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!