Well Friday started off on a real up but we hit rock bottom by the end of it. As I was about to walk out the door, Tia (3 yrs old) stole my keys and would not give them back. It took me tickling Tia and Sarah (7 yrs old) literally prying the keys from her grubby little fingers in order to get them away from her. Then Tia stood next to me and wrapped herself around my leg as I walked down the hall. Once she realized that that wasn't going to stop me from leaving she laid down on the floor and grabbed ahold of my ankles as I drug her into the kitchen. Cecelia and I finally convinced her that coming with me was not going to be that exciting and she let go. School on Friday was a total nightmare. I have never worked with kids that have so little remorse and really truly don't care if they are bothering the teacher or their fellow students. I tried everything I could to get the class under control and nothing worked. I had kids swearing (private school, remember) and kids just outright laughing at me when I told them to do something. It was ridiculous--there is no discipline plan set up so the kids know that you can't do anything about it if they muck around. It was SO frustrating! I told Sue when she came back into the room and she was mad at the little buggers but just kinda shrugged her shoulders and said that's what they are like. I love working with the kids and some of them are so sweet but I am going to en every day of the next six weeks with a headache!
It finally started raining on Thursday and than rained for three days. This is a big deal since all of AUstralia is in a serious drought. But you wouldn't believe how the kids reacted to about the most piddily thunder that I have ever heard--you would have thought it was Christmas they were so excited (and yes, they celebrate Christmas in December, same as us). It has been pretty chilly here lately and I bundle up in both of the jackets that I brought--I was not prepared for this cold weather and people have been telling me that this is HIGHLY unusual.
We drove to Sydney yesterday and I met up with one of the other student teachers from IU. It was SO great to see Jen--someone that I actually understood what they were saying the FIRST time they said it. We swapped stories and did a little sightseeing. I saw it guys--they Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. They were right there, right by the ferry that we took across the harbour. It was so surreal, to actually be that close. Something that I have seen hundreds of pictures of and dreamed about my whole life. If only it hadn't been overcast I would have gotten some great shots--but no fretting, there will be plenty of other opportunities. Jenn and I went to the Sydney Aquarium and saw some pretty cool fish. There were crocodiles too but I avoided them like the plague. There was this awesome blue stripey fish (sorry Beck, I don't know the name) that was my favorite. And a great shark tank that you could walk in one of those tunnels underneath. I don't normally like sharks but this was neat. It was nice to do something tourist and to be in the city. I am going to go back in a couple of weeks and spend the weekend at Jenn's house for more sighseeing!
When I got off the train to meet Cecelia and the girls... OH yes, the train was a whole other adventure. I had to take the train in from the suburbs where Cecelia's siter lives. I had NO idea what I was doing and so I asked the first Aussie saw. He explained the machine to me--there was no honkin' way I could have figured it out on my own. And then another man had to help me insert my money. Man, I'm hopeless-but gettging better Mom and Dad, no worries :). Anyway, when I met back up with the Garlicks Cecelia told me that when they dropped me off at the station that morning Tia had been asleep and when she woke up she burst into tears because I was gone. Ah, I am telling you these kids are ADORABLE! Little do they know how much I adore them even when they make me read the book about Colors over and over again. I feel like a big sister all over again (but no worries Mel, you will ALWAYS be my favorite--I wish you were here to go shopping with me, you would LOVE it, and they have great shoes!).
Today was church, fast and testimony meeting. Apparantly they have figured out if they leave two minutes between each testimony they can manage to fill the whole meeting. They almost made it too. The branch is really cute and everyone is so nice. I am really lucky that it is small and I already know everyones name. We have netball again this Tuesday so maybe I can refine my mad skills...or just remember how to play would be nice! :)