I got to the school to learn that:
1. Everyone was dressed down, denim (jeans) is fine
2. Teachers have office areas and desks (not in a particular classroom) becauuseee…
3. Teachers move from classroom to classroom
4. Classes change places everyday (but stays the same weekly)
5. There is a recess (for students)/tea break (for teachers)
6. Part of the school is outside
I was intimidated.
It did get better as the day went on though!
To explain: The school system is soo much different here, teachers don't really dress up at all, they mostly just wear denim and a nice shirt, and sometimes the shirts aren't even nice! We have timetables because everyday is different; the classes change daily, the teachers don't have a permanent room, there are only 6 periods, and they have a recess for 25 minutes after the 2nd period (this is tea time for the teachers) & lunch for an hour after the 4th period. It's awesome how everyone isn't soo rushed.
Monday was a curriculum day, all the students in the state got the day off, the teachers on the other hand went to school to learn about this new online program they would be working with called Ultranet. Unfortunately, since every school had off and every school was working on this at the same time.. We really only got an explanation of it, because when we went to open it up & play around with it, the site was down. Hah! I think it was a good experience though.
Tuesday was my 1st day of planning! I was in the school but since each day is different Tuesday is planning day.. I only observed 1 class but I observed many more in the remainder of the week. I will start teaching on Monday; my 1st class taught is year 10 biology & the next topic they will be learning about Classification & Evolution.
To help better explain my weeks, here is my timetable:
When I came in on Tuesday, one of my supervising teachers (I have 2) invited me to go to a “footy” game (AFL game) this weekend with him & his wife! I'm pretty pumped! I was told to definitely get to one of these games if I could. It's Aussie Rules Australian Football League, they use both their hands & their feet, they don’t wear any padding, &&& I hear they get in A LOT of fights. I'm excited.. my friend from back home spent a semester studying here and explained it to be kind of like a game of quidditch in HP with all the rugbe scarves & stuff! & Ken said he’d bring me a scarf to wear!
Yesterday, Wednesday 11 August, I got invited to go on a camping trip!! One of the teachers asked me to lead a camping trip with him and 17 students! It’s on 8-10 September, & I definitely jumped on that opportunity. We're going to go kite surfing! I wonder how I'll do :/ I'll probably make more a fool of myself than anything else.. I'll just have to embrace it. I’m pretty stoked!! Now, I just need to find a sleeping bag! And thermals! And a waterproof jacket! And waterproof trackies!
There was also a staff meeting at the end of the day yesterday. I learned many things, but 2 of the mains ones are:
1. Teachers love food.
2. They serve alcohol at these things! Who knew!? (I enjoyed my 1st Australian beer: Pure Blonde)
Today.. I FINALLY HAVE A HOME! At then end of the day today Cathy, one of my supervising teachers, found me an open desk!! This means I FINALLY have a place to keep all my books & notes & lesson ideas without having to lug them back and forth to school!
This past weekend, I saw Inception and helped my host brother, Jamie, move out a bit.. Well, actually maybe it was more of a watching and laughing session @ him & his friend Lachlan. They were packing up Lachlan's "ute," this is like a mini utility truck.. it's pretty funny.. *see photos* Oh yeah!! and this old lady came by to bring Viv flowers because she was "feeling under the weather," (which she wasn't), and she said Jamie was going to miss the fridge, and that I was going to get married while I was here.. Legit, I know!! It was ssooooooo funny! ask me about it so I can tell you in person b.c putting it into words won't do it any justice...
Jamie's going to take me out this weekend so I'm pretty excited for that! I'm really hoping I start meeting more people. I am starting to make friends at school, with the other staff.. It’s fun, but hard to keep track of when some of the staff is part time & are only in on some days, etc.It’s pretty crazy learning about teachers' lives & being on the other side of the fence. Especially after growing up thinking they pretty much lived at school.. They don’t! It’s a huge shocker.. but they do have more of a life than you think! ;)
More words:
Bottle shop – liquor store
Shopping center – mall
Chewy – gum
Jelly – jello
Jam – jelly
Yappy – trendi, people in their 20’s or so wanting to make something of themselves
Bin – trash can
Queue – line
Petrol – gas
Jumper – sweater
Tracky – sweat pants
Thongs – flip-flops
Ute – mini pickup/utility truck
Fortnight – 2 weeks
Petrol – gas
She’s all apples – this one would be said if someone was asked if they were sick or ok.. someone would say back, yeah she’s apples
Throwin a leg over – sex
Get one up ya – have a drink
Most used word so far: Reckon – I think it’s the national word of Australia.
Also: Good on ya. - I’m really just not sure about this one.. but they say it a lot at the end of conversations.
Some more things I’ve learned:
- Don’t underestimate 40-50 degrees.. It IS cold. It gets dark early.. so that means less sun & more time that I have to get cold. They don’t lie when they say it is winter.. even though the degrees isn’t that low.. it’s still a chiller! I bought slippers yesterday!!
- Aboriginals see 6 seasons. When the golden wattle flowers in August, it is the 1st part of spring (whereas to other Australians, this is still winter). Also, Australia’s national colors, yellow and green, are based on the colors of the golden wattle flowers.
- There’s at least one good thing about rain.. the smell of eucalyptus is strong and amazing on my walk to the bus stop! :)
I feel like I’m learning soo much everyday.. the list keeps getting longer and longer!
Well.. Good on ya!
<3 M
Keep this up Miranda - It is wonderful!
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