time they leave, but oh my goodness it is so worth it. The student is finally working and not giving us any problems! I am still trying to get used to how Bellaire runs their school days, but most of the teachers are young so it is easy to talk and get to know them.
The teachers here are not just co-workers; they are friends. Just this past week, I went to two different events outside of the school day with the teachers. The work ethic here is very interesting because even though they are laid back, they definitely know what they have to do get a task done. It is almost as if they have found the right balance between work and play. They are able to combine the two in moderation and succeed in both work and social life very well.
I had my first taste of Vegemite this week. After my students kept asking me if I had tried it, I figured it was about time to sample the infamous spread. I'm sorry to report back that I was less than impressed. I only put a tiny amount on my buttered toast and found myself reaching for my juice after every bite. It is very salty, and I have never been a fan of salt in the first place but the last corner was the only thing I didn't finish of my toast and Vegemite. So Uncle Gary, the $3 might be spent towards something else now.
Another new thing that I tried this week was hanging my laundry on a line. After my clothes were done in the washing machine, I was in the laundry room looking for the dryer - opening every door and cabinet. I went out and asked Maree where the dryer was, and she just laughed and said that I had to go outside to hang my clothes. I stared at her and she pretty much had to clarify that there was a line and pegs outside where I would hang my clothes to dry. She then mentioned that they had a dryer in the garage that they never used and said I could use that if I wanted. Supposedly clothes in Australia are made to shrink if they are put in the dryer, so even their panties go out on display for the neighbors and passerbys to see. No shame. I opted to use the dryer - that I had to dust off! - for some things but hung the rest.I got my first feel for the Geelong winds today. The wind was so extreme that the excursion (field trip) that I was supposed to go on with the preps (kindergarteners) to the Botanical Gardens was postponed until next week. Tomorrow is supposed to be even colder, so I might have to skip out on the football game. Mom, send more clothes!
Sunday, May 10, 2009
All you got to do is watch me.
The past few days have been full of running errands with Maree and familiarizing myself with Geelong. As most of you know, I am not the best with directions, so I find myself turned around quite a bit. I am also a mess when it comes to the car and road: I try to get in on the driver's side more often than not, and I look the wrong direction when I go to cross the road. It's really funny how it is such an instinct because I don't even realize I am doing it until Maree points it out.
I went on a run the other day along the route that I will take to school every day and took a few pictures. This one has the roundabout that is right near the house. There are roundabouts everywhere over here! I think that would probably also be a challenge if I got my international license over here. Geelong has some pretty big hills that will definitely make my runs rigorous; they give Baxter and Lumpkin a run for their money! Right now I'm taking it easy though and trying to find the flattest routes possible. 
Maree and I went to buy roses the other day for her mum for Mother's day (mommy, I love you!) at a rose garden. There were rows of greenhouses full of beautiful roses being grown. I usually don't like roses, but seeing all of the fresh cut roses in so many different colors and being overwhelmed by the smell made me change my mind. At least for a few days.
On Friday, I went by Bellaire to get a tour of the school and meet my teacher. The school atmosphere was so great. The classroom doors are all left open and most of them partner up with another class to work together throughout the day. I stopped into Andrea's (me and my mentor teacher having the same name should be interesting) classroom and met everyone. The children were gawking at me when I spoke, and that's when I really realized that I was the one with the accent. The classroom environment is very colorful and Andrea might just be one of the most cheerful people ever. She laughs at everything and it's going to be so great to work with (Gretchen, you would love her!). Andrea asked the class where they would go if they went to the states, and they all said Disney! She told me that this was a very interesting class to work with because of all the characters that are in it. One girl walked up to Andrea, Ms. Eddy (the principal who gave me the tour), and I and this is the dialogue that followed:
Blonde girl: Guess what I can do.
Andrea: What's that?
Blonde girl: I can eat a lemon without making a funny face.
(Andrea, Ms. Eddy, and I laugh)
Ms. Eddy: But can you read?
Andrea said that was a prime example of what she was talking about when she said there were characters in the class! I only stayed a little while and then walked home to find Samuel arriving home from camp. He really is an active child like Maree said, and my goodness he can eat. He loves his Nintendo DS and other video games (Hof, you 2 would get along splendidly), and of course he loves footy.
Saturday was a big day for me. I went to my first footy match to watch the Geelong Cats play the Sydney Swans. The last stadium I was in was Sanford, so naturally I was expecting a roaring crowd and being on my feet for the entirety of the game. Most of the fans are listening to the game on their radio though so things stay fairly mild. The game itself involves a lot of drop kicking with a ball shaped almost like an American football but a little rounder. The players wear no padding, and they run into each other so hard! Send me out on the field, and I think I would break every bone in my body and a nail or two. Geelong loves their cats though, and everyone is decked out head to toe in white and navy blue footy apparel. Richard, I heard the Geelong Cats song and was almost able to sing along thanks to your post.
That evening we had tea (dinner) at a family friend's house and then that night I went to town with Erin and some of her friends. I've probably reversed any progress that I was making on my jet lag because it was a pretty late night, but at least starting tomorrow I'll have a regular schedule because I start school.
School starts at 9:00 am and lets out at 3:30 pm. Can we talk about how excited I am that I don't have to wake up before 7:00 am? Anyway, I need to start getting ready for tomorrow - Andrea said to just show up, so I probably am just going to sit on facebook and go to sleep, per usual.
Oh, and Mom, I bought a pair of slippers...my tootsies were getting cold around the house! I hope these pictures turn out alright; this is my first time doing this so hopefully they are decent quality. If not, a fb album will be popping up soon for everyone's viewing pleasure.
Have a wonderful Mother's day and wish me luck for tomorrow on my first day of school!
I went on a run the other day along the route that I will take to school every day and took a few pictures. This one has the roundabout that is right near the house. There are roundabouts everywhere over here! I think that would probably also be a challenge if I got my international license over here. Geelong has some pretty big hills that will definitely make my runs rigorous; they give Baxter and Lumpkin a run for their money! Right now I'm taking it easy though and trying to find the flattest routes possible. 
Maree and I went to buy roses the other day for her mum for Mother's day (mommy, I love you!) at a rose garden. There were rows of greenhouses full of beautiful roses being grown. I usually don't like roses, but seeing all of the fresh cut roses in so many different colors and being overwhelmed by the smell made me change my mind. At least for a few days.
On Friday, I went by Bellaire to get a tour of the school and meet my teacher. The school atmosphere was so great. The classroom doors are all left open and most of them partner up with another class to work together throughout the day. I stopped into Andrea's (me and my mentor teacher having the same name should be interesting) classroom and met everyone. The children were gawking at me when I spoke, and that's when I really realized that I was the one with the accent. The classroom environment is very colorful and Andrea might just be one of the most cheerful people ever. She laughs at everything and it's going to be so great to work with (Gretchen, you would love her!). Andrea asked the class where they would go if they went to the states, and they all said Disney! She told me that this was a very interesting class to work with because of all the characters that are in it. One girl walked up to Andrea, Ms. Eddy (the principal who gave me the tour), and I and this is the dialogue that followed:
Blonde girl: Guess what I can do.
Andrea: What's that?
Blonde girl: I can eat a lemon without making a funny face.
(Andrea, Ms. Eddy, and I laugh)
Ms. Eddy: But can you read?
Andrea said that was a prime example of what she was talking about when she said there were characters in the class! I only stayed a little while and then walked home to find Samuel arriving home from camp. He really is an active child like Maree said, and my goodness he can eat. He loves his Nintendo DS and other video games (Hof, you 2 would get along splendidly), and of course he loves footy.
Saturday was a big day for me. I went to my first footy match to watch the Geelong Cats play the Sydney Swans. The last stadium I was in was Sanford, so naturally I was expecting a roaring crowd and being on my feet for the entirety of the game. Most of the fans are listening to the game on their radio though so things stay fairly mild. The game itself involves a lot of drop kicking with a ball shaped almost like an American football but a little rounder. The players wear no padding, and they run into each other so hard! Send me out on the field, and I think I would break every bone in my body and a nail or two. Geelong loves their cats though, and everyone is decked out head to toe in white and navy blue footy apparel. Richard, I heard the Geelong Cats song and was almost able to sing along thanks to your post.That evening we had tea (dinner) at a family friend's house and then that night I went to town with Erin and some of her friends. I've probably reversed any progress that I was making on my jet lag because it was a pretty late night, but at least starting tomorrow I'll have a regular schedule because I start school.
School starts at 9:00 am and lets out at 3:30 pm. Can we talk about how excited I am that I don't have to wake up before 7:00 am? Anyway, I need to start getting ready for tomorrow - Andrea said to just show up, so I probably am just going to sit on facebook and go to sleep, per usual.
Oh, and Mom, I bought a pair of slippers...my tootsies were getting cold around the house! I hope these pictures turn out alright; this is my first time doing this so hopefully they are decent quality. If not, a fb album will be popping up soon for everyone's viewing pleasure.
Have a wonderful Mother's day and wish me luck for tomorrow on my first day of school!
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Just Say Yes
I made it. After a trip comparable to the bottomless chips at Chili's - they just kept on giving me more and more hours to travel - I arrived in Melbourne to be greeted by Maree and her 19 year old daughter, Erin. We had an hour long ride to Geelong and I was home! For the next 3 months at least.
Highlights from the flight:
- ATL-O'Hare I sat next to a mean, mean man who wouldn't talk to me :(
- I sprinted through O'Hare again only to find that I hadn't reset my watch and was actually early.
- I met a Chinese boy with red hair at LAX who owned his own trucking company and encouraged me to email him if I had any questions, so he gave me "his card"
- I had an open seat next to me on the 16 hr flight which made it a little more comfortable.
- I woke up on the 16 hr flight at the beginning of "Bride Wars" and was able to catch most of it. Definitely enjoyed it, but that could have been the sleep deprivation influencing me.
- Almost freezed to death because United decided to take all of their blankets off of the planes because of Swine Flu.
- I only saw 2 people total with a mask, so I didn't have to break out mine for protection from the H1N1 virus :)
- I was thermally scanned upon entering Australia and barely passed.
Besides Erin, there is Johanna who is 17 and Samuel who is 8. Samuel is away at school camp for a few days so I won't get to meet him until tomorrow. After I unpacked, Maree, Danny, Erin, and I went to lunch at Brewster's. All 3 of them raved about the Brewster's burger from there, so I decided to get the same. It wasn't a hamburger at all; it was actually a chicken fillet with sour cream, bacon, cheese, sweet chili sauce, and lettuce. I was a little messy with it while everyone managed keep their intact, but it was so good! I never would have thought to put those ingredients together, but it was amazing, especially after all of the airplane food I had consumed. I took a little siesta after a much needed shower and woke up to get ready for the evening.
My host family was celebrating their family name. It is a Serbian tradition that on one day every year, there is a large celebration with lots of food and the entire family. Maree's parents are Serbian Orthodox, so we went over to their house and I met ALOT of family! All of the food was homemade down to the noodles in the chicken noodle soup! There were 5 courses during the entire dinner, and everything was so good. There were cabbage rolls and roasted vegetables and a feta cheese concoction wrapped with a flaky pastry. When it came time for dessert, I was only able to have one delicious brownie. After all, it was about 5 am for me, and that's not when I am usually eating a feast.
Erin, Johanna, and I left early. Johanna had to finish some homework, and Erin and I were a little tired. We all sat in the living room and watched tv. They have alot of American shows here. "Hannah Montana" was on last night, so needless to say I feel right at home; a little Miley Cyrus always brightens a day.
I went to bed a little after 10 pm and woke up only once to go to the restroom. I was up a little before 7 am and tried to fall back asleep with not much success, but I think jetlag is going to be easy to get over! I am about to go to the grocery store with Maree. I need to exchange out my American money for Australian dollars soon as well.
All in all, the accents are a little hard to understand sometimes, the people are friendly, and the weather is getting colder. That's pretty much all I can say after 24 hours here! As inspired by Ms. Michelle Dowst, just say yes to lots of things, which I plan on doing so I can experience Geelong and Australia to the fullest extent.
Love and miss you all!
Highlights from the flight:
- ATL-O'Hare I sat next to a mean, mean man who wouldn't talk to me :(
- I sprinted through O'Hare again only to find that I hadn't reset my watch and was actually early.
- I met a Chinese boy with red hair at LAX who owned his own trucking company and encouraged me to email him if I had any questions, so he gave me "his card"
- I had an open seat next to me on the 16 hr flight which made it a little more comfortable.
- I woke up on the 16 hr flight at the beginning of "Bride Wars" and was able to catch most of it. Definitely enjoyed it, but that could have been the sleep deprivation influencing me.
- Almost freezed to death because United decided to take all of their blankets off of the planes because of Swine Flu.
- I only saw 2 people total with a mask, so I didn't have to break out mine for protection from the H1N1 virus :)
- I was thermally scanned upon entering Australia and barely passed.
Besides Erin, there is Johanna who is 17 and Samuel who is 8. Samuel is away at school camp for a few days so I won't get to meet him until tomorrow. After I unpacked, Maree, Danny, Erin, and I went to lunch at Brewster's. All 3 of them raved about the Brewster's burger from there, so I decided to get the same. It wasn't a hamburger at all; it was actually a chicken fillet with sour cream, bacon, cheese, sweet chili sauce, and lettuce. I was a little messy with it while everyone managed keep their intact, but it was so good! I never would have thought to put those ingredients together, but it was amazing, especially after all of the airplane food I had consumed. I took a little siesta after a much needed shower and woke up to get ready for the evening.
My host family was celebrating their family name. It is a Serbian tradition that on one day every year, there is a large celebration with lots of food and the entire family. Maree's parents are Serbian Orthodox, so we went over to their house and I met ALOT of family! All of the food was homemade down to the noodles in the chicken noodle soup! There were 5 courses during the entire dinner, and everything was so good. There were cabbage rolls and roasted vegetables and a feta cheese concoction wrapped with a flaky pastry. When it came time for dessert, I was only able to have one delicious brownie. After all, it was about 5 am for me, and that's not when I am usually eating a feast.
Erin, Johanna, and I left early. Johanna had to finish some homework, and Erin and I were a little tired. We all sat in the living room and watched tv. They have alot of American shows here. "Hannah Montana" was on last night, so needless to say I feel right at home; a little Miley Cyrus always brightens a day.
I went to bed a little after 10 pm and woke up only once to go to the restroom. I was up a little before 7 am and tried to fall back asleep with not much success, but I think jetlag is going to be easy to get over! I am about to go to the grocery store with Maree. I need to exchange out my American money for Australian dollars soon as well.
All in all, the accents are a little hard to understand sometimes, the people are friendly, and the weather is getting colder. That's pretty much all I can say after 24 hours here! As inspired by Ms. Michelle Dowst, just say yes to lots of things, which I plan on doing so I can experience Geelong and Australia to the fullest extent.
Love and miss you all!
Monday, April 27, 2009
ETD: 7 days
Last night I received an email from the principal of Bellaire Primary School. She let me know that I will be working in a year 1/2 classroom, so there are year 1's and year 2's in this classroom set-up. Oh, and my mentor teacher is named (brace yourselves for the coincidence here) Andrea!
And this evening, I just received an email from my host family! Maree (the mom) sounds super sweet and she filled me in on the family life. Her and Danny have 3 children and live only a 12 minute walk from the school. They are all avid fans of the Geelong Cats, which is evidently THE sport to watch and follow in Geelong. It's called football, but I'm guessing it's more like American soccer? They also enjoy camping and their son, a year 3, enjoys going to the gym every week. Thank goodness I'll be able to keep up with my workouts while I'm over there.
Anyway, I leave in a week exactly! I'm just trying not to think about packing (my least favorite) and enjoy the pool as much as possible (my most favorite).
And this evening, I just received an email from my host family! Maree (the mom) sounds super sweet and she filled me in on the family life. Her and Danny have 3 children and live only a 12 minute walk from the school. They are all avid fans of the Geelong Cats, which is evidently THE sport to watch and follow in Geelong. It's called football, but I'm guessing it's more like American soccer? They also enjoy camping and their son, a year 3, enjoys going to the gym every week. Thank goodness I'll be able to keep up with my workouts while I'm over there.
Anyway, I leave in a week exactly! I'm just trying not to think about packing (my least favorite) and enjoy the pool as much as possible (my most favorite).
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
H & G...Hi & Goodbye.
Welcome to my life for the next 3 months!
I will be completing my student teaching at Bellaire Primary school in Geelong, Australia from May 11 until July 30. As of now, my visa is being squared away, and I am moving out of my apartment (shoutout to LJAMS) slowly but surely.
I don't know much about Geelong, considering I have been researching Darwin (the previous placement I had), but it is in the southern most part of Australia. I will be experiencing winter for the second time this year because of the different hemisphere, which is less than thrilling, but at least there will be awesome accents everywhere around me!
Anyway, I am trying to finish up the last bit of school work that I have and listening to a little Miles Davis on this beautiful day. Go grab a free cone at Ben & Jerry's if you haven't already!
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