Well it has been another busy week in the Land Down Under. Two Sunday’s ago we had General Conference (yea, two months later). Since it is about 2 in the morning on Monday when Conference is live they watch it when the DVD’s come out here. Between sessions of Conference I introduced the Branch to the beauties of Rice Krispie Treats. Now they weren’t exactly the same--first of all Rice Krispie’s are called Rice Bubbles here-- and I had to use strawberry marshmallows cause that’s what Cecelia got. But they turned out surprisingly well and the Aussie’s seemed impressed. They were surprised that they weren’t sweeter but I don’t know what they expected considering the main ingredient is about the blandest cereal on the planet. That night Sue and I went to the Trots--yes, more horst racing. It was a fundraiser for the Catholic schools in the area. I just stood there and laughed--I really can’t get behind this sport. I promise they only enjoy it for all the gambling. It is just a bunch of horses running round and round in a circle--baseball is definitely better!
Last week I began teaching a unit on the United States. It was a little hard for the kids to grasp the concept of Hawaii and Alaska being part of the country but not touching. One kid asked, “How do people get there?” Come on kid, the same way that people get to this island country that you live on... they fly! But it sure was cute. They also thought there were thirteen stripes on the flag because there are thirteen countries that speak English. Close, but no.
The end of last week was absolutely (almost) freezing cold. I mean, it is supposed to be the end of spring here and we hit 1 degree Celsius! I was not prepared for these freezing cold conditions. Everyone at school just had to laugh at me walking around layered in both of my lightweight jackets--hey, they are the only ones I’ve got!
The staff has taken to picking on me a bit. In staff meeting last week they were talking about taking student teachers for next year. And Mike says in his most serious tone, “Well I would take one but Sue told me that they are just trouble. She told me not too.” Of course he was talking about me...punk! Nobody got the joke until I threw down my papers in “disgust” and said “Man, No Respect!” They all got a good chuckle out of it. Then on Friday I got into a debate with the principal about the number of States in the U.S. He insisted that there were 52 states and 52 stars on the flag. “Yeah, 52 with Greenland and Hawaii.” “You mean ALASKA and Hawaii.” “Yeah, that.” I should have known that we were off to a bad start. No matter how many times I told him that there were only 50 he kept at it, insisting that he was going to prove me wrong. I was feeling pretty confident so I told him to go right ahead. Finally Mike (yea, same one as before) said, “Peter, she’s the American!” Later I took him a copy of the flag so that he could count the stars for himself. He had found a website that in fact said there were 50 states but he thought he had better recheck for us--all those little states in the northeast, maybe we missed two. Peter said that he had talked to several staff members who all thought there were 52. Good thing I am here to stamp the ignorance out of this school--I don’t care if the Australian textbooks supposedly say there are 52! Don’t worry, I won’t leave this country until I have set the record straight.
I am teaching my students the Virginia Reel as part of their United States’ cultural experience. They loved it so much that we are going to perform it at the upcoming Christmas Concert. So I am now coaching these kids in the Virginia Reel--little do they know that I don’t know the Virginia Reel--thank goodness for Google!
I also took my life into my hands last week and got my hair chopped. I kind of feel like now that I have done an everyday thing like get my hair cut I officially live in this country instead of just being a tourist. I was kind of worried at first but it is actually the most pleased I have been since I whacked all my hair off in high school. Who would have known that I would have had to fly half way around the world to me satisfied with a hair cut!?
This past weekend I went to Sydney--the weather finally turned warm and it was a gorgeous weekend! First stop was the Taronga Zoo. We didn’t even make it through the gates and some guy in line behind us started giving us a hard time about our Indiana University ID’s. Sure, we get it, pick on the Americans. We took a chair lift (gondola) to the top of the mountain (the zoo is on the side of a mountain). I can’t say that I really enjoyed being in a swinging small and confined space but the view was amazing. Then it was off to see the animals. I saw my first koala--adorable--and my first live kangaroo. Yes, I am saddened to report that the first kangaroo I saw in Australia was dead on the side of the road. But I found one at the zoo that was alive. It was a fun trip and a gorgeous zoo--I mean how many zoos do you take pictures of giraffes and the Opera House is in the background across the Harbour. Totally unreal!
Then we headed off to Manly Beach. We soaked up some sun--lathered in sunscreen of course (thanks Mom!) I think Jenn ended up worse off then me. I got a nice tan and she turned into a lobster. Sad :(. But the beach was gorgeous. The water was seriously aquamarine. They don’t make water like this in the U.S.
I can’t wait for David to get here. We are going to paint the town red! I have big plans David, so be prepared!
There isn’t really a whole lot to say after this weekend. My worst nightmare was realized on Monday--I got sick in a foreign country. It is just a cold--a nasty one--which is apparently going around because of the drastic weather changes. We are in the high 30’s now and it doesn’t look like things are going to cool down again. I made it through school on Monday but thought that I was going to pass out in the afternoon. I haven’t been to school these last two days (Tues. and Wed.). Cecelia took me to the Chemist today (that’s the Pharmacy) and they gave me “the strongest stuff we’ve got”. It is working really well and I should be back into the swing of things tomorrow.
I am sad that I am missing Turkey Day. Everyone eat some stuffing and a large piece of pumpkin pie for me!
Things here are awesome and I wish that you could all be here to see it. I am telling ya, everything is better in Australia!