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!