WARNING: IT’S LONG!
The last couple of days in Bathurst were absolutely packed, so I didn’t get a chance to write but hopefully I will make up for it. My last weekend in Bathurst I volunteered with Cecelia to fill hampers for disadvantaged families in the area. It was basically idiot proof (my favourite kind of volunteering). We walked around a bunch of tables in a large circle as people dropped canned and bottled foods into onion sacks that we were carrying. Cecelia and I were just laughing because the bags became quite heavy by the time we got around to the end. Plus, some of the people who were handing out food could have killed us with their stares. Cecelia thought some of their faces might crack if they smiled. You would have thought we were forced to be there. But I was kind of like a celebrity; one of the volunteers handing out cans recognized me from Assumption (Cecelia swears that I know tons of people in this town—little does she know that they just know me and me not them).
That Saturday evening was the Staff Christmas Party. It was a good time and all the staff got drunk. The food was excellent but somehow a nasty rumour got around. Two of the ladies asked me when I was done with school and it occurred to me that it was Graduation Weekend so I said, “Well I guess right now”. Before I even made it to my table Sue already knew and asked me about it. I knew I was in trouble then. Peter (the principal) had me stand up so that everyone could clap and toast me. Anyone that knows me knows that I am terrible at taking a compliment and I hated it, I just stood there all awkward. UGH! And then to top it all off they unexpectedly presented me with a gift. It was such a sweet thought and I am really going to miss the dear people that work at this school. We were eventually kicked out of the restaurant a half hour after it had closed. I am telling ya, it is no easy task to get 50+ drunk people down a flight of stairs and out the doors…especially when they walk past another bar (albeit closed) on the way down.
On Tuesday the Year 2 classes had a party for me. The kids were so sweet and all made me cards and some of them brought in little gifts (I got the funniest looking emu). Sue brought in a pavlova so that I could try it. Pav is a famous Aussie dish. Well I can’t say that it was my favourite thing. I told them that it was like eating sugar from a jar and they said that it was just beaten egg whites and sugar. Man, for a country that doesn’t like things sweet this certainly didn’t fit the bill.
Wednesday was a really hard day. Everything that I did I knew was going to be my last in this cute little town that has been home for the last two months. I left school at lunch time after the kids danced the Virginia Reel for me one last time. I literally had to pry some of the kids off me because they wouldn’t let me go. It is always nice to know that you are going to be missed and you just hope and pray that you have had some kind of positive influence on the lives of these children. There were of course tears as I said good bye to everyone at school. I have always been terrible with good-byes. I eventually just had to run out of the room and say enough was enough, I didn’t get to see everyone that I wanted but I couldn’t take the finality of it anymore. These dear people have made me feel so loved at this school, this experience has only been so good because of people like them.
Then it was time to say good-bye to the Garlicks. They drove me to the train station and as we waited on the platform Sarah kept getting nervous that I was going to miss my train. I don’t know if that meant that she was trying to get rid of me or not…hmmmm…. Of course I cried some more and it was so sad to watch as they train pulled away and they disappeared (wow, that was dramatic…even for me). They have become such wonderful people to me and really like little sisters and tremendous friends. I am going to miss them. Although I did manage to steal the key to their house so maybe they will come to the States to get it. :)
When I got to Sydney I had the worst train experience of my entire Aussie journey. The station guy in Lithgow told me to get off the train at Strathfield. So even though I thought that was wrong, I obeyed. Well it was wrong and I had to RUN with all four of my bags to catch another train, two platforms away, back to Lidcombe. When I got there I followed the signs to where my platform was and when I got there it was abandoned—not a soul in sight and no sign of when the next train was coming. All I could think about was Cecelia telling me not to go anywhere in the dark alone. So I lugged all my stuff back to the station office and asked, I had nine minutes to get back to the Creepy Platform and catch my train. It was raining and I was exhausted. Good thing that when I got to Olympic Park I could see the hotel from the station.
When I got to the hotel and got my key I went up to the room to find David passed out on the bed. I was legitimately exhausted from his trip. I couldn’t get the lights to turn on and so I asked David how to do it. He didn’t know (and obviously it didn’t bother him so he didn’t ask). I then had to go downstairs and find out that you have to put your key into this slot on the wall to get the lights to work. Don’t ask me, it hasn’t been like that at any other hotel here so I can’t even blame the Aussies. Just some weird quirk about that hotel. After three trips to the front desk I was finally able to go to sleep.
The next morning we were off to Canberra (the capital of Australia) for a three day trip. Let me just say that David’s driving can be scary in the best of circumstances, but on the wrong side of the road it is downright terrifying. We eventually had to start keeping track of the number of times he hit the windshield wipers on instead of the turn signal. Twenty five for those who are keeping score. While in Canberra we went to the National Zoo and Aquarium. Where we learned that wombat males often die after mating out of stress. Bizarre! David has a whole new respect for the wombat males…as we all should! And there is such a thing as a Liger (thank you Napolean Dynamite). If the father is a lion it is a liger and if the father is a tiger it if a tigon. The tigons at this zoo roar like lions when the lions in the pen to their left roar and like tigers when the tigers in the pen to their right roar. Who knew? We also went to the National Botanic Gardens, the Australian War Memorial, the Old Parliament House, and the Parliament House (current). I don’t have time to give all the gritty details here but if you are curious I will regale you with details and plenty of pictures (just for you Dad) when I return.
Now we are in Sydney (we got here Christmas Eve) and we will be departing on Friday. We spent Christmas in typical Aussie fashion—on the beach. David got quite a bad burn (he is blistering) and I got burnt too but am faring better. Yesterday we went to the Powerhouse Museum—Paul, you would have loved the exhibit about the latest fashion and design in clothing and furniture. We tried our hand at electronically shearing sheep. We think the machine MUST have been broken because we always got stuck at the front leg. Don’t worry, we have not been deterred from opening that sheep farm in Scotland in ten years when we are still unmarried. Then we were off to the Hyde Park Barracks where we learned about the convicts who settled Australia. To get there we had to walk through….you guessed it...Hyde Park. It was GORGEOUS! So many green trees, even in this draught. I kept stopping to take heaps of pictures…and not just because I think it drives David batty.
Then today we did my favourite things. We went to the SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE! It was like a dream come true…well it was! It was so amazing, I couldn’t believe that I was actually sitting there inside the concert hall. It was actually fascinating to learn how they got the whole thing to stand up in the first place…apparently it was no easy task. It was so cool and definitely the highlight of my time in Sydney.
From one architectural gem to another: We went and climbed one of the pylons of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. I chickened out so we didn’t do the BridgeClimb where you go all the way to the middle of it. But we still got some spectacular views and got to hear about how it was made. It reminded me a lot of all those times we built the St. Louis Arch at the Science Center (Dad, Mom, and Paul will know what I mean. Leaning the two arches together and that center piece are so important!
It has been such a fun time, David and I are having a blast. Thanks Mom and Dad, we are enjoying every minute of our Christmas presents. I must say that I am sad I missed Christmas at home this year but I will hopefully be there for the next one. I hope that everyone had a wonderful and Merry Christmas!
David and I will be leaving Australia in two days and heading for New Zealand and then Fiji before going home. I don’t know if I will get a chance to post again so if not have a wonderful and safe new years. But check back, I may get to a computer unexpectedly. I love you all and can’t wait to ring many of you when I return to the States! Only a week and a half now…

I was informed by my mother today that a certain brother of mine was wondering if I was going to write another entry...so this one is for you Paul, love ya!
Actually TONS has happened in the last week and a half...so blame Paul if this is long. We rehearsed all last week for Presentation Night. This is an evening where all of the grades do some kind of performance and then the 6th years are presented with awards and the captains for next year are announced. Well I taught all the 2nd Years the Virginia Reel and we did the dance to Turkey in the Straw. Yes everyone, I now know all of the words to Turkey in the Straw...just ask my mother, I sang all the words to her over the phone. In fact, one of the girls in another year at school asked me how I learned all the words and I had to crush her dreams and tell her that I learned all of the words just for this performance. Well Sue had the brilliant idea that I could run around, skipping between all of the groups at the performance so that I could get them singing and shout commands in case they got off. I thought it was just an excuse to make the American look like an idiot...which I am sure that I did. But I took it all in superb stride and even borrowed a cowboy hat from Charles. So you got it, that night I was running around as the kids danced, “Ya-Hooing” and “Yee-Hawing” like the best of them. The kids did such a good time and really seemed to enjoy the dance and lots of parents had good things to say about it so I was relieved and really pleased with that. Whew!
I also was given the blessed task of teaching some of the kids on recess how to rotate in and out for two on two basketball. They were basically hopeless, but what can I expect from these Aussies. :) Of course they started arguing and I had to go over and sort it out. I looked them all in the eye and said, “Now don’t try to pull a fast one over on me, I am American...and I know basketball!” They all started laughing and went back to their game. A bit later a girl came up and told me that they wouldn’t let her play. So I got them all back together and said, “Now, I am a girl and I am sure that I can play ball a lot better than any of you--so let her play!” Ah, I love pulling the American card with these kids--they just love it, they get huge smiles on their faces, and most of the time they actually do what I tell them because they think it gives me some kind of authority (little do they know).
Well I officially have this staff fooled, Maria (the librarian) told me last week at morning tea that she couldn’t imagine that any place that I am is a boring place. Hmmm... you think that’s a good thing? I guess it can at least comfort all of you that I am still as crazy as ever. :)
So the staff here kind of likes to pick on me, especially Peter (the principal). One day I went to the storage room in search of art supplies so that we could make reindeers out of candy canes. I was sitting on the floor rummaging through pipe cleaners and pom-poms when Peter came in demanding to know why the door was open (it is usually locked). Well there I was on the floor and he shouts out,. “You said you didn’t smoke, or drink, or anything! What are you doing with all those pipe cleaners?!?” Then Maria, the secretary came in to see what the ruckus was about. I asked if she thought anyone would mind if I took all the red pom-poms out of all the multi-colored packages. “Well one all of the other colors!” Then she made me get permission from Peter. Man, you would have thought I was stealing precious artifacts from the school instead of the cheap art supplies that nobody even knew we had. Thank goodness Peter said yes or I may have had to sell my first born child!
The parents went to Sydney for their anniversary one night and left me with the two girls...which was quite the adventure. I set the smoke alarm off while I was making dinner. Sarah just walked in and said, “You need to wave the tea towel by the detector and I will open all the windows.” She was so matter of fact about it I knew that it must have happened lots of times before. But the real highlight was when I had to shower the girls. Sarah survived no problem but Tia screamed to high heaven when the water touched her, just like she was the Wicked Witch of the West about to melt. She cried through the whole ordeal and by the end of it I was as wet as she was. I had nightmares all night that the girls were coming into my room for me and I wasn’t waking up. Then it became reality when Sarah came in at 4:30 to tell me that she needed a drink. I rolled over and tried to be as pleasant as possible and sent her to the bathroom. Did I say I wanted nine kids? Maybe I need to rethink that one. :) But the fun didn’t end there. The next morning I had to drive them to the babysitter. It took me three tries to get out to the driveway and since I have never driven the car before I couldn’t get the keys out of the ignition. One of the other teachers at school had to show me that there is a button to push...idiot American, Mon!
I got to have the entire weekend to myself because Cecelia came in Saturday morning and informed me that they were going to Sydney for her birthday. I had no complaints, it was the first time that I have spent more than an hour on my own since I got to this country. It was a nice relaxing day. I even drove into TOWN (which I have been avoiding because of all the people and they do angle parking BACKWARDS on the streets) to do some errands. That night I even sat down and watched one of my favorite movies, Anne of Avonlea, all four hours in peace. I forced myself to stay awake all for my favorite scene... standing on the bridge at the end. Paul, just remember when you propose to do so on a bridge...I promise its a guarantee.
Sunday was hilarious. Cecelia told me not to prepare anything for Primary because it is normally just her two girls. Well when I got the church and the Elders were in panic because they had a family of investigators coming I turned around and got my book. So I taught two hours of Primary to SIX non-member children and the two families mothers. It wasn’t a total disaster but I definitely had to dredge up some of my mad teaching skills. The kids want to come back next week so I must have at least entertained them, even if they don’t remember a honkin’ thing about being obedience.
One of the other teachers threatened to have me stand up and sing the Star Spangled Banner at assembly. I thought he was just blowing hot air until ANOTHER teacher leaned over in the middle of assembly and told me he heard that I was singing. Well that really made me sweat. You guys know what a wretched singer that I am. Definitely not a soloist! Thankfully I did not get called on, but Brian assured me that there is always next week...he had better not!
I have been teaching full time since last Thursday because Sue has been cleaning up the room. It has been really nice to teach and Sue has pretty much kept her nose out of what I am doing which takes a lot of the stress off.
Those are basically the highlights of the last while. Of course tons more has happened but you guys have got to be sick of reading by this point. I have spent heaps of time with the staff and Sue told me in her most sarcastic voice that “I am SO hard to put up with”. Thanks Sue, it’s nice to know that I am loved.
Things here are just great. I am excited to move on after this experience but I have learned so much and there are so many people that I am going to miss. I will be sure to post one more time before I leave Bathurst. David gets here in less than a week now and then the real adventures begin!
Until then...good night everyone...Love You!

Ok, here is my cell number. The country code for Australia is 61. And my number is 04 2797 3870. Call anytime, really. I would love to hear from whomever. And Mom and Dad, call me soon... there is always much to tell :).

I spent Monday and Tuesday at school testing students reading abilities. It was a nice change from the norm and a good way to help out some of the other staff at school. When I went back to class after testing on Monday the kids were all bickering and running Sue ragged and I was actually so glad that I hadn’t had to endure the yelling and drama all day long. On Tuesday I went back to the room after lunch because I was done with testing and I had two kids come up and tell me that other kids in the class were swearing at this. And this was not just regular swear words--these were the worst ones you could come up with (I will let you imaginations fill in the blanks...but don’t stray too far!) That night I got home and the girls and I made dinner. They were so chuffed about the idea. We made pizzas and cheesy garlic bread. They loved helping and even managed not to make too big of a mess. They were each given a pizza to do and believe me that was my biggest mistake. They got so into it that every time someone dished up a piece of THEIR pizza they were sure that everyone took note. “Dad’s eating a piece of MY pizza” “Mom’s eating a piece of MY pizza!” They sure are cute kids!
On Wednesday we had two guys from Surf Rescue come and talk about water and beach safety. Now when you think of Aussie’s you think of these guys. They had the greatest accents, tan, sunscreen on the nose, the whole bit. Plus they were honkin’ funny. The kids were WAY into it...maybe too into it.... when the guys waved the flag for a shark attack and told all the kids to ‘get out of the water’ they jumped up and ran out of the hall. Well apparently that had never happened before and the two blokes weren’t sure what to do about it. The teachers came to the rescue and got all the kids sitting down again. It was then that the Surf Rescue guys informed the kids that because they ran away from the flag that had actually run into the ocean instead of onto the beach. It was so funny! That night we went and fed the ducks. The girls were ADORABLE. Tia threw an entire piece of bread at one duck...I don’t think it was quite prepared for that. And every time that she threw a piece to them she would yell “DUCK!” So all we heard was “DUCK, DUCK, DUCK”. But of course if the duck so much as looked as if it was going to take one step towards her she ran for the hills. I had another first on Wednesday....now don’t laugh! But it was the first time in my life that I have hung clothes on a clothes line. And boy was it a PAIN! My arms hurt by the end of it, I am such a woos! Plus I had a battle with my sheets, trying to keep them from dragging on the ground and from falling off the line...the sheet almost won but I got it in the end!
Thursday was a sad day, we found out that one of the staff members has a brain tumor. It was a huge blow to everyone and there was a bit of shock. We are all praying for him and I was so grateful for my faith and knowledge in the Plan of Salvation. To know the purpose of life here on earth and that there is life and hope after this has been such a comfort and strength this week. Sue took me home with her after school so that we could enter our reports into the computer. We had them done in less than an hour...WOO HOO! Then Sue made me “tea” (dinner) while I talked golf with Trout (her husband, his name is Adrienne but since his last name is Fish everyone calls him Trout...get it...). After dinner I helped them with their VCR and we ran into a few snags. Sue and Trout kept arguing and taking the remote from each other. Sue insisted that Trout had no idea what he was talking about and Trout was positive he did (although I couldn’t understand him either). It was so funny I couldn’t hold it in and I was DYING of laughter. It really was better than TV.
Friday was another exciting day. We turned in our reports--first ones on Peter’s desk...YES! But my reputation has preceded me and all the teachers now know that I can do the reports and are asking for help. Which I am more than happy to assist, these people are so nice it is easy to want to help them. We usually have the TV on in the staff room during lunch and the past couple of days it has been turned to cricket. The Aussie’s are playing England so it is a BIG DEAL. But Mom, if you think baseball and golf are slow...you ain’t seen nothing yet! There were two wickets (or outs) at lunch time and two hours later after school there were still only two wickets. These test matches can go on for FIVE days and they play for SEVEN HOURS A DAY! Now that is passion, which I can appreciate, but I think I am going to stick with my baseball! I was on babysitting duty Friday night and after the pizza experience I thought we should go with a food where they couldn’t distinguish whose was whose. So we made chocolate chip cookies. The girls told me that they don’t get to help in the kitchen, which would explain why they were so excited. The cookies turned out all right but I am coming to grips with the fact that everything is going to taste different here. Sarah was sneaking bits of dough the whole time and Tia was holding onto the measuring cups as I poured in fear in that I wouldn’t let her dump it in. It was good fun!
Saturday was another big day, we all went out to Sofala--the oldest surviving mining town in Australia, about an hour outside of Bathurst. Becky, it was totally a place that you would love. It was this little town with stores full of junk and one museum/old Gaol/junk shop. I mean really, who wants an old dusty bottle? Nobody! But I got some boiled lollies to bring home. After that we went to the District (they don’t have stake here) Christmas Party. It was fun enough to see people. I taught the girls to swing dance and they were SO excited. It was a long day though and I was glad when we got home that night.
Today was another busy Sunday. Australia is in SEVERE draught and so the Area Presidency asked the nation to pray and fast for rain. We had 39 people in Fast and Testimony meeting this week...you should be excited, that’s more than double on normal numbers. I got to teach Primary but wasn’t prepared for the seven kids that I had. They seemed to get the idea of being a good example...at least Tia did, when we got home she kept saying “Follow the Leader....Good....Follow the Leader”. Tonight we went to the neighbors for a barbie and had fun talking to them. They have a daughter in University who is about my age and we had a good time chatting and playing with the girls. Mike, the father, is a sub at my school lots of times so we see each other quite a bit. Just really good people and we had a good time.
It has been a real emotional roller coaster this week but I have managed to come out on top. Lots of things to think about. I have finally decided where I am going to teach after Australia. It seems that the Lord thinks I need to be in Phoenix and I am not going to hesitate. I always knew that I would end up there and affirmation that I have gotten these past couple of weeks have been all that I need. Now I just need to get a job...Crickey!
One last thing before I bid you farewell. The Garlicks gave me one of their old prepaid phones this weekend. I need to put some minutes on it so that I can call Cecelia’s phone and find out the number. But apparently I can receive calls and it will cost me nothing. There is a service in the states where you can call a number in Ohio (so if you have a phone...cell phone or such...with free long distance it costs you nothing) and then the server in OH connects you to Australia for free. All of the details are at www.futurephone.com. My mom has used it and it really works. And while these details are mostly for my parents sake I would love to hear from anyone if they wanted to give me ring. Because of the time difference I have hesitated to call people back at home and wake them up. But I don’t mind being awoken to chat...and if I am too tired I will just ignore you :). I will post the cell number tomorrow when I figure it out. Just remember, call anytime...but I am 16 hours ahead of Eastern Time and I am in school between 8am and 4pm MY time! I love you all and will hopefully hear from some of you in the next two weeks!