Living in the Land of Oz.

Greetings from Australia!

I meant to start this blog before I left but without any homework to procrastinate with I had to use that procrastinating energy somewhere! I will hopefully keep this blog updated pretty regularly with tales of living in Australia, weekend trips, and adventures in the classroom. To catch everybody up, I’m living in Yarram (Yea-rum) Australia for the next three months to student teach at Yarram Secondary College. I still don’t have any information about what I’m going to be teaching but when I know-you’ll know. So far this adventure has included a 16-hour flight, a lost suitcase (that was eventually returned to me), already 5 dead spiders, and driving trips on the wrong side of the road.

I’m living in a three bedroom house with Raina (also a Miami student here to teach at the primary school) and Hamish Clark, an English teacher at the college (college= grades 7-12). The town is a very small, remote, rural area but it is so beautiful. It’s similar to living in Oxford, minus the University. They have some great local cafes and pubs that Raina and I are eager to check out. Thankfully, Hamish really likes to cook and has agreed to make dinner if we clean up. Done. Deal.

The Australian accent is so much fun to hear-even if I don’t always catch what’s being said. I will keep a running list of some vocab that I have heard. So far there’s been:

“No Hawkers”- found on store front shops, I think the equivalent would be “No Solicitors”

“Bathers”- Swimming suits (which I forgot)

“Case”- luggage, suitcase

“Barby”- barbeque, I’m sure most of you knew that BUT what I learned was it’s used for any time the grill is being used, not just for the style/type of food or sauce being used.

“No worries”- Said pretty much all the time. Used as a form of “Your welcome,” and “No problem,” and in any situation in which worries may arise.

            Everyone has been so wonderful and gone out of their way to make us feel comfortable and at home. Raina and I are creating a list of places we are hoping to go and explore! School starts Thursday, and there are teacher service days on Tuesday and Wednesday so hopefully more good things to come! Leave comments with questions or if there is anything you want to know more about specifically. 

Rod taking Kyle, Erica, and myself to his home in Drouin. Steering wheel on the wrong side!

The Melbourne (Mel-bin) skyline. They have their own Batman Building!

Some of the other students from Miami in the same program. All the girls in the front, Kyle in the back with the hat on, and our supervisors Debbie and Rod on either side of me!

My room for the next three months!

The bathroom the three of us share. No shower curtain, just an odd archway.

Part of our backyard with Hamish playing the guitar.