Wow- a lot has happened since I last posted. I won't bore you with all of the boring details but I will try to catch you up.
I panned for gold-didn't find anything.
Hiked in Tarra Bulga- avoided being a tick host (unlike my other housemates).
Made Mexican food- realized I need it every day.
Fed a kangaroo- blew my mind.
Had a Huntsmen in the house- survived but severely traumatized.

Looking ahead: Friday brings the school swimming carnival! The school houses (yes they have houses) compete against each other in sports carnivals. I signed up to be the announcer (it seemed like a fitting role) and I get to announce the races and the house points. I can't wait. The school is probably going to regret giving me a microphone but they did seem to think that everyone would listen to me. All due to my "mad as" accent. Sunday morning I'm going on my first sailing experience. I'm very excited not only to sail but also to catch up with another Miamian!

Teaching has been really great. Staff meetings, team meetings, and PLT meetings are a little exhausting but they only happen a couple times a week and it's good experience for the real world. My school really tries to cultivate a positive atmosphere between the teachers and I think they do a good job of it. My students are good kids. There have been a lot of issues with late work and it's getting really frustrating. I told my 8th graders that unless they have talked to me beforehand, late work is going to be a warning (this is part of their school wide behavior management plan). So hopefully curbs some of that. I'm really working on getting the students to silently read their texts and respond to DRA's. The 8th graders are doing really well but the 9th graders are putting up every barrier possible. I am getting the chance to work one on one with a student to improve his reading fluency and comprehension. In the next couple of weeks I will be taking over the 9th graders and 12th graders so in the end I will be teaching 8th, 9th, and 12th grades while observing 11th grade. It's a lot to think about but once I get this PLC out of the way I think it should be doable.

The students pretty much assume that everyone in the states lives in giant mansions and throws massive parties because their parents are out of town all the time. Thank you Hollywood. I have disappointed them as I am lacking any crazy mansion part stories.

Here's some slang to add to your vocabulary :)
Adding "as" to a phrase: Like the previously used "mad as." I have also heard "cool as." Apparently adding the "as" intensifies the mad, cool, funny or whatever sentiment is being used. Most likely used in a positive situation.
sooking: Crying or being a wimp. When I asked the students about this one I thought, "Why not just say crying then?" Oh well.
whinging: Pronounced like the street Harry Potter grows up on, it's used in place of whining.
How you going?: Instead of "How are you?" or "Hows your day?" I never know which answer they are looking for so I reply with a vague "I'm fine" with a smile.

They haven't appreciated my Harry Potter references quite like I had hoped. But I'm working on converting them.

'Ta!